ECI doubles pay for Booth Level Officers, introduces remuneration for EROs and AEROs

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has carried out a major overhaul of the compensation structure for officials responsible for managing the country’s electoral rolls, doubling the annual payment for Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

In a directive issued on Saturday, the ECI also formally instituted honoraria for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) for the first time. The revised rates, issued through an official notification examined by this newsroom, represent the first significant revision since 2015.

BLOs To Receive Rs 12,000 Annually

As per the Commission’s order, the annual remuneration for BLOs has been increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000.

These field officers, who conduct household verification and ensure the accuracy of voter records, will also receive a higher incentive of Rs 2,000 during the revision of electoral rolls, double the earlier amount of Rs 1,000.

Registration Officers Added To Pay Structure

A similar revision has been approved for BLO Supervisors, whose annual remuneration has been raised from Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000. These supervisors coordinate with multiple BLOs, monitor revision progress across polling areas, and ensure compliance with verification standards.

The Commission has approved annual honoraria for both AEROs and EROs, roles that previously came with no fixed compensation for role-related duties.

Under the updated structure, AEROs will receive Rs 25,000 annually, while EROs will receive Rs 30,000. These officers carry statutory responsibility for certifying the voter list and clearing all corrections and inclusions.

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Special Incentive Approved for Bihar

Alongside the revised annual payouts, the Commission has sanctioned a one-time incentive of Rs 6,000 for BLOs participating in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise underway in Bihar.

This additional payment is specific to the SIR process and does not replace the newly enhanced annual rates or the revision incentive.

First Major Update Since 2015

Notably, the latest revision is the first comprehensive change to BLO remuneration in a decade. The Commission highlighted that the workload associated with maintaining updated voter rolls has increased substantially since 2015, driven by higher internal migration, digital verification processes, and more frequent field checks.

Officials involved in roll management routinely handle form submissions, conduct field enquiries. The notification, signed by Assistant Director Apurva Kumar Singh, takes effect immediately.