Digital payments adoption accelerates as national app praised for faster transactions and anti-corruption technology, boosting trader and youth usage.
The Prime Minister reported rapid national adoption of the government-supported BHIM mobile payment application, noting widespread downloads and emphasizing that the App enables faster, easier digital transactions, appeals to youth, benefits traders, and exemplifies indigenous technology under Make in India while contributing to anti-corruption and cashless economy objectives.

Consulting appointment for ease of doing business to implement targeted reforms and improve World Bank ranking via QCBS procurement.
DIPP issues an RfP to appoint a consulting agency, via QCBS, to assist Central and State governments in implementing reforms across the ten World Bank Doing Business indicators to achieve a top 50 ranking. The agency must analyse global best practices, study Doing Business methodology, propose and support tailored legal/regulatory amendments, conduct field studies and stakeholder consultations (Delhi and Mumbai), place a Project Manager and five staff at DIPP, deliver monthly reports, and comply with EMD, Performance Security, confidentiality, IP assignment of deliverables, insurance, penalties and the two year engagement period.

Withdrawal of legal tender: specified high denomination notes cease as liabilities, with limited post cessation exchange safeguards.
The Withdrawal of Legal Tender declared certain Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 banknotes invalid for payment and store of value from the cessation date, with exchange and deposit windows at banks, post offices and designated RBI offices that largely closed on the notified date. The Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance provides a limited grace facility at five RBI offices for eligible residents and non residents abroad during the exchange window, permits post cessation deposits subject to verification and KYC compliance, prescribes penal fines for false declarations and unlawful holding or transfer of specified notes, and establishes corporate liability for contraventions.

Official misconduct: mandatory reporting by public sector banks of staff involvement in illegal currency conversion, triggering inspections and investigative referrals.
The Finance Ministry has directed public sector banks to submit reports identifying officials who engaged in illegal currency conversion or violated government and Reserve Bank directions during demonetisation, obliging banks to disclose particulars for administrative or criminal follow-up; banks retain responsibility for internal disciplinary and criminal proceedings while the Ministry continues vigilance proceedings against directors, and regulatory or investigative agencies may conduct inspections or inquiries based on the reports.