indian polity book series 41

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In 1974, the Central Government appointed the Tarkunde Committee to make recommendations on the election system.

In 1990, when V.P. Singh was the Prime Minister, the Dinesh Goswami Committee was appointed for reforms to the election system.

In 1998, the Indrajit Gupta Committee recommended that the election expenditure of candidates contesting elections should be borne by the Central Government.

Current Central Election Commissioners - 1. Sushil Chandra, 2. Rajiv Kumar

List of Chief Election Commissioners

No.	Name	Date of Assumption of Office	Date of Retirement
1.	Sukumar Sen	21-03-1950	19-12-1958
2.	K.V.K. Sundaram	20-12-1958	30-09-1967
3.	S.P. Sen Verma	01-10-1967	30-09-1972
4.	Nagendra Singh	01-10-1972	06-02-1973
5.	T. Swaminathan	07-02-1973	17-06-1977
6.	S.L. Shakdher	18-06-1977	17-06-1982
7.	R.K. Trivedi	18-06-1982	31-12-1985
8.	R.V.S. Peri Sastri	01-01-1986	25-11-1990
9.	V.S. Ramadevi	26-11-1990	11-12-1990
10.	T.N. Seshan	12-12-1990	11-12-1996
11.	M.S. Gill	12-12-1996	13-06-2001
12.	J.M. Lyngdoh	14-06-2001	07-02-2004
13.	T.S. Krishnamurthy	08-02-2004	15-05-2005
14.	B.B. Tandon	16-05-2005	29-06-2006
15.	N. Gopalaswami	30-06-2006	20-04-2009
16.	Navin Chawla	21-04-2009	29-07-2010
17.	S.Y. Quraishi	31-07-2010	10-06-2012
18.	V.S. Sampath	11-06-2012	15-01-2015
19.	Harishankar Brahma	16-01-2015	18-04-2015
20.	Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi	19-04-2015	05-07-2017
21.	Achal Kumar Joti	06-07-2017	22-01-2018
22.	Om Prakash Rawat	23-01-2018	01-02-2018
23.	Sunil Arora	02-12-2018	Present

* In the 1998 Assembly general elections, in which states were Electronic Voting Machines used for the first time? (1) (Telangana Constable Mains – 2016)

1. A) Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh
2. B) Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
3. C) Madhya Pradesh and Kerala
4. D) Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi

Select the correct answer:

1. 1) A
2. 2) C
3. 3) D
4. 4) B

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Electronic Voting Machine (EVM):

• The person who first manufactured EVM in India is M.B. Haneefa (1980).
• EVMs were first used in India in 1982 in the North Paravur Assembly constituency elections in Kerala.
• In 1989-90, EVMs were used experimentally in 16 assembly constituencies in the country.
• In 1998, they were experimentally used in some places in the Assembly elections of Rajasthan, MP, Delhi.
• Since the 1999 Goa Assembly elections, they are being used fully.
• There are two units in EVM. They are Control Unit and Ballot Unit. Four ballot units can be connected to each control unit.
• The number of contestants that can be stored in a single EVM is 64. The maximum number of votes that can be recorded in a single EVM is 3840.
• The companies that manufacture EVMs are BEL and ECIL Bharat Electronics Limited Bangalore (and) Electronics Corporation of India Limited Hyderabad.
• Article 326 which describes about universal adult suffrage.
• The name of the Election Commission of India building in Delhi is Nirvachan Sadan.
• First Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) - Sukumar Sen (1950-58).
• Second Chief Election Commissioner - K.V.K. Sundaram (1958-67).
• The first Telugu person to serve as Election Commissioner is R.V.S. Peri Sastri (1986-90).
• First woman Election Commissioner V.S. Ramadevi (1990).
• The person who served as Chief Election Officer for the longest time is K.V.K. Sundaram (1958-67).
• The person who served as CEC for the shortest time is V.S. Ramadevi.
• Chief Election Commissioners who received the Ramon Magsaysay Award - T.N. Seshan, J.M. Lyngdoh.
• CEC who introduced voter ID cards (voter ID) - T.N. Seshan.
• Controversial Election Reforms Introduced Chief Election Commissioner - T.N. Seshan.
• First Muslim to serve as Chief Election Commissioner - S.Y. Quraishi.
• Current Chief Election Commissioner - Sunil Arora (from December 2, 2018).
• Current Central Election Commissioners - 1. Rajiv Kumar, 2. Sushil Chandra
• Year of enactment of Representation of the People Acts 1950 & 1951.
• Slogan of voter registration program Proud to be a Voter - Ready to Vote.

* What is the meaning of the word NOTA (None Of The Above) (1) (AP Constable Prelims – 2016)

1. 1) Voter's right to reject all contesting candidates
2. 2) Opposition parties' right to reject the Money Bill in the Lok Sabha
3. 3) President of India's veto power
4. 4) Governor's power to reject a bill

• When were Voter Identity Cards first used in the country Haryana (1993).
• Where was Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) first used - Parur (Kerala) (1982).
• When were Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) used at state level - Goa (1999).
• When was None of the above (NOTA) used for the first time - 2013 Delhi Assembly elections.
• * The science of studying elections is Psephology.
• Exit poll is an election survey conducted by taking the opinion of the persons who voted in the election on the polling day.
• Polling survey is an election survey conducted before the elections.
• * Currently, the campaign period for a candidate contesting in elections is 14 days.
• For how many hours before election polling should liquor shops be closed - 48 hours.
• * Year of enactment of Election Symbols and Marks Allotment Act 1968.
• * Officer performing duties at the polling station - Presiding Officer (PO)
• Places where indelible ink used in elections is manufactured - Mysore, Hyderabad.

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• Currently, the deposit to be paid by a candidate contesting as MP is ₹ 25,000 (₹ 12,500 for SC and STs).
• * Deposit to be paid by MLA contestant is ₹ 10,000 (₹ 5000 only for SC and ST candidates)

Note: Deposit amount will be refunded if 1/6th of the polled votes are received. Otherwise, it will be forfeited.

• Constitutional Amendment reducing voting age from 21 years to 18 years 61st Constitutional Amendment, 1988 (when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister).
• Committee that recommended to convert the Election Commission into a three-member body V.M. Tarkunde Commission (1974-75).
• Committee constituted by P.V. Narasimha Rao government to prevent criminal politics N.N. Vohra Committee (1993).
• Committee on Corruption K. Santhanam Committee (1962).
• How many days before elections does the code of conduct (election code) come into force - 40 days.
• Candidate must declare election expenditure to the Election Commission within 30 days of announcement of election results. If election expenditure is not declared within 30 days, they will be disqualified from contesting elections for up to 3 years.
• At the state level, the Chief Electoral Officer is appointed by the Central Chief Election Commissioner in consultation with the State Government.

Note: Current Chief Electoral Officer of Andhra Pradesh Vijayanand. K. Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner N. Ramesh Kumar (to retire in March 2021) * Current Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana - Shashank Goel * Current Telangana State Election Commissioner - C. Parthasaradhi

• Election Commission Toll Free Number 1950.
• First voter of the country recognized by the Election Commission Shyam Charan Negi (Himachal Pradesh).

* How many votes should a candidate contesting in elections not get to lose deposit? (2) (AP Constable Mains–2016)

1. 1) 1/10th of the total votes polled
2. 2) 1/6th of the total valid votes polled
3. 3) 1/2th of the total valid votes polled
4. 4) 1/3rd of the total valid votes polled

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State Election Commission:

* The process of removing the State Election Commissioner is similar to the method of removing which of the following? (2) (APSI-2018)

1. 1) State Advocate General
2. 2) High Court Judge
3. 3) Chairperson of the State Public Service Commission
4. 4) Chairman of the State Finance Commission

• Year of establishment of State Election Commission in combined Andhra Pradesh 1994.
• It is a single member commission.
• State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor.
• State Election Commissioner is removed by the President after both Houses of Parliament pass a resolution with 2/3rd majority in the same manner as High Court Judges are removed.
• State Election Commissioner receives salaries and allowances equal to a High Court Judge.
• Constitutional provision describing about State Election Commission 243 K.
• It is the responsibility of the State Election Commission to conduct elections for local bodies i.e., Panchayats, Municipalities, Zilla Parishads, Mandal Parishads, MPTC positions in the state.
• First Commissioner of combined Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission Kashipandyan.
• Current Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar (to retire in March 2021).
• Telangana State Election Commission was formed on June 2, 2014.
• Current Telangana State Election Commissioner - V. Nagireddy VVPAT Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail.
• VVPAT is a system that issues a receipt after a voter casts a vote through EVM in the polling booth, confirming that the vote has been cast.
• VVPAT was first used in India in 2013 in the Noksen Assembly constituency election in Nagaland.
• VVPAT was fully used in the 2017 Goa Assembly elections.

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Central Vigilance Commission (Central Vigilance Commission)

• Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) was established in 1964 through executive order as per the recommendations of K. Santhanam Committee with the intention of curbing corruption in the public sector.
• Initially, this organization had neither constitutional nor statutory status.
• In 1998, it was given statutory status through an ordinance and converted into a multi-member commission.
• On September 11, 2003, Parliament enacted a comprehensive law regarding the structure and functions of the Central Vigilance Commission.
• Currently, it is a statutory body.
• The Central Vigilance Commission consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two other Commissioners as members.
• All of them are appointed by the President."""
• The President appoints them on the recommendation of a committee headed by the Prime Minister, comprising the Union Home Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
• The term of office of the Chairman and members is 6 years or up to 65 years of age (whichever is earlier).
• After retirement, they are not eligible for government jobs at the central and state levels.
• Salaries and allowances of CVC and other Commissioners are determined by the President. These are paid from the Central Consolidated Fund.
• Central Vigilance Commissioner is paid salaries and allowances equal to the Chairman of UPSC, and other Commissioners are paid salaries and allowances equal to the members of UPSC.
• Based on the 1988 Prevention of Corruption Act, it investigates irregularities and corruption allegations against All India Services officers, central government officers, central government employees as per government instructions.

Note:

1. 1) Central Vigilance Commission Headquarters Delhi.
2. 2) First Commissioner of CVC Nittur Srinivasa Rau.
3. 3) Current Commissioner of CVC Sanjay Kothari (April 25, 2020)

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI):

• When CBI was formed, its name was Special Police Establishment In 1941, Special Police Establishment was formed in Delhi Due to formation through Delhi Special Police Establishment Act (SPE), it is mandatory for CBI to take permission from the respective state governments for investigation.
• In 2018, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh governments revoked the permissions for CBI to investigate in their states.
• On June 6, 2019, 'General Consent' was issued again, granting permission to CBI to investigate crimes in the state.
• CBI Motto (Motto) Industry, Impartiality, Integrity.
• SPE Headquarters established in 1941 Lahore SPE's main function was to prevent corruption in goods supplied to India during World War II.
• SPE was changed to CBI in 1963.
• D.P. Kohli, the founder Director of CBI in 1963
• CBI chief is called Director.
• A police officer with the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) is appointed as Director to CBI.

Note: CBI Current Interim Director Praveen Sinha (February 2, 2021)

Investigating financial crimes, special crimes, corruption cases is the main function of CBI.

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National Security Council:

• It is an executive body of the Central Government.
• It was established in 1998 during the tenure of Prime Minister Vajpayee.
• Prime Minister presides over it.
• This Council advises the government on the strategies to be followed for national security.
• Current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

National Integration Council:

• It works to eliminate religious hatred, linguistic hatred in the country and for national integrity and unity.
• National Integration Council was established on June 2, 1962.
• It is a government advisory body (Advisory body).
• Currently, the number of members in NIC is 147.
• * Prime Minister presides over this organization.
• The official language of the National Integration Council is Hindi.

Planning Commission:

• Planning Commission was formed on March 15, 1950 through a resolution of the Central Cabinet to formulate plans for India.
• The item of social and economic planning is in the Concurrent List.

Note: The first person to request that India needs a Planning Commission is Subhash Chandra Bose, K.C. Neogi. Planning Commission was established through the report of the Planning Advisory Board constituted in 1946 under the chairmanship of K.C. Neogi.

• * Planning Commission is a non-constitutional and non-statutory body.
• * It is just an advisory body.
• Prime Minister is the ex-officio chairman of the Planning Commission.
• Planning Commission consists of a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and four to seven members.
• Deputy Chairman and members are appointed by the Union Cabinet.
• * Deputy Chairman gets the status of a Union Cabinet Minister, similarly members get the status of a Union Deputy Minister.
• Ministers of Finance and Planning Departments are members in it.
• A senior IAS officer acts as Secretary to the Planning Commission.
• Planning Commission's head office is in Delhi. It is called Yojana Bhavan. Yojana magazine is published under its auspices.
• Planning Commission was abolished on August 17, 2014 and NITI Aayog was established in its place.
• First Chairman of Planning Commission - Jawaharlal Nehru.
• First Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Gulzarilal Nanda.
• Last and 12th Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
• K. Santhanam is the person who called the Planning Commission a Super Cabinet.
• A.K. Chanda described the Planning Commission as an Economic Cabinet.

NITI Aayog:

• NITI stands for National Institution for Transforming India.
• NITI Aayog was established on January 1, 2015 in place of the Planning Commission, which was abolished.

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