No proposal to introduce ₹50 coin: Centre informs Delhi High Court
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New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Finance informed the Delhi High Court that there is currently no proposal under consideration to introduce a ₹50 coin.
The response came in light of a petition filed by advocates Rohit Dandriyal and Mini Agrawal, who argued that the existing ₹50 note lacks tactile features, making it difficult for visually impaired individuals to identify it.
Citing a 2022 Reserve Bank of India survey, the ministry said public preference leans toward banknotes for ₹10 and ₹20 denominations due to usability concerns—especially the size and weight similarities of coins across values. It added that any decision to introduce a ₹50 coin depends on several factors, including public acceptance, economic requirements, and accessibility considerations.
The petitioners stated that the ₹50 note closely resembles ₹100 and ₹500 notes and lacks intaglio printing or tactile marks, effectively leaving no substitute for visually impaired users.
The Finance Ministry’s affidavit acknowledged that lower denomination notes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series—₹10, ₹20, and ₹50—do not contain raised printing or angular bleed lines, unlike higher denominations. It said such features tend to erode quickly due to frequent handling and would impact currency production costs and efficiency.
As an alternative, the ministry highlighted the RBI’s mobile app MANI (Mobile Aided Note Identifier), launched in 2020, which helps over 15 lakh users identify currency denominations using smartphone cameras.
Requesting the court to dismiss the plea, the ministry reiterated that there is no current plan to issue a ₹50 coin.
(inputs from IANS)
