One Nation, One Election: Simultaneous polls in 2029 may need ₹5,300 crore, over 1 crore EVM units
The poll panel is currently readying to reply to the several queries posed by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the One Nation, One Election Bill.
A key question raised in the JPC queries is centred on expenditure involved in simultaneous elections and whether it can help cut costs. Much of the response is set to be centred on the EVM-VVPAT combine.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Top Packaging Trends In 2024 - Take A Look
Packaging Machines | Search Ads
Search Now
Undo
The machines
The ECI currently has over 30 lakh BUs, 22 lakh CUs (BU and CU together make the EVM) and nearly 24 lakh VVPATs and several of the 2013-14 vintage machines will have to retire by 2029. This would mean a shortfall of nearly 20 lakh BUs, 13.6 lakh CUs and 10 lakh plus VVPATs for a 2029 simultaneous election requirement.
There are three key factors involved in the EVM-VVPAT requirement. The first is related to the number of polling stations, estimated to increase by 15% from 2024 LS elections, a general formula used by ECI for EVM requirement estimation.
Live Events
As per this estimate, against the 10.53 lakh polling stations that were put in place for 2024 LS polls, a 15% increase would imply over 12.1 lakh polling stations in 2029.
In addition, typically two sets of EVMs are needed per polling station. That apart, nearly 70% BUs, 25% CUs and 35% VVPATs are kept as reserve in case of any defect arising at the stage of First Level Checking.
While the current availability is at over 30 lakh BUs, 22 lakh CUs and 23 lakh VVPATs, nearly 3.5 lakh BUs and 1.25 lakh CUs are expected to complete their 15-year life span creating a shortfall.
Supply chain to support system
The second major factor is supply side concerns. The poll panel would tread with extra caution on the voting machine ramp up as it faced a serious situation ahead of 2024 LS polls when the semiconductor supply lag considerably impacted EVM-VVPAT machine manufacturing pace at India's two PSUs, despite the poll panel having placed orders well in advance.
Given the experience, the ECI would prefer to place orders and ready its inventory well in advance for a 2029 scenario. It also has to keep in mind the need, if it arises, for technological upgradation of EVMs which are now in the M3 version.
The third key concern will be logistical challenges in terms of building a whole ecosystem for a simultaneous poll scenario. The ECI has already identified the need to increase the number of secure warehouses to store the EVM-VVPATs. States like Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim do not have their own warehouses which would create a logistical challenge.
There is also the pressing question of readying and training personnel for conduct of the simultaneous poll, bringing in the manufacturer's trained engineers for the First Level Check - an exercise that starts six months ahead of Lok Sabha polls and four months in advance for state assemblies.
Similarly, manning of so many warehouses apart from securing 12 lakh plus polling stations would also be a manpower challenge.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Manifests savarn and shudras': MP HC flags 'caste system' in judiciary; calls out feudal mindset
MP high court NEW DELHI: The Madhya Pradesh high court has made strong observations on the existing structure of the judiciary in the state, comparing the relationship between high court judges and district judges to that of "feudal lord and serf. " The court also criticised what it described as a "caste system" within the judicial setup, where high court judges are seen as "savarn" and district judges as "shudras" and "les misérables." A division bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and D K Paliwali made these remarks in its order dated July 14, while allowing a petition filed by Jagat Mohan Chaturvedi, a former special court judge. Chaturvedi had challenged his termination from service in 2015, which followed his decisions on bail pleas in the Vyapam scam and other cases. He had granted bail to some and denied relief to others, and was later accused of holding divergent views on similar matters. The court said, "At a subliminal level, the penumbra of the caste system manifests in the judicial structure in this state where those in the high court are the savarn and the shudras are the les Misérables of the District Judiciary." "The dismal relationship between the judges of the high court and the judges of the District Judiciary is one between a feudal lord and serf. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The feudal state of mind that still exists in the state, results in its manifestation in the judiciary also," the bench said. The court noted that such a structure creates fear and a sense of inferiority among district judges. It said, "Experience at Bar gives this Court the wisdom to arrive at the opinion that the District Judiciary functions under the perpetual fear of the high court. Like this case, where the Petitioner was terminated from service on account of passing bail orders in favour of the applicants, the message that goes down to the District Judiciary by such acts of the High Court is that acquittals recorded in major cases or bails granted by the Courts below the High Court, can result in adverse action against Judges passing such orders, though they are judicial orders. " It added, "It is precisely cases like this that result in a large number of bail applications pending before the high court as also the criminal appeals." The bench also observed that "instances of the judges of the district judiciary personally attending to judges of the high court are commonplace as also the latter not offering a seat to the former, thereby perpetuating a colonial decadence with a sense of entitlement." On Chaturvedi's dismissal, the court said the case shows a "malady that cannot be addressed effectively on account of the social structure existing in the State, which also manifests in the judiciary." It said the termination affirms the belief that trial court judges may face consequences for granting relief to accused persons. The order of Chaturvedi's dismissal was issued on October 19, 2015. His appeal was dismissed on August 1, 2016. The division bench has now quashed the termination order and imposed a cost of Rs 5 lakh on the state government through the principal secretary, Law and Legislative Department, and the MP high court registrar general. The court said Chaturvedi had to face humiliation in society without any evidence of corruption presented against him.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Proposed bill will ease the pathway for a green card — but will it pass?
Immigrants in the US could qualify for lawful permanent resident status (commonly known as a green card) if they have lived in the country continuously for at least seven years before applying, do not have a criminal record, and meet all other current eligibility requirements — according to a bill proposed to be introduced in the US Senate by Senator Alex Padilla . The announcement comes against the backdrop of what the bill's backers describe as the 'indiscriminate' immigration enforcement practices of the Trump administration, according to a release. The bill is expected to be introduced in the US Senate in the coming week, but immigration experts are skeptical about its chances of passing. Padilla, a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, had made headlines just a month ago when he was forcibly removed from a press conference held by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — an incident that sparked nationwide debate. Senator Dick Durbin will co-lead the bill in the Senate, while Representative Zoe Lofgren will lead the parallel effort in the House of Representatives. 'This overdue update would provide a much-needed pathway to a green card for more than 8 million people, including Dreamers, forcibly displaced individuals ( Temporary Protected Status holders ), children of long-term visa holders, essential workers, and highly skilled members of our workforce, such as H-1B visa holders , who have been waiting years for a green card to become available,' says a release from Padilla's office. If passed, the bill would also benefit hundreds of Indian nationals stuck in a decades-long backlog for employment-based green cards and help prevent family separation caused by children 'ageing out' (turning 21). At present, these children must either switch from a dependent visa (such as an H-4) to an international student visa or deport to India or another country. According to a March 2023 analysis by David J. Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute , the employment-based green card backlog for India (EB-2 and EB-3 categories) had reached 10. 7 lakh, with nearly 1.34 lakh children projected to age out before a green card became available. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Technically, the bill seeks to amend Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, known as the "Registry," which gives the Secretary of Homeland Security discretion to grant lawful permanent resident status to individuals who have been in the country since a specified date and meet other criteria. Section 249 was last updated in 1986, and the current cutoff date for eligibility remains January 1, 1972 — more than 50 years ago. Senator Padilla had introduced a similar bill in September 2022, which is now being revived and reintroduced. The 'Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929' would amend the Registry statute by updating the eligibility cutoff, allowing individuals who have lived in the US for at least seven years before filing an application to qualify for permanent residency. 'Americans know there's a better path forward than the Trump administration's cruel scapegoating of hardworking immigrants and fearmongering in California communities,' said Padilla. 'We believe that if you've lived here for over seven years, paid taxes, contributed to your community, and have no criminal record, then you deserve a pathway to legalization. My bill is a commonsense fix to our outdated immigration system — the same kind of reform Republican President Ronald Reagan embraced four decades ago, calling it a 'matter of basic fairness.' This legislation creates no new bureaucracies or agencies — it simply updates a longstanding pathway to reflect today's reality and provide a fair shot at the American Dream for millions of Dreamers, TPS holders, and highly skilled workers who have faced delays and uncertainty for decades.'
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Delhi govt requests SC to review 2018 blanket ban affecting middle class the most
ANI file photo NEW DELHI: In a bold step, the Delhi Govt on Friday requested the Supreme Court to reconsider its 2018 blanket ban on plying of over 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles on the roads of entire National Capital Region saying stricter BS-VI norm compliant vehicles emit far less pollutants compared to BS-IV vehicles. It requested the SC to direct the Union govt or Air Quality Management to 'carry out a suitable broad-based, scientific study on the need for continuance of a complete ban on playing of 15 or more years old petrol and 10 or more years old diesel vehicles of all categories in NCR, imposed by the SC through its order on Oct 10, 2018'. The Delhi govt said the blanket ban, not backed by any scientific study, does not differentiate between poorly maintained, The directive to off-road vehicles purely on the basis of age disproportionately affects the middle-class population whose vehicles are less used, well-maintained, and pollution norm compliant, the govt said. 'Studies indicate that these vehicles often have significantly lower annual mileage and contribute negligibly to overall emissions,' it said. It said the significant improvement in Pollution Under Control Technology, increased coverage of PUC testing, stricter monitoring of emission standards, transition to BS-VS engines and other measures have suitably addressed the concerns that had impelled the SC to pass the order seven years ago. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Remember Him? Sit Down Before You See What He Looks Like Now 33 Bridges Undo Road-worthiness is a technical and scientific issue that must be linked to actual emissions of a vehicle, which is required to be banned, and not a blanket ban based on the age of the vehicles, it said, echoing the popular sentiments of people living in the national capital region and Delhi. Delhi govt, through an application settled by additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, said, 'There is a need for a graded, balanced and technology riven regime to handle vehicular pollution issue and instead of blanket ban, a scientific, data-driven framework should be developed taking into account all parameters to ascertain individual emission levels of vehicles.' Repeatedly stressing that the 2018 blanket ban order needs reconsideration, the BJP govt said vehicular pollution constitutes only one of the several sources of air-pollution, including stubble burning, biomass burning, road and construction dust, industrial emissions coupled with weather and meteorological factors and the intensity of pollution varies from season to season. Delhi govt said its transport department has strictly implemented PUC has resulted in issuance of 1,63,103 challans in the first seven months of this year, compared to 29,589 challans issued in 2021, 43,494 in 2022, 36,176 in 2023, and 68,077 in 2024. It said with the augmentation of CNG and electric buses and improvement in road infrastructure, the pollution caused by vehicles has reduced. It said the good AQI days have increased from 159 in 2018 to 209 in 2024 and good AQI days this year till July was 106. The robust implementation of Graded Response Plan (GRAP) has contributed to reducing pollution in the national capital, it said.
