New Delhi: Recent social media claims suggesting that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is planning to replace paper currency with plastic or polymer notes have been found to be misleading, according to a PIB fact-check.
The viral posts had alleged that India would soon transition to plastic banknotes, sparking widespread speculation and confusion among users online. However, the RBI has not announced any decision to withdraw paper currency or fully replace it with plastic notes.
In a post on X, the fact checking unit said the the claims were “false.” Quoting RBI, PIB clarified that there are no plans to withdraw paper currency notes or replace them with plastic currency notes by June 30.
“According to @RBI, there are no plans to withdraw paper currency notes or replace them with plastic currency notes by June 30, 2026,” it said in its post.
PIB said that the video making such claims that was circulated on social media was “digitally altered.”
The misleading claims appear to have originated from misinterpreted or unverified social media content rather than official RBI statements.
The confusion comes amid ongoing discussions around polymer (plastic) banknotes, which RBI has reportedly been evaluating as a possible future option. Polymer notes are known for being more durable and harder to counterfeit, and several countries have already adopted them in limited circulation.
However, officials have emphasized that this consideration is still at a preliminary stage and does not amount to an approved rollout or replacement plan. There is currently no timeline or confirmed policy for introducing plastic currency in India on a large scale.
he RBI has urged the public to rely on official communications and avoid misinformation circulating on social media platforms regarding changes to India’s currency system.
