இந்திய தேர்தல் ஆணையம் என்றால் என்ன?

Established on 25 January 1950 — a day now celebrated as National Voters' Day — the Election Commission of India (ECI) is one of the world's largest election-management bodies, overseeing the votes of nearly a billion eligible voters.

1950, ஜனவரி 25-ஆம் நாள் நிறுவப்பட்ட இந்திய தேர்தல் ஆணையம் — அந்த நாள் இப்போது தேசிய வாக்காளர் தினமாக கொண்டாடப்படுகிறது. சுமார் ஒரு பில்லியன் தகுதியுள்ள வாக்காளர்களை நிர்வகிக்கும் உலகின் மிகப்பெரிய தேர்தல் அமைப்புகளில் ஒன்று.

Constitutional basis

Articles 324 to 329 of the Constitution establish and define the Election Commission. Article 324 specifically vests in the ECI the power of "superintendence, direction and control" of all elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President.

Composition

What does the ECI do?

The Commission prepares and updates electoral rolls; recognises political parties and assigns symbols; sets the Model Code of Conduct that comes into effect when elections are announced; conducts elections through millions of officials and security personnel; and certifies results. It also has quasi-judicial powers to disqualify candidates and de-recognise parties for violations.

Model Code of Conduct

Once elections are announced, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) takes effect. It restricts the ruling party from announcing new schemes, transferring officials, or using government resources for campaigning. While not legally binding, the MCC has gained moral and quasi-legal weight over decades through ECI enforcement and Supreme Court support.

Recent reforms

In 2023, India introduced postal ballots for senior citizens above 80 and persons with disabilities. The "None of the Above" (NOTA) option has been on EVMs since 2013. Online registration via the National Voters' Service Portal (NVSP) has made voter registration significantly easier.

The ECI's ability to conduct credible elections at this scale, in a country as diverse as India, is widely studied and admired internationally. Strengthening it remains an essential part of democratic resilience.