The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a detailed clarification regarding the home voting facility for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 5, 2025. This initiative, designed to enhance accessibility for senior citizens (over 85 years old) and persons with disabilities (PwD), requires eligible voters to submit Form 12D to apply.

Upon approval, a polling team, comprising election officials and security personnel, will visit the voter’s residence prior to election day to facilitate the voting process.

Crucially, the ECI clarified that candidates or their authorized representatives will be permitted to accompany the polling team during these home visits. This provision addresses concerns raised by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, who had previously highlighted a video showing BJP representatives present during a home voting event.

While the ECI statement did not directly mention Kejriwal or any specific political party, the inclusion of candidate representatives aims to ensure transparency and alleviate concerns about potential irregularities. The commission’s statement emphasizes that the presence of representatives is permissible to uphold fairness and prevent any accusations of undue influence.

The ECI has received a significant number of applications for this facility: 6,447 from senior citizens and 1,058 from PwD voters. To date, 1,271 senior citizens and 120 PwD voters have already cast their ballots through this home voting system. The process itself involves the polling team providing the voter with a ballot paper, overseeing the casting of the vote, and ensuring strict adherence to ECI guidelines regarding confidentiality. To maintain transparency and accountability, the entire process is recorded on video.

The ECI unequivocally stated that participation in the home voting option is entirely voluntary. Voters choosing this method will not be allowed to cast their vote at a regular polling station on election day.

The commission reiterated its commitment to conducting free and fair elections and underscored the importance of this initiative in promoting inclusive participation in the democratic process. Voters facing any difficulties are urged to contact their local Returning Officer (RO) or district Election Officer (DEO), or utilize the central helpline at 1950.

The United States marked India’s 76th Republic Day with effusive praise, highlighting the enduring strength of the world’s largest democracy and the burgeoning partnership between the two nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement released on the occasion, extended warm congratulations to the people of India, emphasizing the significance of the Indian Constitution as the bedrock of this vibrant democracy. He went beyond simple well-wishes, however, painting a picture of a rapidly strengthening bilateral relationship destined for even greater heights.

Rubio’s statement explicitly described the US-India partnership as “the defining relationship of the 21st century,” a bold assertion reflecting the growing strategic alignment and mutual economic interests between the two nations. This statement was not merely ceremonial; it underscored the deepening cooperation across various sectors, from space research to joint efforts within the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).

The Quad, comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia, received significant attention in Rubio’s remarks. He emphasized the alliance’s crucial role in promoting a “free, open, and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region, a clear signal of the shared commitment to counterbalancing China’s influence in the region.

This emphasis was reinforced by Rubio’s actions earlier in the week, hosting a crucial meeting of Quad foreign ministers at the US Department of State. This meeting, his first official engagement as Secretary of State, underscored the immediate priority given to strengthening the Quad alliance and its collaborative efforts.

The meeting with his Quad counterparts—External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar of India, Takeshi Iwaya of Japan, and Penny Wong of Australia—focused on enhancing economic opportunities and ensuring peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. It served as a practical demonstration of the commitment to the strategic vision articulated in his Republic Day statement.

Furthermore, Secretary Rubio’s bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar in Washington D.C. further cemented the strengthening ties between the two countries. The discussions covered a broad range of topics, including regional issues and avenues for further deepening the US-India relationship.

A notable point of discussion, as highlighted in an official press release, included a shared commitment to addressing concerns related to irregular migration, an area of mutual interest requiring collaborative solutions. This commitment, alongside the focus on economic ties, demonstrated the multifaceted nature of the burgeoning partnership, extending beyond strategic security concerns.

India’s own Republic Day celebrations showcased the nation’s unique blend of cultural diversity, unity, and military strength. The grand parade on Kartavya Path served as a vivid display of national pride and the successful integration of diverse elements into a cohesive and powerful nation. The presence of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as the Chief Guest further underscored India’s growing global influence and its capacity to foster strong relationships with key international partners.

The central government announced the recipients of the prestigious Padma Awards on Saturday. These awards, conferred annually on the eve of Republic Day, represent India’s highest civilian honours. They are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (for distinguished service of a higher order), and Padma Shri (for distinguished service).

The awards recognize outstanding achievements across all fields, with a focus on public service. The recipients are selected by a committee appointed by the Prime Minister.

This year, a total of 199 awards were presented: 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri. The President of India bestows these awards at a formal ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan, typically held in March or April.

List of Padma Award Winners 2024:

Padma Vibhushan:

• Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy
• Justice (Retd.) Jagdish Singh Khehar
• Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia
• Lakshminarayana Subramaniam
• MT Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous)
• Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous)
• Sharda Sinha (Posthumous)

Padma Bhushan:

• A Surya Prakash
• Anant Nag
• Bibek Debroy (Posthumous)
• Jatin Goswami
• Jose Chacko Periappuram
• Kailash Nath Dikshit
• Manohar Joshi (Posthumous)
• Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti
• Nandamuri Balakrishna
• PR Sreejesh
• Pankaj Patel
• Pankaj Udhas (Posthumous)
• Rambahadur Rai
• Sadhvi Ritambhara
• S Ajith Kumar
• Shekhar Kapur
• Shobana Chandrakumar
• Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous)
• Vinod Dham

Padma Shri:

• Advaita Charan Gadanayak
• Achyut Ramchandra Palav
• Ajay V Bhatt
• Anil Kumar Boro
• Arijit Singh
• Arundhati Bhattacharya
• Arunoday Saha
• Arvind Sharma
• Ashok Kumar Mahapatra
• Ashok Laxman Saraf
• Ashutosh Sharma
• Ashwini Bhide Deshpande
• Baijnath Maharaj
• Barry Godfray John
• Begam Batool
• Bharat Gupt
• Bheru Singh Chouhan
• Bhim Singh Bhavesh
• Bhimawa Doddabalappa Shiilekyathara
• Budhendra Kumar Jain
• C S Vaidyanathan
• Chaitram Deochand Pawar
• Chandrakant Sheth (Posthumous)
• Chandrakant Sompura
• Chetan E Chitnis
• David R Syiemlieh
• Durga Charan Ranbir
• Farooq Ahmad Mir
• Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid
• Gita Upadhyay
• Gokul Chandra Das
• Guruvayur Dorai
• Harchandan Singh Bhatty
• Hariman Sharma
• Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale
• Harvinder Singh
• Hassan Raghu
• Hemant Kumar
• Hriday Narayan Dixit
• Hugh and Colleen Gantzer (Posthumous)
• Inivalappil Mani Vijayan
• Jagadish Joshila
• Jaspinder Narula
• Jonas Masetti
• Joynacharan Bathari
• Jumde Yomgam Gamlin
• K. Damodaran
• K L Krishna
• K Omanakutty Amma
• Kishore Kunal (Posthumous)
• L Hangthing
• Lakshmipathy Ramasubbaiyer
• Lalit Kumar Mangotra
• Lama Lobzang (Posthumous)
• Libia Lobo Sardesai
• M D Srinivas
• Madugula Nagaphani Sarma
• Mahabir Nayak
• Mamata Shankar
• Manda Krishna Madiga
• Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli
• Miriyala Apparao (Posthumous)
• Nagendra Nath Roy
• Narayan (Bhulai Bhai) (Posthumous)
• Naren Gurung
• Neerja Bhatla
• Nirmala Devi
• Nitin Nohria
• Onkar Singh Pahwa
• P Datchanamoorthy
• Pandi Ram Mandavi
• Parmar Lavjibhai Nagjibhai
• Pawan Goenka
• Prashanth Prakash
• Pratibha Satpathy
• Purisai Kannappa Sambandan
• R Ashwin
• R G Chandramogan
• Radha Bahin Bhatt
• Radhakrishnan Devasenapathy
• Ramdarash Mishra
• Ranendra Bhanu Majumdar
• Ratan Kumar Parimoo
• Reba Kanta Mahanta
• Renthlei Lalrawna
• Ricky Gyan Kej
• Sajjan Bhajanka
• Sally Holkar
• Sant Ram Deswal
• Satyapal Singh
• Seeni Viswanathan
• Sethuraman Panchanathan
• Sheikha Shaikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
• Sheen Kaaf Nizam (Shiv Kishan Bissa)
• Shyam Bihari Agrawal
• Soniya Nityanand
• Stephen Knapp
• Subhash Khetulal Sharma
• Suresh Harilal Soni
• Surinder Kumar Vasal
• Swami Pradiptananda (Kartik Maharaj)
• Syed Ainu Hasan
• Tejendra Narayan Majumdar
• Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi
• Tushar Durgeshbhai Shukla
• Vadiraj Raghavendracharya Panchamukhi
• Vasudeo Kamath
• Velu Assaan
• Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar
• Vijay Nityanand Surishwar Ji Maharaj
• Vijayalakshmi Deshamane
• Vilas Dangre
• Vinayak Lohani

Note that “(Posthumous)” indicates the award was given posthumously.