Trump cites India’s Aadhaar-EPIC linking as model for US Voter ID system
New York: US President Donald Trump has referred to India’s Aadhaar-EPIC linking initiative as an example of strong election integrity measures while announcing new rules for voter identification in federal elections.
In an order issued on Tuesday, Trump mandated that voters in federal elections must provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport or other official documents. In the order, he drew a comparison between India’s voter identification process and that of the US, mentioning in the first paragraph that India has tied voter identification to a biometric database, whereas the US largely depends on self-attestation for citizenship.
“Despite pioneering self-government, the United States now fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing,” Trump stated.
The order marks a significant shift in US voting procedures, as the country does not have a centralised election system. Elections in the US are conducted under state and local laws, which vary widely. In contrast, India’s elections are overseen by a national Election Commission that enforces uniform rules and systems across the country.
India’s Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 introduced the provision for linking Aadhaar with the Election Photo Identification Card (EPIC). The Election Commission of India is in the process of finalising the mechanism for its implementation, and many voters have already linked the two.
Trump’s order is expected to face legal challenges, as the conduct of elections in the US, including federal elections, is governed by state laws under the Constitution. California’s state law, which prohibits officials from asking voters for identification, directly conflicts with Trump’s order.
Democrats have criticised such identification requirements, arguing that they may disenfranchise poor and marginalised voters. Republicans, on the other hand, claim that lax voter ID laws have opened doors to election fraud.
Trump also highlighted voting practices in other countries, stating that Germany and Canada use paper ballots counted in public, reducing disputes over election results. He pointed out that nations like Denmark and Sweden limit mail-in voting to those unable to vote in person and reject late-arriving ballots.
The new order will also tighten rules for postal voting in the US. Trump criticised the current American system, which allows mass voting by mail, acceptance of ballots without postmarks, and those received after Election Day, contrasting it with Brazil’s model that requires voters to link their biometric ID with voter identification.
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Bill to set up single higher education regulator likely to be tabled in Parliament next week
New Delhi (PTI): A Bill which seeks to set up a single regulator for institutions of higher education is required to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes become independent and self-governing, officials said.
The Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament next week after it got the Union Cabinet's nod on Friday.
The proposed legislation, which was earlier christened the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, has now been named Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill.
A single higher education regulator, which was proposed in the new National Education Policy (NEP), looks to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
"The Bill proposes to set up a Higher Education Commission of India to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes become independent and self-governing institutions and to promote excellence through a robust and transparent system of accreditation and autonomy. It is likely to be introduced (in Parliament) in the coming week," an official said.
While the UGC presently oversees non-technical higher education in the country, the AICTE oversees technical education, while the NCTE is the regulatory body for teachers' education.
The Commission is proposed to be set up as a single higher education regulator, but medical and law colleges will not be brought under its ambit.
It is proposed to have three major roles -- regulation, accreditation and setting professional standards, officials said.
Funding, which is seen as the fourth vertical, is not proposed to be under the regulator so far. The autonomy for funding is proposed to be with the administrative ministry, they said.
