Category: ENVIRONMENT

Context:  The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL), chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, has approved the proposal to redraw and rationalise the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.

The decision, taken during the June 26, 2025 meeting, involves altering the critical tiger habitat (CTH) and buffer zones, increasing the CTH from 881.11 sq km to 924.49 sq km while reducing the buffer area from 245.72 sq km to 203.2 sq km.

Key highlights:

• CEC Report Basis: The decision was based on the Central Empowered Committee’s (CEC) report which assessed human disturbances, village relocations, and grazing patterns in the area.
• Supreme Court Oversight: The matter was referred to the Supreme Court, which had previously ordered closure of certain stone, dolomite, and limestone mines within 1 km of the CTH.
• SC-NBWL Conditions: Areas with low tiger density are to be protected for landscape connectivity and ecological balance. Any adverse developments in these areas should be avoided.
• Monitoring Measures: Enhanced patrolling, community involvement, and habitat monitoring were recommended.
• Legal Concerns: The SC had earlier expressed concerns over unclear boundary and land records, and legal violations by mining operators in the Tehla range.

Learning Corner:

Sariska Tiger Reserve:

• Location: Alwar district, Rajasthan, India
• Establishment: Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955; became a tiger reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger
• Area:
  • Total: ~1,217 sq km
  • Core (Critical Tiger Habitat): ~924.49 sq km (as per 2025 rationalisation)
  • Buffer: ~203.2 sq km
• Landscape & Vegetation:
  • Aravalli hills terrain
  • Predominantly dry deciduous forests, scrub-thorn arid forests, rocky hills, grasslands
• Key Wildlife:
  • Tigers, leopards, striped hyena, jungle cat, sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar
  • Wide bird diversity including peafowl, crested serpent eagle, and sandgrouse
• Conservation Challenges:
  • History of tiger extinction in 2004 due to poaching; reintroduction began in 2008
  • Mining pressures (limestone, dolomite), human settlements, and tourism impact
  • Recently involved in a boundary rationalisation process to balance conservation and development
• Notable Features:
  • Contains historical sites like Kankwari Fort and Pandupol Hanuman Temple
  • Easily accessible from Delhi and Jaipur, making it a prominent eco-tourism site

Tiger Reserve in India:

• Definition:
  A Tiger Reserve is a legally protected area designated for the conservation of tigers and their habitat under India’s Project Tiger and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Legal Backing:
  • Governed under Section 38V to 38X of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended in 2006)
  • Managed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
• Structure:
  A Tiger Reserve typically has two zones:

1. Core Area (Critical Tiger Habitat – CTH): Strictly protected, no human activity allowed
2. Buffer Area: Permits regulated human activity like eco-tourism, research, and resource use by locals

• Objective:
  1. Ensure a safe, inviolate space for breeding and conservation of wild tigers
  2. Maintain ecological balance and landscape-level wildlife protection
• Current Status (as of 2024):
  1. Total Tiger Reserves in India: 54
  2. Notable reserves: Jim Corbett (Uttarakhand), Kanha (Madhya Pradesh), Sundarbans (West Bengal), Bandipur (Karnataka), and Sariska (Rajasthan)
• Challenges:
  1. Poaching, habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, mining, and tourism pressure
• Importance:
  Tiger Reserves are flagship conservation areas helping protect not just tigers, but also entire ecosystems and biodiversity.

Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Context: Lotus blooms in Wular Lake after 30 years

Key Points:

• Wular Lake in Kashmir’s Bandipora district has witnessed the blooming of lotus flowers after nearly 30 years, a sight not seen since a devastating flood in 1992 wiped them out.
• The lotus revival is attributed to large-scale dredging and conservation efforts led by the Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) since 2020. Over 79 lakh cubic meters of silt have been removed from the lake.
• In recent years, dense silt and weeds had buried the lakebed, making lotus growth impossible. With silt removal, lotus stems and flowers have reappeared, bringing ecological and economic hope.
• Local stem farmers like Abdul Aziz Dar recall harvesting lotuses in their youth. Many express deep emotional and cultural connection to the plant, which also has culinary and medicinal uses in Kashmiri cuisine (e.g., Nadur, Yakhni).
• WUCMA’s Project Goals:
  • Restore the lake’s ecology and fish habitats
  • Clear silt from Wular and its 25 feeder streams
  • Construct retention ponds to stop further silt inflow
• Community Impact:
  • Revival of livelihood through harvesting
  • Positive emotional impact among villagers
  • Sign of hope and environmental restoration

Learning Corner:

Wular Lake

• Location: Bandipora district, Jammu & Kashmir, India
• Type: Freshwater lake (one of the largest in South Asia)
• Formed by: Tectonic activity; fed mainly by the Jhelum River
• Area:
  • Varies seasonally between 30 to 260 sq km
  • Subject to significant siltation and shrinkage in recent decades
• Ecological Importance:
  • Acts as a natural flood basin for the Jhelum
  • Supports biodiversity including fish, waterfowl, and aquatic plants
  • Designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site (since 1990)
• Economic & Cultural Value:
  • Source of fishing, lotus stem (nadru) harvesting, and water for agriculture
  • Integral to local Kashmiri livelihoods and cuisine
• Conservation Issues:
  • Heavily affected by siltation, encroachments, pollution, and weed infestation
  • Reduced water-holding capacity and loss of biodiversity
• Recent Restoration Efforts:
  • Led by Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA)
  • Dredging operations and silt removal since 2020
  • Resulted in revival of lotus bloom after 30 years in 2025

Important Lakes in India – Brief Note:

India is home to a diverse range of natural and artificial lakes, each with ecological, cultural, and economic significance. Here are some major lakes by type and region:

Freshwater Lakes

• Wular Lake (Jammu & Kashmir):
  • One of the largest freshwater lakes in South Asia
  • Fed by the Jhelum River; Ramsar Site
  • Recently saw lotus bloom after 30 years due to restoration efforts
• Loktak Lake (Manipur):
  • Known for phumdis (floating vegetation)
  • Houses Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating national park
  • Habitat of the endangered Sangai deer
• Nainital Lake (Uttarakhand):
  • Crescent-shaped lake; major tourist attraction in the Kumaon region
  • Provides drinking water and supports boating activities

Saltwater / Brackish Water Lakes

• Chilika Lake (Odisha):
  • Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon
  • Ramsar site; supports migratory birds and Irrawaddy dolphins
  • Important for fishing and birdwatching tourism
• Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan):
  • India’s largest inland saltwater lake
  • Major source of salt production
  • Attracts flamingos and migratory birds

Artificial / Man-made Lakes

• Gobind Sagar Lake (Himachal Pradesh):
  • Reservoir on the Sutlej River, formed by Bhakra Dam
  • Used for hydroelectricity and irrigation
• Hussain Sagar Lake (Telangana):
  • Artificial lake built by Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah
  • Connects Hyderabad and Secunderabad; houses the famous Buddha statue
• Rana Pratap Sagar (Rajasthan):
  • Formed by a dam on the Chambal River
  • Used for irrigation and power generation

High-Altitude Lakes

• Pangong Tso (Ladakh):
  • Saltwater lake, partly in India and partly in China
  • Famous for its changing colors and scenic beauty
• Tso Moriri (Ladakh):
  • Freshwater lake in Changthang plateau
  • Ramsar site; supports migratory birds

Significance of Lakes in India:

• Provide drinking water, irrigation, fishery, hydropower
• Support biodiversity and tourism
• Help in flood control and groundwater recharge

Source:  THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Category: POLITY

Context : The Supreme Court recently allowed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to proceed with its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, though advised caution in demanding documents like Aadhaar, voter ID, or ration cards, especially from those enrolled after 2003.

Key Points:

What is an Intensive Revision?

• A full revision involving house-to-house enumeration of eligible voters, without reference to existing rolls.
• Different from:
  • Summary revision: Routine annual update using existing drafts.
  • Special revision: Targeted updates in exceptional cases (e.g., natural disasters, legal orders).

What is Special about the Current SIR in Bihar?

• Adds a new requirement: those enrolled after 2003 must submit documentary proof of their date/place of birth to confirm citizenship.
• Triggers concerns over potential disenfranchisement.
• ECI claims it’s to clean up and standardise rolls.

Why Bihar? Why Now?

• Chosen on June 24, 2025, due to local opposition concerns and political context.
• First SIR in two decades—last one of this scale was in the early 2000s.
• Political tensions exist around verification of citizenship and inclusion of names in voter lists.

History of Revisions in India:

• 1950s-70s: Large-scale revisions after delimitation, state reorganisations, and expanding suffrage.
• 1980s-90s: Focus shifted to removal of ineligible names and guarding against duplication.
• Intensive revisions happened in 1952, 1956-57, 1960-61, 1966, 1983-84, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2002-04.

Challenges in Past Revisions:

• Inaccurate or outdated rolls.
• Lack of field verification.
• Political tensions and complaints (especially from border states).
• Citizenship verification concerns.

Learning Corner:

Election Commission of India (ECI)

Overview:

• Established: 25 January 1950
• Constitutional Body: Under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Composition:
  • One Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
  • Up to two Election Commissioners

Main Functions of ECI:

1. Conduct of Elections:
   • Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and Legislative Councils
   • President and Vice-President of India
2. Preparation and Revision of Electoral Rolls:
   • Includes summary and intensive revisions
   • Ensures free, fair, and updated voter lists
3. Model Code of Conduct (MCC):
   • Issues and enforces MCC during elections to ensure a level playing field
4. Recognition of Political Parties:
   • Grants recognition as national or state parties
   • Allots election symbols
5. Monitoring Election Expenditure:
   • Sets limits on campaign spending
   • Monitors candidates’ accounts and audits party finances
6. Voter Education and Awareness:
   • Runs campaigns under SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation)
7. Addressing Malpractices:
   • Has the power to countermand or postpone elections due to corruption or violence
   • Can disqualify candidates for violations
8. Use of Technology:
   • Introduction of EVMs and VVPATs
   • Online services for voter registration, roll verification

Significance:

The ECI plays a crucial role in upholding democracy in India by ensuring free, fair, impartial, and transparent elections, and maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.

Motto: “No voter to be left behind.”

Source :  THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Category: GEOGRAPHY

Context: World Population Day

Key Points:

1. UN World Population Prospects 2024:
   • World population expected to peak at 10.3 billion and decline to 10.2 billion by 2100.
   • The idea of population collapse is overblown, as growth momentum continues due to earlier high fertility rates.
2. Fertility is Falling, But…
   • Declining fertility does not equal immediate decline in population.
   • Population momentum means growth continues as younger populations age and reproduce.
3. UNFPA’s 2025 Study (“The Real Fertility Crisis”):
   • Survey of 14,000 people across 14 countries shows unfulfilled desire for children is common.
   • 23% said they couldn’t have the number of children they wanted.
   • Factors include infertility, cost of childcare, gender inequality, and housing issues.

Case Study: South Korea

• After years of declining births, South Korea saw a 7.3% rise in births in early 2025.
• This was linked to financial incentives, housing reforms, and improved social perception of marriage.

Call for Social Change:

• The real issue lies not with those who opt out of parenting, but those who want children but cannot have them due to structural barriers.
• The article critiques:
  • Gender role reinforcement
  • Incentive-driven pro-natalism
  • Ignoring voluntary childlessness
• Advocates progressive policies and support for families, not panic-based narratives.

Conclusion:

The falling fertility rate is real, but panic and simplistic solutions won’t help.
What is needed is inclusive, nuanced policies that respect individual choices and address structural constraints faced by those who want to raise families.

Learning Corner:

Note on important population-related terminologies, 

Total Fertility Rate (TFR):

• Average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime.
• Replacement level fertility is about 2.1 (to maintain population size in the long run).

Crude Birth Rate (CBR):

• Number of live births per 1,000 population in a year.

Crude Death Rate (CDR):

• Number of deaths per 1,000 population in a year.

Population Growth Rate:

• Rate at which a population increases (or decreases), calculated as:
  (CBR – CDR + net migration) ÷ total population × 100

Demographic Dividend:

• Economic benefit arising from a higher proportion of working-age population (15–64 years).
• Occurs when fertility falls and the dependency ratio declines.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM):

• Explains population change over time through 5 stages (from high birth/death rates to low ones).
• India is in late Stage 3 or early Stage 4.

Dependency Ratio:

• Ratio of dependents (aged 0–14 and 65+) to working-age population (15–64).
• Indicates economic pressure on productive population.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR):

• Number of deaths of infants under one year per 1,000 live births.

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR):

• Number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births due to pregnancy-related causes.

Sex Ratio:

• Number of females per 1,000 males in the population.
• India’s sex ratio (as per NFHS-5) is around 1,020 females per 1,000 males.

Literacy Rate:

• Percentage of people aged 7 and above who can read and write.

Population Momentum:

• Continued population growth even after fertility drops to replacement level, due to a large base of young people.

Life Expectancy:

• Average number of years a person is expected to live from birth, assuming current mortality rates.

Migration Rate:

• Movement of people from one area to another, can be internal or international.

Carrying Capacity:

• The maximum population size that an environment can sustain without environmental degradation.

Source: THE HINDU

Category: HEALTH

Context: Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Principal Advisor to the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), advocates for “TB death audits” — like maternal mortality audits — to help India meet its TB elimination targets

The audits would help identify causes behind TB-related deaths, detect systemic gaps, and improve responses.

Key Highlights:

TB Situation in India:

• TB deaths dropped from 35 per 100,000 in 2015 to 22 per 100,000 (latest official data).
• Death rates remain high (5–10%), especially in the 25–50 age group, and among patients with drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).

What Are TB Death Audits?

• District-level examination of each TB-related death.
• Helps understand why and how deaths occurred.
• Similar audits helped reduce maternal mortality rate (MMR) significantly in India.

Why Needed Now:

• Focus of TB control must shift from incidence to mortality.
• Prevalence surveys show many TB patients are missed during symptom screening.
• A new AI-based chest X-ray tool, endorsed by WHO, shows promise in early detection.

State-Level Insights:

• Tamil Nadu:
  • Found 83% of deceased TB patients had co-morbidities or were malnourished.
  • 50% of patients were not on TB treatment at the time of death.
• Jharkhand (Bhargava Project):
  • Provides food and financial support to undernourished TB patients.
  • Among patients with BMI <16, mortality dropped to 25% after support, compared to 50% earlier.

Policy Recommendations:

1. District Collectors and community health workers must be involved in TB death audits.
2. Integration of nutrition, co-morbidity screening, and social support into TB care.
3. Focus on preventive diagnostics, early detection, and patient-centric care.
4. Expand Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) and food kits to the most vulnerable.

Conclusion:

To meet TB elimination goals by 2025, India must:

• Prioritise reducing deaths, not just incidence.
• Institutionalise TB death audits.
• Invest in nutrition, diagnostics, and community engagement.
• Learn from successful models like maternal mortality reduction and state-level innovations.

Learning Corner:

Tuberculosis (TB):

What is Tuberculosis (TB)?

• TB is a contagious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Primarily affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), but can also affect other parts of the body (extrapulmonary TB).

Transmission:

• Spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
• It is not spread by touching, food, or water.

Symptoms:

• Persistent cough (more than 2 weeks)
• Fever, night sweats
• Weight loss, fatigue
• Coughing up blood (in some cases)

Diagnosis:

• Sputum test, Chest X-ray
• CBNAAT (Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test)
• Tuberculin Skin Test (for latent TB)

Treatment:

• Standard 6-month course of antibiotics (e.g., isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide)
• DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) under National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP)
• Drug-Resistant TB (DR-TB) requires longer, more complex treatment

Global & National Concern:

• India has the highest TB burden in the world (WHO).
• TB is a notifiable disease in India—mandatory to report diagnosed cases.
• Target: Eliminate TB by 2025 in India (5 years ahead of global 2030 target under SDGs).

Preventive Measures:

• BCG vaccine at birth
• Early diagnosis and complete treatment
• Proper cough hygiene
• Nutritional and social support for vulnerable patients

Challenges:

• Underreporting of cases
• Drug resistance
• Social stigma
• Co-morbidities like HIV, diabetes, and malnutrition

New Approaches:

• TB death audits (like maternal mortality audits)
• AI-powered chest X-rays, mobile clinics
• Nutritional support and direct benefit transfers (DBT) to patients

Tuberculosis is preventable and curable, yet remains a serious public health issue. Success depends on a multi-sectoral approach, combining medical care, social support, and community engagement.

Source: THE HINDU

Introduction (Context)

According to NHRC, a total 2,152 cases relating to deaths of persons in judicial custody and 155 relating to deaths in police custody were recorded in 2021-22. In the last five years, disciplinary action was taken in just 21 cases of custodial deaths.

In the last five years, the highest number of custodial deaths (80) has been reported in Gujarat, followed by Maharashtra (76), Uttar Pradesh (41), Tamil Nadu (40) and Bihar (38).

The data clearly states the presence of custodial violence despite statutory safeguards and Supreme Court guidelines.

What are custodial deaths?

• Custodial death is a death that occurs while a person is in the custody of law enforcement officials or in a correctional facility. It can occur due to various causes such as use of excessive force, neglect, or abuse by the authorities.

Causes

• The rigid hierarchical structure of police forces, combined with a high-pressure working environment, fosters a culture in which aggression is often valorised. In many cases of custodial violence, instead of facing disciplinary action, oending ocers are rewarded with promotions.
• Police personnel often perceive such violence as a necessary means to achieve justice, especially when the formal legal process is seen as slow and ineective
• It is also perpetuated by entrenched social hierarchies and an enduring colonial mindset within the police, where the public, particularly marginalised communities, is viewed not as citizens to be protected, but as subjects to be controlled.
• Current curriculum lacks ethics, trauma-informed practices, and human rights emphasis.
• Majority of funds go into surveillance, vehicles, and hardware, not training or personnel welfare. No counselling for officers facing emotional trauma from high-stress duties.

Reforms needed

• Modern Training Curriculum: Equip officers with scientific interrogation techniques and forensic methods, moving away from third-degree methods.
• Bias Sensitisation: Include training to reduce implicit bias—petty offenders often face disproportionate brutality compared to white-collar criminals.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Encourage collaboration with forensic experts, psychologists, and mental health professionals.
• Trauma-Informed Policing: Training in handling trauma cases with empathy and understanding.
• Role of community: Awareness campaigns led by the media, educational institutions, and civil society organisations can play a vital role in informing people about their constitutional rights and the mechanisms available for redress

Supreme Court directives

1. In Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh, 2020) Supreme Court mandated

• Install functional, tamper-proof CCTV in all custody areas
• Ensure real-time access and audit trails
• Victims should have access rights to footage
• Digital Timestamping of Arrests to prevent manipulation of arrest records.

• Prakash Singh v. Union of India (2006)

• Directed establishment of Police Complaints Authorities (PCAs) at State & District levels.
• PCAs to be headed by retired judges, ensuring independence.

Recommendations by Law Commission

• Proposal to introduce a rebuttable presumption in custodial violence cases.
• It would help enhance accountability, but:
  • Needs robust support systems for vulnerable victims to access justice.
  • Legal procedures remain complex and inaccessible to marginalized communities.

Role of Magistrates (First Line of Defence)

• Statutory Safeguards have been provided under CrPC such as:

• Accused must be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.
• Magistrate must scrutinise arrest grounds, physically examine the accused for signs of torture.

• But process has become perfunctory and mechanical.
• Medico-legal examinations often reduced to formalities.

Conclusion

Custodial deaths are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a broken system. Justice must begin with policy, not post-mortem. To restore the moral contract between the state and its citizens, India must move beyond deterrence and embrace ethical, emotional, and structural reform in policing.

Mains Practice Question

Q “Custodial deaths reflect the failure of India’s moral and institutional commitment to justice.” Critically examine in the context of recent incidents of police brutality. (250 words, 15 marks)

Introduction (Context)

In a democratic system, the right to vote is crucial for ensuring the will of the people is reflected in governance and for upholding key democratic principles like equality and accountability.

Four months before the Bihar state elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has kicked off a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the State. With respect to this on July 10, 2025, the Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission (EC) to accept Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards as valid documents for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. 

In this article we are discussing the Right to Vote in India and provisions related to it.

Universal adult suffrage in India

• Article 326 of the Constitution granted every adult citizen the right to vote, regardless of gender, caste, religion, education, or property.
• Earlier age for casting vote was 21 years, this threshold was lowered to 18 by the 61st Constitutional Amendment in 1989. 
• Further for inclusive democracy Supreme Court judgment with Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) has established democracy as part of the ‘basic structure’ doctrine. 
• These are governed through two pivotal laws—the Representation of the People Act, 1950, dealing with electoral rolls, and the RPA of 1951, governing the conduct of elections. 
• Later administrative innovations like the introduction of election symbols enabled mass participation, making the idea of ‘one person, one vote’ a tangible reality.

India vs. western notion of Right to Vote

• India gave universal adult suffrage to all its citizens after independence.
• This was different from many Western democracies, which restricted voting rights in the past.
• India rejected the idea, supported by thinkers like J.S. Mill, that only the “educated” should vote.
• Instead, India trusted all citizens equally and gave every adult the right to vote from the start—a bold and inclusive democratic choice.

Example:

United Kingdom:

• Voting was first limited to male property owners.
• Universal male suffrage was introduced only in 1918.
• Women got the right to vote in 1928, after long struggles.

United States:

• 15th Amendment (1870) gave voting rights to African American men.
• 19th Amendment (1920) gave voting rights to women.
• Still, many were denied the vote through poll taxes, literacy tests, and racist laws, especially in southern states.

Is the Right to Vote a Fundamental Right in India?

• The right to vote, although central to democracy, is not classified as a fundamental right in India. 

• The Supreme Court in Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006) ruled that the right to vote is a statutory right under Section 62 of the RPA, 1951. 
• Rajbala v. State of Haryana (2016) described it as a constitutional right, the legal position remains that it is not a fundamental right.
• Even in Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023), while a dissenting opinion suggested that voting reflects the spirit of Articles 19 and 21, the larger bench did not accept this interpretation. 

Why does electoral roll accuracy matter?

• Under Section 21 of the 1950 Act, Election Commission is empowered to prepare and revise these rolls to ensure integrity.
• Free and fair elections depend heavily on accurate and updated electoral rolls. The inclusion of ineligible names or exclusion of eligible voters distorts the democratic mandate.
• Electoral rolls are governed under the RPA, 1950 and are critical to the “one person, one vote” principle.
• Therefore, restructuring of Bihar Electoral Roll efforts should focus on helping improve the process. The Supreme Court’s suggestion to include more accepted documents helps safeguard every genuine elector’s right to be represented.

Meaning of Ordinary Resident

• Section 19 of the RPA, 1950, which mandates that any citizen aged 18 or above, “ordinarily resident” in a constituency and not disqualified, is entitled to be registered.
• “Ordinary resident” implies a genuine, continuous presence, not a temporary stay. 

• For example, a student living in a hostel may not qualify if their permanent home and intent to return lie elsewhere. Mere temporary absence from one’s place of ordinary residence does not negate one’s status as an ordinary resident of that location.

• This criterion prevents fraudulent registrations and ensures voters maintain real ties to their constituencies, preserving representative accountability.

Special Provisions

• Under Rule 18 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, ‘postal ballots’ are available to service voters like armed forces personnel, paramilitary, armed State police posted outside, and government staff abroad, and voters on election duty. 
• Overseas electors can register under Section 20A of the RPA, 1950. However, they must vote in person, as they are currently ineligible for postal or proxy voting.

Citizenship Verification and Due Process

• In Lal Babu Hussein v. ERO (1995) and Md. Rahim Ali (2024):

• The SC held that deleting names based on suspicion or shifting the burden of proof of citizenship onto individuals was unconstitutional.
• EROs must follow quasi-judicial processes and ensure natural justice in electoral roll revision.

Way Forward

• Codify safeguards for electoral inclusion under quasi-judicial processes.
• Run awareness drives to help citizens verify/update voter data.
• Use digital platforms for real-time voter list monitoring and public audits.
• Encourage party-based vigilance, as observed in Lakshmi Charan Sen v. A.K.M. Hassan Uzzaman (1985), to uphold roll integrity.

Conclusion

The right to vote, though not fundamental, is central to India’s democratic ethos. Safeguarding the vote is not merely a statutory obligation; it is a shared democratic responsibility, requiring vigilant institutions, informed citizens, and forward-looking legal reforms.

Mains Practice Question

Q Discuss the role of the Election Commission of India in ensuring inclusive and accurate electoral rolls. What reforms are needed to strengthen its functioning? (250 words, 15 marks)