Cheat Sheet

The Reserve Bank of India today said banks have received 5.45 trillion rupees or 80 billion dollars in 500 and 1000 rupee notes from November 10 to 18, after the government decided to withdraw high value bills to eliminate black or untaxed money and counterfeit currency.

Faced with an escalating attack from a united opposition that now plans a nationwide bandh over demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley this evening for another review of the impact of the ban on 500 and 1000 rupee notes.

At least 127 people were killed in their sleep and nearly 200 injured after the Indore-Patna Express train jumped the tracks near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday morning, wrecking most of the coaches.

By-elections were held in six states and one union territory today - the polls are expected to be the first referendum since the ban on 500 and 1,000 rupee notes was announced by the BJP-led government at the centre.

The government on Thursday announced new measures to help farmers and families planning weddings withdraw more money from banks amid a massive cash crunch after the sudden ban on high value currency last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reviewed cash availability and the steps taken to ease hardship in a meeting with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the officials.

Both Houses of parliament were adjourned on Thursday as opposition lawmakers continued their attack on the government over the impact of its ban on 500 and 1000 rupee notes. Today was the second day of the winter session. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley later rejected all demands of the opposition.

Giving a big push to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India plan, a new version of an unmanned combat aerial vehicle successfully completed a test flight today. The Tapas 201 or Rustom-2 comes seven years after Rustom-1 and it is on par with US drones in its category.

A united opposition launched a vigorous attack on the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the first day of parliament's winter session. All the action was in Rajya Sabha, where the Congress dared PM Modi to make an intervention tomorrow. Other parties demanded a probe into what they called a "leakage" of the information of the currency ban.

Main opposition party Congress will not join a march organised by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress at noon today to petition the President for a rollback of the Government's decision to abolish 500 and 1000 rupee notes. But the ruling BJP's ally, the Shiv Sena, will.

The Supreme Court has asked the government to submit a plan of action to cope with the hardship caused to people after 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes - which accounted for 86 per cent of cash in circulation - were cancelled.

The government has asked banks to use indelible ink while exchanging banned Rs 500 and 1,000 notes to stop "unscrupulous elements trying to convert black money".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur, hit out at the Opposition, who are criticising the government's big currency notes ban.

New Rs 2,000 notes will be available in some ATMs from tomorrow, the government said today amid a nationwide scramble for cash. Old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, scrapped last week in a sudden announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be accepted for 10 more days at government hospitals, private nursing homes, petrol stations, and as power and water bills.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a gathering in Goa today, said on November 8 when the government announced a ban on big currency notes to check the problem of black money, "many people of India slept peacefully and a few are sleepless even now".

Within hours of launching the new Rs 500 notes on Sunday, the government increased the daily limit of withdrawal from ATMs from Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 and exchange limit from Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,500. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting to review the withdrawal of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes that was announced on Tuesday in a bid to root out black money. Union minister Arun Jaitley and the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India attended the meeting.