Which organization has recently launched an upgraded Mobile App “Suvidha 2.0” ?

Correct — option (1), Election Commission of India.

The Election Commission of India launched the new and upgraded Suvidha 2.0 mobile app on 24 October 2024, as its release on PIB that day records.

Earlier, candidates and parties could only track the status of campaign-related permissions and download approvals on the app. Applications had to be made offline or on the web portal. Suvidha 2.0 lets them apply from the app as well.

The platform works on the First in First Out principle, which the Commission says ensures transparent permissions and removes discretion. Each request gets a reference ID for tracking, and the order can be downloaded once a decision is made.

The idea to remember: Suvidha is the Election Commission's campaign-permission platform; version 2.0 added applying from the phone.

Why the others are wrong

• (2)
  Supreme Court of India — The Supreme Court is not behind Suvidha 2.0. A similar-sounding name belongs to its translation tool, SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software), used to translate judgments into Indian languages.

  Suvidha 2.0 serves candidates and political parties seeking campaign permissions, which falls under the Election Commission.

• (3)
  Central Bureau of Investigation — The CBI is a central investigating agency that draws its legal powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. It works under the Department of Personnel and Training.

  Suvidha 2.0, an app for election campaign permissions, was launched by the Election Commission of India on 24 October 2024.

• (4)
  Ministry of Aayush — The Ministry of Ayush (printed here as 'Aayush') runs apps on traditional medicine and yoga, such as Y-Break, a short workplace yoga protocol app launched in September 2021.

  Suvidha 2.0 is not one of them. It is the Election Commission's app for campaign-related permissions, launched on 24 October 2024.

Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President in the Election Commission.

During an election, candidates and parties need permissions for campaign activity, such as rallies and meetings. The Commission describes the upgraded Suvidha app as a one-stop solution for seeking, tracking and downloading those permissions.

Suvidha takes up requests in the order they arrive, the First in First Out principle. In the Commission's words, this ensures transparent permissions, thereby removing any discretion.

Key facts

• The Election Commission of India launched the upgraded Suvidha 2.0 mobile app on 24 October 2024.
• Suvidha 2.0 lets candidates and parties apply for campaign-related permissions in the app; earlier the app only tracked status and downloaded approvals.
• The Suvidha platform handles permission requests on the First in First Out principle.
• The app also shows nomination status, election schedules, ECI Press Notes and the latest instructions and orders.
• Article 324 vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission.

Common traps

• Linking 'Suvidha' to the Supreme Court because its translation tool is called SUVAS. Suvidha 2.0 belongs to the Election Commission of India.
• Reading 'Suvidha' (convenience) as a citizen-service app from a ministry. The app serves candidates and parties seeking campaign permissions, which is election work.
• Missing what '2.0' added. The earlier app tracked requests and downloaded approvals; the upgrade lets users apply for permissions from the phone.

UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2023 and 2021 here once those papers are published on this site.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Election Commission of India's Suvidha 2.0 mobile app, launched in October 2024, is meant mainly for:

  • (a)Registering new voters
  • (b)Seeking campaign-related permissions by candidates and parties
  • (c)Citizens reporting violations of the Model Code of Conduct
  • (d)Filing Right to Information applications
  Answer(2) — The ECI describes Suvidha 2.0 as a one-stop solution for seeking, tracking and downloading campaign-related permissions. Option (1) is voter enrolment, not permissions; option (3) describes the ECI's cVIGIL app; option (4) concerns requests under the Right to Information Act, 2005, a separate process.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the superintendence, direction and control of elections to Parliament and State Legislatures is vested in:

  • (a)the President
  • (b)the Election Commission
  • (c)the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • (d)the Supreme Court
  Answer(2) — Article 324(1) vests these in the Election Commission. The President appoints the Election Commissioners but does not control elections; the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Supreme Court are not given this power by Article 324.