New Delhi: The news of religion being mandatory for opening a bank account has been rejected by the central government. The Finance Ministry said that no Indian citizens are required to disclose their religion in the Know Your Customer (KYC) form of their bank. Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar has asked not to believe such rumors going on social media.

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The Finance Secretary made this tweet with news reports claiming that it may be mandatory to disclose religion to open an account in banks. It states that banks may soon add a new column to their KYC form, in which their depositor or customer will have to provide information about their religion.

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In the tweet, Rajiv Kumar, Finance Secretary, and Secretary, Department of Financial Services, wrote that there is no need for any Indian citizen to give information about their religion in KYC to open their bank account or know their customer in an old account. He further said that the public should not believe such rumors at all. This clarification from the government came at a time when some media reports were being told that while opening or verifying bank accounts, consumers can ask for information about their religion.

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