No requirement for Indian citizens to declare religion for opening bank account, clarifies Finance Ministry

New Delhi: The Central government on Saturday dispelled rumours claiming that Indian citizens will need to disclose their religion in their bank`s `Know Your Customer` (KYC) forms.

"There is no requirement for the Indian citizens to declare their religion for opening/existing bank account or for KYC," Rajeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, tweeted.

किसी भी #भारतीय नागरिक को अपना #बैंक खाता खोलने या पुराने के लिये या #KYC के लिए अपने धर्म का खुलासा करने की कोई ज़रूरत नहीं है। ऐसे अफ़वाहों पर क़तई विश्वास ना करें |@PIB_India @DDNewsLive @PTI_News @FinMinIndia @PMOIndia — Rajeev kumar (@rajeevkumr) December 21, 2019

"Do not fall for baseless rumours about any such move by banks," he added.

There is no requirement for #Indian citizens to declare their religion for opening/ existing #Bank account or for #KYC. Do not fall for baseless rumours about any such move by Banks @PIB_India @DDNewsLive @PTI_News @FinMinIndia @PMOIndia — Rajeev kumar (@rajeevkumr) December 21, 2019

According to a media report, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians refugees -- from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan holding long-term visas (LTVs) -- will have to disclose their religion in the bank`s KYC forms.