GoM nod to buy 14 lakh EVMs

The GoM, headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, is learnt to have sent its recommendation to the Prime Minister’s Office supporting the purchase of EVMs in batches. “Once we get the approval from the PMO, the Union Cabinet will take up the proposal to buy new EVMs,” a senior government functionary said.

The Election Commission had last year approached the government to buy nearly 14 lakh new electronic voting machines. In its January 18 meeting, the Expenditure Finance Committee headed by Secretary Expenditure in the Finance Ministry, gave in-principle approval for the purchase of 13,95,648 new balloting units and 9,30,432 control units at an estimated cost of Rs 5,511.48 crore between financial years 2015-16 and 2018-19. 

Sources in the government said an estimated Rs 1,872 crore would be required in 2016-17 for the new EVMs, but final figures will be available when the EC issues tender. The Election Commission wants to purchase new machines against the backdrop of over nine lakh such machines currently in use nearing end of their 15year life. 

The two government undertakings — Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bengaluru and Electronic Corporation of India Ltd, Hyderabad will not be in a position to produce new EVMs in one go and would provide it to the Commission in batches.