News: According to RTI documents, electoral bonds with denomination of Rs 1 crore accounted for more than 91% of the Rs 5,896 crore raised between March 1, 2018 and July 24, 2019.
Facts:
About Electoral Bond Scheme
- It is a non-interest bearing financial instrument which can be used by people/company incorporated in India for funding eligible political parties. The government had notified the Electoral Bond Scheme in 2018.
- Aim: To ensure transparency in political parties.
- Eligibility of Political Parties: Only those political parties who are registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and has secured no less than 1% votes in the last Lok Sabha elections or the State Legislative Assembly are eligible to receive electoral bonds.
- Eligibility of Donors: Electoral bonds may be purchased by a citizen of India or entities incorporated or established in India.
Functioning of the Scheme:
- The electoral accounts are issued by the State Bank of India (SBI). The electoral bonds can be purchased in the months of January, April, July and October.
- Political parties are allotted a verified account by the Election Commission and all the electoral bond transactions are done through this account only.
- The donors can buy electoral bonds and transfer them into the accounts of the political parties as a donation. The electoral bonds are available in denominations from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1 crore. The name of the donor is kept confidential.
- The bonds remain valid for 15 days. They can be encashed by an eligible political party only through a bank account with the authorised bank within that period only
