ABOUT ECI

The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India. The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country. 




Election Commission of India is a Constitutional Body created under Article 324 of the Constitution of India. It was set up on 25th January 1950. The Constitution provided for the Election Commission to be either a single member or a multi-member body, depending upon the requirements from time to time.

India is a Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic and the largest democracy in the World. The modern Indian nation state came into existence on 15th of August 1947. Since then free and fair elections have been held at regular intervals as per the principles enshrined in the Constitution, Electoral Laws and System.

Election Commission of India is a permanent Constitutional Body. The Election Commission was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January 1950. The Commission celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2001.

Originally the commission had only a Chief Election Commissioner. It currently consists of Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.

For the first time two additional Commissioners were appointed on 16th October 1989 but they had a very short tenure till 1st January 1990. Later, on 1st October 1993 two additional Election Commissioners were appointed. The concept of multi-member Commission has been in operation since then, with decision making power by majority vote.




1. What are the main functions of the Election Commission of India?


 The main duties of the Election Commission are: To supervise, direct, control and conduct all elections to Parliament and State Legislatures as also to the office of the President and Vice- President of India. To set down general rules for election. To determine constituencies and to prepare electoral rolls.

 2. MEMBERS OF ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

 At present, the Election Commission of India is a three-member body, with one Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.

 3. FIRST WOMEN CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

 Ramadevi (15 January 1934 – 17 April 2013) M.A, L.L.M, was the Chief Election Commissioner of India from 26 November 1990 to 11 December 1990. She was the first woman to become Chief Election Commissioner of India. She was succeeded by T. N. Seshan.

 4. New Chief Election Commissioner of India

 As the senior-most Election Commissioner, post the retirement of Achal Kumar Jyoti, Rawat was announced to be the next Chief Election Commissioner on 21 January 2018. Rawat assumed charge as the Chief Election Commissioner of India on 23 January 2018.

 Sh. Sunil Arora took charge as Chief Election Commissioner of India on 2nd December 2018.  Prior to assuming charge as Chief Election Commissioner, he had been serving as Election Commissioner of India since 1st September 2017. During this time, Election Commission conducted elections to the states of Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland & Karnataka successfully. Similarly, elections to five poll going states, namely, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan & Telangana are in various stages of completion and the counting of the same is on 11th December 2018.  

 5. Remove Chief Election Commission of India

 Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora has pitched for equal constitutional protection to all members of the Election Commission with regard to their removal. A Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from the office only through impeachment by Parliament.

7. Appointment & Tenure of Commissioners

The President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. They have tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Court of India. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through impeachment by Parliament.

8. FIRST CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

Sukumar Sen (civil servant) Sukumar Sen (1898–1961) was an Indian civil servant who was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India, serving from 21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958.