Aadhaar, voter ID, ration card can't prove voter eligibility, not valid for Bihar electoral roll revision exercise: EC tells SC
Election Commission of India
(EC) has said
Aadhaar
,
voter ID
card, and
ration card
cannot be treated as valid documents for verifying entries in the
electoral rolls
of Bihar under its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
The EC submitted a detailed affidavit to the court, opposing a petition filed by 11 opposition parties, NGOs, and residents of Bihar. The petition demands the scrapping of the SIR and holding the upcoming November state election on the basis of the earlier rolls revised in December.
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Citizenship not affected by exclusion from voter list
The Election Commission clarified that a person's citizenship does not end if their name is missing from the electoral rolls.
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'Under the SIR exercise, citizenship of an individual will not terminate on account of the fact that he/she is held to be ineligible for registration in the electoral rolls,' the affidavit said.
It also added that the SIR process does not violate any law or fundamental rights of voters, and urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition.
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Voter ID and Aadhaar not enough for verification
The EC defended its choice to not rely on the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC), Aadhaar, or ration cards as proof of eligibility.
'The conceptual and procedural integrity of a de-novo revision would stand undermined if EPICs, which are merely reflective of prior entries, are used to validate entries in a roll that is required to be constructed anew,' the EC said. 'The EPIC, being a by-product of an earlier electoral roll, cannot substitute the verification process mandated for fresh preparation.'
On Aadhaar, the affidavit stated, 'Aadhaar is merely a proof of identity of a person. A person who seeks to claim a benefit can utilise an Aadhaar card to show he/she is who he/she claims to be... There are restrictions on usage of Aadhaar to check eligibility under Article 326.'
Fake ration cards a concern
The Commission also raised concerns about the authenticity of ration cards. It noted that due to the widespread presence of fake ration cards, the document was not included in the list of 11 documents accepted for verifying voter eligibility.
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'There are a large number of fake ration cards floating around in the country,' the EC told the court.
The EC further stated that the SIR exercise does not invoke Section 9 of the Citizenship Act and does not affect the legal status of any individual as a citizen.
By distancing the SIR process from citizenship determination, the EC aimed to assure the court that exclusion from the revised voter list does not mean loss of legal rights or nationality.
Aadhaar can't be the only ID for benefits: Meghalaya HC
Meanwhile, in another case, the Meghalaya High Court has said that Aadhaar alone should not be treated as the only valid proof of identity to access government schemes. It issued an interim order asking state authorities to accept other forms of identification from people who either do not have or do not wish to share their Aadhaar number.
Other documents like PAN and voter ID must be accepted
The court stated that individuals must be allowed to use alternative valid documents such as PAN cards, voter ID cards, or passports in place of Aadhaar to access schemes like post-matric scholarships or financial assistance for SC/ST students.
The bench pointed out that the Aadhaar Act of 2016 does not insist on Aadhaar being the only form of identity proof. Referring to Section 7 of the Act, the judges said that if a person does not have an Aadhaar number, the authorities must provide other ways to confirm identity and deliver the benefit.
The court also observed that the Aadhaar Act applies to 'residents' and not just 'citizens.' A resident, under the Act, is defined as someone who has lived in India for at least 182 days in the previous 12 months.
The case, brought through a PIL by activist Greneth M Sangma, challenged a state rule that made Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits. The High Court has scheduled the next hearing on August 12, when it will review the Aadhaar Act further in light of existing laws and previous Supreme Court rulings.
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These include the UN Convention on the Laws of the Seas, the Montreal Protocol for protecting Ozone, the Convention on Biodiversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification. • The ICJ ruling is not binding on the countries, but sets an important precedent for the thousands of climate lawsuits that have been filed in recent years across the world, seeking accountability from governments and corporates. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍ICJ begins hearing on landmark climate change case: Why is this significant? ECONOMY Indian economy remains largely resilient despite global uncertainties: RBI article Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. 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Capital expenditure recorded robust growth during the first two months of the current fiscal and was at 19.7 per cent of the budgeted capital expenditure vis-à-vis 12.9 per cent during the same period a year ago, indicative of front-loading of capital spending by the Central government. • India's merchandise trade deficit narrowed in June 2025, due to contraction in both oil and non-oil trade deficit. • De-escalating geo-political tensions in the Middle East, optimism on trade deals and the easing of norms for infrastructure financing by the Reserve Bank buoyed up domestic financial market sentiments in the second half of June, the article said. Do You Know: • Headline inflation, as measured by y-o-y changes in the all-India consumer price index (CPI), declined to 2.1 per cent in June 2025 — the lowest since January 2019 — from 2.8 per cent in May. The retail inflation remained below the 4 per cent target for the fifth consecutive month in June. • The article said that easing inflation, front-loading of government expenditure, targeted fiscal measures and congenial financial conditions for faster transmission of rate reductions should support aggregate demand in the economy, going forward. • On the trade front, the article stated that as intense negotiations are underway for closing trade deals before the new import tariff rates kick in from August 1, 2025, the focus is back on US trade policies and their spillover effects globally. • Financial markets, however, seem to have taken trade policy uncertainties in their stride, possibly reflecting optimism on reaching trade deals that are less disruptive to the global economy. Even so, underpricing of macroeconomic risk by financial markets remains a concern. • According to the article, the average trade tariff rates are set to touch levels unseen since the 1930s. 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Key Points to Ponder: • Why is this development significant? • How does AdFalciVax work? • What are the advantages of AdFalciVax? • What conditions has ICMR set for private players? • How the dual-target mechanism (CSP + Pro6C) of AdFalciVax could enhance both individual protection and community-level transmission control. • Compare and contrast AdFalciVax with RTS,S and R21/Matrix-M in terms of antigen design, adjuvants, durability, and administration challenges. • What is the significance of targeting mosquito-stage transmission with Pro6C, vis-à-vis global malaria elimination strategies? Key Takeaways: • Known as AdFalciVax, the vaccine mainly targets two parts of Plasmodium falciparum, a pathogen that is the most common source of malaria in humans. In India, however, the disease is caused by Plasmodium vivax against which AdFalciVax is ineffective. • Unlike AdFalciVax, RTS,S and R21 only use the CSP protein, and can prevent infection only in vaccinated persons. • Unlike AdFalciVax, RTS,S and R21 vaccines also do not use full-length CSP proteins. This is why the ICMR's candidate vaccine is 'likely to produce a stronger immune response and better protect against infection,' according to Singh. • Researchers have found that AdFalciVax provided more than 90% protection against infection in mice. The candidate vaccine has yet to undergo rigorous human trials, and the preliminary results have been obtained only through testing on animals. • AdFalciVax also contains an adjuvant — a substance used in vaccines to boost the body's immune response against the targeted disease — called alum. Singh says the use of alum is beneficial as it does not pose a risk of causing chronic inflammation, unlike adjuvants such as AS01 and Matrix M, which are used in RTS,S and R21. Alum is also known to be reliable, and has been used in numerous vaccines used in childhood immunisation programs over the years. Do You Know: • Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes, typically causing symptoms such as fever, chills, night sweats, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. In some cases, it can lead to severe complications such as seizures, fluid in the lungs, organ damage, and death. • Malaria is most endemic in Africa — Nigeria, Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, Niger, and Burkina Faso together account for more than half the yearly deaths. The disease is also present in India, although malaria deaths have sharply reduced in the country in recent years. According to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), reported malaria deaths stood at 1,151in 1995, and came down to only 93 in 2020 and 83 in 2022. • The organisation's 'World Malaria Report' says there were 5,511 deaths due to the disease in India in 2022. This discrepancy is due to WHO providing estimates and NVBDCP providing only the number of confirmed deaths, which may not have been officially reported. • To combat malaria, scientists have been working to develop a vaccine for decades but with limited success. Recently, two vaccines—RTS,S and R21—were approved for use, but their efficacy, at 75%, is quite low. • AdFalciVax is a chimeric recombinant vaccine — a type of vaccine that uses different parts of the genes of a pathogen (in this case, Plasmodium) to create target proteins that trigger an immune response after being injected. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍ICMR invites partners to launch and sell its new malaria vaccine Paikas and the uprising against British Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance and History of India and Indian National Movement Mains Examination: General Studies I: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues. What's the ongoing story: Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday (July 22) expressed concern over the 'omission' of the Paika Rebellion from the latest Class VIII history textbook of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), calling it a 'huge dishonour' to the brave Paikas. Key Points to Ponder: • Who were the Paikas? • Why did they rebel against the British? • How is the alleged omission of the rebellion from history textbooks a politically sensitive issue in Odisha? • Know the historical significance of the Paika Rebellion in Odisha's and India's broader struggle against colonialism. • What were the socioeconomic causes that led to mobilization of the Paikas in 1817? • Do you think that the inclusion of movements like Paika, Khurda, and Kuka in curriculum could foster critical historical thinking or regional fragmentation? Key Takeaways: • The NCERT has clarified that the 1817 rebellion will be included in the second volume of the textbook, set to be released in September-October. • Throughout the 19th century, rural India was alive with discontent that periodically manifested itself in the form of armed resistance against old inequities and new hardships alike. The latter was primarily the result of military expansion of the British East India Company, which disrupted existing social relations in peasant and tribal communities. • The Paika Rebellion, also known as the Paika Bidroha, was one such uprising. • The Paikas (pronounced 'paiko', literally 'foot soldiers') were a class of military retainers who had been recruited from various social groups by the Gajapati rulers of Odisha since the 16th century. They would render martial services to the king in return for hereditary rent-free land (nish-kar jagirs) which they would cultivate during peacetime. Do You Know: • In 1803, Colonel Harcourt marched virtually unchallenged from Madras to Puri, and faced only feeble Maratha opposition onward to Cuttack. Harcourt had made an agreement with Mukunda Deva II, for free passage through Khurda in return for compensation of Rs 1 lakh and four parganas — Lembai, Rahanga, Surai and Chabiskud — which had been under Maratha control since 1760. • When the Company did not fulfil these conditions, Jayee Rajguru, the custodian of the king marched to Cuttack with around 2,000 armed Paikas in order to pressurise the British. Although Harcourt paid a sum of Rs 40,000, he refused to give Khurda the four parganas. Rajguru subsequently conspired to overthrow the British, but was caught before the revolt could materialise. • The Company subsequently took away the king's lands, dethroned him, razed the fort at Barunei, and arrested Rajguru, who was convicted for waging war against the British government and executed on December 6, 1806. The king was banished to Puri. • The end of native rule in Odisha marked the beginning of the decline of the Paikas' power and prestige. Apart from losing political patronage, the Paikas, who previously enjoyed rent-free land, suffered due to new land revenue settlements introduced by the Company which drove Odia proprietors to ruin. Many were forced to transfer land to Bengali absentee landlords, often for a pittance. • In March 1817, some 400 Kondhs equipped with traditional arms marched from Ghumusar towards Khurda. They were joined by an army of Paikas led by Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mahapatra Bhramarabar Ray, the former commander-in-chief of the king of Khurda and the erstwhile holder of the lucrative Rodanga estate. • The Paikas and their rebellion have long been used to invoke Odia sub-nationalism. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: Who were the Paikas of Odisha, and what will the Paika Memorial celebrate? For any queries and feedback, contact Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
Mint
17 minutes ago
- Mint
Massive setback for Donald Trump: Appeals court strikes down birthright citizenship order nationwide
A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled that President Donald Trump's executive order aiming to curtail automatic birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, blocking its enforcement nationwide. The decision marks a major legal blow to Trump's immigration agenda and could set the stage for another showdown at the US Supreme Court. In a 2-1 decision, the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an earlier ruling by a federal judge in Seattle, declaring that Trump's directive violated the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment. 'The court agrees that the president cannot redefine what it means to be American with the stroke of a pen,' said Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, whose state led the legal challenge. The executive order had sought to deny US citizenship to children born on American soil unless at least one parent was a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. Despite a recent Supreme Court ruling that curtailed the power of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions, the 9th Circuit allowed the broader block, saying anything less would fail to protect the four states involved—Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon. 'It is impossible to avoid this harm absent a uniform application of the citizenship clause throughout the United States,' wrote US Circuit Judge Ronald Gould, who authored the majority opinion. Gould, joined by Judge Michael Hawkins, argued that limiting the injunction geographically would force states to revise government benefits programs in anticipation of families relocating from areas where the order was active. In a dissenting opinion, Judge Patrick Bumatay, a Trump appointee, contended that the plaintiff states lacked standing to sue and warned that the decision risked "judicial overreach." Trump's 2019 executive order directed federal agencies to refuse to recognize the US citizenship of children born on US soil to non-citizen parents who lacked green cards or American citizenship. The Constitution's Citizenship Clause says: 'All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens…' The case originated from a ruling by Judge John Coughenour, a Reagan appointee in Seattle, who became the first to halt the order. In his ruling, Coughenour called Trump's directive 'blatantly unconstitutional,' a position now affirmed by the appellate court. Trump's legal team could now appeal directly to the Supreme Court or request a broader review by the full 9th Circuit panel.
Mint
17 minutes ago
- Mint
‘Baseless, threatening allegations': EC hits back at Rahul Gandhi over Karnataka LS poll ‘cheating' remark
The Election Commission of India on Thursday did not waste any time in issuing fiery responses to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'cheating' allegations. The Leader of Opposition had accused the poll panel of 'allowing cheating' in a constituency in Karnataka, adding that the Congress had 'concrete 100 per cent proof' of it. Hours after the Congress leader made these remarks, ECI spokesperson on Thursday said that all electoral rolls are prepared transparently and copies were shared with recognised political parties. 'ECI is wondering as to why such baseless and threatening allegations are being made against CEC and that too now?' the poll panel asked. The ECI spokesperson further said that as far as electoral rolls of Karnataka Lok Sabha 2024 are concerned, 'not a single appeal' was filed with the District Magistrate of the Chief Election Officer of Karnataka. 'As far as conduct of Lok Sabha elections 2024 are concerned, out of 10 Election Petitions, not a single Election Petition was filed by any loosing INC candidate,' the ECI spokesperson added. Rahul Gandhi severely criticised the poll body over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, warning the opposition would not let them get away with the exercise. "I want to send a message to the Election Commission: If you think you are going to get away with it, if your officers think they are going to get away with it, you are mistaken. You are not going to get away with it, because we are going to come for you," the Lok Sabha LoP told reporters outside Parliament, just after the Lok Sabha was adjourned. He accused the ECI of indulging in "cheating" during the voter list revision process in a Karnataka constituency. Gandhi claimed to have "100 per cent" proof of the alleged manipulation, which involves adding and deleting voters, but hasn't presented any evidence yet, an ANI report said. "Today, we have 100 per cent proof of the Election Commission allowing cheating in a seat in Karnataka. When we decide to show it to you, it is 100 per cent proof. We just looked at one constituency and we found this. I am absolutely convinced that, constituency after constituency, this is the drama. Thousands of new votes, aged 50 or 60, or 65 (are there) in one constituency. Then, voter deletion, people who are way above 18," he said. The opposition parties, including Congress and the Samajwadi Party, have been protesting against the SIR exercise, alleging that it's an attempt to disenfranchise voters, particularly from marginalised communities. They claim that the process is being used to remove names from the voters' list, which could impact the outcome of upcoming assembly elections, the ANI report added. Reiterating the claim that the poll panel is not fulfilling its duties, the Lok Sabha LoP added, "I said this yesterday too; this is a very serious matter. The Election Commission is not functioning as the Election Commission of India. Today they made some statement; this is complete nonsense. The fact of the matter is that the Election Commission is not doing its job." Rahul Gandhi, along with other opposition MPs like Akhilesh Yadav and DMK MP TR Baalu, held protests in Parliament premises, raising slogans against the Election Commission and the BJP-led NDA government. The MPs held posters that read "SIR is the murder of democracy" and "Justice, Justice, Justice", demonstrating their strong opposition to the SIR exercise. The poll body has defended the revision process, stating that it's aimed at ensuring the purity of elections by removing ineligible voters from the rolls. The commission has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, affirming its authority to verify citizenship details in the interest of electoral integrity.
