More than 97 pc of Rs 2,000 notes returned: RBI
Mumbai, Nov 1: The Reserve Bank on Wednesdays said more than 97 per cent of the Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation have been returned to the banking system, and only Rs 10,000 crore worth of such notes are sill with public.
On May 19 this year, the RBI had announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation.
"The total value of Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation, which amounted to Rs 3.56 lakh crore as at the close of business on May 19, 2023 when the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 banknotes was announced, has declined to Rs 0.10 lakh crore as at the close of business on October 31, 2023," it said in a circular.
Thus, RBI added, more than 97 per cent of the Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation as on May 19, 2023, have since been returned.
Public can deposit and/or exchange the Rs 2,000 banknotes at the 19 RBI offices in the country.
"Members of the public are requested to avail the facility of sending the ?2000 banknotes through post offices of India Post. This will obviate the need for travel to RBI offices for deposit/exchange of the ?2000 banknotes," the central bank said.
Meanwhile, long queues are being witnessed during the working hours at the RBI offices for exchange/deposit of Rs 2,000 notes.
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Govt to set up Bureau of Port Security to boost port, vessel security
New Delhi (PTI): To beef up the security infrastructure of ports, the government will set up a statutory body -- the Bureau of Port Security -- that will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information of ports and vessels, officials said on Friday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday convened a meeting for the constitution of the dedicated body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), which was attended by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and the Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu, an official statement said.
Emphasising that there is a need to establish a country-wide robust port security framework, Shah directed that security measures should be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner, taking into account vulnerabilities, trade potential, location, and other relevant parameters.
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The meeting also noted that lessons learned from the maritime security framework shall be replicated in the aviation security domain, the statement said.
The new body, modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will be constituted as a statutory body under the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will work under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), it said.
Headed by a senior IPS officer as its director general, the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.
"During the transition period of one year, the director general of shipping shall function as the director general of BoPS," the statement said.
"The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats," it said.
The government has designated the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a recognised security organisation (RSO), responsible for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for port facilities.
The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will train and build the capacities of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.
"These agencies shall be certified and appropriate regulatory measures shall be introduced to ensure that only the licensed PSAs operate in this sector," the statement said.
