The Election Commission has raised remuneration for presiding officers, polling staff, counting personnel, micro-observers and other officials involved in election duties ahead of Assembly polls in five States, an official said on Wednesday. The hikes apply to officials deployed for the upcoming elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry next month.
According to the official, the revised pay structure is intended to ensure adequate compensation and to incentivise staff who work long and demanding hours during the conduct of polls. The Commission said the increase is part of efforts to support smooth election operations and recognise the workload of frontline election personnel.
Under the new rates, presiding officers will receive a daily allowance of ₹500, up from ₹350 earlier, amounting to ₹2,000 for the full assignment. Polling officers’ daily pay has been raised to ₹400 from ₹250, or a one-time payment of ₹1,600 for the deployment.
The increase also covers counting personnel, micro-observers and other election-related staff, though the official did not provide detailed figures for all categories. Election authorities said the changes aim to make election duty more financially viable for staff and help maintain efficiency on polling and counting days.
(PTI)
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/elections/assembly-elections-kerala-tamil-nadu-west-bengal-assam-puducherry-live-updates-march-25-2026/article70782473.ece
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Publish Date: 2026-03-25 21:29:00
