Context:
The Lok Sabha has extended the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining proposals on simultaneous elections (One Nation, One Election) until the end of the Monsoon Session.
Key Highlights:
- Legislative Developments
- Committee examining Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and related bills
- Bills introduced in Lok Sabha on December 17, 2024
- Committee Functioning
- Chaired by MP P.P. Chaudhary
- Conducted 17 meetings with experts (judiciary, economists, policymakers)
- Objective of Simultaneous Elections
- Synchronise Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections
- Reduce frequent election cycles and governance disruptions
- Data & Evidence
- EAC-PM working paper suggests:
- 28% reduction in polling personnel deployment
- Improved administrative efficiency
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Simultaneous Elections:
- Conducting elections to Lok Sabha & State Assemblies together
- Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC):
- Ad hoc body with members from both Houses
- Examines bills/issues in detail
- Constitutional Amendments Required:
- Changes to Articles 83, 85, 172, 174, 356 (tenure & dissolution issues)
- EAC-PM:
- Advisory body on economic policy to PM
Relevant Mains Points:
- Advantages
- Reduced election expenditure
- Minimises Model Code of Conduct disruptions
- Enhances governance continuity
- Efficient resource and manpower utilisation
- Challenges
- Constitutional and federal concerns
- Difficulty in handling premature dissolution of Assemblies
- Risk of centralisation of political discourse
- Logistical challenges in conducting nationwide polls
- Federalism Concerns
- May undermine regional issues and diversity
- Could favour national parties over regional parties
- Way Forward
- Build political consensus across parties
- Consider phased or hybrid models
- Safeguard federal balance and democratic diversity
- Strengthen Election Commission capacity
UPSC Relevance:
• GS 2 – Polity (elections, federalism, constitutional amendments)