Contents:
- Bodo Agreement heralds a new beginning for Bodo People
- Exercise SAMPRITI-IX
- Indian National Commission For Cooperation (INCCU)
- Functions and Powers of Election Commission
BODO AGREEMENT HERALDS A NEW BEGINNING FOR BODO PEOPLE
Why in news?
- The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has termed the Bodo Agreement as a historic chapter for peace and development in Assam.
- Hailing the Bodo Agreement, He said it is inspired by the by the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas & Sabka Vishwas’ and spirit of ‘Ek Bharat-Shresth Bharat’
- The accord with our Bodo friends was made while protecting the interest of other communities of Assam.
- This is a victory for all, it’s victory for humanity.
EXERCISE SAMPRITI-IX
Why in news?
As part of the ongoing Indo-Bangladesh defence cooperation, a joint military training exercise SAMPRITI-IX is being conducted at UMROI, Meghalaya, India from 03 Feb to 16 Feb 2020
INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR COOPERATION (INCCU)
Why in news?
Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ chaired the meeting of the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INCCU) in New Delhi
Details
The membership of National Commission consists of members of five Sub Commissions namely, Sub Commission for (i) Education (ii) Natural Sciences (iii) Social Sciences (iv) Communication (v) Culture.
National Commission can play a powerful role in coordinating the activities that are being carried out by the institutions under each of the five sub commissions so that India’s efforts and achievements get due support.
FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF ELECTION COMMISSION
Constitutional Provisions:
Art. 324: The functions of EC and its composition.
Art. 325:Electoral roll
Art. 326: Adult Suffrage to be basis of electing power
Art. 327: Power to Parliament to make provisions with respect to elections to federal and State Legislatures
Art. 328: confers on State Legislature the power to make laws with respect to elections to such legislature
Art. 329: bars interference by courts in electoral matters. Notwithstanding anything said in the constitution i.e. validity of any law relating to the delimitation of constituencies or the allotment of seats to such constituencies shall not be called in question in any court
No election to either House of Parliament or either House of the Legislature of a State shall be called in question except by an election petition.
Some Powers:
- The Election Commission of India is considered the guardian of free and reasonable elections.
- It issues the Model Code of Conduct in every election for political parties and candidates so that the decorum of democracy is maintained.
- It regulates political parties and registers them for being eligible to contest elections.
- It publishes the allowed limits of campaign expenditure per candidate to all the political parties, and also monitors the same.
- The political parties must submit their annual reports to the ECI for getting tax benefit on contributions.
- It guarantees that all the political parties regularly submit their audited financial reports.
Other powers handled by the Election Commission of India are as follows:
- The Commission can repress the results of opinion polls if it deems such an action fit for the cause of democracy.
- The Commission can recommend for disqualification of members after the elections if it thinks they have violated certain guidelines.
- In case, a candidate is found guilty of dishonest practices during the elections, the Supreme Court and High Courts consult the Commission.
- The Commission can postpone candidates who fail to submit their election expense accounts timely.
