Press Information Bureau

 

Dated:  08th April, 2024

 

CIRCULAR

 

Sub: On-line System for submission of Application for issuance of ECI’s “Authority Letter” to Media   persons for coverage of General Elections to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha & Sikkim and simultaneous Bye-Elections to 26 Assembly Constituencies, 2024.

 

Sir/Madam,

     Applications are invited from interested Media persons for ECI’s “Authority Letter” for coverage of Polling and Counting during General Election to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha & Sikkim and simultaneous Bye-Elections to 26 Assembly Constituencies, 2024.

     The polling will be held in seven phases for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha & Sikkim and simultaneous Bye-Elections to 26 Assembly Constituencies, 2024 i.e. on 19.4.2024, 26.4.2024, 07.5.2024, 13.05.2024, 20.05.2024, 25.05.2024 and 01.06.2024. The counting of votes in State Legislative Assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim will take place on 2.6.2024 (Sunday) and remaining all will take place on 04.06.2024 (Tuesday).

1. FOR DELHI BASED PIB ACCREDITED CORRESPONDENTS & CAMERAPERSONS

Delhi-based PIB accredited correspondents/camerapersons are requested to fill up their form online by following steps:

1. Please visit website- https://accreditation.pib.gov.in/election/login.aspx
2. Log on by user ID and password you have created for PIB accreditation.
3. In case you forget your password or user ID then click the link given below the login box to recover these. Do not create new user ID or password in any case.
4. Application form with your full particulars will appear with your photo.
5. Select the “State” for which Authority letter is required for polling or counting or both
6. See the preview of your form. If it is not ok, make correction.
7. Click Submit Tab to finally submit the form.
8. A declaration form will appear, check “I Agree” Box and then press “Submit” Button
9. Finally, take a Print out of the Application form submitted on-line and after duly signing and getting endorsed from Editor/ Chief of Bureau submit the Application Form along with Three Stamp Size Photographs, to the undersigned in the Room No. 307, National Media Centre (NMC), New Delhi.

 

2.  Delhi based Non-PIB Accredited Journalists, who are on the regular pay roll of the media organizations based in Delhi also requested to fill up their application Form online by following steps:

 

1. Please visit website- https://accreditation.pib.gov.in/election/login.aspx
2. If you have not registered yourself in PIB Accreditation System before then Select Link for given New User to Create User ID and Password else log on by User ID and password you have.
3. In “Create New User option” a Registration Form will appear, fill this form to create User ID and password.
4. Log on by user ID and password you have created for yourself.
5. General information form will appear, fill the form and press Save & Next button. In this form select city option is mandatory for all Non-PIB Accredited applicants.
6. Address form will appear, fill the form and press Save & Next button. In this form
7. Select “State” for which Authority letter are required for polling or counting or for both.
8. See the preview of your form if it is not ok make correction.
9. Click Submit Tab to finally submit the form.
10. A declaration form will appear, check “I Agree” Box and then press “Submit” Button.
11. The filling of the form need not be at one go. The save feature shall ensure that partially filled form is saved and may be edited later. But once you will press Submit button the form will be locked and it cannot be edited.
12. Finally, take a Print out of the Application form submitted on-line and after duly signing and getting endorsed from Editor/ Chief of Bureau submit the Application Form along with THREE Stamp Size Photographs, to the undersigned in the Room No. 307, National Media Centre (NMC), New Delhi.

 

The Authority Letters to Delhi based non-accredited media persons will be issued only after obtaining necessary security clearance. In view of this, the non-accredited journalists in this category may submit their applications online and deposit their online filed application forms immediately so that necessary security clearance is obtained well in time.

 

(c) For Foreign National Journalists based in New Delhi/NCR – J visa Holders (Accredited or Non-Accredited by PIB)

1. Please visit website- https://accreditation.pib.gov.in/election/login.aspx
2. If you have not registered yourself in PIB Accreditation System before then Select Link for given New User to Create User ID and Password else log on by User ID and password you have.
3. In “Create New User option” a Registration Form will appear, fill this form to create User ID and password.
4. Log on by user ID and password you have created for yourself.
5. General information form will appear, fill the form and press Save & Next button. In this form select city option is mandatory for all Non-PIB Accredited applicants.
6. Address form will appear, fill the form and press Save & Next button. In this form
7. Select “State” for which Authority letter are required for polling or counting or for both.
8. See the preview of your form if it is not ok make correction.
9. Click Submit Tab to finally submit the form.
10. A declaration form will appear, check “I Agree” Box and then press “Submit” Button.
11. The filling of the form need not be at one go. The save feature shall ensure that partially filled form is saved and may be edited later. But once you will press Submit button the form will be locked and it cannot be edited.
12. Finally, take a Print out of the Application form submitted on-line and after duly signing and getting endorsed from Editor/ Chief of Bureau submit the Application Form and route their Printed on-line application to the undersigned through Publicity Division of MEA along with Three Stamp Size photographs, a photo copy of Passport and relevant pages of J-Visa showing its validity date etc.
13. For Non-Accredited Foreign Journalist based in Delhi/NCR, police verification is done before issuing the Authority Letters.

 

(d) -A : For Indian nationals working in foreign media organizations outside Delhi/NCR

1. Please visit website- https://accreditation.pib.gov.in/election/login.aspx
2. If you have not registered yourself in PIB Accreditation System before then Select Link for given New User to Create User ID and Password else log on by User ID and password you have.
3. In “Create New User option” a Registration Form will appear, fill this form to create User ID and password.
4. Log on by user ID and password you have created for yourself.
5. General information form will appear, fill the form and press Save & Next button. In this form select city option is mandatory for all Non-PIB Accredited applicants.
6. Address form will appear, fill the form and press Save & Next button. In this form
7. Select “State” or ‘States’ for which Authority letter are required for polling or counting or for both.
8. See the preview of your form if it is not ok make correction.
9. Click Submit Tab to finally submit the form.
10. A declaration form will appear, check “I Agree” Box and then press “Submit” Button.
11. The filling of the form need not be at one go. The save feature shall ensure that partially filled form is saved and may be edited later. But once you will press Submit button the form will be locked and it cannot be edited.
12. Finally, take a Print out of the Application form submitted on-line and after duly signing and getting endorsed from Editor/ Chief of Bureau submit the Application Form along with THREE Stamp Size Photographs, police verification certificate or Accreditation from State DIPR, to the undersigned in the Room No. 307, National Media Centre (NMC), New Delhi.

                                                  or

(d)- B : Alternatively, such media persons can apply to Chief Electoral Officers of the concerned State/UT for coverage in that specific State/UT.

All application forms duly signed and endorsed by the Editor/ Chief of Bureau should reach the undersigned latest by 5.00 p.m on working days till 15.04.2024 initially.

 

(e) For Foreign National Journalist not based in India and coming specifically for limited time period for coverage of Indian Elections may submit their request directly to Publicity Division of MEA.

Contact person for MEA : Shrijan Shandilya, IFS DS, External Publicity Division of MEA Shastri Bhawan, Room No. 138, A Wing, New Delhi Landline: 011-23385193

Important: (i) Media persons (electronic & print) based/working outside Delhi and those deployed by domestic media organizations for covering polling/ counting day Authority Slips - should apply to the Chief Electoral Officers of respective States.

(ii) It is clarified to all concerned that authority letter to enter a “Counting Centre” is not an authority to enter a “Counting Hall”. Access to Counting Hall will be governed by instructions issued Vide Commission’s letter No. 491/CNTG/MCS/99 dated 21.09.1999.

                    (iii) For Restricted Areas for foreign national media persons, Authority Slips have to be accompanied by MHA Clearance. Mere possession of Authority letters from ECI doesn’t permit them to cover the elections in restricted areas. 

 

(For any technical help, please Contact Sh. Rajendra Prasad, Deputy Director, PIB at 23389338/9868245800)

 

Yours sincerely,

 

(Rajender Prasad)

 

 

1. All Editors/Chiefs of Bureau of both print and electronic media & News Agencies
2. All Accredited Correspondents/Camerapersons
3. DG (News) Doordarshan/All India Radio
4. JS, XP Division, MEA
5. Director, Photo Division, Soochna Bhavan, New Delhi