Insurance firms, banks want to be a part of India's roads growth story

 The insurance sector wants to be part of India's road growth story. In a meeting held by Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari with bankers in Mumbai on Friday, Kotak Mahindra Bank chief executive officer Uday Kotak signalled the sector's eagerness.

A senior government official on condition of anonymity said: "Uday Kotak, along with LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) chairman said they were keen on exploring opportunities in post-construction lending for highway projects. Both insurance and highway projects have the basic characteristic of being long-term projects with investment returns by 15-25 years and can be gelled easily."

Gadkari liked the proposal and further possibilities are likely to be explored to bring in insurance sector investments, said the official on condition of anonymity.

India Seeks to Cut Iran Ties

The Indian government has asked state-owned oil firms to prepare a blueprint of alternatives sources as it considers acquiescing to US President Donald Trump's demands for ending oil imports from Iran by 4 November, government and industry officials said on 28 June.

While New Delhi says it does not recognise unilateral restrictions imposed by the US on any country and instead follows United Nations sanctions, oil firms have been asked to be prepared for channels to pay for Iranian oil getting blocked by November, following sanctions against the Persian Gulf nation, they said.

Imports from Iran, which currently is India's third largest supplier of oil after Iraq and Saudi Arabia, are likely to come down and will have to be replaced with more purchases from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, they said. Imports from Iran after 4 November will be possible only if Iran accepts alternates like Rupee payments, the officials added.

The Trump administration is piling pressure on India, China, and other buyers to end all imports of Iranian oil by a 4 November deadline as it looks to choke the Persian Gulf state's economic lifeline with sanctions over its nuclear programme.

Pre-monsoon showers lash Delhi, bring respite from scorching heat

Delhi on Wednesday morning witnessed pre-monsoon showers that brought temperature several notches down. The showers brought a much needed respite from heat in the national capital which has been reeling under scorching heat for close to a month now.

While on Monday, the temperature was around 43-45 degrees, today it dropped to pleasant 27 degree Celsius in Delhi. 

The normal date for the monsoon to arrive in Delhi is June 29. The temperature in Delhi began to dip on Tuesday evening itself as there was cloud cover in the evening.By 4 pm yesterday, the temperature, which has been hovering around 40 degrees, had dropped to mid 30s. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)'s latest update said that the South West Monsoon may reach Delhi by June 28-30.

Maharashtra plastic ban: Restaurant delivers food in steel lunch boxes

A restaurant in Pune has started delivering food in steel lunch boxes after the Maharashtra Government imposed a ban on the use of plastic in the state.As part of the initiative taken by the restaurant, the customers are asked to return boxes after the delivery.

Those who order take away food at the restaurant are asked to deposit Rs 200 which will be reimbursed on returning the box.Because of the plastic ban a lot of restaurant chains in the state are facing different issues.

On March 23, the Maharashtra government had issued a notification, imposing a ban on the manufacture, use, sale and distribution of all plastic materials like plastic bags, spoons, plates, bottles and thermocol items.

On April 13, the Bombay High Court had called the ban 'reasonable' after seeing a quantity of 1,200 metric tons of waste every day in the state.

BCI lashes out at Chelameswar after his retirement

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has lashed out against Justice J Chelameswar for his "controversial" and "irrelevant" statements in the media, three days after his retirement as a Supreme Court Judge, saying such comments are liable to be "deprecated" and "cannot be tolerated" by lawyers.

Justice Chelameswar, who demitted office on June 22, had disapproved of the Centre's decision not to elevate Justice K M Joseph to the Supreme Court, terming the action as "not sustainable".

The judge, who had held an unprecedented presser along with three other senior Supreme Court judges in January to highlight the litany of allegations including discrimination in allocation of cases to benches, had also said that the credibility of the highest judiciary was "occasionally" in danger.

PM ignoring Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of consistently ignoring Kerala and its demands.

Vijayan's, who was yesterday denied permission to meet the prime minister, also alleged the Center was not paying heed to the country's federal structure.

The PM has been ignoring Kerala. The Center's aversion to Kerala's demands is leading to the collapse of several industries in the state. When we needed to see the PM and submit our requests, we were not allowed to do so, Vijayan said.

"We need a satisfied state and a strong Center in the federal system," Vijayan said, adding that the response of the previous governments to the state's demands was not as bad as it was now.

For instance, in the case of the Kanjikode rail coach factory, our requests were completely ignored. The Center's involvement must indicate a basic understanding of the federal system and the states' needs. Unfortunately, the central government does not recognize this need. The previous governments understood this. I am not saying that they took all necessary measures. But things were not as bad as they are now, he said.

Behind Uttarakhand HC ban on rafting and paragliding, a wake-up call for law to save Ganga, ensure safety

On May 14, a video and photos that went viral on social media showed a few tourists from Haryana boozing in their SUV that was parked in 2-3-foot-deep Ganga waters in Rishikesh. Passersby spotted the tourists and complained to the police.

On June 5, five tourists from Haryana were arrested on charges of drinking alcohol on the Triveni ghat of the Ganga in Rishikesh.

Young tourists, mostly from the National Capital Region, Haryana and Punjab, visit Rishikesh for rafting. In 2014, Rishikesh-based social activist Hari Om Kashyap filed a petition before the Uttarakhand high court, underlining that rafting in Ganga waters is carried out without any law. A division bench of the court, in its order on Thursday, said sanctity of river is compromised as people are seen (in photos) drinking alcohol on the riverside and partying.

The court banned rafting until a policy is framed to regulate water sports. The order, which also covers paragliding, has come as a shocker to the adventure sports industry.

From Baba Ramdev to ministers, International Yoga Day celebrated with great enthusiasm

The 4th International Yoga Day has got off to a grand start with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the celebrations in Dehradun. Kick-starting the celebrations at Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, PM Modi joined thousands of volunteers in performing asanas and hailed yoga as India's gift to the world.

Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Suresh Prabhu, Uma Bharti, Ram Vilas Paswan and Ravi Shankar Prasad also took part in yoga events in Lucknow, Nagpur, Chennai, Rudraprayag, Hajipur and Patna respectively.

Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and yoga guru Baba Ramdev practiced yoga in Kota along with around 2 lakh people on the International Yoga Day on Thursday. The chief minister on Wednesday appealed to the people of the state to practice yoga to keep their mind, body and soul healthy and happy and make it a part of their lives. In her message, she said that yoga practice helps people connect with nature, ensuring their happiness.

Will Vohra continue as governor of Jammu & Kashmir?

As Jammu & Kashmir heads for another round of Governor's Rule, all eyes are on N N Vohra, whose second term in Raj Bhavan ends in the next 10 days, and whether the Centre will give him an extension.

The government has not opened its mind on whether it will want a change in Raj Bhavan, which will be the hub of activities in the coming months.

With the BJP withdrawing support to the PDP and Mehbooba Mufti resigning as chief minister, Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting to review the security situation in the state and the next steps to be taken. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba were among those present.

While there was no official word on the meeting, sources said the government has given its nod to the security forces to launch intensive operations against militants in the Valley. The Centre had on Sunday decided not to extend the suspension of offensive operations against militants that was in place for a month till Eid on Saturday.

BJP-PDP Breakup

The BJP has ended its alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir.n 2014, the verdict in Jammu and Kashmir was a split one. Mehbooba Mufti's PDP emerged as the largest party (with 28 seats). Their traditional rivals, the National Conference, had mustered only 15 seats. On the other hand, the BJP had won big, getting 25 seats as opposed to the Congress' 12.

The PDP and BJP were ideologically opposed, but together, they had the strongest shot at forming a government, with as many as 53 seats between them.

The PDP and the BJP disagreed on most things in Kashmir. Or on many, at the very least.

• The BJP wants Article 370 of the Indian Constitution done away with. The PDP does not.

No alliance with Cong in MP polls, BSP says will contest on all 230 seats alone

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Sunday said that it was not in talks with the Congress for an alliance for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls slated for later this year. A senior state leader of the Mayawati-led party added that it would, as things stand today, contest all 230 Assembly seats in the state.

Talking to news agency PTI, BSP state president Narmada Prasad Ahirwar said, "I was asked by the media that Congress leaders were saying that there are discussions underway with the BSP for an alliance for the next assembly elections. I clarified that we are not in discussions at the state level and, I think, neither at the central leadership level."

"As things stand today, we are going to contest all 230 Assembly seats. I have received no directives in this connection (alliance) from the central leadership," Ahirwar said.

The state Congress, meanwhile, has claimed that it never said alliance talks were underway with the BSP.

The Agenda for strategy document New India 2022 to be finalised in over a month: NITI Aayog

                     The federal think tank NITI Aayog on Sunday said that development agenda for 'New India 2022' — a seven-year strategy document for governance — would be finalised in little over a month from now after 'seeking final comments from the states'.

The think tank began working on the strategy document months after it replaced the erstwhile Planning Commission of India in 2015. The document was expected to the tabled in Sunday's meeting of the NITI Aayog's governing council chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by nearly two dozen chief ministers. The third meeting was held last year.

'Developed agenda for New India 2022 is still being revised. It was not presented in today's NITI's governing council meeting. We want the document to reflect ground realities,' NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar said when asked as to why it was not taken up at the meeting.

'The decision was taken because the states should not feel that they have not been consulted in a more purposive and substantive manner,' he said.NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said, 'The plan is ready and in its final shape... We will sent it to the states soon for comments. We needed more consultation. It will be finalised in one and a half months.'

The NITI Aayog had planned to come out with three documents — a three-year action agenda, seven-year medium term strategy paper and a 15-year vision document.In a presentation last year, it had said that the foundation for freedom from six problems — poverty, dirt, corruption, terrorism, casteism and communalism — will be laid by 2022 when India celebrates 75 years of independence.

Ambulances at L-G's house, Kejriwal says he and ministers shouldn't be removed

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his three cabinet colleagues continued their sit-in protest at Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office on Friday, pitching the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders against the central government's representative for the fifth straight day.

Kejriwal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, public works department minister Satyender Jain and development minister Gopal Rai have camped at Raj Niwas since Monday, refusing to leave until Baijal orders Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers posted in the Delhi government to call off their alleged strike.

Sisodia and Jain are on hunger strike and as four ambulances carrying medics drove in to the Raj Niwas, Kejriwal said in a tweet he suspected his ministers would be taken away forcibly. Kejriwal and the three ministers have been using Twitter to drum up support for their protest.

Kejriwal on Friday retweeted a post that said AAP will collect 10 lakh letters from Delhi's citizens requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to 'end IAS officers strike'.

Jain, who is on a hunger strike since Tuesday, in a tweet urged Modi to look into the matter.

'Have been waiting in the LG office from last four nights, but he could not mange even four minutes time. I hope the Prime Minister will look into this,' Jain tweeted.

Echoing same sentiments, Rai also tweeted adding that he hopes Modi will 'be concerned about the fitness of the democracy in Delhi'.On Thursday, Kejriwal in a letter sought Modi's intervention to end the IAS officers 'strike', as there has been no communication from Baijal's office.

Ganga Dussehra: The Worship of a Vanishing River

                     The festival is a mix of white cotton with bright yellow-red hues, fresh hot breakfast and an offering of redemption from sin. The summer morning air was filled with the smell of food, flowers and faith.

The roads leading to the Har Ki Pauri and other ghats were a mess of devotion and confusion. It is at Haridwar in Uttarakhand that the Ganga finally leaves the Himalayas, the abode of Gods, to then enrich the plains with fertility and her blessings.

The Ganga Dussehra, celebrated every year on Dashmi (the 10th day) of the Shukla Paksha (waxing moon cycle) in the Jyeshtha (high summer) month of the Hindu calendar, is a celebration of the Goddess' arrival on Earth from Heaven.

Celebrations are held at ghats in villages and cities all along the river Ganga. Considered extremely auspicious, a dip in the Ganga on this day is said to rid one of up to 10 lifetimes of sins.

Not the Actual Ganga

It is happening along the canal that comes from the Bhimgouda barrage, while the actual course of the Ganga - even on the day that marks her descent to Earth - remains dry.

The waters of the Ganga is absent for eight months a year as its flow is dammed and diverted for power and agriculture. We continue to celebrate the river we've created, instead of the actual entity that calls out for help.

If the celebrations are instead shifted to the banks of the actual river, who knows, the river might be allowed to flow through its actual course at least for a few days. Most visitors or pilgrims today are completely oblivious of this fact, assuming the canal to be the actual river.

The Celebrations

The celebration at Haridwar, much like any other festival, was an explosion of colour and activity, while also providing for livelihoods through endless products and services on sale. The many pandits with their rituals, street food vendors, toy sellers capitalising on the presence of children, selfie-stick sellers and those selling faith or objects of faith. Just the ability of finding peace and personal space in such an overwhelming situation might qualify one for karmic points.

Pilgrims from across the country had travelled for the Ganga Dussehra celebrations. All rituals aside, it was interesting to see how folks who had travelled from long distances, were navigating the tight spaces and language barriers.

There were multiple free food camps set up for visitors, far from the hustle of the main ghats that are mostly commercialised. We'd often also find people in deep conversation, discussing possible routes and timings of getting back to their villages.

What are Aadhaar-enabled ATMs and how will they help rural India

To make cash withdrawals easier in remote rural areas, fintech firm Mahagram has decided to deploy more than one lakh Aadhhar-enabled ATMs. But what are Aadhaar-enabled ATMs and how are they diferent from the usual ATM machines. Aadhaar Enabled Payment System or AEPS is a payment service

Pranab Mukherjee will attend Iftar hosted by Rahul Gandhi

Former president Pranab Mukherjee will attend the Iftar hosted by Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on June 13.

Iftar marks the customary breaking of the daylong fast during the holy month of Ramzan.

Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said Mukherjee was invited by the Congress chief for the event and he has readily accepted the invite.

The ex-president had raised quite a few eyebrows with his recent visit to the RSS headquarters. The visit had left several Congress leaders and his own family members miffed and anguished.

"Multiple media houses have raised questions on Iftar invite to Pranab Mukherjee on behalf of Congress president. Congress president has extended an invite to Pranab Mukherjee and he has graciously accepted. Hope this will set to rest unwarranted speculation," Surjewala said.

He tweeted saying Mukherjee had attended the last Iftar organised by then Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

India also targeted as Trump hits out at countries over import tariffs at G7

Coming down heavily on countries over import tariffs during the G7 summit in Canada, US president Donald Trump also drew India into the fracas and claimed that the United States is like a piggy bank everybody is "robbing".

"This isn't just G7. I mean, we have India, where some of the tariffs are 100 per cent. A hundred per cent. And we charge nothing. We can't do that," Trump, who left the G7 summit on a sour note, said. He further threatened to stop doing trade with countries "who are being unfair" to the US.

Earlier this year, Trump had criticized India over import duty on the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles and had threatened to increase the import tariff on "thousands and thousands" of Indian motorcycles to the US.

Trump had said that the decision of the Indian government to reduce the tariff from 75 per cent to 50 per cent was not enough and asked that it should be reciprocal, as the US imposes "zero tax" on the import of motorcycles.

Farmers call for Bharat Bandh on June 10

After a series of protests,the farmers had finally called for a nation-wide Bharat bandh. It will be held on June 10 till 2 pm.

An umbrella body of 110 farmers’ organisations, on Monday said the supplies of vegetables and milk would be stopped to cities across the country for 10 days from June 1 in protest against the alleged anti-farmer policies of the Central government. Leaders of Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh including former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha also said that a nation-wide Bharat bandh would be held on June 10 till 2 pm. The farmers urged traders’ organisations to extend support to their protest.

“Farmers across the country will observe non-cooperation day on June 6. They will also stop the supply of vegetables, milk and crops to cities from June 1,” Sinha, who quit the BJP recently, told reporters in the national capital.At the Press meet called by Sinha, representatives of the farmers’ organisation said the government is not doing anything to enhance the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) to one and a half times, as promised by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Budget session. They stressed that the government must also consider the land cost, besides other expenses in cash and kind, incurred on seeds, fertilisers, chemicals, labour, fuel and irrigation while determining the MSPs.

AAP to showcase 'Delhi model' in Haryana

AAP to showcase 'Delhi model' in Haryana in its bid to expand in the state.Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has started flexing its muscles in Haryana, keeping in mind the Lok Sabha and state Assembly polls that are to be held back to back next year. It has announced its decision to contest all the ten Lok Sabha and 90 assembly seats while selling its Delhi model of governance to the people of the state. But the moot question is whether it has the capacity to take on the well-established Congress, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state where it is just a new kid on the block.

AAP's Haryana in-charge Navin Jaihind has announced a "Haryana Jodo Abhiyan' from 10 June aiming to enroll one lakh workers within the next two months. He has made no bones about taking the Delhi government's report card to the people of Haryana and placing it against the performance of the traditional political forces who have been in power in the state.

"The people of Haryana should ask these political parties that if results of government schools in Delhi are better than private schools, why children enrolled in Haryana's government schools fare badly ? If the Delhi government can provide good healthcare in its Mohalla Clinics and government hospitals free of cost what stopped these parties from doing so in Haryana over the last 52 years when the state was created ? If Delhi government can give power at Rs 2 per unit why has Haryana been charging Rs 8 per unit?" he has questioned.

The party has also been attacking the central government under BJP on not delivering on its poll promises of 2014, particularly on issues pertaining to the farmers that are going to form the core of the political narrative in the days to come in this primarily rural state.

Observers point out that having formed the government in Delhi and done well in Punjab during the 'Modi wave' of 2014 which was followed with the party having almost made it in the state assembly polls, AAP is bound by many reasons to expand its base in Haryana, a state that lies sandwiched between Delhi and Punjab. The party has a window of opportunity here that help its expansion plans.

Farmers' Protests Peaceful on 3rd Day, Vegetable Prices Move North

Farmers in seven states have announced a 10-day strike, starting 1 June. The farmers, under the banner of the Rashtriya Kisan Maha Sangh, are protesting to demand loan waivers and implementation of the MS Swaminathan Committee recommendations.

• Farmers have called a 10-day strike in Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala
• Daily supplies such as milk and vegetables are likely to be hit over the course of the strike

Protests Remain Peaceful, But Vegetable Prices Move North

As their agitation entered the third day on Sunday, 3 June, farmers in many states dumped their produce on roads as a mark of protest while vegetable prices rose in several urban areas.

The stir, however, remained peaceful even as political rivals targeted the BJP-ruled Centre over the stir. Madhya Pradesh remained largely calm on the third day of the 10-day agitation by farmers demanding remunerative prices for their produce and waiver of farm loans.

Eligibility Criteria to become a Member of Lok Sabha

India is the largest democratic country.in the world. Since India claims to be the largest democratic country it has certain procedure to maintain it. The main is the election to the Lok Sabha. In order to contest in the Lok Sabha Elections a certain set of rules has to be followed.

Article 84 (Part V.—The Union)  of Indian Constitution sets qualifications for being a member of Lok Sabha, which are as follows:

1.  He / She should be a citizen of India, and must subscribe before the Election Commission of India an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule of Indian Constitution.

2.  He / She should not be less than 25 years of age.

3.  He / She possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.

4.  He / She should not be proclaimed criminal i.e. they should not be a convict, a confirmed debtor or otherwise disqualified by law.

5.  He / She should have his/her name in the electoral rolls in any part of the country.

However, a member can be disqualified of being a member of Parliament:

1.  If he / she holds office of profit.

2.  If he / she is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court

3.  If he / she is an undischarged insolvent.

4.  If he / she is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign State or is under any acknowledgment of allegiance or adherence to a foreign State. If he / she is violating party discipline (as per Tenth schedule of the constitution); disqualified under Representation of People Act.

A seat in the Lok Sabha will become vacant in the following circumstances (during normal functioning of the House):

1.  When the holder of the seat, by writing to the speaker, resigns.

2.  When the holder of the seat is absent from 60 consecutive days of proceedings of the House, without prior permission of the Speaker.

3.  When the holder of the seat is subject to any disqualifications mentioned in the Constitution or any law enacted by Parliament.

4.  A seat may also be vacated when the holder stands disqualified under the 'Anti-Defection Law.

Furthermore, as per article 101 (Part V.—The Union) of the Indian Constitution, a person cannot be:

1.  A member of both Houses of Parliament and provision shall be made by Parliament by law for the vacation by a person who is chosen a member of both Houses of his seat in one House or the other.

2.  A member both of Parliament and of a House of the Legislature of a State.

System of elections in Lok Sabha

Members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people of India, on the basis of Universal Suffrage. For the purpose of holding direct elections to Lok Sabha; each state is divided into territorial constituencies. In this respect, the constitution of India makes the following two provisions:

1.  Each state is allotted a number of seats in the Lok Sabha in such a manner that the ratio between that number and its population is same for all the states of India. This provision does not apply for states having a population of less than 6 million (60 lakhs).

2.  Each state is divided into territorial constituencies in such a manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it remain the same throughout the state.

LOK SABHA THE LOWER HOUSE OF INDIA

The Lok Sabha (House of the People) is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by adult universal suffrage and a first-past-the-post system to represent their respective constituencies, and they hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the President on the advice of the council of ministers. The house meets in the Lok Sabha Chambers of the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi.

The maximum strength of the House allotted by the Constitution of India is 552. Currently the house has 545 seats which is made up by election of up to 543 elected members and at a maximum, 2 nominated members of the Anglo-Indian Community by the President of India. A total of 131 seats (24.03%) are reserved for representatives of Scheduled Castes (84) and Scheduled Tribes (47). The quorum for the House is 10% of the total membership. The Lok Sabha, unless sooner dissolved, continues to operate for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting. However, while a proclamation of emergency is in operation, this period may be extended by Parliament by law.

An exercise to redraw Lok Sabha constituencies' boundaries is carried out by the Boundary Delimitation Commission of India every decade based on the Indian census, last of which was conducted in 2001. This exercise earlier also included redistribution of seats among states based on demographic changes but that provision of the mandate of the commission was suspended in 1976 following a constitutional amendment to incentivise the family planning programme which was being implemented.  The 16th Lok Sabha was elected in May 2014 and is the latest to date.

The Lok Sabha has its own television channel, Lok Sabha TV, headquartered within the premises of Parliament.

Elections in India

Elections in India include elections for the Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, the Legislative Assemblies and numerous other Councils and local bodies.

According to the Constitution of India, elections for the Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies should take place every five years, unless a state of emergency has been declared. Any vacancy caused by death or resignation must be filled through an election within six months of occurrence of such a vacancy. The elections to the lower houses (in Parliament and in the states) use the first past the post system (i.e., the candidate with the majority of the votes wins the election).

Elections to one-third of the seats of the upper house of the Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, are conducted every two years. The members of the upper house are elected indirectly by the state legislative assemblies on the basis of proportional representation. Members of the state legislative councils (in states having an upper house) are elected indirectly through local bodies.

All the elections at the central and state level are conducted by the Election Commission of India while local body elections are conducted by state election commissions. The recommendation is made by the Government and the notification for election is issued by the Election Commission.

The 2014 general election involved an electorate of 863,500,000 people. It was conducted in nine stages. The expenditure for the 2014 election was approximately 3765 crore. The cost per voter was Rs 1375. Votes were cast using over one million electronic voting machines.