 "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
Rajasthan finalises electoral rolls with over 51.5 million voters after SIR
The final electoral roll published on February 21 comprises 5,15,19,929 electors across 199 Assembly constituencies
 "Rajasthan finalises electoral rolls with over 51.5 million voters after SIR")
Andaman deletes 5,269 names as final voter roll released after SIR
The final electoral roll released by the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) has a total of 2,58,040 electors, they said
 "Andaman deletes 5,269 names as final voter roll released after SIR")
EC publishes final MP electoral roll: 5.39 cr voters, 3.4 mn dropped
According to the data released by the EC, Madhya Pradesh had 5,74,06,143 voters before SIR began in October last year
 "EC publishes final MP electoral roll: 5.39 cr voters, 3.4 mn dropped")
Kerala final electoral roll out following SIR; voter count at 26.9 million
The Election Commission of India (ECI) shared a link - http://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in - that enables the public to check their names on the updated list
 "Kerala final electoral roll out following SIR; voter count at 26.9 million")
EC to visit TN, Puducherry from Feb 25 to 27 to assess poll preparedness
Besides Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, assembly polls are due in Assam, Kerala and West Bengal
 "EC to visit TN, Puducherry from Feb 25 to 27 to assess poll preparedness")
EC asks 22 states, UTs to prepare for next phase of SIR expected in April
In Bihar, the SIR exercise was completed and is ongoing in nine states and three UTs
ECI announces schedule for biennial Rajya Sabha polls across 10 states
The polling is scheduled to take place on March 16, with the counting of votes on the same day at 5 pm. The election process will be completed by March 20
EC suspends 7 West Bengal officials for serious misconduct amid ongoing SIR
These suspended officers were state government employees who were working on deputation for the EC to update the voters' list and help hold elections
Final voter lists delayed in 9 states, UTs; Puducherry, Lakshadweep publish
According to Puducherry's chief electoral officer, the Union territory has 9,44,211 electors in the final voters' list
 "Final voter lists delayed in 9 states, UTs; Puducherry, Lakshadweep publish")
SIR discrepancy hearings in Bengal end; final rolls to be released Feb 28
The hearings, which addressed omissions and inconsistencies in name spellings, began on December 27 and continued across the state at camps set up in schools, club rooms and administrative buildings
Assam completes electoral roll revision; 586K names added, 243K deleted
Assam's Chief Electoral Officer explained that, unlike the usual process, the recent exercise involved door-to-door verification to proactively identify eligible voters and collect necessary forms
 "Assam completes electoral roll revision; 586K names added, 243K deleted")
ECI defers publication of Goa SIR's final electoral roll to Feb 21
While the draft rolls were published on December 16 last year, the final rolls were slated to be published on Saturday
Won't allow impediments to SIR, says SC; extends Bengal voter list deadline
The top court extended the deadline for publication of the final voter list in West Bengal by one week
 "Won't allow impediments to SIR, says SC; extends Bengal voter list deadline")
EC says permanent resident certificate is valid document under SIR 2026
The Commission has directed that these instructions be brought to the notice of all concerned officers for strict compliance
 "EC says permanent resident certificate is valid document under SIR 2026")
West Bengal CEO asks ECI to extend SIR electoral roll hearings by 7 days
West Bengal CEO requests ECI to extend Special Intensive Revision hearings by a week as some districts face delays in verification and data uploading
SIR in Telangana expected to be announced during April-May, says CEO
The CEO also urged political parties to appoint at least one BLA for every polling station ahead of the forthcoming SIR of electoral rolls
 "SIR in Telangana expected to be announced during April-May, says CEO")
West Bengal govt moves resolution in assembly over 'hardships' due to SIR
Speaker Biman Banerjee, however, rejected the proposal, contending that since the matter was pending before the apex court, the assembly could not deliberate on it
 "West Bengal govt moves resolution in assembly over 'hardships' due to SIR")
SC agrees to hear PIL against poll freebies promises by political parties
The petitioner has urged SC to declare that promising or distributing private goods or services from public funds before elections, without public purpose, violates constitutional provisions
SIR not for inclusion of voters but deletion: Mamata Banerjee before SC
West Bengal Chief Minister alleges voter exclusion and selective enforcement as Supreme Court seeks Election Commission's response on SIR process
Jharkhand to hold civic polls in 48 urban local bodies on Feb 23: SEC
ULB polls in Jharkhand are not contested on the electoral symbols of the political parties, but candidates are backed by the outfits
 "Jharkhand to hold civic polls in 48 urban local bodies on Feb 23: SEC")