Sun Mar 16 20:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Modi Lauds India’s Election Commission in Podcast Interview
**New Delhi, March 17, 2025** – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised India’s Election Commission as a model for global democracy, highlighting its management of the world’s largest democratic exercise in a recent podcast interview with Lex Fridman. The interview, released Sunday, focused on the scale and complexity of India’s electoral process.
Modi emphasized the Election Commission’s neutrality and independence, suggesting that its operations should be studied by universities worldwide. He cited the 2024 general election as a prime example, noting the participation of 646 million voters out of 980 million registered – a number exceeding the populations of both North America and the European Union combined. Despite extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, millions cast their ballots.
The Prime Minister highlighted the logistical feat of organizing the election, involving over one million polling booths and more than 2,500 participating political parties. He also acknowledged the role of India’s extensive media landscape, including over 900 TV channels and 5,000 newspapers, in strengthening the democratic process. Modi further pointed to the rapid adoption of electronic voting machines, enabling the declaration of results within a day.
Modi concluded by reiterating India’s commitment to enhancing voter participation and electoral transparency. The interview underscores India’s pride in its electoral system and its potential as a global benchmark for democratic practices.
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