Rs 2000 Notes Still Valid: RBI Confirms INR 6017 Crore Worth Still in Circulation, Issues Fresh Guidelines

New Delhi, August 2, 2025 — More than two years after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the withdrawal of ₹2000 notes from circulation, a surprising amount of the high-denomination currency remains with the public. As per RBI’s latest data, ₹2000 notes worth approximately ₹6017 crore — over 3 crore notes — are still yet to be returned.

Despite the passage of time and widespread awareness campaigns, a small but significant percentage of these notes are still in circulation. However, the central bank has reassured the public that these notes remain legal tender, and individuals still have multiple ways to deposit or exchange them.

Rs 2000 Notes Still Valid: RBI Clarifies Legal Status

In its updated guidelines, the RBI has reaffirmed that ₹2000 notes are still valid currency. This means they can legally be used for transactions or deposited into bank accounts. The key condition is that holders of these notes must reintroduce them into the banking system through legitimate channels.

So if you're holding on to these notes, there's no need to panic — they’re still recognized by the RBI, and options remain open for processing them safely.

The Decline in Circulation: Where the Numbers Stand

When the RBI announced the withdrawal of ₹2000 notes on May 19, 2023, the total value of these notes in circulation was around ₹3.56 lakh crore. Since then, 98.31% of the notes have been returned to the banking system. However, 1.69% of the total, or ₹6017 crore, still remains with individuals.

This small fraction, while significantly reduced, continues to concern the central bank and highlights the need for ongoing awareness efforts.

How and Where Can You Still Exchange Rs 2000 Notes?

To ease the transition, the RBI has kept multiple exchange channels open for those who still possess ₹2000 notes. Here’s how you can deposit or exchange them:

• ✅ RBI’s 19 Regional Offices are still accepting ₹2000 notes.

• ✅ You can visit these offices in person to deposit the notes into your bank account.

• ✅ Alternatively, you can send the notes via post to the nearest RBI regional office for processing.

List of RBI Offices Accepting Rs 2000 Notes

The facility is available in the following 19 cities across India:

Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Belapur, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, and Thiruvananthapuram.

If you live in or near any of these cities, you can walk into the respective RBI office and get your notes processed without delay.

What’s the Bigger Picture?

The original reason for introducing ₹2000 notes in 2016 was to quickly remonetize the economy post demonetization. However, with time, the RBI observed that high-denomination notes were being hoarded and were less effective for daily transactions.

By 2023, the RBI decided to phase out these notes, citing clean note policy objectives and the growing use of digital payment systems like UPI, which significantly reduced the demand for such high-value currency.

The latest figures reflect how gradually but effectively the system is shifting toward digital transactions and lower denomination notes.

Conclusion: Don’t Delay, Deposit Today

If you still have ₹2000 notes lying around, it's time to act. While these notes are still valid and accepted, RBI may not keep the deposit facility open indefinitely. The good news is that no late fees or penalties are involved — just walk into an RBI regional office or send your notes via post.

With nearly 99% of the notes already returned, the RBI’s clean-up drive is almost complete, but your participation can help achieve full success.