A cheque book is a bound set of pre-printed cheque leaves that a bank issues to a savings, current, or cash credit account holder. Each leaf carries a unique 6-digit cheque number, the account number, IFSC, and a 9-digit MICR code. Every cheque book issued in India today must follow the RBI’s CTS-2010 standard so it can clear through the Cheque Truncation System.
What is a Cheque Book (and What is a Checkbook)?
A cheque book is a booklet of numbered cheque forms linked to one bank account, used to make payments by written order to your bank. A “checkbook” is the same thing in American English. The bank prints your name, account number, and branch details on every leaf, so only the account holder (the drawer) can sign and issue them.
Legally, each leaf becomes a cheque once you fill and sign it. Section 6 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 defines a cheque as a bill of exchange drawn on a specified banker and payable on demand. For a full breakdown of the instrument itself, see our guide on what is a cheque.
Quick facts about Indian cheque books:
- Common sizes: 10, 20, 25, 50, and 100 leaves (varies by bank and account type)
- Who gets one: Savings, current, cash credit, and overdraft account holders, on request
- Standard followed: CTS-2010, notified by RBI circular DPSS.CO.CHD.No.1832/04.07.05/2009-10 dated February 22, 2010
- Validity of each cheque: 3 months from the date written on it (RBI, effective April 1, 2012)
- Governing law: Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
Spelling of Cheque Book: Cheque Book vs Checkbook
The correct spelling in India is “cheque book” (also written “chequebook”). Indian banks, the RBI, and the Negotiable Instruments Act all use the British spelling “cheque”. “Checkbook” and “check book” are the American spellings of the same banking product.
| Spelling | Where it is used | Correct for Indian banking? |
|---|---|---|
| Cheque book | India, UK, Australia, most Commonwealth countries | Yes |
| Chequebook | UK and Indian media, some bank websites | Yes (one-word variant) |
| Checkbook | United States | No (American usage) |
| Check book / book check | Common search variants | No (informal or reversed form) |
If you are filling a bank form, writing a request letter, or searching your bank’s app, use “cheque book”. Searches like “book check” or “check book” usually mean the same booklet, typed in American spelling or word order. Our post on cheque vs check covers the spelling difference in detail.
Components of a Cheque Book
A cheque book has three parts: the cover, the requisition slip, and the cheque leaves. The cover identifies the account, the requisition slip lets you order the next book, and the leaves are the actual payment instruments. Most Indian banks no longer include counterfoils, so you need to track issued cheques yourself.
1. Cheque Book Cover
The front or inside cover carries the cheque book details the bank uses to identify your account:
- Account holder’s name
- Account number
- Branch name and address
- IFSC (11 characters) and MICR code (9 digits)
- Cheque number range in the book (for example, 000101 to 000125)
- Number of leaves
Some banks also print a “record of cheques issued” table on the inside cover, where you can note date, payee, and amount for each leaf.
2. Cheque Requisition Slip
The requisition slip is a pre-printed form bound into the book, usually after the last few leaves. You sign it and submit it at the branch to order a new cheque book. Many banks now accept requests through net banking, mobile banking, ATMs, or SMS instead, so the slip is mainly a backup for branch requests.
3. Cheque Leaves
Each leaf is a single CTS-2010 compliant cheque form. A cheque leaf is torn out and handed to the payee once filled and signed.
Parts of a Cheque Leaf Explained
Every CTS-2010 cheque leaf in India follows the same field layout, because the RBI and NPCI standardised field placement so scanners can read cheques from any bank. The table below lists each field, where it appears, and who fills it.
| Field | Location on leaf | Filled by | What it contains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank name, logo, branch address | Top left | Pre-printed | Drawee bank and home branch |
| IFSC | Below branch address | Pre-printed | 11-character branch code for electronic transfers |
| Date box | Top right | Drawer | Date in DD/MM/YYYY boxes |
| Payee line (“Pay”) | Below date | Drawer | Name of the person or entity being paid |
| “Or Bearer” | End of payee line | Drawer strikes it out for order cheques | Decides if the cheque is bearer or order |
| Amount in words | Below payee line | Drawer | Legal amount, ending with “Only” |
| Amount in figures (₹ box) | Right side | Drawer | Courtesy amount in numbers |
| Account number | Below amount in words | Pre-printed | Your full account number |
| Signature area | Bottom right | Drawer | Signature matching bank records |
| MICR band | Bottom strip | Pre-printed in magnetic ink | Cheque number, MICR code, account and transaction codes |
| “CTS-2010” marking | Vertical, left edge | Pre-printed | Confirms the leaf follows CTS-2010 |
For field-level help, see our guides on where the account number is on a cheque and how to write the amount in words on a cheque.
The MICR Band: Four Codes at the Bottom
The MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) band is the strip of numbers printed in magnetic ink along the bottom edge of every cheque. RBI’s MICR procedural guidelines divide it into separate fields:
| MICR field | Digits | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|
| Cheque number | 6 | The specific leaf |
| MICR code (sort code) | 9 | City (first 3), bank (next 3), branch (last 3) |
| Account number field | 6 | A short form of the account (optional field) |
| Transaction code | 2 | Type of account or instrument |
Never write, sign, staple, or fold across the MICR band. Damage to this strip is a common reason for cheques being returned in clearing.
What is a Cheque Number?
A cheque number is the unique 6-digit serial number printed on each leaf of a cheque book. It appears as the first block of digits in the MICR band at the bottom left, and many banks also print it at the top right. Consecutive leaves in a book carry consecutive cheque numbers, for example 000101, 000102, 000103.
Where to Find the Cheque Number
- On the MICR band: The first 6 digits from the left, before the 9-digit MICR code
- On the top right: Many banks print it above or beside the date box
- On the cover: The range of cheque numbers in the book
Cheque Number vs MICR Code vs Account Number
| Number | Length | Identifies | Changes per leaf? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheque number | 6 digits | One specific cheque | Yes |
| MICR code | 9 digits | Bank branch | No |
| IFSC | 11 characters | Bank branch (for NEFT/RTGS/IMPS) | No |
| Account number | Varies by bank (often 9 to 18 digits) | Your account | No |
Why the Cheque Number Matters
You will need the cheque number in four common situations:
- Positive Pay submission: Required for high-value cheques under the Positive Pay System
- Stop payment request: The bank stops a specific leaf by its number
- Tracking a payment: Matches a debit in your passbook or statement to the cheque issued
- Deposit slips: When you deposit a cheque, the slip asks for the cheque number of the instrument being deposited
A frequent mistake on deposit slips is writing the MICR code or account number in the cheque number column. Copy only the first 6 digits of the MICR band.
Types of Cheque Books in India
Banks issue different cheque books depending on account type and how the account holder wants to use them. The main difference is whether the leaves are personalised with your name and whether they are payable at par across branches.
| Type | Description | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Personalised cheque book | Account holder’s name and account number pre-printed on every leaf | Standard book for most savings and current accounts |
| Multi-city / payable-at-par | Can be presented at any branch of the bank without extra charges | Default for most banks today |
| Non-personalised (loose leaves) | Leaves without the holder’s name, issued at the branch | Emergency withdrawals, often limited to the home branch |
| Emergency cheque book | Small book (often 10 leaves) issued instantly at the branch | When a personalised book is still in delivery |
Rules on non-personalised leaves differ across banks. Ask your branch whether they can be used for third-party payments or only for self-withdrawal.
How to Get a Cheque Book
You can request a cheque book through net banking, the bank’s mobile app, an ATM, SMS banking, or the branch. Most banks dispatch personalised books to your registered address by post or courier within about 7 working days, though timelines vary by bank.
| Channel | How it works | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Net banking | Requests or Services menu, choose number of leaves, confirm with OTP | Registered address |
| Mobile banking app | Service request section, select account and leaf count | Registered address |
| ATM | Select “Cheque book request” from the menu after card authentication | Registered address |
| SMS / missed call | Bank-specific keyword or number (check your bank’s site) | Registered address |
| Branch | Signed requisition slip from your current book, or a written request with ID | Collect at branch or by post |
Make sure your registered address is current before you order. A cheque book sent to an old address is a fraud risk, because anyone holding the leaves can attempt to forge your signature.
Cheque Book Charges
Cheque book charges depend on your bank, account type, and how many leaves you have already used in the financial year. Most banks give a set number of free leaves each year and charge per leaf or per book after that, plus 18% GST.
For example, SBI’s published schedule for Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) accounts gives the first 10 leaves free in a financial year, after which a 10-leaf book costs ₹40 plus GST and a 25-leaf book costs ₹75 plus GST, with senior citizens exempt from these cheque book charges. Regular savings and current accounts have different free limits.
Check your bank’s current Schedule of Charges on its website before ordering, as banks revise these periodically.
How to Use a Cheque Book: Writing a Cheque Step by Step
To issue a cheque, fill the date, payee name, amount in words and figures, sign it, and cross it if it should go only into a bank account. RBI guidelines say only the date can be corrected on a cheque presented through CTS. Any mistake in the payee name or amount means you must cancel that leaf and use a fresh one.
- Write the date in the DD/MM/YYYY boxes. The cheque is valid for 3 months from this date.
- Write the payee’s name exactly as it appears on their bank account.
- Strike out “or Bearer” if you want the cheque payable only to the named payee (an order cheque).
- Write the amount in words, starting close to “Rupees” and ending with “Only” to block additions.
- Write the amount in figures in the ₹ box, starting right next to the symbol, followed by “/-“.
- Sign in the signature area, matching the specimen signature held by the bank.
- Cross the cheque by drawing two parallel lines at the top left and writing “A/C Payee” between them, so it can only be credited to the payee’s bank account.
- Record the details (cheque number, date, payee, amount) on the cover’s record table or in your own register.
- Submit Positive Pay details to your bank if the amount is ₹50,000 or more.
The roles of the person writing, the bank paying, and the person receiving are explained in our guide to drawer, drawee and payee.
Using a Cancelled Cheque
Many KYC, EPF, loan, and salary-account processes ask for a cancelled cheque to verify your account number, IFSC, and name. Draw two parallel lines across a blank leaf, write “CANCELLED” between them, and do not sign it. See a cancelled cheque image for reference.
Important Rules for Cheque Book Users in India
These rules come from RBI circulars and the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, and they apply to every bank’s cheque book in India.
| Rule | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 3-month validity | Banks must not pay cheques presented more than 3 months after the cheque date | RBI circular DBOD.AML BC.No.47/14.01.001/2011-12, effective April 1, 2012 |
| No alterations under CTS | Only the date can be corrected; any change to payee or amount needs a fresh leaf | RBI, CTS-2010 standard (February 22, 2010) |
| CTS-2010 compliance | Only CTS-2010 cheques clear through CTS; non-CTS leaves cannot be presented | RBI / NPCI |
| Positive Pay | Banks must offer it for cheques of ₹50,000 and above, and may make it mandatory at ₹5 lakh and above | RBI circular DPSS.CO.RPPD.No.309/04.07.005/2020-21, September 25, 2020 |
| Image-friendly ink | RBI does not prescribe an ink colour, but advises image-friendly ink as CTS captures grey-scale and black-and-white images | RBI, as clarified by PIB fact check |
| Dishonour liability | A cheque returned for insufficient funds can lead to a case under Section 138 | Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 |
Cheque Clearing Under Continuous Clearing
Since October 4, 2025, CTS clears cheques on a continuous basis during the day instead of in fixed batches, under RBI’s Continuous Clearing and Settlement on Realisation framework (RBI/2025-26/73, August 13, 2025). By the RBI’s December 24, 2025 circular (RBI/2025-26/156), the presentation session runs 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and the confirmation session runs 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Phase 2, which would have required banks to confirm cheques within 3 hours, has been postponed until further notice.
In practice, this means a cheque you issue can be debited from your account the same day it is deposited. Keep enough balance in the account from the day you hand over the cheque. Our guide on cheque clearing time covers timelines in detail.
What Happens if a Cheque Bounces
A cheque is dishonoured when the bank returns it unpaid, most often for insufficient funds, signature mismatch, or a stale date. The drawer pays return charges to their bank, and a bounce for insufficient funds can become a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the NI Act. Read more on dishonoured cheque charges and consequences and the Section 138 cheque bounce case process.
How to Keep Your Cheque Book Safe
A lost or stolen cheque book can be misused through forged signatures or altered leaves, so treat it like cash. The most important step after a loss is to place a stop payment instruction on the unused cheque numbers immediately.
- Store it separately from your debit card, passbook, and any document showing your signature.
- Never sign a blank leaf. A signed blank cheque can be filled with any amount.
- Cross every cheque with “A/C Payee” unless you specifically need a bearer cheque.
- Fill all fields and draw a line after the payee name and amount to block insertions.
- Use Positive Pay for every cheque of ₹50,000 or more, even where your bank has not made it mandatory.
- Track every leaf by cheque number, including cancelled ones.
- Destroy unused leaves when you close an account, after cutting through the MICR band.
If Your Cheque Book is Lost or Stolen
- Call your bank’s customer care or block through net banking to stop payment on the missing cheque numbers.
- Submit a written stop payment request at the branch with the cheque number range.
- File a police complaint if the book was stolen, and keep a copy for the bank.
- Order a new cheque book after confirming your registered address.
Banks usually charge a fee for stop payment instructions. Check your bank’s Schedule of Charges.
Cheque Book vs Passbook vs Demand Draft
A cheque book lets you make payments from your account, a passbook records transactions in your account, and a demand draft is a prepaid instrument issued by the bank itself. They are often confused because all three come from the bank branch.
| Feature | Cheque book | Passbook | Demand draft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Issue payments | Record transactions | Guaranteed payment |
| Who signs | Account holder | Not signed for payment | Bank officials |
| Bounce risk | Yes, if funds or details fail | Not applicable | No, prepaid by the buyer |
| Validity | 3 months per cheque | Not applicable | 3 months |
| Cost | Free leaves, then per-leaf charges | Usually free | Commission based on amount |
For a deeper comparison, see demand draft vs cheque.
What Experts Say
Bank operations staff and chartered accountants who handle business payments tend to make the same few points about cheque books:
- Most cheque returns are avoidable. Practitioners report that overwriting, mismatched amount in words and figures, and stale dates cause far more returns than insufficient funds in day-to-day branch work.
- Continuous clearing changed cash planning. With same-day debits since October 2025, businesses that issue post-dated or advance cheques now keep funds ready from the cheque date rather than relying on a 1 to 2 day float.
- Positive Pay is treated as standard practice. Many accountants register every high-value cheque with Positive Pay, because it supports the dispute resolution process and reduces fraud on altered leaves.
- Cancelled cheques remain the most-used leaf. For many salaried account holders, the main use of a cheque book is now KYC, EPF, and loan verification rather than payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cheque book in simple words?
A cheque book is a booklet of pre-printed, numbered cheque forms that your bank gives you so you can pay money from your account by writing and signing a cheque. Each leaf carries your account number, the branch IFSC and MICR code, and a unique 6-digit cheque number.
What is the correct spelling: cheque book or checkbook?
In India, the correct spelling is “cheque book” or “chequebook”, which is what the RBI and Indian banks use. “Checkbook” is the American spelling of the same product.
What is a cheque number and where is it printed?
A cheque number is the unique 6-digit serial number of each cheque leaf. It is the first set of 6 digits on the MICR band at the bottom left of the cheque, and many banks also print it at the top right.
What cheque book details are printed on the cover?
The cover usually shows the account holder’s name, account number, branch name and address, IFSC, MICR code, the number of leaves, and the range of cheque numbers in the book.
How many leaves does a cheque book have?
Indian banks commonly issue cheque books with 10, 20, 25, 50, or 100 leaves. The options depend on your bank and account type.
How long is a cheque valid in India?
A cheque is valid for 3 months from the date written on it. The RBI reduced validity from 6 months to 3 months with effect from April 1, 2012.
Can I correct a mistake on a cheque?
Under RBI’s CTS rules, only the date can be corrected on a cheque. If the payee name or amount is wrong, cancel that leaf and write a fresh cheque.
What should I do if I lose my cheque book?
Immediately ask your bank to stop payment on the unused cheque numbers through customer care, net banking, or the branch. File a police complaint if it was stolen, then order a new cheque book.
Final Word
A cheque book is still a working payment tool in India, but it now runs on tighter rules: CTS-2010 leaves, 3-month validity, no alterations except the date, Positive Pay for high-value cheques, and same-day clearing. Know where your cheque number sits, keep the book secure, and track every leaf you issue. For common abbreviations you will see on bank forms, see our list of banking abbreviations and full forms.
This article is for general information. Charges, timelines, and request channels vary by bank, so confirm current details with your bank before acting.