If you have damaged currency notes, then this is for you
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 09 2026: Got any soiled or mutilated currency notes lying idle in your wallet or at home ? You may go to the nearest bank branch and exchange them.

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), damaged notes often remain valid legal tender and can usually be exchanged for their full or partial value depending on their condition.

Soiled notes refer to currency that has become dirty due to regular use, including notes made up of two pieces pasted together where both parts belong to the same note and all essential features are intact.

Mutilated notes are those with missing portions or made up of more than two pieces.

When individuals may visit their nearest bank branch for exchanging soiled or mutilated notes, there are around 10 vendors on the northern side of the BT Park, Imphal offering the "service" .

"Most banks in Imphal handle a very limited amount of exchange.

And, most of the banks provide limited windows for the service, and allow exchange for only those torn notes which are in good condition," said vendors at the BT Park, asking individuals who are unable to exchange their torn notes at banks to come to them.

Soiled, mutilated or charred currency notes can be exchanged at the vendors.

The value of the exchange/refund depends on the conditions of the bank notes, said a vendor who hails from Thoubal.

When exchanging a Rs 500 note that has been torn in the middle into two pieces at the vendor, the owner will get a refund of Rs 250, she said.

When exchanging a Rs 500 note that has been torn into three pieces, the owner is given a refund of Rs 150 .

A Rs 500 note that has been torn into multiple pieces may be exchanged for Rs 100, provided any of the pieces are not missing, she added.

Similarly, a Rs 200 note that has been torn into two pieces may fetch a refund of Rs 100.The same note (Rs 200) that has been torn into three pieces fetches a refund of Rs 60 .

A Rs 100 note torn into two pieces may fetch a refund of Rs 50.The same note that has been torn into three pieces may fetch a refund of Rs 20 .

When exchanging Rs 50, Rs 20 and Rs 10 notes which are torn into two pieces, the owner is given a refund that is equal to half the original amount.

When exchanging Rs 50, Rs 20 and Rs 10 notes which are torn into three pieces, the owner is given a refund of Rs 10, Rs 5 and Rs 2.5 respectively, said the vendor.

The soiled and mutilated notes the vendors collect are given to individuals who exchange them at the Reserve Bank of India in Guwahati.

The vendors get a small fraction of the exchange value as profit, she said.

Encouraging people to visit the vendors and exchange damaged notes, she said, currency notes which are burnt or charred may also be exchanged.

For such notes, the refund value may depend on the condition of the notes, she added.

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