Lithium Ion Battery
Why in news?
India’s push on e-vehicles demand assured supply of lithium-ion batteries.
About
- Lithium is the lightest of all metals, has the greatest electrochemical potential and provides the largest specific energy per weight.
- From early 1970s first non-rechargeable lithium batteries became commercially available. Attempts to develop rechargeable lithium batteries followed in the 1980s but failed.
- Lithium-ion uses a cathode (positive electrode), an anode (negative electrode) and electrolyte as conductor. The cathode is metal oxide and the anode consists of porous carbon.
- In a lithium-ion battery, lithium ions (Li+) move between the cathode and anode internally. Electrons move in the opposite direction in the external circuit. This migration is the reason the battery powers the device—because it creates the electrical current. The movement of the lithium ions creates free electrons in the anode which creates a charge at the positive current collector.
- While the battery is discharging, the anode releases lithium ions to the cathode, generating a flow of electrons that helps to power the relevant device.
- When the battery is charging, the opposite occurs: lithium ions are released by the cathode and received by the anode.
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Recently, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has taken a significant step towards promoting a circular economy by transferring a cost-effective Li-ion battery recycling technology to nine recycling industries and start-ups.
This initiative is part of the Mission Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) under the “Promote circularity campaign.”
Advantages of Li-Ion Battery
- Extremely high energy density
- Excellent charge efficiency – low self discharge
- Extremely high discharge power – can deliver high power
- Light weight
- Long life span
- Fast charge times
Disadvantages
- It is fragile and requires a protection circuit to maintain safe operation.
- Some capacity deterioration is noticeable after one year, whether the battery is in use or not. The battery frequently fails after two or three years.
- 1 ton of lithium requires around 8.5 million litres of water.
- Lithium batteries contain potentially toxic nickel, copper, and lead materials.
Proxy Voting in India
Why in news?
Recently, there was debate on the voting rights for NRIs.
About
Proxy voting is a form of voting whereby a member of a decision-making body may delegate their voting power to a representative, to enable a vote in absence. The representative may be another member of the same body, or external. A person so designated is called a “proxy” and the person designating them is called a “principal”.
Eligibility to cast a vote
- The person must be a citizen of India.
- Must be 18 years old or above
- Name must be mentioned in the electoral roll of nearby polling field or respective area in India.
- Must have a voter ID card.
Article 326 of Indian Constitution
The elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage; that is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than eighteen years of age on such date as may be fixed in that behalf by or under any law made by the appropriate Legislature and is not otherwise disqualified under this Constitution or any law made by the appropriate Legislature on the ground of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter at any such election.
Service Voter in India
. Service voter is a voter having service qualification. According to the provisions of sub – section (8) of Section 20 of Representation of People Act, 1950, service qualification means –
(a) Being a member of the armed Forces of the Union ; or
(b) Being a member of a force to which provisions of the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), have been made applicable whether with or without modification;
(c) Being a member of an Armed Police Force of a State, and serving outside that state; or
(d) Being a person who is employed under the Government of India, in a post outside India.
While an ordinary elector is registered in the electoral roll of the constituency in which his place of ordinary residence is located, person having service qualification can get enrolled as ‘service voter’ at his native place even though he actually may be residing at a different place (of posting). He has, however, an option to get himself enrolled as general elector at the place of his posting where he factually, at the point of time, is residing ordinarily with his family for a sufficient span of time.
The wife of a service voter shall, if she is ordinarily residing with him, be also deemed to be a service voter in the constituency specified by that person.
A son / daughter / relative / servant etc. residing ordinarily with a service voter cannot be enrolled as service voter.
Under the existing law, this facility is available only to the wife of a male service voter and is not available to the husband of a female service voter.
Classified Service Voter
Service voter belonging to Armed Forces or forces to which provisions of Army Act, 1950 are applicable, has 0ption of either voting through postal ballot or through a proxy voter duly appointed by him. A service voter who opts for voting through a proxy is called Classified Service Voter (CSV).
Voting Process for NRIs
- Voting rights for NRIs were introduced only in 2011, through an amendment to the Representation of the People Act 1950.
- An NRI can vote in the constituency in his/her place of residence, as mentioned in the passport, is located.
- He/She can only vote in person and will have to produce her passport in original at the polling station for establishing identity.
The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 was amended in 2016:
- To allow service voters to use the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS).
- Under this system, postal ballots are sent electronically to registered service voters.
- The service voter can then register their mandate on the ballot and send it back via ordinary mail.
- The ECI proposed to extend this facility to overseas voters as well.
Recently, the Chief Election Commissioner emphasised the need to facilitate postal voting for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). It highlights the Election Commission’s proposal for Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballots(ETPBs) for NRIs, which is currently awaiting government approval.
Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System
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