UPSC Mains 2024 GS2 Q1 — Electoral reforms
Examine the need for electoreal reforms as suggested by various commities with particular reference ‘‘one nation–one election’’ principle. (Answer in 150 words) 10
Similar Previous Year Questions
Related Prelims MCQs
Build factual foundation — these MCQs cover facts/concepts you'll need for this Mains question.
-
CAPF 2012 Constitutional structure
Consider the following statements about Indian elections : 1. The Constitution provides that elections to the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of States are to be held on the basis of universal adult suffrage. 2. The Constitution stipulates that there will be separate electoral rolls for Parliamentary and State Assembly elections. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
-
CDS-II 2015 Delimitation Commission
Which one of the following statements about Electoral Government in India is not correct?
-
CAPF 2015 Centre-state relations
The Punchhi Commission report was related to :
-
IAS 1994 Constitutional structure
Which of the following electoral systems have been adopted for various elections in India ? I. System of direct elections on the basis of adult suffrage. II. System of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. III. List system of proportional representation. IV. Cumulative system of indirect elections. Select the correct answer from the codes given below.
-
CISF 2021 Federalism & Emergency Provisions
Sarkaria Commission was appointed to look into
Source Map — where to read
"~ELECTORAL REFORMS OF 1996 In 1990, the National Front Government headed by V.P. Singh appointed a committee on electoral reforms under the chairmanship of Dinesh Goswami, the then Law Minister. The Committee was asked to study the electoral system in detail and suggest measures for remedying the drawbacks within it. The Committee, in its report submitted in 1990 itself, made a number of proposals on electoral reforms. Some of these recommendations were implemented in 1996. These are explained here. List ing of Names of Candidates The candi· dates contesting elections a re to be classified int…"
"These are but a few suggestions. There is no consensus about these suggestions. Even if there was a consensus, there are limits to what the laws and formal provisions can do. Free and fair elections can be held only if the candidates, the parties and those involved in the election process agree to abide by the spirit of democratic competition. Apart from legal reforms, there are two other ways of ensuring that elections reflect the expectations and democratic aspirations of the people. One is, of course, that people themselves have to be more Should a person accused of a serious crime be barre…"
"No system of election can ever be perfect. And in actual election process, there are bound to be many flaws and limitations. Any democratic society has to keep searching for mechanisms to make elections free and fair to the maximum. With the acceptance of adult suffrage, freedom to contest elections, and the establishment of an independent Election Commission, India has tried to make its election process free and fair. However, the experience of the past 72 years has given rise to many suggestions for reforming our election system. The Election Commission, political parties, various independen…"
"8. The Indian Constitution has provisions for holding joint session of the two houses of the Parliament. Enumerate the occasions when this would normally happen and also the occasions when it cannot, with reasons thereof. [250 words] 15 9. To enhance the quality of democracy in India, the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful?…"
"We shall also look at some suggestions for amending the constitutional provisions in this respect. After reading this chapter, you would understand: • ± different methods of election;• ± the characteristics of the system of election adopted in our country;• ± the importance of the provisions for free and fair elections; and• ± the debate on electoral reforms.…"
How this topic is evolving
The discourse has shifted from general electoral reform principles to the practicalities of a performance-driven 'Role-based' governance model. Recent developments, such as the use of SVAMITVA drones for property mapping and the push for real-time ministerial scorecards, reflect a broader push for 'One Nation' standards that extend beyond elections into administrative accountability and social security formalization.
Discuss how the transition toward 'One Nation' standards in governance, ranging from electoral synchronization to the formalization of the gig economy through social security codes, impacts the federal balance between the Union and the States. (Answer in 250 words)
Why this framing: The integration of 2.35 crore gig workers into social security frameworks and the SVAMITVA scheme's property cards.
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Examine
- Scope keywords
- electoral reformsvarious commitiesone nation–one election principle
- Implicit sub-parts
- Rationale behind electoral reforms based on committee recommendations (Dinesh Goswami, Law Commission, etc.)
- Analysis of the 'One Nation One Election' (ONOE) concept as a specific reform
- Arguments for and against ONOE regarding administrative efficiency versus federal spirit
- Evaluation of whether ONOE addresses the core systemic issues identified by committees
- Common pitfalls
- Failing to name specific committees like the Dinesh Goswami Committee or the Indrajit Gupta Committee
- Spending too many words on general reforms (criminalization, funding) without pivoting to the ONOE case study
- Expressing a purely biased political opinion on ONOE instead of examining constitutional and logistical challenges
- Ignoring the 'Need' aspect—failing to explain WHY these reforms are being suggested in the first place
- Dimensions required
- ConstitutionalAdministrative/LogisticalFederal/PoliticalEconomic/Fiscal
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 30 words to the introduction and committee context, 50 words to the general need for reforms, 50 words specifically examining ONOE (pros/cons/feasibility), and 20 words for a balanced conclusion. Ensure the link between committee suggestions and ONOE is explicit to earn the full 10 marks.
How examiners have framed this topic over the years
Evolution from domestic electoral mechanics and administrative efficiency to comparative constitutional procedures and the geopolitics of global institutional reform.
The examiner's lens has transitioned from broad institutional suggestions for democracy in 2017 toward specific policy principles like 'One Nation–One Election' in 2024, emphasizing the role of formal committee recommendations. While previously focusing on domestic civil service reform linkages to economic performance in 2020 and comparative procedural mechanics of presidential elections in 2022, the framing subsequently shifted in 2025 to test reforms within global governance structures like the UN. This evolution shows a move from examining 'how' reforms happen internally to 'why' they stall due to geopolitical or structural entanglements.
PYQs this pattern was synthesized from
Answer Skeleton — fill this in
Introduction
Simultaneous elections (One Nation-One Election) refer to synchronizing the cycles of Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly polls to limit the "permanent election mode." While the practice existed until 1967, subsequent political instability led to the current fragmented cycle. Article 324 empowers the Election Commission, but structural reforms are now sought to restore order.
Committee Recommendations on Electoral Reforms
- 170th Law Commission Report (1999): Argued that the cycle of elections every year must be stopped to ensure governance stability and "holding of elections together." [Laxmikant, Ch. 75]
- Dinesh Goswami Committee: Recommended measures to curb the role of money power and improve state funding to reduce the financial burden of frequent polls. [Laxmikant, Ch. 75]
- NITI Aayog Discussion Paper (2017): Proposed a two-phase synchronization to minimize the impact of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) on development work. [PRS Legislative Research]
Rationale and Need for ONOE
Administrative and Economic Efficiency
- Fiscal Savings: Huge public expenditure incurred by the ECI and political parties (estimated over ₹60,000 crore in 2019) can be significantly reduced.
- Governance Continuity: Prevents "policy paralysis" caused by frequent imposition of the MCC, which halts new project launches. [Economic Survey, 2017-18]
Operational Challenges and Federalism
- Constitutional Hurdles: Requires amendments to Articles 83, 85, 172, and 174 regarding the duration and dissolution of houses. [NCERT, Indian Constitution at Work]
- Federal Diversity: Risk of national issues overshadowing regional interests, potentially undermining the multi-party democratic fabric.
Conclusion
The "One Nation-One Election" principle offers a solution to governance fatigue but requires a delicate balance with cooperative federalism. A phased implementation, backed by a constitutional consensus and the recommendations of the 22nd Law Commission, is the ideal way forward.
Ready to practice?
Take this question, write your own answer in 150 words, and get an instant, rubric-based evaluation showing where you stand.
Open evaluation workspace →