Government Approves RBI Field Trials of Rs 10 and Rs 20 Polymer Currency Notes

30 July 2026National

The Government of India (GoI) approved the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposal to conduct field trials of one billion polymer banknotes each in the Rs 10 and Rs 20 denominations, a significant step towards evaluating more durable currency notes. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed Parliament that the proposal was approved under Section 25 of the RBI Act, 1934, following the recommendation of the RBI's Central Board, and that the trial notes are worth about Rs 3,000 crore. The RBI will conduct the trials under different climatic and usage conditions to evaluate durability, security features and public acceptance; regular issuance will begin only after successful evaluation. Polymer notes are printed on a non-fibrous, non-porous polymer substrate instead of conventional banknote paper. The government clarified that paper currency is not being phased out - polymer notes are being tested as an additional option and would circulate alongside existing paper notes.

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RBI established: 1 April 1935 under the RBI Act, 1934 | Nationalised in 1949 | Headquarters: Mumbai | RBI is India's sole currency-issuing authority except the Re 1 note & coins (issued by the Ministry of Finance) | Currency notes are printed at presses in Nashik, Dewas, Mysuru and Salboni

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The GoI approved RBI field trials of one billion Rs 10 and Rs 20 polymer notes each under Section 25 of the RBI Act, 1934 - tested as an additional option, not a replacement for paper notes.

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