By Admin 
Have you ever wondered why the purple mark on the finger after voting is so dark? Why can’t it be erased even after millions of efforts? And do you know that only India has the secret of this ink, so much so that 90 countries of the world buy it from us! This is the same ink, which is both the identity of democracy and also the strongest weapon against fraud. But the story of this ink is not limited to chemicals only. Let us understand the whole story behind this and its electoral connection.
The real secret of indelible ink
Whenever elections are held in India, every voter is identified by a small ink line. This is not an ordinary mark, but a proof of the honesty of democracy. This ink applied on the index finger of the left hand has become a symbol of India’s election transparency in front of the world.
This is called indelible ink, that is, such ink that no matter how much you rub it, wash it with water or chemicals, it still does not get erased. Initially it appears purple in color, but after a few hours it gradually turns black.
Where is this ink made
In India, this special ink is produced only at two places – Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd, Karnataka and the other – Rayudu Laboratory, Hyderabad, Telangana.
Of these, the ink of Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited is used in every election in India. Whereas the ink of Rayudu Laboratory is sent abroad. This is the same Indian ink, which has so far become a part of elections in almost 90 countries. These include many countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Türkiye, South Africa, Malaysia, Nepal.
Why doesn’t this mark disappear?
The specialty of this ink lies in its chemical composition. It contains 10 to 18 percent silver nitrate. When this ink is applied on the finger, it reacts with the salt (Sodium Chloride) present in the skin of our body and forms silver chloride.
The most special thing about silver chloride is that it does not dissolve in water. This is the reason why it sticks firmly to the upper layer of the skin. The ink dries completely within 40 seconds of application, and its color turns black when exposed to sunlight or water. Even if you try to remove it with soap, oil or detergent, it remains there for at least 72 hours.
Strict process of Election Commission
The Election Commission of India is very strict regarding the use of this ink. According to the order issued in March 2015, the ink is required to be applied with a brush from the tip of the nail of the index finger of the left hand to the first joint.
The brush with which this ink is applied is also manufactured by Mysore Paints Company. The EVM button can be pressed only after marking the voter’s finger. This responsibility rests with the officer of the polling station who handles the control unit.
What happens if the finger is already inked?
In 2021, the Election Commission had given clear instructions on this also. The Election Commission said that if the old election ink is still visible on the index finger of a voter, then new ink will be applied on the middle finger. If it is also marked with ink, the mark will be placed on the ring finger. But this rule applies only when the gap between the two elections is less than two months.
Lakhs of bottles are ready for every election
In a huge country like India, lakhs of ink bottles have to be prepared for every election. In the 2014 general elections, an order of 21 lakh bottles was placed, while in the 2019 elections it increased to 26 lakh bottles.
Interestingly, one bottle of ink can mark the fingers of about 300 voters. That means, in every election, crores of Indians are marked by this same scientific formula.
When did this tradition start in elections?
Indelible ink was used for the first time in India in the 1962 Lok Sabha elections. From then till now it is mandatory in every general and assembly elections. This ink not only prevents repeat voting, but also ensures that the voting process remains transparent and fair.
India’s indelible mark in world elections
This electoral innovation of India has now become the hallmark of democracy across the world. About 90 countries of the world have adopted this Indian Ink. It is not just a product but has become a symbol of the credibility of Indian election management.
Also read: India SIR: Under which article and section SIR is done, this form is used for new nomination.