Indian numbering system#Use of separators
{{short description|Indian convention of naming large numbers}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2018}}
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
The Indian numbering system is used in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh to express large numbers, which differs from the International System of Units. Commonly used quantities include lakh (one hundred thousand) and crore (ten million) {{endash}} written as 1,00,000 and 1,00,00,000 respectively in some locales.{{cite web|title=Knowing our Numbers|url=http://nroer.gov.in/nroer_team/file/readDoc/55b23f2881fccb054b6be25f/|website=Department Of School Education And Literacy|publisher=National Repository of Open Educational Resources|access-date=13 February 2016|archive-date=16 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216163129/http://nroer.gov.in/nroer_team/file/readDoc/55b23f2881fccb054b6be25f/|url-status=dead}} For example: 150,000 rupees is "1.5 lakh rupees" which can be written as "1,50,000 rupees", and 30,000,000 (thirty million) rupees is referred to as "3 crore rupees" which can be written as "3,00,00,000 rupees".
There are names for numbers larger than crore, but they are less commonly used. These include arab (100 crore, 109), kharab (100 arab, 1011), nil or sometimes transliterated as neel (100 kharab, 1013), padma (100 nil, 1015), shankh (100 padma, 1017), and mahashankh (100 shankh, 1019). In common parlance (though inconsistent), the lakh and crore terminology repeats for larger numbers. Thus lakh crore is 1012.
In the ancient Indian system, still in use in regional languages of India, there are words for (1062). These names respectively starting at 1000 are sahasra, ayuta, laksha, niyuta, koti, arbhudha, abhja, karva, nikarva, mahapadma, shanmkhu, jaladhi, amtya, madhya, paraardha. In the Indian system, now prevalent in the northern parts,{{Clarify|date=December 2023|reason=northern parts of what?}} the next powers of ten are one lakh, ten lakh, one crore, ten crore, one arab (or one hundred crore), and so on.
Multiples
The Indian system is decimal (base-10), same as in the International System of Units, and the first five orders of magnitude are named in a similar way: one (100), ten (101), one hundred (102), one thousand (103), and ten thousand (104). For higher powers of ten, naming diverges. The Indian system uses names for every second power of ten: lakh (105), crore (107), arab (109), kharab (1011), etc. In the rest of the world, long and short scales, there are names for every third power of ten. The short scale uses million (106), billion (109), trillion (1012), etc.
Decimal formatting
The Indian system groups digits of a large decimal representation differently than the International System of Units. The Indian system does group the first three digits to the left of the decimal point, but thereafter, groups by two digits to align with the naming of quantities at multiples of 100.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unicode.org/reports/tr35/tr35-numbers.html#Special_Pattern_Characters|title=UNICODE LOCALE DATA MARKUP LANGUAGE (LDML) PART 3: NUMBERS|last=Emmons|first=John|date=2018-03-25|website=Unicode.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725183458/https://www.unicode.org/reports/tr35/tr35-numbers.html#Special_Pattern_Characters|archive-date=2018-07-25|url-status=live|access-date=2018-03-25}}
class="wikitable" style="clear:both;margin:1em auto;text-align:left" |
Indian
!English |
---|
5,00,000
|500,000 |
12,34,56,789
|123,456,789 |
17,00,00,00,000
|17,000,000,000 |
6,78,90,00,00,00,00,000
|6,789,000,000,000,000 |
Like English and other locales, the Indian system uses a period as the decimal separator and the comma for grouping, while others use a comma for decimal separator and a thin space or point to group digits.{{cite web |title=Decimal and Thousands Separators (International Language Environments Guide) |url=https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19455-01/806-0169/overview-9/index.html |website=docs.oracle.com |access-date=29 April 2021}}
Pronunciation in English
When speakers of indigenous Indian languages are speaking English, the pronunciations may be closer to their mother tongue; e.g. "lakh" and "crore" might be pronounced /lɑkʰ/, /kɑrɔːr/, respectively.
- lakh /lɑːkʰ/
- crore /kɹɔːɹ/ (or /kɹoʊɹ/ in American English)
- arab /ʌˈɾʌb/
- kharab /kʰʌˈɾʌb/
Names of numbers
The table below includes the spelling and pronunciation of numbers in various Indian languages along with corresponding short scale names.
class="wikitable" style="clear:both;margin:1em auto;text-align:left" |
Value
! Short scale ! Indian English ! Hindustani ! Marathi ! Bengali ! Odia ! Nepali ! Tamil ! Telugu ! Kannada |
---|
style="text-align:center" | 1
| one | one | {{lang|hi|एक}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|ایک}}}} | {{lang|mr|एक}} | {{lang|bn|এক}} | {{lang|or|ଏକ}} | {{lang|ne|एक}} | {{lang|ta|ஒன்று}} | {{lang|te|ఒకటి}} | {{lang|kn|ಒಂದು (ಬಿಡಿ)}} | {{lang|ml|ഒന്ന്}} |
style="text-align:center" | 10
| ten | ten | {{lang|hi|दस}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|دس}}}} | {{lang|mr|दहा}} | {{lang|bn|দশ}} | {{lang|or|ଦଶ}} | {{lang|ne|दश}} | {{lang|ta|பத்து}} | {{lang|te|పది}} | {{lang|kn|ಹತ್ತು}} | {{lang|ml|പത്ത്}} |
style="text-align:center" | 102
| hundred | hundred | {{lang|hi|सौ}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|سو}}}} | {{lang|mr|शंभर}} | {{lang|bn|শত}} | {{lang|or|ଶହେ}} | {{lang|ne|सय}} | {{lang|ta|நூறு}} | {{lang|te|వంద/నూరు}} | {{lang|kn|ನೂರು}} | {{lang|ml|നൂറ്}} |
style="text-align:center" | 103
| thousand | thousand | हज़ार / {{lang|ur|{{nq|ہزار}}}} | {{lang|mr|एक हजार}} | {{lang|bn|হাজার}} | {{lang|or|ହଜାର}} | {{lang|ne|एक हजार}} | {{lang|ta|ஆயிரம்}} | {{lang|te|వెయ్యి}} | {{lang|kn|ಸಾವಿರ}} | {{lang|ml|ആയിരം}} |
style="text-align:center" | 104
| ten thousand | ten thousand | {{lang|hi|दस हज़ार}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|دس ہزار}}}} | {{lang|mr|दहा हजार}} | {{lang|bn|অযুত}} | {{lang|or|ଦଶ ହଜାର}} | {{lang|ne|दश हजार}} | {{lang|ta|பத்தாயிரம்}} | {{lang|te|పది వేలు}} | {{lang|kn|ಹತ್ತು ಸಾವಿರ (ಅಯುತ)}} | {{lang|ml|പതിനായിരം}} |
style="text-align:center" | 105
| hundred thousand | lakh | {{lang|hi|लाख}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|لاکھ}}}} | {{lang|mr|एक लाख}} | {{lang|bn|লক্ষ}} | {{lang|or|ଲକ୍ଷ}} | {{lang|ne|एक लाख}} | {{lang|ta|இலட்சம்}} | {{lang|te|లక్ష}} | {{lang|kn|ಲಕ್ಷ}} | {{lang|ml|ലക്ഷം}} |
style="text-align:center" | 106
| million | ten lakh | {{lang|hi|दस लाख}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|دس لاکھ}}}} | {{lang|mr|दहा लाख}} | {{lang|bn|নিযুত}} | {{lang|or|ଦଶ ଲକ୍ଷ}} | {{lang|ne|दश लाख}} | {{lang|ta|பத்து இலட்சம்}} | {{lang|te|పది లక్షలు}} | {{lang|kn|ಹತ್ತು ಲಕ್ಷ (ನಿಯುತ)}} | {{lang|ml|പത്തുലക്ഷം}} |
style="text-align:center" | 107
| ten million | crore | {{lang|hi|करोड़}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|کروڑ}}}} | {{lang|mr|एक कोटी}} | {{lang|bn|কোটি}} | {{lang|or|କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|एक करोड}} | {{lang|ta|கோடி}} | {{lang|te|కోటి}} | {{lang|kn|ಕೋಟಿ}} | {{lang|ml|കോടി}} |
style="text-align:center" | 108
| hundred million | ten crore | {{lang|hi|दस करोड़}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|دس کروڑ}}}} | {{lang|mr|दहा कोटी}} | {{lang|bn|অর্বুদ}} | {{lang|or|ଦଶ କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|दश करोड}} | {{lang|ta|அற்புதம்}} | {{lang|te|పది కోట్లు}} | {{lang|kn|ಹತ್ತು ಕೋಟಿ (ಅರ್ಭುಧ)}} | {{lang|ml|പത്തുകോടി}} |
style="text-align:center" | 109
| billion | {{not a typo|arab}} / hundred crore | {{lang|hi|अरब}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|ارب}}}} | {{lang|mr|एक अब्ज}} | {{lang|bn|মহার্বুদ}} | {{lang|or|ଶହେ କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|एक अर्ब}} | {{lang|ta|நிகற்புதம்}} | {{lang|te|వంద కోట్లు}} | {{lang|kn|ನೂರು ಕೋಟಿ (ಅಭ್ಜ)}} | {{lang|ml|നൂറുകോടി}} |
style="text-align:center" | 1010
| ten billion | ten {{not a typo|arab}} / thousand crore | {{lang|hi|दस अरब}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|دس ارب}}}} | एक खर्व | {{lang|bn|খর্ব}} | {{lang|or|ହଜାର କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|दश अर्ब}} | {{lang|ta|கும்பம்}} | {{lang|te|వెయ్యి కోట్లు}} | {{lang|kn|ಒಂದು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ (ಕರ್ವ)}} | {{lang|ml|ആയിരം കോടി}} |
style="text-align:center" | 1011
| hundred billion | kharab / hundred {{not a typo|arab}} / ten thousand crore | {{lang|hi|खरब}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|کھرب}}}} | एक {{lang|mr|निखर्व}} | {{lang|bn|মহাখর্ব}} | {{lang|or|ଦଶ ହଜାର କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|एक खर्ब}} | {{lang|ta|கணம்}} | {{lang|te|పది వేల కోట్లు}} | {{lang|kn|ಹತ್ತು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ (ನಿಕರ್ವ)}} | {{lang|ml|പതിനായിരം കോടി}} |
style="text-align:center" | 1012
| trillion | ten kharab / one thousand {{not a typo|arab}} / {{Anchor|lakh crore}}one lakh crore | {{lang|hi|दस खरब}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|دس کھرب}}}} | {{lang|mr|एक पद्म}} | {{lang|bn|শঙ্খ}} | {{lang|or|ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|दश खर्ब}} | {{lang|ta|கற்பம்}} | {{lang|te|లక్ష కోట్లు}} | {{lang|kn|ಒಂದು ಲಕ್ಷ ಕೋಟಿ (ಮಹಾಪದ್ಮ)}} | {{lang|ml|ഒരു ലക്ഷം കോടി}} |
style="text-align:center" | 1013
| ten trillion | nil / hundred kharab / ten thousand {{not a typo|arab}} / ten lakh crore | {{lang|hi|नील}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|نیل}}}} | {{lang|mr|एक महापद्म}} | {{lang|bn|মহাশঙ্খ}} | {{lang|or|ଦଶ ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|नील}} | {{lang|ta|நிகற்பம்}} | {{lang|te|పది లక్షల కోట్లు}} | {{lang|kn|ಹತ್ತು ಲಕ್ಷ ಕೋಟಿ (ಶಂಖು)}} | {{lang|ml|പത്തുലക്ഷം കോടി}} |
style="text-align:center" | 1014
| hundred trillion | ten nil / crore crore | {{lang|hi|दस नील}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|دس نیل}}}} | {{lang|mr|एक शंखू}} | {{lang|bn|পদ্ম}} | {{lang|or|ଶହେ ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|दश नील}} | {{lang|ta|பதுமம்}} | {{lang|te|కోటి కోట్లు}} | {{lang|kn|ಒಂದು ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ (ಜಲಧಿ)}} | {{lang|ml|നൂറ് ലക്ഷം കോടി}} |
style="text-align:center" | 1015
| quadrillion | padma / hundred nil / ten crore crore | {{lang|hi|पद्म}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|پدم}}}} |एक जलधि शंखू | {{lang|bn|মহাপদ্ম}} | {{lang|or|ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|पद्म}} | {{lang|ta|சங்கம்}} | {{lang|te|పది కోట్ల కోట్లు}} | {{lang|kn|ಹತ್ತು ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ (ಅಂತ್ಯ)}} | {{lang|ml|ആയിരം ലക്ഷം കോടി}} |
style="text-align:center" | 1016
| ten quadrillion | ten padma / hundred crore crore | {{lang|hi|दस पद्म}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|دس پدم}}}} | एक अंत्य | বঙ্গ (bongo){{lang|bn|দশ হাজার লাখ কোটি}} | {{lang|or|ଦଶ ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|दश पद्म}} | {{lang|ta|வெள்ளம்}} | {{lang|te|వంద కోట్ల కోట్లు}} | {{lang|kn|ನೂರು ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ (ಮಧ್ಯ)}} | {{lang|ml|പതിനായിരം ലക്ഷം കോടി}} |
style="text-align:center" | 1017
| hundred quadrillion | shankh / hundred padma / thousand crore crore / lakh lakh crore | {{lang|hi|शंख}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|شنکھ}}}} | एक परार्ध | মহাবঙ্গ (mohabongo){{lang|bn|শত হাজার লাখ কোটি}} | {{lang|or|ଶହେ ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|शंख}} | {{lang|ta|அந்நியம்}} | {{lang|te|వెయ్యి కోట్ల కోట్లు}} | {{lang|kn|ಒಂದು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ (ಪರಾರ್ಧ)}} | {{lang|ml|ലക്ഷം ലക്ഷം കോടി}} |
style="text-align:center" | 1018
| quintillion | ten shankh / ten thousand crore crore | {{lang|hi|दस शंख}} / {{lang|ur|{{nq|دس شنکھ}}}} | एक महापरार्ध | {{lang|bn|গুলশান}} | {{lang|or|ଦଶ ଶହେ ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି}} | {{lang|ne|दश शंख}} | {{lang|ta|அர்த்தம்}} | {{lang|te|పది వేల కోట్ల కోట్లు}} | {{lang|kn|ಹತ್ತು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ}} | {{lang|ml|പത്തുലക്ഷം ലക്ഷം കോടി}} |
Historic numbering systems
=Numbering systems in Hindu epics=
There are various systems of numeration found in various ancient epic literature of India (itihasas). The following table gives one such system used in the Valmiki Ramayana.{{Cite web|title=Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda, Chapter (Sarga) 28,(Verses 33 – 38)|url= http://valmikiramayan.pcriot.com/utf8/yuddha/sarga28/yuddha_28_frame.htm|access-date=2021-07-15}}
class="wikitable" style="clear:both;margin:1em auto;text-align:left" |
Name
! Indian decimal ! Value ! Short scale |
---|
{{lang|sa|एक}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|ēka}})
| {{0|0,00,00}}1 |style="text-align:center"| 1 | one |
{{lang|sa|दश}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|daśa}})
| {{0|0,00,0}}10 |style="text-align:center"| 10 | ten |
{{lang|sa|शत}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|śata}})
| {{0|0,00,}}100 |style="text-align:center"| 102 | hundred |
{{lang|sa|सहस्र}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|sahasra}})
| {{0|0,0}}1,000 |style="text-align:center"| 103 | thousand |
{{lang|sa|लक्ष}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|lakṣa}})
| 1,00,000 |style="text-align:center"| 105 | hundred thousand |
{{lang|sa|कोटि}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|kōṭi}}) | 1,00,00,000 |style="text-align:center"| 107 | ten million |
{{lang|sa|शङ्कु}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|śaṅku}})
| 1,00,000 {{translit|sa|ISO|koṭi}} |style="text-align:center"| 1012 | trillion |
{{lang|sa|महाशङ्कु}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|mahāśaṅku}})
| 1,00,000 {{translit|sa|ISO|śaṅku}} |style="text-align:center"| 1017 | hundred quadrillion |
{{lang|sa|वृन्द}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|vr̥nda}})
| 1,00,000 {{translit|sa|ISO|mahāśaṅku}} |style="text-align:center"| 1022 | ten sextillion |
{{lang|sa|महावृन्द}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|mahāvr̥nda}})
| 1,00,000 {{translit|sa|ISO|vr̥nda}} |style="text-align:center"| 1027 | octillion |
{{lang|sa|पद्म}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|padma}})
| 1,00,000 {{translit|sa|ISO|mahāvr̥nda}} |style="text-align:center"| 1032 | hundred nonillion |
{{lang|sa|महापद्म}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|mahāpadma}})
| 1,00,000 {{translit|sa|ISO|padma}} |style="text-align:center"| 1037 | ten undecillion |
{{lang|sa|खर्व}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|kharva}})
| 1,00,000 {{translit|sa|ISO|mahāpadma}} |style="text-align:center"| 1042 | tredecillion |
{{lang|sa|महाखर्व}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|mahākharva}})
| 1,00,000 {{translit|sa|ISO|kharva}} |style="text-align:center"| 1047 | hundred quattuordecillion |
{{lang|sa|समुद्र}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|samudra}})
| 1,00,000 {{translit|sa|ISO|mahākharva}} |style="text-align:center"| 1052 | ten sexdecillion |
{{lang|sa|ओघ}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|ogha}})
| 1,00,000 {{translit|sa|ISO|samudra}} |style="text-align:center"| 1057 | octodecillion |
{{lang|sa|महौघ}} ({{translit|sa|ISO|mahaugha}})
| 1,00,000 {{translit|sa|ISO|ogha}} |style="text-align:center"| 1062 | hundred novemdecillion |
= Other numbering systems =
The denominations by which land was measured in the Kumaon Kingdom were based on arable lands and thus followed an approximate system with local variations. The most common of these was a vigesimal (base-20) numbering system with the main denomination called a bisi (see Hindustani number bīs), which corresponded to the land required to sow 20 nalis of seed. Consequently, its actual land measure varied based on the quality of the soil.{{cite book |last=Traill |first=G.W. |editor-last=Batten |editor-first=J.H. |title=Statistical Sketch of Kamaon |publisher=John Murray |date=1828 |page=34 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.53201/page/n48/mode/1up?q=bisi}} This system became the established norm in Kumaon by 1891.{{cite journal |title=North Indian Notes and Queries |publisher=Pioneer Press |date=1891 |page=216 |volume=1-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b5gsAAAAMAAJ&dq=bisi+twenty+base+counting+system+india&pg=PA216 |website=Google Books }}
Usage in different languages
{{main|lakh|crore}}
Below is a list of translations for the words lakh and crore in other languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent:
class="wikitable"
|+ Usage of lakh and crore in other Indic languages |
Language
! Lakh ! Crore ! 100 crores (a billion) ! 1000 crores (10 billion) ! 10,000 crores (100 billion) |
---|
Assamese
| {{lang|as|লক্ষ}} lokhyo, or {{lang|as|লাখ}} lakh | {{lang|as|কৌটি}} kouti, or {{lang|as|কোটি}} koti | rowspan="4" colspan="3" {{n/a}} |
Bengali
| {{lang|bn|লাখ}} lākh{{efn|Tadbhava}}, or {{lang|bn|লক্ষ}} lokkho{{efn|Ardha-tatsama}} | {{lang|bn|কোটি}} kōṭi |
Burmese
| lakh{{efn|in Burmese English}} | {{lang|my|ကုဋေ}} {{IPA|my|ɡədè |
|-
| Dhivehi
| ލައްކަ la'kha
| ކްރޯރް kroaru
|-
| Gujarati
| {{lang|gu|લાખ}} lākh
| {{lang|gu|કરોડ}} karoḍ
| {{lang|gu|અબજ}} abaj
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
| Hindi
| {{lang|hi|लाख}} lākh
| {{lang|hi|करोड}} karoḍ
| {{lang|hi|अरब}} arab
|-
| Kannada
| {{lang|kn|ಲಕ್ಷ}} lakṣha
| {{lang|kn|ಕೋಟಿ}} kōṭi
| colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|-
| Khasi
| lak
| klur or krur
| arab
| {{n/a}}
| kharab
|-
| {{Lang|ml|ലക്ഷം}} laksham
| {{Lang|ml|കോടി}} kodi
| colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|-
| Marathi
| {{Lang|mr|लाख/लक्ष }} lākh
| {{Lang|mr|कोटी}} koṭi, or {{Lang|mr|करोड}} karoḍ
| {{Lang|mr|अब्ज}} abja
| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
| Nepali
| {{Lang|ne|लाख}} lākh
| {{lang|ne|करोड}} karoḍ
| rowspan="3" colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|-
| Odia
| {{lang|or|ଲକ୍ଷ}} lôkhyô
| {{lang|or|କୋଟି}} koṭi
|-
| Punjabi
| lakkh (Gurmukhi: {{lang|pa|ਲੱਖ}}, Shahmukhi: {{lang|pa|{{nastaliq|لکھ}}}})
| karoṛ (Gurmukhi: {{lang|pa|ਕਰੋੜ}}, Shahmukhi: {{lang|pa|{{Nastaliq|کروڑ}}}})
|-
| Rohingya
| lák
| kurul
| {{n/a}}
| kuthí
| {{n/a}}
|-
| Sinhala
| {{lang|si|ලක්ෂ}} {{translit|si|lakṣa}}
| {{lang|si|කෝටි}} {{translit|si|kōṭi}}
| rowspan="3" colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|-
| Tamil
| {{Lang|ta|இலட்சம்}} ilaṭcam
| {{Lang|ta|கோடி}} kōṭi
|-
| Telugu
| {{Lang|te|లక్ష}} lakṣha
| {{Lang|te|కోటి}} kōṭi
|-
| Urdu
| {{lang|ur|{{nq|لاکھ}}}} lākh
| {{lang|ur|{{nq|کروڑ}}}} karoṛ
| {{lang|ur|{{nq|ارب}}}} arab
| {{n/a}}
| {{lang|ur|{{nq|کھرب}}}} kharab
|-
| Swahili
| {{lang|sw|laki}}
| colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|}
Formal written publications in English in India tend to use lakh/crore for Indian currency and International numbering for foreign currencies.{{cite web|author=Shapiro, Richard|url=https://public.oed.com/blog/the-most-distinctive-counting-system-in-english-indian-cardinal-numbers/|title=The most distinctive counting system in English? Indian cardinal numbers|publisher=Oxford English Dictionary|date=2012-08-16|access-date=2020-05-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630011705/https://public.oed.com/blog/the-most-distinctive-counting-system-in-english-indian-cardinal-numbers/ |archive-date= Jun 30, 2020 }} Shapiro is/was an OED employee. The article states: "The opinions and other information contained in the OED blog posts and comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press."
Current usage
The official usage of this system is limited to the nations of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is universally employed within these countries, and is preferred to the International numbering system.{{Cite web|title=Hey! Who Can Explain What India Does With Its Commas? (Not Commies. Commas.) |last1=Krulwich|first1=Robert|last2=Block|first2=Ezra|date=21 October 2010|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2010/10/19/130674804/counting-millionaire-india|access-date=2020-08-03|website=NPR|language=en}}
Sri Lanka and Nepal used this system in the past but has switched to the International numbering system in recent years. In the Maldives, the term lakh is widely used in official documents and local speech. However, the International System of Units is preferred for higher denominations (such as millions).{{cn|date=May 2025}}
Most institutions and citizens in India use the Indian number system. The Reserve Bank of India was noted as a rare exception in 2015,{{Cite web|last1=Gurpur|date=10 August 2015|title=Can we follow Indian numbering system for simplicity and good order?|url=https://www.moneylife.in/article/can-we-follow-indian-numbering-system-for-simplicity-and-good-order/43059.html|website=Moneylife News & Views|access-date=3 September 2020}} whereas by 2024 the Indian system was used for amounts in rupees and the International system for foreign currencies throughout the Reserve Bank's website.Reserve Bank of India, [https://www.rbi.org.in/ old] and [https://website.rbi.org.in/ new website] (known on archive.org since 5 Apr 2024). Retrieved 16 Apr 2024.
See also
References
;Notes
{{notelist}}
;References
{{Reflist}}