ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
IN NEWS: Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi says one lakh votes ‘stolen’ in Mahadevapura constituency
ABOUT ECI:
1. Established under: Article 324 of the Constitution of India.
2. Status: A permanent and independent constitutional authority.
3. The body was established on 25th January 1950.
4. Constitutional Provision: Part XV of the Constitution entailing Articles 324 to 329.
5. Tenure: 6 years or until 65 years of age, whichever is earlier
If an EC becomes the CEC, combined tenure cannot exceed 6 years.
6. Reappointment: Re-appointment is not allowed.
7. Elections Managed by the ECI: As per Article 324, the Election Commission of India is empowered to conduct elections to:
a) Lok Sabha (House of the People)
b) Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
c) State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha)
d)State Legislative Councils (Vidhan Parishad), where applicable
e)President of India
f) Vice-President of India
Note: The ECI does NOT conduct elections for Panchayats and Municipalities. These are conducted by the State Election Commissions as per 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Constitution. |
Article 329: Courts barred from interfering in electoral matters once elections are notified.
PRESENT ECI CHAIRMAN: SHRI GYANESH KUMAR
PRESENT SEC CHAIRMAN: Sri G.S. Sangreshi
Karnataka State Education Policy (SEP) Panel Recommendations
Panel Headed by: Prof. Sukhadeo Thorat (Educationist)
1.Medium of Instruction: Mandate Kannada / Mother Tongue as the medium of instruction:
a)Compulsory till Class 5
b)Preferably up to Class 12 (II PUC)
2.Two-Language Policy (Replacing the Current Three-Language Policy):
a) Kannada or Mother Tongue
b) English
3.Proposed New Structure: 2+8+4 Model:
a)2 years – Pre-primary
b)8 years – Elementary
c)4 years – Secondary
Deviation from NEP 2020’s 5+3+3+4 model
4.Admission Age Standardisation: Recommended Age for Class 1 Admission: 6 years ± 3 months
5.Emphasis more Constitutional Value Education (CVE): A.Institutionalisation of CVE as a compulsory subject
B.Core focus on:
a)Preamble
b)Fundamental Right
c)Fundamental Duties
d)Directive Principles of State Policy
C.Goal: Nurture informed, responsible, constitutionally aware citizens
6.Girls’ Education & Inclusion: Free education for girls in government, aided, and private unaided colleges
7. Right to Education (RTE) Expansion: Extend RTE coverage from ages 4 to 18 (currently 6 to 14)
8.Financial Reforms in Education Sector:
a)Allocate at least 3% of GSDP specifically for school education
b)Raise education’s share to 30% of the total State Budget
c)Ensure 5–10% annual growth in per-student spending
