EC mandates Aadhaar-linked phone for online voter deletion after Rahul’s ‘Aland’ fraud allegation
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (EC) has introduced a mandatory Aadhaar-linked phone verification system for those seeking to register, delete, or correct voter details online. The move comes less than a week after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged large-scale misuse of online voter deletion forms in Karnataka’s Aland constituency ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections.
According to an Indian Express exclusive report, the EC has rolled out a new “e-sign” feature on its ECINet portal and app. Applicants filling Form 6 (new registration), Form 7 (deletion or objection), or Form 8 (correction of entries) will now be redirected to an external e-sign portal run by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC). There, they must authenticate their identity through Aadhaar-based OTP verification, sent only to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
This change significantly tightens the earlier system, where applications could be filed by merely linking a mobile number to an existing voter ID, without verifying ownership. Officials say the new process reduces the chances of misuse similar to what was alleged in Aland, where nearly 6,000 deletion applications were submitted using unrelated phone numbers.
In February 2023, the EC had verified those applications and found only 24 to be valid, while the remaining 5,994 voters were still residing at the same addresses. The Commission later filed an FIR over the attempted fraud.
Responding to Gandhi’s recent allegations, the poll panel maintained that “no deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public” and clarified that every deletion request requires inquiry by Booth Level Officers and Electoral Registration Officers, as well as a hearing for the affected person.
The ECINet, launched earlier this year to unify around 40 older applications including ERONet, now serves as the single digital platform for both voters and election officials.
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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
