India's Supreme Court on Monday, in a 4-1 majority ruling, backed the&nbsp;Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's 2016 decision to demonetise currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 denominations.&nbsp;The five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court passed its judgement and said that the decision could not be faulted just because it was initiated by the central government.&nbsp;

The bench headed by supreme court Justice S A Nazeer had taken a batch of 58 petitions challenging several different aspects of the&nbsp; Modi government’s demonetisation decision. According to reports, the petitions also called for the apex court to strike the decision.&nbsp;

Justice BR Gavai, reading out the SC order by the bench said that whether the objective of the move was achieved or not, is “not relevant”. “There has to be great restraint in matters of economic policy. Court cannot supplant the wisdom of the executive with its wisdom,” the court order added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-supreme-court-to-examine-2016-demonetisation-decision-asks-for-affidavits-524831">India's Supreme Court to examine 2016 demonetisation decision, asks govt, RBI to file affidavits</a>

However, one judge, Justice BV Nagarathna, expressed strong dissent and called the note ban by the government “vitiated and unlawful”. Justice Nagarathna based her argument on the government’s 2016 decision citing its powers under section 26(2) of the RBI Act and said that the Reserve Bank of India should have independently recommended demonetisation as opposed to basing it on the Centre’s advice.&nbsp;

She said, “After perusing the documents and records submitted by Centre and RBI, phrases like ‘as desired by Centre government’ show there was no independent application of mind by RBI.” Meanwhile, the other judges said that the Centre is required to act in consultation with the RBI and noted that there was at least a six-month back and forth between the two entities before the decision was announced.&nbsp; 
 
“The central government's decision was after RBI board’s approval which shows in-built safeguard against centre’s powers. It cannot be said that there is excessive delegation of power under the RBI Act to the Centre which is answerable to the Parliament,” the apex court noted.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Additionally, since the move is an executive’s economic policy it cannot be reversed. In this case, Justice Nagarathna also said that the decision could have been initiated through the Parliament as opposed to being an executive order.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/five-years-of-demonetisation-what-has-changed-in-the-indian-economy-427634">Five years of demonetisation: What has changed in the Indian economy?&nbsp;</a>

The supreme court justice Nagarathna also went on to call demonetisation with a doubt, “well-intentioned” as it “targeted evils” such as black money, terror funding, and counterfeiting. However, “Best intention and noble objects are not under question. The measure has been regarded as unlawful only on a purely legal analysis, and not on the objects of demonetisation,” she noted.&nbsp;

In addition to the three aforementioned Justices Nazeer, Gavai and Nagarathna, the other members of the five-judge bench of the apex court were Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. The SC also argues that the exercise cannot be struck down as it was not hit by the doctrine of proportionality and that a period of 52 days given to exchange the notes was “not unreasonable”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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India's Supreme Court on Monday, in a 4-1 majority ruling, backed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's 2016 decision to demonetise currency notes of Rs.

India's Supreme Court on Monday, in a 4-1 majority ruling, backed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's 2016 decision to demonetise currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 denominations. The five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court passed its judgement and said that the decision could not be faulted just because it was initiated by the central government. The bench headed by supreme court Justice S A Nazeer had taken a batch of 58 petitions challenging several different aspects of the Modi government’s demonetisation decision. According to reports, the petitions also called for the apex court to strike the decision. Justice BR Gavai, reading out the SC order by the bench said that whether the objective of the move was achieved or not, is “not relevant”. “There has to be great restraint in matters of economic policy. Court cannot supplant the wisdom of the executive with its wisdom,” the court order added. ALSO READ | India's Supreme Court to examine 2016 demonetisation decision, asks govt, RBI to file affidavits However, one judge, Justice BV Nagarathna, expressed strong dissent and called the note ban by the government “vitiated and unlawful”. Justice Nagarathna based her argument on the government’s 2016 decision citing its powers under section 26(2) of the RBI Act and said that the Reserve Bank of India should have independently recommended demonetisation as opposed to basing it on the Centre’s advice. She said, “After perusing the documents and records submitted by Centre and RBI, phrases like ‘as desired by Centre government’ show there was no independent application of mind by RBI.” Meanwhile, the other judges said that the Centre is required to act in consultation with the RBI and noted that there was at least a six-month back and forth between the two entities before the decision was announced. “The central government's decision was after RBI board’s approval which shows in-built safeguard against centre’s powers. It cannot be said that there is excessive delegation of power under the RBI Act to the Centre which is answerable to the Parliament,” the apex court noted. × Additionally, since the move is an executive’s economic policy it cannot be reversed. In this case, Justice Nagarathna also said that the decision could have been initiated through the Parliament as opposed to being an executive order. ALSO READ | Five years of demonetisation: What has changed in the Indian economy? The supreme court justice Nagarathna also went on to call demonetisation with a doubt, “well-intentioned” as it “targeted evils” such as black money, terror funding, and counterfeiting. However, “Best intention and noble objects are not under question. The measure has been regarded as unlawful only on a purely legal analysis, and not on the objects of demonetisation,” she noted. In addition to the three aforementioned Justices Nazeer, Gavai and Nagarathna, the other members of the five-judge bench of the apex court were Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. The SC also argues that the exercise cannot be struck down as it was not hit by the doctrine of proportionality and that a period of 52 days given to exchange the notes was “not unreasonable”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: Supreme Court upholds government’s demonetisation decision with a 4-1 majority

PM Modi's major achievements as his government completes eight years at Centre

Exactly after four years of demonetization, today Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended it by saying the measure helped reduce black money.

"Demonetisation helped reduce black money, increase tax compliance and formalisation and gave a boost to transparency. These outcomes have been greatly beneficial towards the national progress," Modi tweeted.

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Demonetisation has helped reduce black money, increase tax compliance and formalization and given a boost to transparency. 
 
These outcomes have been greatly beneficial towards national progress. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DeMolishingCorruption?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DeMolishingCorruption</a> <a href="https://t.co/A8alwQj45R">pic.twitter.com/A8alwQj45R</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1325356770416611333?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The Prime Minister said India had turned into a lesser cash-based economy with better tax compliance. He said self-assessment tax of more than Rs 13,000 crore was paid by targeted non-filers and 3.04 lakh persons who deposited cash of Rs 10 lakh or more but had not filed their income tax returns were identified.

Modi also said that 2.09 lakh such identified non-filers had responded and paid self- assessment tax of Rs 6,531 crore.

On November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Modi had announced the decision to ban all currency notes of higher denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 from midnight.

(With inputs from agencies)

Exactly after four years of demonetization, today Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended it by saying the measure helped reduce black money. "Demonetisation helped reduce black money, increase tax compliance and formalisation and gave a boost to transparency.

Exactly after four years of demonetization, today Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended it by saying the measure helped reduce black money. "Demonetisation helped reduce black money, increase tax compliance and formalisation and gave a boost to transparency. These outcomes have been greatly beneficial towards the national progress," Modi tweeted. Demonetisation has helped reduce black money, increase tax compliance and formalization and given a boost to transparency. These outcomes have been greatly beneficial towards national progress. #DeMolishingCorruption pic.twitter.com/A8alwQj45R — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 8, 2020 × The Prime Minister said India had turned into a lesser cash-based economy with better tax compliance. He said self-assessment tax of more than Rs 13,000 crore was paid by targeted non-filers and 3.04 lakh persons who deposited cash of Rs 10 lakh or more but had not filed their income tax returns were identified. Modi also said that 2.09 lakh such identified non-filers had responded and paid self- assessment tax of Rs 6,531 crore. On November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Modi had announced the decision to ban all currency notes of higher denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 from midnight. (With inputs from agencies)

Demonetisation helped reduce black money: PM Narendra Modi

India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to reduce its syllabus by 30 per cent for classes 9 to 12 for the 2020-21 session to compensate for academic loss during the pandemic.

India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to reduce its syllabus by 30 per cent for classes 9 to 12 for the 2020-21 session to compensate for academic loss during the pandemic. Also read: India raises foreign student visa issue with US The board has taken this step to reduce the course load during COVID times as the students have been attending online classes ever since the schools got shut in March. Some chapters that have been removed from the syllabus include secularism, nationalism, federalism, demonetisation, GST, India’s foreign relations with neighbouring countries and citizenship. The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' took to Twitter and said: “Looking at the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country and the world, CBSE was advised to revise the curriculum and reduce the course load for the students of classes 9 to 12. Considering the importance of learning achievement, it has been decided to rationalise syllabus up to 30% by retaining the core concepts.” 📢Considering the importance of learning achievement, it has been decided to rationalize syllabus up to 30% by retaining the core concepts.@PMOIndia @HMOIndia @HRDMinistry @mygovindia @transformIndia @cbseindia29 @mygovindia — Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) July 7, 2020 × Some important chapters excluded from the syllabus (class-wise): Class 9th: Complete chapters on population, democratic rights and food security in India (History) Use of passive voice prepositions (English) Triangles, Introduction to Euclid's geometry and histogram (mathematics) Mere Bachpan ke din by Mahadevi Verma (Hindi) Class 10th: The midnight visitor, How to tell wild animals (English) Magnetic Effects of Electric Current: Electric Generator, Direct current. Alternating current: frequency of AC. Advantage of AC over DC. Domestic electric circuits, Chapters on Metals and non- metals, heredity and evolution, functioning of a lens in the human eye, sources of energy (Science) Stree Siksha ke Virodhi Kutarko ka Khandan by Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi (Hindi) Class 11th: GST Federalism, citizenship, nationalism and secularism Chapters on Heat engine and refrigerator, heat, temperature, heat transfer- conduction, convection and radiation Class 12th: Chapters from carbon resistors, colour code for carbon, Davisson- Germer experiment, radioactivity Colonialism and the countryside colonial cities and understanding partition Complete chapter on Social and New Social Movements in India Planning commission and five-year plans, India relations with its neighbours: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and other regional aspirations

CBSE removes chapters on secularism, nationalism from syllabus to reduce course load

GDP numbers are misleading, RBI’s autonomy is in extreme danger and demonetisation is the biggest banking scam, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha claims in his new book. He also says that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of self-employment is a ‘distraction from the more serious issue of unemployment and underemployment’. 
 
Sinha, who has been quite vocal about the government’s policies since the past couple of years, quit the BJP in April. Party leaders have been dismissing his allegations on several issues with BJP chief Amit Shah once asking if people should believe the ministers or those ‘who did not get jobs’. 
 
According to Sinha, Modi blew a golden opportunity to send the economy soaring to new heights. 
 
“He could have fixed the UPA’s legacy issues and fundamentally raised India from a poor country to a middle-income country, but he squandered the chance,” he says, adding his book demonstrates how ‘Modi unmade India’. 
 
Though the book “India Unmade: How the Modi Government Broke the Economy” is a critique of the NDA government’s economic management, Sinha says he has not always been a critic of Modi. 
 
“Nor do I have a personal vendetta against him for not appointing me minister or giving me some other post, as some people incorrectly speculate. In fact, the truth is that I recognised his mettle early on and was one of the first senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders to say he should be made the party’s prime ministerial candidate in the 2014 elections,” he claims. 
 
He has been severely critical of Modi on demonetisation, jobs, GDP figures and Make in India among others policies and programmes. 
 
“The Modi government’s lasting legacy will be the catastrophe that was the demonetisation of high-denomination currency on November 8, 2016,” he argues. 
 
“Demonetisation was a whimsical decision that served no purpose of governance. It did, however, provide Modi with a populist campaign plank of having taken tough decisions to nab the corrupt rich. His decision paid a rich electoral dividend in Uttar Pradesh in 2017. But as far as the constantly shifting governance objectives of demonetisation went, it was a big zero,” he says. 
 
On the second anniversary of demonetisation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that demonetisation resulted in increasing the tax base and a higher tax collection (both direct and indirect) for the government, thereby improving its fiscal health. He had also clarified that the real purpose of demonetisation was not the confiscation of cash but to bring it to the formal economy and make the holders pay tax. 
 
On Make in India, Sinha writes, “The malaise of Indian industry during Modi’s tenure is typified by his most famous flagship scheme, Make in India. It is his biggest failure; it is also an unoriginal idea. It is nothing more than a revival of the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council that the UPA set up in 2004, whose first chairman was V Krishnamurthy.” 
 
He also says that the growth rates were seemed to have been recalibrated to make the government’s economic management look good, with an average rate of 7.35 per cent over its first four years. 
 
The jobs Modi mentioned like ‘pakoda’ sellers, autorickshaw drivers, tea-stall boys and newspaper deliverers are all in the informal sector and are nobody’s idea of an aspirational job, he says. He terms GDP figures as way below India’s potential. “But then India is the only country in the world that grows at 7.35 per cent, without investment, without industrial growth, without agricultural growth. Just like magic,” he writes in a sarcastic vein. 
 
The GST concept, he says, is good because it is simple and will lead to lower prices because there won’t be any tax on tax; there’ll be tax set-offs at every stage, and it will widen the tax net for transactions. 
 
“It is a better tax, but Modi-Jaitley botched it up at its very beginning. That GST has been tweaked 200 times already and over 400 notifications and 100 circulars and FAQs have been issued since its launch is standing testimony to the folly of the Modi-Jaitley team.” 
 
Sinha says that UPA’s management of the economy was also flawed. 
 
“When the global financial crisis hit us, the (UPA) government decided to focus on increasing consumer demand, and it began reducing or even eliminating some excise duties. 
 
“This, along with the debt waiver and MNREGA, was meant to put money in people’s pockets to encourage consumption demand. Yet all these welfare measures hardly encouraged productive activity and did not increase investment,” he writes. 
 
The Modi government, according to him, had everything going for it on all fronts; it had the kind of opportunity few governments have had in independent India’s history, yet it squandered its mandate. 
 
“In summation, the Modi government is just about event management. He is the best in creating false impressions. In the process, Modi has given India its ‘lost half-decade’. Elect him again and by 2024 it will be a lost decade,” he warns. 
 
The book, published by Juggernaut, is co-authored by journalist Aditya Sinha.

So, why is the need for the book? “. Over the last fifty-five months, the Modi government has dished out a stunning continuum of untruths and boasts about its economic management, performance and accomplishments. It thus becomes essential to speak truth to power, and so it is my job that this book is a statement of fact.”Sinha.&nbsp;

GDP numbers are misleading, RBI’s autonomy is in extreme danger and demonetisation is the biggest banking scam, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha claims in his new book.

GDP numbers are misleading, RBI’s autonomy is in extreme danger and demonetisation is the biggest banking scam, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha claims in his new book. He also says that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of self-employment is a ‘distraction from the more serious issue of unemployment and underemployment’. Sinha, who has been quite vocal about the government’s policies since the past couple of years, quit the BJP in April. Party leaders have been dismissing his allegations on several issues with BJP chief Amit Shah once asking if people should believe the ministers or those ‘who did not get jobs’. According to Sinha, Modi blew a golden opportunity to send the economy soaring to new heights. “He could have fixed the UPA’s legacy issues and fundamentally raised India from a poor country to a middle-income country, but he squandered the chance,” he says, adding his book demonstrates how ‘Modi unmade India’. Though the book “India Unmade: How the Modi Government Broke the Economy” is a critique of the NDA government’s economic management, Sinha says he has not always been a critic of Modi. “Nor do I have a personal vendetta against him for not appointing me minister or giving me some other post, as some people incorrectly speculate. In fact, the truth is that I recognised his mettle early on and was one of the first senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders to say he should be made the party’s prime ministerial candidate in the 2014 elections,” he claims. He has been severely critical of Modi on demonetisation, jobs, GDP figures and Make in India among others policies and programmes. “The Modi government’s lasting legacy will be the catastrophe that was the demonetisation of high-denomination currency on November 8, 2016,” he argues. “Demonetisation was a whimsical decision that served no purpose of governance. It did, however, provide Modi with a populist campaign plank of having taken tough decisions to nab the corrupt rich. His decision paid a rich electoral dividend in Uttar Pradesh in 2017. But as far as the constantly shifting governance objectives of demonetisation went, it was a big zero,” he says. On the second anniversary of demonetisation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that demonetisation resulted in increasing the tax base and a higher tax collection (both direct and indirect) for the government, thereby improving its fiscal health. He had also clarified that the real purpose of demonetisation was not the confiscation of cash but to bring it to the formal economy and make the holders pay tax. On Make in India, Sinha writes, “The malaise of Indian industry during Modi’s tenure is typified by his most famous flagship scheme, Make in India. It is his biggest failure; it is also an unoriginal idea. It is nothing more than a revival of the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council that the UPA set up in 2004, whose first chairman was V Krishnamurthy.” He also says that the growth rates were seemed to have been recalibrated to make the government’s economic management look good, with an average rate of 7.35 per cent over its first four years. The jobs Modi mentioned like ‘pakoda’ sellers, autorickshaw drivers, tea-stall boys and newspaper deliverers are all in the informal sector and are nobody’s idea of an aspirational job, he says. He terms GDP figures as way below India’s potential. “But then India is the only country in the world that grows at 7.35 per cent, without investment, without industrial growth, without agricultural growth. Just like magic,” he writes in a sarcastic vein. The GST concept, he says, is good because it is simple and will lead to lower prices because there won’t be any tax on tax; there’ll be tax set-offs at every stage, and it will widen the tax net for transactions. “It is a better tax, but Modi-Jaitley botched it up at its very beginning. That GST has been tweaked 200 times already and over 400 notifications and 100 circulars and FAQs have been issued since its launch is standing testimony to the folly of the Modi-Jaitley team.” Sinha says that UPA’s management of the economy was also flawed. “When the global financial crisis hit us, the (UPA) government decided to focus on increasing consumer demand, and it began reducing or even eliminating some excise duties. “This, along with the debt waiver and MNREGA, was meant to put money in people’s pockets to encourage consumption demand. Yet all these welfare measures hardly encouraged productive activity and did not increase investment,” he writes. The Modi government, according to him, had everything going for it on all fronts; it had the kind of opportunity few governments have had in independent India’s history, yet it squandered its mandate. “In summation, the Modi government is just about event management. He is the best in creating false impressions. In the process, Modi has given India its ‘lost half-decade’. Elect him again and by 2024 it will be a lost decade,” he warns. The book, published by Juggernaut, is co-authored by journalist Aditya Sinha. So, why is the need for the book? “. Over the last fifty-five months, the Modi government has dished out a stunning continuum of untruths and boasts about its economic management, performance and accomplishments. It thus becomes essential to speak truth to power, and so it is my job that this book is a statement of fact.”Sinha.

PM Modi could have fixed UPA’s legacy issues but he squandered the chance: Yashwant Sinha

Congress chief<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-kcr-diluted-tribal-rights-law-rahul-gandhi-180255"> Rahul Gandhi</a> Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over employment opportunities, farm loan waiver, Rafale deal and demonetisation.&nbsp;

He hit out at Modi over his promise of providing employment to 2 crore youths during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

"Narendra Modi in his election speeches in 2014 had said he would give jobs to 2 crore youths. If you gave employment, why did four youths commit suicide in Alwar?" Gandhi said at a rally in Alwar district's Malakhera town.&nbsp;

Three friends died and another was injured after they allegedly jumped before a moving train in a suspected suicide pact in Alwar district last month. A primary probe revealed that they were depressed due to unemployment, police said.&nbsp;

The Congress leader said the prime minister says the slogan of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' in all his addresses but works for industrialist Anil Ambani.

"In every address, he (PM) says Bharat Mata Ki Jai and works for Anil Ambani. He should begin his address by saying 'Anil Ambani ki Jai', 'Mehul Choksi ki Jai', 'Nirav Modi ki Jai',?Lalit Modi ki Jai'," he said in poll-bound Rajasthan.&nbsp;

Referring to the term 'Bharat Mata', Gandhi said Bharat Mata was the "entire country, farmers, sentiments of crores of youths, women and labourers".

"If you talk about Bharat Mata, how can you forget about farmers?" he said, adding bad debt worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore was written off, but not a single rupee of farmers was waived off by the Modi government.

Exuding confidence of winning the upcoming state Assembly polls, the Gandhi scion said Congress will form the government and waive off farmers loan in ten days, and the chief minister will give 18 hours a day for providing employment to the youths.

Talking about Rafale deal, he said the prime minister would not speak about the matter because if he spoke, "someone from the public would say 'Chowkidar chor hai'".

Gandhi alleged the Modi government worked for top 15 industrialists of the country.&nbsp; 
The BJP has denied all these allegations.&nbsp;

Rajasthan Congress state unit president Sachin Pilot, former chief minister<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-not-doing-issue-based-politics-gehlot-180949"> Ashok Gehlot </a>and party candidates from all assembly constituencies of Alwar and other leaders were present in the meeting.

The state will go to polls on December 7.&nbsp;

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over employment opportunities, farm loan waiver, Rafale deal and demonetisation. He hit out at Modi over his promise of providing employment to 2 crore youths during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over employment opportunities, farm loan waiver, Rafale deal and demonetisation. He hit out at Modi over his promise of providing employment to 2 crore youths during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. "Narendra Modi in his election speeches in 2014 had said he would give jobs to 2 crore youths. If you gave employment, why did four youths commit suicide in Alwar?" Gandhi said at a rally in Alwar district's Malakhera town. Three friends died and another was injured after they allegedly jumped before a moving train in a suspected suicide pact in Alwar district last month. A primary probe revealed that they were depressed due to unemployment, police said. The Congress leader said the prime minister says the slogan of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' in all his addresses but works for industrialist Anil Ambani. "In every address, he (PM) says Bharat Mata Ki Jai and works for Anil Ambani. He should begin his address by saying 'Anil Ambani ki Jai', 'Mehul Choksi ki Jai', 'Nirav Modi ki Jai',?Lalit Modi ki Jai'," he said in poll-bound Rajasthan. Referring to the term 'Bharat Mata', Gandhi said Bharat Mata was the "entire country, farmers, sentiments of crores of youths, women and labourers". "If you talk about Bharat Mata, how can you forget about farmers?" he said, adding bad debt worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore was written off, but not a single rupee of farmers was waived off by the Modi government. Exuding confidence of winning the upcoming state Assembly polls, the Gandhi scion said Congress will form the government and waive off farmers loan in ten days, and the chief minister will give 18 hours a day for providing employment to the youths. Talking about Rafale deal, he said the prime minister would not speak about the matter because if he spoke, "someone from the public would say 'Chowkidar chor hai'". Gandhi alleged the Modi government worked for top 15 industrialists of the country. The BJP has denied all these allegations. Rajasthan Congress state unit president Sachin Pilot, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and party candidates from all assembly constituencies of Alwar and other leaders were present in the meeting. The state will go to polls on December 7.

If Modi gave jobs, why four youths committed suicide in Alwar: Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan

Former Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat, who stepped down last week, said that there was "no check" on black money used in elections.&nbsp;

"It seems political class and their financiers have no dearth of money. Money used in this manner is generally black money. As far as black money used in elections is concerned, there was no check on it," Rawat stated on Monday.&nbsp;

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Former Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat: It seems political class and their financiers have no dearth of money. Money used in this manner, is generally black money. As far as black money used in election is concerned, there was no check on it. <a href="https://t.co/l3zrUYW265">https://t.co/l3zrUYW265</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1069460514793762816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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On the issue of demonetisation, he said it was thought that after the implementation of demonetisation, "the misuse of money during elections will be brought down," "but it couldn't be proved on basis of the data of the seizures. Compared to previous elections, there were more seizures in the same states," he said, adding that demonetisation had no impact on curbing black money.&nbsp;

Rawat's comments came a couple of days after he demitted office as the Chief Election Commissioner of India on Saturday.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sunil-arora-takes-charge-as-new-chief-election-commissioner-of-india-180847">Sunil Arora took charge</a> as the new Chief Election Commissioner of India on Sunday. Arora was appointed to office by President Ram Nath Kovind last week.&nbsp;

Former Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat, who stepped down last week, said that there was "no check" on black money used in elections. "It seems political class and their financiers have no dearth of money.

Former Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat, who stepped down last week, said that there was "no check" on black money used in elections. "It seems political class and their financiers have no dearth of money. Money used in this manner is generally black money. As far as black money used in elections is concerned, there was no check on it," Rawat stated on Monday. Former Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat: It seems political class and their financiers have no dearth of money. Money used in this manner, is generally black money. As far as black money used in election is concerned, there was no check on it. https://t.co/l3zrUYW265 — ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2018 × On the issue of demonetisation, he said it was thought that after the implementation of demonetisation, "the misuse of money during elections will be brought down," "but it couldn't be proved on basis of the data of the seizures. Compared to previous elections, there were more seizures in the same states," he said, adding that demonetisation had no impact on curbing black money. Rawat's comments came a couple of days after he demitted office as the Chief Election Commissioner of India on Saturday. Sunil Arora took charge as the new Chief Election Commissioner of India on Sunday. Arora was appointed to office by President Ram Nath Kovind last week.

No check on black money used in elections, demonetisation had no effect: Former CEC Rawat

To promote digital payments post demonetisation, the Indian government will give daily, weekly and mega cash awards totalling Rs 340 crore for consumers as well as merchants beginning the Christmas Day.

Announcing &#39;Lucky Grahak Yojana&#39; and &#39;Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana&#39;, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said both the schemes will cover small transactions between Rs 50 and Rs 3,000 to encourage every section of the society to move to digital payments.

Terming it a &#39;Christmas Gift&#39; to the country, Kant said the first draw will happen on December 25 and the mega draw on April 14, the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar.

National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) will announce 15,000 winners of Rs 1,000 each for next 100 days, starting December 25. There will be 7,000 weekly awards each for consumers and merchants.

&quot;Focus of Lucky Grahak and Digi-Dhan Yojana is on poor, middle class and small businesses so as to bring them into digital payments revolution,&quot; said the Niti Aayog CEO.

As per estimates, only 5 per cent Indians use digital payment modes.

For consumers, there will mega awards of Rs 1 crore, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh. In case of merchants, it has been fixed at Rs 50 lakh, Rs 25 lakh and Rs 5 lakh.

Estimated expenditure of the scheme to incentivize digital payments is Rs 340 crore, Kant said.

Giving details on digital transactions post demonetisation of old Rs 500/1000 notes, he said PoS transactions witnessed a jump of 95 per cent since November 8 (till December 7).

RuPay Card transactions were up 316 per cent and e-wallet 271 per cent, while both UPI about and USSD witnessed increase of about 1,200 per cent each.

All forms of transactions through UPI, USSD, Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) and RuPay cards will be eligible for lucky draws.

Niti Aayog also said the scheme is not applicable for transactions done through private credit cards and e-wallets of private companies.

(PTI)

The move aims to promote digital payment modes which are currently used by only 5 per cent Indians

To promote digital payments post demonetisation, the Indian government will give daily, weekly and mega cash awards totalling Rs 340 crore for consumers as well as merchants beginning the Christmas Day. Announcing 'Lucky Grahak Yojana' and 'Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana', Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said both the schemes will cover small transactions between Rs 50 and Rs 3,000 to encourage every section of the society to move to digital payments. Terming it a 'Christmas Gift' to the country, Kant said the first draw will happen on December 25 and the mega draw on April 14, the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar. National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) will announce 15,000 winners of Rs 1,000 each for next 100 days, starting December 25. There will be 7,000 weekly awards each for consumers and merchants. "Focus of Lucky Grahak and Digi-Dhan Yojana is on poor, middle class and small businesses so as to bring them into digital payments revolution," said the Niti Aayog CEO. As per estimates, only 5 per cent Indians use digital payment modes. For consumers, there will mega awards of Rs 1 crore, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh. In case of merchants, it has been fixed at Rs 50 lakh, Rs 25 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. Estimated expenditure of the scheme to incentivize digital payments is Rs 340 crore, Kant said. Giving details on digital transactions post demonetisation of old Rs 500/1000 notes, he said PoS transactions witnessed a jump of 95 per cent since November 8 (till December 7). RuPay Card transactions were up 316 per cent and e-wallet 271 per cent, while both UPI about and USSD witnessed increase of about 1,200 per cent each. All forms of transactions through UPI, USSD, Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) and RuPay cards will be eligible for lucky draws. Niti Aayog also said the scheme is not applicable for transactions done through private credit cards and e-wallets of private companies. (PTI)

India's Niti Aayog announces awards to spur digital payments

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