2018 · GS Paper 2 · Q1 · 10 marks
In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what are the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in India?
In short
The EVM controversy exposed the ECI's challenge of proving elections fair in public perception, through reliable VVPATs, wider paper-trail audits and open technology, alongside independence and enforcement gaps. Paper-trail verification rose from one to five booths per Assembly segment only after the Supreme Court's 2019 order.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 287 words
Perception gap
The ECI's open "EVM Challenge" of June 2017 drew no party willing to attempt tampering, yet allegations persisted.
VVPAT reliability
VVPAT malfunctions in the May 2018 Kairana and Bhandara-Gondiya by-elections gave critics fresh ammunition.
Thin verification sample
Paper-trail counting rose from one to five booths per Assembly segment only after N. Chandrababu Naidu v. Union of India (2019), and source code stays with the manufacturers, BEL and ECIL.
Appointments
Anoop Baranwal (2023) sought the Chief Justice on the selection panel, but the 2023 Act replaced him with a Union Minister.
Toothless Model Code
The Model Code has no statutory backing and the ECI cannot deregister parties.
Money power and rolls
Opaque funding lasted until electoral bonds were struck down in 2024, and mass deletions in Bihar's 2025 roll revision drew charges of exclusion.
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Constitutional Bodies14 questions
Asked in 9 of 14 sittings since 2013
- 2026Is the right to vote a fundamental right ? Discuss the position of the Election Commission of India while undertaking the revision of electoral rolls. Can it also examine the question of citizenship of voters ?
- 2026Do constitutional bodies like the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) possess adequate enforcement powers to secure substantive social equality ? Suggest measures to enhance their institutional effectiveness.
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2018 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.