Demonetization in India, also known as "Note Ban" was a surgical strike on black money, fake currency, and corruption that took place on November 8th, 2016. The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced the withdrawal of the 500- and 1000-rupee notes from circulation, which made up 86% of the total value of the currency in circulation at the time. This move was aimed at combating the issues of black money, counterfeit currency, and corruption in the country.

Background:
The idea of demonetization in India had been discussed for several years before it was finally implemented. In 2014, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) set up a committee to examine the feasibility of demonetization and to recommend steps to be taken in the event that it was implemented. The committee, led by Nachiket Mor, recommended demonetization as a means of curbing black money, counterfeit currency, and terrorist financing.

Objectives:

The main objectives of demonetization in India were to:

• Curb black money:
  By withdrawing the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, the government aimed to eliminate the hoard of undeclared wealth that was held in these denominations.
   
• Combat corruption:
  By eliminating black money, the government also aimed to reduce the level of corruption in the country.
   
• Counterfeit currency:
  The withdrawn notes were also known to be used for illegal activities and to fund terrorism, by eliminating these notes, the government aimed to curb these activities.
   
• Digitalization:
  The government also aimed to push for digitalization of the economy by encouraging people to move towards digital transactions.
   
• Implementation:
  The demonetization drive was implemented with immediate effect on November 8, 2016, and the withdrawn notes could be exchanged for new notes or deposited in banks until December 30, 2016. The government also imposed certain restrictions on cash withdrawals and deposits in order to prevent hoarding.
   
• Impact on the Economy:
  The demonetization drive had a significant impact on the Indian economy, both positive and negative. Some of the major impacts are:
  
  • Short-term impact:
    The withdrawal of the notes led to a severe shortage of cash in the economy, with long queues at banks and ATMs. This resulted in the demonetization drive led to a decline in economic activity, particularly in the informal sector which was heavily dependent on cash transactions.
     
  • Long-term impact:
    The government claimed that the demonetization drive led to an increase in the number of taxpayers and a decline in the use of black money. However, it's important to note that the long-term impact of demonetization on the economy is still being debated and analyzed by experts.
     
  • Impact on Digitalization:
    The government's push for digitalization led to an increase in digital transactions and a decline in the use of cash. The government's goal of promoting digital transactions was achieved as a result of the demonetization drive, with a significant increase in digital transactions, such as mobile banking, digital wallets, and online transactions.
     
  • Impact on Black Money:
    The government's claim that demonetization would curb black money has been met with skepticism, with critics arguing that most of the undeclared wealth was held in assets such as real estate and gold rather than cash. It's important to note that the impact of demonetization on black money is also still being debated and analyzed by experts.
     
  • Impact on the Poor and Vulnerable sections:
    The demonetization drive had a disproportionate impact on the poor and vulnerable sections of society, as they were the most dependent on cash transactions and were the least equipped to adapt to the sudden change. The demonetization drive led to a significant inconvenience to the poor and vulnerable sections of society as they had to queue up for hours to exchange their old notes.
     
  • International Reaction:
    The demonetization drive in India received mixed reactions from the international community. While some praised the move as a bold step to curb corruption and black money, others criticized it for its implementation and the inconvenience it caused to the common people.
     
  • Political Impact:
    The demonetization drive had a significant impact on the political landscape in India. The ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), defended the move, while the opposition parties criticized it. The demonetization drive was a major issue during the state elections and general elections that followed.
     

Recommendations:
Based on the analysis of the demonetization drive, some recommendations can be made for future policy decisions.

These can include, but not limited to:

• A better implementation plan that takes into account the impact on the poor and vulnerable sections of society
• Further research and analysis to understand the long-term impact of demonetization
• A comprehensive strategy to tackle black money and corruption that includes measures beyond demonetization.
   

Comparison of Demonetization in other countries and India:

Demonetization, or the withdrawal of certain denominations of currency from circulation, has been implemented in various countries for various reasons. While the demonetization drive in India was aimed at curbing black money, counterfeit currency, and corruption, other countries have implemented similar measures for different reasons.

Here are some examples of demonetization in other countries:

• In 1978, Ghana demonetized its currency in order to combat inflation and stabilize its economy
• In the 1980s, Zimbabwe demonetized its currency in order to combat hyperinflation.
• In 1986, North Korea demonetized its currency in order to crack down on market activities and curb the informal economy.
• In 2002, Venezuela demonetized its currency in order to combat inflation and stabilize its economy.

It's worth noting that each country's demonetization process, goals and outcomes are different and it's important to compare the context and conditions under which they were implemented. A comparison of the demonetization drive in India with that of other countries would reveal the similarities and differences in terms of the objectives, implementation, and impact of the move.

Criticism:

The demonetization drive in India faced significant criticism from various quarters. Some of the major criticisms are:

• Implementation:
  Critics argue that the demonetization drive was implemented without adequate planning and preparation, resulting in chaos and inconvenience to the common people.
   
• Impact on the poor and vulnerable sections:
  The demonetization drive had a disproportionate impact on the poor and vulnerable sections of society, as they were the most dependent on cash transactions and were the least equipped to adapt to the sudden change.
   
• Impact on the economy:
  Critics argue that the demonetization drive led to a decline in economic activity, particularly in the informal sector, and a decrease in GDP growth.
   
• Impact on black money:
  Critics argue that demonetization failed to curb black money as most of the undeclared wealth was held in assets such as real estate and gold rather than cash.
   
• Impact on terrorism and counterfeit currency:
  Critics argue that the demonetization drive failed to curb terrorism and counterfeit currency as the new notes were printed and circulated quickly and it was not a long term solution.

Critics also argue that the government's claim that demonetization would curb black money, counterfeit currency and corruption was not supported by enough evidence and the move was taken without proper assessment of possible outcomes and their impact on the economy and society.

Conclusion:
Demonetization in India was a bold move by the government to curb black money, corruption, and counterfeit currency. While the short-term impact of the move was significant, with a decline in economic activity and inconvenience to the poor and vulnerable sections of society, the long-term impact is still being debated. The government's push for digitalization did lead to an increase in digital transactions, but the impact on black money remains uncertain.

It is important to note that demonetization is a complex issue, and its impact can be different for different sections of society. While the government's intentions behind demonetization were to curb corruption and black money, it is crucial to also consider the impact on the economy, digitalization, and the welfare of the poor and vulnerable sections of society.

Overall, the demonetization drive in India was a significant event that had a lasting impact on the country. The government's intentions behind the move were commendable, but its implementation and impact need to be analysed and studied further to understand its long-term effects and to make informed decisions in the future.