Lok Sabha Question No. 3851 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-25
Subject: Electronic Voting Machine
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: D. Ravikumar

- (a):  Yes Sir.
- (b):  The procedure followed for the purchase of EVMs and VVPATs is as under:
- (i) Based  on  the estimated number  of polling stations for  oncoming elections,  the  Election  Commission  of  India  (ECI)  determines  the  number  of additional  machines,  (EVSs/VVPATs)  if  needed  over  and  above  its  existing inventory.
- (ii)  The  ECI  then  requests  the  Government  for  in-principle  approval  and necessary  budget  for  the  required  number  of  machines  along  with  tentative costs.

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

## L O K    S A B H A UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3851

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 25 th  MARCH, 2022

## ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE

## 3851. SHRI RAVIKUMAR D.:

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

- (a) whether the expenditure on purchase of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) has been  allocated  to  the  Legislative  Department  under  the  Ministry  of  Law  and Justice;
- (b)  if so, the reasons therefor along with the procedure followed for the purchase of EVMs and the role of Legislative Department in the process;
- (c)  whether the expenditure on purchase of EVMs has not been allocated to the budget for Election Commission of India or Department of Legal Affairs, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the budget estimate, revised estimate and actual expenditure on the Legislative Department separately for different heads, including purchase of EVMs, for the last five years, year-wise; and
- (e) the number of EVMs that had been manufactured and the total number of EVMs received by the Election Commission of India between 2014-2021?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (iii)  On  receipt  of  the  proposal  for  in  principal  approval  from  the  ECI,  the Legislative Department places the matter before the Government as per the Delegation of the Financial Powers Rules, 1978, if required, to the Cabinet and on Cabinet's approval, convey the same to the ECI.
- (iv)  Upon  receipt  of  the  in  principle  approval  from  the  Government,  the necessary work order for said procurement  is  placed  by  the  ECI  on  the PSU-manufactures, viz . M/s. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and M/s Electronics Corporation of India Limiter (ECIL) for supply of machines.
- (v) Based on the allocation of funds the payments are made by the ECI to the PSUs,   subject  to  the  finalisation  of  the  cost  by  the  Price  Negotiation Committee (PNC). PNC consists of AS/JS& FA (Law) one member each from  the  Legislative  Department,  Department  of  Expenditure,  Ministry  of Finance and ECI.
- (vi)  Subsequently,  based  on  the  manufacturing  plan  and  production,  the machines  are  allocated  by  the  ECI  to  various  states/districts  for  timely deployment and use.
- (c): No Sir.
- (d):  The information is annexed as Annexure A.
- (e):  The  ECI  has  informed that the number  of  EVMs  (including  VVPATs) manufactured and supplied from 2014-2021 are as under:

| YEAR      | Machine      | Quantity (in lacs)   |
|-----------|--------------|----------------------|
| 2013-2014 | Ballot Unit  | 3.82                 |
| 2013-2014 | Control Unit | 2.50                 |
| 2013-2014 | VVPAT        | NIL                  |
| 2017-2018 | Ballot Unit  | 13.95                |
| 2017-2018 | Control Unit | 10.55                |
| 2017-2018 | VVPAT        | 17.45                |

*******

(Figures in crore)

|                                                        | 2017-18         | 2017-18          | 2017-18            | 2018-19         | 2018-19          | 2018-19            |
|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------|--------------------|-----------------|------------------|--------------------|
| Budget Head                                            | Budget Estimate | Revised Estimate | Actual Expenditure | Budget Estimate | Revised Estimate | Actual Expenditure |
| 2015 - Election                                        |                 |                  |                    |                 |                  |                    |
| Reimbursement to States                                | 1584.61         | 1208.45          | 1205.02            | 1056.35         | 892.73           | 893.71             |
| EVM's Professional Services                            | 0.01            | 0.00             | 0.00               | 30.77           | 25.00            | 19.13              |
| 2015 - Election                                        | 1584.62         | 1208.45          | 1205.02            | 1087.12         | 917.73           | 912.84             |
| 2052 - Secretariat General Services                    |                 |                  |                    |                 |                  |                    |
| OL Wing                                                | 10.64           | 10.64            | 10.23              | 10.24           | 12.39            | 12.10              |
| Legislative Department                                 | 24.20           | 22.80            | 20.36              | 23.14           | 24.86            | 22.16              |
| 2052 - Secretariat General Services                    | 34.84           | 33.44            | 30.59              | 33.38           | 37.25            | 34.26              |
| 2070 - Other Administrative Services                   |                 |                  |                    |                 |                  |                    |
| Vidhi Sahitya Prakashan                                | 6.44            | 5.44             | 4.90               | 5.60            | 5.58             | 5.05               |
| 2070 - Other Administrative Services                   | 6.44            | 5.44             | 4.90               | 5.60            | 5.58             | 5.05               |
| 2235 - Social Security and Welfare                     |                 |                  |                    |                 |                  |                    |
| Social Security Welfare                                | 0.00            | 0.00             | 0.00               | 0.00            | 0.00             | 0.00               |
| 2235 - Social Security and Welfare                     | 0.00            | 0.00             | 0.00               | 0.00            | 0.00             | 0.00               |
| 4070 - Capital Outlay on Other Administrative Services |                 |                  |                    |                 |                  |                    |
| Election "EVMs for Election Commission"                | 1000.00         | 1500.00          | 1478.73            | 1730.00         | 3902.17          | 3656.37            |
| 4070 - Capital Outlay on Other Administrative Services | 1000.00         | 1500.00          | 1478.73            | 1730.00         | 3902.17          | 3656.37            |
| Total                                                  | 2625.90         | 2747.33          | 2719.24            | 2856.10         | 4862.73          | 4608.52            |

## ANNEXURE-A

(Figures in crore)

|                                                        | 2019-20         | 2019-20          | 2019-20            | 2020-21         | 2020-21          | 2020-21            |
|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------|--------------------|-----------------|------------------|--------------------|
| Budget Head                                            | Budget Estimate | Revised Estimate | Actual Expenditure | Budget Estimate | Revised Estimate | Actual Expenditure |
| 2015 - Election                                        |                 |                  |                    |                 |                  |                    |
| Reimbursement to States                                | 1429.54         | 1380.05          | 1378.48            | 437.00          | 68.50            | 66.15              |
| EVM's Professional Services                            | 0.01            | 0.01             | 0.00               | 50.00           | 5.00             | 5.00               |
| 2015 - Election                                        | 1429.55         | 1380.06          | 1378.48            | 487.00          | 73.50            | 71.15              |
| 2052 - Secretariat General Services                    |                 |                  |                    |                 |                  |                    |
| OL Wing                                                | 13.25           | 13.25            | 12.61              | 13.25           | 12.25            | 11.85              |
| Legislative Department                                 | 26.04           | 26.04            | 23.42              | 26.75           | 25.63            | 22.64              |
| 2052 - Secretariat General Services                    | 39.29           | 39.29            | 36.03              | 40.00           | 37.88            | 34.49              |
| 2070 - Other Administrative Services                   |                 |                  |                    |                 |                  |                    |
| Vidhi Sahitya Prakashan                                | 6.79            | 6.79             | 6.10               | 7.00            | 6.50             | 5.71               |
| 2070 - Other Administrative Services                   | 6.79            | 6.79             | 6.10               | 7.00            | 6.50             | 5.71               |
| 2235 - Social Security and Welfare                     |                 |                  |                    |                 |                  |                    |
| Social Security Welfare                                | 0.00            | 0.00             | 0.00               | 0.00            | 0.00             | 0.00               |
| 2235 - Social Security and Welfare                     | 0.00            | 0.00             | 0.00               | 0.00            | 0.00             | 0.00               |
| 4070 - Capital Outlay on Other Administrative Services |                 |                  |                    |                 |                  |                    |
| Election "EVMs for Election Commission"                | 25.00           | 75.00            | 24.97              | 150.00          | 150.00           | 149.15             |
| 4070 - Capital Outlay on Other Administrative Services | 25.00           | 75.00            | 24.97              | 150.00          | 150.00           | 149.15             |
| Total                                                  | 1500.63         | 1501.14          | 1445.58            | 684.00          | 267.88           | 260.50             |

(Figures in crore)

|                                                        | 2021-22         | 2021-22          | 2021-22                              |
|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Budget Head                                            | Budget Estimate | Revised Estimate | Actual Expenditure upto (21.03.2022) |
| 2015 - Election                                        |                 |                  |                                      |
| Reimbursement to States                                | 164.30          | 1572.86          | 1561.35                              |
| EVM's Professional Services                            | 5.00            | 63.00            | 5.00                                 |
| 2015 - Election                                        | 169.30          | 1635.86          | 1566.35                              |
| 2052 - Secretariat General Services                    |                 |                  |                                      |
| OL Wing                                                | 13.80           | 13.80            | 13.01                                |
| Legislative Department                                 | 28.10           | 28.10            | 23.35                                |
| 2052 - Secretariat General Services                    | 41.90           | 41.90            | 36.36                                |
| 2070 - Other Administrative Services                   |                 |                  |                                      |
| Vidhi Sahitya Prakashan                                | 7.00            | 7.00             | 6.01                                 |
| 2070 - Other Administrative Services                   | 7.00            | 7.00             | 6.01                                 |
| 2235 - Social Security and Welfare                     |                 |                  |                                      |
| Social Security Welfare                                | 0.20            | 0.20             | 0.00                                 |
| 2235 - Social Security and Welfare                     | 0.20            | 0.20             | 0.00                                 |
| 4070 - Capital Outlay on Other Administrative Services |                 |                  |                                      |
| Election "EVMs for Election Commission"                | 1000.00         | 1000.00          | 998.83                               |
| 4070 - Capital Outlay on Other Administrative Services | 1000.00         | 1000.00          | 998.83                               |
| Total                                                  | 1218.40         | 2684.96          | 2607.55                              |