The use of 'Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC)' by the Election Commission of India was started in which one of the following years?

The Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) were introduced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in 1993 [2]. While the concept of voter identification was discussed as early as 1957 and pilot projects were attempted in 1960 and 1979, it was under the tenure of Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan that the cards became a nationwide reality [2]. Seshan spearheaded significant electoral reforms starting in 1990, emphasizing voter IDs to eliminate proxy voting and ensure free and fair elections . The nationwide launch in 1993 aimed to prevent impersonation and strengthen the integrity of the electoral process [2]. Since then, the EPIC has evolved, leading to the introduction of the digital e-EPIC in 2021, which features secure QR codes for easier access and storage [2].

Sources

1. [1] https://www.eci.gov.in/eci-backend/public/api/download?url=LMAhAK6sOPBp%2FNFF0iRfXbEB1EVSLT41NNLRjYNJJP1KivrUxbfqkDatmHy12e%2FzVx8fLfn2ReU7TfrqYobgIlVdhHr3wWkKGMFGaPuF4iddPMAYWU9V6Mm5VliEvmLbHWMi8CmLWc3grlbmGaBhWN1OSajlxzh95vH6f34FjKgOF7MGwAkUfApkXzIzPoUJ6nTmrJRPO%2BMVXyL7h3Qh6Pgpdl8s0HSP2R9P5M5%2F19j%2FS%2B5%2FlJ%2B8MqaAjimjQvCY67RQUuISAqIKcLNWQNWnmQ%3D%3D
2. [2] https://www.newsonair.gov.in/evolution-of-voter-cards-in-india-from-epic-to-e-epic/