Business · Economy · 12 hrs ago
RBI plans pilot of same-size polymer ₹10 and ₹20 notes in 2027
The Reserve Bank of India is preparing a pilot of polymer ₹10 and ₹20 notes, with the trial expected to begin on April 1, 2027.
The plan covers India, where these low-value notes are used frequently for everyday purchases and fares.
The new notes are planned to keep the current size, so banks can avoid costly changes to ATMs.
Paper notes will remain valid and circulate alongside the new notes during the trial.
The RBI plans to release one billion notes of each value for testing.
Polymer notes are designed to resist water and dirt and are expected to last longer than paper notes, which could reduce how often worn notes need replacing.
The pilot will test the new notes before any wider rollout, and the sources do not say when a broader issue might happen.
The Reserve Bank of India is preparing a pilot of polymer ₹10 and ₹20 notes from 1 April 2027.
The proposed notes would keep the same size as existing notes, helping banks avoid ATM changes.
The pilot would put 1 billion notes of each denomination into circulation, according to ABP News.
Existing paper notes would remain valid and circulate alongside the polymer notes during the trial.
The RBI’s note-printing company has received bids from six companies for polymer-note material.
- Who
- The Reserve Bank of India is preparing the pilot.
- What
- It plans to trial polymer ₹10 and ₹20 notes in the same size as the existing notes.
- When
- The pilot is planned to start on 1 April 2027.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The notes are intended to last longer than paper notes, while keeping their size the same would help banks avoid ATM reconfiguration costs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra spoke about the long lifespan of polymer currency notes.
News outlets reported that the RBI was preparing a polymer-note pilot and that six companies had bid for the material.
The pilot is planned to begin.
- Denominations
- ₹10 and ₹20
- Planned start
- 1 April 2027
- Pilot quantities
- 1 billion ₹10 notes and 1 billion ₹20 notes
- Material
- BOPP, or biaxially oriented polypropylene
- Material tender
- 68,000 reams, split equally between the two denominations
- Bids
- Six companies
3 sources
What people are saying
In some places, polymer currency notes have lasted more than 30 years.
Keeping the notes the same size will help banks avoid the initial cost of reconfiguring ATMs.