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Lok Sabha polls: EC to monitor social media activity of leaders and political parties

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Lok Sabha polls: EC to monitor social media activity of leaders and political parties

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Introducing some new features and guidelines to ensure fair play in Lok Sabha election 2019, the Election Commission of India (EC) has laid down some regulations for social media usage by political parties and their leaders when the electoral process is on.

The EC announced the schedule for 17th Lok Sabha elections yesterday (Sunday, March 10). Polling will be held in seven phases beginning April 11.

The ECI said the candidates will have to furnish the details of their social media accounts at the time of filing their nominations.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora said all political advertisements on social media will need pre-certification. The EC has asked Google, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to verify all the political advertisements coming from various political parties.

The CEC also announced that the model code of conduct would apply to content posted by the candidates and they would be required to provide details of their social media accounts to the panel. All political advertisements on social media will also require pre-certification, he added.

“The intermediaries, viz Facebook, Twitter, Google and YouTube, have committed in writing to ensure that any political published on their platforms will be certified from MCMC [Media Certification & Monitoring Committees],” Arora said.

He added that the social media platforms have assured the commission they would appoint grievance officers to take “necessary and prompt” action against any poll-related violation and check fake news and hate campaigns.

The CEC informed that IT giants have promised to take action against hate speech. The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IMAI) has informed the commission that it is formulating a code of ethics for polls, “which is a work in progress”, the CEC said.

In a decision taken earlier, EC had also asked political parties to “desist from displaying photographs of defence personnel”. This came after complaints against BJP posters showing a hoarding with images of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman along with photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as other leaders of the party.

All expenditure on campaigning advertisements on social media is to be included in the election expenditure account, said Arora.

Stringent monitoring of all events on election days will be done using information technology, he said.

He also mentioned the C-Vigil app which was launched last year by the EC. The app will help citizens to confidentially report any violation of the election code of conduct and any malpractices.

“By using the cVIGIL app, citizens can record on his Android mobile and report promptly to election authorities report any violation of Model Code  of  Conduct,  any  incident  of  intimidation  or  inducement  within minutes of having witnessed them and without having to go to the office of the returning officer,” the EC said.

All that one has to do is to simply click a  picture  or  to  take  a  video  and  briefly  describe  the  activity  before uploading it on the cVIGIL mobile application. If the complainant desires to remain  anonymous  he  has  the  option  to  do  so.  cVIGIL  provides time-stamped  evidentiary  proof  of  violation of Model Code of Conduct / Expenditure Violation.

The District Control Room allocates cVIGIL cases to the Flying Squads etc. through GIS-based  platform.  Flying  Squads  investigate  the  matter  and  the  Returning Officer takes the decision. The status of cVIGIL is shared with the cVIGIL complainant within 100 minutes.

The EC said it has also set up a Voter Helpline Mobile app to provide to all Citizens convenience of finding names in the electoral roll, submitting online forms, checking the status of the application, filing complaints and receiving the reply on their mobile  app.  All  forms,  results,  candidate  affidavit,  press  notes,  Voter awareness  and  important  instructions  are  available  through  the  mobile app. This popular app is available at Google Play Store.

Persons with Disabilities  (PwDs)  can  request  for  new  registration,  change  in  address, change in particulars and mark themselves as PwD through the use of the mobile  application.  By  simply  entering  their  contact  details,  the  Booth Level  Officer  is  assigned  to  provide  doorstep  facility.  PwDs  can  also request for a wheelchair during polling. The app is available at Google Play Store.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails

Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.

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Delhi Metro

Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.

According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.

A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

Metro stations under heightened surveillance

Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.

Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.

The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.

Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.

While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.

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JNU protest turns violent as Left and Right student groups trade charges

A late-night protest at JNU turned violent as Left and ABVP student groups accused each other of stone-throwing and attacks near the East Gate.

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JNU Protest

Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.

Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.

According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.

Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.

Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.

University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.

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World praised India’s AI potential at AI Impact Summit, says PM Modi

PM Modi said the world praised India’s AI potential at the AI Impact Summit 2026, where 89 countries endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on artificial intelligence.

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pm modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the world wholeheartedly praised India’s potential during the recently concluded AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, highlighting the growing global confidence in the country’s young technology talent.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the summit demonstrated how the mindset of India’s youth in the field of technology would serve humanity at large. He described the event as historic and underlined the positive global response to India’s AI capabilities.

The AI Impact Summit 2026, organised in New Delhi last week, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact. The declaration has been endorsed by 89 countries and international organisations, signalling broad global agreement on promoting artificial intelligence for economic growth and social welfare.

Broad global participation

The summit saw the participation of several prominent world leaders and top technology executives. Among those present were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Swiss President Guy Parmelin.

Other leaders attending the summit included Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, Estonia President Alar Karis, and Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

Chief executives and senior leaders from major global technology firms were also part of the gathering.

Focus on inclusive AI growth

Held under the theme ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay’ (welfare for all, happiness of all), the summit aimed to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence while ensuring that AI development remains inclusive and sustainable.

The event brought together more than 500 international AI leaders. This included around 100 CEOs and founders, 150 academicians and researchers, and 400 CTOs, vice presidents and philanthropists. Additionally, over 100 government representatives and nearly 60 ministers and vice ministers participated in discussions.

The New Delhi Declaration seeks to strengthen international cooperation and ensure that AI technologies contribute to economic progress, social good and environmental protection.

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