61st National Film Awards: And the winners are....

The winners of the National Film Awards have been announced by the Directorate of Film Festivals. 

This prestigious honour is awarded to celebrate the best of Indian cinema, and many regional and mainstream movies are nominated. 

List of The winners:

Best Film: 'Ship of Theseus' 

Best Actor: Rajkumar Rao for 'Shahid' and Suraj Venjaramudu and Venajaramoodu for Malayalam movie 'Perariyathavar'

Best Actress: Liars Dice', Geetanjali Thapa

Best Director Award: Pranjal Dua for 'Chidiya Ud' (Hindi)

Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment: 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'

Best Film on Social Issues: 'Tojia Dharm Kauncha'

Best Non Feature Film: 'Rangbhoomi'

Best Film on Social issues: 'Gulaabi Gang'

Best Supporting Actor: Saurabh Shukla, 'Jolly LLB'

Best Direction: Hansal Mehta for 'Shahid'

Best Choreography: Ganesh Acharya for 'Masto Ka Jhund' – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Best Child Actor: Somnath Awghade for 'Fandry' and 

Nargis Dutt Award for Best film on National Intergration: 'Talai Muraigal'

Bengali film Jatishwar bagged awards for - 

Best Music: Jatishwar(Bengali)

Best Costume: Jatishwar(Bengali)

Best Make up: Jatishwar(Bengali)

Best Male Playback Singer: Jatishwar(Bengali)

Best Feature Film in Assamese : 'Ajeyo'

Best Feature Film in Bengali : 'Bakita Byaktigoto'

Best Feature Film in Hindi : 'Jolly LLB'

Best Feature Film in Kannada : 'December 1'

Best Feature Film in Konkani : 'Baga Beach'

Best Feature Film in Malayalam : 'Maut 24 Kadham'

Best Feature Film in Marathi : 'Acha Divaz Mazha'

Best Feature Film in Tamil : 'Tonga Vungal'

Best Feature Film in Telugu : 'Naa Bangaru Talli'

Best Feature Film in English : The Coffin Maker

Note: 'Cinema Ka Cinema' got the Best Book on Cinema, while the Best Film Critic award went to Alka Sahania

Best Narration/Voice Over : Lipika Singh Darai, Kankee O Saapo (Odia)

The 61st National Film Awards ceremony will be held on May 3, 2014.

08:36 - By Unknown 0

Bandhan A microfinance group that beat corporates to a bank license

Dear readers, here we are poting a post on India's newly minted banking institutions. Know more about it.

The Reserve Bank of India granted "in-principle" approval for banking licences to infrastructure financing firm IDFC and Bandhan from among 25 applicants, including corporate heavyweights ADAG Group, Aditya Birla Group and Bajaj Group.

The RBI said it assessed the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the applicants, including their financial statements, 10-year track record of running businesses, proposed business model for the bank and demonstrated capabilities for running a bank, plan for expanding inclusion, and culture of compliance and integrity.

Bandhan was the only microfinance institution that applied for a banking licence.

Organisational Background

Bandhan (meaning togetherness) was born in 2001 under the leadership of Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, a Senior Ashoka Fellow. The main thrust of Bandhan is to work with women who are socially disadvantaged and economically exploited. Bandhan works for their social upliftment and economic emancipation.

To achieve the above objective, Bandhan is basically engaged in the delivery of microfinance services to the poor women.

Bandhan has been engaged in the delivery of microfinance service for the last 12 years. The model followed is individual lending through group formation.

All microfinance activities are carried under Bandhan Financial Services Private Limited (BFSPL), incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 and also registered as a Non Banking Financial Company (NBFC) with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The microfinance operations started from Bagnan, a small village which is 60 kms away from the city of Kolkata. In 12 years, Bandhan has travelled a wide geography of 22 States and Union Territories with special focus on eastern and underdeveloped states of North East.

Bandhan’s commitment towards triple bottom-line values is strongly asserted by its intervention in development activities. It believes that Microfinance is not the last word for development of the poor.

Aspiring to holistic development of the poor, Bandhan offers development activities in crucial fields of education, health, unemployment, livelihood and the like through its not-for profit entity. Besides, Bandhan also has a program exclusively for the hard core poor (generally believed to be bypassed by microfinance)

Here's all you need to know about one of India's newly minted banking institutions:

 • Bandhan Financial Services, the first microfinance institution in the country to win a bank licence, is also one of the youngest entities to be allowed to enter the banking space.

• The Economic Times reports that Bandhan is the biggest microfinance company in India, with a presence in 22 states. It is growing at 25-35 percent.

• Set up in 2001 by Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Kolkata-based Bandhan began with a focus on working with "socially disadvantaged and economically exploited women," according to its website.

• Bandhan wants to reach 1 crore poor households by 2020, ET reports.

• In 2007, Forbes magazine ranked it #2 in its first ever list of the global top 50 microfinance institutions.

• According to ET, Ghosh will be the first private entrepreneur from Kolkata to set up a bank, post Independence

.

• With 2,016 branches across 22 states and Union territories, Bandhan had over 52.33 lakh borrowers as of February.

• It disbursed Rs 963 crore of loans in February and has total loans outstanding of Rs 5,704 crore.

• Bandhan's current net worth is Rs 1,100 crore, of which Rs 96 crore is pure equity with a capital adequacy ratio of 21 percent.

• ET estimates that Bandhan will need to keep Rs 1,420 crore as statutory liquidity requirement and Rs 246 crore as cash reserves with the RBI.

• The Business Standard reports that the International Finance Corporation bought an 11 percent stake in Bandhan in 2011 for about Rs 135 crore, with the micro-lender being valued at approximately Rs 1,227 crore.

• Sidbi (Small Industries Development Bank of India) is the only other institutional investor in Bandhan, with a 10 percent stake.

 • According to BS, Ghosh owns 1.8 percent while two trusts, the Financial Inclusion Trust and the North East Financial Inclusion Trust, hold the balance.

• The institution charges 22 percent interest for loans up to Rs 15,000. Ghosh had earlier told BS that, if granted a banking licence, the rates could come down by 6-7 percent.

• Bandhan said the award of the banking licence was a recognition of the microfinance sector and their hard work to reach unbanked areas and provide financial services. "We will be able to offer full-fledged banking services to the poor people," Bandhan Chairman and Managing Director Ghosh said.

• Bandhan has loan schemes such as Samriddhi for the MSME sector and Sushiksha for education, among others. It also runs the Bandhan School of Development Management.

08:33 - By Unknown 0

All About लोक सभा !

Dear readers, As General Elections are round the corner, we are presenting you an article on Lok Sabha, which will provide you a detail knowledge about the Lok Sabha (The Lower House of Indian Parliament).

Parliament of India consists of two houses: The Lok Sabha or House of the people and the Rajya Sabha (राज्य सभा)) or Council of States.

The Lok Sabha (लोक सभा) or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India.  Lok means "people" and Sabha means "assembly" in Sanskrit.

The maximum strength of the House envisaged by the Constitution is 552, which is made up by election of upto 530 members to represent the States, upto 20 members to represent the Union Territories and not more than two members of the Anglo-Indian Community to be nominated by the Hon'ble President, if,  in his/her opinion, that community is not adequately represented in the House.

The total elective membership is distributed among the States in such a way that the ratio between the number of seats allotted to each State and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all States.

Lok Sabha, unless sooner dissolved, continues for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and the expiration of the period of five years operates as dissolution of the House.

However, while a declaration of emergency is in operation, this period may be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time and not extending, in any case, beyond a period of six months after the proclamation has ceased to operate.

Background:

The Lok Sabha was duly constituted for the first time on 17 April 1952 after the first General Elections held from 25 October 1951 to 21 February 1952.

The first Session of the First Lok Sabha commenced on 13 May 1952. As many as 15 General Elections to the Lok Sabha have been held till date. The Fifteenth General Elections was held from 16 April to 13 May 2009.

Qualifications of a Member of Lok Sabha:

Article 84 Part V of Indian Constitution sets qualifications for being a member of Lok Sabha, which are as under:-

1. He/She is a citizen of India, and makes and subscribes before some person authorized in that behalf by 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, in the case of a seat in the House of the People, should not be less than twenty-five years of age; and

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

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;

5. if he/she is violating party discipline (as per Tenth schedule of the constitution);

6. disqualified under Representation of People Act.

Furthermore, as per article 101 (Part V.—The Union) of 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 to Lok Sabha:

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

Powers:

1. Motions of no confidence against the government can only be introduced and passed in the Lok Sabha. If passed by a majority vote, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers resigns collectively. The Rajya Sabha has no power over such a motion, and hence no real power over the executive.

2. Money bills can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, and upon being passed, are sent to the Rajya Sabha, where it can be deliberated on for up to 14 days.

If not rejected by the Rajya Sabha, or 14 days lapse from the introduction of the bill in the Rajya Sabha without any action by the House, or recommendations made by the Rajya Sabha are not accepted by the Lok Sabha, the bill is considered passed.

The budget is presented in the Lok Sabha by the Finance Minister in the name of the President of India.

3. Equal Powers with the Rajya Sabha in initiating and passing any Bill for Constitutional Amendment (by a majority of the total membership of the House and at least two-thirds majority of the members present and voting).

4. Equal Powers with the Rajya Sabha in initiating and passing a motion for the impeachment of the President (by two-thirds of the membership of the House).

5. Equal Powers with the Rajya Sabha in initiating and passing a resolution declaring war or national emergency (by two-thirds majority) or constitutional emergency (by simple majority) in a state.

6. If the Lok Sabha is dissolved before or after the declaration of a National Emergency, the Rajya Sabha becomes the sole Parliament. It cannot be dissolved. This is a limitation on the Lok Sabha. But there is a possibility that president can exceed the term to not more than 1 year under the proclamation of emergency and the same would be lowered down to six-month if the said proclamation ceases to operate.

Important Points to be remember:

1. Shri G.V. Mavalankar was the first Speaker of Lok Sabha (15 May 1952- 27 February 1956).

2. Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar was the first Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha (30 May 1952-7 March 1956).

3. Smt. Meira Kumar is the Present Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

4. Shri Kariya Munda is the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

5. Shri  Sushil Kumar Sambhajirao Shinde is the leader of the house in the Fifteenth Lok Sabha.

6.  Smt. Sushma Swaraj is the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha.

7. Shri T. K. Viswanathan is the Sec. – General of the Lok Sabha.

8. In the Fifteenth Lok Sabha, two members, i.e. Smt. Ingrid Mcleod and Shri Charles Dias are the nominated members.

9. Shri Basudeb Acharia and Shri Manikrao Hodlya Gavit are the longest serving members in the Lok Sabha.

10. Normally three Sessions of the Lok Sabha are held in a year:

1. Budget Session - February - May

2. Autumn or Monsoon Session  -  July - August

3. Winter Session -   November - December

Lok Sabha also called the popular Chamber: The Lok Sabha is composed of representatives of the people chosen by direct election on the basis of adult suffrage.  That is why it is called the popular chamber.

Note:

1. The 16th general election will be held in nine phases, the longest election in the country's history, from 7 April to 12 May 2014 to constitute the16th Lok Sabha in India.

2. Voting will take place in all 543 parliamentary constituencies of India to elect Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha.

3. The result of this election will be declared on 16 May 14, before the 15th Lok Sabha completes its constitutional mandate on 31 May 2014.

4. According to the Election Commission of India, the electoral strength in 2014 is 81.45 crores (814.5 million), the largest in the world.

5. This also will be the longest and the costliest general election in the history of the country with the Election Commission of India estimating that the election will cost the exchequer Rs 3,500 crores, excluding the expenses incurred for security and individual political parties.

00:31 - By Unknown 0

Support for Windows XP Ends Soon...

Dear readers, 

As you all know that recently Microsoft has decided to stop providing support for its popular operating system, Windows XP, after a 12-year successful run. Technical assistance that helps protect your PC will end for all individual and professional subscribers across the world beginning April 8. 

Know more about Microsoft recent move...

Microsoft's decision to end their Windows XP support has created ripples across the globe as a study shows the OS still makes up for almost 30% of the desktop market. 

On April 8, 2014, support and updates for Windows XP will no longer be available. Don't let your PC go unprotected.

What is end of support?

After 12 years, support for Windows XP will end on April 8, 2014. There will be no more security updates or technical support for the Windows XP operating system. It is very important that customers and partners migrate to a modern operating system such as Windows 8.1. 

Customers moving to a modern operating system will benefit from dramatically enhanced security, broad device choice for a mobile workforce, higher user productivity, and a lower total cost of ownership through improved management capabilities.

What does this mean?

It means you should take action. After April 8, 2014, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for Windows XP. 

Security updates patch vulnerabilities that may be exploited by malware and help keep users and their data safer. 

PCs running Windows XP after April 8, 2014, should not be considered to be protected, and it is important that you migrate to a current supported operating system – such as Windows 8.1 – so you can receive regular security updates to protect their computer from malicious attacks.

Potential risks of staying with Windows XP

Running Windows XP SP3 in your environment after April 8, 2104 may expose you to potential risks, such as:

1. Security:

Without critical Windows XP security updates, your PC may become vulnerable to harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software which can steal or damage your business data and information. Anti-virus software will also not be able to fully protect you once Windows XP itself is unsupported.

2. Compliance:

Businesses that are governed by regulatory obligations such as HIPAA may find that they are no longer able to satisfy compliance requirements. More information on HHS’s view on the security requirements for information systems that contain electronic protected health information (e-PHI) can be found here (HHS HIPAA FAQ - Security Rule).

3. Lack of Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Support:

Many software vendors will no longer support their products running on Windows XP as they are unable to receive Windows XP updates. For example, the new Office takes advantage of the modern Windows and will not run on Windows XP.

4. Hardware Manufacturer support:

Most PC hardware manufacturers will stop supporting Windows XP on existing and new hardware. This will also mean that drivers required to run Windows XP on new hardware may not be available.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Windows XP still be activated after April 8, 2014?

Windows XP can still be installed and activated after end of support. Computers running Windows XP will still work but they won’t receive any Microsoft Updates or be able to leverage technical support. Activations will still be required for retail installations of Windows XP after this date as well.

2. Can Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 still be used in Windows XP?

Windows XP Mode follows the same support lifecycle as Windows XP, extended support will end April 8, 2014.

3. Will MED-V be supported after April 8, 2014?

Windows XP used with MED-V follows the same support cycle as Windows XP, support ends April 8th, 2014.

4. Will Microsoft Security Essentials be supported after April 8, 2014?
Microsoft Security Essentials will not be available for download on Windows XP after April 8, 2014. If you already have Microsoft Security Essentials installed, you will continue to receive anti-malware signature updates through July 14, 2015. However, please note that PCs running Windows XP after April 8, 2014 should not be considered protected.

5. Will Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool be supported after April 8, 2014?

Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool is aligned with the company's anti-malware engines and signatures, and as such the removal tool will continue to be provided for Windows XP through July 14, 2015. However, any PC running Windows XP after April 8, 2014 should not be considered protected as there will be no security updates for the Windows XP operating system.

6. Will System Center, Windows Intune, and Microsoft Deployment Toolkit still support Windows XP?

While customers may continue to use System Center, Windows Intune, and the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit to manage and deploy Windows XP past April 8, 2014, those products will no longer support Windows XP, and any technical issues which may arise will not be addressed.

7. Will existing updates still be available via Windows Update after April 8, 2014?

Yes, all existing Windows XP updates and fixes will still be available via Windows Update and WSUS.

6. Will Internet Explorer 8 still be supported on Windows XP?

As a component of Windows, Internet Explorer follows the support lifecycle of the Windows operating system on which it is installed on. More information is available at Microsoft Support.

8. Which machines will receive the Windows XP End of Support notification?

The notification will be sent to users of Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional who have elected to receive updates via Windows Update. Users in organizations using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), System Center Configuration Manager, or Windows Intune will not receive the Windows XP end of support notification.

00:17 - By Unknown 0

Banking Awareness: CASA

In continuation to our Banking Awareness series, today we are providing you a brief about CASA.

Casa Ratio: Casa is basically the current and savings account deposits. The CASA ratio shows how much deposit a bank has in the form of current and saving account deposits in the total deposit. 

If the CASA ratio is higher than it means that a higher portion of the deposits have come from current and savings deposit.

This means that the bank is getting money at low cost, since no interest is paid on the current accounts and the interest paid on savings account is usually low.

Current and Saving Accounts are demand deposits and therefore pay lower interest rates compared to term deposits where the rates are higher.

In India, interest rates paid on current and savings account deposits is administered by banking regulator - the Reserve Bank of India.

Why are banks keen on gained a higher share of CASA?

Interest rate paid on Casa is much lower compared to other deposits like term deposits or recurring deposits. While banks do not pay any interest on current account, interest paid on savings account deposit is 4%.

Banks therefore make maximum effort to increase the share of Casa on their books to reduce their overall cost of deposits. HDFC Bank has the highest share of Casa to total deposits at 52%, followed by the State Bank of India at 48% and ICICI Bank at 45%.

What does Casa mean for customers?

Recently interest paid on savings account deposits is 4%. Banks pay interest on savings deposits on a daily basis rather than paying on the minimum balance maintained by them in six months.

As a result, savings account customers earn better returns compared to what they earned a year ago.

Further, interest earned on savings account deposits does not attract TDS (tax deduction at source). Interest income above 10,000 a year attracts TDS of 10% in case of term deposits. However, there is no major benefit for current account deposits, which is mainly maintained by corporates and traders.

What are the disadvantages of high CASA?

These deposits can move out of banks' books anytime, leading to asset-liability mismatches. While in case of term deposits, banks are almost certain that the depositor may not withdraw money before the maturity of the deposit and may also renew the deposit on maturity.

Further, to finance long-term projects, banks need to have long-term liabilities on their books to avoid mismatches. Banks cannot rely on Casa deposits to fund long-term loans.

05:19 - By Unknown 0

India Goes to Poll from April 7 !

Elections for 16th Lok Sabha will be held from April 7 to May 12, announced Chief election Commissioner on Wednesday.

Nation will go to polls on April 7, 9, 10, 12, 17, 24, 30, May 7 and May 12.Counting for all polls will be held on May 16.

Announcing the election schedule, Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath said, this should not be viewed as phases. “They are poll days,” he said.

Special camps will be organised at all polling stations on March 9 for voters to verify, add or modify their details in the electoral list.

Election Commission has decided to distribute photo election slips with polling station details at his/her doorstep, within 3-7 days from the date of the poll.

With the election schedule announced on Wednesday, Model Code of Conduct for elections comes into force with immediate effect.

State-wise polling days:

Andhra Pradesh: April 30, May 7
Arunachal Pradesh: April 9
Assam: April 7, 12, 24
Bihar: April 10, 17, 24, 30, May 7 and 12
Chhattisgarh: April 10, 17, 24
Goa: April 17
Gujarat: - April 30
Haryana: April 10
Himachal Pradesh: May 7
Jammu and Kashmir: April 10, 17, 24, 30, May 7
Jharkhand - April 10, 17, 24
Karnataka: April 17
Kerala: April 10
Madhya Pradesh: April 10, 17, 24
Maharashtra: April 10, 17, 24
Manipur: April 9, 17
Meghalaya: April 9
Mizoram: April 9
Nagaland: April 9
Odisha: April 10, 17
Punjab: April 30
Rajasthan: April 17, 24
Sikkim: April 12
Tamil Nadu: April 24
Tripura: April 7, 12
Uttar Pradesh: April 10, 17, 24, 30, May 7, 12
Uttarakhand: May 7
West Bengal: April 17, 24, 30, May 7, 12
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: April 10
Chandigarh: April 10
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: April 30
Daman and Diu: April 30
Lakshadweep: April 10
NCT/Delhi: April 10
Puducherry: April 24

The term of the current Lok Sabha expires on June 1, and the new House has to be constituted by May 31. 
Along with the Lok Sabha election, Andhra Pradesh, including the regions comprising Telangana, Odisha and Sikkim will go to polls to elect new Assemblies.

It could be the first time the country witnesses elections over such a long period.An estimated 81.4 crore voters will be eligible to vote in the coming elections with 9.71 crore new voters being added to the rolls since the last elections. The electoral rolls are ready after being updated with January 1 as the cut- off date.

A total of 1.1 crore poll personnel, half of security personnel, will be deployed to ensure a free and fair poll. The database of the civilian staff to be deployed for conducting the polls has been prepared and at least 5.5 million civilians would be deployed.

For the first time in parliamentary polls, a system of paper trail for electronic voting will be introduced in some constituencies on a trial basis. A paper trail would help in avoiding controversies in case of a dispute.

The EC has also issued guidelines to political parties asking them to explain the rationale of financing the promises they make in their election manifestos.

The guidelines that followed the SC's directions in this regard have now been made a part of the Model Code.
From the coming elections, candidates in a parliamentary constituency in bigger states can spend up to Rs.70 lakh on their campaign, up from Rs.40 lakh in 2011. 

In the 2009 elections, it was Rs.25 lakh. Another first in the Lok Sabha elections will be the introduction of the ' None of the Above' option, which came into vogue in the Assembly elections a few months ago.

05:14 - By Unknown 0

Need To Know About EVM: Electronic Voting Machine

Dear readers, Lok Sabha Elections are going to be held from 7 April onwards and EVMs are used for voting in elections. So here we are presenting you an article on EVM which will make you aware about it. 

Electronic Voting machine: An Electronic Voting Machine consists of two Units – a Control Unit and a Balloting Unit – joined by a five-meter cable.

The Control Unit is with the Presiding Officer or a Polling Officer and the Balloting Unit is placed inside the voting compartment. Instead of issuing a ballot paper, the Polling Officer in-charge of the Control Unit will press the Ballot Button.

This will enable the voter to cast his vote by pressing the blue button on the Balloting Unit against the candidate and symbol of his choice. The Control Unit can store the result in its memory for 10 years and even more.

EVMs manufactured in 1989-90 were used on experimental basis for the first time in 16 Assembly Constituencies in the States of Madhya Pradesh (5), Rajasthan (5) and NCT of Delhi (6) at the General Elections to the respective Legislative Assemblies held in November, 1998.

EVMs run on an ordinary 6 volt alkaline battery manufactured by Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bangalore and Electronic Corporation of India Ltd., Hyderabad. Therefore, even in areas with no power connections, EVMs can be used.

EVMs can record a maximum of 3840 votes. As normally the total number of electors in a polling station will not exceed 1500, the capacity of EVMs is more than sufficient.

What is the maximum number of candidates which EVMs can provide:

EVMs can cater to a maximum of 64 candidates. There is provision for 16 candidates in a Balloting Unit. If the total number of candidates exceeds 16, a second Balloting Unit can be linked parallel to the first Balloting Unit.

Similarly, if the total number of candidates exceeds 32, a third Balloting Unit can be attached and if the total number of candidates exceeds 48, a fourth Balloting Unit can be attached to cater to a maximum of 64 candidates.

What will happen if the number of contesting candidates in a constituency goes beyond 64?

In case the number of contesting candidates goes beyond 64 in any constituency, EVMs cannot be used in such a constituency. The conventional method of voting by means of ballot box and ballot paper will have to be adopted in such a constituency.

What will happen if the EVM in a particular polling station goes out of order:  

An Officer is put on duty to cover about 10 polling stations on the day of poll. He will be carrying spare EVMs and the out-of-order EVM can be replaced with a new one. 

The votes recorded until the stage when the EVM went out of order will be safe in the memory of the Control Unit and it will be sufficient to proceed with the polling after the EVM went out of order. It is not necessary to start the poll from the beginning.

Simple compared to the conventional system:

In fact, voting by EVMs is simpler compared to the conventional system, where one has to put the voting mark on or near the symbol of the candidate of his choice, fold it first vertically and then horizontally and thereafter put it into the ballot box.

In EVMs, the voter has to simply press the blue button against the candidate and symbol of his choice and the vote is recorded. Rural and illiterate people had no difficulty in recording their votes and, in fact they have welcomed the use of EVMs.

Advantages in using EVMs: 

The most important advantage is that the printing of millions of ballot papers can be dispensed with, as only one ballot paper is required for fixing on the Balloting Unit at each polling station instead of one ballot paper for each individual elector. This results in huge savings by way of cost of paper, printing, transportation, storage and distribution.

Secondly, counting is very quick and the result can be declared within 2 to 3 hours as compared to 30-40 hours, on an average, under the conventional system.

Thirdly, there are no invalid votes under the system of voting under EVMs. The importance of this will be better appreciated, if it is remembered that in every General Election, the number of invalid votes is more than the winning margin between the winning candidate and the second candidate, in a number of constituencies. To this extent, the choice of the electorate will be more correctly reflected when EVMs are used.

Is it possible to vote more than once by pressing the button again and again?

As soon as a particular button on the Balloting Unit is pressed, the vote is recorded for that particular candidate and the machine gets locked. Even if one presses that button further or any other button, no further vote will be recorded. This way the EVMs ensure the principle of "one man, one vote".

How can a voter be sure that the EVM is working and his vote has been recorded?

As soon as the voter presses the `blue button’ against the candidate and symbol of his choice, a tiny lamp on the left side of the symbol glows red and simultaneously a long beep sound is heard. Thus, there is both audio and visual indications for the voter to be assured that his vote has been recorded.

Is it true that sometimes because of short-circuitry or other reason, a voter is likely to get an electric shock while pressing the `blue button ?

EVMs work on a 6-volt battery and there is absolutely no chance of any voter getting an electric shock at the time of pressing the `blue button’ or at any time of handling the balloting unit.

How can the total number of votes polled be known on the date of poll?

In addition to the ‘Result’ button, there is a ‘total’ button on EVMs. By pressing this button the total number of votes polled upto the time of pressing the button will be displayed without indicating the candidate-wise tally.

The Balloting Unit has provision for 16 candidates. In a constituency, there are only 10 candidates. The voter may press any of the buttons from 11 to 16. Will these votes not be wasted?

The panels for candidates Nos. 11 to 16 will be masked before use. Further, recording of votes for candidates 11 to 16 will also be blanked off electronically, as the candidates’ switch is set on 10. Therefore, there is no question of any voter pressing any of the buttons for candidates 11 to 16 or the votes for these candidates being recorded in the EVMs.

How can one rule out the possibility of recording further votes at any time after close of the poll and before the commencement of counting by interested parties?

As soon as the last voter has voted, the Polling Officer in-charge of the Control Unit will press the ‘Close’ Button. Thereafter, the EVM will not accept any vote. Further, after the close of poll, the Balloting Unit is disconnected from the Control Unit and kept separately. 

Votes can be recorded only through the Balloting Unit. Again the Presiding officer, at the close of the poll, will hand over to each polling agent present an account of votes recorded. 

At the time of counting of votes, the total will be tallied with this account and if there is any discrepancy, this will be pointed out by the Counting Agents.

05:13 - By Unknown 0