Explained: What are electoral bonds, issue opens July 1

Ahead of assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh later this year, the government approved the issuance of the 21st tranche of electoral bonds, which will be open for sale from July 1 to 10.

Electoral bonds have been pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency in political funding.

State Bank of India SBI, in the 21st Phase of sale, has been authorised to issue and encash Electoral Bonds through its 29 Authorized Branches with effect from July 1 to 10.

The authorised SBI branches include those in Lucknow, Shimla, Dehradun Kolkata, Guwahati, Chennai, Patna, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Srinagar, Gandhinagar, Bhopal, Raipur, and Mumbai.

According to provisions of the scheme, electoral bonds can be purchased by a person who is a citizen of India or entities incorporated or established in India.

Registered political parties that have secured not less than 1 per cent of the votes polled in the last election of Lok Sabha or legislative assembly are eligible to receive electoral bonds.