India Tests Hybrid ATMs to End Change Shortage: All You Need to Know

India Tests Hybrid ATMs to End Change Shortage: All You Need to Know

For millions of Indians, a simple transaction can become a daily frustration. You hand over a ₹500 note to a chai-wallah or an auto driver, only to be met with an apologetic shake of the head. "Bhaiyya, chutta nahi hai." The chronic shortage of smaller denomination notes and coins is a familiar pain point in India's cash-driven economy, stalling commerce and testing patience at every corner shop and market stall. Now, a high-tech solution is being piloted on the bustling streets of Mumbai. In a move aimed directly at this systemic snag, the government is trialing hybrid ATMs. These aren't your ordinary cash machines. Their special function? To break your large Rs 500 notes into smaller bills and even coins, promising to make small change as easy to get as big notes. The Core Problem: Too Much Big Money, Not Enough Small Why is getting change for a ₹500 note such a widespread headache? The answer lies in the cold, hard data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Recent ci…