<h1>Government Ends Use of Old Rs. 500 Notes for Rail and Bus Transactions from Midnight, December 9, 2016.</h1> The government announced the withdrawal of exemptions allowing the use of old Rs. 500 notes for certain transactions, effective midnight December 9, 2016. These exemptions previously permitted payments at railway ticketing counters, government or public sector bus ticket counters, onboard catering services during rail travel, and for purchasing suburban and metro rail tickets. This decision follows a review of the declining trend in the receipt of old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes and efforts to promote digital transactions.