tayari24.com
India to Introduce Durable Polymer Banknotes in FY28: A Strategic Shift
For Rajasthan Government Exam Preparation and Practice Download Tayari24 Official App from Play Store - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=education.ai.tayari24
Key Highlights
* RBI plans to roll out polymer ₹10 and ₹20 notes from FY28 after successful pilot testing.
* Polymer notes promise a 3–4× longer lifespan compared to paper, cutting long‑term printing costs.
* The initiative aims to boost currency supply capacity to meet India’s growing economic demand.
* Polymer notes will coexist with existing paper notes; no wholesale replacement is planned.
Detailed Insights
In a post‑MPC statement, Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced that the Reserve Bank has entered the pilot phase of a polymer‑note programme. The central bank has already opened a tender for polymer substrates, the base material on which the notes will be printed. The polymer notes will undergo rigorous field trials to assess durability under India’s diverse climatic conditions, high circulation rates, and the existing banking infrastructure.
Should the pilot prove successful, the first batch of polymer notes—one billion ₹10 notes and one billion ₹20 notes—will be issued at the start of FY28. The government has clarified that polymer notes will supplement, not replace, the current paper currency.
Polymer banknotes are already in use in nearly 60 countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Vietnam, Romania, and Singapore. Australia pioneered the technology in 1988. The material’s resilience against moisture, dirt, and physical wear makes it an attractive option for high‑frequency denominations.
RBI’s rationale centers on two key benefits: a significantly extended lifespan for low‑denomination notes, and an enhanced printing capacity to keep pace with India’s expanding economy.
Key Concepts
* Polymer Substrate – The plastic base material onto which ink and security features are applied to produce a banknote.
* Durability Testing – Field trials that evaluate a note’s resistance to wear, moisture, and environmental stress.
* Currency Supply Capacity – The ability of the central bank to produce and circulate sufficient notes to meet economic demand.
* Lifecycle Cost – The total cost of a note from production to retirement, including printing, distribution, and replacement.