For millions in India, the sight of ATM screens displaying 'No cash' has become an increasingly common experience. Yet, official statistics reveal a different picture. According to RBI, currency in circulation has risen to a record level, exceeding ₹42.56 lakh cr, representing an annual growth of about 12%.
So, it's not about insufficient currency. Instead, it reflects serious disruptions within the network responsible for moving cash from bank vaults to ATMs and, ultimately, to consumers. Three major structural factors have caused bottlenecks:
