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ECI Announces Assembly Polls for 824 Seats in 5 States/UTs; Model Code of Conduct Activated

PolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
15 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:824 seats17.4 crore votersMay 4, 2026 counting2.19 lakh polling stations25 lakh officials
Bodies:Election Commission of India
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

2.Polling will be held in phases, with counting for all 824 seats scheduled for May 4, 2026, and the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect.

3.Examiners will focus on the constitutional role of the ECI, the specifics of the election schedule, and the political landscape of each poll-bound state.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. This activates the Model Code of Conduct and sets the stage for a major electoral exercise covering over 17 crore voters. For exam aspirants, this news is a critical test of knowledge on constitutional bodies, election processes, and state-level political dynamics.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Total Constituencies824
Total Eligible Voters17.4 crore
Counting DateMay 4, 2026
Polling Stations2.19 lakh
Election Officials25 lakh

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Total Constituencies: 824
  • ›Total Eligible Voters: 17.4 crore
  • ›Target this Data: 824 total seats across 4 states and 1 UT.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Election Commission of India (ECI).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Model Code of Conduct (MCC) enforced under Article 324.

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Q1Static LinkageEasy

Under which Article of the Indian Constitution is the Election Commission of India established?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the recently announced election schedule:

1. Assembly elections will be held in the states of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam.

2. The counting of votes for all 824 seats will be held on May 4, 2026.

3. The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect only after the first phase of polling is completed.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the announcement, how many total voters are eligible to vote in the upcoming Assembly elections across the four states and one Union Territory?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary immediate consequence of the Election Commission announcing the poll schedule, as mentioned in the article?

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