CASH IN CIRCULATION HAS FALLEN
26, Jun 2019
Prelims level : Government Action in Banking Sector
Mains level : Indian Economy and Issues Relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment
- Demonetisation, coupled with increased digital transactions and the reduced cash usage in the informal economy, led to a Reduction in Currency in Circulation by ₹3.4 lakh crore.
- The notes in circulation had been growing at an average annual growth rate of 14.51% since October 2014.
- Reserve Bank of India data shows that the number of counterfeit bank notes detected decreased from 762,072 pieces in 2016-17, to 522,783 in 2017-18 and 317,389 pieces in 2018-19 and hence “demonetisation resulted in curbing of the counterfeit currency”
- “Growth of digital transactions in terms of value has increased to ₹188.07 lakh crore in September 2018 from ₹112.27 lakh crore in November 2016. Digital transactions in terms of volume have increased to 241.88 crore in September 2018 from 91.83 crore.”
- Demonetisation led to a “significant positive impact on most theatres of violence” in the country since illegally held cash formed a major chunk of terror funding, and that the note ban rendered the cash held with terrorists worthless.
- “Demonetisation also resulted in better tax compliance, greater tax revenues, more formalization of economy and higher digital transactions.”