Question

When was NOTA first adopted as an option?

• A. 2012
• B. 2013
• C. 2014
• D. 2018

Hint:

Remember key Supreme Court judgments that have impacted India's electoral process. The introduction of NOTA in 2013 is a significant electoral reform that is frequently asked about in exams.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the year when the 'None of the Above' (NOTA) option was first introduced in elections in India.
Step 2: Key Concept:
NOTA is a ballot option in some jurisdictions or organizations, designed to allow the voter to indicate disapproval of all of the candidates in a voting system.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
On 27 September 2013, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment in the case of {People's Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India}.
The court ruled that the right to register a 'none of the above' vote in elections should apply and ordered the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide such a button on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
The NOTA option was first used in the assembly elections held in five states—Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi—in late 2013.
Step 4: Final Answer
NOTA was first adopted as an option in the year 2013 following a Supreme Court directive.