New Delhi: CEC Rajiv Kumar interacting with IFS 0fficer trainees said that the "ECI is leading the world democracies under cohort on election integrity." He was addressing the 2022 batch of Indian Foreign Service officer trainees on the theme ‘India - the Mother of Democracies and Role of ECI” at Nirvachan Sadan on Friday.
India is one of the oldest democracies in the world. It has now achieved a distinct identity of a modern vibrant electoral democracy on a global stage, he said. "In the last 72 years, India has seen 17 general elections to the Lower House of Parliament and more than 400 elections to the State Legislative Assemblies with the universal acceptance of electoral mandate and smooth transfer of power after each and every election", said CEC.
Giving an overview of the complexity of numbers and sophistication of the process for conducting elections in the world’s largest democracy, CEC said, "Over one million polling stations and over one crore polling officials ensure inclusive, accessible, participative and tech-driven elections."
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He said that India's elections are often hailed as the world's largest peace-time mobilisation conducted with six sigma precision in terms of movement of men and materials. When asked about voting by overseas voters, CEC said that the "Time has come when the fifth largest economy of the world invokes technology-driven methodology to facilitate its over 1.34 crore overseas voters to participate in elections by Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System."
"In this potential endeavour, the role of the foreign service and our High Commissions/Embassies worldwide, would be vital", he emphasised. Speaking on the common challenges being faced by EMBs in the conduct of free and fair elections, he stressed the rising threat of fake news and deep fakes on social media, derailing the election narratives.
During the interaction, CEC while emphasising the role of soft power in diplomacy, touched upon the critical role played by ECIs India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM) in training election officials from over 109 countries so far.
He further added that "IIIDEM is the only institute of its kind, which is becoming the global hub of electoral management expertise and an advanced resource centre for learning, research and training. Kumar also mentioned that ECI has been the founding member and chair of multiple global associations like AWEB, AAEA, and FEMBoSA and is an active partner with global institutions like International IDEA & IFES."
