Lok Sabha Question No. 2844 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-06
Subject: MoU with other Countries
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN, KALIKESH NARAYAN SINGH DEO, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE**

**LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2844**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON THURSDAY, 6** **th** **AUGUST, 2015**

**MOU WITH OTHER COUNTRIES**

2844. DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

SHRI KALIKESH N. SINGH DEO:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with certain other countries including Georgia for cooperation in the field of election management and administration;

(b) if so, the details and the salient features thereof, country-wise;

(c) the extent to which such cooperation with other countries is likely to benefit the country; and

(d) the timeframe set for the execution of the said MoUs?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE**

**(SHRI D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA)**

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

**STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2844 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6** **TH** **AUGUST, 2015.**

(a) to (d): 	The Election Commission of India (ECI) has so far signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Twenty (20) Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and International Organization across the world including the Central Election Commission of Georgia as per details attached at Annexure-A. Generally, the Election Commission of India signs MoU with other EMBs on the basis of its standard MoU. The salient features of every MoU signed with the EMBs of other countries include promotion of exchanges of knowledge and experience in electoral processes; exchange of information, materials, expertise and training of personnel; production and distribution of materials pertaining to electoral systems, voting technology, voters’ education and awareness, and participation of women and minorities in electoral process.

The MoUs signed by the ECI with the EMBs of other countries pivot around electoral matters including exchange of skills and experience and innovative practices which are of benefit to both the signatories. India is presently regarded as one of the most stable democracies in the comity of nations and free, fair and peaceful elections held periodically at specified intervals to Parliament and State Legislatures have been hailed the world over. Many countries, particularly the developing world, look to the Election Commission of India as the role model and have expressed their desire to share the expertise, experience and best electoral practices of the Commission. Such mutual cooperation between the Election Management Bodies of two democracies goes a long way towards fostering friendly relations with such countries and is beneficial for the evolution of democratic systems and practices in both countries.

**Annexure - A**

**EXISTING MOU WITH  OTHER ELECTORAL BODIES /ORGANIZATION WITH ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA**

|   **Sl. No.** | **MoU**                                                                                                                | **Signed date and place**                                           | **Validity**                                                                                                                                              |
|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|            1. | MoU between the United Nations and the Election Commission of India                                                    | 28  th  August, 2004  New Delhi                                     | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|            2. | MoU between the Election Commission of India and the Commission Electoral Independent Coted’ Ivoire                    | 10  th  September, 2004  New Delhi                                  | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|            3. | MoU between the Federal Electoral Institute of the United Mexican States  and the Election Commission of India         | 27  th  October, 2004  Mexico City                                  | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|            4. | MoU between the Election Commission of India and the Election Commission of Bhutan.                                    | 24  th  May, 2006  Thimpu  Renewed on 17  th  Sept.  2011 in Thimpu | Shall remain in force for the period of (5) five years or unless terminated by either party                                                               |
|            5. | MoU between the Election Commission of India and the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan                    | 22  nd  April, 2008  Kabul, Afghanistan                             | Shall remain in force for the period of (5) five years or unless terminated by either party                                                               |
|             6 | MoU between the Election Commission of India and the Electoral Superior Tribunal of Brazil.                            | 14  th  December, 2010  Brasilia                                    | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|            7. | MoU between the Election Commission of India and the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation             | 21  st  December, 2010  New Delhi                                   | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|            8. | MoU between the Election Commission of India and Election Commission of Nepal                                          | 7  th  June, 2011  Kathmandu, Nepal.                                | Shall remain in force for the period of (5) five years or unless terminated by either party                                                               |
|            9. | MoU between the Election Commission of India and the Electoral Service of Chile                                        | 7  th  July, 2011  Santiago de Chile                                | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|           10. | MoU between the Election Commission of India and General Elections Commission of Indonesia                             | 16  th  August, 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia                          | Shall remain in force for the period of (5) five years and may be extended for subsequent periods of 5 (five) years or unless terminated by either party. |
|           11. | MoU between the Election Commission of India and Electoral Commission of South Africa.                                 | 11  th  October, 2011  New Delhi                                    | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|            12 | MoU between the Election Commission of India and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)                 | 17  th  May, 2012  New Delhi                                        | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|           13. | MoU between the Election Commission of India and the National Election Commission of the Republic of Korea             | 1  st  August, 2012  New Delhi                                      | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|           14. | MoU between the Election Commission of India and National Electoral Council of Venezuela                               | 31  st  August, 2012  Caracas, Venezuela                            | Shall remain in force for the period of (1) one years or unless terminated by either party                                                                |
|            15 | MoU between the Election Commission of India and Supreme Presidential Election Commission of Egypt                     | 18  th  September, 2012  New Delhi                                  | Shall remain in force for the period of (3) three years or unless terminated by either party                                                              |
|            16 | MoU between the Election Commission of India and High National Election Commission of Libya                            | 30  th  November, 2012  New Delhi                                   | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|            17 | MoU between the Election Commission of India and UNDP                                                                  | 11  th  October, 2012  New Delhi                                    | Expired                                                                                                                                                   |
|            18 | MoU between the Election Commission of India and the Electoral Commissioner’s office of Mauritius                      | 11  th  April 2013  New Delhi                                       | Shall remain in force for the period of (5) five years or unless terminated by either party                                                               |
|            19 | MoU between the Election Commission of India and Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum of Republic of  Yemen | 22  nd  December, 2013  Sana, Yemen                                 | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|            20 | MoU between the Election Commission of India and Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan.                            | 12  th  July, 2015  Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan                             | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |
|            21 | MoU between the Election Commission of India and Central Election Commission of Georgia.                               | 13  th  July, 2015  New Delhi                                       | Indefinite period                                                                                                                                         |