History and science of indelible ink applied on finger during voting

The election process for the formation of the 18th Lok Sabha in the country has started from 19 April 2024. Elections are being conducted in seven phases for a total of 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country. Purple-black ink (indelible ink) is applied to the voter's left index finger when using a polling station to prevent duplicate ballots being cast in the election process.

About indelible ink:

• It is a purple-black coloured ink which is applied on the index finger of the voter's left hand at the polling booth to prevent duplication of votes. It is used in all elections across India.
• The voter mark signifies that the voter has cast his/her vote, and thus, prevents that person from voting a second time.

How does indelible ink work?

• Indelible ink contains silver nitrate. It reacts with the skin and nails and leaves a dark stain that can remain on the skin for several days.
• The scar fades as new cells replace the old cells. It remains on the nails until the nails grow.
• When the old cells are replaced with new cells, the scar disappears. This continues until the nail grows.
• A 10 ml ink bottle is enough to mark the fingerprints of approximately 700 people.
• The ink is light-sensitive and needs to be protected from exposure to direct sunlight. Formerly it was stored in brown glass bottles, currently it is stored in amber coloured plastic containers.

Development of indelible ink:

• Indelible ink was developed by CSIR to counter the challenge of fraudulent voting.
• Research work to prepare indelible ink was started in the 1950s by the scientists of the then Chemical Division. It was later patented by the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), New Delhi.

Main suppliers of indelible ink:

• In 1962 the Election Commission entered into an agreement with the National Physical Laboratory and the National Research Development Corporation in collaboration with the Law Ministry and Mysore Paints, a Karnataka Government undertaking, for the supply of indelible ink for elections in India. Since then Mysore Paints has been the sole supplier of this ink.
• The Election Commission entered into a contract with Mysore Paints, a Karnataka Government enterprise, to supply indelible ink for Indian elections in 1962.

Indelible ink is exported to many countries:

• It also exports indelible inks to more than 30 countries around the world, including Thailand, Singapore, Nigeria, Malaysia and Cambodia.

About 18th Lok Sabha Elections:

• The first phase of voting was held on 19 April 2024 under the 18th Lok Sabha elections. Whereas the last seventh phase will end on June 1, 2024. The election results will come on June 4, 2024. The election process will take 46 days to complete. In some states, voting will be completed in a single phase, but in some states it will continue in seven phases.
• The tenure of the 17th Lok Sabha is ending on June 16, 2024. Before this, formation of a new government is necessary.