ICSSR SPONSORED NATIONAL SEMINAR INAUGURATED

ICSSR SPONSORED NATIONAL SEMINAR INAUGURATED

18-JULY-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR-----------------------The first day of the two-day national seminar titled "Restructuring India's Electoral System for Viksit Bharat @2047: Towards 'One Nation, One Election' and Digital Democratic Empowerment"—organized at Maharshi Vishwamitra College (MV College), Buxar, under the aegis of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi—concluded on Saturday in a dignified atmosphere. Vice-chancellors, former vice-chancellors, academicians, professors, research scholars, and students from various universities and higher education institutions across the country participated in the seminar.

The event commenced with the offering of floral tributes at the statue of Maharshi Vishwamitra and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Subsequently, students presented a welcome song and the college anthem. All guests were honored with traditional stoles (*angavastram*) and mementos.

Presiding over the seminar, College Principal Prof. Krishnakant Singh stated that making democratic institutions more transparent, accountable, and technology-enabled is the need of the hour to achieve the goal of 'Viksit Bharat 2047' (Developed India 2047). He remarked that serious academic discourse on topics like "One Nation, One Election" would play a pivotal role in shaping future policies.

Seminar Convener and Head of the Postgraduate Department of Political Science, Dr. Arvind Verma, introduced the theme, stating that the primary objective of the event is to foster comprehensive dialogue on contemporary challenges facing Indian democracy, electoral reforms, and digital democratic empowerment. Meanwhile, Organizing Secretary Dr. Alok Kumar Chaturvedi noted that the seminar would provide a common platform for academicians and researchers nationwide, encouraging serious academic discussion on contemporary issues related to the electoral system.

The chief guest of the inaugural session, Prof. Shri Prakash Mani Tripathi, former Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, highlighted the robust tradition of Indian democracy. He stated that electoral reforms are essential steps toward making the democratic system more effective and people-centric. The guest of honor, Prof. ... Tapan Kumar Shandilya and Prof. Satish Kumar Rai also shared their views on the strengthening of democratic institutions, electoral reforms, and various aspects of the federal system.

In the first academic session, focused on the theme "Conceptual Basis and Global Comparative Analysis of 'One Nation, One Election'," Prof. Anup Mishra, Prof. Abhinav Sharma, and Prof. Jitendra Narayan discussed in detail the electoral systems of various countries, as well as the prospects and challenges of holding simultaneous elections in India.

In the second academic session, themed "'One Nation, One Election': Constitutional, Legal, and Structural Framework," Dr. Vikas Tripathi, Dr. Bharti Shweta, Dr. Tabassum Bano, Dr. Asha Prasad, and Dr. Shamshad Ansari presented their views on constitutional amendments, the federal structure, the role of the Election Commission, and administrative feasibility.

During the technical sessions, researchers and faculty members from across the country presented research papers on topics such as electoral reforms, digital democracy, artificial intelligence, electoral transparency, and the strengthening of democracy; experts engaged in detailed discussions on these papers and offered valuable suggestions.

At the conclusion of the event, Co-convener Dr. Priya Ranjan proposed a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to ICSSR (New Delhi) and to all guests, speakers, participants, faculty members, staff, and media representatives. He expressed confidence that the second day of the seminar would also yield meaningful conclusions regarding electoral reforms and digital democratic empowerment.