IIT-Madras Students Lead Innovation in Democracy with Blockchain Technology: A Game-Changer in Election Processes

The use of blockchain technology in the recent student body poll at IIT-Madras has not only set a new standard for secure and transparent elections but has also paved the way for a potential revolution in various sectors. The initiative, spearheaded by the ‘Webops and Blockchain Club’ at the Centre for Innovation, has now transformed into a successful startup, with both government and private organizations adopting its software for managing crucial records.

The project, initially conceived as a CSR initiative to address challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, has now gained recognition in the India Book of Records for its innovative approach to voting technology. The team of researchers behind this groundbreaking endeavor believes that blockchain has the potential to revolutionize existing practices in numerous domains.

Prof Prabhu Rajagopal, the faculty-in-charge of the project, envisions a future where secure and transparent blockchain applications are embraced in election processes across various sectors. He emphasized the transformative potential of this student-led project in reshaping the conduct of elections.

Addressing concerns about the security of online blockchain-based polls, the team is confident in the technology’s near-impenetrable security features. Anirudh Varna, a fourth-year BTech student involved in the project, highlighted the difficulty for malicious actors to compromise the system, emphasizing the need to control over 50% of the network’s nodes simultaneously.

Rajagopal further emphasized the capacity of blockchain technology to foster trust and ensure the integrity of the poll process, reassuring stakeholders of the system’s robust security measures. With the successful implementation of blockchain technology in the student body poll at IIT-Madras, the future of secure and transparent elections looks promising in India.