PIB Summary- 27th January, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

National Voters Day

Context
Election Commission of India is celebrating 14th National Voters’ Day (NVD) on 25th January 2024.

National Voters’ Day (NVD)

• Date of Celebration: January 25 is dedicated to celebrating National Voters’ Day (NVD) annually since 2011.
• Significance: This day marks the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, established on January 25, 1950.

Objectives and Focus:

• Awareness Creation: The primary aim of NVD is to cultivate electoral awareness among citizens, fostering their active participation in the democratic process.
• Youth Engagement: The day emphasizes the inclusion of newly eligible young voters, encouraging their enrolment in the electoral register.
• Felicitating New Voters: NVD serves as a platform for honoring and presenting the Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to new voters.

Widespread Celebrations:

• Multilevel Celebrations: NVD is observed at the national, state, district, constituency, and polling booth levels, making it one of the largest celebrations in the country.
• Theme for NVD 2024: The theme for the year 2024 is ‘Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For Sure.’

Milestone Celebration:

• Election Commission’s 75th Year: In 2024, NVD coincides with the 75th year celebration of the Election Commission of India, showcasing its long-standing commitment to serving the nation.

About Election Commission of India

• The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India.
• The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.
• It is the Commission that decides the election schedules for the conduct of elections, whether general elections or by-elections.
• ECI decides on the location of polling stations, assignment of voters to the polling stations, location of counting centers, arrangements to be made in and around polling stations and counting centres and all allied matters.
• In the performance of its functions, the Election Commission is insulated from executive interference.
• Part XV of the Indian constitution deals with elections, and establishes a commission for these matters.
• The Election Commission was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January 1950, hence it is a constitutional body. Article 324 to 329 of the constitution deals with powers, function, tenure, eligibility, etc., of the commission and the member.

Litigations against EC

• The decisions of the Commission can be challenged in the High Court and the Supreme Court of India by appropriate petitions.
• By long-standing convention and several judicial pronouncements, once the actual process of elections has started, the judiciary does not intervene in the actual conduct of the polls.

Structure of the Election Commission

• Originally the commission had only one election commissioner but after the Election Commissioner Amendment Act 1989, it has been made a multi-member body.
• The commission consists of one Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.
• The secretariat of the commission is located in New Delhi.
• At the state level election commission is helped by Chief Electoral Officer who is an IAS rank Officer.
• The President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
• They have a fixed tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Court of India.
• The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through a process of removal similar to that of a Supreme Court judge for by Parliament.

Issues with ECI

• Flaws in the composition: The Constitution doesn’t prescribe qualifications for members of the EC. They are not debarred from future appointments after retiring or resigning.
• No security of tenure: Election commissioners aren’t constitutionally protected with security of tenure.
• Partisan role: The EC has come under the scanner like never before, with increasing incidents of breach of the Model Code of Conduct in the 2019 general elections.
• Political favor: The opposition alleged that the ECI was favoring the ruling party by giving clean chit to the model code of conduct violations made by the PM.
• Non-competence: Increased violence and electoral malpractices under influence of money have resulted in political criminalization, which ECI is unable to arrest.

Some Powers:

• The Election Commission of India is considered the guardian of free and reasonable elections.
• It issues the Model Code of Conduct in every election for political parties and candidates so that the decorum of democracy is maintained.
• It regulates political parties and registers them for being eligible to contest elections.
• It publishes the allowed limits of campaign expenditure per candidate to all the political parties, and also monitors the same.
• The political parties must submit their annual reports to the ECI for getting tax benefit on contributions.
• It guarantees that all the political parties regularly submit their audited financial reports.

Other powers handled by the Election Commission of India are as follows:

• The Commission can repress the results of opinion polls if it deems such an action fit for the cause of democracy.
• The Commission can recommend for disqualification of members after the elections if it thinks they have violated certain guidelines.
• In case, a candidate is found guilty of dishonest practices during the elections, the Supreme Court and High Courts consult the Commission.
• The Commission can postpone candidates who fail to submit their election expense accounts timely.

Exercise Desert Knight

Context
Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) joined forces with the French Air and Space Force (FASF) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force in Exercise Desert Knight, showcasing collaborative air operations and strengthening diplomatic ties.

Exercise Desert Knight: Strengthening Trilateral Air Force Cooperation

• Participants: Exercise Desert Knight is a collaborative military drill involving the air forces of India, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Location: The exercise unfolded over the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducting operations from bases within India.

Objectives:

• Enhancing Cooperation: The primary objective of Exercise Desert Knight is to bolster cooperation and interoperability among the three participating air forces.
• Strategic Alignment: The exercise aims to align strategic capabilities and foster a deeper understanding of each other’s operational methodologies.