Recently, India got unanimously selected as the new Chair for the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for the period 2022-2024. This decision took place at the Executive board and General Assembly meeting held in Manila, Philippines. The exective board also welcomed new members from Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
About AAEA
Established in 1998 following a resolution by participants at the Symposium on Asian Elections in the 21st Century, AAEA is a significant body that works with 20 different Asian Election Monitoring Bodies. This symposium took place from January 26 to January 29 in 1997 in Manila, Philippines. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is one of the founding member EMBs of AAEA. Before becoming the Chair, India was the Vice Chair between 2011 and 2013 and the Chair from 2014 to 2016. Besides AAEA, ECI also has membership in the 118-member Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).
The Objective of AAEA
The primary purpose of AAEA is to create a non-partisan platform in Asia where election authorities can share experiences and best practices. It acts upon ways to promote open, transparent elections with the aim to support good governance and democracy.
The Role of India in AAEA
India, as an active participant in AAEA, has regularly organized international training programs for member countries through the International Institute for Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM). Since 2019, IIIDEM has trained more than 250 officials from AAEA member countries. Moreover, the ECI has also hosted the International Election Visitors Programme and the International Virtual Election Visitors Programme (IEVP) during the 2022 Assembly elections.
About Election Commission of India (ECI)
The ECI is a constitutional body that maintains the values of equality, equity, impartiality, and independence, according to the Indian Constitution and ensures the rule of law in the superintendence, direction, and control over electoral governance. Part XV of the Indian Constitution deals with elections and stipulates the establishment of ECI. The Constitution’s sections from Article 324 to 329 deal with the powers, function, tenure, and eligibility of the commission and its members. The President of India appoints the ECI’s members based on the Prime Minister’s recommendations. However, Article 324(2) allows the Parliament to enact legislation about the appointment of Election Commissioners (ECs).
Understanding Indian Elections: Previous Year Questions (2017)
In 2017, the Union Public Service Commission asked several questions in their Civil Services Examination related to the Election Commission of India. The question asked was, “Consider the following statements: 1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body. 2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections. 3. The Election Commission resolves disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognized political parties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?” The correct answer was option (d) only the third statement is correct.
The Article 324 of the Indian Constitution designates the Election Commission of India as an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State elections in India. It administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country. The Commission originally had one Chief Election Commissioner but now consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. The Commission holds quasi-judicial power to settle disputes related to splits/ mergers of recognized political parties. The Commission, not the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, decides the election schedules for the conduct of elections, whether general elections or bye-elections.
