ECI decides EPIC-Aadhaar linking will follow Article 326, RP Act 1950 and Supreme Court ruling; UIDAI consultations to begin
The Election Commission of India led by CEC Gyanesh Kumar decided on 18 March 2025 that linking voter ID (EPIC) with Aadhaar will be done only as per Article 326 of the Constitution, Sections 23(4), 23(5) and 23(6) of the RP Act, 1950, and the Supreme Court judgement in WP (Civil) No. 177/2023.
Summary
The Election Commission of India, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, met the Union Home Secretary, the Secretary of the Legislative Department, the MeitY Secretary, the UIDAI CEO and ECI technical experts at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, on 18 March 2025. The Commission noted that under Article 326 of the Constitution the right to vote can be given only to a citizen of India, while Aadhaar only establishes a person's identity. It therefore decided that linking the Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) with Aadhaar will be done only under Article 326, Sections 23(4), 23(5) and 23(6) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and in line with the Supreme Court judgement in WP (Civil) No. 177/2023. Technical consultations between UIDAI and ECI experts are to begin soon.
Key facts
- Date
- 18 March 2025
- Place
- Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi
- Commission
- CEC Gyanesh Kumar; ECs Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Vivek Joshi
- Constitutional basis
- Article 326 — vote only for citizens
- Law
- Sections 23(4), 23(5), 23(6), RP Act 1950
- Court
- SC judgement in WP (Civil) No. 177/2023
- Next step
- UIDAI–ECI technical consultations
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Under which Article of the Constitution did the Election Commission say on 18 March 2025 that the right to vote can only be given to a citizen of India, while deciding on EPIC-Aadhaar linking?
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Correct answer: D — Article 326
The ECI said that as per Article 326 of the Constitution, voting right can only be given to a citizen of India, while Aadhaar only establishes identity.
Under which law's Sections 23(4), 23(5) and 23(6) will the linking of EPIC with Aadhaar be done, as decided by the ECI on 18 March 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Representation of the People Act, 1950
The ECI decided the linking will be done as per Article 326 and Sections 23(4), 23(5) and 23(6) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Where did the Election Commission of India hold its meeting with the Union Home Secretary, MeitY Secretary and UIDAI CEO on EPIC-Aadhaar linking on 18 March 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi
The meeting was held at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, the ECI headquarters.
Consider the following statements about the ECI's decision of 18 March 2025 on EPIC-Aadhaar linking: 1. The Commission held that Aadhaar establishes both identity and citizenship of a person. 2. The linking is to be in line with the Supreme Court judgement in WP (Civil) No. 177/2023. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
The ECI said Aadhaar only establishes identity, while voting rights under Article 326 are only for citizens, so statement 1 is wrong. The linking will follow the Supreme Court judgement in WP (Civil) No. 177/2023.