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Question 15 of 15 · Constitutional & Statutory Bodies
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What is the full form of VVPAT, used with EVMs in Indian elections?

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Answer: Option A — Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail

Detailed Solution

VVPAT stands for "Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail", a machine attached to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) that allows voters to verify that their vote has been recorded correctly.

How VVPAT works:

  • When a voter presses a button on the EVM's ballot unit, the VVPAT machine prints a paper slip showing the serial number, name and symbol of the chosen candidate.
  • The slip is visible to the voter through a small transparent window for about seven seconds.
  • It then automatically falls into a sealed box, so the voter cannot take it away.
  • The slips can be counted later to verify the electronic count, if needed.

History:

  • The VVPAT was developed by the two public sector companies that make EVMs: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru, and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad.
  • It was first used in the by-election to the Noksen Assembly constituency in Nagaland in September 2013.

In 2013, in the "Subramanian Swamy vs Election Commission of India" case, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to introduce VVPATs in phases, saying that a paper trail is essential for free and fair elections.

Since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, VVPATs have been used with all EVMs.

VVPAT slip counting:

  • In 2019, the Supreme Court directed that VVPAT slips of five randomly selected polling stations in each Assembly constituency (or each Assembly segment of a Lok Sabha constituency) be matched with the EVM count.
  • In April 2024, the Supreme Court rejected petitions demanding 100 per cent counting of VVPAT slips.

About EVMs:

  • EVMs were first used in 1982 in the Paravur Assembly constituency in Kerala.
  • They were used in all constituencies from the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
  • The "NOTA" (None of the Above) option was added in 2013 after a Supreme Court ruling.

Related abbreviations:

  • EVM: Electronic Voting Machine.
  • ECI: Election Commission of India (25 January 1950; Article 324).
  • NOTA: None of the Above.
  • MCC: Model Code of Conduct.
  • EPIC: Electors Photo Identity Card.
  • National Voters' Day: 25 January (since 2011).

Why not the other options?

  • ✗"Voter Verified Poll Audit Track" is not the correct expansion.
  • ✗"Valid Vote Paper Account Trail" is not the correct expansion.
  • ✗"Voter Verification and Paper Authentication Tool" is not the correct expansion.

Quick tip

Remember: VVPAT = Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (slip visible for 7 seconds; first used 2013 at Noksen, Nagaland; all EVMs since 2019; 5 random booths per segment counted); EVM first used 1982 at Paravur, Kerala; NOTA = 2013.

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Constitutional & Statutory Bodies — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Constitutional & Statutory Bodies, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers bodies set up under the Constitution, such as the Election Commission, UPSC, Finance Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General and the national commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and statutory or executive bodies such as NITI Aayog, the NHRC, the CVC, the CBI and Lokpal. Questions often ask whether a body is constitutional or not, which article creates it, who appoints its head and for how long. For example, the CAG is appointed under Article 148, the Finance Commission under Article 280, and NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015 by an executive resolution. Practise the constitutional and statutory bodies questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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