The Election Commission (EC) has exempted a host of agencies under the Union Home like paramilitary forces, NIA, IB, CBI and other security agencies from Model Code of Conduct and allowed them to procure operationally required items through open tender or Government e Marketplace (GeM) portal.
The move comes after Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry Piyush Goyal in a letter to the Election Commission of India NOC (No Objection Certificate for MHA/CAPFs, NSG, Assam Rifles, Intelligence Bureau, CBI-CFSL and other security organisations for procurement of operationally required items through open tender.
In a recent letter to Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Election Commission Secretary Avinash Kumar said it has no objection from Model Code of Conduct angle with regard to procurement of any item by the security agencies under the Home Ministry.