Supreme Court backs EVMs

Why in news?

• The Supreme Court upheld the electronic voting machine (EVM) system of polling and refused a plea to revive paper ballots.

Supreme Court Judgement

• The court refused to hand over paper slips from Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units to electors to take a leisurely look before inserting them into the ballot boxes.
• It also declined to direct the cross-verification of 100% EVMsand VVPATs across the country.
  • Currently, only five percent of EVM-VVPAT counts are randomly verified in any given Assembly constituency.
• It also directed the Election Commission of India (ECI)to “seal and secure” the Symbol Loading Unit (SLU) for 45 days after the declaration of election results.
  • Currently, only the three components of the EVM — the ballot unit, control unit, and VVPAT — are stored for 45 days after the results.
• The court has allowed candidates to check the one-time programmable software in the BU (Ballot Unit), CU (Control Unit), and VVPATfor tampering, in case of any doubts regarding the result.
  • This verification involves inspecting the burnt memory/ microcontrollers of these three components.

What are Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)?

• It is a device used to electronically record and count votescast in elections.
• EVMs were first used in 1982in the Assembly constituency of Paravur in Kerala in 50 out of 123 booths.
• EVM has two parts, it consists of a ‘control unit’and a ‘balloting unit’, connected by a 5-meter cable. 
• The control unit is with the Election Commission-appointed polling officer and it is the brain of the EVM.
• The balloting unit is in the voting compartment into which the voter enters to cast the vote in secret by pressing the button against the name and symbol of the candidate of her choice.
  • The balloting unitis turned on only after the polling officer presses the ‘Ballot’ button on it.

Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)

• A VVPAT is intended as an independent verification system for voting machines designed to allow voters to verify that their vote was cast correctly.
• It contains the name of the candidate (for whom vote has been cast) and symbol of the party/individual candidate.
• When a vote is cast, the VVPAT machine, which is attached to the ballot unit (BU) of the EVM,prints out a slip of paper with the voter’s choice indicatedon it.
  • Though it remains behind glass, the printed slip is visible for seven secondsso the voter can see that the vote has been recorded correctly, before it falls into a box underneath.
• The idea of the VVPAT machine first emerged in 2010. However, it was used for the first time in the Noksen Assembly constituency of Nagaland in 2013. 
  • The Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 were amended in 2013 to allow for a printer with a drop box to be attached to the EVM.
• From 2017, 100% of VVPATs began to be used in polls, and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections became the first general election to have 100% of EVMs being attached to VVPATs.

What is a Symbol Loading Unit (SLU)?

• The SLU is used to load the symbols of the candidatesonto the VVPAT.
• Candidate-setting happens at any time from five to two days before voting at a seat. After loading the symbols onto the VVPAT, the SLU is of no relevance to the actual voting process.
• Once the symbol-loading is complete, the SLUs are handed over to the concerned district election officer for safekeeping. They remain in the officer’s custody until the day after voting.

Conclusion

• Overall, while the VVPAT system in India represents a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in elections,it continues to face criticism and scrutiny regarding its effectiveness, cost, and implementation challenges. 
• However, “blind distrust” of an institution or a system breeds unwarranted skepticism and impedes progress.
• Addressing these concerns requires efforts to improve the reliability, accessibility, and public acceptance of the VVPAT system

Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Disarmament

Why in news?

• India and South Korea discussed developments in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains.

What is Disarmament?

• Disarmament refers to the act of eliminating or abolishing weapons (particularly offensive arms) either unilaterally or reciprocally.
• It may refer either to reducing the number of arms, or to eliminating entire categories of weapons.

Nuclear Powers in the World

• There are nine countriesrecognized as possessing nuclear weapons.
• These countries are often referred to as “nuclear-armed states” or “nuclear powers.” 
• United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel.

Treaties Related to Nuclear Disarmament

• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT):Signed in 1968 and entered into force in 1970, the NPT aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament.
  • It divides the world into nuclear-weapon states (NWS), recognized as possessing nuclear weapons at the time of the treaty’s signing, and non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWS), which agree not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons.
  • The treaty also requires NWS to pursue disarmament negotiations in good faith.
• Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW):Adopted by the United Nations in 2017 and opened for signature in 2018, the TPNW aims to prohibit the development, testing, production, stockpiling, stationing, transfer, use, and threat of use of nuclear weapons.
  • It represents a significant step towards nuclear disarmament, although it has not been signed by nuclear-armed states.
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT): Opened for signature in 1996, the CTBT aims to ban all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes.
  • While the treaty has been signed by 185 countries and ratified by 170, it has not entered into force as nuclear-armed states must ratify it to become operational.
• Outer Space Treaty: This multilateral agreement entered into force in 1967 and bans the siting of weapons of mass destruction in space.
  • All nine states believed to have nuclear weapons are parties to this treaty.

Treaties Related to Chemical Disarmament

• Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC): It is a multilateral treaty that bans chemical weapons and requires their destruction within a specified period of time.
  • CWC is implemented by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
  • CWC currently has 193 states-parties.Israel has signed but has yet to ratify the convention. Three states have neither signed nor ratified the convention (Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan).

Treaties Related to Biological Disarmament

• Biological Weapons Convention, 1972: The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) effectively prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons.
  • It was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Arguments in Favour of Disarmament

• Humanitarian Concerns:The weapons possess unparalleled destructive power, capable of causing immense loss of life, widespread devastation, and long-term environmental damage.
• Global Security: The proliferation of these weapons increases the likelihood of their use, whether intentionally or accidentally, leading to catastrophic consequences for humanity.
• Economic Benefits:Funds can be redirected from weapons towards more constructive purposes to improve overall well-being.
• Ethical and Moral Imperatives:Eliminating nuclear weapons is viewed as a moral imperative and a step towards building a more peaceful and just world.
• Environment Pollution:The weapon testing and potential use can have devastating environmental consequences.

Arguments Against Disarmament

• Deterrence:Possessing these weapons serves as a powerful deterrent against potential adversaries, preventing conflicts and maintaining strategic stability.
• National Security:It provides a form of insurance against potential threats and enhances the ability to protect the interests and sovereignty of a country in an uncertain international environment.
• Verification and Compliance: Critics argue that without robust verification mechanisms and effective enforcement measures, countries may exploit disarmament agreements for strategic advantage.
• Geopolitical Realities:Deep-rooted mistrust, unresolved conflicts, and strategic competition among states make it difficult to envision a scenario in which all countries would willingly and simultaneously relinquish their weapons.

Way Ahead

• Disarmament is seen as a crucial step towards reducing the risks and promoting international peace and stability.
• While achieving complete Disarmament may be a long-term objective, incremental progress can still be made through concerted international efforts and cooperation.
• It requires sustained commitment from all nations to work towards a world free of nuclear weapons, ensuring the security and well-being of future generations.