Note: Some Essays seem to be obsolete; however, their patter will help you write newer essays a lot.
Demonetization (Note Ban)
Memorable points to be elaborated:
- Introduction
- Background
- Merits
- Demerits
- Conclusion
Introduction
Demonetization of currency means discontinuity of the particular currency from circulation and replacing it with a new currency. In the current context it is the banning of the 500 and 1000 denomination currency notes as a legal tender. The government’s stated objectives behind the demonetization policy are as follows:-
- It is an attempt to make India corruption free.
- It is done to curb black money.
- It is to control escalating price rise.
- It has the objective to stop funds flow to illegal activity.
- Making people accountable for every rupee they possess and pay income tax return is its next objective.
- It is an attempt to make a cashless society and create a Digital India.
Background
- There is a concrete background to the current decision of demonetization of 500 and 1000 rupee notes. The government has taken few steps in this direction much before its November 8, 2016 announcement.
- As a first step the government had urged people to create bank accounts under Jan Dhan Yojana. They were asked to deposit all the money in their Jan Dhan accounts and do their future transaction through banking methods only.
- The second step that the government initiated was a tax declaration of the income and had given October 30, 2016 deadline for this purpose. Through this method, the government was able to mop up a huge amount of undeclared income.
Merits
- The demonetization policy will help India become corruption-free. Those indulging in taking bribe will refrain from corrupt practices as it will be hard for them to keep their unaccounted cash.
- This move will help the government to track the black money. Those individuals who have unaccounted cash are now required to show income and submit PAN for any valid financial transactions. The government can get income tax return for the income on which tax has not been paid.
- The move will stop funding to the unlawful activities that are thriving due to unaccounted cash flow. Banning high-value currency will rein in criminal activities like terrorism etc.
- The ban on high value currency will also curb the menace of money laundering. Now such activity can easily be tracked and income tax department can catch such people who are in the business of money laundering.
- This move will stop the circulation of fake currency. Most of the fake currency put in circulation is of the high value notes and the banning of 500 and 1000 notes will eliminate the circulation of fake currency.
- This move has generated interest among those people who had opened Jan Dhan accounts under the Prime Minister’s Jan Dhan Yojana. They can now deposit their cash under this scheme and this money can be used for the developmental activity of the country.
- The demonetization policy will force people to pay income tax returns. Most of the people who have been hiding their income are now forced to come forward to declare their income and pay tax on the same.
- The ultimate objective is to make India a cashless society. All the monetary transaction has to be through the banking methods and individuals have to be accountable for each penny they possess. It is a giant step towards the dream of making a digital India. If these are the merits, there are demerits of this policy as well.
Demerits
- The announcement of the demonization of the currency has caused huge inconvenience to the people. They are running to the banks to exchange, deposit or withdraw notes. The sudden announcement has made the situation become chaotic.
- It has deeply affected business. Due to the cash crunch, the entire economy has been made to come to a standstill.
- Many poor daily wage workers are left with no jobs and their daily income has stopped because employers are unable to pay their daily wage.
- The government is finding it hard to implement this policy. It has to bear the cost of printing of the new currency notes. It is also finding it difficult to put new currency into circulation. The 2000 rupees note is a burden on the people as no one likes to do transaction with such high value currency.
Conclusion
If we compare the merits verses demerits, it will be safe to conclude that the former outweighs the latter. Even though there is suffering and agony among the masses right at the moment but the forecast is that its benefits will be seen in the long run.