Lok Sabha Question No. 5198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-24
Subject: Lifespan of EVM
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Ganesan Selvam, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5198

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 24 th  JULY, 2019

## LIFESPAN OF EVM

5198. DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: SHRI SELVAM G.: DR. HEENA GAVIT: SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE::

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Election Commission has any criteria to fix the lifespan of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM); (b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of EVMs that have been replaced with new ones during each of the last three years; (c)  the  quantum  of  amount  spent  by  the  Government  on  procurement  of  EVMs  for  the recently held Lok Sabha Elections; (d) the number of EVMs and the number of paper trail machines used for the recently held Lok Sabha Elections; (e)  whether the manufacturing and technical knowhow of EVMs are indigenous or have technical collaboration with foreign establishments; (f) if so, the details of the said companies and the total expenditure incurred so far on the project and the terms of reference for transfer of technology; and (g) the other steps taken by the Government to conduct all future elections with VVPAT
- equipped EVMs and prevent tampering of EVMs?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a)and (b): The Election Commission of India has informed thatfollowing the recommendations  of  its  Technical  Expert  Committee  (TEC)  in  a  report  submitted  in 2007,the  Commission  formally  declared  1989-90  vintage  EVMs  'Not  fit  for  further  use'. The next model of EVMs (M-1), manufactured from 2000 to 2005, have also been put out of use after Lok Sabha elections, 2014 due to their non-compatibility with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). However, M-1 EVMs (under 15 years life) are being provided to the State Election Commissions for use in local body elections. For replacement of M-1 EVMs (9,30,430) and to meet requirement of EVMs for Lok Sabha  Elections,  2019  as  well  as  expected  simultaneous  polls  in  some  States,  the Commission procured 13.95 lakh Ballot Units (BUs) and 10.55 lakh Control Units (CUs) between 2016 to 2019. (c):  The  Commission has informed that the project cost of the aforesaid procurement of 13.95 lakh BUs and 10.55 lakh CUs was estimated as Rs. 2056.20 crore (excluding taxes and transportation). (d): The Commission has further informed that a total of about 14.86 lakh Bus, 11.31 lakh CUs  and  11.59  lakh  VVPAT  Units  were  used  in  elections  to  the  Lok  Sabha  2019  and simultaneous election to State Legislative Assemblies. (e)  and  (f):  As  informed  by  the  Commission,  the  EVMs,  being  used  by  them,  are indigenously  designed,  developed  and  manufactured  by  M/s  Bharat  Electronic  Limited (BEL),  Bangalore  and  M/s  Electronics  Corporation  of  India  Limited  (ECIL),  Hyderabad under technical guidance of the Commission's Technical Expert Committee. There is no technical collaboration with any foreign establishment. (g): The Commission has informed that the EVMs are completely non-tamperable. These EVMs are  technically  sound  and  the  Commission  has  put  in  place  strict  administrative safeguards for their free, fair and transparent use. All the elections are being held using VVPAT Units connected to EVMs since June, 2017.

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