UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ECI Introduces QR-Based ID System to Strengthen Security at Counting Centres

Q1. With reference to the ECINET digital platform of the Election Commission of India and the earlier applications it replaced, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. ECINET was launched at IICDEM-2026 held in January 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
  2. ECINET integrates over 40 earlier apps and portals of the ECI into a single unified platform.
  3. Unlike the earlier ECI apps, ECINET is available only in Hindi and English.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. ECINET, the single unified digital platform of the Election Commission of India, was formally launched in January 2026 during which one of the following events?

  • A. India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM-2026)
  • B. National Voters' Day celebrations, 2026
  • C. Conference of Chief Electoral Officers, 2026
  • D. Bharat Digital Governance Summit, 2026

Q3. The Election Commission of India's QR code–based Photo Identity Card module on ECINET was operationalised for the first time during the counting for which one of the following?

  • A. The 2026 General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry
  • B. The 2024 General Election to the Lok Sabha
  • C. The 2025 General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Delhi
  • D. The 2023 General Elections to five State Legislative Assemblies

Q4. With reference to the first deployment of the ECI's QR code–based Photo Identity Card system for counting centres, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The system was first used during counting held on 4 May 2026.
  2. Over 3.2 lakh QR codes were generated on the first counting day.
  3. At the first and second tiers, the Photo Identity Cards issued by the Returning Officer are verified only by QR scanning and not manually.
  4. The system is to be extended to all future General and Bye-elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Under the Constitution, the Election Commission of India superintends, directs and controls the conduct of certain elections. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as an election conducted by the Election Commission of India?

  1. Election to the House of the People (Lok Sabha)
  2. Elections to the State Legislatures
  3. Election to the office of the President of India
  4. Elections to the Municipalities and Panchayats
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q6. With reference to the composition and removal of the members of the Election Commission of India under the Constitution, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Election Commission consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners as the President may from time to time fix.
  2. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners are appointed by the President.
  3. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office in like manner as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
  4. An Election Commissioner can be removed from office only on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to the schedule of the 2026 General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase-I) polled on 23 April 2026.
  2. Assam, Kerala and Puducherry polled on 9 April 2026.
  3. Counting for all the poll-going States and the Union Territory was held on 4 May 2026.
  4. Kerala was the only poll-going State that voted in two phases.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. The bye-elections held alongside the 2026 Assembly general elections, whose counting on 4 May 2026 also used the QR-based Photo Identity Card system, covered how many Assembly Constituencies?

  • A. 5
  • B. 7
  • C. 9
  • D. 11

Q9. The Election Commission of India's recent series of electoral reform initiatives flows from the plenary power of superintendence, direction and control of elections vested in it under which one of the following Articles of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 324
  • B. Article 326
  • C. Article 329
  • D. Article 243K

Q10. With reference to the Election Commission of India's recent package of electoral reform initiatives, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Standardised photo identity cards were introduced for Booth Level Officers.
  2. Verification of burnt memory/microcontroller is carried out on 5% of EVMs after the declaration of results.
  3. Duplicate EPIC (electoral photo identity card) numbers were eliminated.
  4. The ECINET platform was launched in January 2024 to integrate 40+ apps of the ECI.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q11. With reference to the security arrangements at counting centres and related EVM safeguards, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. A three-tier security mechanism is prescribed for counting centres.
  2. At the first and second tiers, the Photo Identity Cards issued by the Returning Officer are checked manually.
  3. Verification of the burnt memory/microcontroller is carried out on 5% of EVMs after the declaration of results.
  4. The QR-based Photo Identity Cards for counting centres are issued by the District Election Officer.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q12. With reference to the role of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and related recent reforms, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Booth Level Officers function under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
  2. The Booth Level Officer is the legal authority for revision of the electoral roll in an Assembly constituency.
  3. More than 11 lakh Booth Level Officers are registered across the country.
  4. Standardised photo identity cards for Booth Level Officers were introduced as part of the ECI's recent reforms.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4