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Economic Times
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
ECI issues SOP for EVM memory check, mock polls
The Election Commission has released a new procedure for checking Electronic Voting Machines. This follows orders from the Supreme Court. The process includes burnt memory checks and mock polls. It will first be used in Maharashtra's 2024 assembly elections. The verification process involves diagnostic checks and video recording. Losing candidates can request verification of some EVMs. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Election Commission has issued a fresh Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the checking and verification (C&V) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), including a burnt memory check and the option of a mock poll for the first two losing candidates, in line with Supreme Court orders dated May new protocol will first be applied to over 100 C&V applications from the fiercely contested 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, mostly filed by INDIA bloc SOP, issued on June 17 and circulated to all Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), outlines the step-by-step process. Once the status of pending election petitions is confirmed and necessary High Court permissions are obtained, CEOs will share a summary with EVM manufacturers ECIL and BEL . The manufacturers must respond within two weeks with a district-wise C&V schedule, names of authorised engineers, and a designated district in-charge engineer who will sign off on the certificate of authenticity of the EVM's burnt memory and any unit fails the C&V process, a detailed report from the engineer and district election officer must be submitted to the Election Commission and the faulty unit stored separately. The process must be completed within four weeks of CEOs sharing EP status with verification will be limited to 20 Ballot Units, 10 Control Units, and 10 VVPATs per request. Diagnostic checks will cost ₹23,600 per EVM set, rising to ₹47,200 if a mock poll is included. This is a reduction from ₹40,000 during the 2024 Lok Sabha entire process, including the mock poll, will be video recorded and preserved for up to three months. However, this record will not be treated as "election papers" under Sections 93 and 94 of the Conduct of Election Rules, mock poll will be conducted only on EVMs that pass EC's self-diagnostic and mutual authentication tests. The machines will mirror the actual poll-day configuration, and a maximum of 1,400 votes may be cast by the applicant candidate. VVPAT slips from the mock poll will be counted and matched with results from the Control Unit by engineers from ECIL or BEL. Candidates may also choose to load their symbols on the the SC's April 26 ruling, the two losing candidates in each constituency can seek burnt memory verification in up to 5% of EVMs within seven days of the counting day. The original 2024 EC protocol was challenged for its effectiveness, leading to the court's May 9 order approving the enhanced procedure.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
ECI issues SOP for EVM memory check, mock polls
The Election Commission has issued a fresh Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the checking and verification (C&V) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), including a burnt memory check and the option of a mock poll for the first two losing candidates, in line with Supreme Court orders dated May 9. The new protocol will first be applied to over 100 C&V applications from the fiercely contested 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, mostly filed by INDIA bloc candidates. The SOP, issued on June 17 and circulated to all Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), outlines the step-by-step process. Once the status of pending election petitions is confirmed and necessary High Court permissions are obtained, CEOs will share a summary with EVM manufacturers ECIL and BEL . The manufacturers must respond within two weeks with a district-wise C&V schedule, names of authorised engineers, and a designated district in-charge engineer who will sign off on the certificate of authenticity of the EVM's burnt memory and microcontroller. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Cipinang Muara (Prices May Surprise You) Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now Undo If any unit fails the C&V process, a detailed report from the engineer and district election officer must be submitted to the Election Commission and the faulty unit stored separately. The process must be completed within four weeks of CEOs sharing EP status with manufacturers. The verification will be limited to 20 Ballot Units, 10 Control Units, and 10 VVPATs per request. Diagnostic checks will cost ₹23,600 per EVM set, rising to ₹47,200 if a mock poll is included. This is a reduction from ₹40,000 during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Live Events The entire process, including the mock poll, will be video recorded and preserved for up to three months. However, this record will not be treated as "election papers" under Sections 93 and 94 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. The mock poll will be conducted only on EVMs that pass EC's self-diagnostic and mutual authentication tests. The machines will mirror the actual poll-day configuration, and a maximum of 1,400 votes may be cast by the applicant candidate. VVPAT slips from the mock poll will be counted and matched with results from the Control Unit by engineers from ECIL or BEL. Candidates may also choose to load their symbols on the VVPAT. Following the SC's April 26 ruling, the two losing candidates in each constituency can seek burnt memory verification in up to 5% of EVMs within seven days of the counting day. The original 2024 EC protocol was challenged for its effectiveness, leading to the court's May 9 order approving the enhanced procedure.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
EC to roll out simpler EVM check protocol; major verifications in Maharashtra soon
More than six months after the declaration of Maharashtra Assembly election results - over 100 applications for checking & verification (C&V) of EVM memory across constituencies - largely by the defeated INDIA bloc candidates - will finally be addressed. ET has gathered that the Election Commission will announce a new, simpler protocol for memory checks of the voting machines within the next two weeks, setting the wheels in motion for the conduct of the C&V, which had been paused for months amid court battles. As per rulebooks, the EVM C&V process is timed to be completed largely within two months of the declaration of election results, except in cases where an Election Petition (EP) challenging the result may have been filed in court. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mini House for 60 sqm for Seniors with Toilet and Bath (Click Here) Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo PROTOCOL SWITCH Following Supreme Court directions on April 26, 2024 - two runners-up/losing candidates can seek burnt memory verification in about 5% of EVMs per Assembly constituency for suspected 'tampering or modification' within seven days of counting day. Live Events The original 2024 ECI protocol for the EVM memory check - issued amid Lok Sabha polls - allowed candidates to choose various combinations of EVM/VVPATs for the memory check in the presence of the candidates along with engineers from the EVM manufacturers (ECIL and BEL). This SOP, however, was challenged in court over its efficacy. In a hearing on February 11, 2025, the special Supreme Court bench - with then Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta - took another view and observed that the EVM C&V mechanism was not meant to be such a complex one involving the erasure and reloading of polling data, but merely a verification of the EVMs by an engineer of the manufacturing company to dispel doubts on possible tampering. Awaiting clarity from the court on the path ahead, the poll panel chose to pause all ongoing C&V processes in the interim. The clarity came with the May 9 hearing of the case, where the bench accepted the EC's proposal - to not delete data from EVMs whose verification is sought by candidates. The SC said that the idea was simply that engineers of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) 'certify' that they are satisfied that 'the burnt memory/microcontrollers and software have not been tampered with and their integrity is maintained'. The court has, however, allowed room for a mock poll. Accordingly, a simpler SOP detailing both aspects is now set to be brought in, ET has gathered. MAHARASHTRA CALLING The biggest impact will be in Maharashtra where, in the aftermath of a tightly contested Assembly election in November 2024, a record 104 Checking & Verification (C&V) applications were filed across 95 constituencies seeking verification of 755 EVMs. The maximum verification applications appear to have been filed by candidates from the Sharad Pawar NCP, as per preliminary assessments. The Indian National Congress is not far behind, with at least a score of C&V applications filed by its candidates. The largest number of applications have come from constituencies in the districts of Thane, Pune, Ahilyanagar and Mumbai South-Urban. As many as 137 EVMs are sought to be checked in Pune district, followed by 75 in Thane and 74 in Ahilyanagar, as per ECI data. Nearly half of these were later caught in EPs filed simultaneously in several of the same constituencies.
The Print
08-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
UP mulls high-tech CBRN safety net, robotic surveillance for VIP, vital installation security
Senior officials familiar with the matter said that consultations are ongoing with the DRDO, ECIL, Uttar Pradesh Police, paramilitary forces, and both state and national disaster management authorities. Drawing lessons from security protocols of Parliament, the state is working closely with agencies like the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) to design a multi-layered safety mechanism. Lucknow, Jun 8 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to procure advanced technology for safeguarding key installations, the state assembly, and VIPs from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. An evaluation by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is also being considered as part of the plan, they said. 'The system will be used for VIP and VVIP security, and during high-profile visits and events at strategic sites across the state,' an officer aware of the development told PTI. 'It will be based on technology from foreign countries, either the US or France,' the officer added. The proposed CBRN setup is part of a broader effort to strengthen internal security in light of recent geopolitical tensions, particularly with Pakistan. The initiative also builds on recent steps taken by the state government to secure the Uttar Pradesh Assembly complex. Earlier this year, the traditional vehicle stickers for MLAs, MLCs and other visitors were replaced with RFID tags after reports surfaced of fraudulent access using tampered passes. During a session of the assembly on March 5, Speaker Satish Mahana highlighted the security concerns, saying: 'It has come to our notice that fake vehicle passes are being created by tampering with those issued by the Assembly Secretariat. This is a serious security concern, and the matter has been referred to the state's purchasing department for investigation.' Under the envisioned CBRN safety net, multiple technologies will be integrated to detect and neutralise threats like viruses, spores, and toxins. A single setup may cost up to Rs 10 crore, according to initial estimates. In a parallel move, the state is also planning to procure advanced robotic surveillance devices, inspired by the US Department of Homeland Security and recent security technology exchanges during a visit by US Senator J D Vance to the Taj Mahal in Agra. These robots, based on French technology, will offer day and night surveillance capabilities and can be deployed in high-risk zones such as assembly premises, airports, or during major public events. Each robot, costing around Rs 80 lakh, is designed to access hard-to-reach and hazardous zones without endangering human lives. With a range of up to 90 metres, these wheeled devices can scan vehicles — even go underneath them — for potential explosives, and are equipped to traverse stairs, rough terrains, and confined spaces. 'Robot-based threat assessments can significantly reduce the need for human intervention in danger zones,' the officer said. 'Conventional wars and threats are a thing of the past now. We have to move past those trends and be future-ready,' the officer added. If implemented, Uttar Pradesh will become the first state police force in India to adopt a Parliament-style integrated security model against CBRN and explosive threats, the senior officer noted. PTI KIS MAN RHL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
U.P. plans hi-tech shield against CBRN threats
Drawing lessons from Parliament security protocols, the Uttar Pradesh government is working closely with agencies like the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) to design a multi-layered safety mechanism for safeguarding key installations, the state assembly, and VIPs from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, according to senior officials aware of the development. The state government initiated the process when senior officials visited the recently-held three-day 'AeroDef India Manufacturing Expo', a major aerospace and defence manufacturing exhibition, in New Delhi from May 1 to 3. The state authorities also had an interaction with the U.S. department of homeland security, and recent security technology exchanges during a visit by U.S. senator JD Vance to the Taj Mahal in Agra. These robots, based on French technology, will offer day and night surveillance capabilities and can be deployed in high-risk zones such as assembly premises, airports, or during major public events. The state felt a sense of urgency in adopting the advanced technologies after the recent conflict with Pakistan leading to international tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. Senior government officials requesting anonymity said that the proposed CBRN setup is part of a broader effort to strengthen internal security in light of recent geopolitical tensions, particularly with Pakistan. The initiative also builds on recent steps taken by the state government to secure the U.P. assembly complex. Notably, CBRN threats pose a significant risk due to their potential for widespread harm, long-term health effects, and psychological impact. These threats are characterised by their low probability but high impact, often manifesting in accidental releases or intentional attacks. The CBRN incidents can be airborne, waterborne, foodborne, or through contaminated soil, making detection and response challenging. Under the envisioned CBRN safety net, multiple technologies will be integrated to detect and neutralise threats like viruses, spores, and toxins. A single setup may cost up to ₹10 crore, according to initial estimates. 'Consultations are ongoing with the DRDO, ECIL, U.P. Police, paramilitary forces, and both state and national disaster management authorities. An evaluation by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is also being considered as part of the plan,' they said, adding the system will be used for VIP and VVIP security, and during high-profile visits and events at strategic sites across the state. 'It will be based on technology from foreign countries, either the U.S. or France,' officials said. Earlier this year, the traditional vehicle stickers for MLAs, MLCs and other visitors were replaced with RFID tags after reports of fraudulent access using tampered passes emerged. During a state assembly session on March 5, speaker Satish Mahana highlighted the security concerns, saying: 'It has come to our notice that fake vehicle passes are being created by tampering with those issued by the assembly secretariat. This is a serious security concern, and the matter has been referred to the state's purchasing department for investigation.' The advanced robotic surveillance devices can be deployed in high-risk zones such as assembly premises, airports, or during major public events. Each robot, costing around ₹80 lakh, is designed to access hard-to-reach and hazardous zones without endangering human lives. With a range of up to 90 metres, these wheeled devices can scan vehicles -- even go underneath them -- for potential explosives, and are equipped to traverse stairs, rough terrains, and confined spaces. 'Robot-based threat assessments can significantly reduce the need for human intervention in danger zones,' a senior official said. 'Conventional wars and threats are a thing of the past now. We have to move past those trends and be future-ready,' the official added. If implemented, Uttar Pradesh will become the first state police force in India to adopt a Parliament-style integrated security model against CBRN and explosive threats, the senior official noted. With inputs from PTI
