Send money from the UK to Punjab, India
The UK has one of the largest Punjabi communities outside India, and Punjab's share of India's money from abroad has grown in each recent survey. Here is today's pound to rupee rate, what you need to pay into a bank account in Punjab, and the festivals when families send the most.
Written by Sonic Wallet editorial team · Last reviewed: 1 November 2026
Key facts
- On 2 Nov 2026, 06:10 GMT, £1 was worth ₹127.19 at the mid-market rate.
- Punjab received 4.2% of the money India received from abroad in 2023-24, the eighth-largest share of any state or union territory, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
- Sonic Wallet sends pounds from the UK to bank accounts in Punjab.
- The main language is Punjabi.
- Popular times to send extra money: Lohri, Vaisakhi, Diwali and Guru Nanak Gurpurab.
Rate last updated:
How many rupees will arrive?
Mid-market rate: £1 = ₹127.1934. Converted at the mid-market rate, before any fee or margin. You will see the exact fee and exchange rate before you confirm a transfer.
Send money to IndiaSending money to a bank account in Punjab
Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank and State Bank of India all have large branch networks in Punjab.
Whichever bank the recipient uses, you need their name as the bank has it, their account number and the IFSC of their branch. Our guide to Indian bank details explains where to find each one.
State Bank of Patiala merged into State Bank of India on 1 April 2017, and Oriental Bank of Commerce, which had many branches in Punjab, merged into Punjab National Bank on 1 April 2020. Branches of both now use new IFSC codes, so check the recipient's current details.
Busy times for sending money to Punjab
- Lohri: mid-January
- Vaisakhi: 13 or 14 April
- Diwali: October or November, when Sikhs also mark Bandi Chhor Divas
- Guru Nanak Gurpurab: October or November
If the money needs to arrive by a particular day, send it a few days early, so there is time to sort out any problem with the bank details. Our analysis of the best time to send money to India looks at how the pound to rupee rate moves.
Punjab's share of India's remittances
Punjab received 4.2% of the money India received from abroad in 2023-24, the eighth-largest share of any state or union territory, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
| State | 2016-17 | 2020-21 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab | 1.7% | 3.0% | 4.2% |
Punjab's share has more than doubled since 2016-17. The Reserve Bank of India notes that Punjab, Maharashtra and Telangana send the largest numbers of students abroad who then stay on to work.
The UK is one of India's biggest sources of money from abroad: 10.8% of the remittances India received in 2023-24 came from the UK, up from 6.8% in 2020-21, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
The Reserve Bank of India's figures cover money sent for family maintenance and savings, and local withdrawals from non-resident deposit accounts.
Punjabis in the UK
Punjabi families have lived in the UK for generations, and most British Sikhs have family roots in Punjab. This page is about Punjab in India. Punjab province in Pakistan uses the Pakistani rupee and a separate banking system.
Punjabi is the official language of Punjab, where it is written in the Gurmukhi script.
Read about sending money to India in Punjabi: ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
Frequently asked questions
How much of India's remittances go to Punjab?+
Punjab received 4.2% of all the money India received from abroad in 2023-24, according to the Reserve Bank of India's remittances survey, up from 3.0% in 2020-21 and 1.7% in 2016-17.
My family's account was with State Bank of Patiala or Oriental Bank of Commerce. What has changed?+
State Bank of Patiala is now part of State Bank of India, and Oriental Bank of Commerce is part of Punjab National Bank. Their branches have new IFSC codes, so ask the recipient for their current details before you send.
Is this the same as sending money to Punjab in Pakistan?+
No. Punjab in India uses the Indian rupee (INR) and Indian payment systems, with IFSC codes. Punjab province in Pakistan uses the Pakistani rupee (PKR) and Pakistan's banking system.
When do people send the most money to Punjab?+
Many families send extra money before Lohri in mid-January, Vaisakhi on 13 or 14 April, Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas, and Guru Nanak Gurpurab, and for weddings, which are often held in the winter months.
Sending money to other states
Useful tools and guides
Sources
- Changing Dynamics of India's Remittances: Sixth Round of India's Remittances Survey (2023-24), Reserve Bank of India Bulletin, March 2025
- NEFT frequently asked questions, Reserve Bank of India
- List of NEFT-enabled bank branches and their IFSCs, Reserve Bank of India