Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Dec 9: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has clarified that coins ranging from 50 paise to Rs 20 continue to be legal tender, addressing growing confusion and misinformation over their validity.

In an awareness campaign under the banner "RBI Kehta Hai", the central bank released two videos via WhatsApp showing citizens attempting transactions with coins, some of which were refused by recipients. The videos aimed to dispel rumours and emphasise that all issued coins remain valid and can be used for payments.

“Do not believe in rumours about coins. Different coin designs of the same value stay in circulation for a long time. All of them are acceptable,” the RBI stated.

The initiative comes amid reports that many traders, especially when dealing with 50 paise coins, were refusing to accept them. While this denomination is rarely seen in daily transactions, the RBI stressed that it has not been demonetised, and citizens may continue to use it freely.

The bank further noted that coins, including older designs, possess distinctive features representing economic, social, and cultural themes and values. “Coins have distinctive features to reflect various themes of economic, social and cultural values and are introduced from time to time,” the RBI added in its statement.

Through the campaign, the RBI urged the public to use coins without hesitation and requested traders to accept them as part of routine cash transactions. The videos demonstrated scenarios where coins were rejected, highlighting the need for public awareness to counter misinformation.

This clarification reinforces that coins of all denominations, including 50 paise, Re 1, Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10, and Rs 20, remain legal tender across India, and individuals are encouraged to continue using them for everyday transactions.