Summary of this article
RBI assures adequate currency availability across the system
ATM cash shortages to be addressed promptly
Industry body reports decline in ATM cash fulfilment
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on June 5, 2026 said there is adequate currency available in the system, adding that any cash shortages at ATMs would be addressed promptly. At the post-Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press conference, Malhotra said that RBI has sufficient currency stocks and would ensure that cash reaches locations facing shortages without delay.
“If there is a shortage, we will certainly ensure that the shortage is met. Our full effort will be to ensure that wherever there is a shortage of currency in one or two places at ATMs, we will deliver currency there promptly and at a rapid pace,” he said.
ATM Operators Flag Cash Access Issues
Malhotra’s remarks came amid concerns by the Confederation of ATM Industry (CATMi), which has reported difficulties in obtaining cash for ATM replenishment.
On June 2, in a letter to Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), CATMi had said that its members have faced several constraints in drawing cash from bank branches and currency chests across several states since late December 2025.
The industry body also mentioned restricted access to cash has affected ATM replenishment operations, resulting in higher instances of cash-outs and downtime.
“An ATM that cannot be loaded cannot dispense. Customers are turned away and the transaction is lost for good,” CATMi said in the letter, describing the issue as a cross-bank challenge requiring coordinated action.
CATMi is a registered non-profit trade association representing ATM manufacturing and outsourcing companies.
Cash Fulfilment Rates Fall
According to data shared by CATMi with the IBA, national cash fulfilment levels have declined sharply in recent months. The proportion of indented cash actually received for ATM replenishment fell to 57 per cent in April 2026 from around 80 per cent in November 2025.
The corresponding indent shortfall widened to 43 per cent from 20 per cent during the same period.
Cash fulfilment rates have declined from 71 per cent in February to 64 per cent in March, and further to 57 per cent in April, indicating a widening gap between cash requested and cash supplied.
In March and April, ATM operators collectively indented nearly Rs 94,000 crore each month. However, cash received amounted to around Rs 61,000 crore in March and Rs 54,000 crore in April, translating into fulfilment rates of 64 per cent and 57 per cent, respectively.
ATM Transactions Under Pressure
CATMi has said that reduced cash availability has started affecting ATM usage. Average daily transactions per ATM declined to 65 in April from 74 in October 2025, with some states witnessing steeper declines.
The industry body also highlighted the increasing acceptance of online transactions as one of the factors impacting on ATM transaction volumes.
The increased usage of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and other digital payment systems, as well as increasing the fees for cash withdrawal beyond the limit of free usage, have resulted in reduced cash withdrawal activity, which in turn has put pressure on ATM operators, CATMi said.
