Technology in Elections: Key Notes & Top 25 MCQs for UPSC EXams
🎧 Listen to this article
Democracy means power in the hands of the people, governments formed by their votes, equal rights, and equal opportunities. However, considering the current electoral situation, it appears that democracy is merely in name. Elections, money, media, technology, corporate powers, political bias, and the influence of social media – all these are eroding democracy from within and building a new kind of control system. While the people’s vote remains valuable, the methods for manipulating it are increasing.
In this blog, you will learn in depth about why and how democracy is being impacted, who is playing this game, and what techniques are being used.
Why is corporate money playing a major role in elections?
Elections today are dominated by corporate money, with lavish advertisements, rallies, and media campaigns shaping political priorities. Wealthy donors influence policies, while public resources are diverted through crony capitalism. Candidate selection favors those who can fund large campaigns, silencing ordinary citizens. Laws, concessions, and land allocations benefit corporations, and businesses exploit government influence for global expansion. Although democracy is meant to serve the people, in practice, it largely caters to the financial elite, prioritizing corporate interests over public welfare.
Role of Corporate Money
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Funding Dominance | Big corporations and wealthy donors control campaigns, influencing politicians' priorities. |
| Policy Capture | Laws and schemes are shaped to benefit donors over public welfare. |
| Crony Capitalism | Public resources are diverted to a few in exchange for political support. |
| Candidate Selection | Only wealthy candidates can campaign at scale, silencing ordinary voices. |
| International Business | Businesses leverage diplomacy, trade deals, and government connections for global gain. |
| Vote Buying & MLA/MP Purchases | Money is used to buy votes, influence representatives, or topple governments. |
| Influencing Officers & Judges | Bureaucrats and judicial figures may be pressured to favor ruling party interests. |
| Short-Term Gains Over Welfare | Parties prioritize immediate political power over long-term citizen benefits. |
Why do political parties prioritize power in elections over the people?
Political parties dominate election campaigns, but their internal structure often prioritizes money and power over people. Campaigns rely on big donors, with huge spending on rallies, advertising, media, and social media, fostering a money-first mindset. Ruling parties manipulate voters through freebies, cash, populist promises, or vote buying, sometimes pressuring bureaucrats or judicial figures. Focused on short-term gains, state resources, and business deals, parties sideline long-term welfare, making elections and influence revolve around money rather than citizens’ needs.
Political Parties & Election Influence
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Money as the Invisible Candidate | Election campaigns rely heavily on big donors rather than citizens, creating a money-first mindset with huge spending on rallies, advertising, and media. |
| Vote Buying & Populism | Parties in power use freebies, cash, or populist promises to manipulate and influence voters. |
| Vote buying & MLA/MP Purchases | In some regions, parties spend money openly or secretly to buy votes, influence MLAs/MPs, or even topple governments. |
| Influencing Officers & Judges | Bureaucrats and sometimes judicial figures may be pressured or rewarded for decisions favoring the ruling party’s interests. |
| Maintaining Control | Power ensures continued access to state resources, contracts, and business deals. |
| Short-term Gains over Long-term Welfare | Instead of investing in policies that uplift citizens, parties often prioritize deals that secure immediate power. |
Why has technology become crucial in elections?
Election manipulation today leverages advanced technology in multiple ways. Algorithms amplify ruling-party narratives while burying dissent, subtly shaping public opinion. Hidden apps and agencies collect voter data, add fake voters, and edit voter lists. Misinformation, deepfakes, bots, and paid influencers distort facts and online discourse. Targeted manipulation uses micro-targeted ads, WhatsApp groups, and voter profiling. Fake surveys and organized transport of voters skew results. AI aids campaigns but also fuels fake news, privacy abuse, and undermines democracy, limiting real citizen expression.
Election Technology & AI Influence Summary
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Algorithmic Influence | Platforms amplify ruling-party narratives and bury dissent, shaping public opinion subtly across millions of users. |
| Apps & Agencies | Hidden apps and private agencies collect voter data and move fake voters to polling booths. |
| Voter List Manipulation | Real voters removed, fake voters added; software edits lists, making fraud hard to detect. |
| Misinformation & Deepfakes | Fake news, doctored videos, and AI content distort facts and mislead voters. |
| Targeted Manipulation | Voter profiling, WhatsApp groups, and micro-targeted ads manipulate specific communities. |
| Transport of Fake Voters | Organized groups illegally move fake voters to multiple polling booths. |
| Poll Surveys | False pre- and post-poll surveys create an artificial sense of certainty and reduce genuine competition. |
| Bots, Trolls & Paid Influencers | Bots, trolls, and paid influencers replace ground campaigning and steer online narratives. |
| Techniques in Voting Manipulation | Preventing real voters from reaching booths and sudden mass voting in the final hours to skew results. |
| Nominal Free Speech | Citizen dissent is drowned in algorithm-driven noise, limiting meaningful expression. |
| Role of AI - Pros | Voter behavior analysis, micro-targeting, election efficiency, fraud detection, and advanced analytics for campaigns. |
| Role of AI - Cons | Fake news, privacy abuse, voter list manipulation, unequal opportunities, voter influence, and undermining democracy. |
How do media and politics undermine democracy through elections?
The media, meant to act as a watchdog, is often influenced by corporate and political pressures, favoring ruling-party narratives and sidelining opposition voices. Investigative journalism struggles, while fake surveys and propaganda distort perception. Voters face manipulation through vote buying, divisive politics, token representation, and remote polling booths. International PR, diaspora funding, and cyber interference further sway outcomes. Post-election, horse-trading, power misuse, delayed justice, and weakened accountability erode democracy, fostering public distrust and weakening citizen confidence in governance.
Election Influence & Democracy: Summary
| Category | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Media Influence | Corporate-owned channels echo government/corporate voices, fake surveys, and a lack of investigative neutrality shape voter perception. |
| State Machinery Misuse | Police and government bias, false cases, voter intimidation, and populist schemes manipulate elections. |
| Voter Deception | Divisive politics, vote buying, token representation, threatening voters, and remote polling booth placement affect voter choices. |
| Propaganda & Psychological Influence | Fake exit polls, raising sentimental issues, and mood-swinging events manipulate voter emotions. |
| International Influence | Foreign PR agencies, diaspora funding, and cyber hacking affect election outcomes. |
| Post-Election Manipulation | Horse-trading, toppling governments, delayed justice, punishing vigil blowers, erosion of accountability, and public distrust undermine democracy. |
How do electoral institutions retain confidence?
Biased Regulation: Election commissions should not act under political pressure.
- Opaque Electoral Funding: Should not allow legal instruments (like electoral bonds) to hide the link between corporations and parties.
Mass Voter Addition or Deletion: They must ensure that no millions of names are added or removed from the voter list without verified digital evidence.
Loopholes in Campaign Finance Laws: There should be transparency in election funds, and corporate donations in the form of bonds leave room for the public to know the truth.
Big Time Gap Between Elections: There should not be a non-logical long gap between different phases of elections that creates opportunities for corruption, voter manipulation, transport of fake voters across different parts of the country, and political bargaining.
Mass Voting at the End: There should be a digital proof to show the final hours; sudden mass voting not allowing booth capturing, fake ballots, or rushed manipulation of voter lists.
Strong Oversight: Election Commissions should be active watchdogs rather than act more as nominal referees.
Strong Enforcement: This leads to totally avoiding malpractices like fake voting, booth capturing, and rigging going unchecked.
Top Short Questions on S&T in Elections for UPSC and Other Exams
Q1: Is democracy really being hijacked, or is this just criticism?
A: This is not just a criticism; many examples, changes in the voter list, buying of MLAs, and false surveys clearly show that democracy is being emptied from within.
Q2: To what extent does money influence elections?
A: Campaigning, media, and vote buying in elections all depend on money. Those who invest a lot of money attract the attention of the people, while ordinary candidates are left behind.
Q3: Why is social media so effective in elections?
A: Social media can directly reach millions of people. But people are being deceived by the use of fake news, deepfakes, and bots, and it is becoming difficult to determine the truth.
Q4: How are voter list changes done?
A4: Frauds such as removing the names of opposition supporters, adding fake names, and registering multiple votes in the name of the same person are happening.
Q5: Why is the media acting in a biased manner?
A: Due to pressure from corporate owners and the government, the media only shows one side of the story. The chances of people getting balanced information are decreasing.
Q6: How harmful is buying MPs or MLAs to democracy?
A: To topple the government that the people voted for and buy MPs or MLAs with money is a complete disgrace to democracy.
Q7: How will the role of the police change during elections?
A: If the police act partially, they will obstruct the opposition campaign and intimidate voters, which is dangerous to democracy.
Q8: How much impact do false surveys have on the people?
A: False surveys create a sense of ‘sure victory’ among voters, weaken real competition, and subvert democracy.
Q9: What is the international impact on democracy?
A9: Election campaigns are influenced by the use of foreign money, PR firms, and social media bots, which disrupts domestic democracy.
Q10: What should people do in these situations?
A: People should be aware, careful not to believe fake news on social media and follow independent sources for real information.
A: Major pilferages in elections include booth capturing, vote buying, fake voting, tampering with EVMs or ballot boxes, voter intimidation, misuse of government machinery, manipulation of voter lists, distribution of freebies, media bias or paid news, rigged counting, and cyber interference — all undermining free and fair elections.
Q12. What is meant by abuse of power by election officials?
A: It refers to dishonest practices where election staff misuse their authority to favor a particular candidate or party during voting or counting.
Q13. What does rigged counting or tabulation mean?
A: It means deliberately altering vote counts or manipulating data during result compilation to change the election outcome.
Q14. What is cyber manipulation in elections?
A: Cyber manipulation refers to hacking, tampering, or unauthorized interference with electronic voting systems or election data to influence results.
Q15. What are voter suppression tactics?
A: These are deliberate actions that prevent eligible citizens from voting, such as removing names from rolls, restricting access, or intimidation.
Q16. What is booth capturing in elections?
A: Booth capturing means forcibly taking control of a polling station and casting fake votes to favor a candidate or party.
Q17. What is vote buying?
A: Vote buying occurs when money, gifts, or favors are offered to voters to influence their voting choice.
Q18. What is fake voting or impersonation?
A: It means casting a vote using someone else’s name or a false identity, which leads to fraudulent results.
Q19. What does tampering with EVMs or ballot boxes involve?
A: It involves manipulating or damaging electronic voting machines or stuffing ballot boxes with fake votes.
Q20. What is media manipulation in elections?
A: Media manipulation includes paid news, misinformation, or biased reporting intended to favor a political party or candidate.
Q21. What is the misuse of government machinery during elections?
A: It means using government resources like vehicles, funds, or officials for political campaigning, violating election laws.
Top 25 MCQs on Technology in Elections for UPSC Exam
Practice the Top 25 MCQs on Technology in Elections to build conceptual clarity, assess exam preparedness, and enhance analytical accuracy for UPSC prelims and other competitive examinations.
1. What is the full form of "EVM" used in Indian elections?
a) Election Verification Machine
b) Electronic Voting Machine
c) Electrical Voter Mechanism
d) Easy Vote Monitor
Expand Text
Answer: b) Electronic Voting Machine
EVMs replaced paper ballots to make voting faster, more reliable, and eco-friendly. They consist of a Control Unit and a Ballot Unit.
2. What is the primary function of the "VVPAT" machine?
a) To count votes faster
b) To print a paper slip allowing voters to verify their vote
c) To take a photo of the voter
d) To scan the Voter ID
Expand Text
Answer: b) To print a paper slip allowing voters to verify their vote
VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) displays the chosen candidate's symbol for 7 seconds behind a glass window before dropping it into a sealed box.
3. Which two Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) manufacture EVMs in India?
a) DRDO and ISRO
b) BHEL and NTPC
c) BEL (Bharat Electronics Ltd) and ECIL (Electronics Corp of India Ltd)
d) TATA and Reliance
Expand Text
Answer: c) BEL (Bharat Electronics Ltd) and ECIL (Electronics Corp of India Ltd)
These two government-owned companies are solely responsible for manufacturing and supplying EVMs to the Election Commission of India.
4. The "cVIGIL" mobile app launched by the Election Commission is used for:
a) Counting votes online
b) Reporting violations of the Model Code of Conduct
c) Applying for Voter ID
d) Watching election news
Expand Text
Answer: b) Reporting violations of the Model Code of Conduct
Citizens can take photos or videos of electoral malpractice (like bribery or hate speech) and upload them anonymously for quick action.
5. Are Indian EVMs connected to the Internet or Bluetooth?
a) Yes, via Wi-Fi
b) Yes, via Bluetooth
c) No, they are Standalone Machines
d) Only during counting
Expand Text
Answer: c) No, they are Standalone Machines
To prevent hacking, Indian EVMs are effectively calculators with no wireless communication capabilities or internet connections.
6. What does "NOTA" stand for on the EVM?
a) None Of The Above
b) No One To Appoint
c) New Option To Apply
d) National Opinion Testing Authority
Expand Text
Answer: a) None Of The Above
It is the last button on the EVM, allowing voters to exercise their right to reject all candidates contesting in that constituency.
7. What is "ETPBS" primarily used for?
a) Counting votes
b) Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System for Service Voters
c) Transporting EVMs
d) Press broadcasting
Expand Text
Answer: b) Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System for Service Voters
It helps military personnel and diplomats (Service Voters) receive their ballot papers electronically to vote from remote locations.
8. In an EVM, which unit actually stores the vote data?
a) Ballot Unit (BU)
b) Control Unit (CU)
c) VVPAT
d) The Cable
Expand Text
Answer: b) Control Unit (CU)
The Ballot Unit is just a keypad. The Control Unit, kept with the Presiding Officer, contains the memory and "brain" of the system.
9. Which technology is being explored to enable "Remote Voting" for migrant workers?
a) Blockchain Technology
b) Social Media Polling
c) Email Voting
d) Fax Voting
Expand Text
Answer: a) Blockchain Technology
Blockchain offers a secure, decentralized, and tamper-proof ledger system that could potentially allow secure remote e-voting in the future.
10. The "Saksham" App was launched to facilitate which category of voters?
a) Senior Citizens only
b) First-time voters
c) Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)
d) NRI Voters
Expand Text
Answer: c) Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)
It provides various services like requesting a wheelchair, pick-and-drop facilities, and finding the polling booth to ensure accessible elections.
11. What happens when the "Close" button is pressed on the EVM Control Unit?
a) The machine shuts down
b) No further votes can be recorded
c) It prints the results immediately
d) It deletes all votes
Expand Text
Answer: b) No further votes can be recorded
This button is pressed at the end of polling hours to seal the machine electronically so no illegal votes can be added later.
12. "EPIC" is the technical term for:
a) Voter ID Card
b) Election Manifesto
c) Polling Booth
d) Nomination Paper
Expand Text
Answer: a) Voter ID Card
It stands for "Electors Photo Identity Card," introduced to prevent impersonation during voting.
13. In which year were EVMs first used in India on an experimental basis?
a) 1952
b) 1982
c) 1999
d) 2014
Expand Text
Answer: b) 1982
EVMs were first used in the Paravur Assembly Constituency of Kerala in 1982 for 50 polling stations.
14. The "Garuda" App allows Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to:
a) Count votes
b) Capture GPS coordinates and photos of polling stations
c) Track candidate spending
d) Hack EVMs
Expand Text
Answer: b) Capture GPS coordinates and photos of polling stations
It helps the Election Commission digitally map polling stations and ensure basic amenities (Assured Minimum Facilities) are available.
15. EVMs are powered by:
a) Mains Electricity (AC)
b) Solar Panels
c) External Battery Packs (Alkaline)
d) Wind Energy
Expand Text
Answer: c) External Battery Packs (Alkaline)
They use a 7.5-volt battery pack, allowing them to function in rural areas without reliable electricity supply.
16. For visually impaired voters, the EVM Ballot Unit has:
a) Voice guidance
b) Braille signage next to buttons
c) Larger buttons
d) A helper allowed inside
Expand Text
Answer: b) Braille signage next to buttons
The Ballot Unit has Braille numbers embossed next to the blue buttons so visually impaired voters can vote independently.
17. What is "KYC" App by the Election Commission?
a) Know Your Candidate
b) Know Your Constituency
c) Know Your Commission
d) Know Your Card
Expand Text
Answer: a) Know Your Candidate
It allows voters to view the criminal antecedents (if any), assets, and educational qualifications of candidates contesting the election.
18. The "M3" generation of EVMs includes which new security feature?
a) Fingerprint scanner
b) Self-Diagnostics and Tamper Detection
c) Facial recognition
d) Voice command
Expand Text
Answer: b) Self-Diagnostics and Tamper Detection
M3 EVMs become inoperative (Mutual Authentication Mode) if anyone tries to open them or replace parts with non-genuine components.
19. The VVPAT slip is visible to the voter for how many seconds?
a) 3 seconds
b) 7 seconds
c) 15 seconds
d) 1 minute
Expand Text
Answer: b) 7 seconds
The slip displays the serial number, name, and symbol of the candidate for 7 seconds to verify the vote, then automatically cuts and falls.
20. Which web portal helps new voters register online?
a) NVSP (National Voters' Service Portal)
b) IRCTC
c) Passport Seva
d) Umang
Expand Text
Answer: a) NVSP (National Voters' Service Portal)
The NVSP (now often integrated into the Voter Helpline App) is the single window for registration, corrections, and downloading e-EPIC.
21. Can the EVM be reprogrammed via a computer?
a) Yes, easily
b) No, the chip is One Time Programmable (OTP)
c) Yes, using a USB
d) Only by the Prime Minister
Expand Text
Answer: b) No, the chip is One Time Programmable (OTP)
The software is burnt into the chip at the time of manufacturing and cannot be altered or rewritten later.
22. What is a "Totalizer" in the context of EVMs?
a) A calculator
b) A device to mix votes from multiple booths before counting
c) A battery charger
d) A printer
Expand Text
Answer: b) A device to mix votes from multiple booths before counting
Proposed to protect voter privacy, it prevents political parties from knowing the voting trends of specific small neighborhoods.
23. "e-EPIC" is a:
a) Hard plastic card
b) Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the Voter ID
c) Paper slip
d) Metal tag
Expand Text
Answer: b) Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the Voter ID
It is a non-editable secure PDF version of the EPIC that can be downloaded on mobile or computer and is legally valid.
24. How many candidates (maximum) can a single Ballot Unit cater to?
a) 10
b) 16 (including NOTA)
c) 50
d) 100
Expand Text
Answer: b) 16 (including NOTA)
If there are more candidates, up to 24 Ballot Units can be connected in a series to the Control Unit to accommodate up to 384 candidates.
25. Why is "Internet Voting" generally avoided for national elections globally?
a) It is too cheap
b) High risk of hacking, malware, and lack of secrecy
c) People don't have phones
d) It is too fast
Expand Text
Answer: b) High risk of hacking, malware, and lack of secrecy
Unlike standalone EVMs, internet-connected devices are vulnerable to cyberattacks, DDOS attacks, and coercion (selling votes from home).
Watch this video to boost your UPSC 2026 GK preparation with powerful, exam-focused MCQs and insights.
Conclusion
Democracy remains in name, but its soul is gradually being hijacked. Business interests, money, technology, media, and political games are together distorting the power of the people. Removing voters, adding fake voters, buying MLAs, showing fake surveys, and cheating through social media – all these are signs that democracy is collapsing.
For real change to happen, people must be careful, raise awareness, and vote knowing the truth. Your vigilance is essential if democracy is to become the real power of the people, not just a design.
Online Courses, Reference Books, & Websites
| Category | Resources |
|---|---|
| Online Courses |
|
| Reference Books |
|
| Websites |
.webp)
Thanks, this article on elections is very useful.
ReplyDelete