In News:

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has recently upgraded the mechanism for generating Index Cards, making it more technology-driven and automated. Index Cards are a non-statutory, post-election statistical reporting format developed suo moto by the ECI to enhance transparency and accessibility of electoral data at the constituency level.

Purpose and Utility

Index Cards are designed to compile and disseminate election-related data for use by:

• Researchers
• Academia
• Journalists
• Policymakers
• The general public

Scope of Information

The Index Cards provide a wide range of data, including:

• Candidate-wise and party-wise vote share
• Electors and votes polled/counted
• Gender-based voting patterns
• Regional variations in voter turnout
• Performance of:
  • National and State parties
  • Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs)
• Participation of women voters
• Winning candidates' analyses
• State/PC/AC-wise elector details and number of polling stations

Technological Upgrade

Earlier, data was manually filled into physical Index Cards at the constituency level using various statutory formats. These were later digitized for statistical reporting, resulting in delays and inefficiencies.

The 2025 upgrade has:

• Replaced the manual system with an automated, data-integrated mechanism
• Ensured faster and more reliable reporting
• Improved the timeliness of data dissemination

Nature of Data

• Index Cards are based on secondary data used exclusively for academic and research purposes.
• Primary and final electoral data is maintained in statutory forms by the respective Returning Officers.