MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the nation on Sunday to embrace digital payments, in a monthly radio address that promoted a less-cash society.
"By embracing technology, we can build a cashless society… We can gradually move from a ‘less-cash’ society to a cashless society. Youth can play a major role in this," Modi said.
Millions of Indians were forced to stand long queues to deposit the invalid notes at banks and post offices after the ban was announced on November 8. They have until the end of the year to get rid of useless cash.
Modi admitted the decision to ban 500-rupee and 1000-rupees notes "wasn’t easy," but he defended the demonetization policy, saying it helped fight "evils of black money and corruption."
