The rupee fell below the Rs 46 per US dollar mark in the early trade today after a gap of three-and-a-half months, shedding 36 paise to Rs 46.10 per dollar on persistent demand for the American currency from banks and importers amid dollar’s firmness overseas.

The domestic unit resumed lower at Rs 45.92/93 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market against last week’s close of Rs 45.74/75 per dollar, and dropped further to Rs 46.10 before quoting at Rs 46.01/02 per dollar at 10.30 am.