India plans polymer banknote pilot aimed at notes lasting up to four times longer

India is preparing to pilot polymer banknotes designed to outlast conventional currency by as much as four times, a potential durability upgrade for the cash ecosystem used by retailers and consumers.

— Filed Wed, 5 Aug, 2026, 17:50 IST · Source Business Today · Latest · Updated

India plans to pilot polymer banknotes designed to last up to four times longer than conventional notes, a potential change to the cash-payment infrastructure used by retailers and consumers.

Why this matters

No related recent signals are provided for India or polymer currency, making the pilot an initial indicator of durability-focused change in the retail cash ecosystem.

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