Table of Contents

APSC Answer Writing (Daily) based on Assam Tribune – 22/4/2025

For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, practicing Daily Answer Writing is vital. This blog covers the most important Main question and its model Answer from the Assam Tribune today (22-04-2025).

📝 Mains Question (GS Paper 2 – Governance | GS Paper 3 – Cybersecurity & Electoral Integrity)

“The Aadhaar–Voter ID linkage may improve electoral rolls, but it poses serious ethical, legal, and governance challenges.”
Critically examine the merits and concerns of Aadhaar–Voter ID linkage in India, especially in sensitive states like Assam. Suggest measures to ensure electoral integrity without compromising citizens’ rights.

✅ Model Answer

🔹 Introduction

In an era of digitization, linking Aadhaar with Voter ID (EPIC) has been proposed as a means to purge electoral rolls of duplication and fraud. However, in sensitive states like Assam, where identity, migration, and citizenship are contentious issues, this linkage brings forth complex legal, ethical, and governance dilemmas.

🔹 Why Aadhaar–Voter Linkage is Being Pushed

Objective	Explanation
Clean Electoral Rolls	Remove duplicate entries, especially among migratory workers
Fraud Prevention	Deters impersonation and double voting across constituencies
Foundation for e-Voting	Enables secure remote voting in the future
Administrative Efficiency	Reduces bloated rolls and improves booth-level planning

🔹 Benefits in Theory

Cost-effective electoral roll management
Transparency in voter registration
Reduction in “bogus” or “ghost” voters
Streamlines government benefit targeting in the long run

🔹 Key Challenges in Assam and Beyond

A. Legal and Constitutional Concerns

Issue	Details
Voluntariness vs Pressure	ECI says it’s voluntary, but ground reports suggest coercion
Right to Vote Not Conditional	The right to vote cannot be linked to Aadhaar, which isn’t proof of citizenship
SC Rulings	Aadhaar verdict (2018) and Puttaswamy (2017) emphasize informational privacy and consent

B. Operational Challenges in Assam

NRC Fallout: Many genuine citizens were excluded due to document mismatch; Aadhaar linkage could repeat this
D-Voter Panic: Fear among flagged voters that Aadhaar linkage could result in disenfranchisement
Illiteracy and Access Gaps: Many rural and tribal citizens have Aadhaar-related errors or no Aadhaar at all

C. Ethical Concerns

Lack of Data Protection Law: Increases risk of surveillance, voter profiling, and misuse
Trust Deficit: Especially among minorities, tribes, and border communities
Potential Chilling Effect: People may opt out of voting due to fear or misunderstanding

🔹 Case Studies and Legal Precedents

Supreme Court (Rev. Stainislaus, 1977): Limits on propagation and conversion rights, indirectly relevant to coercion logic
ECI Guidelines (2022): Aadhaar can be requested, not demanded; no voter should be excluded for not furnishing it
Assam-Specific NRC Litigation: Highlights the risk of technical processes affecting fundamental rights

🔹 Way Forward: Balancing Integrity with Inclusion

Reform	Strategy
Legislative Clarity	Pass an updated Election Data Privacy Bill with consent safeguards
Consent Infrastructure	Aadhaar linking must require written and informed consent at voter camps
Public Awareness Drives	Inform voters, especially in Assam, of their rights and opt-out provisions
Robust Redressal	ECI must provide fast-track correction and delinking mechanisms
Avoid Use in NRC Context	Explicitly de-link Aadhaar-voter linkage from citizenship debates in Assam

🔹 Conclusion

Digital solutions must enhance, not endanger democracy. Aadhaar–Voter ID linkage, if implemented with transparency, consent, and safeguards, can improve electoral integrity. But in states like Assam, where identity and inclusion are politically charged, the process must be legally sound, socially sensitive, and administratively fair.

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