Page 117 - General Election

38. EVOLUTION OF ELECTORAL SYSTEM OF INDIA

India, the largest democracy, has been a leading proponent of Electoral Democracy for the last
seven decades. When the country gained independence on 15 August 1947, planning and

organizing the General Elections to elect a representative Government through universal adult
suffrage became one of the top priorities.

In order to achieve this, the provisions of the Constitution relating to the establishment of the

Election Commission were brought into force on26th November 1949, while most of the other
provisions came into effect on 26th January 1950 (when the Constitution of India became
effective).

The Election Commission was formally constituted on 25th January 1950, i.e., one day before
India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic. The ECI had been created as an independent
constitutional authority to protect and safeguard this newborn democracy by facilitating free

and fair elections, enabling people to choose their government.

The functions, responsibilities, structure and powers of the ECI are outlined in the Articles 324
to 329 of Part XV of the Constitution of India, which also extends the mandate of the Commission

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