Currency update: RBI says 98.41% of withdrawn Rs 2,000 notes returned; Rs 5,669 crore still in circulation

The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday said that 98.41% of the Rs 2,000 banknotes that were in circulation at the time of their withdrawal announcement have been returned to the banking system, PTI reported.“The total value of Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation, which was Rs 3.56 lakh crore at the close of business on May 19, 2023, when the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 banknotes was announced, has declined to Rs 5,669 crore at the close of business on December 31, 2025,” the RBI said.The central bank had announced the withdrawal of the Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation on May 19, 2023. Based on the latest data, 98.41% of the high-value notes in circulation as of that date have since been returned, it said.The RBI noted that facilities for deposit and exchange of Rs 2,000 notes were available at all bank branches across the country until October 7, 2023. From October 9, 2023, the RBI’s 19 issue offices have been accepting Rs 2,000 banknotes from individuals and entities for deposit into their bank accounts.In addition, members of the public are able to send Rs 2,000 banknotes through India Post from any post office in the country to RBI issue offices for credit to their bank accounts, the RBI said in a statement.The central bank reiterated that Rs 2,000 banknotes continue to remain legal tender.