The Election Commission of India has enforced the Model Code of Conduct following the announcement of Assembly elections in five states and Puducherry to ensure a level playing field.

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• The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into force immediately after the Election Commission announces the election schedule and remains effective until results are declared.
• MCC is a set of guidelines regulating the conduct of political parties, candidates, and governments to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.
• Though not a statutory law, the MCC is enforced under Article 324 of the Constitution, which empowers the Election Commission to supervise elections.
• The code prohibits misuse of government machinery, announcement of new schemes, and combining official duties with election campaigning.
• Political parties are barred from using caste, religion, or communal sentiments to seek votes and from using places of worship for election propaganda.
• The Election Commission uses technological tools such as the c-VIGIL app and SUVIDHA portal to monitor violations and improve transparency.
• Major challenges include digital misinformation, artificial intelligence generated deepfakes, surrogate advertising, and debates over electoral freebies.
• Experts recommend granting statutory backing to MCC, strengthening enforcement powers, regulating digital campaigns, and establishing fast-track election tribunals.