A cheque (check in American English) is a written instruction to your bank to pay a specific amount from your account to a named person or organization. It is one of the oldest non-cash payment instruments, dating back to the 9th century in the Islamic world.
Key elements on a cheque: date, payee name, amount (in words and figures), signature, account number, and MICR code. Cheques are valid for 3 months from the date of issue in India (6 months in many other countries). Post-dated cheques are commonly used for EMI payments and business transactions.
Cheque usage has declined dramatically with digital payments. India's cheque volume dropped from 1.3 billion in 2016 to under 900 million by 2024. The Cheque Truncation System (CTS) digitized the clearing process — banks now scan and transmit cheque images electronically instead of physically transporting paper cheques between branches.