Q. Where was paperless voting first introduced in India's Panchayat elections? (MPPSC Assistant Professor7th Nov 2024)
Answer: Ratua Ratanpur (Bhopal)
Notes: Paperless voting was first introduced in Ratua Ratanpur, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh during Panchayat elections. This system replaced paper ballots with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Madhya Pradesh government led this initiative to incorporate technology in elections. EVMs were first used nationally in the 1990s. Panchayat elections elect rural local government bodies under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. Ratua Ratanpur's adoption of paperless voting marked a milestone in India's electoral process modernization.