New Delhi: In a major electoral reform, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) applicable for Government servants will also include retired Government officials.

In its order, the ECI said that retired Government officials who are serving in various capacities in States or Union Territories Governments, will also come under the purview of the MCC and hence should mandatorily maintain political neutrality. The ECI has issued this order to the State Chief Secretaries and Chief Electoral Officers of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, UP and Uttarakhand which are going to the Assembly polls in the first quarter of 2027.