ECI Launches First-Ever Nationwide Training for Over 1 Lakh Booth Level Officers

New Delhi, March 26, 2025 — In a landmark move to strengthen grassroots electoral management, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a first-of-its-kind training program for over 1 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi.

The inaugural batch of 109 BLOs from Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam, along with 24 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and 13 District Election Officers (DEOs) from six states and union territories, participated in the two-day residential program. The initiative was formally launched by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi.

The training is designed to provide practical, scenario-based learning to BLOs on responsibilities outlined in the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Elector Rules, 1960. It also includes hands-on sessions with IT tools for error-free electoral roll management.

These trained BLOs will eventually serve as Assembly Level Master Trainers (ALMTs), bolstering the nationwide BLO network that serves as the vital link between the Commission and India’s nearly 100 crore electors.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar emphasized the importance of nominating SDM-level officers as EROs and selecting BLOs based on seniority and locality. He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to fair and accurate voter registration and warned of strict action against complaints involving EROs or BLOs.

“This is more than training—it’s a commitment to empower the custodians of India’s democratic fabric,” the CEC stated.