Q.Discuss the role of the Election Commission of India in light of the evolution of the Model Code of Conduct.

graph TD
    ECI["Election Commission of India"] --> A["Conduct of Free and Fair Elections"]
    ECI --> B["Preparation of Electoral Rolls"]
    ECI --> C["Registration of Political Parties"]
    ECI --> D["Model Code of Conduct Enforcement"]
    ECI --> E["Monitoring Election Expenditure"]
    A --> A1["Parliament Elections"]
    A --> A2["State Legislatures"]
    A --> A3["Presidential Elections"]
    B --> B1["Accurate Voter Lists"]
    B --> B2["Prevent Duplication"]
    C --> C1["Recognition"]
    C --> C2["Election Symbols"]
    D --> D1["Political Parties"]
    D --> D2["Candidates"]
    E --> E1["Campaign Spending"]
    E --> E2["Level Playing Field"]

Body

Role of the Election Commission of India (ECI):

• Supervising Elections: Conducting polls for Parliament, State Assemblies, and local bodies, while maintaining accurate voter rolls.
• Enforcing MCC: Issuing guidelines to ensure ethical conduct and preventing the misuse of official machinery by the ruling party.
• Monitoring Campaigns: Checking hate speech, voter bribery, and enforcing rules on advertisements and rallies.
• Preventing Malpractices: Checking corrupt practices like booth capturing and the spread of digital propaganda.
• Disciplinary Action: Issuing warnings, censures, or recommending disqualification for violations.

Evolution of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC):

• Initial Phase (1960s-1970s): First introduced in Kerala in 1960 to regulate campaigns; adopted nationally by the ECI in 1968.
• Expansion and Strengthening (1990s-2000s): Under T.N. Seshan (1990s), enforcement was strictly tightened. Rules against hate speech and communal campaigning were introduced in 1991, and the misuse of government resources was banned in 2004.
• Recent Developments (2010s-Present): Extended to social media in 2013, requiring disclosure of online ad spending. Guidelines against fake news and online propaganda were added in 2019.

Challenges in Implementing the MCC:

• Lack of Legal Backing: The MCC is not legally enforceable, making immediate punitive action difficult.
• Misuse of Social Media: Regulating deepfakes, misinformation, and targeted propaganda on digital platforms remains a massive challenge.
• Defiance by Parties: Political actors often delay compliance or bypass ECI directives.
• Delayed Action: The ECI can issue warnings but lacks the power to instantly disqualify candidates.