Cheque Guides: Everything About Cheques in India
Clear, practical guides to every cheque topic — formats, types, clearing times, validity, Positive Pay, bounce rules, and bank cheque books. Written for businesses and individuals who need to get cheques right.
Cheque Basics
Cheque Number: Where It Is, What the Digits Mean & Why It Matters
The cheque number is the first 6 digits printed at the bottom-left of every cheque in the MICR band. Learn how to read it, what the other numbers on a cheque mean, and when you need the cheque number.
Read guideCheque Format in India: Every Part of a Cheque Explained (CTS-2010 Layout)
The standard Indian cheque format under CTS-2010: date boxes, payee line, amount in words and figures, signature panel, MICR band and security features, with a labeled diagram and the exact purpose of every element.
Read guideCheque Leaf: Meaning, Free Leaf Limits by Bank & Charges for Extra Leaves
A cheque leaf is a single cheque page in your cheque book. Learn what is printed on a leaf, how many free leaves banks give per year (SBI, HDFC, ICICI compared), per-leaf charges, personalized vs non-personalized books, and how to use leaves without wasting them.
Read guideHow to Write a Cheque in India: Correct Format, Rules & Common Errors
Write a cheque correctly in 6 steps: date, payee name, amount in words and figures, signature, and crossing. Includes CTS rules on overwriting, how to write amounts like 1 lakh in words, and the errors that get cheques returned.
Read guideCheque Signature Rules: Mismatch Consequences, Specimen Updates & Signing Safely
Your cheque signature must match the specimen your bank holds. Learn what happens on a signature mismatch, whether it counts as cheque bounce under Section 138, how to update your specimen signature, joint account and company signing rules, and safe signing practices.
Read guideHow to Fill a Cheque Correctly: Field-by-Field Guide with Examples (India)
Fill every field of a cheque correctly: date boxes, payee name, amount in words and figures with examples like one lakh and fifty thousand, crossing and signature. Includes what banks reject under CTS and a printable checklist.
Read guideCheque Types & Safety
Cancelled Cheque: Meaning, How to Make One & When You Need It (2026 Guide)
A cancelled cheque is a cheque marked CANCELLED across it, used to share bank details safely for KYC, EPF, salary and EMI setup. Learn how to make one correctly, when you need it, and mistakes to avoid.
Read guideCrossed Cheque: Meaning, Types of Crossing & How It Protects Your Money
A crossed cheque has two parallel lines at the top-left corner, meaning it can only be deposited into a bank account, never encashed over the counter. Learn general crossing, special crossing, and account payee crossing with examples.
Read guideBearer Cheque: Meaning, Encashment Rules, Risks & Bearer vs Order Cheque
A bearer cheque is payable to whoever presents it at the bank. Learn how bearer cheques work, encashment rules and ID requirements, third-party cash limits, why they are risky, and how they differ from order and crossed cheques.
Read guideSelf Cheque: How to Write One, Withdrawal Limits & Safety Rules
A self cheque is written to 'Self' to withdraw cash from your own account at your branch. Learn exactly how to fill one, cash withdrawal limits, whether others can encash it, and safer alternatives.
Read guidePost-Dated Cheque (PDC): Rules, Validity & What Happens If Presented Early
A post-dated cheque carries a future date and cannot be paid before that date. Learn PDC rules under the NI Act, the 3-month validity window, what happens if deposited early, Section 138 liability, and how businesses track PDCs.
Read guideAccount Payee Cheque: Meaning, How to Make One & Rules for Encashment
An account payee cheque has two parallel lines with 'A/c Payee' written between them, so the money can only be credited to the named payee's own bank account. Learn how to make one, whether it can be endorsed or encashed, and what banks do on a name mismatch.
Read guideClearing, Validity & Problems
Cheque Clearing Time in India (2026): How Long a Cheque Takes to Clear
Under CTS, most cheques deposited before the branch cut-off clear by the next business day. Learn the exact clearing timeline, cut-off times, why cheques get delayed, same-bank transfers, and how Positive Pay affects large cheques.
Read guideCheque Truncation System (CTS): How Image-Based Cheque Clearing Works
The Cheque Truncation System clears cheques as electronic images instead of moving paper between banks. Learn how CTS works, what CTS-2010 standards mean for your cheque book, the move to same-day continuous clearing, and why non-CTS cheques get rejected.
Read guideCheque Validity: How Long a Cheque Is Valid & What To Do With a Stale Cheque
Every cheque in India is valid for 3 months from the date written on it. Learn how to count the 3 months, what a stale cheque is, whether revalidation works, post-dated and ante-dated rules, and what to do when a cheque expires.
Read guidePositive Pay System (PPS) for Cheques: RBI Rules, Limits & How to Submit
The Positive Pay System requires you to reconfirm details of high-value cheques with your bank before they clear. Learn the RBI rules, the ₹50,000 and ₹5 lakh thresholds, how to submit PPS details via net banking or app, and what happens if you skip it.
Read guideHow to Cancel a Cheque: Stop Payment on Issued Cheques (Step-by-Step)
Issued a cheque by mistake or lost one? Here is how to cancel it: stop payment via net banking, mobile app, or branch, what it costs at major banks, and what happens if the cheque is presented after the stop.
Read guideCheque Return Charges 2026: What Banks Charge for Bounced Cheques (Inward & Outward)
When a cheque bounces, both sides can pay bank charges: the issuer pays inward return charges (₹300 to ₹750 typical for insufficient funds) and the depositor pays outward return charges (₹100 to ₹250). Bank-by-bank comparison, technical vs financial reasons, and how to avoid the fees entirely.
Read guideCheque Bounce: Reasons, Penalties Under Section 138 & the Legal Process (2026)
A bounced cheque against a genuine debt can mean a fine up to twice the cheque amount or up to two years imprisonment under Section 138. Learn every bounce reason, the strict 30-day and 15-day deadlines, bank charges, and how to respond on either side.
Read guideMICR Code on a Cheque vs IFSC Code: Meaning, Where to Find Them & Differences
The MICR code is the 9-digit code in magnetic ink at the bottom of your cheque (city-bank-branch); IFSC is the 11-character code for NEFT/RTGS transfers. Learn to read both, where each is used, and why cheques carry the two codes.
Read guideBank Cheque Books
SBI Cheque Book: How to Request Online, Charges & Delivery Time (2026)
Request an SBI cheque book in minutes via YONO, net banking, ATM or SMS. Current charges (10 free leaves per year for savings accounts), delivery timelines, tracking, and how to print on SBI cheques for business payments.
Read guideHDFC Cheque Book: Request Online, Charges, Free Leaf Limit & Delivery (2026)
Request an HDFC Bank cheque book via NetBanking, the HDFC app, phone banking or ATM. 25 free leaves per year on most savings accounts, ₹75 per 25-leaf book after, delivery in 3 to 7 working days, plus how to print on HDFC cheques.
Read guideICICI Cheque Book: Request via iMobile or NetBanking, Charges & Delivery (2026)
Order an ICICI Bank cheque book from iMobile Pay, internet banking, customer care or a branch. 25 free leaves per year on most savings accounts, about ₹100 per additional 25-leaf book, 3 to 7 day delivery, plus printing on ICICI cheques.
Read guideAxis Bank Cheque Book: Request Online, Charges & Delivery Time (2026)
Request an Axis Bank cheque book via internet banking, the Axis Mobile app, ATM or branch. First book free on most savings accounts, then roughly ₹2.5 to ₹4 per leaf, delivery in 3 to 7 working days, plus printing on Axis cheques.
Read guideKotak Cheque Book: Request via App or Net Banking, Charges & Delivery (2026)
Request a Kotak Mahindra Bank cheque book through the Kotak app, net banking, Keya assistant or a branch. Free leaf limits by account variant, roughly ₹2.5 to ₹4 per extra leaf, 3 to 7 day delivery, plus printing on Kotak cheques.
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