How India runs the world's biggest election - The Global Story podcast, BBC World Service

India will host the world's biggest election this year when nearly one billion people will vote.
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Organisers have vowed to set up polling stations within 2km of every citizen, but India's vast size means this will be a challenge. The country's 15 million election officials must travel to coastal towns, mountain villages, remote islands and dense jungles to reach every voter.
Katya Adler speaks with BBC journalist and presenter Devina Gupta and India correspondent Soutik Biswas to break down the big numbers and discuss how it is possible to organise an election on this scale.
00:06 Introduction
01:45 Nearly a billion voters
03:06 Remote voters
04:41 Staffing the election
05:11 Where most voters are
05:55 First-time voters
06:06 Women voters
06:37 Length of election
07:01 Cost of elections
07:33 Who pays for elections?
09:10 Free and fair?
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[@AbhishekKumar-td7mr]

INDIA- World Largest Democracy ✅️ INDIA - Mother Of All Democracies ✅️

[@sbd03]

Lmfao

[@rupeshtashildar]

Louda ka democracy

[@manigonuguntla2890]

After 4 th June India is going to dictatorship

[@SenorSol]

LOL!!! That's an odd description for feudal patronage politics!

[@user__100]

Britain killed 4 million Indians in Bengal in 1943 by imposing a famine

[@jaibholenath6900]

& other 2 million post 1st War of Independence against Brits in 1857

[@jackyjones5626]

4 million in Bengal..they were other famine created by them which are assam famine, Bangalore famine,Chennai famine,another Bengal famine,

[@amareshroy7732]

British made india a perfect English knowing advanced nation.

[@jaibholenath6900]

@@amareshroy7732 .....Brits savage fools (which they themselves agree they were) came to Bharat coz it was advanced civilization and wanted and did loot it.

[@prakharshankar3064]

​@@amareshroy7732 lol

[@josealexander1674]

We are proud of the Indian Elections with 970m people who are voting.

[@SenorSol]

Rubbish.

[@Xuy788]

India will remain secular and democracy till peaceful community population below 40% after that no democracy like Pakistan, Afganistan.. We want UCC, strict population control law with voting rights cut above 2 children...

[@fullaranag]

Shuv shuv bolo bhai

[@shivamkumarmishra]

Damn True

[@A_Rajput108]

@@fullaranag bhai kdwi sachai hai kb tk isse bhagoge

[@anirbanchakravarty1419]

It's just terrible that the Indian journalists don't know that the Election Commission of India finances the entire election and they get the money from the Contingent Fund of India! They are talking of electoral bonds. Electoral bonds finance political parties, not the election itself!

[@pissupehelwan]

These so called self-styled "experts" are really embarrassing to watch.

[@suyogmundhe475]

He doesn’t no anything

[@neo26]

Exactly..the interview went shockingly well till that moment though

[@offred6013]

Thats why he is in BBC

[@SUBASHKUMAR-wz8zx]

We are proud of our election ❤️

[@zyxraoxyz]

So let me see if I understand. If one political party is hugely popular with the electorate, and other parties are not -- then it is not a fair election? What? I mean WTF? That is the whole point of an election -- that the most popular and the first choice of the people gets to win. That is the definition of what FAIR is. You can't just say that the BJP is very popular and so it is not a fair election. That is idiotic.

[@chansuable]

Chill, they just cant get over the fact that a humble “tea seller” has reached such heights of popularity and made India reach such growth. In their dictionary only rich entitled English speaking suited buffoon who apes the West and be puppet in the hands of US, should be India’s PM. How dare ordinary Indians feel proud of their roots and Hindu culture! Not acceptable for them!

[@shivamsinghnegi1192]

This is why the. West is suffering from peacefull ...😂they exploit their system

[@hkiajtaqks5253]

If the political left loses elections, they call it the death of democracy. They prefer Chinese style 1-party system.

[@user-gz2qh2fm1m]

India is a Democracy and Republic while UK is a Monarchy where all the powers are vested with the Christian monarch. While India is a secular country, UK is a Christian country

[@SenorSol]

Yawn, another numbnuts who doesn't know what a constitutional monarchy actually is. It was the Brits who taught Indians about democracy, and it's why your bicameral system is a direct copy of the UK parliament. Sigh. The Indian definition of 'secular' is not what the rest of the world recognises the word to mean, it's compromised, whereas at the last official UK census 52% of the population said they were atheist, so a majority! It's religion and superstition that helps to keep India backwards!

[@SaisunilSahu]

Funny news channel name - BBC World service 😂😂😂

[@santanugmail]

Funny that you found it funny. Most find it informative.

[@A_Rajput108]

@@santanugmail if you follow news regularly from different sources and you see pattern of BBC then you will find how smoothly they propagate propaganda;;;;

[@praveenbharati5250]

​@@santanugmailah! You mean a well packaged one sided propoganda news network to bash India. Even British calls them out loud.

[@user__100]

Once M population reaches 51% in India, will the country remain secular?

[@prateeksharma6706]

Ofc not

[@enlightnedsoul4124]

Nope it won't

[@enlightnedsoul4124]

Modi will again... That's all that matters to me❤

[@debarghyaroy9948]

Nope

[@fullaranag]

Shuv shuv bolo

[@tarangabarua3915]

its like usain bolt wins every time ..he is free to win...but , is is fair that he beats others by a big margin every time....not fair....😂

[@S1996V]

Each and Every voter can vote and choose thier leader but west lecture India about democracy 😅

[@Sleepyirishcoffee]

Whats the point of having an election when your freedoms are being eroded

[@aroundandround]

Surprised BBC isn’t talking about Muslims being persecuted as it would appear like there is literally nothing else to talk about about India.

[@chansuable]

I think they fail to find anything like that happening at grass root level, so cant really say that!

[@gnyanray101]

During bengal famine ships were loaded with wheat and rice to fill the British well fed tummies. 😮

[@SenorSol]

And during seven decades of Indian independence corruption was, and is, endemic! How many Indians live in poverty?

[@Drbheemsenshuklaofficial]

India is in top 3 economy that is USA, china & India 🇮🇳

[@manigonuguntla2890]

But per capital income ranks 143 Rd place 😂😂😂😂😂

[@shobhitdagur1086]

​@@manigonuguntla2890Joker there is something cost of living

[@jerinantony106]

​@@shobhitdagur1086 bro we are literate😂

[@harleenkour4376]

@@shobhitdagur1086 per capita income is a more accurate reflection of a country’s overall well-being

[@rollsroyce4249]

​@@harleenkour4376Maldives has a higher gdp per capita than China. Any comparison?

[@deepakbalu7491]

We are happy with our beloved Prime minister Modiji. Modiji placed our country in top position.

[@user-qd8hs6xx4t]

❤❤❤ MODI ❤❤❤❤ 💕💕💕 ANNAMALAI 💕💕💕 ❤❤❤❤BJP ❤❤❤❤❤

[@jerinantony106]

Only Congress

[@user-qd8hs6xx4t]

@@jerinantony106 khangress in your home 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@kousikSarma-kq8dd]

It's free and fair.. if some part doesn't have resources that's not the fault of the other party

[@mohan02]

Here comes British Bull-crap Corporation.

[@jerinantony106]

There come street shiter 😂😂😂

[@silverghost5752]

​@@jerinantony106Here comes streeshiteater...🤭🤣🤣

[@sahilsc1]

If one is to soutiks point to be true that bjp has friendly media, then congress has the bbc, dw, france24,nyt, wapo on it's side

[@ambedkarkorapati3870]

What Mr. Soutik means is Uttarpradesh is the most populous state of India ( not popular)

[@PramodTan]

After a long time I saw an objective reporting about India from this tabloid.

[@chansuable]

The whole nonsense about electoral bonds being spent on election expenses was embarassing. That so called expert doesnt even know the difference between party’s own campaign expense and the election expense which is handled solely by PM contingent fund of India!

[@PappuYadav-jq6zd]

What was the source of funding before 2014? These Journalists are pathetic to say the least.....

[@ken5197]

That guy says most of it is illicit money..can he prove ir in any way

[@manabendrap9019]

Its FREE and absolutely FAIR.

[@2010anilshukla]

Well covered and fair assessment 👍

[@ritesshhahuja6102]

You are generally negative on India and call such people.

[@pranavgandhar4604]

that why we buy russian oil

[@nadeem1211]

Democracy is all about majority..........

[@pandora8478]

You don’t say!

[@prajwal1341]

minorities have more rights than majority.

[@yte549]

😂😂😂 Then kingship is very good lol....😂😂😂😂😂

[@robox9225]

Leave the country and move where u have the majority.

[@debarghyaroy9948]

Cope. The way Hindus cope in Pak.

[@debusukla]

When asked if it is fair , the reporter should have said largely fair from the point of who people can vote , but he choose to say some thing else -Congress ruled for 50 years , had much more resources than any one, media was largely controlled by them, DDnew carried 25 minuted news of Congress in a 3o minutes news cast -are these elections not fairer than those days

[@jigneshraval0609]

I urge the international media to study India first before talking about India, Please.

[@doodle7639]

get ur cameraman out of chandni chowk..that is 1980 india

[@gsamarakoon6643]

Honourable Madame the India the next global superpower in the world thanking your honour all of your staff from Sri lanka

[@Peehu808]

Election should be under art 324 to 329 of Indian constitution.

[@swordofdurga]

9.48 - I was just waiting for BBC to take potshots and make negative comments... didn't have to wait long. You must have a very special and specific mythology to select such India haters and spreaders of negativity and one-sidedness. BBC deserves a special Oscar or whatever for it.

[@saisumanthg5025]

According to him people's mandate for BJP is not fair😂😂😂

[@Yadavendra.]

Prime Minister Modi ji is continuously working for the development of India. During his tenure of last 10 years, India's image has been positively affected in every field.

[@mechandelectricalvolg7062]

RAHUL ji✌️🇮🇳

[@l.d.agarwal3893]

Listen to Voters in Villages of india ! Under Modi government, their confidence is soaring and even poor are saying india 🇮🇳 is growing fast !

[@sahashranshubarik9204]

Dear BBC, why England can not become a dmocratic nation like India?

[@bauken1013]

Can agree whether it's gonna be fair .....the big ???....

[@shankarbalakrishnan2360]

We are having a large turn over of voters and I voted it was simple clean and we'll policed thks to the government❤❤🎉🎉

[@madhusudanjeurkar3178]

How do you define fairness in elections? Is it free and fearless chance to vote the Party one wants or the resources with opposing parties? Where do you find the "Fair" elections by your defination?

[@chansuable]

Really that was such a bogus remark from that self proclaimed expert! In hia opinion, a party is popular so election is unfair! 😂

[@koteswar009]

9:33 This point that there is no level playing field by the current party in government and its competitors reminds of the days since 1947 to 1997 when Indian National Congress was in the lead far ahead than its competitors atleast till 1984 elections when it won over 400 seats. Ofcourse now the tables have turned but after all its the people's choice that matters at the end of the day irrespective which party has more resources as in elections its possible to see underdogs win as well. Lets wait for June 4 to know what people decided through their free choice.

[@manisherande4568]

BBC so sad.. still asking if its fair.....

[@Jig1313]

West looks so surprise but for india its normal❤

[@Anil-hc9mv]

Referendums,accept /reject.

[@l.d.agarwal3893]

India 🇮🇳 Largest Functional Democracy in World ! Narendra Modi the Most Popular Leader in india 🇮🇳 and also World 🌎 !

[@rajeevbhatnagar6495]

The elections in India are fair as well. Thru most of the decades Congress was was ruling. Last decade it is the BJP. However, this does not affacte the fairness of elctions held every five years.

[@livingstonecon]

Then Sonia Gandhi also lost and sacrificed her mangalsutra for the sake of Indian nation ❤ that must be remembered while voting ❤️ Rajiv Gandhi also prime minister of India like modi, but he lost and sacrificed his life for india nation ❤️ what ever it may be they are sacrificed ❤️

[@shashikantsrivastava4644]

It is almost fair however BBC correspondents always tried to demean India. Because most of them still have ghulami tredition to British

[@user-bm8zz7bb9f]

Very good

[@Indian_Rajput]

LoL Intro was horrific wtf

[@shivamsinghnegi1192]

😂😂😂 they will talk about BJP's electoral bond but ignore the congress and other party bond😂😂😂 so much hypocrisy 😂😂😂

[@bobbush5339]

Indira Gandhi and Congress divded Pakistan into two parts. Modi ji will divide India into five parts. All are Indian Hindu, Sikh, Muslim , Christians.

[@kgd9725]

So now you can't say its not free, you come up with a new term fair. Are UK elections fair ? Who determines fairness of an election? If the West's preferred side wins the elections are fair.

[@chinmaya_x]

It's not BJP's problem to be level playing field

[@2mrvamshi]

When BBC needs publicity and marketing, they make shows on India, mostly those are of degrading India. Not sure what BBC gets to constantly degrade India!

[@BipinBabu101]

BBC. Hahahahahahahhaa. BBC. Hhaahahahahhahahahha

[@srimanthsree2141]

All religions in India but BJP government they need one religion but what about others religion that's why Congress have to come please vote good person

[@salahalselene4957]

❤❤❤❤❤❤📖📚💪✍️

[@Dinson.antony]

British Bully Corporation 😅😅😅

[@noushadmoideen5592]

This election will have a serious impact on india if BJP comes to power for the third term. No incumbent should stay in power continously for three terms, if it does, the party starts displaying authoritarian tendencies eventually leading to dictatorship. The citizens of this country could decide if they want India to remain a democracy or not? PS: Iam not a congress fan nor a BJP hater. My only concern is about this great nation called India.

[@saisumanthg5025]

It's not a monarchy where the so called dictator will have power for as long as he or she wants If not by elections they will be ousted by other means if done so So no need to worry 😊

[@truthtime2023]

dont worry, only one party tried to do it, led by indira gandhi and failed. india is not pakistan or turkey.

[@noushadmoideen5592]

@@truthtime2023 neither do I prefer India to be pakistan/Turkey.

[@rickgolder6818]

You have no proof over just what you said. BJP have done tremendously in infrastructure and overall development, something that the previous government couldn't even think off. Policies like banning triple talak and abortion of Article 370 etc are something like a dream, but its reality now. The opposition cannot work as smoothly and efficiently like BJP does. And a coalition government will be a living hell. First ask the oposition to come up with there own parties and gain votes, then talk about moving BJP out of power. People now dont vote for fake and empty ideologies, they vite for real work development, something only BJP can give us. So theres no other option.

[@fullaranag]

How can we vote for the Indi group when they do not even have a common manifesto?

[@shareefmanama]

Congress rahul gandhi

[@roystonmarshall5027]

No postal ballots..🤣😆😆

[@ezequielconsuegra9480]

Can't afford it

[@yte549]

Ask Pakistan about it😂😂😂😂😂

[@prateeksharma6706]

No need we can all walk to our polling stations

[@onkarpawar2413]

​@@ezequielconsuegra9480 snowflake got triggered 😂 btw india have postal ballots

[@NikhilPodlejski-qq3ty]

It seems you can't afford food​@@ezequielconsuegra9480

[@deepanshusaxena3831]

Poor journalism

[@BBCWorldService]

Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM

[@sauravjaiswal2204]

BBC you are hard western agenda news channel

[@truthtime2023]

your best days are over as social media and citizen reporters exposes your lies.

[@prajwal1341]

dislike

[@saravanakumar1434]

British bullys channel😂

[@CBS_official]

No no views 😂

[@Xuy788]

India will remain secular and democracy till peaceful community population below 40% after that no democracy like Pakistan, Afganistan.. We want UCC, strict population control law with voting rights cut above 2 children...

[@fullaranag]

Shuv shuv bolo