INR amounts in words: examples
A fee payment with paise
INR 1,25,000.50
One Lakh Twenty Five Thousand Rupees And Fifty Paise Only
Open this amount in the converter →A property payment (1.5 crore)
INR 1,50,00,000.00
One Crore Fifty Lakh Rupees Only
Open this amount in the converter →Indian cheque leaves print “Rupees” at the start of the words line, so you can write “One Lakh Twenty Five Thousand and Paise Fifty Only” or the converter’s form. Group the figures the Indian way: ₹1,25,000.50, not ₹125,000.50.
Step by step: a CTS-2010 cheque
- Date: fill the DD MM YYYY boxes. The cheque is valid for three months from this date.
- Pay: the payee’s name as on their bank account. For tax or government payments, use the exact payee name the department publishes.
- Or bearer: strike it out so the cheque is payable to order, not to whoever holds it.
- Rupees (words): in lakhs and crores, ending with “Only”. Start at the left edge and line through the remaining space.
- ₹ box (figures): Indian grouping with paise, e.g. 1,25,000.50, followed by “/-”.
- Crossing: two lines at the top left with “A/C Payee” so it can only be credited to the payee’s account.
- Signature: exactly as on the bank’s records, inside the signature area.
No alterations under CTS
Because banks pay from an image, the RBI tells customers to use a fresh cheque leaf for any change to the payee name, the amount in figures or the amount in words. A countersigned correction that might have been accepted on a paper cheque years ago will usually be returned today. Only CTS-2010 standard cheques can be presented in clearing, so ask your bank to replace any very old cheque book.
Three-month validity
Since 1 April 2012, banks must not pay a cheque, draft, pay order or banker’s cheque presented more than three months after its date. The RBI shortened the window from six months because instruments were being passed around almost like cash. If you are given an older cheque, ask the drawer to issue a new one.
Bounced cheques: Section 138
Under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, a cheque returned for insufficient funds can be a criminal offence if the payee presents it within its validity, sends a written demand within 30 days of hearing it bounced, and the drawer does not pay within 15 days of receiving that notice. The payee then has one month to file a complaint. The penalty can be imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to twice the cheque amount, or both. Banks also charge a return fee.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a cheque valid in India?
Three months from the date written on it. The RBI cut the period from six months to three with effect from 1 April 2012.
How do I write 1,50,000 on a cheque?
Write “One Lakh Fifty Thousand Only” on the words line (after the printed “Rupees”) and ₹1,50,000/- in the box.
Can I correct a mistake on an Indian cheque?
Not for the payee or amount. Under CTS the RBI asks customers to use a new leaf for any change to the payee, figures or words. Cancel the spoilt cheque by writing “CANCELLED” across it.
How fast does a cheque clear in India?
Since 4 October 2025, CTS clears cheques continuously during the day, so funds can arrive within a few hours of a cheque being presented, depending on your bank’s timings.
Sources
Rules change, and banks can apply stricter practices than the law requires. Check with your bank before relying on a detail for a large or time-sensitive payment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.