India's Electoral Evolution: Strengthening Democracy with Technology and Inclusive Growth

Image Credit: Election Commission of India

As India gears up for the 2024 General Elections, the world watches the largest democracy undertake its monumental electoral exercise. With nearly 97 crore voters out of a 140 crore population set to participate, the logistics involve deploying around 55 lakh Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) across 10.5 lakh polling stations, managed by approximately 1.5 crore polling officials and security personnel. This extensive use of technology, particularly EVMs, marks India's commitment to leveraging digital advancements for enhancing the electoral process's efficiency, accuracy, and security.

Prime Minister Modi has emphasized the importance of electronic voting, highlighting its role in ensuring election integrity and reflecting the increasing voter confidence in India's electoral system. The rising turnout, from 66.4% in 2014 to 67.4% in 2019, attests to the growing faith in democratic processes and the effectiveness of EVMs. Despite controversies surrounding the vulnerability of EVMs, their security featuressuch as the inability to connect to the internet, absence of external hardware ports, and encrypted softwaresignificantly reduce the risk of tampering and external interference.

The Supreme Court of India has upheld the use of EVMs, dismissing petitions for their replacement with traditional paper ballots. The Election Commission of India maintains that EVMs ensure a transparent, accurate, and secure voting process, with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPAT) providing an additional layer of verification.

Under PM Modi's leadership, India has witnessed notable economic growth and development initiatives, contributing to a more inclusive society. The significant increase in financial inclusion, from 50% to 80%, and the expansion of infrastructure, such as airports and Vande Bharat trains, exemplify the strides made in enhancing the country's developmental trajectory. Initiatives like the PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana and Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan have played pivotal roles in uplifting millions from poverty and improving sanitation and education, particularly among women and girls in STEM fields.

As India continues on its path of modernization and inclusive growth, the 2024 elections represent not just a political event but a testament to the nation's democratic vigor and commitment to leveraging technology for governance and development.