Despite being withdrawn from circulation, the Rs 2,000 currency note remains legal tender, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). In a recent statement (January 1, 2026), the RBI confirmed that about Rs 5,669 crore worth of Rs 2,000 notes, or roughly 2.83 crore pieces, are still in circulation across the country.
When the withdrawal was first announced on May 19, 2023, the total value of Rs 2,000 notes stood at Rs 3.56 lakh crore. Since then, 98.41% of those notes have been returned to the banking system. The withdrawal was part of the RBI’s currency management measures to promote cleaner notes and streamline the denomination structure.
Although banks stopped exchanging the notes after October 7, 2023, the central bank continues to provide exchange facilities at its 19 regional Issue Offices, located in major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, among others.
People who still possess Rs 2,000 notes can either visit these offices directly or send the notes via India Post for credit into their bank accounts.The RBI reiterated that the Rs 2,000 note remains a valid currency, ensuring that the public has ample opportunity to exchange or deposit it safely.
