No plans to introduce Rs 50 coin, public prefers notes due to light weight: Centre tells Delhi HC
Union Finance Ministry
has informed the
Delhi High Court
that it currently has no plans to introduce a
Rs 50 coin
, attributing the decision to widespread public preference for currency notes over heavier coins such as Rs 10 and Rs 20.
In its affidavit filed on Tuesday, the Ministry cited findings from a 2022
Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) survey, which revealed that users often avoid coins due to their weight, size, and lack of distinctiveness, factors that make banknotes more practical for daily use.
The Ministry explained that coin issuance depends on public acceptance, usage patterns, and economic considerations, and as of now, a Rs 50 coin is not under consideration.
This submission responded to a petition by advocate Rohit Dandriyal, who urged the government and the RBI to introduce a Rs 50 coin to enhance accessibility for visually impaired citizens. Dandriyal highlighted that Rs 50 notes currently lack tactile features, unlike other denominations, making them difficult to identify and use.
The matter was heard by Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal. The court granted the petitioner time to review the affidavit and respond, setting the next hearing for September 17.
Live Events
The government acknowledged that most denominations incorporate accessibility elements like intaglio printing and varied sizes. However, it admitted that Rs 50 notes lack such tactile markers. Additionally, simultaneous circulation of both old and new Mahatma Gandhi Series notes may contribute to confusion for those with partial vision.
To address accessibility, the RBI launched the Mapp (Mobile Aided Note Identifier) in 2020 to help visually impaired users recognise note denominations through audio assistance. In 2019, a redesigned coin series was introduced, including Rs 1, Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10, and Rs 20, but did not include a Rs 50 coin.
Previously, the Delhi High Court had directed the Centre and the RBI to examine the design and accessibility of currency in light of the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
23 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
Lured by lottery ‘win', Bengaluru woman loses Rs 11.8 lakh to cyber fraudsters
Fearing legal trouble, she sent Rs 11.80 lakh to nine bank accounts, including those in UCO Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and Axis Bank.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Over 100 border villages of Punjab to be developed under central scheme
Bathinda: To boost development in rural areas, 107 villages from six border districts of Punjab have been included in a Vibrant Village Programme, meant for comprehensive development. This programme was launched in April 2025 and will continue until the financial year 2028-29. The identified focus areas of interventions under the programme are livelihood generation, road connectivity, village infrastructure including health facilities, financial inclusion, empowerment of youth and skill development and development of cooperatives. This was stated by Union minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai in a written reply in Rajya Sabha in response to a question by Punjab-based MP Satnam Singh Sandhu on Wednesday. Out of the total 107 villages, 25 are in Amritsar, 15 in Fazilka, 17 in Ferozepur, 19 in Gurdaspur, 7 in Pathankot, and 24 in Tarn Taran. The minister further stated that the central govt has approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II), as a central sector scheme, with a total outlay of Rs 6,839 crore until the financial year 2028-29 for the comprehensive development of identified villages located in blocks abutting international land borders (ILBs), other than the northern border already covered under VVP-I. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best SIP Plans for NRIs in Ukraine – Get ₹2L Monthly Pension | Invest ₹18K PB Learn More Undo Earlier, MP Satnam Singh Sandhu had asked whether any village from Punjab has been included under the Vibrant Villages Programme aimed at developing border regions; and the current status of implementation and the budget allocated for Punjab. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Tailors, weavers, clerks are under construction workers' welfare board, says CAG
Bengaluru: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Wednesday pulled up Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board for irregular and unauthorised expenditure of Rs 259 crore during the first wave of Covid-19 in 2020. In a report tabled in the legislature, CAG said the board had initially proposed a preventive health training and check-up programme for five lakh registered construction workers across the state. Its first proposal in July 2020, estimated at Rs 10 crore, was rejected by the finance department, which sought more clarity. A second proposal in Dec 2020 was also blocked after the finance department demanded justification for awarding the project to three agencies directly, without following the tender process, and for seeking 4(g) exemption under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru Instead of providing the required justification, the board secretary on April 12, 2021, sent a fresh proposal to the labour department to call for a tender to empanel agencies for a year. He also sought administrative approval to implement the scheme on a pilot basis in Dharwad circle for Rs 9 crore. Soon after, the board decided to split the same work into 30 individual projects, thereby avoiding the need for cabinet approval, and proceeded to call for quotations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo The board later approved these projects post-facto in June 2022, citing exemption under Section 4(a) that was originally provided during the first and second waves of Covid-19 for supply of food and ration kits to labourers. The CAG noted, "Thus, the award of contracts from Sept 2021 to May 2022 in contravention to the act/rules resulted in irregular expenditure of Rs 258.8 crore." Responding to the audit, the govt said in Aug 2024 that the work was entrusted directly since a 4(a) exemption was accorded and that there was no contravention of rules. However, CAG rejected this defence, stating the reply was "unacceptable" as it was meant to address the Covid-19 emergency and criticised the labour department for approving work by splitting them into 30 sub-works of Rs 10 crore each despite finance department objections and without cabinet approval. The report also flagged irregularities in the registration of members. Of the board's 42.5 lakh registered workers, CAG found a significant number were not actually construction workers. A random survey of 399 applicants who registered through the Seva Sindhu portal revealed beneficiaries included tailors, clerks, weavers, and others from unrelated professions. The audit recommended that the board devise a mechanism to identify and weed out ineligible beneficiaries. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
