ECI Commences Training of 373 Grassroots Election Officials from Four States at IIIDEM, New Delhi.
New Delhi:
In a major step toward strengthening the electoral framework at the grassroots level, the Election Commission of India (ECI) today commenced the eighth batch of training for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Supervisors at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi. This batch, comprising 373 election functionaries from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana, is the largest group of grassroots officials trained at the institute so far.
The inaugural session was addressed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who emphasized the critical role of BLOs and Supervisors in upholding the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.
Training Details and Participating States
The participants include:
- 118 officials from Uttar Pradesh
- 130 from Madhya Pradesh
- 96 from Chhattisgarh
- 29 from Haryana
With this cohort, the total number of grassroots election officials trained at IIIDEM over the past two months has crossed 3,720, marking a significant effort by ECI to build capacity and ensure uniform implementation of electoral processes across the country.
CEC Highlights Legal and Procedural Knowledge
In his address, CEC Gyanesh Kumar stressed the importance of rigorous training for ensuring that elections are conducted strictly in accordance with the Representation of the People Acts, 1950 and 1951, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, along with ECI’s guidelines issued periodically.
He also underscored the importance of educating field officers on the provisions for appeals against final electoral rolls. Under Section 24(a) of the RP Act 1950, appeals can be made to the District Magistrate or Executive Magistrate, while Section 24(b) permits appeals to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State or Union Territory.
“BLOs must not only understand these legal provisions but also inform electors about their rights to appeal, ensuring inclusive and transparent electoral rolls,” said Shri Kumar.
Zero Appeals Post SSR 2025: A Testament to Field Accuracy
Highlighting the quality of field-level electoral processes, the CEC noted that no appeals were filed from Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, or Uttar Pradesh following the Special Summary Revision (SSR) conducted between January 6–10, 2025. This reflects a high degree of accuracy and community engagement during the voter registration process in these states.
Hands-on and Digital Training Modules
The training programme at IIIDEM is designed to enhance the practical and technical capabilities of BLOs and Supervisors, with modules covering:
- Voter registration procedures
- Handling of statutory electoral forms
- Field verification methods
- Usage of IT tools developed by the ECI for electoral management
- Technical demonstrations and operation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), including mock polling exercises
These sessions aim to equip officials with the knowledge and confidence to execute their duties efficiently and ethically during the electoral process.
IIIDEM: The Nerve Centre of Electoral Training
Established as the apex training institution of the Election Commission of India, IIIDEM continues to play a pivotal role in capacity building by training election officials from across India and even from other democracies. It offers a structured learning environment that blends classroom instruction with hands-on practice and legal insight.
Conclusion
The ECI’s ongoing commitment to rigorous training of grassroots election personnel demonstrates its resolve to uphold the world’s largest democracy’s electoral standards. By empowering field officials with the tools, knowledge, and legal framework to perform their roles with precision, the Commission ensures that every vote cast is credible and every voter empowered.
