Nepal Rastra Bank Opens Tender For 400 Million Re. 1 Coins Worth Rs. 40 Crore

Kathmandu, October 04, 2026

Nepal Rastra Bank has invited international bids to design, mint, supply, and deliver 400 million pieces of Re. 1 circulation coins, with a total face value of Rs. 40 crore.

The tender is aimed at procuring additional one rupee coins for circulation, as the availability of small denomination coins remains an important part of everyday cash transactions. The issue is particularly relevant for consumers who often struggle to receive Re. 1 or Rs. 2 in change at shops and on public transport, where sellers or service providers may sometimes offer toffees or other items instead of returning small amounts of cash.

Tender For 400 Million One Rupee Coins

According to the tender notice issued by Nepal Rastra Bank, the procurement covers 400 million Re. 1 circulation coins. Since each coin has a face value of one rupee, the total face value of the planned coin supply is Rs. 400 million, equivalent to Rs. 40 crore.

The contract covers the complete process of designing, minting, supplying, and delivering the coins to Nepal Rastra Bank.

The tender has been issued under an International Competitive Bidding process. The bidding procedure will follow a Single Stage Two Envelope system, under which eligible bidders are required to submit technical and price proposals separately.

Who Can Participate?

The tender is open to pre-qualified security minting companies that meet the requirements set by Nepal Rastra Bank.

Interested eligible bidders can obtain the bidding documents from the locations specified by the central bank, subject to the conditions mentioned in the tender notice.

The tender is being handled by Nepal Rastra Bank’s Currency Management Department, Thapathali, Kathmandu, with the Mint Division at Babarmahal also specified in the procurement arrangements.

Important Tender Dates

Several deadlines have been fixed under the tender process.

• Bid document purchase deadline: November 2, 2026

• Bid submission deadline: November 3, 2026, by 12 noon

• Bid opening: November 3, 2026, at 1 PM

• Pre-bid meeting: October 15, 2026

The pre-bid meeting will be held at the Currency Management Department of Nepal Rastra Bank, Thapathali, Kathmandu.

Sealed bids must be submitted within the specified deadline. Bids submitted after the deadline will be handled according to the conditions of the tender.

USD 148,000 Bid Security Required

Nepal Rastra Bank has set the minimum bid security at USD 148,000, or its equivalent in the applicable bidding currency and Nepalese rupees according to the exchange rate specified in the tender conditions.

The bid must remain valid for 120 days from the bid submission deadline. The bid security must remain valid for an additional 30 days beyond the bid validity period.

These requirements are part of the financial and contractual conditions bidders must meet to participate in the procurement process.

Why Re. 1 Coins Matter

The planned procurement comes at a time when consumers regularly face problems with small denomination change.

For example, when a purchase leaves a customer with Re. 1 or Rs. 2 to be returned, some shops may say they do not have small change and provide a toffee or another small item instead. Similar complaints can also be heard in public transportation, where passengers may not always receive the exact change for their fare.

The availability of sufficient one rupee coins can therefore make small cash transactions easier and reduce situations where customers receive goods instead of the exact monetary change owed to them.

However, the tender notice itself does not state that the procurement was issued specifically because of complaints about toffees or lack of change. The procurement is officially for the design, minting, supply, and delivery of Rs 1 circulation coins.

40 Crore Re. 1 Coins In Total

The scale of the procurement is significant.

Nepal Rastra Bank plans to procure:

• 400 million coins

• Denomination: Re. 1

• Total face value: Rs. 40 crore

This means that if the entire planned quantity enters circulation, the central bank will add 40 crore individual one rupee coins to the currency system.

The tender does not mean that Rs. 40 crore will necessarily be paid as the procurement cost. Rs. 40 crore is the total face value of the coins, while the actual contract price will be determined through the bidding process.

What Happens Next?

With the tender now open, eligible pre-qualified security minting companies can purchase the bidding documents, study the technical and financial requirements, and submit their proposals within the prescribed deadline.

The pre-bid meeting on October 15 will provide an opportunity for eligible bidders to seek clarification on the tender requirements. After the November 3 submission deadline, the bids will be opened at 1 PM as specified by Nepal Rastra Bank.

The procurement process will ultimately determine the company that will undertake the design, minting, supply, and delivery of the new Rs 1 circulation coins.

Key Tender Details At A Glance