TWO DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR CONCLUDED

TWO DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR CONCLUDED

19-JULY-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR------------------------The two-day national seminar titled "Reconstructing India's Electoral System for a Developed India (Viksit Bharat) 2047: Towards 'One Nation, One Election' and Digital Democratic Empowerment," organized at Maharshi Vishwamitra College, Buxar, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, concluded successfully on Saturday. Academicians, researchers, and students from universities and colleges across the country engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as electoral reforms, digital democracy, the role of the Election Commission, and the strengthening of democratic institutions.

The first academic session of the second day, titled "Aadhaar and Voter List: The Challenge of 'One Nation, One Vote'," was coordinated by Dr. Nishant Kumar. During this session, Prof. Vijay Kumar Verma (University of Delhi), Prof. Vishwanath Mishra (Banaras Hindu University), and Dr. Rajni Chaubey (Jannayak Chandrashekhar University, Ballia) shared their views on the integration of Aadhaar and voter lists, electoral transparency, the reliability of voter identification, and democratic accountability.

The second academic session focused on the theme "The Role of the Election Commission in a Changing India," where experts shared their insights on the constitutional role of the Election Commission, electoral reforms, digital technology, and the strengthening of democratic institutions. This was followed by an online technical session chaired by Dr. Virendra Kumar, Head of the Postgraduate History Department, featuring research paper presentations by scholars from various states on subjects such as electoral reforms, digital governance, democratic participation, and 'Viksit Bharat 2047'.

Prof. Sanjeev Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Suhel Dev University, Azamgarh, attended the valedictory session as the guest of honor. He stated that a transparent, accountable, and technology-enabled electoral system is the need of the hour for building a developed India. Presiding over the session, Prof. Vishwanath Mishra remarked that "One Nation, One Election" and digital democratic empowerment are crucial issues linked to the future of Indian democracy. Dr. Rajni Chaubey and Prof. Vijay Kumar Verma also shared his views on electoral reforms, voter awareness, and the strengthening of democratic institutions.

Participants who presented outstanding research papers were honored at the closing ceremony. The first prize was awarded to Aryan Shankar Pathak (University of Delhi); the second prize was shared jointly by Garv Dubey and Avinash Kumar Verma; and the third prize went to Kanchan Kumar. All winners were felicitated with certificates and mementos.

Dr. Arvind Verma, the seminar convener and Head of the Political Science Department, outlined the event's scope, noting that such national-level events foster a research culture and academic excellence among students and researchers. College Principal Prof. Krishnakant Singh remarked that higher education institutions play a pivotal role in achieving the goal of 'Viksit Bharat 2047' (Developed India 2047).

On the second day of the seminar, research scholars from the Department of Political Science at Veer Kunwar Singh University—Avinash Kumar Verma, Deepak Kumar Yadav, Vishal Kumar Chaudhary, and Shubham Kumar—presented their research papers. Avinash Kumar Verma stated that a 'Developed India' signifies not merely economic prosperity but also the assurance of quality education, better healthcare, employment, social security, and a dignified life. Meanwhile, Vishal Kumar Chaudhary presented a comparative analysis of the "One Nation, One Election" concept and the impact of political stability on India's foreign policy.

At the conclusion of the program, Principal Prof. Krishnakant Singh honored the research scholars with shawls and mementos. Organizing Secretary Dr. Alok Chaturvedi moderated the proceedings, while Dr. Avnish Kumar Pandey delivered the vote of thanks. The event was attended by Head of Department Dr. Arvind Verma, Prof. Priya Ranjan Chaubey, and Dr. Nishant Kumar, alongside faculty members and research scholars from various universities and a large number of students.