Is there a legal limit on how much currency you can carry on a domestic flight within India?
No — there is no statutory limit on how much Indian currency a person may carry on a domestic flight within India. No provision of the BCAS security rules, the Aircraft Act, the Civil Aviation Requirements, the Income Tax Act, or FEMA imposes a maximum cash carry limit for domestic air travel. A passenger may carry any amount of Indian currency in cabin baggage on a domestic flight without violating any law.
The complete absence of a domestic cash carry limit
Multiple pieces of legislation govern domestic aviation in India: the Aircraft Act 1934, the Airports Authority of India Act 1994, the Civil Aviation Requirements issued by the DGCA, the BCAS security programme, and the Income Tax Act for financial transactions. None of these contains a provision limiting how much Indian currency a domestic passenger may carry in their cabin or checked baggage.
This is in deliberate contrast to international travel, where FEMA 1999 and RBI master directions do limit how much Indian and foreign currency may be carried across India's international borders. For domestic travel within India, no such limit exists because the movement is entirely within India's monetary system — no exchange control or currency export consideration arises.
The IT surveillance reality
While there is no statutory limit, the Income Tax Department maintains surveillance at major airports through Operation Clean Money and similar initiatives. Passengers observed carrying unusually large quantities of cash may be questioned by IT officials present at airports. The questioning is an exercise of Section 131 powers — asking for information — not an arrest or seizure power without authorisation.
A numismatic collector with documented collectibles is not the target of this surveillance. The surveillance targets are undisclosed cash being moved to evade tax — loose currency, without documentation, in amounts that suggest unreported income. A collection in protective sleeves with a documented acquisition history is immediately distinguishable from undisclosed cash. The Collection Passport resolves any airport IT encounter in minutes.
There is no ₹2 lakh limit on a domestic flight. There is no ₹5 lakh limit. There is no ₹10 lakh limit. There is no limit at all. What there is, is a requirement that any money you carry must be from explained sources — and documentation is the explanation.
Laws & authorities referenced in this chapter
BCAS Security Programme — no currency carry limit
FEMA 1999 — currency carry limits apply only to international travel, not domestic
Aircraft Act 1934 / Civil Aviation Requirements (DGCA) — no currency carry limit
Income Tax Act 1961 — §131 (questions at airport; no seizure power without §132 authorisation)
No statutory cash carry limit on domestic flights — confirmed by absence of any provision in BCAS rules, Aircraft Act, Civil Aviation Requirements, IT Act, or FEMA. IT surveillance at airports (Operation Clean Money) targets undisclosed cash — a documented numismatic collection is immediately distinguishable. The Collection Passport resolves any encounter. The only relevant legal principle: your money must be from explained sources — documentation is the explanation.
This is educational content, not legal advice. For a specific situation, please consult a qualified legal professional. Excerpted from Currency, Coins & The Law by Mayank Agarwal, Part 11: Travelling With Your Collection — Road, Rail & Air — Rights, Risks and Documentation.