The governments move to demonetize high-value currency had many critics. There is still a section of society which doubts governments motive to convert India into a cashless economy. But this Narendra Modi led government is pretty serious about the Digital India movement. And this is evident from the various incentives that the government is providing to public in order to encourage them to switch to cashless and digital payments. Few of the many incentives that the public can enjoy ongoing cashless are as follows:
1. Discount on purchase of fuel
In order to give a boost to digital payments, the Government-owned petroleum companies will provide 0.75 percent discount on the sale price to all the customers who purchase petrol or diesel and make cashless or digital payments.
2. Special card for farmers
The farmers are the backbone of the nation. Thus to assist them to move to cashless means of payments, the government through NABARD will provide assistance to Regional Rural Banks and Cooperative Banks to issue special Rupay Kisan Cards. These cards will be issued to around 4.32 crore Kisan Credit Card holders in order to enable them to make cashless transactions at ATMs, Micro ATMs, and at POS machines.
3. Villages to be equipped with POS machines
The government is well aware of the inadequate infrastructure facilities which are hindering promotion of the Digital India movement. Therefore the government is drawing special measures to improve cashless and digital transactions infrastructure, especially in rural areas. Once again through NABARD, the government has provided financial assistance to all the eligible banks to obtain two POS machines. These include the banks of 1 lakh such villages which have a population of less than 10,000. This move will benefit almost a total population of 75 crores especially the farmers who can now transact cashlessly for all their farming and agricultural needs.
4. Discount on monthly and seasonal railway passes
From 1 Jan 2017, any suburban railway passenger who books his or her monthly or seasonal pass through digital or cashless payment will receive a discount of 0.5 percent. This incentive is exclusively for passengers of the suburban railway network. This incentive will nearly 80 lakhs passengers who commute using monthly or seasonal tickets in the suburban railway network.
5. Free accident insurance for railway passengers
Any railway passenger who buys a ticket online will be provided with an accidental insurance cover of up to Rs.10 lakhs at the nominal charge of Re.1. This nominal charge will be deducted from the cost of the railway ticket and would not be charged to the passenger. The Indian railways issue nearly 14 lakhs tickets on a daily basis out of which 58% are bought online through digital or cashless transactions.
6. Incentive on other paid services by railway passengers
A railway passenger who avails any of the ancillary services provided by the railways such as catering, accommodation, retiring rooms, etc. will be provided with a discount of 5 percent if they pay for these services cashlessly or through digital means.
7. No more transaction fees on cashless transactions
The Transaction fees levied by banks on digital transactions were a major concern of the vendors and consumers in general when the government came out with its propaganda of cashless payments. To solve this problem, the government has directed all the government departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to bear the expense of transaction fees or MDR charges and not pass it to the consumers. The same directions have been issued to State Governments too so that the public at large can freely switch to digital transactions.
8. Discount on Toll Taxes
Any vehicle driver paying toll at Toll Plazas on National Highways can now avail a discount of 10 percent. This discount will be available to users who make the toll payment through RFID Cards or Fast Tags.
9. Zero Service Tax
The government has waived off service tax on any digital transaction fees or MDR charges for transactions up to Rs. 2000.
10. Discount on Insurance Policies
Buying insurance online through digital and cashless payments are now incentivised . The Public Sector insurance company will provide a discount on premium payments of up to 10 percent in the case of general insurance policies and of 8 percent in the case of new life insurance policies if the payment for the same is made through digital means.
11. Benefits for traders and merchants
The government has directed all the public sector banks to not charge more than Rs. 100 as monthly rental charges for POS terminals, Micro ATMs, or mobile POS. This is done to gain the confidence of small traders and merchants and bring them onboard the Digital India movement. Till date, public sector banks have issued nearly 6.5 lakhs machines to various merchants who will now benefit from the lower rentals .
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