DIGITAL TOOLS & TECHNIQUES FOR POLITICAL ANALYSIS

Introduction to the Course:

India’s political arena is undergoing a digital revolution, with parties using technology to mobilize voters, counter misinformation, and optimize campaigns. This 15-day immersive course provides hands-on training in cutting-edge digital tools tailored for Indian political contexts — from social media strategies in regional languages (e.g., Tamil, Bangla) to AI-driven voter outreach and ECI-compliant cyber hygiene.

Participants will explore real-world case studies (e.g., BJP’s 2019 tech stack, AAP’s WhatsApp governance model) and global parallels (e.g., Kenya’s SMS campaigns). With India’s 2024 general elections witnessing AI-generated content and deep fake risks, the course also addresses ethical dilemmas, legal frameworks (IT Act, 2000), and grassroots digital literacy initiatives.

Who Should Attend:

·Political party IT cell teams, campaign managers, and candidates.

·MLAs/MPs leveraging tech for constituency engagement.

·Journalists and fact-checkers tracking digital campaigns.

·CSOs and researchers studying tech’s impact on democracy.

 Interested graduate and undergraduate students.

Learning Outcomes:

Participants will:

1. Design hyper-local social media campaigns(ShareChat, Moj, WhatsApp Business).
2. Deploy data analytics(caste-wise voter mapping, sentiment analysis via Talkwalker).
3. Use crowdfunding tools(Ketto, Milaap) within ECI spending limits.
4. Detect deep fakes/disinformation(using Meta’s toolkit or Logically.ai).
5. Implement cybersecurity measures(CERT-In’s advisories for political entities).

Course Structure and Session Plan:

Day	Session Topic	Key Components
Day 1	Introduction to Digital Politics	Evolution of digital campaigns in India, global trends
Day 2	Indian Political Ecosystem and Digital Landscape	Digital penetration, smartphone usage, internet demographics
Day 3	Social Media for Political Engagement (Part 1)	Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram basics for outreach
Day 4	Social Media for Political Engagement (Part 2)	Hashtag strategies, influencer collaborations, social media analytics
Day 5	WhatsApp, Telegram, and Grassroots Digital Organizing	Message crafting, group management, mobilization techniques
Day 6	Creating Campaign Content	Posters, short videos, reels, memes, and infographics
Day 7	Voter Data and CRM Tools	Building and managing voter databases, CRM platforms for political outreach
Day 8	Microtargeting and Behavioral Insights	Targeting strategies, AI/ML basics, psychographics
Day 9	Digital Ad Campaigns	Meta Ad Library, Google Ads, campaign budgeting and A/B testing
Day 10	Tools for Feedback and Listening	Surveys, polls, digital listening dashboards
Day 11	Misinformation and Fact-Checking	Identifying fake news, use of fact-checking tools like BOOM, Alt News
Day 12	Digital Safety and Cybersecurity	Protecting political data, secure communication, disinformation threats
Day 13	Legal and Ethical Dimensions	ECI guidelines, IT Act, data protection concerns
Day 14	Case Studies: India and Beyond	Lok Sabha, state elections, U.S. and U.K. campaign learnings
Day 15	Simulation & Final Exercise	Team-based simulation of a digital campaign; feedback and certification

Methodology:

• Fieldwork: Analyze live political tweets using Brandwatch.
• Guest Lectures: ECI officials, fact-checkers (e.g., Vishvas News), and digital strategists.
• Ethics Workshops: Role-playing debates on privacy vs. microtargeting.
• Instructor-led interactive sessions
• Hands-on demonstrations of digital tools
• Group discussions and peer learning
• Case study analysis of Indian and international political campaigns
• Simulation exercises for campaign planning and digital outreach
• Quizzes and short assignments

 

Certification: Participants who successfully complete the course and simulation exercises will receive a Certificate of Completion endorsed by the FORE Centre for Political Leadership and Governance (FCPLG).

Duration: 15 days (90 hours, including workshops, fieldwork, and simulations)

Fees: Rs 35,000

Mode: Hybrid