MoU with Other Countries

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 an 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.

Existing MoU with other Electoral Bodies/Organization with Election Commission of India

Annexure-A

Sr. No.	MoU	Signed date and place	Validity
1.	MoU between the United Nations and the Election Commission of India	28th August, 2004 New Delhi	Indefinite period
2.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and the Commission Electoral Independent Coted’ lvoire	10th September, 2004 New Delhi	Indefinite period
3.	MoU between the Federal Electoral Institute of the United Mexican States and the Election Commission of India	27th October, 2004 Mexico city	Indefinite period
4.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and the Election Commission of Bhutan	24th May, 2006 Thimpu Renewed on 17th September, 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 Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan	22nd 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	14th December, 2010 Brasilia	Indefinite period
7.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation	21st December, 2010 New Delhi	Indefinite period
8.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and  Election commission of Nepal	7th 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	7th July, 2011 Santiago de Chile	Indefinite period
10.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and General Election Commission of Indonesia	16th August, 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia	Shall remain in force for the period of (5) five years or unless terminated by either party
11.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and Electoral commission of South Africa	11th October, 2011 New Delhi	Indefinite period
12.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)	17th May, 2012 New Delhi	Indefinite period
13.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and the National Election Commission of the Republic of Korea	1st August, 2012 New Delhi	Indefinite period
14.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and National Electoral Council of Venezuela	31st August, 2012 Caracas, Venezuela	Shall remain in force for the period of (1) one year or unless terminated by either party
15.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and Supreme Presidential Election Commission of Egypt	18th 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	30th November, 2012 New Delhi	Indefinite period
17.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and UNDP	11th October, 2012 New Delhi	Expired
18.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and the Electoral commissioner’s office of Mauritius	11th 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	22nd December, 2013 Sana, Yemen	Indefinite period
20.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and central Election commission of Kyrgyzstan	12th July, 2015 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan	Indefinite period
21.	MoU between the Election Commission of India and Central Election Commission of Georgia	13th July, 2015 New Delhi	Indefinite period

This information was given by Union Minister of Ministry of Law & Justice, Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

*********

(Release ID :124473)

Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)