Should you carry cash USD in India as a backup in case bank cards or digital payments stop working?

Even now the situation can change fast, so relying only on a bank check or apps like Cheq isn't guaranteed — cash USD remains a reliable backup since it's widely accepted in India.

Long-term expats have repeatedly been left without working bank cards in India, and only cash they'd brought with them saved the day.

Twice authorities suddenly restricted cash use for foreigners: an old-to-new rupee note exchange and the withdrawal of the 2000-rupee note — both times having cash USD on hand made the difference.

Cashless services like Cheq would have helped, but UPI-style digital payments only became reliably stable after COVID, so counting on them before that was risky.