2000 notes: 2000 rupee notes are still legal tender, meaning they are valid for payments. However, most bank branches or retail outlets no longer accept them for regular transactions.

2000 notes: 2000 rupee notes are no longer in circulation in the country. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to withdraw them from circulation in May 2023. Although the 2000 rupee notes remain legal tender, they are no longer used for transactions.

Therefore, if you still have a 2000 rupee note at your home, shop, or business, the RBI has advised you to return them immediately. Even though the Reserve Bank started withdrawing these high-denomination notes in May 2023, after more than two years, approximately ₹6,000 crore worth of currency is still in circulation.

RBI is removing old notes from the system

The RBI has clarified that 2000 rupee notes are still legal tender, meaning they are valid for payments. However, most bank branches or retail outlets no longer accept them for regular transactions. As of October 31, 2025, approximately 98.37 percent of the 2000 rupee notes in circulation have been returned.

This withdrawal of notes is part of the RBI's 'Clean Note Policy,' which aims to remove old and less frequently used notes from the system. Printing of 2000 rupee notes was stopped after the 2018-19 financial year due to their infrequent use in daily transactions.

Where can you deposit the notes?

The facility to deposit or exchange 2000 rupee notes at commercial bank branches ended on October 7, 2023. Currently, the facility for exchanging notes is available only at 19 RBI regional offices across the country. You can also deposit the ₹2000 notes into your bank account through any post office in the country, which will then forward them to one of the Reserve Bank's regional offices. These 19 offices are located in major cities such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, New Delhi, and Chennai. In Uttar Pradesh, regional offices are located in major cities like Kanpur and Lucknow.

Documents Required for Deposit

According to a circular issued by RBI Chief General Manager (CGM) Brijraj, depositors will need to bring their Aadhaar card as proof of identity and their bank account details to ensure the amount is credited to the correct account. The RBI Regional Director in Lucknow stated that a form will be provided at the branch, which needs to be filled out and submitted along with the notes and proof of identity.

No Need to Be Confused

There is still confusion among people regarding the ₹2000 notes. They believe that the notes might be rejected or their value reduced due to the delay, which is not the case. The RBI has appealed to the public to utilize the special exchange counters set up at their regional offices to deposit the remaining notes.

These notes were issued in November 2016 under Section 24(1) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Their printing was stopped in 2018-19. They were introduced during the demonetization period when the old ₹500 and ₹1000 notes were withdrawn, to meet the currency requirements of the country.