MoU between India and Election Management Bodies of Namibia and Panama

No: --- Dated: Feb, 06 2019

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for a MoU between India and the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and with Electoral Tribunal of Panama (ETP) on cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration.

Salient features:

This MoU contains standard articles/clauses which broadly express promotion of cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration including promotion of exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of organizational and technical development of electoral process; support in exchanging information, institutional strengthening and capacity building, training of personnel, holding regular consultations etc.

Impact:         

 The MOU would promote bilateral cooperation, aimed at building technical assistance/ capacity support for the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and with Electoral Tribunal of Panama (ETP). It envisages cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration and providing a leg-up to it in conducting elections in their respective countries. This would also result in bolstering India's international relations.

Background:

The Election Commission (EC) has been participating in promoting cooperation in the field of election matters and electoral processes across the world with certain foreign countries and agencies adopting the mode of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the concerned parties. TheElection Commission is a constitutional body which conducts the largest electoral exercise in the world. It is the responsibility of the EC to organise the free and fair election in the country of about85 crore voters with diverse socio-political and economic backgrounds. The success of democracy in India has attracted the attention of almost every political system around the world.         

 In its pursuit of excellence, the Election Commission has been receiving various proposals from foreign electoral bodies for developing bilateral relations in the field of election and matters connected therewith. The Election Commission has forwarded proposals to the Ministry of Law and justice, Legislative Department relating to the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by it with

the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and with Electoral Tribunal of Panama(ETP) on cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration.

Courtesy – Press Information Bureau, Government of India​​