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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on September 16, 2024
Daily Insights and Initiatives for UPSC Exam Notes: Comprehensive explanations and high-quality material provided regularly for students
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
For Mains Examination: GS II - Indian Polity & Governance
Context:
The idea of One Country One Election -- under discussion for long in the corridors of parliament -- will be implemented during the current tenure of the Narendra Modi government, sources have said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned this in his Independence Day speech this year and the government is committed to implementing it
Read about:
What is One Nation and One Election?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Simultaneous elections
Key takeaways:
- "One Nation, One Election" refers to the idea of holding simultaneous elections across India for both the Lok Sabha (the national parliament) and all state legislative assemblies. Currently, elections in India are staggered, with various states holding assembly elections at different times, which results in continuous election cycles across the country.
- The proposal for simultaneous elections aims to reduce the constant political campaigning and the use of government resources for election purposes, ensuring greater administrative efficiency.
- Proponents argue that it would lead to more consistent policy-making and reduce the disruption caused by frequent elections.
- Critics, however, raise concerns about its impact on federalism, regional political dynamics, and the logistics of organizing such a massive election in a country as large and diverse as India
Historical Perspective on Simultaneous Elections in India:
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Initial Implementation (1952–1967): After India's independence, the first few general elections were held simultaneously. From 1952 to 1967, both Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly elections were conducted together. This practice continued smoothly because the central and state governments generally completed their five-year terms concurrently.
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Divergence from Simultaneous Elections (Post-1967): The shift from simultaneous elections began in 1968 and 1969, when some state legislative assemblies were dissolved prematurely. For example, in 1967, the political landscape started to become unstable in various states due to coalition politics and factional conflicts. This led to the dissolution of several state assemblies before their terms ended. Similarly, the dissolution of the Lok Sabha in 1970 and mid-term elections in 1971 further complicated the election cycle.
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Post-Emergency Elections (1977 Onwards): After the Emergency (1975–77), political upheavals led to more frequent premature dissolutions of state assemblies and the Lok Sabha. This caused the election cycles for various states and the center to become unsynchronized. From this point, elections in India became staggered, leading to continuous elections across different states and the center.
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Revival of the Idea: Over the years, political leaders and commissions have periodically revisited the idea of restoring simultaneous elections to bring back stability in governance. For instance:
- The Law Commission of India (in its 170th Report in 1999) and the Election Commission of India have supported discussions on simultaneous elections.
- In 2016, the NITI Aayog also released a report outlining the feasibility of simultaneous elections.
- Successive governments, including under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have explored the concept as pa