The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to deploy 470 officers as observers for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and by-elections in seven other states to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process. These officers, drawn from various civil services, will serve as general, police, and expenditure observers.
Out of the 470 officers, 320 are from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), 60 from the Indian Police Service (IPS), and 90 from other services such as the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS), and Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS). The ECI emphasizes that these observers play a crucial role not only in upholding the integrity of the elections but also in enhancing voter awareness and participation.
The observers will be deployed in constituencies in Bihar, as well as in Budgam and Nagrota (Jammu and Kashmir), Anta (Rajasthan), Ghatsila (Jharkhand), Jubilee Hills (Telangana), Tarn Taran (Punjab), Dampa (Mizoram) and Nuapada (Odisha).
To prepare them for their roles, the ECI will conduct a briefing session for all 470 officers in New Delhi on October 3, 2025. During this session, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi will discuss the officers' responsibilities and duties, emphasizing the importance of fairness, impartiality, and credibility in the electoral process. The observers will then head to Bihar to review poll preparedness in the state.
The ECI deploys central observers under the powers conferred on it by Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The observers work under the superintendence, control, and discipline of the Commission from their appointment until the completion of the election process. General and police observers, with their extensive experience in administrative services, assist the ECI in conducting free and fair polls. Expenditure observers are specifically appointed to monitor the election expenses incurred by candidates and to identify any instances of abuse of money.
The ECI has stated that the observers contribute towards enhancing voter awareness and participation in elections.
