<span style="color: #222222;">Election Commission has constituted a committee to examine the issues concerning expenditure limit for a candidate in view of increase in number of electors and rise in Cost Inflation Index and other factors.<br />'' <br />'' The Committee  comprises Harish Kumar, former  IRS officer  and DG (Investigation) and Umesh Sinha, Secretary General and DG (Expenditure).<br />'' <br />'' The Committee will submit its report within 120 days of its constitution.<br />'' <br />'' The terms of reference of the Committee is to assess the change in number of electors across the States and Union Territories and its bearing on expenditure and to assess the change in Cost Inflation Index and its bearing on the pattern of expenditure incurred by the candidates in recent elections.<br />'' <br />'' It also includes seeking views and inputs of the political parties and other stakeholders,  examining other factors which may have bearings on expenditure.<br />'' <br />'' Considering the factor of COVID-19, the Ministry of Law and  Justice on 19th of this month  had notified an amendment in Rule 90 of Conduct of Elections Rules enhancing the existing expenditure limit by 10 per cent.  <br />'' <br />'' This increase of 10 per cent will be applicable with immediate effect in ongoing elections.<br />'' <br />'' It said, the Expenditure limit for a candidate was last revised in 2014 while in respect of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana it was revised in 2018.<br />'' <br />'' The Commission said, in last 6 years the limit was not increased despite increase in electorate from 834 million to 910 million in 2019 to 921 million now.  <br />'' <br />'' Further, Cost Inflation Index during this period has increased from 220 to 280 in 2019 to 301 now.<br />'' <br />'' </span><br />