In an unusual step to stop the infliction of black money in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said: "Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes will no longer be legal from midnight today."

In his first televised address to the nation, Modi said "people holding notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 can deposit the same in their bank and post office accounts from November 10 till December 30. He explained that the currency notes will be just paper with no value."

“Notes of Rs 2000 and Rs 500 will be circulated soon, RBI has decided to limit the notes with higher value,” he added, saying some ATMs in the country may not work on November 9 and 10.

He promised the nation that "the notes of Rs 100, 50, 10 and coins of all values will persist legal tender and will not be changed and that this step will strengthen the hands of the common man in the fight against black money.”

The government also listed some exemptions to help reduce difficulty to the common man. All hospitals will accept the big currencies for the next 72 hours.

Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes will also be valid for transactions linked to the booking of air tickets, railway bookings, government bus ticket counters till the midnight of November 11 and 12.

ATM withdrawals will be limited to Rs 2000 per day and withdrawals from bank accounts will be limited to Rs 10,000 a day and Rs 20,000 a week.

"Banks will remain closed tomorrow and ATMs will also not function tomorrow and day after," Modi said. He gave assurance that the staff of banks and post offices will rise to the possibility to introduce the new order within the possible time.

He also showed a belief that political parties, workers, social organizations and the media will go more than the government in making it a success.

Apart from depositing money in bank accounts, the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes can also be replaced with lower denomination currency notes at selected banks and post offices by providing valid government identity cards like PAN, Aadhaar, and Election Card from November 10 to November 24 with a daily limit of Rs 4000.

"Those unable to deposit Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes till December 30 this year can do so in designated RBI offices till March 31 next year after filing a declaration form along with proof and reasons," the Prime Minister said.

"Banks will be closed tomorrow. It will cause some hardship for you....Let us ignore these hardships... In country's history, there comes a moment when people will want to participate in the nation building and reconstruction. Very few such moments come in life,"  Modi said.

Modi's decision comes just days after some leaders recommended that currency notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 denominations should be prohibited to restrain black money in the country.

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BY M. DIVYA SRI