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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1980
TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 10, 2026 / 19 PHALGUNA, 1947 (SAKA)
Shortage of lower denomination currency notes
1980 Shri Babubhai Jesangbhai Desai
Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government is aware of the acute shortage of lower denomination currency
notes of ₹10, ₹20 and ₹50 in circulation, including their limited availability in banks and
non-dispensing through ATM machines across various parts of the country;
(b) whether any assessment has been conducted regarding the impact of this shortage on
daily cash transactions, small traders, rural areas and economically weaker sections;
(c) whether Government proposes to increase printing and circulation of these notes and to
ensure their availability through ATM machines to reduce excessive reliance on coins; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (d): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as part of a continuous process, assesses the
requirement of different denominations of banknotes and makes recommendations to the
Government on the required denomination mix to be printed. The demand for lower
denomination currency is met through a mix of banknotes and coins. Besides, the digital
modes of payment constitute a significant portion of the overall transactions including low-
value transactions. RBI has informed that it endeavours to put adequate quantity of
banknotes and coins of different denominations in circulation on a continuous basis to meet
the demand of the economy.As per RBI, the lower denomination banknotes of ₹10, ₹20 and ₹50 have not been
traditionally dispensed through ATMs. A pilot project for dispensing lower denomination
banknotes through small value dispensers has been launched. The details on supply of ₹10,
₹20 and ₹50 denomination banknotes for the last three financial years are as under:
(pieces in Lakh)
Denomination FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26
(Supply up to
26.02.2026)
₹10 6000 8000 18000 43940
₹20 19999 20000 15000 19370
₹50 20000 25000 30000 13030
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