Ballot BootCamp on Decoding India’s Election Dynamics
With the General Elections 2024 just round the corner, the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) is launching a Ballot BootCamp on Decoding India’s Election Dynamics.
India’s election system is one of the largest, both in terms of the size of the voting pool as in terms of scope, with multiple elections at the national, state, and local levels. India is one of the largest democracies in the world, and thus its election practices are unique, and face a plethora of challenges. From the time of India’s independence to the upcoming elections this year, while the electoral system has faced challenges over the years, it has stayed resilient and independent.
Election studies of the Indian electorate primarily focus on the election mechanics of the system. It aims to study the undercurrents and processes that lead to electoral outcomes, and seeks to understand the various needs of the voting population and the patterns in which they vote across the decades. The best way to understand the political inclinations of the Indian population is by understanding how they vote, and what are systems in place in the Constitution that allow the voting to commence freely and fairly.
The election studies course by the Centre for Public Policy Research aims to give students an understanding of the systems in the political machinery that enable voting, as well as the various levels of elections that happen in India. It also aims to show the history of voting patterns among the various demographic groups in India and open a window into the key issues that influence Indian voters.
India’s Election Course Objectives
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The students will understand the structures and mechanisms of the voting process at the national and sub-national levels.
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The students will be able to understand the history of elections in India and use that knowledge to understand ways to predict voting patterns.
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The students will understand how voting affects the policies and political systems of India.
Application Process and Eligibility
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Apply via the registration link available on all social media platforms and the CPPR webpage
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Undergraduate or Graduate. It will also be open for mid-career professionals
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The Course is also open to anyone interested in understanding the Election Dynamics in India
The course will be highly beneficial for
Students pursuing a degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Statistics, Election Studies and other related subjects. Policy and Election research Interns. Policy researchers & Election Analysts working with corporate consultancies and/or public policy think tanks, nascent PhD Scholars, and anyone entering the Election Studies realm or Analysis.
Course Details
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Course Starts on April 20th and Ends on May 5th
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Weekend sessions (Some Sessions might take place on Fridays)
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Assignment completion is mandatory to get certification
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Assignment is to be submitted two weeks after the final session is conducted
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50% attendance in the course is mandatory to get certification
COURSE PLAN
Content |
Faculty |
Duration & Timings |
Introduction
|
Dr Reetika Sayal |
2 Hours
April 20: 3 PM – 5 PM |
History of Elections in India
|
Dr Reetika Sayal |
1.5 Hours
April 21st: 11 AM – 12:30 PM |
Election Process in India
|
Dr Reetika Sayal |
1.5 hours
April 21st: 1 PM – 2:30 PM |
Party and Electoral Systems in India
|
Dr G Gopakumar |
3 Hours
April 27 10:00 AM – 1:15 PM (15 minute break included) |
Voter behaviours in India
|
Dr D Dhanuraj |
2 Hours
April 28 |
Introduction to Psephology & Political Consultation
|
Dr G Gopakumar |
3 Hours
May 4 !0:00 AM – 1:15 PM (15 minute break included) |
Trends and Factors that Influence Indian Voters
|
Dr G Gopakumar |
3 Hours
May 5 10:00 AM – 1:15 PM (15 minute break included) |
Dr D Dhanuraj
Dhanuraj is the Founder-Chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), a non-profit, independent public policy think-tank based in Kochi, Kerala, India. With two decades of experience in this sector, his interest areas lie at the intersection of research and policy analysis. He is a policy researcher and commentator on urbanisation, urban mobility and infrastructure, education, retail, health, livelihood, law, public expenditure, defence and security, geo politics and election analysis, and has collaborated with state, national and international governments, organisations and institutions on several key research studies and policy recommendations. Currently, he is also the President of the Association of Public Policy Education in India (APPE), and was the Secretary General of Liberal Youth South Asia (LYSA) from 2008- 09 and Founder President and Trustee of Liberal Youth Forum of India (LYF) from 2008 to 2011
Dr G Gopakumar
Dr G GopaKumar is the former Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod. A leading political scientist and psephologist, he specialises in the areas of International Relations, Comparative Politics and Indian Politics. He has published 12 books and over 145 research articles. He was earlier Dean of Social Sciences and Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Kerala, UGC-Emeritus Fellow, ICSSR Senior Fellow, and has more than forty-one years of teaching experience in Political Science at the University level. He had also served as the Director General of the Institute of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Kerala, and as Director, V.K. Krishna Menon Study Centre for International Relations. Dr Gopa Kumar has received numerous international and national awards and fellowships like Visiting Research Fellow, University of New South Wales, Australia; Australian Studies Senior Fellow; Salzburg Fellow, Austria; UGC-Indo-French Cultural Exchange Award; Fulbright Fellowship, USA (1998 & 2002); Shastri Mobility Fellowship (2017) and visited the University of Calgary, Canada to study on “Canadian Contribution in Internationalizing Higher Education in the era of Globalization”. He was also Visiting Faculty at Claremont Graduate University, USA and University of Calgary, Canada. Dr Gopa Kumar is also a reputed political commentator on television news and a newspaper columnist where his objective and scientific political analysis is highly valued.
Dr Reetika Syal
Course Fees
- CPPR Alumni – Rs 3,000 (+GST)
- Students – Rs 4,000 (+ GST)
- Professionals – Rs 5,000 (+ GST)