Union Budget 2024-25 Allocates Rs 1,000 Crore to Law Ministry for Lok Sabha Election Liabilities

The Union law ministry is allocated Rs 1,000 crore in the Union Budget 2024-25 to cover liabilities related to the Lok Sabha election. Additionally, Rs 404 crore is designated for reimbursing states for issuing election photo identity cards. Rs 34 crore is earmarked for new EVMs and destroying obsolete ones.

The Union law ministry has received Rs 1,000 crore in the Union Budget 2024-25 to address carry-forward liabilities related to the recently held Lok Sabha election. Additionally, Rs 404 crore has been allocated for reimbursing the states for issuing election photo identity cards.

Furthermore, Rs 34 crore has been provided to the ministry for the Election Commission to acquire new Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and dispose of obsolete ones. EVMs, which have a shelf life of 15 years, are manufactured by two PSUs: Electronic Corporation of India Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd.

In early 2023, the cost of EVMs per unit was Rs 7,900 for a ballot unit (BU), Rs 9,800 for a control unit (CU), and Rs 16,000 for a VVPAT machine. The Centre reimburses states for conducting parliamentary elections, including general expenditure and printing electoral rolls. The turnout for the Lok Sabha election was pegged at 65.79% with over 54 crore out of nearly 97 crore voters casting their ballots.