Exploring Online Elections

India has certainly risen to the occasion and perhaps, even to the pole position in adopting the digital age. Since the launch of ‘Digital India’ and due to the continued focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on using technology to solve mammoth problems, India has been able to achieve some remarkable feats. More than 1 billion secured and useful identity provider, Aadhar Card, UPI transactions (record 3,874 crore transactions in 2021), more than 150 crore COVID vaccine doses administered using COWIN platform, showcase India’s prowess in digital and online world. This is, perhaps, a natural extension of this would be an online voting system in the world’s biggest democracy which is also endowed with a very young population.

Since the onset of Covid pandemic, the need to think of ways to hold activities that involve mass gathering differently is of paramount importance. Online polling, which has for so long just been talked about and possibilities of the right conduction of which have been discussed in pre-COVID time only too vaguely, has attained all the relevance and priority in the new-normal era. One encouraging example of success of experimenting online voting is the country of Estonia which held its and world’s first national Internet election, back in 2007, when a total of 30,275 citizens used the Internet to cast their vote. The popularity of online voting has gained a lot of momentum in Estonia, as in its 2019 parliamentary elections too, 43.75% of all participating voters voted via the Internet.

A country as densely populated and as largely diversified as India, could run the world’s largest vaccination drive with inspirational efficiency. This ability betokens India’s converged technological, cyber and digital furtherance. Additionally, the way the Aadhar project has been finished and being administratively maintained in the country, shows that with the right planning, the country can undertake tedious manual projects. Technologically, thus, India now seems to have reached a level where it can take a lead and think of developing a world-class Online Voting setup.

India has been one of the fortunate nations, where landline telephones have had a fleeting existence due to their direct leap to mobile phones, saving it a great deal of infrastructure cost, time and cutting the technological lag. Mobile adoption has aggressively contributed to the country’s digital progress. So much so that in 2019, over 73% of India’s total web traffic is said to have come from mobile phones. Internet penetration rate in India went up to nearly around 45 percent in 2021, from just about four percent in 2007. This advancement combined with Blockchain technology may become a global solution, unlocking a door to not just online elections, but also for creating secured global virtual fora, networking channels, cyber collaborations, and other unlimited spaces. Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora had recently affirmed that the Election Commission of India is working with IIT-Madras on using Blockchain Technology for remote voting and considerable development in that direction is expected by 2024 General Elections.

Given India’s rich history of being among the first nations to adopt major democratic shifts, whether it was the concept of universal adult franchise or introduction of EVMs, India may want to thus start experimenting in the domain of online voting too. It may start with letting Army staff and Election officers on duty itself to go online. Another set of testing may be performed during by-elections which are less tangled.

With digital voting, the existence of postal ballots may meet the same fate as landlines. With the success of the COWIN app that has been able to manage massive registrations (96,77,24,432 as on 10th January, 2022), record-keeping and rolling out the vaccination drive in the country, India has cracked a code for development, implementation and sustainability of technology. A similar technological platform for online voting may cater to not just voters within India, especially the working population, but also come as a cherished solution for NRI voters.

 

Courage and Strength for Freedom

What a fantastic day to remind us that Freedom is the most cherished thing. In the celebrations of the return of Mahatma Gandhi or Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Parkash Parab on the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and also on the occasion of Ramana Maharshi Jayanti, we are continuously reminded of the immense struggle to achieve freedom.

Martin Luther King Jr has said that “Freedom has always been an expensive thing . History is fit testimony to the fact that freedom is rarely gained without sacrifice and self-denial.” Young Indians need to dwell on his remarks that “There is nothing more majestic than the determined courage of individuals willing to suffer and sacrifice for their freedom and dignity.”

While celebrating the Pravasi Bharatiya divas, it is worth noting that India is among the very few countries which has an extensive and evolving policy framework for engagement with diaspora. Youth, both from India as well as the diaspora community, have made a remarkable journey in innovation, technology and creativity and PM Modi‘s priority is to build everlasting links with the Indian diaspora the world over. India’s capabilities always benefit humanity and it has been at the forefront of mitigation of global challenges specially against colonialism and terrorism which gave strength to the world to face these menaces.

One must always remember Ramana Maharishi’s message of absolute freedom coming out of self-inquiry where he demonstrated a life of absolute consciousness. People across the world are struggling with hectic ambition and stressful loneliness and one sure way of total freedom is delving upon “Who am I?” and following the teachings of Bhagwan. He has said that “…Freedom is not somewhere else…The real freedom is only knowing the Self,within yourself. Concentrate, and you will get it.”

In his life of 42 years, when an ordinary youth is bogged down with issues of settling in life, Guru Govind Singh ji sacrificed his entire family to save the dignity and heritage of the Motherland. Wielding the mighty power of his Kripan, not to terrorise, but to defend against the oppressive and brutal Mughals. A true democrat, he established the seat of the Panj Payaras, an order that had place for all, beyond the barriers of religion, caste, creed or gender. Prime Minister Modi has shared that starting this year, 26th December shall be marked as “Veer Baal Diwas” as a tribute to the courage of the Sahibzades and their quest for justice.

Some of the enemies in today’s times are different and one urgent fight for youth today is against substance abuse. COVID-19 has exaggerated the problem and reportedly more people are using drugs due to the economic downturn. Recently, the chief Justice of India NV Ramana has also expressed serious concerns over youth getting addicted to drugs. He said, “I am alarmed at the reports of an increased number of youth falling prey to intoxicants. I urge them to disassociate themselvesFrom substance abuse. Your mental and physical health is in your hands.” The fight to freedom is indeed manyfold and challenging but perhaps the most important thing to do in life.

Together, India fights back – 150 crore milestone

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going” song of Billy Ocean, British singer-songwriter seems to have been characterised by India’s fight against Covid. Within a year of its launch, India has achieved a remarkable record of administering more than 150 Crore covid vaccines and is going strong. Many of the developed nations are yet to reach their entire population, and still in the name of Reality Check some of the foreign media is targeting India for missing 100% vaccination. They had been doing doomsday predictions in the past too that India’s vaccination drive was going horribly wrong. India on the other hand has also been helping many needy nations in the form of Vaccine- maitri.

On behalf of the indebted nation, Prime Minister Modi thanked doctors, scientists, innovators and the health care workers and said “A remarkable day on the vaccination front! Congratulations to our fellow citizens on crossing the 150 crore milestone. Our vaccination drive has ensured that many lives are saved. At the same time, let us also keep following all COVID-19 related protocols.” He had steered the domestic vaccine research and development programme from the front and ensured that the Indian vaccine manufacturers got a conducive environment for accelerated vaccine research, development and manufacture in the spirit of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

On 18th September 2,50,10,390 covid vaccines were administered. This is 10,42,100 per hour or 17,368 per minute or 289 doses per second. This is an unprecedented scale of implementation by any standards. None of the developed nations have been able to come anywhere close to this scale and is a testimony of transforming the Public Health Care system in the system under Ayushman Bharat.

This transformation is qualitative too. In 2014 there were only 6 AIIMS in the country, today there are 22. Even for the primary healthcare system, more than 50 thousand Jan Aushadhi Kendra are distributing affordable drugs. Among these, around 50 cancer related medicines are also available at affordable prices which is transformational as India’s poor and middle class has long been victims of financial havoc created due to such disease. To make the care and treatment more accessible and affordable in the eastern India, PM Modi inaugurated Cancer Hospital yesterday.

Harnessing the Sun in India

Importance of Sun cannot be emphasised enough in ancient India and unlike many other lost traditions & beliefs, practices related to Sun continue to exist till modern times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s call to declare international Yoga Day and its wider acceptance across the globe has enhanced India’s soft power manifold. Surya Namaskar is the unifying yogic posture system for good health and has now been adopted globally. Ayush Ministry is targeting 75 lakh simultaneous participants globally in Surya Nmaskar practice on 14th January, Makar Sankranti.

There are many lost treasures of ancient India. The non-rusting iron pillars as old as 2500 years ago to architecture Marvels of Ajanta, Ellora, Konark to the massive amount of wealth looted and universities, in-situ independent villages and Panchayat system etc destroyed by invaders. Konark Sun Temple is perhaps the most important of all Sun worship places in the country. The destruction of the main temple has many theories starting from the Mogul destroyers to the Portuguese removing big magnet from the top to perhaps an earthquake causing the shift in the course of nearby river – whatever may be the cause but the remains do tell the magnificent history of this land.

The importance of chanting of Gayatri mantra for mental well-being is well documented by modern science too. Lab tests have revealed that the narration of the Gayatri Mantra generates a frequency of 1,10,000 Hz. Chanting the mantra aids in increasing blood supply to the brain cells and has a profound positive impact on spatial and verbal memory. Chanting it with precision and in the right diction emanates a vibration that affects the heart and ensues into its better functioning and also develop balanced breathing.

The solar alliance as proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and speed at which it is becoming popular showcases India’s revered ownership of responsibilities towards sustainable development. Not long ago, in November 2021, US had become the 101st member to have signed the framework agreement of the ISA. Just yesterday the governments of Antigua and Barbuda joined India-led alliance. In December 2021, the United Nations accorded ‘Observer’ status to the grouping. This in turn will further the cause of bringing equitable energy solutions to the entire world and is a shining example of India taking the leadership role on the ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and Sun is going to be the source of the shared global development and growth.

Peacekeeping, Maritime Security & Counter-terrorism

The world order has experienced a tectonic shift in last two years. COVID-19 pandemic has already shaken the global disposition. Exacerbated situations and political unrest in nations like Myanmar, Afghanistan, Israel, Sudan, Ethiopia, Lebanon, and many others lately, have left the world to realize there is a need to strengthen and restructure multilateral institutions across the globe. India has long been of the view that the structure of the United Nations Security Council fails to fit into the actualities of the 21st century and is in need of an immediate reform.

This very concern of India makes its present two-year tenure at the security council even more crucial, a year of which has already gone by. India’s entry into the Security Council as non-permanent member (from 2021) happened in a post-covid era, and coincided with systemic uncertainty, political polarization, absence of global leadership, and climacteric environmental concerns. In such a scenario, picking the three domains of peacekeeping, maritime security, and counter-terrorism as agenda items, can be considered a good start. But New Delhi, which has for so long been seeking acquirement of a permanent seat at the high table, also had to demonstrate its capability of bringing an unprecedented and effective global change. This got manifested with the rollout of India’s ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative under which it has supplied 1154.17 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines around the world (commercial + COVAX).

India’s sitting at the council is also significant as far as Beijing is concerned as the membership stays as a key with India to keep a check on further Chinese incursions along the LAC. China, one of the five permanent nation at UNSC, had opposed India’s candidature to chair the 2022 Counter-Terrorism Committee. Despite, Beijing’s disagreement, India is chairing the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee today (effective for one year, starting January 01, 2022). “As the chair for CTC for 2022, India will make determined efforts to further enhance the role of CTC in strengthening the multilateral response to counter-terrorism, and more importantly, ensuring that the global response to the threat of terrorism remains unambiguous, undivided and effective,” stated India in its explanation of its vote.

On 31st August, 2021, India had completed its ‘critical’ one-month-long rotating presidency of UNSC, which kept New Delhi busy throughout the month. All the focus had gone into countering the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan & Taliban’s rapid military advance to power. “The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Monday that calls for the Taliban to facilitate safe passage for people wanting to leave Afghanistan, allow humanitarians to access the country, and uphold human rights, including for women and children,” read the August 30 resolution on Afghanistan, that was passed by the council under India’s presidency.

As India begins the 2nd year of its tenure at UNSC, and as a potential third wave awaits the attention of the government within the country, carrying out both national and international discretions is going to be a tough row to hoe.