What is the Currency in India?

The official Indian currency is the Indian rupee, which you’ll see represented by the currency code INR and the symbol ₹. So if you’re planning a trip to India – whether you’re heading straight to the city streets of Delhi, the beaches and backwaters of Kerala or the Golden Triangle sights of Agra – this is the currency you’ll need to use there.

To help you plan, we’ve covered the basics of Indian currency in this guide, including things like average costs in India, exchange rates for pounds to INR, and Indian currency import and export restrictions.

What do you need to know about the Indian rupee?

The Indian rupee (INR) is the official and only legal tender of India. It was adopted as the country’s sole currency in 1947 after India gained independence. 

The rupee symbol, ₹, was officially adopted in 2010. Indian rupees come as both coins and banknotes, and each rupee is made up of 100 paise. 

Indian rupee denominations

Coins include:

₹0.50 (rupee), ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, ₹10

Banknotes include:

₹1, ₹2, ₹5, ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹200, ₹500, ₹2,000

Is the Indian rupee used anywhere else in the world?

While India is the only place that has the Indian rupee as its official currency, it’s also accepted in some neighbouring countries. That includes Nepal, where the Indian rupee is widely used, and Bhutan – whose ngultrum currency is pegged to the Indian rupee.

Can I take Indian rupees into India?

No. Unless you’re a resident of India, importing Indian rupees isn't allowed. You can enter India with any amount of cash in another currency, but you must declare any cash with a value equivalent to $5,000 US dollars or more to customs. If you’re a resident of India, you can buy Indian rupees online and bring up to ₹25,000 into the country.

What is the current exchange rate for Indian rupees?

Exchange rates change all the time – you can use our currency calculator to check today’s GBP to INR exchange rate. And if you’ve got some leftover Indian rupees, you can sell currency back at a Travel Money bureau*. Just bear in mind the same restrictions apply for exporting Indian rupees as importing them, so unless you’re a resident of India you can’t bring Indian rupees back into the UK.

What currencies can you use in India?

INR is the only currency accepted in India. If you’re paying for things with a debit or credit card in India, you might find you’re given a choice of currencies to pay in – but it’s usually recommended to pay in the local currency rather than pounds when you’re abroad.

What payment methods are accepted in India?

It’s a good idea to use a combination of cash and cards when you’re travelling to India – just like any other destination. But there are also a few things to bear in mind that are specific to this destination, which we’ve looked more closely at below.

Cash

Cash remains one of the most popular payment methods in India, and that’s true everywhere from modern cities to rural areas – although especially in the latter. It’s a particularly good idea to have cash to hand for things like street food stalls and temple offerings, where card payments are unlikely to be accepted. 

Debit and credit cards

Visa and Mastercard payments are widely accepted in India at places like restaurants and bars that are set up to take card payments, although American Express acceptance may be lower. Always check with your card issuer before you travel, and consider using cash as well as cards – this will help you to avoid paying the additional fees associated with making card payments while you’re outside of the UK.

Digital wallets

While the digital payment landscape is rapidly changing in India, many major providers including Apple Pay aren’t yet available here. Likewise, visitors from the UK aren’t generally able to make payments in India using Google Wallet – which is not to be confused with GPay, India’s own UPI-based payment app. For that reason it’s best to check availability of your specific digital wallet before you travel, and rely primarily on cash and card payments.

How much money should I take with me?

At the time of writing, the cost of living in India is more than 72% lower than in the United Kingdom, so your money will go much further here.

The exact amount of money you’ll need to budget will depend on everything from your accommodation style to your travel itinerary, but we’ve covered a few basic costs in India vs the UK below* to get you started. Bear in mind the currency import restrictions detailed above when it comes to taking foreign currency into India. And if you’re still in the planning stages of your trip, you’ll find our guide to the best time to visit India handy.

A mid-range three-course meal for two: £65.00 in the UK vs £8.98 (1,100.00 ₹) in India

A small domestic draught beer: £5.00 in the UK vs £1.39 (170.00 ₹) in India

A regular cappuccino: £3.52 in the UK vs £1.32 (161.15 ₹) in India

A one-way ticket on local transport: £2.50 in the UK vs 21p (26.00 ₹) in India

*Example prices from Numbeo.com correct as at March 2026. All prices are illustrative.

Buying Indian rupees with M&S Travel Money

Ready to go? You can buy Indian rupees online for Click & Collect from your nearest participating M&S store*.

*T&Cs apply. Subject to availability. Please refer to currency import restrictions. Sell-back only available at bureau locations.