- Why in news
- On April 20, 2026 the Election Commission directed dry days under Section 135C of the RP Act, 1951 for the 2026 Assembly polls (Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal). The ban covers 48 hours before poll close and also the counting day, May 4, 2026.
- What it is
- Section 135C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 bars the sale, gift or distribution of liquor in a polling area for 48 hours ending with the close of poll. It is meant to keep voters free from inducement and to preserve public order during elections. States notify the dry day under their own excise laws.
- Who notifies
- The dry day is declared and notified under the relevant State or UT laws, as the statute itself does the prohibiting.
- Re-poll
- The dry day also covers the date of any re-poll.
- Scope of ban
- Clubs, star hotels and restaurants with liquor licences also cannot serve liquor on these days.
Don’t confuse with Section 135C vs Section 126 (RPA 1951): Section 135C bars liquor for 48 hours before poll close. Section 126 bars public meetings and election propaganda in the same 48-hour period.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Curbs liquor as an inducement to voters, supporting free and fair elections.
- Helps maintain law and order on polling and counting days.
Problems
- Excise is a State subject, so enforcement depends on State notifications and varies.
- Illicit stocking and sale are hard to detect.
Way forward
- Strict enforcement of excise rules on storage in unlicensed premises, with surveillance and seizures.
- Closer coordination between ECI and State excise departments.
Put in your answer
Free and fair elections: Section 135C is an example of statutory safeguards against inducement to voters during polls.
- 2025Mains GS2 · Q1Discuss corrupt practices under RPA and whether disproportionate assets amount to undue influence.
- 2020Mains GS2 · Q1Comment on simplifying disqualification procedure for corrupt practices under the Representation of Peoples Act.
- 2022Mains GS2 · Q15Discuss Election Commission's role in light of the evolving Model Code of Conduct.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: A lasting provision with a 48-hour rule, but it is a minor part of electoral law; the file already holds a related Section 135B issue.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.