Election Commission of India Boosts Pay for Election Officials

Increased Remuneration for Election Personnel

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced an increase in the pay for presiding officers, polling officers, counting staff, and other election officials.

Under the new payment structure, Presiding Officers and Counting Supervisors will now earn Rs 500 per day, a rise from the previous Rs 350, or they can opt for a lump sum of Rs 2,000.

Polling Officers will see their daily pay increase from Rs 250 to Rs 400, or they can choose a total of Rs 1,600.

Counting Assistants will now receive Rs 450 per day, up from Rs 250, or a lump sum of Rs 1,350.

The honorarium for Deputy District Election Officers (Dy DEOs) has also been updated to reflect at least one month's basic salary of the respective officer.

For CAPF Gazetted Officers, including ranks such as Commandants and Medical Officers, the payment has been set at Rs 4,000 for up to 15 days, or Rs 2,000 weekly for longer deployments.

The pay for subordinate CAPF staff has been adjusted accordingly.

Sector Officers and other officials involved in the election process will also benefit from increased honoraria.

Moreover, the ECI has allocated Rs 500 per day for packed lunches and light refreshments for polling personnel, police, mobile teams, Home Guards, Forest Guards, Gram Rakshak Dal, NCC cadets, ex-servicemen, and volunteers at polling and counting stations.

The ECI stated, “The conduct of elections involves various activities performed by an election machinery made up of officials and staff from different departments of the Central Government, State Governments, PSUs, Local Authorities, etc.”

It further noted, “During elections, this machinery undertakes demanding and sensitive tasks, often working extended hours for months to create an environment where voters can freely exercise their rights. To ensure fair compensation for these efforts, the Commission has revised the remuneration rates.”

The last significant update to election duty pay occurred between 2014 and 2016.