The official explanation was all about tackling black money and pushing for a cashless economy, but could there be more to it? What if I told you there might be threads connecting this bold move to international influences—perhaps even a grander scheme involving foreign powers and tech moguls? Let’s explore this together.
Setting the Stage: A Global Shift Towards Cashless Systems
Around 2010 to 2015, something interesting was brewing globally. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) started pouring money into fintech startups and mobile wallet companies. Their stated mission? To boost financial literacy and inclusion, especially in poorer, rural communities. It sounds noble, right? But here’s the catch: in a country like India, where many people don’t even have reliable internet or smartphones, this focus on digital payments feels a bit out of place. What’s the real goal here?
India’s Journey: From Jan Dhan to Digital Tracking
Let’s zoom into India. In 2014, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), a massive initiative to ensure every citizen had a bank account. It started as the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme under Manmohan Singh and was later rebranded by Narendra Modi. On the surface, it’s a great idea—banking for all! But it also meant that every financial transaction could now be tracked, laying the foundation for a system where cash could be sidelined.
Around the same time, Bill Gates was meeting with Indian leaders. His foundation was already knee-deep in promoting digital payments worldwide. Then, in September 2016, USAID launched the Catalyst project in India, aimed at accelerating cashless payments. Just two months later…bam!…demonetization hit.
The Shock of November 8, 2016
On November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Modi appeared on TV and dropped a bombshell: 500 and 1000 rupee notes were no longer legal tender. Chaos ensued—long lines at banks, economic disruption, and a sudden scramble for alternatives. The new 2000 rupee notes didn’t help much for small transactions, nudging people toward digital options like UPI. Was this a coincidence, or a calculated push?
Post-demonetization, digital payments skyrocketed. The government cheered it as a victory, but some saw it differently—a step toward a system where every move could be watched.
A Global Pattern Emerges
India wasn’t alone in this shift. Look at Kenya with M-Pesa, Bangladesh with bKash, Nigeria with the Better Than Cash Alliance, or even Indonesia and Latin America. These countries saw similar pushes for digital payments, most of them backed by BMGF or similar groups. It’s almost like a global playbook: reduce cash, increase control.
The Dark Side: Surveillance and Privacy Risks
Here’s where it gets unsettling. A cashless economy means every transaction is logged. In India, where only about 85% of people have internet access and digital literacy is patchy, this shift could leave many behind. Worse, it centralizes financial data – ripe for surveillance. Imagine governments or even international entities peering into your spending habits. Could they freeze accounts of dissenters? It’s not far-fetched.The introduction of tools like FASTag (for tolls) and UPI (for payments) only tightened this web. And with talks of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), the government could one day control money flows with a single click.
Timing and Suspicion: USAID and BMGF’s Role
Let’s rewind to that Catalyst project in September 2016, funded by USAID—a group tied to American interests. Two months later, demonetization happens. Then, in 2017-18, BMGF funds more startups to push digital payments. During COVID-19, the cashless trend got another boost, with the WHO (also linked to Gates) encouraging touchless transactions. The timing is uncanny.The Indian government denies any foreign influence, but the dots are hard to ignore. Did Modi’s administration knowingly align with this agenda, or was it just a convenient coincidence?
Beyond India: A New World Order?
Some conspiracy buffs tie this to a shadowy “New World Order”—a totalitarian vision where tech giants like Bill Gates and Peter Thiel call the shots. Whether you buy that or not, the global push for cashless systems is real. And in India, with its massive population and uneven tech access, the risks are amplified—privacy erosion, data breaches, and even threats to national security if foreign players get too cozy with our financial data.
The Government’s Role: Complicity or Convenience?
Here’s the kicker: none of this could happen without high-level approval. Policies like demonetization, Digital India, and UPI needed nods from the Finance Ministry, Reserve Bank of India, and the Prime Minister’s Office. Foreign NGOs like BMGF or USAID operating here require clearances under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. So, was the government in on it, or just riding a global wave?
Final Thoughts: What’s at Stake?
I’m not saying this is all a grand conspiracy, maybe it’s just a string of coincidences. But the stakes are high. A cashless India could empower efficiency, but at what cost? With 55-60% of rural areas lacking internet and digital literacy hovering at 30-40%, this rush feels premature. Our financial freedom, privacy, and sovereignty could be on the line.
So, dear readers, what do you think? Is this modernization gone too far, or a necessary step forward? Let’s keep asking questions and demanding transparency. After all, in a democracy, it’s our right to know who’s steering the ship.
Until next time, stay curious!
