For security personnel deployed during elections, navigating their duty locations has always been a tedious process. Scouring through lengthy printed lists or bulky booklets to locate their assigned polling station added unnecessary stress to an already demanding job. Recognizing this challenge, IPS officer Bharat Reddy, a 2015-batch AGMUT cadre officer and Additional DCP (Outer North) led a team to develop a simple yet highly effective mobile application—Prasthapan.
Launched on February 3, 2025, the Prasthapan App has revolutionized the way police personnel, home guards, and CAPF officers access their election duty details. By simply entering their mobile number, they can instantly view their assigned polling station, key location details, and the contact numbers of fellow officers deployed at the same location—eliminating the need for cumbersome paperwork or last-minute phone calls.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the officer shared details about the same.
ELECTION DEPLOYMENT AT FINGERTIPS
During elections, 2,057 personnel, including 807 home guards, were deployed at polling stations across the Outer North District. Additionally, 600 officers were assigned to law and order duties, making the total number of personnel involved around 2,600. Each of them downloaded the app, allowing seamless coordination and easy access to their duty locations.
“Earlier, officers had to sift through pages of printed lists to locate their assignment. Now, with just their mobile number, they can access their duty point, check their team members, and even coordinate in advance. This has significantly improved efficiency and reduced confusion,” he explained.
USER-FRIENDLY AND NO TRAINING REQUIRED
One of the app’s biggest advantages is its simplicity—there are no login credentials required, and no special training is needed to use it. Inspired by the ease of social media apps, Prasthapan is designed to be instantly intuitive.
“Just like people instinctively know how to use Instagram or Facebook, we wanted this app to be equally user-friendly. The moment an officer opens it, they should immediately know what to do. That’s why we kept it minimal—just enter the mobile number, and all details appear,” Mr. Reddy shared with Indian Masterminds.
This approach worked remarkably well. Officers on duty found it incredibly convenient. ACP Joginder Singh, deployed in Outer North District, called it a game-changer, while SI Puneet from SB Dairy police station appreciated how the app saved him the trouble of manually searching for his name in long printed lists. Constable Chetram and Home Guard Ishwar also shared positive feedback, highlighting how the app made their work smoother and more coordinated.
OVERCOMING LAST-MINUTE ELECTION CHALLENGES
Developing an app for election deployment was not without its challenges. Given the dynamic nature of police duty, last-minute changes are frequent. Polling assignments, security arrangements, and deployment lists often get finalized just days before the election, leaving little time for structured planning.
“In policing, a lot of things get decided at the last minute,” admitted Mr. Reddy. “We had to be flexible and ensure that our app could accommodate sudden changes. The elections were on February 5, and we launched the app on February 3—so we had just a narrow window to get everything working smoothly.”
MORE THAN JUST A LOCATION FINDER
Beyond identifying polling stations, the Prasthapan App provides crucial details such as:
- Polling booth type (Normal or Critical)
- Number of polling stations at the location
- Local police station and district details
- Contact details of fellow officers posted at the same location
This functionality proved invaluable, especially for officers deployed in unfamiliar areas. Many security personnel were assigned duties in locations they had never visited before, making it crucial to have quick access to directions and local police contacts.
“There were officers from different districts and forces who had never been to some of these areas before,” said Mr. Reddy. “Earlier, they would spend half a day just figuring out where to go. With Prasthapan, they could get all details instantly—making it much easier to plan their movement.”
A MODEL FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS
Given its success, Prasthapan is now a reusable solution for future elections. Any police district can implement it by simply uploading deployment data in a prescribed format. Officers assigned to duty in any region can then download the app, enter their mobile number, and instantly access their details.
“This app isn’t just for one election—it’s designed to be used anywhere, anytime. All that’s needed is to upload the data, and personnel can immediately start using it,” he told Indian Masterminds.
The overwhelmingly positive response from officers has solidified Prasthapan’s position as a breakthrough initiative in election security management. By eliminating confusion, streamlining coordination, and enhancing efficiency, it has set a new benchmark for how security forces can leverage technology to improve on-ground operations.
With Prasthapan, the stress of finding duty locations is now a thing of the past, allowing officers to focus on their primary responsibility—ensuring a smooth and secure election process.
