Mains issueGS-2Editorials03 November 2026

Electoral Integrity and the Independence of the Election Commission of India

An aspirant should be able to critically analyze the challenges to the Election Commission of India's independence and electoral integrity, discuss the implications for democratic governance, and propose reforms to strengthen the institution and public trust in the electoral process.

Source: thehindu.comOriginal report

Understand the issue · 1/2

Why now

Recent protests by the opposition INDIA bloc against alleged malpractices in the ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) have brought the independence and integrity of the ECI under scrutiny. This issue is critical for Mains as it directly impacts the foundational principles of Indian democracy and the trust in electoral processes.

Core issue

The article discusses a large-scale protest organized by the INDIA bloc, led by the Congress party, at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. The protest was against alleged malpractices in the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which the opposition claims threatens the integrity of India's election process and subverts popular will. The article highlights the ECI's silence on the allegations, the ruling BJP's defense of the ECI, and the opposition's call for the restoration of institutional integrity. It also notes Rahul Gandhi's central role as a challenger to the Prime Minister and a champion of constitutional values, while cautioning him against making unsubstantiated claims about past elections.

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