Viral News on Ban of Printed Currency is Misleading

Reports claiming that printed currency will be completely banned in India and that all transactions will switch to digital currency starting February 2025 have been circulating on social media. These claims are based on images of news articles allegedly published on January 24, 2025, in various Malayalam newspapers.

Many people shared these “reports” on social media, expressing concerns over such a move. However, an investigation reveals that the viral content is baseless and misleading.

Our investigation into the content of these alleged news reports revealed several inaccuracies. The names mentioned in the reports, such as RBI Governor Dr. Aravind Kumar, Union Finance Minister Rajeev Singh, and Opposition Leader Dr. Anjali Mehra, are incorrect. This raised doubts about the authenticity of the reports.

Upon examining the January 24, 2025, edition of Malayala Manorama, it became evident that the circulating images are not genuine news reports but rather an advertisement. The page explicitly labels the content as a “Marketing Feature” and includes a disclaimer clarifying that it is not a news report.

Origin of the Misleading Content

The advertisement is part of a promotional campaign for The Summit of Future 2025, hosted by Jain Deemed-to-be University in Kochi. The campaign features fictional news reports that could potentially appear in a newspaper in 2050.

The university’s director, Dr. Tom M. Joseph, issued a statement apologizing for any confusion or concerns caused by the advertisement, clarifying that it was not intended to mislead.

Conclusion

The viral content claiming that printed currency will be banned in India is entirely baseless. The images are part of a fictional advertisement, not genuine news reports. This serves as a reminder to verify the authenticity of such claims before sharing them on social media.