The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a permanent, autonomous constitutional body established on January 25, 1950, to ensure free and fair elections. It derives its authority from Part XV of the Constitution, specifically Article 324, which vests the "superintendence, direction, and control" of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President in the ECI. It does not handle local body elections, which are the mandate of State Election Commissions under Articles 243K and 243ZA.
Originally a single-member body, the ECI became a multi-member body permanently in 1993, consisting of one Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (ECs). Under the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, they are appointed by the President based on the recommendation of a Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition (or leader of the largest opposition party) in the Lok Sabha.
The CEC enjoys security of tenure and can only be removed through impeachment in a manner similar to a Supreme Court judge. The ECI enforces the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and registers political parties under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
For GS Paper II (Polity and Governance), the ECI is vital for understanding the electoral process and democratic stability. Key related frameworks include the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (voter registration) and the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988 (lowering the voting age from 21 to 18). Landmark judgments like T.N. Seshan v. Union of India (1995) reaffirmed the equal status and decision-making powers of the CEC and ECs.