Over the past six months, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has implemented 28 initiatives focused on electoral reform, categorized under six pillars: Engagement with Stakeholders, Strengthening Electoral Systems, Enhancing Technology Use, Purity of Electoral Rolls, Ease of Voting, and Capacity Building.
**Engagement with Stakeholders:** The ECI conducted 4,719 all-party meetings nationwide (40 by CEOs, 800 by DEOs, and 3,879 by EROs), engaging over 28,000 representatives from various political parties. The Commission also held 20 meetings with presidents and senior leaders of national and state parties.
**Strengthening Electoral Systems:** Initiatives included identifying 476 inactive Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) for delisting, with 334 already removed. The roles of 28 stakeholders were mapped according to relevant laws and guidelines. Standard Photo ID Cards were issued to BLOs to enhance transparency. Technical and Administrative SOPs were issued for checking and verifying EVM microcontrollers. A National Conference was held with CEOs legal counsels. CEC Gyanesh Kumar held bilateral meetings with Heads of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) at the IDEA Stockholm Conference.
**Enhancing Technology Use:** The ECI launched ECINET, a single digital platform consolidating 40 apps/websites for electors, election officials, and political parties. Webcasting was implemented at 100% of polling stations. Presiding Officers are now required to upload real-time voter turnout data on the ECINET App every two hours. Digital Index Cards Reports promote accessibility of election-related data at the constituency level. Mandatory VVPAT slip counts are required in all cases of mismatch between Form 17C and EVM data, and where mock poll data was not erased.
**Purity of Electoral Rolls:** A special intensive revision was conducted in Bihar. Electoral Rolls were revised ahead of recent by-elections in 4 states for the first time in two decades. Death registration data is now linked to EROs to ensure timely information about registered deaths. Duplicate EPIC numbers were eliminated nationwide. A new SOP was issued enabling EPIC delivery within 15 days of an update.
**Ease of Voting:** Mobile deposit facilities were introduced at polling stations. Polling station voter limits were capped at 1,200. Voter Information Slips (VIS) now display serial and part numbers prominently. Candidate booths are allowed just outside 100 meters of polling stations.
**Capacity Building:** Over 7,000 BLOs and supervisors were trained at IIIDEM, New Delhi. Remuneration was doubled for BLOs and enhanced for BLO Supervisors and polling/counting staff, CAPF, monitoring teams, and micro-observers. Honorariums were provided for EROs and AEROs for the first time. Training was provided to Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and Media Communication Officers. Special sessions were conducted for Bihar police. Internal systems were strengthened through biometric attendance, e-Office migration, and relocation to IIIDEM.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India (ECI): The main governing body responsible for conducting elections in India. The policy document outlines initiatives taken by the ECI to improve the electoral process.
Representation of the People Act of 1950: An act of the Parliament of India that provides for the allocation of seats in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of States, the qualifications of voters at such elections, the preparation of electoral rolls, and matters connected therewith.
Representation of the People Act of 1951: An act of the Parliament of India that provides for the conduct of elections to the Houses of Parliament and to the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council of each State, the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of those Houses, the prevention of corrupt practices and other offences at or in connection with such elections and the decision of doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with such elections.
Bihar: A state in eastern India where special intensive revision of the electoral roll and training for police officers were conducted to ensure purity and law and order preparedness.
IIIDEM, New Delhi: The India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, located in New Delhi, is where training was provided to election officials.
Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT): A method of providing feedback to voters using a ballotless voting system. Used for counting in case of mismatches
ECINET: A one-stop digital platform by ECI subsuming 40 apps/websites for electors and stakeholders.
Stockholm, Sweden: Location of the IDEA Conference in June 2025, where CEC Gyanesh Kumar held bilateral meetings with Heads of Election Management Bodies.
Election Commission
ECI’s 28 new Initiatives during the past 6 months
Reform pillars: Engagement with all Stakeholders;
Strengthening & cleanup of Electoral Systems;
Enhancing use of Technology; Purity of Electoral
Rolls; Ease of Voting and Capacity building
Posted On: 19 AUG 2025 4:00PM by PIB Delhi
Over the past six months, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken 28 significant initiatives aimed at
streamlining and improving the electoral process.
A. Engagement with all Stakeholders
1. EROs, DEOs and CEOs have held all-party meetings nationwide – a total of 4,719 all-party
meetings were conducted including 40 meetings by CEOs, 800 by DEOs, and 3879 by EROs
engaging over 28,000 representatives of various political parties.
2. ECI Meetings with Party Leadership – The Commission is regularly interacting with
Presidents and senior leaders of National and State parties. 20 such meetings held so far.
B. Strengthening & cleanup of Electoral Systems
3. Delisting of inactive Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) – 476 more RUPPs
identified for delisting; 334 already removed in the first round.
4. Identification and mapping of roles for 28 Stakeholders – roles have been mapped in line with
the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act of 1950 and 1951, Registration of Electors
Rules, 1960, Conduct of election rules 1961, and various instructions and guidelines issued by the
Commission from time to time.
5. Photo ID Cards for BLOs – Standard Identity Cards issued to BLOs to enhance field-level
transparency and public trust.
6. Checking and Verification of EVM microcontrollers – Technical and Administrative SOP
issued for checking and verification of burnt memory/ microcontroller in 5% of EVMs after
declaration of results.
7. National Conference with Legal Counsels & CEOs – to strengthen and reorient its legal
framework and reinforce the effectiveness of its legal representation across various judicial
forums.
8. Bilateral Meetings with Heads of Election Management Bodies – CEC Gyanesh Kumar held a
series of bilateral meetings at the IDEA Stockholm Conference held in June 2025, with the Heads
of various Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to further strengthen India’s longstanding
partnerships in election management and democratic cooperation.
C. Enhancing use of Technology9. One-stop Digital Platform – ECINET – A single portal subsuming 40+ apps/websites for the
electors and its other stakeholders including the voters, election officials and political parties.
10. 100% Webcasting at Polling Stations –monitoring to ensure that critical activities take place
smoothly without any violation of the poll process.
11. Real-time Voter Turnout Updates – Presiding Officers to now upload turnout data on
ECINET App every two hours on polling day in order to reduce the time lag in the updation of
the approximate polling trends.
12. Digital Index Cards & Reports – technology-driven system to promote accessibility of
election-related data at the constituency level for all stakeholders.
13. Mandatory VVPAT Count for mismatches – VVPAT slip counting in each and every case of
mismatch between Form 17C and EVM data and wherever mock poll data was not erased
erroneously.
D. Purity of Electoral Rolls
14. Special Intensive Revision in Bihar – purification of Electoral Roll in Bihar to ensure no
eligible voter is left out and no ineligible names remain.
15. Special Summary Revision before By-elections – Electoral Rolls revised ahead of the recently
concluded bye-polls in 4 states for the first time in nearly two decades.
16. Linking Death Registration Data – to ensure EROs receive timely information about
registered deaths. This will also enable BLOs to re-verify the information through field visits,
without waiting for a formal request under Form 7.
17. Unique EPIC Numbers – Same EPIC numbers for different persons eliminated across the
country.
18. Faster EPIC Delivery – new SOP issued enabling the delivery of EPICs within 15 days of an
update in the electoral rolls, including new enrolment of an elector or change in any particulars
of an existing elector. Electors will also receive notifications via SMS at each stage
E. Ease of Voting
19. Mobile Deposit Facility at Polling Stations – Counters introduced just outside polling stations
for depositing mobile phones by voters.
20. Polling Station Limit of 1,200 Voters – Ensures reduced crowding, shorter queues, and
additional booths in high-rise residential complexes and societies.
21. Clearer Voter Information Slip (VIS) – Serial and part numbers displayed prominently for
easier verification of voters.
22. Candidate Booths allowed just outside 100 meters of PS – booths set up by the candidates on
poll day for issuing unofficial identity slips to electors, in case the electors are not carrying their
official Voter Information Slips (VIS) issued by the Commission, can be set up just beyond 100
meters of any polling station.
F. Capacity building
23. Expanded Training at IIIDEM – Over 7,000 BLOs and supervisors trained at IIIDEM, New
Delhi.
24. Enhanced Remuneration for Officials – Remuneration doubled for BLOs, enhanced for BLO
Supervisors and for polling/counting staff, CAPF, monitoring teams and micro-observers.
Honorarium provided for EROs and AEROs for the first time. Provision for refreshments also
enhanced.25. Training Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by Political Parties – BLAs from Bihar,
Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry were trained in various aspects of supporting the process of
preparing electoral rolls including the use of appeals provision under RP Act 1950.
26. Training for Media & Communication Officers – Orientation of state-level officers to
improve election-related public communication.
27. Training Police Officers – Special sessions conducted for Bihar police to reinforce law-and-
order preparedness during elections.
28. Strengthening Internal Systems – Biometric attendance, e-Office migration, and relocation to
IIIDEM for efficiency and better utilisation of resources.
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PK/GDH/RP
(Release ID: 2157924)