 "What is Election Commission of India (ECI)?")
Election Commission of India
What is Election Commission of India (ECI)?
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous and permanent constitutional body responsible for organising free and fair elections in the Union and States of India. The Constitution grants the ECI with the power of direction, superintendence, and control of elections to Parliament, state legislatures, the office of president of India and the office of vice-president of India. The ECI does not deal with the elections to the urban bodies such as Municipalities and Panchayats in the states and hence, a separate State Election Commission.
Powers and responsibilities
The Commission’s functions and powers with respect to elections are divided into
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Latest Updates on Election Commission of India
ECI urges political parties for responsible use of AI in campaigning
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has consistently cautioned against the potential of AI and deep fakes
 "ECI urges political parties for responsible use of AI in campaigning")
Rahul Gandhi attacks BJP-RSS, says 'we are fighting Indian state itself'
Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and RSS of capturing Indian institutions, suppressing minorities, and undermining democracy, calling the Congress' fight a 'battle against the Indian state itself'
 "Rahul Gandhi attacks BJP-RSS, says 'we are fighting Indian state itself'")
Election rules row: SC seeks govt, poll panel reply on Jairam Ramesh's plea
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar took note of the submissions of senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Ramesh, and issued notices
 "Election rules row: SC seeks govt, poll panel reply on Jairam Ramesh's plea")
Consider plea over duplicate entries in voter list: Delhi HC to EC
There is a process for revision of electoral roll. It can't be done at this stage, the bench, also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, said
 "Consider plea over duplicate entries in voter list: Delhi HC to EC")
800 more warehouses required to store EVMs for simultaneous polls: EC
The poll body has described the construction of warehouses as a "laborious process" entailing cost. The cost of the land and construction is borne by the respective state governments
 "800 more warehouses required to store EVMs for simultaneous polls: EC")
Delhi polls: Relief for AAP's Avadh Ojha as ECI clears vote transfer
Delhi Assembly elections: An AAP delegation met election officials to demand the transfer of Avadh Ojha's voter ID from Greater Noida to Delhi. Ojha is AAP's candidate from Patparganj constituency
 "Delhi polls: Relief for AAP's Avadh Ojha as ECI clears vote transfer")
CM Atishi launches crowdfunding for Delhi polls; BJP to seek EC probe
Earlier in December, senior AAP leader and party candidate from Jangpura Manish Sisodia launched a crowdfunding platform and sought financial support from people for his poll campaign
 "CM Atishi launches crowdfunding for Delhi polls; BJP to seek EC probe")
EC defends model code as vital for a level playing field in elections
It said that frequent poll code imposition also impacts the functioning of services and diverts the man manpower from their core activities to election duties for prolonged periods
As India nears 1 bn electors, it seeks solutions to freebies, black money
Estimates of election related expenditure of political parties and candidates, and EC's seizures, reveal barely the tip of the total election spends of candidates and political parties
 "As India nears 1 bn electors, it seeks solutions to freebies, black money")
Will detox, go to Himalayas: CEC Rajiv Kumar on post-retirement plans
Responding to a question while addressing a presser to announce the Delhi Assembly elections, he shared his post-retirement plans with an introspective touch
 "Will detox, go to Himalayas: CEC Rajiv Kumar on post-retirement plans")
'No room for manipulation': ECI chief on Kejriwal's 'voter deletion' charge
'Draft rolls are sent to political parties on January 1, and they are given the opportunity to raise claims and objections,' CEC Rajiv Kumar said
 "'No room for manipulation': ECI chief on Kejriwal's 'voter deletion' charge")
Election Commission to announce Delhi poll schedule at 2 pm today
Delhi has traditionally seen assembly polls in a single phase
Voter ID alone doesn't ensure voting rights: Delhi chief electoral officer
Delhi's Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls nears completion and the final voter list will be published on January 6, 2025
 "Voter ID alone doesn't ensure voting rights: Delhi chief electoral officer")
Overseas Indian voters show poor participation in 2024 LS polls: EC data
Several large states such as Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu saw zero turnout of overseas electors
One-third of Lok Sabha MPs elected with 30% or fewer votes in 2024: ECI
Party wise, BJP received a total of 23.59 crore votes, Congress secured a total of 13.67 crore votes, and Samajwadi Party received 2.95 crore votes in the 2024 General Election
 "One-third of Lok Sabha MPs elected with 30% or fewer votes in 2024: ECI")
28% of Lok Sabha seats had no woman candidate in 2024, shows ECI report
The highlight of the 2024 LS election was again the better turnout of woman electors in percentage terms than men
 "28% of Lok Sabha seats had no woman candidate in 2024, shows ECI report")
BJP leads political donations with Rs 2,244 cr in FY24, Cong just Rs 288 cr
BJP's donations surged to Rs 2,244 crore in 2023-24, triple the previous year, with Prudent Electoral Trust contributing Rs 723 crore. Congress raised Rs 288.9 crore, up from Rs 79.9 crore in 2022-23
 "BJP leads political donations with Rs 2,244 cr in FY24, Cong just Rs 288 cr")
One Nation, One Election bill could give ECI say over Assemblies' terms
In the current version of CAB, if a state's elections cannot be held with the LS, the EC will be empowered to declare the dates for those polls, effectively giving it final say on the Assembly's term
 "One Nation, One Election bill could give ECI say over Assemblies' terms")
Election rules tweaked to restrict public inspection of electronic records
Union law ministry has amended Rule 93 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. According to Rule 93, all "papers" related to elections shall be open to public inspection
Election Commission meets representatives of Delhi's political parties
An election commission official said the meeting lasted for around half an hour and covered several topics
