On Electoral Bonds Verdict, "Weighing Options, No Ordinance Yet": Sources

According to Election Commission data, 28,030 electoral bonds worth Rs 16,437.63 crore were sold between 2016 and 2022, with the BJP raking in over Rs 10,000 crore from that amount.

A day after the Supreme Court struck down the electoral bonds scheme - on grounds it violated citizens' right to information, was unconstitutional, and may lead to a quid pro quo arrangements between political parties and donors - the government has said it is "studying" the order.

Sources told NDTV the government is weighing options and will not, at this stage, move to overrule the country's highest court, like it did in December when it passed a bill - with most opposition leaders suspended - to establish a new mechanism to appoint members of the Election Commission.

Sources also said the government is concerned about the return of black money, and had further noted that revealing donors' identities - as instructed by the court - is "against laws of banking".