India once printed currency notes so rare and high in value that most people never saw them. Here's a look at RBI’s highest denomination notes ever issued.
The ₹10,000 note is the highest denomination ever printed by the RBI. It was first issued in 1938 and then reissued in 1954.
Both versions of the ₹10,000 note were withdrawn, first during Partition and then permanently in 1978 to curb black money.
The ₹5,000 note was also printed post-Independence but was also phased out in 1978 alongside the ₹10,000 note.
These high-value notes were mostly used for interbank transactions and were rarely seen in public circulation.
The ₹2,000 note, launched in 2016, became the highest-value note in circulation after demonetisation, but RBI began withdrawing it in 2023.
As of now, ₹500 is the highest denomination actively used in India under RBI’s clean note policy and digital-first approach.
Globally, countries like Singapore and Vietnam have issued 10,000 denomination notes, but most have phased out high-value notes to curb misuse.
From ₹10,000 notes to digital UPI transfers, RBI’s currency decisions reflect changing priorities from facilitating big trades to ensuring transparency.
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