Election Commission of India
The autonomous constitutional body administering elections to Parliament, state legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President.
Verified references:Wikipedia
On UPSC.wiki
Current affairsInternational Day of Democracy 2026: Deliberative Democracy and the AI Governance ChallengeThe United Nations observes International Day of Democracy on September 15 each year. The 2026 theme is "Raising Hands and Voices — Fostering Agency and Ownership through Deliberative Democracy," highlighting participatory governance models as democratic institutions face challenges from disinformation, AI-driven political manipulation, and declining citizen trust globally. Current affairsSupreme Court on Black Money in Elections: Directions to Curb Unaccounted Cash, Expedite Probes, and Protect Democratic IntegrityThe Supreme Court of India, in State of Karnataka & Anr. v. Prathik Parasrampuria (2026 INSC 868, August 17, 2026), held that the use of black money in elections "compromises democracy's core" and issued binding directions: report cash seizures above ₹10 lakh within 24 hours, complete election-related investigations within one year, designate specialised courts for candidate-related cases, and require High Court approval before withdrawing prosecutions. Current affairsSupreme Court Directs Election Commission to Curb Electoral Black Money: Seizure Reporting, Time-Bound Investigation, and Compliance DeadlineThe Supreme Court of India, in a bench led by Justices Sanjay Karol and N.K. Singh, issued comprehensive directions on August 17, 2026 to curb the use of black money in elections — mandating 24-hour seizure reporting, one-year investigation timelines, and a compliance report from the Election Commission of India by November 18, 2026. Current affairsKerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026: Lok Sabha Passes Constitutional Rename to 'Keralam', Rajya Sabha Consideration UnderwayThe Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, by voice vote on 11 August 2026, to officially rename the state from "Kerala" to "Keralam" — its authentic Malayalam name — by amending the First Schedule of the Constitution under Article 3. Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved the Bill in the Rajya Sabha on 12 August 2026 for consideration and passing.
In previous-year questions
- Which constitutional provision vests superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections with the Election Commission of India?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Consider the following statements about the Supreme Court's directions in State of Karnataka v. Prathik Parasrampuria (2026 INSC 868): 1. Investigating officers must complete election-related FIR investigations within two years. 2. Status reports on pending election-offence investigations must be submitted to the Election Commission quarterly. 3. High Courts must designate specialised courts for criminal cases involving election candidates and sitting legislators. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which Article of the Constitution of India vests superintendence, direction, and control of elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President in the Election Commission of India?UPSC · Current Affairs
- In its August 2026 electoral black money directions, the Supreme Court mandated that FIR investigations related to electoral cash offences must be completed within one year. If this deadline is exceeded, what must the Investigating Officer do?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which of the following mobile applications allows citizens to report electoral malpractice including cash/liquor distribution during elections, with a geo-tagged complaint triggering a flying squad response within 100 minutes?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Article 324 of the Indian Constitution vests the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to Parliament and State Legislatures in which body?UPSC · Current Affairs