One Nation, One Election, Step-by-Step Process Explained | UPSC | StudyIQ IAS

Summary

The script discusses India's significant political reform of 'One Nation, One Election', which aims to synchronize all state and national elections. It highlights the potential benefits such as reduced governance disruption and economic growth due to policy stability. However, critics argue it could overshadow regional issues and favor incumbent parties. The implementation involves constitutional amendments and requires state consensus, presenting both opportunities and challenges.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Indian government has approved the implementation of 'One Nation, One Election', a significant change that has been discussed for a long time.
• 🏛️ A committee under the former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, recommended that 'One Nation, One Election' should be implemented, which has now been accepted by the Cabinet.
• 🗣️ Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also supported the idea of 'One Nation, One Election', which aims to align state and national elections.
• 📅 The plan is to conduct all state assembly elections and the Lok Sabha election simultaneously every five years, reducing the frequent election cycles.
• 🔄 An Implementation Group will be formed by the government to ensure that the recommendations of the Kovind panel are correctly implemented.
• 🏆 The 'One Nation, One Election' concept aims to reduce the impact of election seasons on governance and policy-making, keeping the focus consistent.
• 💡 The idea is also supported by many political parties, including a large number who believe it will bring stability and continuity to governance.
• 📉 The proposal could potentially reduce the economic burden of frequent elections on the Election Commission of India and political parties.
• 🤔 Critics argue that the simultaneous elections could overshadow local issues and favor national parties over regional ones, potentially reducing the importance of state governments.
• 📚 The implementation of 'One Nation, One Election' would require significant constitutional amendments, including changes that might need the consent of state governments.

Q & A

What is the main change being discussed in the Indian political landscape?

The main change being discussed is the implementation of 'One Nation One Election', which aims to hold all elections in India at the same time.

Who was the committee formed under to discuss the 'One Nation One Election' concept?

The committee was formed under the leadership of former President Ram Nath Kovind, which included several discussions and meetings to finalize the report.

What is the proposed timeline for implementing 'One Nation One Election'?

The implementation is proposed to be done in two phases. The first phase involves combining the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, and the second phase involves merging local body elections within 100 days of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

How would the electoral rolls be managed under 'One Nation One Election'?

There would be a common electoral roll for all elections, which means the separate electoral rolls for Lok Sabha, State Assembly, and local body elections would be merged.

What are the potential benefits of 'One Nation One Election' as discussed in the script?

Potential benefits include better governance focus, economic growth due to policy stability, reduced expenditure on elections, and increased voter turnout due to less frequent elections.

What are the concerns raised by opposition parties regarding 'One Nation One Election'?

Opposition parties argue that it is impractical and against the federal structure of the country, as it may lead to overlooking regional issues in favor of national issues.

How many constitutional amendments are required to implement 'One Nation One Election'?

Approximately 18 constitutional amendments are required to implement this concept.

What is the role of the Implementation Group mentioned in the script?

The Implementation Group is responsible for taking forward the recommendations made by the Kovind Committee in the right direction and ensuring they are implemented correctly.

How would the term of government change if 'One Nation One Election' is implemented?

The term of governments would be shortened to align with the general election term. For example, if a state government is elected in 2025, its term would end in 2029 along with the Lok Sabha term.

What is the Kovind Panel's recommendation regarding the appointment date for the Parliament?

The Kovind Panel recommends that the Parliament should declare an appointed date, and any elections held after that date should be merged with the 2019 elections.

What are the potential disadvantages of 'One Nation One Election' as mentioned in the script?

Potential disadvantages include the overshadowing of regional issues, the possibility of increased political instability, and the loss of the federal structure's essence.