Supreme Court Orders SBI to Disclose Electoral Bond Numbers, Seeks Response by March 18

In a significant development, the Supreme Court has directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose the numbers of electoral bonds, emphasizing the need for transparency in political funding. The apex court announced its decision to scan and digitize the documents provided by the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding electoral bonds, ensuring the preservation of original records. However, the court noted the absence of 'unique numbers' on the electoral bonds and issued notice to SBI to furnish the data with these identifiers. These unique alphanumeric codes are crucial for matching donors with political parties, enhancing accountability and transparency in the electoral process. SBI has been instructed to respond to the court's directive by Monday, March 18, marking a significant step towards promoting transparency in political financing.