Mains issueGS-2Editorials21 October 2026

Ensuring Electoral Transparency and ECI's Institutional Independence

An aspirant should be able to critically analyze the challenges to the ECI's functioning, its institutional independence, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in electoral processes to uphold democratic principles.

Source: thehindu.comOriginal report

Understand the issue · 1/2

Why now

Recent concerns over mass voter deletions, transparency in election data, and legislative changes impacting the selection of Election Commissioners have brought the ECI's functioning and independence under scrutiny, making it a critical issue for democratic governance.

Core issue

The article discusses ongoing challenges to India's electoral system, focusing on the Election Commission of India's (ECI) role in ensuring inclusive, enforceable, and accessible elections. Key issues highlighted include mass revision of electoral rolls and suspicious voter deletions, transparency in polling data, and concerns regarding the ECI's institutional independence, particularly after recent changes to the selection process for election commissioners. It draws lessons from historical efforts, like Sukumar Sen's work on women's enrollment, to emphasize the need for accuracy, transparency, and accountability in electoral processes.

Continue this issue

Turn the issue into an answer.

Unlock the issue map, answer-use material, grounded Mains PYQ connections and writing practice.

Unlock Mains Current Affairs