The Indian Rupee (INR) is now accepted for transactions in 18 countries around the world, indicating India's growing prominence on the global stage. Union Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad informed Parliament on Wednesday that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has authorised banks from 18 countries to open Special Vostro Rupee Accounts (SVRAs) in order to settle payments in rupees.

Karad stated in Rajya Sabha that the RBI has granted 60 such approvals. Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Kumar Sarangi elaborated, saying, "About 30 banks from overseas countries have signed up with 30 banks on our side, so 30 accounts." "The transaction began in bits and pieces,"

Botswana, Fiji, Germany, Guyana, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, and the UK now accept INR payments.

Sberbank and VTB Bank, two of Russia's largest lenders, were among the first to receive approval. Another Russian bank that does not have a presence in India is Gazprom, which has opened an account. The move is consistent with the Narendra Modi government's efforts to promote the rupee as an international currency on a global scale. Last year, the RBI and the Finance Ministry directed bank executives to encourage export and import transactions in INR.