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Mera Pehla Vote Desh Ke Liye

@newsonair - dpradhanbjp

News

• To foster ‘Youth Participation in Elections’ the union government launched a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting universal and informed participation of youth in elections.

About

• Objective: “Engaging and Encouraging Young Voters,” emphasizing the importance of young voters in shaping the nation’s future.
• Duration: Program Continues Till March 6th 2024 and highlight the timeline of the initiative, spanning from the launch to its conclusion on March 6th.
• Union Education Minister’s Call to Action: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urges the youth to actively participate in the electoral process and echoes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for large-scale voting.
• Comprehensive Voter Awareness Activities in Higher Educational Institutions
  Discuss the directive from the Education Minister, mandating Higher Educational institutions to conduct voter awareness activities on their campuses to mobilize the youth.
• Symbolizing Democracy: Yuva Shakti and the Pride of Voting
  Delve into the symbolic significance of the initiative, emphasizing the role of young voters in the democratic process and the pride associated with exercising the right to vote in the world’s largest democracy.

Constitutional and Legal Framework for Voting in India

• About: An overview of the constitutional and legal provisions that govern the electoral process in India.
• Article 324: Election Commission’s Authority: Explore the powers vested in the Election Commission regarding the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of various elections under Article 324.
• Article 325: General Electoral Roll: Understand the provision for a single general electoral roll for each territorial constituency for parliamentary and state legislature elections.
• Article 326: Basis of Adult Suffrage: Delve into the principle of adult suffrage as the foundation for elections to the House of the People and Legislative Assemblies, as stipulated in Article 326.
• Representation of the People Act, 1950: Examine the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, focusing on the preparation of electoral rolls for different constituencies.
• Representation of the People Act, 1951
  • Highlight the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, particularly the free supply of essential materials to candidates affiliated with recognized political parties;
  • Discuss the legal framework addressing corrupt practices and electoral offenses in the context of elections in India.

Why Voting is Important?

• Exercise of Constitutional Right: Article 326: It empowers citizens to actively participate in the democratic process.
• Ensuring Representation in Government: It gives adequate representation in the government, allowing citizens to elect representatives who align with their interests and needs.
• Holding Political Accountability: It is a mechanism for holding politicians accountable, giving citizens the power to evaluate and influence political leadership based on past performance.
• Encouraging Participation and Engagement: Role of voting is crucial in encouraging citizen participation and engagement, enabling them to have a meaningful say in the governance and future direction of their country.
• Shaping the Future: Citizen Involvement: It is a means for citizens to actively contribute to the shaping of their community’s future, fostering a sense of civic responsibility and empowerment.

Democracy

About:

• Derived from the Greek words “demos,” meaning people, and “kratos,” meaning rule, democracy constitutes a system of governance wherein the ultimate authority is vested in the hands of the people;
• Within this system, individuals possess the right to elect their representatives and actively participate in the decision-making process and the government, in turn, safeguards individual rights and remains answerable to the citizenry;
• Democracy, as a guiding philosophy, champions the principles of equality, freedom, fraternity, human rights, individual autonomy, and justice;
• Beyond its role as a political structure, democracy extends its influence to the social, economic, and cultural dimensions of society;
• Its overarching goal is to ensure that all citizens enjoy equal rights and opportunities, fostering an environment where individuals can realize their full potential.

Democracy Evolution (Key Moments):

• Ancient Athens: Pioneering Direct Democracy;
• Magna Carta (1215);
• United States Constitution of 1787: It established a federal government emphasizing the separation of powers;
• Bolshevik Revolution (1917);
• Post-World War II: Global decolonization movement and the widespread adoption of democracy.
• Fall of Berlin Wall and Soviet Union (1990): Democracy’s Global Reach
  Explore the impact of the 1990 fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, facilitating the spread of democratic ideals to previously authoritarian states.
• Arab Spring (2010): A movement advocating greater political and social autonomy, resulting in the establishment of democratic governments.
• Ongoing Evolution: Social Movements and Justice Quest.

Democracy Types:

• Direct Democracy: In this form of governance, citizens directly engage in voting on laws and actively participate in public affairs. An illustrative historical example includes the City-States of Ancient Greece.
• Representative Democracy: In representative democracy, citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. It comes in two main forms—Parliamentary and Presidential Democracy. Nations such as India, the United States, and France exemplify this model.
• Presidential Democracy: In a presidential democracy, the President is both the head of state and government, directly elected by the people. This system emphasizes a strict separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches, as seen in the United States.
• Parliamentary Democracy: In parliamentary democracy, the head of the government is elected by the people, while the head of state holds a ceremonial role. The executive is accountable to the legislature. India is a notable example of parliamentary democracy.
• Consensus Democracy: Consensus democracy entails decision-making based on unanimous agreement among all members of the governing body, contrasting with majority voting systems. Swiss Cantons provide an example of this collaborative approach.
• Semi-Direct Democracy: Semi-direct democracy involves a higher degree of citizen participation through mechanisms such as plebiscites, initiatives, and referendums, exceeding the level seen in representative democracy. Liechtenstein serves as an example of this increased people-centric involvement.

Democracy: Landmark Decisions by the Supreme Court

• Keshavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973): Championing the Basic Structure Doctrine – This case introduced the Basic Structure doctrine, endorsing key democratic features like the separation of powers, federalism, and judicial review.
• R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994): Safeguarding the Quasi-Federal Nature of Indian Democracy – This judgment clarified that the central government can only dismiss a state government with compelling reasons, affirming the quasi-federal character of the Indian democratic system.
• Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975): Reinforcing the Rule of Law in Democracy – This case emphasized the fundamental democratic principle of the rule of law, with the subsequent challenge to the election of the Prime Minister.
• Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978): Affirming Fundamental Rights to Personal Liberty and Due Process – In this ruling, the Supreme Court declared that personal liberty and due process of law are fundamental rights integral to democracy.
• Justice K. S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union Of India (2017): Establishing the Right to Privacy as Fundamental – This judgment established the right to privacy as a fundamental right, underscoring the dignity of every individual’s life within the democratic framework.

Important Quotes

• Mahatma Gandhi on Democracy: “Democracy must mean the art of science of mobilizing the entire physical, economic and spiritual resources of all the various sections of people in the service of the common good for all.”
• Nehru on Democrac: “Democracy, if it means anything, means equality; not merely the equality of possessing a vote but economic and social equality.”

Source: Newsonair

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