Health Ministry takes indelible ink from EC to stamp people for home quarantine

• The concerned authorities are going to be instructed to not use the ink on any finger on the left of any persons.
• The ink, thus far used during elections and made by a Mysore-based company just for the EC, will now be made available to the states.
• The ink mark lasts for over a month.
• The choice has been taken publicly interest keeping in sight the demand from states to use an indelible marker on quarantined individuals.
• EC has provided safeguards to make sure that the sanctity of the election procedure is maintained.
• The ink can’t be used without EC’s permission, because it may be a “proprietary item” during a sense.
• Maharashtra has already begun ‘stamping’ those in 100% quarantine on St Patrick’s Day, after the number of cases within the state spiked.
• The date of isolation is stamped on the left palm of the individual with ink that might last for 14 days.

What is Indelible Ink?

Indelible ink, electoral ink, electoral stain or phosphoric ink is a semi-permanent ink or dye that is applied to the forefinger (usually) of voters during elections in order to prevent electoral fraud such as double voting. It is an effective method for countries where identification documents for citizens are not always standardised or institutionalised. Election ink uses silver nitrate, and excessive exposure can cause argyria. It was first used during the 1962 Indian general election, in Mysore State, now the modern-day state of Karnataka.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Chief Election Commissioner of India: Sunil Arora.