The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous constitutional authority established under Article 324 of the Constitution of India. It was instituted on January 25, 1950, to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections, a foundational requirement for India's democratic structure. The ECI is a multi-member body, consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (ECs), a structure that has been in operation since October 1993.
The ECI's mandate, vested by Article 324, is the superintendence, direction, and control of the entire electoral process for the Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President. The broader legal framework is contained in Part XV (Articles 324-329) of the Constitution. Its mechanism involves preparing and revising electoral rolls, granting recognition to political parties, allotting election symbols, and enforcing the Model Code of Conduct. The ECI’s functions are closely connected to the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (dealing with electoral rolls and delimitation) and the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (governing the conduct of elections, qualifications, and disputes).
A significant recent change occurred with the enactment of The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, which replaced the Election Commission Act, 1991. The new Act changed the selection committee for the CEC and ECs, replacing the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet Minister, while retaining the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition/largest opposition party leader in the Lok Sabha. The CEC's security of tenure, removable only in the manner of a Supreme Court judge, and the six-year term (or up to 65 years of age) have stayed the same.