ECI signed MoU with Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and Department of Posts (DoP) to enhance voter outreach | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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ECI signed MoU with Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and Department of Posts (DoP) to enhance voter outreach

Posted 27 Feb 2024

Updated 27 Mar 2024

2 min read

  • This is in continuation of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) efforts to enhance electoral awareness.
  • Recently, ECI also signed an MoU with the Ministry of Education to integrate electoral literacy into the educational curriculum.
  • Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP): Flagship program of the ECI  for voter education, spreading voter awareness, and promoting voter literacy in India.

 

  • Need for Voter Education in India
    • Voter’s Right: SC in People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. UoI, (2003), held that voters have a right under Article 19(1)(a) to obtain information about candidates contesting elections.
    • Insufficient turnout: Around 30 crore electors (out of 91 crore), did not cast their votes in the General Election to Lok Sabha 2019.
    • Inclusive democracy: Critical in enhancing participation of women, youth, divyangs, marginalized sections, etc. in elections.
    • Informed and ethical voting: Necessitated due to prevalence of misinformation,divisive propaganda, fake news, etc.

 

  • Steps required by ECI to promote voter education
    • Promoting Critical thinking among voters to move beyond voter turnout to uplift the quality of votes casted.
    • Encouraging cooperation with Civil Society Organisations(CSO). E.g CSOs can help voters inculcate practices of fact-checking.
  • Tags :
  • Voter Education
  • Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)
  • People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. UoI, (2003)
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