The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India to regulate the behavior of political parties and candidates during elections. It aims to ensure free and fair elections by maintaining fairness and preventing the misuse of official machinery by the ruling party. The Model Code of Conduct is enforced through the c-VIGIL App where citizens can report MCC violations directly to the Election Commission of India. Any violation is strictly prohibited and a punishable offense.
What is Model Code of Conduct (MCC)?
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India to regulate the behavior of political parties and candidates during elections. From March 2026, the MCC is in force for various state legislative assembly elections. It aims to ensure free and fair elections by providing a fair process of election, specifically preventing the ruling party from misusing its official position for electoral gain. The MCC is in effect from the announcement of election dates until election results are declared.
Features of Model Code of Conduct
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India to regulate the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections. It ensures that AI generated content must carry prominent labels and prevents misuse. Let’s take a look at the features of the Model Code of Conduct:-
1. General Conduct
As per the general conduct, parties and candidates must not engage in activities that increase communal differences or hatred based on caste, religion, or language. Personal attacks or unverified allegations are prohibited. Also,religious places cannot be used for election propaganda.
2. AI and Digital Media
All AI generated or synthetically altered images, videos and audio must carry prominent labels and cover at least 10% of the screen area. Deceptive AI content that misrepresents leaders must be removed by political parties within 3 hours of being noticed.
3. Meetings and Processions
Parties must inform local Indian police of the venue and time for any meeting well in advance to ensure traffic control and public order. In case two or more candidates plan processions at the same route then they must coordinate to ensure they do not clash.
4. Restrictions on the Party Power
Ministers must not combine official visits with election purposes or use government machinery such as vehicles and aircraft for campaign purposes. The government must not announce new financial grants, projects or schemes that could influence voters once the MCC is active.
5. Polling Day Guidelines
Serving or distributing liquor is strictly prohibited on polling day and the 48 hours before it. The candidate identity slips for voters must be on plain white paper and cannot contain any symbols or party names.
Evolution of Model Code of Conduct
The evolution of the Model Code of Conduct is a journey from a voluntary state level agreement to a nationwide framework. It was not created by a specific law but evolved through decades among political parties. Let’s take a look at the evolution of Model Code of Conduct:-
1. Origins in Kerala (1960s)
The Model Code of Conduct originated during the Kerala Assembly elections. They announced a basic code of conduct for political parties which covered aspects such as processions and speeches.
2. National Debut (1962)
For the 1962 Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India circulated code of conduct to all recognised parties and state governments for nationwide adoption. That’s when the Model Code of Conduct officially came into existence in the country.
3. Formalization (1968-1969)
During the mid term elections, the Election Commission of India prepared a more formal document titled ‘roles and responsibilities of political parties during elections. It outlined minimum standards of behavior for all political parties.
4. Implementation Committees (1974)
The Implementation Committees of the Election Commission of India issued a formal Model Code of Conduct and directed the creation of district level standing committees. It is chaired by IAS officers to monitor violations.
5. Regulating the Party in Power (1979)
An important section was added at both state and central levels to prevent ruling parties from misusing official machinery, public funds or government transport for electoral advantage. This was done to prevent ruling parties from misusing their official position.
6. The Watershed Moment(1991)
Under Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan, the Election Commission of India began strictly enforcing the Model Code of Conduct. It was reissued, transforming from a passive document into a powerful tool for the fairness of electoral processes.
7. Judicial Banking (2001)
In the Union of India vs. Harbans Singh Jalal case, the Supreme Court announced that the Model Code of Conduct must become effective the moment the Election Commission of India announces the election schedule.
8. Manifesto Guidelines (2013-2014)
After the Supreme Court directive in the Subramaniam Balaji case, a new chapter was added to regulate election manifestos. It prohibited promises that violate the purity of the election purposes.This ensured, parties should only seek the trust of voters on promises that are actually possible to fulfill.
Legal Provisions of Model Code of Conduct
The Model Code of Conduct is not a codified law and lacks direct legal backing. However, it is enforced by the Election Commission of India through a combination of constitutional powers, fundamental rights and existing legislative acts. Let’s take a look at the Legal Provisions of Model Code of Conduct:-
Constitutional Foundations
As per Article 324, the Election Commission of India has the authority to supervise, direct and control all elections from Parliament to State Legislatures. They have the residual power to issue necessary regulations to ensure free and fair elections.
Indirect Legal Enforcement
Specific violations of the Model Code of Conduct are punishable under various Indian statutes. In case of a breach, the ECI can file an FIR under the following laws
- Section 123: It covers bribery and appeals to religious or communal feelings.
- Section 125: I issues up to three years of imprisonment for promoting enmity between classes on grounds of religion or caste.
- Section 126: It prohibits public meetings and campaigning during the 48-hour period before the close of electoral polling.
- Section 127A: It regulates the printing and publication of election pamphlets and posters.
Enforcement Mechanisms
Through the c-VIGIL app citizens can report violations directly to the Election Commission of India. Authorities are supposed to respond to these complaints within 100 minutes. The ECI can temporarily ban star campaigners from addressing rallies.
Challenges of Model Code of Conduct
The primary challenge of the Model Code of Conduct is its lack of statutory backing, which often makes it a moral sanction rather than a strictly legal one. As of the 2026 General Elections, the Election Commission of India faces the following key challenges in enforcing the code. Let’s take a look at the challenges of Model Code of Conduct:-
Lack of Statutory Backing
The Election Commission of India cannot directly disqualify candidates and political parties for violations. It must rely on separate laws like the Representation of the People Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to file cases.
Technological and Digital Disruptions
The rise of AI makes it difficult to monitor and remove misleading content quickly. Information spreads faster than the ECI's ability to verify and take it down. Campaigns often use platforms like WhatsApp for propaganda that escapes official surveillance.
Enforcement Hurdles
The ECI frequently faces criticism for being slow or inconsistent when taking action against star campaigners or top leaders. A long Model Code of Conduct period can hamper routine administrative work, new welfare projects and essential public services.
Conclusion
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines which prevents the candidates and political parties from gaining unfair advantage in the electoral process. It comes under effect from the moment the election dates are announced. It was first regulated in Kerala during the state election but received national recognition in the 1962 Lok Sabha elections. Although the MCC is not a codified law, it is indirectly enforceable by the Election Commission of India as per Article 324.