CORE Key Points at a Glance

  1. 1

    Voting Behavior — Key Determinants

    • Pattern of how individuals/groups decide whether to vote and whom to vote for
    • Caste is the most important determinant in India
    • Other factors: religion, regional/linguistic identity, incumbency (anti-incumbency)
    • Also shapes choices: candidate image, party leadership, welfare delivery, economic issues
  2. 2

    Election Commission of India — Constitutional Basis

    • Established under Article 324 of the Constitution
    • Mandated to superintend, direct, and control elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, Presidency, and Vice-Presidency
    • As of 2025: Chief Election Commissioner + 2 Election Commissioners
    • An independent constitutional body
  3. 3

    EVMs and VVPAT — Key Facts

    • EVMs used in all Indian General Elections since 2004
    • Manufactured by BEL (Bharat Electronics Ltd) and ECIL (Electronics Corporation of India Ltd)
    • Stand-alone — not internet-connected; validated by technical expert committees
    • VVPAT machines deployed nationwide from 2019 Lok Sabha elections
  4. 4

    NOTA — Introduction and Effect

    • Introduced following SC order in PUCL v. Union of India (2013)
    • Available on EVMs as the last option on the ballot
    • NOTA votes are counted and published separately
    • Do not affect results — even if NOTA gets the most votes, no re-election; next-highest candidate wins
  5. 5

    Model Code of Conduct — Nature and Scope

    • Comes into force immediately on announcement of election schedule
    • Restricts: new scheme announcements, use of government machinery for campaigns, transfer of senior officials without ECI approval
    • No statutory backing — enforced through ECI's moral authority and Article 324 powers
  6. 6

    Representation of the People Acts — Distinction

    • RPA 1950: Delimitation of constituencies and preparation of electoral rolls
    • RPA 1951: Conduct of elections, qualification of candidates, election offences, corrupt practices, election disputes
    • Together these two acts form the primary electoral legislation
  7. 7

    Electoral Bonds — Scheme and Annulment

    • Electoral Bonds Scheme (2018): Anonymous financing — bonds purchased from SBI, donated to political parties
    • ADR v. Union of India (2024): Five-judge SC bench unanimously struck it down as unconstitutional
    • Violated voters' right to information under Article 19(1)(a)
    • SBI directed to submit all data to ECI; donor-recipient data published publicly
  8. 8

    Voter Turnout Trends

    • 2024 Lok Sabha: 65.79% turnout; ~97 crore eligible voters; 543 constituencies; 7 phases
    • Turnout has generally risen since 1952 (45.7%)
    • Women's turnout has exceeded men's in some elections since 2014
    • Rajasthan 2023 Assembly election: 74.2% turnout
  9. 9

    Anti-Incumbency — Indian Pattern

    • One of the strongest forces in Indian elections
    • Ruling parties at state level lose approximately 60–70% of elections
    • Reflects voter punishment for governance failures, unmet promises, and leadership fatigue
    • Rajasthan: BJP-Congress alternation every 5 years since 1993 is the classic example
  10. 10

    Electoral Reform Committees

    • Law Commission Report 255 (2015): State funding of elections, cap on expenditure, criminalization of vote-buying, fast-track dispute resolution
    • Dinesh Goswami Committee (1990): Partial state funding of elections recommended
    • Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998): Also recommended partial state funding
  11. 11

    CEC Appointment Act 2023 — Changed Process

    • Appointment now by a 3-member Selection Committee: PM (Chair), one Union Cabinet Minister, Leader of Opposition (or largest opposition party leader in LS)
    • A Search Committee of 5 senior bureaucrats prepares a panel of names
    • Earlier process: President appointed CEC and ECs on advice of PM — no formal committee
    • Anoop Baranwal v. UoI (2023): SC had directed an independent committee including CJI; new law excluded CJI
  12. 12

    One Nation One Election — Kovind Committee (2024)

    • Ram Nath Kovind Committee (2024) recommended holding LS and all State Assembly elections simultaneously
    • Benefits: reduced election expenditure, end of continuous MCC constraints, better governance continuity
    • Challenges: federal autonomy of states, early dissolution scenarios
    • Constitutional amendments needed: Articles 83, 85, 172, 174

PREDICTED Predicted RAS Questions

Based on PYQ trends and 2026 syllabus analysis

1 5M What is NOTA? What was the Supreme Court ruling that introduced it? 5 marks · 50 words

Model Answer

NOTA (None of the Above) is an EVM option allowing voters to register rejection of all candidates while maintaining vote secrecy. It was introduced following PUCL v. Union of India (2013), where the Supreme Court held that the right to vote includes the right to reject all candidates. NOTA has been available in all elections since November 2013. NOTA votes are counted and published separately but do not affect the result — even if NOTA receives the most votes, the candidate with the highest votes among candidates wins.

~50 words • 5 marks