Lok Sabha Question No. 701 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Electronic Voting Machines
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: YERRAM VENKATA SUBBAREDDY

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.701

## TO BE ANSWERED ON THURSDAY, 03 rd  December, 2015

## ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES

701.SHRI Y.V. SUBBA REDDY:

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

- (a) whether most of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have become outdated or likely to become outdated soon in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Election Commission has asked the Government to sanction money for new EVMs to meet the projected requirement for use in future; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

(a)  and  (b):  The  Election  Commission  has  stated  that  9,30,430  Electronic  Voting  Machines (EVMs) would become outdated during the period 2015-16 to 2019-20.

(c) to (d): A proposal for purchase of 13,95,648 Ballot Units (BUs) and 9,30,432 Control Units (CUs) at an estimated cost of Rs. 5511.48 crore during 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 & 2018-19 has been received from the Election Commission. The proposal is under consideration of the Government.

(a) to (b): Yes, Madam. The ECI has already proposed to replace the pre-2006 EVMs in a phased manner as under which is under consideration of the Government:-

| S. No.   | Financial year   | Pre-2006 EVMs which are to be phased out   | Pre-2006 EVMs which are to be phased out   |
|----------|------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
|          |                  | Ballot Unit (BU)                           | Control unit (CU)                          |
| 1.       | 2015-16          | 142631                                     | 142631                                     |
| 2.       | 2016-17          | 135481                                     | 135481                                     |
| 3.       | 2017-18          | 190592                                     | 190592                                     |
| 4.       | 2018-19          | 336045                                     | 336045                                     |
| 5.       | 2019-20          | 125681                                     | 125681                                     |
|          | TOTAL            | 930430                                     | 930430                                     |

(c)  to  (d):  The  Election  Commission  has  requested  to  sanction  the  amount  for  new EVMs to meet the projected expenditure for use in future.

The expenditure in procurement of upgraded post-2006 EVMs to phase out the pre-2006  EVMs  purchased  from  2000  to  2005,  and  also  for  staggered  purchse  of VVPAT units by the year 2018, based on tentative price of Rs. 7867/-, Rs. 9605/- and Rs. 20347/- per Ballot Unit (BU), Control Unit (CU) and VVPAT unit respectively, will be as under:-

| YEAR    | ITEM                                            | Qty.                | Tentative Price                                        | Total (Rs.)                      |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2015-16 | (i) Ballot Units (ii) Control Units (iii) VVPAT | 174000 174000 58500 | 7867 + Taxes 9605 + Taxes 20347+ Taxes (as applicable) | 1611653288 1967704313 1399174172 |
| TOTAL   | TOTAL                                           | TOTAL               | TOTAL                                                  | 497,85,31,773                    |

| YEAR    | ITEM                                            | Qty.                 | Tentative Price                                        | Total (Rs.)                       |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2016-17 | (i) Ballot Units (ii) Control Units (iii) VVPAT | 407216 252144 422250 | 7867 + Taxes 9605 + Taxes 20347+ Taxes (as applicable) | 3765398416 2846206812 10100463808 |
| TOTAL   | TOTAL                                           | TOTAL                | TOTAL                                                  | 1671,20,69,036                    |

| YEAR    | ITEM                                            | Qty.                 | Tentative Price                                        | Total (Rs.)                       |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2017-18 | (i) Ballot Units (ii) Control Units (iii) VVPAT | 407216 252144 422250 | 7867 + Taxes 9605 + Taxes 20347+ Taxes (as applicable) | 3765398416 2846206812 10100463808 |
| TOTAL   | TOTAL                                           | TOTAL                | TOTAL                                                  | 1671,20,69,036                    |

| YEAR    | ITEM                                            | Qty.                 | Tentative Price                                        | Total (Rs.)                       |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2018-19 | (i) Ballot Units (ii) Control Units (iii) VVPAT | 407216 252144 422250 | 7867 + Taxes 9605 + Taxes 20347+ Taxes (as applicable) | 3765398416 2846206812 10100463808 |
| TOTAL   | TOTAL                                           | TOTAL                | TOTAL                                                  | 1671,20,69,036                    |

| YEAR   | ITEM                                            | Qty.                         | Tentative Price                                        | Total (Rs.)                       |
|--------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| TOTAL  | (i) Ballot Units (ii) Control Units (iii) VVPAT | 13,95,648 9,30,432 13,25,250 | 7867 + Taxes 9605 + Taxes 20347+ Taxes (as applicable) | 3765398416 2846206812 10100463808 |
| TOTAL  | TOTAL                                           | TOTAL                        | TOTAL                                                  | 55,11,47,38,881                   |

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