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New Delhi: In the world's largest democracy, every five years, a spectacular theatrical performance unfolds, captivating crores of people with its vibrancy, diversity, and sheer scale. Yes, we're talking about the <keyword id="19923279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha-elections" source="keywords">Lok Sabha Elections</keyword> in India. And we have the dates now for the grand finale: June 4! The Election Commission of India on Saturday announced the dates for the general elections to be held from April 19 to June 1 in seven phases. Chief Election Commissioner <keyword id="20110344" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajiv-kumar" source="keywords">Rajiv Kumar</keyword> announced today that the results will be announced on June 4. Phase 1 voting will be held on April 19, Phase 2 on April 26, Phase 3 on May 7, Phase 4 on May 13, Phase 5 on May 20, Phase 6 on May 25, and Phase 7 on June 1. “We will take democracy to every corner of the country. It is our promise to deliver a national election in a manner that we... remain a beacon for democracy around the world,” said the Chief Election Commissioner. <div type="image" title="Polling schedule" agency="ANI" msid="108550459" hostid="261" sizebytes="17144" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Polling schedule (ANI)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The tenure of the present <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> ends on June 16 and a new House will have to be constituted before that. As the tenure of Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha assemblies will also end in June, these states will get an early taste of the ‘one nation, one election’ process, wherein voters will be casting votes for both Lok Sabha and assembly elections. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="subhead" text="Model code of conduct kicks in">Model code of conduct kicks in</cmsannotation> With the announcement of election dates, the model code of conduct comes into immediate effect. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar asked all political parties and their leaders to strictly adhere to the poll code. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) mandates that no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences, create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic, according to the set of guidelines issued by the EC. It lists out the dos and don'ts regarding general conduct, meetings, processions, conduct of parties and their candidates on polling day, polling booth, observers, party in power and guidelines on election manifestos. According to the guidelines, all parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are "corrupt practices" and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters, intimidation of voters, impersonation of voters, canvassing within 100 meters of polling stations, holding public meetings during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the poll, and the transport and conveyance of voters to and from the polling station. Political parties and candidates shall ensure that their supporters do not create obstructions in or break up meetings and processions organized by other parties. As soon as the poll code comes into effect, the party in power be it at the Centre or in the State or states concerned, shall ensure that no cause is given for any complaint that it has used its official position for the purposes of its election campaign. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="subhead" text="Major players and issues">Major players and issues</cmsannotation> Undoubtedly, the scale and magnitude of a nationwide election in a country like India involve numerous complex considerations. However, the major political parties are hoping to narrow down the voter’s priorities to a few major foundational aspirations on which powerful campaigns can be built. Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword>, and his party <keyword id="19931558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bharatiya-janata-party" source="keywords">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP), are confident of reelection for a third consecutive term. They have pitched 'Modi Ki Guarantee' as the main theme of his campaign. PM's website describes it as a guarantee for the development of youth, empowerment of women, welfare of farmers, and all those marginalised and vulnerable who have been ignored for decades. In a letter to the citizens of India on March 15, the Prime Minister noted, “The trust and support of 140 crore Indians inspires and motivates me. The transformation that has taken place in the lives of the people is the biggest achievement of our government over the last 10 years. These transformative outcomes are the result of the sincere efforts made by a determined government to improve the quality of life for the poor, farmers, youth and women.” BJP is building its campaign by highlighting the welfare schemes of the government, infrastructural development across the country, and the rejuvenation of the country’s cultural heritage. The major opposition party <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="congress" source="keywords">Congress</keyword>, on the other hand, is banking on its <keyword id="20366194" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nyay" source="keywords">Nyay</keyword> guarantees to woo voters. The grand old party saw some success in the state elections of Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana when it pitched such 'Nyay' guarantees to the people. For the Lok Sabha polls, the party has put forward its 5 guarantees aimed at ensuring justice for youth, farmers, women, labourers, and participatory justice. The INDIA bloc, including the Congress, has been raising the issue of unemployment and rising prices of essential commodities. They have stated repeatedly that the lack of jobs is the single biggest issue and sought to corner the government over the issue. The BJP has hit back citing job growth and a fast-growing economy. Other major poll issues include electoral bonds, abrogation of Article 370, <keyword id="19963301" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="caa" source="keywords">CAA</keyword>, Uniform Civil Code, Ayodhya Ram Mandir, farmer protests for legal guarantee of MSP, and the Viksit Bharat vision of the government. Overall, India is poised to see an enthralling clash of ideologies, ideas, and personalities throughout the election season as the EC has opened the race for ruling the most populous country on Earth. (With inputs from ANI and PTI)

Elections 2024: Lok Sabha general elections in 7 phases from April 19, results on June 4; Here’s all you need to know

<keyword id="1851542" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maratha-groups" source="Orion">Maratha groups</keyword> continued their protests for the third day across several districts in the state to press for reservation for the community here on Tuesday. Alarmed by the spread of agitation, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has convened an all-party meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday to discuss and resolve the issue. Maratha legislators from all political parties staged a protest near the Gandhi statue outside Mantralaya in Nariman Point and are likely to meet Governor Ramesh Bais later demanding a special legislature session to finalise the community quotas. The great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Tushar A. Gandhi said that the Centre had very successfully engineered violence in New Delhi to scuttle the anti-CAA-NRC protests that had become a big embarrassment for the government. "Now the same modus operandi has been employed in Maharashtra to defame and derail the Maratha reservation agitation," said <keyword id="97377" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tushar-gandhi" source="Orion">Tushar Gandhi</keyword> sharply. Another incident of arson on a government office was reported from Jalna where a village panchayat office was torched by some unknown persons raising pro-quota slogans. Scores of Maratha activists lay down on the railway tracks in Solapur and blocked the passage of at least one long-distance train even as police attempted to clear the railway lines. A local office of the Bharatiya Janata Party was set ablaze at Naiknagar in Hingoli district, while a large number of Maratha activists got down in a stream in Pune for a 'jal-samadhi' protest. Public bus services remained shut for the second day in parts of Parbhani district and in Malkapur, Buldhana district, protestors smeared black paint on posters of the CM on a vehicle. Scores of Marathas launched relay hunger strikes at Chunabhatti in Mumbai and Mungse village in Nashik district demanding immediate announcement of quotas. Schools and colleges remained shut on Tuesday in Shevgaon, Ahmednagar district and students participated in the protests. In Pune, protestors blocked the Pune-Bengaluru Highway by throwing burning truck tyres on the Navale Bridge and squatting on the road, raising anti-government slogans, as 10-km long traffic snarls developed on both sides of the important thoroughfare. A large number of activists took out a symbolic 'funeral' procession of the state government in Tembhurni, Solapur district, while half a dozen services of the Nagpur-Pune sleeper bus services were suspended for the day. In Beed, which was rocked by large-scale arson and violence on Monday, a Nationalist Congress Party (SP) activist <keyword id="13209654" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="yogesh-kshirsagar" source="Orion">Yogesh Kshirsagar</keyword> alleged that the torching of his MLA brother Sandeep R. Kshirsagar was "a pre-planned conspiracy". "Before setting our house on fire, someone had snapped off the power supply here, the miscreants who indulged in stone-pelting were carrying bottles filled with petrol, and the police proved totally incapable of stopping them," claimed Yogesh Kshirsagar. The Shivba Sanghatana President Manoj Jarange-Patil, whose indefinite hunger strike entered the seventhday on Tuesday, again appealed to his supporters in the state to refrain from any violence and carry out a peaceful agitation.

Arson, roadblocks rock Maha on third day of Maratha pro-quota protests

Delhi Police on Thursday imposed prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 near the <keyword id="6380456" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="red-fort">Red Fort</keyword> ahead of a protest against the amended Citizenship Act, officials said. Lahori Gate, Kashmere Gate and Kotwali police stations will come under this order, they said. Police has already denied the permission for the protest near the Red Fort citing law and order issues, but the protestors said they will go ahead with the march.

Delhi police impose Section 144 at Red Fort ahead of a protest

<ul><li>For the last four months, the residents of Delhi have been either stuck in never-ending traffic or walked out of closed metro stations; or looking for ways to keep their children engaged thanks to unexpected school closures. </li><li>All this is happening in the wake of protests, violence, gunfire and a lot more that is stressing out the national capital. </li><li>Here are all the reasons that Delhi is protesting and suffering for, at the same time. </li></ul>For the last four months, the residents of Delhi have been either stuck in never-ending traffic or walked out of closed metro stations; or looking for ways to keep their children engaged thanks to unexpected school closures. All this is happening in the wake of protests, violence, gunfire and a lot more that is stressing out the national capital. The era of protests started much before the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) issue raged on. In early November, students started it as Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) hiked hostel fee. Later, the winter session of the Parliament has left students and citizens alike taking to the streets protesting the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/bullets-glass-and-stones-fly-all-over-north-east-delhi-killing-5-and-injuring-100/articleshow/74294273.cms">Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)</a>. Recently, depositors of scam-hit PMC Bank staged a protest outside RBI in Delhi asking the banking regulator to take action. Moreso, the victims who saw their savings vanish also said that they would take inspiration from ‘Shaheen Bagh’ protests. Looks like Delhi is not falling short of issues to take to streets about. While most of the above-mentioned issues are resulting in strife across the country, no city is as affected as Delhi which has become the hotbed. Adding to that, most protests are taking a violent turn, and random incidents of gun shots fired by miscreants is not helping Delhi-ites who are already skittish thanks to pollution spikes and inconsistent weather. The residents are unable to keep up a routine either as untoward incidents have been keeping adults from work and children from schools. There have been at least three such incidences where the schools were shut in Delhi. Two months ago, the massive protests against CAA at the Jamia Millia Islamia University had led to closure of schools in South Delhi. And it hasn’t gotten any better since that day. Even today (February 25), the schools will remain shut in the North East Delhi as the intelligence agencies suspect riots in the area. This was after seven people — including a constable of Delhi Police — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/bullets-glass-and-stones-fly-all-over-north-east-delhi-killing-5-and-injuring-100/articleshow/74294273.cms">lost their lives amid the clashes</a>. Here are all the reasons that Delhi is protesting and suffering for, at the same time.

Hostel fee hike to citizenship row — Delhi has been a hotbed of protests for 4 months now

<ul><li><keyword id="3244240" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Facebook-India-Head">Facebook India Head</keyword> <keyword id="3056724" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajit-Mohan">Ajit Mohan</keyword> has filed a petition in the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> that the Delhi Assembly’s ‘Peace and Harmony’ committee cannot force him to appear before it. </li><li>According to the petition, Delhi’s <keyword id="6354944" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="aam-aadmi-party">Aam Aadmi Party</keyword> (AAP) cannot declare Facebook guilty prima facie, since it’s not a court of law. </li><li>A three-member bench of the top court — consisting of Justices SK Kaul, Aniruddha Bose, and Krishna Murari — will hear the plea via video conferencing.</li></ul><keyword id="736869" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Facebook-India">Facebook India</keyword>’s vice president and managing director, Ajit Mohan, has filed a petition with the Supreme Court against the Delhi Assembly’s ‘Peace and Harmony’ committee. Mohan had been asked to appear before the committee today. Instead, a three-member bench of the top court — consisting of Justices SK Kaul, Aniruddha Bose and Krishna Murari — will hear the plea via video conferencing. Mohan is to be represented by former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi. Why did Mohan file the Supreme Court petition? Mohan’s petition asserts that since he is already appearing before the Parliamentary Panel on Information Technology — headed by Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor — the committee cannot compel him to appear before it. In his petition, Mohan questioned the national capital’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was declaring Facebook guilty prima facie — based on the first impression. According to him, the AAP cannot issue such statements since it’s not a court of law. What are the accusations leveled against Facebook India? The Peace and Harmony committee asserts that the social networking giant was ‘complicit’ in the north Delhi violence that broke out during the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in February. The incident left over 50 people dead and injured hundreds. The committee’s premise is that they have ‘incriminatory material’ that has been produced on the record by witnesses, which can be used to prove that Facebook’s ‘deliberate and intentional inaction to contain hateful content’ in India led to the outbreak. On Sunday, the committee sent a fresh and ‘final’ summons to the company. “Any rebuttal or disregard to this subsequent notice shall be deemed as a wilful act of breach of privilege and thus, shall entail various proceedings initiated against Facebook India,” it said in a statement. (With agency inputs) SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/byjus-onboards-new-investors-edtech-decacorns-paid-subscriber-base-jumps-by-a-million-in-a-month/articleshow/78267761.cms">BYJU’S onboards new investors – edtech decacorn’s paid subscriber base jumps by a million in a month</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/yes-bank-ceo-prashant-kumar-clarifies-that-the-forensic-investigation-isnt-restricted-to-the-top-10-defaulters/articleshow/78255868.cms">EXCLUSIVE: YES Bank CEO Prashant Kumar clarifies that the forensic investigation isn't restricted to the top 10 defaulters</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/dailyhunt-to-launch-family-of-bharat-apps-claiming-it-can-push-a-new-mobile-app-every-three-days/articleshow/78250283.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Dailyhunt is curating an entire family of 'Bharat' apps — claims it can push a new mobile app every three days</a>

Facebook India Head goes to Supreme Court against Delhi Assembly Panel's summons on 'hate speech'

<ul><li>The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has called off the Class X and XII exams that were supposed to take place on February 26. </li><li>This is however only for schools in North East Delhi, and the board hasn’t notified the new date yet. </li><li>The announcement came after the violent protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) intensified further for the third straight day. </li></ul>The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has called off the Class X and Class XII exams that were supposed to take place on February 26 — and rescheduled them. But this is only for the schools in North East Delhi. This came after the <keyword id="6355014" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="delhi-high-court">Delhi High Court</keyword> directed the board to do so. In fact, the students too, took to Twitter to complain about the situation in their areas. With curfews imposed in many areas, it may not be safe to travel to the examination centres. The violent protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) intensified for the third straight day today (February 26). “Based on the request of Directorate of Education and to avoid inconvenience to students, staff and parents, the board has decided to postpone the exam scheduled for February 26 in North East Delhi,” CBSE said. Several other leaders in Delhi, including Manish Sisodia and Atishi also urged CBSE to postpone the exam. The exam was scheduled across 86 centres in North East Delhi — both government and private schools. Class X students were supposed to sit down for an English exam while Class XII students had a web applications exam. Before this, there have been at least three such incidences where the schools were shut in Delhi. Two months ago, the massive protests against CAA at the Jamia Millia Islamia University had led to closure of schools in South Delhi. And it hasn’t gotten any better since that day. Now, it is the second day that the schools remained shut in the North East Delhi as the intelligence agencies expect worse in the area. This was after seven people — including a constable of Delhi Police — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/bullets-glass-and-stones-fly-all-over-north-east-delhi-killing-5-and-injuring-100/articleshow/74294273.cms">lost their lives amid the clashes</a>. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/500-million-school-textbooks-now-provide-digital-content-by-scanning-qr-codes/articleshow/74277189.cms">500 million school textbooks now provide digital content via QR codes</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/delhi-violence-news-and-updates/articleshow/74298031.cms">Delhi violence: Delhi death toll rises to 17 with 186 injured as a mosque burns</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/hostel-fee-hike-to-citizenship-row-delhi-has-been-a-hotbed-of-protests-for-4-months-now/articleshow/74285135.cms">Hostel fee hike to citizenship row — Delhi has been a hotbed of protests for 4 months now</a>

CBSE exams for Class X and Class XII postponed in 86 Delhi schools due to violence and curfew

<ul><li>The Indian government has been shutting down internet services in select parts of the country amid protests against the <keyword id="6564012" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="citizenship-amendment-act">Citizenship Amendment Act</keyword> (CAA).</li><li>The internet shutdowns have led an outcry from human activists that such measures aren’t coming down through the ‘right channels’.</li><li>The accelerated pace and expanse of the internet shutdowns also has China citing India as ‘setting an example’.</li><li>Businesses aren’t immune to the effects either as many online retailers rescheduled orders or reported a dip in sales.</li></ul>Amid the protests, violence and discord over India’s newly formed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), authorities have been shutting down access to the internet in selected areas to control the situation. When the internet isn’t being shut down, it’s at least being slowed down — known as throttling. Human rights activists claim that the order did not come down the ‘right channels’ making the entire exercise ‘illegal’. 
 <div type="image" title="protest2_edited" msid="72931875" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Throngs of anti-CAA protests outside the Red Fort in New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 It can only be ordered by a competent authority like Union home secretary or state home secretary, but this order was not issued by them," technology lawyer Mishi Choudhary told <a href="https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/delhi-internet-shutdown-did-not-come-via-right-channel-digital-right-activists/72897911">ET</a>. And, this is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/internet-shutdowns-in-india-have-skyrocketed-but-now-the-indian-government-wants-that-to-stop/articleshow/67178243.cms">not the first time</a> that the government is being accused of using <keyword id="991379" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet-shutdown">internet shutdown</keyword> as a ‘quick fix’ solution for ‘potentially’ volatile situations. 
 <div type="image" title="protest6_edited" msid="72931857" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Phone with postpaid connections finally get network access in Kashmir on 14 October 2019 after 71 days of an internet shutdown&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 In fact, India has turned so infamous for it during the last few months that China — known for its strict surveillance of online activity — is citing India as an example. India’s internet shutdown shows normal practice for sovereign countries," said an editorial by Qing Qiu in <a href="http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1217/c90000-9641267.html">People’s Daily</a> — China’s largest newspaper and a controlled entity of the country’s ruling party. Internet shutdown capital of the world The government is allowed to sanction an internet shutdown in the case of a public emergency under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017. The problem is that internet shutdowns have become so common in India that it now has a reputation for being the ‘<a href="https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/inside-the-internet-shutdown-capital-of-the-world-11575644823381.html">internet shutdown capital of the world</a>’. Kashmiris had to endure a four-month-long shutdown while the networks in Assam and parts of West Bengal were sporadically cut and activated. 
 <div type="image" title="protest7_edited" msid="72931888" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Parts of Kashmir remain under curfew and internet black out&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 Since 2012, the internet has been shut down in India a total of 375 times and most of them have occurred during the last two years — 134 in 2018 and 103 in 2019. It means that shutting down the internet in a state of emergency should be standard practice for sovereign countries," according to the <a href="http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1217/c90000-9641267.html">People’s Daily</a> editorial. Impact of internet shutdowns The damage of an internet shutdown isn’t restricted to missing messages on WhatsApp or an update on Instagram either. Although, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did ironically try and send out a tweet his ‘brothers and sisters in Assam’ when it was under an internet blackout. 
	<div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="Narendra Modi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1134082549041393672/QbihPzrL_normal.png" favoritecount="77241" retweetcount="15350" status="I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB. I wa… https://t.co/VPsj5t5opd" createdat="1576124902000" id="1204981291730341888"></div>



 Internet shutdowns are affecting businesses as well. Between 2012 to 2017, they cost the economy nearly $3 billion, according to an estimate by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (<a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2018/apr/26/internet-shutdown-cost-indian-economy-usd-3-billion-from-2012-17-study-1806393.html">ICRIER</a>). This time around, food delivery apps like Zomato, Uber Eats and Swiggy saw their <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabs-to-food-e-biz-hit-by-internet-shutdown/articleshow/72920805.cms">volumes dip by 10 to 20%</a> in Delhi. Grofers, an online grocery delivery service, had to reschedule 20,000 to 25,000 of its orders in Lucknow. 
 <div type="image" title="protest1_edited" msid="72931915" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Traffic comes to half as roads get blocked by anti-CAA protestors in New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 In addition the effect on businesses, this might not be the best time for the Indian government to be exercising its power in such a way with the Personal Data Protection Bill underway. The bill is currently under discussion by a joint committee after being tabled in the Parliament in its last session. There are concerns that it has too many loopholes that will give the government access to user data in the name of ‘national security’ or a ‘public emergency’ — the very same reason used to justify the many internet shutdowns across the country. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/internet-shutdowns-in-india-have-skyrocketed-but-now-the-indian-government-wants-that-to-stop/articleshow/67178243.cms">Internet shutdowns in India have skyrocketed — but now the Indian government wants that to stop</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/All-the-countries-where-someone-managed-to-shut-down-the-entire-internet-160and-why-they-did-it/articleshow/70009168.cms">All the countries where someone managed to shut down the entire internet - and why they did it</a> <a href="http://businessinsider.in/india-accounted-for-most-number-of-intentional-internet-shutdowns-in-south-asia-2017-18-unesco/articleshow/64189016.cms">India accounted for most number of intentional internet shutdowns in South Asia 2017-18: UNESCO</a>

Indian government shut off the Internet over a 100 times in 2019 — and China is lovin' it

<ul><li>Digital activists have issued a legal notice to the <keyword id="6358992" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Police">Delhi Police</keyword> against the use of the Automated Facial Recognition Software (AFRS).</li><li>They assert that such mass surveillance is 'completely illegal' and 'unconstitutional'.</li><li>Even though AFRS is being used to monitor crowds in Delhi, its original intent was to help the police track down lost children.</li></ul>The Delhi Police has come under the scanner for using camera <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/delhi-police-using-drones-to-track-down-protestors/articleshow/72902707.cms">drones to track demonstrators</a> during protests against the <keyword id="6564012" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="citizenship-amendment-act">Citizenship Amendment Act</keyword> (CAA). 
 <div type="image" title="afrs7_edited" msid="73052603" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Drone spotted flying over Delhi during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 However, they've also been using <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-plans-for-facial-recognition-without-law-in-place-to-regulate/articleshow/70201128.cms">facial surveillance</a> to monitor crowds even when there are no signs of non-cooperation. A report by <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/police-film-protests-run-its-images-through-face-recognition-software-to-screen-crowd-6188246/">The Indian Express</a> states that Delhi Police used the Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) to screen the crowd during Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>'s Ramlila Maidan Rally on 22 December. 
 <div type="image" title="afrs4_edited" msid="73052609" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Crowd gathered for Prime Minister Narendra Modi&amp;#39;s rally at Ramlila Maidan on 22 December&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 That kind of mass surveillance, according to digital rights activists at the Internet Freedom Foundation (<a href="https://internetfreedom.in/we-demand-the-delhi-police-stop-its-facial-recognition-system/">IFF</a>), is "completely illegal". "From building an underlying database of people from public protests to running it on crowds of people attending rallies. This directly impairs the rights of ordinary Indians from assembly, speech and political participation," it said in an <a href="https://internetfreedom.in/we-demand-the-delhi-police-stop-its-facial-recognition-system/">open letter</a> to the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Commissioner of Delhi Police. 
 <div type="image" title="afrs8_edited" msid="73052612" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act at Prime Minister Narendra Modi&amp;#39;s rally at Ramlila Maidan on 22 December&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 It was supposed to find lost children The original intent of AFRS, however, was to find lost children. But even then, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-plans-for-facial-recognition-without-law-in-place-to-regulate/articleshow/70201128.cms">success rate fell far short of expectations</a>. The High Court called out its inefficiency on at least three occasions. "Since this High Court case contains no clear direction for the use of facial recognition software, even for instances of locating missing children a question arises - What is the legal authority under which this facial recognition system is being implemented," said the IFF. 
 <div type="image" title="afrs_edited" msid="73052614" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Telangana Director General of Police M Mahender Reddy along with senior officials launch &amp;#8216;Facial Recognition System&amp;#8217; integrated with the TSCOP mobile app to aid investigators in identification of criminals in Hyderabad &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 The danger of mass facial surveillance Sources told the Indian Express that the Delhi Police has over 1.5 lakh 'history-sheeters' in its photo dataset so far. It's already being used in day-to-day crime investigations. When it comes to public events, a smaller, secondary dataset made up of 2,000 images of terror suspects is used. A third database of 'rabble-rousers and miscreants' has only recently been added to their arsenal. 
 <div type="image" title="afrs5_edited" msid="73052618" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;AFRS was also reportedly used to monitor the crowds during India&amp;#39;s Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 "We submit that the use of the AFRS for profiling and surveillance at public congregations is illegal and unconstitutional," said IFF's <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-GA-LlcVlnm0Ln4nuA_E_gLBMr6zeWzn/view">legal notice</a> to the Delhi Police. Since there are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-plans-for-facial-recognition-without-law-in-place-to-regulate/articleshow/70201128.cms">no guidelines for the use of AFRS</a>, there are no guidelines for the formulation of the databases. Thus, there is no checklist for the list of people including or excluded from the databases. AFRS — a system without a purpose Even if AFRS is to be used, it <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-plans-for-facial-recognition-without-law-in-place-to-regulate/articleshow/70201128.cms">needs to have a legitimate aim and purpose</a>. Its application should not be random and as per arbitrary rules. "The use of AFRS for surveillance must clearly define the legitimate aim and purpose of such use, even if legality is presumed," said the IFF. This is extremely important because while the authorities may see the AFRS as a way to make their jobs easier, the system needs to be balanced against fundamental civil rights — like the <keyword id="515140" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="right-to-privacy">right to privacy</keyword> and freedom of speech. 
 <div type="image" title="afrs3_edited" msid="73052619" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Citizenship Amendment Act protestor being hauled off by the Delhi Police&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 "There is no material/references available that state what legitimate aim would be achieved by the use of AFRS in political rally or protest given even at such spaces voicing dissent or assembly is an exercise of the fundamental right of a person," the IFF points out. As for the 'trinity of databases', the collection of data can't be a blanket exercise. It needs to be specific and targeted while also preventing bias. "If the goal is to identify a specific instance of wrong-doing or prevent crime (in policing), the State cannot achieve that by blanket and indiscriminate data collection, that fails to distinguish between those against whom there is probable cause of suspicion, and against whom there is not," said the IFF. If checks and balances aren't put in place, it will be easy for misuse to seep through the cracks and take advantage of the lack of oversight and accountability. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/delhi-police-using-drones-to-track-down-protestors/articleshow/72902707.cms">Police using drones to identify key protestors⁠— and it may lead to harassment in the future</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/indias-new-data-protection-is-in-the-works-and-companies-will-only-have-to-pay-2-million-for-violations/articleshow/72381112.cms">India's new data protection law is in the works and companies will only have to pay $2 million for violations</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-plans-for-facial-recognition-without-law-in-place-to-regulate/articleshow/70201128.cms">India is all set to deploy facial recognition but there is no law in place to keep a check</a>

Outcry over mass facial surveillance — digital rights activists say it’s ‘completely illegal’ and ‘unconstitutional’

Guwahati, Feb 27 () Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that investor sentiment has not been dampened by anti-CAA protests and the recent Delhi violence.Addressing a press conference here, she said the investors she met in her recent visit to Saudi Arabia expressed willingness to invest more in the country.When asked about the Delhi violence and anti-CAA protests, Sitharaman said, "The sentiments of foreign investors have not been dampened."On the possible impact of coronavirus scare on the industry and the economy, the finance minister said there is none as of now."However, if the situation doesn't improve in the next two months, there may be shortage of raw material. We are working on how to address the issue and help the industry," she added. TR NN MKJ

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