General Elections and bye-elections 2026: Seizures surpass Rs. 650 crores

• Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule on 15 March 2026 for Legislative Assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal + bye-elections in 6 states, triggering the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
• By 5 April 2026, multi-agency enforcement seizures of illicit cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and freebies crossed ₹650 crore — reflecting ECI's focus on "inducement-free elections".
• Relevance for UPSC: GS-II (RPA, ECI powers, electoral reforms) and GS-III (money power, illicit finance, enforcement coordination).