MAINS Current Affairs includes Between Polling and Counting, How EVMs are Stored in Strongroom & Fiscal Position of States

POLITY

1. Between Polling and Counting, How EVMs are Stored in Strongroom

Context: Days before the counting of votes in the West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed they received reports of manipulation concerning the storage of EVMs.

Procedure for Handling EVMs

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) has detailed guidelines for handling Electronic Voting Machines in its Manual on EVMs, 2023.
• Before Elections:
  • EVMs are stored securely in designated warehouses under the supervision of the District Election Officer (DEO), usually the District Magistrate.
• During Elections:
  • Machines undergo randomisation in the presence of representatives from recognised political parties.
  • They are then transported to strongrooms within each Assembly constituency.
  • The entire process is monitored through 24×7 CCTV surveillance.
  • EVMs are dispatched from these strongrooms to polling stations on the day of voting.
• After Polling:
  • Once voting concludes, EVMs are sealed in the presence of polling agents.
  • They are transported back to strongrooms under strict security arrangements.

What are Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)?

• An EVM is an electronic device used to record and count votes in elections.
• First introduced in 1982 in the Paravur Assembly constituency (Kerala) on a pilot basis.

Components of EVM:

• Control Unit:
  • Operated by the polling officer
  • Acts as the central processing unit of the system
• Balloting Unit:
  • Placed inside the voting compartment
  • Allows voters to cast their vote by pressing a button against a candidate’s name and symbol
• The two units are connected by a cable (approximately 5 meters).
• The balloting unit is activated only when the polling officer presses the “Ballot” button.

Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)

• The VVPAT is an attached device that provides a paper-based verification of votes.
• When a vote is cast:
  • A slip displaying the chosen candidate’s name and symbol is printed
  • It remains visible through a transparent window for about 7 seconds
  • Then it automatically drops into a sealed box
• Timeline:
  • Concept introduced around 2010
  • First used in Noksen (Nagaland), 2013
  • Legal backing through amendment to Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 (2013)
  • From 2017, VVPATs used in all elections
  • 2019 Lok Sabha elections were the first with 100% VVPAT coverage

Significance of EVMs

• Speed:
  • Enables faster counting compared to paper ballots
• Accuracy:
  • Minimises human errors and reduces invalid votes
• Cost Efficiency:
  • Saves costs in the long run by reducing printing and storage of ballots

Conclusion

• Overall, while the VVPAT system in India represents a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in elections,it continues to face criticism and scrutiny regarding its effectiveness, cost, and implementation challenges. 
• Addressing these concerns requires efforts to improve the reliability, accessibility, and public acceptance of the VVPAT system.

GOVERNANCE / ECONOMY 

2. Fiscal Position of States

Context: The Ministry of Finance, in its Monthly Economic Review has cautioned that several Indian states with high revenue deficits and heavy debt burdens will struggle to handle fiscal shocks.

Fiscal Stress

• Fiscal stress refers to a situation where government revenues are insufficient to meet expenditure needs, either temporarily or persistently.
• This imbalance compels governments to cut spending, enhance revenues, or resort to higher borrowing.

Causes of Fiscal Stress

• Structural Issues:
  • Narrow tax base and uneven GST collections
  • Heavy reliance on indirect taxes
  • Rising subsidy burden (food, fertiliser, fuel) and welfare schemes
• High Debt Burden:
  • Increased borrowing leads to higher interest payments, crowding out developmental expenditure
• Economic Shocks:
  • Pandemic-related spending
  • Global commodity price fluctuations
  • Climate-related disasters
• Compliance and Efficiency Gaps:
  • Tax evasion and weak enforcement
  • Inefficiencies in capital expenditure utilisation

Impacts of Fiscal Stress

• Rising Debt Levels:
  • Increased borrowing raises interest obligations and may lead to credit rating concerns
• Reduced Fiscal Space:
  • Limits the government’s ability to invest in infrastructure and social sectors
• Macroeconomic Instability:
  • Higher government borrowing can push up interest rates, discouraging private investment
• Weaker Social Outcomes:
  • Cuts in health, education, and welfare spending may widen inequalities
• Intergenerational Burden:
  • Future generations bear repayment responsibilities, raising sustainability concerns

Fiscal Position of States (India)

Revenue Surplus vs Deficit States

• Revenue Surplus States:
  • Examples: Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana
  • Able to meet regular expenses (salaries, pensions, subsidies) from their own revenues
  • Several states (e.g., Gujarat, Odisha, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Goa) maintain fiscal deficits within 3% of GSDP, aligning with Finance Commission recommendations
• Revenue Deficit States:
  • Examples: Punjab, Kerala, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh
  • Face challenges due to high committed expenditures such as pensions and interest payments

Debt Levels Across States

• Punjab (~45% of GSDP) and Himachal Pradesh (~40%) are among the most indebted
• Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh also have high debt levels
• States like Odisha and Gujarat exhibit relatively stronger fiscal health

Repercussions

• Revenue Surplus States:
  • Lower interest burden allows greater investment in capital expenditure
• Revenue Deficit States:
  • Significant portion of revenue goes into debt servicing (often >15%)
  • Limited fiscal flexibility
• High Debt + Revenue Deficit States:
  • Highly vulnerable to economic shocks
  • Forced to cut spending or seek central assistance
  • Can create Centre–State fiscal tensions

Conclusion & Way Forward

• High state debt levels (often 35–45% of GSDP) significantly contribute to overall public debt.
• Failure to maintain the “golden rule” of zero revenue deficit increases vulnerability to fiscal stress.

Way Forward:

• Maintain fiscal discipline and transparency
• Strengthen revenue mobilisation and expenditure efficiency
• Promote coordinated fiscal consolidation between Centre and States
• Enhance cooperative federalism for better fiscal management

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