{"id":59723,"date":"2025-08-17T15:14:03","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T09:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=59723"},"modified":"2025-08-18T11:27:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T05:57:18","slug":"election-commission-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/election-commission-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenges Confronting the Election Commission of India"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Election Commission Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Election Commission of India is in the news over the Bihar Special Intensive Revision exercise, which led to mass voter deletions and Supreme Court scrutiny on electoral roll transparency.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Election Commission of India (ECI), one of the most vital constitutional bodies safeguarding India\u2019s democracy, is under increasing scrutiny.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allegations of electoral roll discrepancies, the controversial <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/ecs-special-voter-roll-revision-in-bihar-proof-of-birth-now-mandatory\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Special Intensive Revision<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (SIR) in Bihar, and political criticism have placed the Commission in the spotlight.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent interventions by the Supreme Court (SC) and protests by the Opposition have intensified debates around the ECI\u2019s role, autonomy, and credibility.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Constitutional Mandate of the Election Commission<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Election Commission of India is a permanent constitutional body entrusted with the <\/span><b>superintendence, direction, and control<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initially headed only by a <\/span><b>Chief Election Commissioner<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (CEC), it now comprises two additional Election Commissioners, forming a three-member body.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its mandate is to ensure <\/span><b>free, fair, and impartial elections<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the cornerstone of Indian democracy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The Appointment Controversy<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reshaped the appointment process.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The selection committee now includes the <\/span><b>Prime Minister<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>a Union Minister<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the <\/span><b>Leader of the Opposition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opposition parties argue this structure compromises independence, as the government side holds a <\/span><b>2:1 majority<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, raising fears of bias in appointments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Allegations of Voter Roll Manipulation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The EC has faced repeated accusations from Opposition parties:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Maharashtra (2019-20):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Allegations of lakhs of voters being added between Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Haryana and Delhi:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Similar claims of manipulated voter lists before the Assembly elections.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Karnataka (2024 Lok Sabha):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> INC alleged large-scale discrepancies in the Mahadevapura constituency, including duplicate and bulk registrations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These allegations have renewed calls for <\/span><b>machine-readable voter rolls<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which the EC has resisted, citing cybersecurity concerns, a stance earlier upheld by the SC.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The Bihar SIR and Supreme Court Intervention<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The EC\u2019s Special Intensive Revision in Bihar, announced in June 2025 ahead of Assembly polls, mandated voters to submit proof of birth and citizenship.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This led to the deletion of <\/span><b>65 lakh names<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the electoral rolls, reducing Bihar\u2019s voter base from 7.89 crore to 7.24 crore.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SC, in an interim order, directed the EC to:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Publish booth-wise lists of deleted names.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide reasons for deletion (death, migration, duplication, etc.).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accept Aadhaar as valid proof of identity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Challenges of Migrant Voters<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s internal migrant population continues to face barriers in exercising voting rights.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Migrants must travel back to their registered constituencies, which imposes costs and reduces turnout.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts stress the need for a <\/span><b>cheap, transparent, and secure system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, tailored to the realities of poor migrants, unlike models in advanced economies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Political Fallout and Growing Protests<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The controversy has escalated politically:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">INC\u2019s press conference on voter roll manipulation spurred the Opposition to demand accountability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Protests outside the EC office led to the arrests of opposition MPs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parliament\u2019s Monsoon Session has faced repeated disruptions over the Bihar SIR issue.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Broader Concerns for Electoral Integrity<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The unfolding events raise critical challenges for the EC:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Ensuring Transparency<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Addressing claims of voter roll manipulation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Protecting Voter Rights<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Preventing mass exclusions while maintaining accuracy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Balancing Cybersecurity and Accessibility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Providing machine-readable rolls without compromising data safety.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Safeguarding Institutional Independence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Resisting political influence in appointments and decision-making.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source :<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/what-are-the-challenges-confronting-the-ec-explained\/article69941539.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TH<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Election Commission of India is facing scrutiny over voter roll discrepancies and questions on transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":59826,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[2218,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-59723","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-election-commission","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59723\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}