ADR said that while digital mode of payment has been

encouraged, other forms of anonymous donations such as sale of coupons, have not been curtailed.

"For complete transparency, apart from digitisation of donations, the Government of India should also take immediate steps to implement other electoral and political reforms proposed by ECI and Law Commission," it said.

The national and regional parties should lead by example by filing complete and correct statements of donations to the ECI well in time for public scrutiny so as to encourage financial transparency, ADR noted.

They must also provide all information on their finances under Right to Information Act. This will go a long way in strengthening political parties, elections and democracy, it added.

The Representation of the People Act (RPA) stipulates that for a party to claim tax exemption, treasurer of the party has to submit a donation report declaring details of donors who contributed above Rs 20,000 but there is no legal provision where political parties are debarred from disclosing details of donors who donated below Rs 20,000.

This only shows a lack of political will, it added.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)