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India is the world’s largest democracy, and its electoral system is designed to ensure free, fair, and regular elections. Elections in India are held at three levels:
Union Level (Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha)
State Level (Legislative Assemblies and Councils)
Local Level (Panchayats and Municipalities)
🗳️ 1. Features of Indian Electoral System
Universal Adult Suffrage: Every Indian citizen aged 18 years or above can vote.
Secret Ballot: Voter’s choice is confidential.
Direct Elections: For Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Indirect Elections: For Rajya Sabha, President, Vice President.
First Past the Post (FPTP): The candidate with most votes wins (not necessarily majority).
Single-Member Constituencies: One representative per constituency.
🏛️ 2. Election Commission of India (ECI)
Established: 1950 under Article 324
Autonomous constitutional body
Powers: Supervise, direct, and control elections
Composition:
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
2 Election Commissioners
Tenure: 6 years or until age 65 (whichever is earlier)
🔹 Functions:
Prepare electoral rolls
Notify and conduct elections
Allot symbols to parties
Enforce Model Code of Conduct
Monitor election expenses
🧾 3. Electoral Rolls & Voter Eligibility
Criteria
Details
Age
18 years or above
Citizenship
Must be an Indian citizen
Disqualifications
Mental unsoundness, criminal conviction (as per law)
Voter ID
Issued by ECI (EPIC)
🗳️ 4. Types of Elections in India
Type
Examples
General Elections
Lok Sabha, State Assemblies
By-elections
Held when a seat becomes vacant
Presidential Election
Indirect, by Electoral College
Rajya Sabha Elections
Indirect, by State Legislative Assemblies
Local Body Elections
Panchayats, Municipalities
🏁 5. Election Process (For Lok Sabha/State Assembly)
Delimitation of Constituencies: Done by Delimitation Commission
Notification of Election Schedule: Issued by ECI
Nomination of Candidates: By political parties or independently
Scrutiny of Nominations
Withdrawal of Nominations
Polling (Voting)
Counting of Votes
Declaration of Results
🗳️ 6. Representation of People Act (1950 & 1951)
Act
Key Provisions
RPA 1950
Preparation of electoral rolls, allocation of seats
RPA 1951
Conduct of elections, qualifications/disqualifications, corrupt practices, disputes
🏛️ 7. Election to Key Constitutional Posts
🔹 President of India
Indirect Election by Electoral College:
Elected MPs of both Houses
Elected MLAs of States & UTs with legislature
Voting System: Single transferable vote, proportional representation
🔹 Vice-President of India
Elected by members of both Houses of Parliament
Voting System: Proportional representation
🔹 Rajya Sabha Members
Elected by State Legislative Assemblies
Voting: Proportional representation, Single transferable vote
🧠 Important Terms to Remember
Electoral Bond: Instrument for funding political parties
Model Code of Conduct: Guidelines issued by ECI during elections
NOTA: None Of The Above – introduced in 2013
VVPAT: Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail – verifies the vote cast
EVM: Electronic Voting Machine – used for polling
📌 Constitutional Provisions Related to Elections
Article
Provision
324
Powers of ECI
325
One general electoral roll
326
Universal Adult Suffrage
327–329
Powers of Parliament to regulate elections
80, 81, 170
Composition of Houses
📊 Recent Developments
Simultaneous elections (One Nation One Election) under discussion
Usage of EVM + VVPAT in all Lok Sabha and Assembly elections
Increasing focus on digital voter awareness campaigns
