Two Months In, Jaitley Takes Stock Of Demonetisation

With doubts being raised about demonetisation eliminating black money, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said colour of funds has not changed by merely depositing them in banks as the money has now lost its 'anonymity' and can be identified with the owner.

In a Facebook post titled 'Demonetisation -- A look back at the last two months', he also said the period of pain and inconveniences is getting over and the economic activity is being restored.

Large amount of cash with banks will lead to lower interest rates, he further said. "When 86 per cent of a country's currency, constituting 12.2 per cent of its GDP, is squeezed out of the market and sought to be replaced by a new currency, there would obviously be significant consequences of that decision," he said, adding that the queues outside the banks have disappeared and remonetisation has moved ahead.

Jaitley said demonetisation required both courage and stamina. "The implementation of the decision carried pain. It can lead to short-term criticism and inconveniences. Drop in economic activity on account of the currency squeeze during the remonetisation period would have a transient impact on the economy."

The comments follow reports about an estimated 97 per cent of junked notes getting deposited in bank accounts, thus casting doubts on the effectiveness of demonetisation move in checking the black money menace.

The Revenue Department, he said, would be entitled to tax this money. "In any case, the amendment to the Income Tax Act itself provides that the said money, if voluntarily declared or if involuntarily detected, would be liable for differential and high rates of taxation and penalty," he said.

The Revenue Department, he said, would be entitled to tax this money. "In any case, the amendment to the Income Tax Act itself provides that the said money, if voluntarily declared or if involuntarily detected, would be liable for differential and high rates of taxation and penalty," he said.

Jaitley said banks today have a lot more money available in order to lend for growth.

"Since this money constitutes low-cost deposits with the banks, it is bound to bring down the rate of interest. Both these things have already happened. Lakhs of crores, which were floating in the market as loose currency, have now entered the banking system. Not only has the money lost is anonymity, its owners, after being taxed, are entitled to put it to more effective uses," he said.

Jaitley said the Narendra Modi Government wanted to move against the shadow economy and black money from Day-1, and went on to list the steps taken including constituting SIT on black money and international cooperation in sharing information on base erosion and profit shifting.

"Modi Government is determined to act against the shadow economy and black money. All efforts in this regard till date have been fruitful," Jaitley later tweeted.

He said agreement was reached with Switzerland to get details of assets held by Indian citizens from 2019 and tax treaties with Mauritius, Cyprus and Singapore renegotiated to end round-tripping.

"PM Narendra Modi mustered international support against evils of black money since he took over as PM of India," Jaitley tweeted.

He said India enacted a law for dealing with black money outside India and a 'highly successful' Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) for domestic black money holders was launched.

Also PAN card requirement for cash transaction above Rs 2 lakhs has put hurdles on expenditure through black money.

Stating that GST, to be implemented this year, will provide for better indirect tax administration and being a more efficient law will check tax evasion, he said the demonetisation of high denominational currency notes was the big step in the same direction.

With the demonetisation, the size of the banking transactions and consequently the size of the economy is bound to increase, he said, adding that in the medium and long run, the GDP would be bigger and cleaner.

Full text of Jaitley's Facebook post: