GK Question

polity hard mcq

The Election Commission's use of technology (EVMs, VVPAT, c-VIGIL) enhances electoral integrity by:

  1. Eliminating all possibility of electoral malpractice
  2. Improving efficiency, transparency, and voter confidence while requiring continuous safeguards against new vulnerabilities
  3. Replacing human oversight entirely with automated systems
  4. Focusing only on urban areas with better infrastructure

Answer: Improving efficiency, transparency, and voter confidence while requiring continuous safeguards against new vulnerabilities

Technology and electoral integrity: (a) Benefits of technology: (i) Efficiency: EVMs enable faster voting, counting, reducing time, cost of elections, (ii) Transparency: VVPAT provides paper trail for verification, enhancing voter confidence in electronic voting, (iii) Accessibility: c-VIGIL app enables citizens to report MCC violations in real-time, enhancing monitoring, (b) Continuous safeguards needed: (i) New vulnerabilities: Technology introduces new risks (cybersecurity threats, software bugs) requiring continuous updates, testing, (ii) Inclusivity: Ensure technology doesn't exclude elderly, rural, disabled voters through inclusive design, offline alternatives, (iii) Trust-building: Continuous voter education, transparency about technology safeguards essential to maintain public trust, (c) Applications: (i) EVM-VVPAT combination: Balances efficiency of electronic voting with transparency of paper verification, (ii) c-VIGIL app: Empowers citizens to monitor elections, report violations, enhancing participatory oversight, (iii) Data analytics: ECI uses data to identify irregularities, improve electoral processes, (d) Challenges: (i) Cybersecurity: Protecting electoral technology from hacking, tampering requires robust security measures, (ii) Digital divide: Ensuring technology benefits all voters, not just digitally literate, connected populations, (iii) Adaptation: Technology evolves rapidly; ECI must continuously update systems, safeguards to address emerging challenges, (e) Illustrates adaptive electoral governance: ECI leverages technology for efficiency, transparency while addressing equity, security concerns through inclusive design, continuous safeguards, voter education.

Topic Election Commission - Electoral Integrity and Technology
Exam Relevance Electoral integrity and technology critical for UPSC Mains and current affairs exams