How to Write a Cheque in India — INR Guide

Complete guide to writing cheques in India. Learn INR amount formatting with the mandatory Only suffix, CTS-2010 standards, Section 138 NI Act consequences, and how to avoid bank rejections on Indian cheques.

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What is the cheque format in India?

Writing a cheque in India requires the payee name, date in DD/MM/YYYY format, numeric amount in INR, and the cheque amount in words on the legal line in rupees with the word Only at the end. Indian cheques must comply with the CTS-2010 (Cheque Truncation System) standard mandated by the Reserve Bank of India, which specifies cheque dimensions, paper quality, security features, and the MICR code line layout. The legal line must spell out the amount with paise as a fraction and end with Only: INR 15,000.50 is written as Fifteen thousand and 50/100 rupees only. Bouncing a cheque is a criminal offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, punishable with imprisonment and fines, making correct cheque writing essential. Indian banks honour the written amount over the numeric amount if there is a discrepancy.

Reserve Bank of India — CTS-2010 standard and NI Act Section 138

How to write a cheque in India

  1. 1

    Date and payee

    Write the date in DD/MM/YYYY format. Use the payee's full legal name as per their bank records. Do not leave spaces that could allow insertion.

  2. 2

    Numeric amount

    Enter the figure in the amount box in INR. Use commas for lakhs and crores (Indian numbering system) if preferred by your bank.

  3. 3

    Amount in words

    Write the amount in words on the legal line, e.g. Fifteen thousand and 50/100 rupees only. The word Only is mandatory. Draw a line after the words.

  4. 4

    Sign the cheque

    Sign exactly as per the signature specimen your bank holds. Under CTS-2010, the signature must fall within the designated area. Indian banks verify signatures strictly.

Common Indian cheque mistakes

Forgetting to write Only after the amount in words
Always end the legal line with rupees only: Fifteen thousand and 50/100 rupees only.
Using correction fluid or overwriting on a CTS-2010 cheque
Overwriting or using correction fluid on a CTS-2010 cheque will cause it to be rejected. Void and issue a new cheque instead.

Why use this India cheque guide

CTS-2010 format

Amounts in words with the mandatory Only suffix and correct rupee formatting per CTS-2010.

Avoid legal risk

Spelling and formatting errors are caught before you issue the cheque — critical given Section 138 consequences.

Free tool

No sign-up needed for unlimited cheque amount conversions.

India-specific rules

Covers CTS-2010 standards, the Only requirement, and Section 138 NI Act implications.

India Cheque Guide — FAQ