25th January will be declared as National Voters Day. The Union Cabinet today approved a proposal in this regard. Speaking to reporters after Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting minister Ambika Soni said that the Election Commission has decided to take up a vigorous exercise to identify all eligible voters attaining the age of 18 years on the first of January every year. Beginning this year, eligible voters will be handed over their electoral Photo Identity Card on the 25th of January every year. They will be handed over a badge with the logo and slogan “proud to be a voter, Ready to Vote “at a felicitation function to be organised in each of the polling station areas. Mrs Soni said that this is expected to give the youth a sense of responsibility. Empowerment, pride and a sense of participation as well inspire them to to exercise to cast their vote. AIR correspondent says that the move comes in the backdrop of a large number of new voters not by getting enlisted in the electoral rolls.

The Cabinet also approved some of the bilateral accords to be signed during the visit of Indonesian President Susilo Bamvang Yudhoyono to India this month.