9-Mar-2023: ECI hosts the 3rd International Conference on ‘Inclusive Elections and Elections Integrity’ as the lead for the Cohort on ‘Election Integrity’
The Election Commission of India (ECI) hosted the 3rd International Conference on the theme ‘Inclusive Elections and Elections Integrity’ in virtual format on 09 March 2023. ECI is leading the Cohort on Elections Integrity which was established as a follow up to the ‘Summit for Democracy’ held virtually in December, 2021.
The first international conference of the Cohort was organized on 31 Oct – 01 Nov, 2022 at New Delhi on the topic ‘Role, Framework and Capacity of Election Management Bodies’ where nearly 50 representatives from the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of 11 countries participated. The 2nd Conference on the theme ‘Use of Technology and Elections Integrity’ was hosted by ECI at New Delhi on 23-24 January 2023 wherein over 40 participants from 16 countries including Heads/Dy Heads of nine EMBs or Election Authorities and delegates from International IDEA and IFES participated besides diplomats from 8 foreign missions located at New Delhi.
Speaking on the pressing challenges before the Election Management Bodies, CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar pointed out the harm done by some of the surveys and ranking agencies. The CEC said that the pioneering work of EMBs does not find mention in these surveys and rankings done by some organizations and countries with low inclusivity are ranked high. The flawed report causes more damage to the credibility of EMBs, he added. The CEC urged the participating EMBs to come up with essential parameters and standards which should guide such surveys.
Talking about the inclusivity, the CEC pointed out that India has 460 million women voters, which is almost equal to the number of men voters. In the last General Election to Parliament in 2019, more women than men voted. This is the level of inclusion, that India has been able to achieve, he said.
In his address, Shri Anup Chandra Pandey, Election Commissioner stated that the Election Commission of India has been working for Inclusive elections under premise of ‘No Voter to be Left Behind’. The Election Commissioner said that Our flagship voter education programme SVEEP connects with over 950 million voters spread over more than one million polling stations across the country. Shri Pandey informed that all the polling stations in India have been made accessible, special facilities are provided to PwDs and senior citizens. All women polling stations, polling stations managed by PwDs and young people are some of the initiatives.
18-Feb-2023: GST Council adopts the report of the Group of Ministers on GST Appellate Tribunal
The 49th GST Council met under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi.
- The GST Council adopted the report of the GoM on GST Appellate Tribunal with modifications. The final draft amendments will be circulated to State Finance Ministers in 5-6 days for comments.
- The GoM panel suggested that the tribunal should have two judicial members and one technical member from the Centre and States, along with a retired Supreme Court Judge as president.
- The GST Council decided to clear the pending balance of GST compensation to States. The pending balance for June 2022 amounts to Rs. 16,982 crore.
- The GST rate on Raab or liquid jaggery has been reduced from 18% to nil for loose products and 5% for pre-packaged and labelled ones.
- GST exemptions have been granted for coal rejects supplied to and by a coal washery and services provided by the National Testing Agency for conducting entrance exams for educational institutions.
7-Feb-2023: NCST is not at capacity
NCST is currently functioning with less than 50% of its sanctioned strength.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
- Constitutional body
- Formed in 2004 by amending Article 338 and inserting a new article 338A in the Constitution
- Replaced the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
Objectives:
- Oversee implementation of safeguards for Scheduled Tribes
- Evaluate the working of safeguards
Composition:
- Chairperson
- Vice-Chairperson
- 3 other Members
- Chairperson has the rank of Union Cabinet Minister, Vice-Chairperson has the rank of a Minister of State and other Members have the rank of Secretary to the Government of India
- Members are not eligible for appointments for more than two terms
Duties and Functions:
- Investigate and monitor all matters relating to safeguards provided for STs
- Inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of STs
- Participate and advise in the planning process of socio-economic development of STs
- Evaluate progress of development
- Provide reports on the operation of those safeguards to the President annually and as necessary
- Make recommendations for effective implementation of those safeguards
Provisions Related to STs in India
Definition of STs:
- No defined criteria for recognition
- "Backward tribes" in Excluded and Partially Excluded areas (Census-1931)
- Representatives of "backward tribes" in provincial assemblies (Govt. of India Act, 1935)
Constitutional Provisions:
- Article 366(25): Provides a process to define STs
- Article 342(1): President may specify tribes/tribal communities/part of or groups within tribes/ tribal communities as STs in any State/UT after consultation with the Governor of that state. Not necessary to consult governor in case of UT.
- Fifth Schedule: Provisions for Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and STs in states other than 6th Schedule States
- Sixth Schedule: Administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
Statutory Provisions:
- Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 against Untouchability
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
- Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
- Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.