Bill to ban all cryptocurrencies to be tabled in Winter Session of Parliament

The Union government will move a Bill which seeks to prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India in the Winter Session of Parliament starting November 29.

It will be called The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021. However, it allows for certain exceptions to promote the underlying technology of cryptocurrency and its usage.

The government's objective is "to create a facilitative framework for the creation of the official digital currency to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India".

The Bill has been listed for introduction, consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha. It is among 26 new Bills, which are to be introduced in the Parliament session beginning November 29.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier said that all democratic countries need to work together on cryptocurrency and ensure that it does not end up in the wrong hands.

Giving an example of the virtual currency, he had said, "Take cryptocurrency or Bitcoin for example. It is important that all nations work together on this and ensure it does not end up in the wrong hands, which can spoil our youth."

Several high meetings have been held to discuss the regulation of cryptocurrencies. The Parliamentary Stnading Committee had also called for the regulation.