After a year of calm and quiet, the season of vigorous campaigning, manifestos and chapos is back. ‘Tis the SAC election season.

As the election process gets underway, it is important to understand what this hustle-bustle is all about. Who are we voting for? What exactly do these posts entail? And what are the rules this time around?

Here’s your Voter Handbook, a quick guide to the posts, eligibility, voting and rules for SAC elections. For complete and official details, always refer to the Election Commission’s guidelines: https://election.iitr.ac.in/5bf74ad4-6af9-40ca-85a1-d3545614393d/guidelines

The Senate and the SAC

The Senate is the main decision-making body of IIT Roorkee for academic, instructional and research-related matters. Headed by the Director, the Senate meets at least four times a year and exercises its powers through various committees and bodies.
The Students’ Affairs Council (SAC) functions under the overall supervision and control of the Senate. It acts as a collective forum for student concerns and deals with student welfare, discipline, co-curricular affairs, student housing and related matters. It also coordinates and reviews the functioning of various student bodies and plays a role in their budgets.

The Students’ Senate, a constituent body of the SAC, comprises:

• All elected and nominated Institute-level members
• Elected members from each Bhawan and residential Assistant Wardens
• Secretaries of other functional bodies of the SAC

The Posts

This year’s elections cover the following major portfolios. The eligibility criteria and responsibilities for the current election are as follows:

General Secretary Cultural Affairs

Eligibility:

• CGPA ≥ 6.5
• Prior experience as a PoR member of a club under the Cultural Council, as specified in Annexure-01
• UG, PG and Ph.D.: 3rd Semester Onwards (Ph.D. candidates must have completed candidacy on the date of nomination)

Roles and responsibilities:

• Responsible for cultural activities involving students on campus.
• Represents the Cultural Society and different cultural groups in the Institute/SAC.
• Acts as a link between cultural groups, the SAC and relevant Institute authorities.
• SAC representative in the Thomso Organizing Committee.

General Secretary Academic Affairs, UG

Eligibility:

• CGPA ≥ 8.0
• UG 3rd Semester Onwards

Roles and responsibilities:

• Represents students on academic and coursework-related issues.
• Proposes suggestions to the Dean Academics regarding institute electives, new courses, labs, etc., through the DoSW.
• Student Representative in the Institute Academic Programme Committee (IAPC).
• Student Representative in the Library Advisory Committee.
• All UG students may vote for this position.

General Secretary Academic Affairs, PG

Eligibility:

• CGPA ≥ 8.0
• PG 3rd Semester Onwards
• Ph.D. 3rd Semester Onwards, with candidacy completed on the date of nomination

Roles and responsibilities:

• Represents Master’s students and Research Scholars on research work-related issues.
• Acts as a point of contact with the Dean Academics through the DoSW.
• Student Representative in the Institute Academic Programme Committee (IAPC).
• Student Representative in the Institute Research Committee (IRC).
• All PG and Ph.D. students may vote for this position.

General Secretary Sports Affairs

Eligibility:

• CGPA ≥ 6.5
• Undergraduate: 3rd Semester Onwards
• Postgraduate: 3rd Semester Onwards
• Ph.D.: 3rd Semester Onwards, with candidacy completed on the date of nomination

Roles and responsibilities:

• One year of experience in Inter-IIT Sports is mandatory.
• Responsible for sports activities involving students on campus.
• SAC representative in Inter-IIT Sports.

General Secretary Technical Affairs

Eligibility:

• CGPA ≥ 6.5
• Prior experience as an eligible PoR member of a club under STC, as specified in Annexure-01
• UG, PG and Ph.D.: 3rd Semester Onwards, with Ph.D. candidacy completed on the date of nomination

Roles and responsibilities:

• SAC representative in the Cognizance & Shrishti Organizing Team.
• Organizes and coordinates the Inter-Bhawan Technical Fest.
• Student Coordinator of IITR at the Annual Inter-IIT Tech Meet.
• Coordinates between STC-affiliated student groups for Institute-level activities.
• Disseminates information regarding internet facilities and available Institute software licenses.

General Secretary Entrepreneurship

Eligibility:

• CGPA ≥ 6.5
• Prior experience as a member of an eligible entrepreneurship-related campus cell or an incubated start-up
• UG, PG and Ph.D.: 3rd Semester Onwards, with Ph.D. candidacy completed on the date of nomination

Roles and responsibilities:

• Collaborates with Institute groups such as E-Cell, Society of Business, Finance Club, CIG, Enactus and UBA for Institute-level events.
• Facilitates career guidance and counselling for students.

General Secretary Hostel Affairs

Eligibility:

• CGPA ≥ 6.5
• Prior experience as a Secretary at the Bhawan level or in the Bhawan/Mess Council is mandatory
• UG, PG and Ph.D.: 3rd Semester Onwards, with Ph.D. candidacy completed on the date of nomination

Roles and responsibilities:

• Responsible for undertaking Inter-Bhawan activities on campus.
• Coordinates with elected representatives at the Bhawan level.
• Conducts weekly/monthly surveys covering maintenance, food quality, cleanliness, hygiene and other Bhawan affairs.
• Ensures transparency and dissemination of relevant information across hostels.
• Member of the Coordination Committee of Bhawans (CCB).

Deputy General Secretary Hostel Affairs

Eligibility:

• DGSHA-UG Boys: CGPA ≥ 6.5; UG 3rd Semester Onwards
• DGSHA-PG Boys: CGPA ≥ 6.5; PG 3rd Semester Onwards; Ph.D. 3rd Semester Onwards with candidacy completed
• DGSHA-Girls: CGPA ≥ 6.5; UG/PG 3rd Semester Onwards; Ph.D. 3rd Semester Onwards with candidacy completed

Roles and responsibilities:
They broadly represent their respective student constituency in hostel-related matters and assist in raising and coordinating Bhawan-level concerns with the relevant authorities.

What happens after the elections?

The work does not end when the results are announced.

The SAC Executive Committee takes executive decisions on matters that do not require an immediate full SAC meeting, subject to subsequent consideration and approval by the SAC.

The elected representatives then spend their tenure working with the Students’ Senate, SAC, Bhawan representatives, faculty and Institute authorities on matters falling within their respective portfolios.

At the end of the tenure, elected members are required to document the initiatives undertaken during their term through the prescribed reporting process.

Election Committee

The Election Commission (EC) supervises and conducts the elections, scrutinizes nominations, oversees the electoral process, handles election-related complaints and disputes, and enforces the Code of Conduct.

The EC retains primary authority over election-related matters. Grievances are to be raised through the designated complaint mechanism.

Each Bhawan also has a Vigilance Committee, headed by the Chief Warden, with the Assistant Warden and two student representatives, to help ensure free and fair elections.

The Code of Conduct: Things You Should Know

Disclaimer: This is a simplified summary for quick reference. It does not replace the official rules. All candidates and students are strictly bound by the comprehensive Official Election Code of Conduct. Claiming ignorance of a rule omitted from this summary will not be accepted as a defense. In any dispute, the Official CoC supersedes this guide.

Campaigning

• Candidates must follow the prescribed campaign timings.
• iitr.ac.in email IDs and Institute platforms cannot be used for campaigning.
• Clubs, groups and club resources cannot be used for individual campaigns.
• Public election-related gatherings of more than 5 people are prohibited.
• Campaigning is online, except for EC-mandated offline debates.
• Only EC-approved posters, templates and manifestos may be used.
• Candidates must stick to their approved manifestos.

No identity politics

Religion, region, language, caste, community, course, branch or stream cannot be used to solicit votes.

No malicious anti-campaigning

Deliberately spreading false information, personal defamation or tampering with another candidate’s campaign material is prohibited.

Silence & Polling Period Rules

During the campaign silence period (and through the voting period where applicable):

• No social-media campaigning, mass messaging, or organized canvassing.
• No manifesto promotion
• No vote poaching (this ban extends through the entire voting period).
• Movement between Bhawans is strictly restricted from the end of the campaigning period until polling closes. Only EC members with official ID cards are exempt.

A few more things to remember

• No campaigning in LHC, the Library or Departments, or disruption of ongoing classes/tutorials/practicals.
• No non-current student, including alumni, can participate in campaigning.
• Office-bearers cannot support or criticize candidates.
• Positions of power in clubs, Bhawans and mess committees cannot be used to influence elections.
• Candidates are responsible for violations by supporters or anonymous handles; any such content must be disassociated from and publicly clarified within 3 hours.
• The EC does not recognize student groups or coalitions as official election parties.
• No hard-copy election pamphlets may be distributed or pasted within IITR.

First-Year Students: Special Rules

• No senior student, contesting or not, may bring a first-year student to their room.
• First-years cannot enter senior messes until the elections are over.
• Entry of non-residents into Rajendra and Sarojini Bhawan is restricted during the electoral process except for official election duty.
  Any rule violation involving a senior and a first-year student will bypass normal channels and be handled directly by the Convener and Head of Vigilance.

What if someone violates the Code?

For contestants, penalties may include:

• Fines up to ₹5,000
• Cancellation of nomination
• Immediate disqualification depending on severity
• Disqualification after a second violation

For other students:

• ₹1,000 fine for the first social-media campaign violation during silence
• ₹2,000 fine for further violation

Forcing someone to vote can attract a ₹2,000 fine and a Disciplinary Committee case.

Any attempt to access or tamper with the online voting system can lead to immediate disqualification and a Disciplinary Committee case.

Offline Debates

Where mandated by the EC:

• If any candidate fails to appear for the scheduled offline debate, their candidature will be cancelled by the Election Commission (EC).
• Debates will be held only at approved venues and times.
• An EC-appointed moderator will oversee proceedings.
• Personal attacks and abusive language are prohibited.
• Candidates must follow the prescribed format and receive equal speaking opportunities.
• Unauthorized recording or distribution is prohibited.

So, what are ya’ll voting for & why care?

At the end of the day, SAC elections are about choosing who you want speaking for you when student issues actually reach the Institute.

The manifestos will be full of ideas, promises and ambitious plans, but it is worth looking beyond the posters and asking a few simple questions:

Do they understand what their post actually involves?
Can they realistically pull off what they’re promising?
And, when the campaign is over, do you trust them to follow through?

The campaigning will last a few days. Their work, however, will last a whole tenure.

So choose well… tada!