Contemporary Issues/Topics w.r.t Indian Polity

akrao_iimb

Mains paper has started giving inordinate emphasis on contemporary issues, I wish to plunder your brains regarding important issues which will be useful in giving Polity prep a more contemporary flavor . Some issue that come to my mind:

1. Judicial Appointment Commission vs Collegium System
2. Dismantling of Planning Commission
3. Judicial Activism/ Judicial Overreach (w.r.t. Shatrughan Chauhan vs Union of India case, Mullaperiyar issue etc.)

Would appreciate expansion of this list.

abhinitb

http://forumias.com/discussion/5193/current-affair-topics-for-gs2#Item_1

akrao_iimb

@abhinitb Thanks Buddy

I feel this thread thus becomes redundant. Request the moderator to close it.

Confused_soul

How does NOTA ensure the secrecy of voters? (200 words)

I read this question somewhere.

I am not getting enough points. Couls anybody please help me?

Rule 42(2) and 42(3)
Then 49-0
Then eliminate bogus identities and absentation

What else?

Neanderthal

I don't think section 49-O pertains to NOTA. It is the registration of non-voting by an elector. In fact, section 49-O compromises the identity of the voter as it can be very easily scrutinized as to who has registered for non-casting of his/her vote.

NOTA ensures the secrecy of ballot as much as voting for a party's candidate does. It all depends on the reliability of the EVMs and the credibility of the Presiding Officer.

To be honest, I think the question is rather absurb. Are you sure this is the question, @Confused_soul ?

Confused_soul

@Neanderthal : Yup, how does NOTA ensures the secrecy of the voter in the elections? Indeed, this question is from some test series. One of my friend gave it to me.

But the main motive of NOTA is to ensure the secrecy of voters only. How can we defeat its very objective? Moreover, its a replacement of section 49-O as stated by you, to protect the identity.

Your point too seems valid that it depends on the EVM and presiding officer.

Confused_soul

One more doubt..

Why there was a weak monsoon this year?

Neanderthal

It wasn't as weak as expected, @Confused_soul . The El Niño was not strong, and the Indian Ocean Dipole plus the EQUINOO were working at variance with it. Ergo, it was weak, but not too much.

pras

"Political compulsions of political parties have increased in coalition era. Analyse."

Somebody pls help me with this question. Found it in some institute's online sample mock.

TIA

mango_dolly

@Neanderthal : Yup, how does NOTA ensures the secrecy of the voter in the elections? Indeed, this question is from some test series. One of my friend gave it to me.

But the main motive of NOTA is to ensure the secrecy of voters only. How can we defeat its very objective? Moreover, its a replacement of section 49-O as stated by you, to protect the identity.

Your point too seems valid that it depends on the EVM and presiding officer.

My take

NOTA is not a new right - right to vote or to not vote was considered as a form of expression identified in Article 19(1)A of Const of India and Section 79(d) of RPA 1951 and hence was there since early days of Indian election system.

Earlier paper votes were there. people could put a cross against a name and come out. That vote would ultimately become invalid but nevertheless the right to reject a candidate was there.

However when the EVMs came - those voters who did not wanted to press button against any candidate were required to sign a declaration form(or sign/thumb impression) (under section 49(O) RPA) that he does not want to vote. This violates the privacy of the concerned voter and also violates the basic tenet of an election - to maintain secrecy.

So inorder to protect that right of secrecy the SC had ruled that Election Commission should devise a mechanism that secrecy of the voter is maintained. So this means that right to reject was always there but now SC has ruled that that rejection should be kept confidential in form of having a new button in the EVM itself so that voters do not have to come out and sign some form. This is how NOTA button in EVM was born.

Neanderthal

There is a slight issue here, @mango_dolly . NOTA is not the same as right to reject. Right to reject comes when there is a provision for negative voting in the elections. NOTA is the equivalent of exercising the right to franchise but not for any particular candidate. Yes, we can say that NOTA is a summary rejection of all candidates, but then that's not what the 'right to reject' is.

Just thought I'd point this out to your otherwise fantastic explanation.