UPSC/KPSC Current Affairs: 14th November 2025

• Mekedatu: ‘T.N. challenge is premature’

Context: The Supreme Court termed Tamil Nadu’s application challenging the proposed construction of a reservoir by Karnataka at Mekedatu across the inter-state river Cauvery as “premature” and refused to entertain it.

• The Supreme Court (November 13, 2025) termed Tamil Nadu’s application challenging the proposed construction of a reservoir by Karnataka at Mekedatu across the inter-state river Cauvery as “premature” and refused to entertain it.
• A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai said, Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the reservoir, submitted by Karnataka, was only being considered by the experts in the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).
• The Central Water Commission (CWC) has already made it clear that any acceptance of the DPR would be given only after approvals from CWMA and CWRC.
• In case of approval of DPR, affected parties, including Tamil Nadu, would be free to take measures in accordance with the law.
• The apex court said, Karnataka, anyway, would be bound to release Cauvery water allotted to lower riparian Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry, which is downstream. The hearing before the three-judge Bench was based on an application moved by Tamil Nadu in the apex court seeking a direction to restrain the CWMA from deliberating the proposed reservoir project.
• The application has stated that the planning of the Mekedatu project with a capacity of 67.16 TMC ft. and generation of 400 MW project worth Rs. 9000 crore was in “gross violation” of the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal of February 5, 2007, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court itself on February 16, 2018.
• “The entire objective of the Tribunal’s final decision is to ensure that the pattern of the release of water to the downstream State to meet irrigation interests is not jeopardised,” Tamil Nadu, represented by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, argued.
• Senior advocate Shyam Divan, for Karnataka, would in no way impact the water allotted to Tamil Nadu. He said Tamil Nadu’s apprehensions were “completely misconceived”.
• But Tamil Nadu explained that the proposed reservoir would result in the impounding of the flows generated in the Cauvery river from the uncontrolled catchment of the Kabini sub-basin downstream of the Kabini reservoir, the catchment of Cauvery river downstream of KRS dam, uncontrolled flows from Shimsha, Arkavathy and Suvarnavathy sub-basins and various other small streams, which are the sources to ensure 177.25TMC at Billigundlu.
• It said CWMA cannot deliberate or pass any directions on the project when the Supreme Court was seized of the state’s applications to direct the Central Water Commission to reject and return the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project and restrain the Environment Ministry from entertaining any application for clearance relating to the Mekedatu ​project.

• IT policy 2025-30: State to pump in ₹967 crore towards incentives

Context: It seeks to bring investments with special focus on AI and other emerging technologies in cities beyond Bengaluru.

• Karnataka will be spending ₹967 crore towards varied incentives under the Karnataka Information Technology Policy 2025-2030 that seeks to bring significant investments with special focus on AI and other emerging technologies in cities beyond Bengaluru, and elevate Karnataka’s brand globally as ‘AI-native destination’.
• While 16 incentives, including nine newly added incentives, have been proposed to companies to be located in cities beyond Bengaluru, six major incentives have been proposed to units to be located in Bengaluru.

Many types of support

• Among the new incentives being introduced are support for faculty development, recruitment assistance, and talent relocation reimbursements.
• The new policy covers operational costs through electricity duty reimbursement, property tax reimbursement and telecom infrastructure development besides EPF reimbursement, rental assistance and skilling cost reimbursement for companies located beyond Bengaluru.
• The other incentives include internship cost reimbursement, intellectual property incentive, support faculty development programmes, reimbursement for quality certifications and power tariff concessions among others.

Outlay

• The financial outlay to implement the fiscal incentives and concessions for a period of five years is ₹754.62 crore, and ₹212.50 crore has been earmarked for government interventions such as fellowships and other programmes.
• The proposed policy expands the scope to provide extension of benefits to Indian-headquartered Global Capacity Centres operating or establishing a presence in Karnataka. It covers both new and expanding entities.

Increasing GSVA

• The goal is to increase the IT sector’s contribution to Gross State Value Added (GSVA) from 26% to 36% and increase software exports from ₹4.09 lakhs crore to ₹11.5 lakhs crore by 2030, besides driving investments in emerging cities such as Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Tumakuru, Kalaburgi, and Shivamogga.
• To elevate the State’s IT and innovation ecosystem, the government through public-private partnership seeks to estabslihe ‘Technoverse’, integrated technology campuses within the upcoming Global Innovation Districts.
• It will offer future-ready tech eco system with advanced R&D labs, digital virtual testbeds, and sector-focused innovation zones among others.

Digital networks

• It seeks to make the State with future ready digital network – Global Testbed Infrastructure Network and Statewide Digital Hub Grid – launch fellowship for 1,000 mid-career women tech professionals, IT talent return programmes, set up ease of doing business cell, and start shared corporate transport – IT Corridor Bus Pooling.

• Karnataka space tech policy aims to garner5% of global market share

Context: In a bid to sustain Karnataka as the number one destination for space technology in India and hold 50% of the national market share, which is estimated to be around $22 billion market by 2033, the State government approved the Karnataka Space Technology policy 2025-2030 to make Karnataka a global space technology destination, aiming at 5% of the global market share.

500 start-ups

• The main objective of the policy is to support and help skill development of 50,000 young professionals, attract $3 billion through investment incentives and outreach and support 500 start-ups and MSMEs, with grants to enable design, manufacturing, assembly, integration, testing, launching, and operations of 50 satellites from Karnataka.
• Among the focus areas of the policy will be the government support to companies engaged in the development of next generation space capabilities, including space stations and space tourism infrastructure, in-orbit manufacturing, and servicing capabilities.
• The government is also looking to support space asset development, launch infrastructure, manufacturing infrastructure and software. It will also support enterprises involved in earth observation, satellite communications, positioning, navigation, and timing services.
• The policy aims to facilitate global and domestic space sector to invest to set up manufacturing and assembly, integration and testing units in Karnataka to cater to domestic and international market.
• While a special package will be designed based on the project proposal for incentives for investments above ₹100 crore, a list of exemption, subsidy, and incentives have been provided for investments that are less than ₹100 crores.
• Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil announced the contours of the policy in the Cabinet briefing here on Thursday. It also aims to facilitate highly skilled workforce across the space value chain.
• He said that the policy looks at five broad strategies that include skill development, investments, infrastructure and facilities, innovation and facilitation, and adoption and awareness. A space technology cell, which will act as single touch point for industry, start-ups, and MSMEs will be set up under the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society.

• India, Nepal ink pact to step up trade ties

Context: India and Nepal have amended the Treaty of Transit between the two countries to facilitate the movement of rail-based freight between Jogbani in India and Biratnagar in Nepal, including bulk cargo.

• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Nepal’s Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Anil Kumar Sinha met in New Delhi on Thursday to exchange the letters amending the protocol to the Treaty of Transit between India and Nepal.  
• “This liberalisation extends to key transit corridors — Kolkata-Jogbani, Kolkata-Nautanwa (Sunauli), and Visakhapatnam-Nautanwa (Sunauli), thereby strengthening multimodal trade connectivity between the two countries and Nepal’s trade with third countries,” the government said in a release.
• The two Ministers also welcomed the ongoing bilateral initiatives to boost cross-border connectivity and trade.

• SC bats for protection of pristinesal forest in Jharkhand’s Saranda

Context: The Supreme Court directed the Jharkhand government to declare 31,468.25 hectares (approximately 314 sq. km.) of the Saranda forest area as a wildlife sanctuary, balancing biodiversity protection with sustainable iron ore mining.

• “The State cannot run away from its duty to declare the extent of 31,468.25 hectares as Saranda Wildlife Sanctuary,” a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai observed in the judgment.

Part of the ecosystem

• Saranda is one of the world’s most pristine sal forests, the court noted. It is home to critically endangered species, including the endemic sal forest tortoise, four-horned antelope, Asian palm civet, and wild elephants.
• For centuries, the area has been inhabited by the Ho, Munda, Uraon and allied Adivasi communities whose subsistence and cultural traditions are intrinsically tied to forest produce.
• The Saranda forest division also accounts for 26% of India’s iron ore reserves. The steel plants of SAIL and Tata are critically dependent on mining in this area.
• Amicus curiae, senior advocate K. Parameshwar, had submitted to the court that a judicial declaration of the entire area as a wildlife sanctuary would halt mining and affect employment opportunities.
• The hearings had seen the Jharkhand government dither about the area that ought to be cordoned off from mining and declared a wildlife sanctuary.
• The State had initially suggested that only 24,941.64 hectares of forest area should be declared a sanctuary, arguing that “vital public infrastructure” in the area would have to be demolished to make space for the sanctuary.
• However, the Jharkhand government later clarified in court that 31,468.25 hectares of forest area, consisting of 126 compartments, neither hosted mining activities nor was used for any non-forest use.
• The court, in its judgment, reminded Jharkhand that a “State has a positive obligation and a mandate to provide statutory protection to forests and wildlife and declare ecologically significant areas to be statutorily protected”.
• The Bench ordered the Jharkhand government to widely publicise that neither the individual nor community rights of tribals and forest dwellers in the Saranda area will be adversely affected by the judgment.

• Centre releases draft Seeds Bill; farm outfits cautious, industry welcomes it

Context: After two failed attempts by both the UPA and NDA governments in 2004 and 2019 to pass a similar law, the Union government has brought yet another draft Seeds Bill here.

• The Union Agriculture Ministry said the new draft is aligned with current agricultural and regulatory requirements. The proposed legislation is intended to replace the existing Seeds Act, 1966 and the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983.
• While the seed industry welcomed the move, farmer organisations reminded the Centre that it had to withdraw the Bill on two occasions following their resistance.
• The Centre said in a release that the draft Seeds Bill, 2025 seeks to regulate the quality of seeds and planting materials available in the market, ensure farmers’ access to high-quality seeds at affordable rates, protect farmers from losses, and liberalise seed imports to promote access to global varieties.
• “On the enforcement side, the draft Bill proposes to decriminalise minor offences, thereby promoting ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and reducing compliance burden, while maintaining strong provisions to penalise serious violations effectively,” the government said.
• All stakeholders and members of the public can submit their comments and suggestions on the draft Bill and its provisions by December 11.
• As per the draft, every dealer in seeds shall obtain a registration certificate from the State government before selling, keeping for sale, offering to sell, import or export or otherwise supply any seed by himself or by another person on his behalf.
• The draft law also provides for regulation of sale of seeds so that seed varieties conform to the minimum limit of germination, genetic purity, physical purity, traits, seed health and other seed standards specified in the ‘Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards’.
• Senior functionary of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) Pavel Kussa said: “…On the face of it, this Bill favours seed companies and facilitates ease of doing seeds business. We will study the draft Bill and make our position known to the government and the public.”
• Federation of Seed Industry of India chairman Ajai Rana said the release of the draft is a timely step toward modernising India’s seed regulatory framework.

• India’s carbon emission rise slower this year, says report

Context: In 2024, the country’s emissions grew by 4%, but a favourable monsoon, which cut demand for cooling, and a growth in renewable energy use, limited the rise to 1.4%, says Global Carbon Project.

• India’s 2025 carbon emissions have increased slowly compared to last year. While global carbon emissions are expected to rise to 38 billion tonnes, or by 1.1%, this year, the growth in India’s emissions is expected to increase by 1.4%, according to the Global Carbon Project, an authoritative tracker of fossil fuel emissions. This is lower than in recent years — in 2024, India’s emissions grew 4% than the previous year.
• The slower increase was partly due to a favourable monsoon that reduced cooling demand, as well as a “strong growth in renewable energy”, leading to lower coal use.

Global emission trends

• China’s emissions in 2025 are projected to increase by 0.4% — also a slower growth than in recent years. This was due to a “moderate growth in energy consumption combined with an extraordinary growth in renewable energy.”
• Emissions are projected to grow in the United States (+1.9%) and the European Union (0.4%) in 2025.

• Overall, India is the third largest emitter of carbon at 3.2 billion tonnes annually (2024), led by the U.S. (4.9 billion tonnes) and China (12 billion tonnes). India’s per capita emission is 2.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, the second lowest among 20 of the largest economies globally. Coal is the major fuel type contributing to India’s emissions.

• The projected rise in global fossil CO2 emissions in 2025 is driven by all fuel types: coal +0.8%, oil +1%, natural gas +1.3%. Over the 2015-2024 period, emissions from permanent deforestation remained high around 4 billion tonnes of CO2 per year, while permanent removals through reafforestation and forest regrowth offsets about half of the permanent deforestation emissions.
• Total CO2 emissions — the sum of fossil and land-use change emissions — have grown more slowly in the past decade (0.3% per year), compared to the previous decade (1.9% per year). The remaining carbon budget to limit global warming to 1.5°C is “virtually exhausted”.
• The remaining budget for 1.5°C is 170 billion tonnes of CO2, equivalent to four years at the 2025 emissions levels.
• “With CO2 emissions still increasing, keeping global warming below 1.5°C is no longer plausible,” said Professor Pierre Friedlingstein, of Exeter’s Global Systems Institute, who led the study. “The remaining carbon budget for 1.5°C, 170 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, will be gone before 2030 at current emission rate. We estimate that climate change is now reducing the combined land and ocean sinks – a clear signal from Planet Earth that we need to dramatically reduce emissions.”
• The latest numbers come even as world leaders are gathered in Belem, Brazil, to attempt progress in transitioning away from fossil fuel use while also negotiating how to pay for the costs of bolstering defence against the effects of human-caused climate change already underway.

• SC wants govt. to promote EVs amid high air pollution

Context: Amid worsening air pollution in the national capital, the Supreme Court on Thursday observed that it may be high time to revisit the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 to promote electric vehicles and even launch a pilot project in metropolitan cities.

• Appearing before a Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, advocate Prashant Bhushan, for NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, urged that the government ought to give incentives to encourage consumers to shift to electric-powered vehicles.
• He pointed out that an electric vehicle was costlier than one run on fossil fuel. He said the government must lead the way by transitioning entirely to electric vehicles.
• Attorney-General R. Venkataramani, for the Centre, said a complete shift to electric vehicles was a major policy decision. Justice Kant said five years have gone by since NEMMP 2020.
• “Now, even the policy may have to be revisited. You could start a pilot project in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Madras (Chennai) or Bengaluru,” Justice Kant mooted, listing the case after four weeks.
• The petitioner-NGO had sought the timely implementation of the Electric Vehicle Policy and Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles India scheme.
• In a related development, Supreme Court judge Justice P.S. Narasimha, heading another Bench on Thursday, asked lawyers to appear virtually in court. Justice Narasimha advised lawyers to take into consideration the worsening pollution in the national capital and not appear physically in court.

• Centre junks quality control order on polyester fibre, yarn

Context: The move is expected to benefit the Indian textile industry by makingit easier to obtain raw materials at internationally competitive prices.

• The Centre has revoked the Quality Control Order (QCO) on polyester fibre and yarn, and PTA and MEG, which was introduced two years ago, bringing relief to the textile industry.
• In an order dated November 12, 2025, the government said that based on powers conferred by Section 16 of Bureau of Indian Standards Act, it was revoking the orders of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers bringing in QCO on ethylene glycol, terephthalic acid, polyester spun, grey and white yarns, polyester continuous filament yarn, polyester partially oriented yarn, and polyester industrial yarn.
• The government brought in QCOs on polyester yarn, filament, fibre, and raw materials PTA and MEG, thus restricting imports.
• India has shortage of PTA and MEG and yet the government introduced QCOs. These are critical raw materials for the manmade fibre sector. The QCOs led to prices increasing by almost ₹4 a kg, said R.K. Vij, Secretary General of the Polyester Textile Apparel Industry Association.
• According to chairman of the Southern India Mills Association Durai Palanisamy, one of the long-pending needs of the industry has been addressed by the government. The QCOs increased the cost of polyester fibre and filament yarn by 30%. The relaxation of the QCO will streamline the import of polyester and its raw materials, ensuring an uninterrupted supply to spinners, weavers, and processors. Competitive imports are expected to stabilise domestic prices, he said.

• ReNew Energy to invest ₹60,000 cr. in green energy in A.P.

Context: ReNew Energy Global Plc, a leading de-carbonisation solutions company, on Thursday announced that it would invest ₹60,000 crore ($6.7 billion) in Andhra Pradesh to set up multiple green energy projects in the State.

• With this, the company’s total investment in the State goes up to ₹82,000 crore ($9.3 billion).
• In May this year, the company had committed to invest ₹22,000 crore (U.S. $2.5 billion) in the State to set up one of India’s largest hybrid renewable energy projects.
• In four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) entered into with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and IT Minister N. Lokesh, the company announced its plan to invest in establishing a 6 GW PV ingot-wafer plant, a 2 GW pumped hydro project, a 300 KTPA green ammonia facility and 5 GW hybrid projects, including wind–solar and solar–BESS.
• Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Naidu said, “This collaboration will accelerate clean energy deployment, attract high-quality jobs, and contribute meaningfully to sustainable and inclusive growth for the people of the State.”
• Sumant Sinha, founder-chairman and CEO of ReNew, said, “ReNew has a long-standing presence in A.P. and, with this expansion, we are bringing a fully integrated clean energy value chain to the State — from wafer to large-scale renewable projects and storage deployment.”

• Exporters welcome govt.’s ₹45,000 cr. export plan, but say more details, allocation needed

Context: The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) and the credit guarantee scheme for exporters (CGSE) approved by the Union Cabinet has been welcomed by exporter bodies and trade experts, but there is room for more to be done, and higher allocations to be made, some of them said. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the EPM, which had been initially announced in Budget 2025.

• The total outlay of the Mission is ₹25,060 crore and will cover the period 2025-26 to 2030-31.
• The CGSE aims to provide 100% credit guarantee coverage totaling ₹20,000 crore to lenders on loans they extend to eligible exporters, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Some trade experts, however, are not as sanguine about the Mission. “Despite its promise, the Mission faces several weaknesses,” Ajay Srivastava, former Director General of Foreign Trade and founder of Global Trade Research Initiative said. “Although announced in February, EPM is still only a broad framework. It now needs to be translated into detailed schemes with precise guidelines specifying eligibility, processes, and disbursal rules.” Mr. Srivastava said, this would mean it could take months before exporters see benefits.

• Centre suspends over 4,000 fertiliser distributor licences on hoarding charges

Context: The Union Department of Fertilisers has cancelled or suspended 4,298 licences and the registration of fertiliser distributers for black marketing, hoarding and diversion of stocks.

• The Ministry had earlier issued 8,777 show cause notices to the erring traders and 547 FIRs have so far been registered nationwide.
• In a release, the Department said it conducted a comprehensive drive with the Union Agriculture Ministry to secure the national fertiliser supply chain.
• “Working in close coordination with State Governments, effective enforcement action on an unprecedented scale including raids, inspections, and legal measures to curb black marketing, hoarding, and diversion of fertilisers has been taken by the district authorities. These proactive and strict steps taken by the State Governments ensured timely availability, reinforced market discipline, and upheld the integrity of fertiliser distribution across all regions of the country,” the government said.
• The Department said its officials conducted 3,17,054 inspections and raids.
• All enforcement actions were executed under the Essential Commodities Act and the Fertiliser Control Order,” the Centre added.

• Why Hepatitis A deserves a place in India’s universal immunisation programme

Context: As India debates the inclusion of the typhoid conjugate vaccine in its universal immunisation programme, it is time to ask whether Hepatitis A — a growing cause of acute liver failure — deserves even greater priority.

• A safe, effective, and long-lasting indigenous vaccine already exists; what is missing is the policy decision. India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) has been one of the most successful public health initiatives in the developing world. It eradicated polio, curbed measles deaths, and saved millions of young lives. Yet as the country’s health landscape changes, so too must its immunisation priorities.
• A recent article in The Hindu made a strong case for introducing the typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) into the UIP. The argument is compelling: India bears half of the world’s typhoid burden, manufactures multiple WHO-prequalified TCVs, and yet has not included them in its national schedule.
• However, as we assess new vaccines for inclusion, scientific evidence and public-health impact must guide our choices. On these counts, Hepatitis A vaccination may deserve even higher priority.

On Hepatitis A

• Hepatitis A, by contrast, is a silent but mounting threat. For decades, the virus infected most Indians in early childhood, causing mild illness and conferring lifelong immunity. With improved sanitation and hygiene, that pattern has changed. Fewer children are exposed early, leaving many adolescents and adults unprotected — groups in whom the disease is far more severe.
• In recent years, multiple outbreaks in Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi have underscored this shift. Hospitals have reported clusters of acute liver failure and even deaths. Unlike typhoid, there is no specific treatment for severe Hepatitis A; recovery often depends on supportive care. Seroprevalence studies reveal a steady decline in protective antibodies — from over 90% two decades ago to less than 60% in many urban regions. The result is a growing pool of susceptible young people vulnerable to serious illness. Hepatitis A is no longer a benign childhood infection; it is an emerging public health concern.
• The good news is that Hepatitis A is entirely preventable. Both live-attenuated and inactivated vaccines offer protection rates exceeding 90 to 95%, with immunity lasting for at least 15 to 20 years — often lifelong. India has its own indigenous success story here. Biological E’s Biovac-A, a live-attenuated vaccine developed domestically, has been used in the private sector for more than two decades with excellent safety and efficacy records.
• Unlike typhoid vaccines, Hepatitis A vaccines do not face issues of waning immunity, antibiotic resistance, or carrier states. A single dose of the live vaccine can confer durable, long-term protection. From a public health perspective, it is a model vaccine: safe, effective, long-lasting, and already made in India.
• Both typhoid and Hepatitis A cause significant illness, but their epidemiology and control prospects differ sharply. Typhoid mortality has declined with prompt antibiotic treatment and better sanitation, though antimicrobial resistance remains a concern. Hepatitis A, on the other hand, strikes indiscriminately across socio-economic groups, lacks specific treatment, and increasingly affects older children and young adults, where the disease is more severe.

Measurable criteria

• When judged by measurable criteria — disease burden, vaccine efficacy, durability, cost-effectiveness, and programmatic simplicity — the balance tilts decisively toward Hepatitis A. It is the low-hanging fruit of vaccine-preventable diseases: a single-dose, long-lasting, with an indigenous product ready for universal use.
• India could begin by introducing Hepatitis A vaccination in States that have experienced repeated outbreaks or show declining antibody prevalence. The vaccine can be co-administered with existing boosters such as DPT or MR, using the same infrastructure. Periodic serosurveys can track population immunity and guide expansion. This phased approach aligns with the UIP’s proven model of gradual, evidence-based rollout.
• This is not an argument against typhoid vaccination; it is a plea for rational sequencing. Typhoid control is important, but Hepatitis A control is both easier and more cost-effective at this stage. The disease burden is substantial, the vaccine is home-grown, and the science is clear.
• India’s immunisation programme has repeatedly shown foresight — from the early inclusion of Hepatitis B to the introduction of rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines. Adding Hepatitis A would be a natural next step in that continuum of progress.

• How is SEC ensuring fair elections?

Context: Following the Supreme Court’s directions, Maharashtra will hold local body elections in three phases, beginning on December 2. The first phase covers 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats, while the second will include 32 of 34 zilla parishads and 336 of 351 panchayat samitis.

• The municipal corporation elections will be held in the last phase. The court has directed that all elections be completed by January 31, 2026. The exercise comes amid Opposition criticism of errors and duplication in the voters’ lists.

Can the State Election Commission delete duplicate names?

• No. The State Election Commission (SEC) does not have the right to add or delete names from the voters’ lists. As per constitutional provisions, ‘superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of elections to urban and rural local bodies vest in the SEC.’ However, under the provisions of the five different Local Body Acts of the State, the SEC does not prepare a separate voters’ list for these elections. Instead, it uses the voter’s lists prepared by the Election Commission under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, by bifurcating them to represent the relevant wards of the local bodies concerned.
• For the upcoming local body elections, the Maharashtra SEC will use the electoral list as of July 1, 2025, which means the list containing inclusions and changes made by the Chief Electoral Officer up to that date. However, the cut-off date for first-time voters was not revised after January 1, 2025. As a result, young voters who turned 18 after January 2025 have expressed disappointment at being unable to vote in the forthcoming elections.

What does the SEC do?

• The SEC is responsible for the delimitation of all the Assembly constituencies in wards. This involves dividing the names of voters listed under each Assembly constituency into the respective wards.
• Under the revised voters’ list programme, beginning November 20, the SEC will invite objections and suggestions on the draft voters’ lists for the municipal corporation elections. The exercise will continue until December 12 and include the publication of the draft voters’ list on November 20, followed by the submission of objections and suggestions until November 27. The final ward-wise voters’ lists, after incorporating valid objections and suggestions, will be published on December 5.
• The list of polling centres will be published on December 8, and the final polling centre-wise voters’ list will be released on December 12.

Will the exercise address the issues raised by the Opposition?

• The Opposition has said that the revised programme does not address all the issues they had raised. For example, they raised issues about the electoral lists’ opaqueness, double voters, bulk voters on the same address, voters with zero address, and illegal names from outside the State registered in the list.
• The SEC officials said that during the revision exercise, four kinds of objections can be raised: when a voter’s name appears in the Assembly election list but is missing from the local body list; when a voter’s name is assigned to the wrong ward; when there are duplicate entries; and when multiple voters are registered at the same address.
• While the SEC cannot add or delete names, it will mark double and doubtful entries, officials said. A tool will be used to identify duplicate names on the Assembly voters’ list using four filters: first name, middle name, last name, and gender. When the Chief Electoral Officers receive the list of duplicate names, they will mark these entries with stars and undertake a field verification.
• Here, the voters will have to give an undertaking about the booth at which they will vote. These undertakings will be kept with the marked copies of the electoral rolls at each polling centre to ensure that no voter votes in more than one place.
• The Opposition, however, has questioned the feasibility of the exercise in such a short span. “Also, what if the list itself is defective? Clearly, nothing can be done about it, since it comes under the purview of the Central Election Commission. This does not address the many concerns we have raised,” an Opposition leader said.