What’s inside:
This article talks about the decline in ₹ 2000 notes in circulation, their legal status, and how the public can handle them.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a big drop in the circulation of ₹ 2000 banknotes. As of September 30, 2025, the total value of these notes has decreased to ₹ 5,884 crore, down from ₹ 3.56 lakh crore when the withdrawal was announced in May 2023.
Even though ₹ 2000 notes are not being used actively anymore, they are still considered legal tender. This means that you can still use them to pay off debts or fulfill financial obligations, even if they aren’t commonly used in daily transactions.
The ₹ 2000 note was first introduced in November 2016 to help with cash needs following the withdrawal of ₹ 500 and ₹ 1000 notes. The RBI stopped printing these notes in 2018-19 as other denominations became available. Most ₹ 2000 notes were issued before March 2017 and are now about 4-5 years old.
Here are some key points for the public: You could deposit or exchange ₹ 2000 notes at any bank branch until October 7, 2023. The RBI has also allowed deposits at its offices since May 19, 2023. From October 9, 2023, these offices are accepting ₹ 2000 notes for depositing into bank accounts, and you can also send these notes through post.
Next, the RBI will continue to provide facilities for depositing or exchanging ₹ 2000 notes. It is important for people to be aware of these options and timelines to manage their currency effectively.
Summary:
- ₹ 2000 notes in circulation have dropped to ₹ 5,884 crore.
- These notes remain valid for paying debts and financial obligations.
- The ₹ 2000 note was introduced in 2016 after the withdrawal of larger notes.
- Deposits of ₹ 2000 notes were allowed in banks until October 7, 2023.
- RBI offices are accepting deposits of these notes starting October 9, 2023.
