Indian Polity & Governance · UPSC Notes
Elections and Political Parties — UPSC Polity Notes
Free, exam-focused notes for UPSC Prelims and Mains, with Prelims tips and Mains points for every topic. 6 topics.
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Representation of the People Acts, 1950 and 1951: Salient Features
Article 327 lets Parliament make laws on elections. Its two pillars are the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (seats, constituencies, electoral rolls) and the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (conduct of elections, qualifications and disqualifications, political parties, corrupt practices and election disputes).
Constitutional Base
Article 324: superintendence, direction and control of elections vest in the Election Commission. Article 325: one general electoral roll per constituency; no one excluded on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex. Article 326: elections on the basis of adult suffrage (18 years, after the 61st Amendment, 1988). Articles 327–328: Parliament and, subject to it, State legislatures make election laws. Article 329: bar on courts interfering in electoral matters except through an election petition.
RPA, 1950: Before the Election
Allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha and State legislatures and the delimitation framework.
Election machinery: Chief Electoral Officer for each State, District Election Officer and Electoral Registration Officer for each constituency.
Preparation and revision of electoral rolls: a person must be a citizen, at least 18 on the qualifying date, and ‘ordinarily resident’ in the constituency; persons of unsound mind declared by a court or disqualified for corrupt practices are excluded.
Section 21 allows summary and intensive revision, and Section 21(3) lets the ECI order a special revision at any time.
Overseas electors (Section 20A, added 2010): Indian citizens living abroad who have not acquired foreign citizenship can register at their passport address.
The Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 provided four qualifying dates a year (1 January, 1 April, 1 July, 1 October) and voluntary linking of Aadhaar with the roll.
RPA, 1951: Conduct of Elections
Qualifications for membership (citizenship, age, being an elector) and disqualifications: Section 8 (conviction for listed offences, or any offence with two years’ imprisonment or more, disqualifies from conviction until six years after release), Section 9 (dismissal for corruption or disloyalty), Section 9A (government contracts), Section 10A (failure to lodge election expenses, decided by the ECI for three years).
Section 29A: registration of political parties with the ECI; Section 29C: parties must report donations above ₹20,000.
Section 33(7): a candidate can contest from at most two constituencies.
Section 77: account of election expenses; ceilings are fixed by rules.
Section 123: corrupt practices (bribery, undue influence, appeal on grounds of religion, race, caste, community or language, booth capturing, etc.).
Section 126: no public meetings or display of election matter in the 48 hours before the close of poll; Section 126A bans exit polls during the notified period.
Section 62(5): persons in prison or in police custody cannot vote (except those in preventive detention).
Election Disputes
Election petitions are filed in the High Court within 45 days of the result; appeal lies to the Supreme Court. Disputes on the election of the President and Vice-President go directly to the Supreme Court (Article 71).
Practice
UPSC-style: ‘The Representation of the People Act, 1951 needs reform to deal with criminalisation and money power.’ Discuss.
| Aspect | RPA, 1950 | RPA, 1951 |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Preparation for elections | Actual conduct of elections and after |
| Key subjects | Seats, constituencies, electoral rolls, election officers | Qualifications/disqualifications, nominations, parties, expenses, corrupt practices, disputes |
| Notable sections | Sec 20A (overseas electors), Sec 21 (revision of rolls) | Sec 8 (disqualification), 29A (party registration), 33(7), 123, 126 |
| Who acts | Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Registration Officers | Returning Officers, ECI, High Courts (petitions) |
Prelims tips
- RPA 1950 deals with electoral rolls and allocation of seats; RPA 1951 with conduct of elections, disqualifications and disputes.
- Section 29A of RPA 1951 governs registration of political parties.
- Section 33(7): maximum two constituencies per candidate.
- Section 126: 48-hour ‘silence period’ before the end of polling.
- Election petitions go to the High Court within 45 days; President/VP election disputes go to the Supreme Court.
- Four qualifying dates a year for enrolment since the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021.
Mains points
- The two RPAs translate Articles 324–329 into a working electoral system and have made India’s elections among the largest and most trusted in the world.
- Gaps: Section 8 disqualifies only on conviction, so candidates facing serious charges can contest; election petitions often take years, defeating their purpose.
- Money power: expense ceilings apply to candidates but not to parties, and Section 29C reporting thresholds allow cash donations to remain opaque.
- Reforms suggested by the Law Commission (170th and 255th reports) and the ECI include disqualification on framing of charges for heinous offences, time-bound disposal of petitions, and limits on party expenditure.
- The ECI has also sought power to deregister parties, which the 1951 Act does not expressly give.
Did you know?
- The first general election (1951–52) was held under these two Acts, with Sukumar Sen as the first Chief Election Commissioner.
- Section 126A on exit polls was added in 2009 after controversies over exit polls influencing multi-phase elections.
Political Parties: Recognition and the Symbols Order
Parties register with the ECI under Section 29A of RPA 1951; recognition as a national or State party and allotment of symbols are governed by the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, issued by the ECI under Article 324. Recognition depends on votes and seats won.
Registration vs Recognition
Registration (Section 29A): an association of Indian citizens applies within 30 days of formation, with a constitution pledging allegiance to the Constitution, socialism, secularism, democracy and the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. Most registered parties remain registered unrecognised parties.
Recognition (Symbols Order, 1968): a registered party that meets performance criteria becomes a State party or a national party and gets a reserved symbol.
Criteria for a State Party (any one)
6% of valid votes in the State in the last Assembly election and 2 Assembly seats; or
6% of valid votes in the State in the last Lok Sabha election and 1 Lok Sabha seat from the State; or
3% of the Assembly seats or 3 seats, whichever is more; or
1 Lok Sabha seat for every 25 seats allotted to the State; or
8% of total valid votes in the State in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly election (liberalised criterion, 2011).
Criteria for a National Party (any one)
6% of valid votes in any four or more States in a Lok Sabha or Assembly election, plus 4 Lok Sabha seats; or
2% of Lok Sabha seats (11 of 543) from at least three States; or
Recognition as a State party in four or more States.
As of March 2024 there were six national parties: AAP, BSP, BJP, CPI(M), INC and NPP. Since 2016 recognition is reviewed after two consecutive general elections instead of after every election.
Benefits of Recognition
Reserved symbol across the State or country; only one proposer needed for nomination; free copies of electoral rolls; free broadcast and telecast time on public broadcasters; up to 40 star campaigners (20 for registered unrecognised parties), whose travel costs are not added to candidates’ expenses.
Disputes and Splits (Paragraph 15)
When rival groups claim to be the party, the ECI decides who gets the name and symbol. In Sadiq Ali v. ECI (1971) the Supreme Court upheld this power and the test of majority (legislative and organisational support). Where organisational records are unclear, the ECI has tended to treat legislative majority as decisive.
Practice
UPSC-style: ‘Inner-party democracy is the missing link in Indian electoral reforms.’ Examine with reference to the Symbols Order.
| Aspect | National party | State party |
|---|---|---|
| Vote-share route | 6% in 4+ States + 4 Lok Sabha seats | 6% in the State + 2 Assembly seats (or 1 LS seat); or 8% votes |
| Seat route | 2% of Lok Sabha seats from 3+ States | 3% of Assembly seats or 3 seats; or 1 LS seat per 25 |
| Other route | State party in 4+ States | — |
| Symbol | Reserved across India | Reserved in that State |
Prelims tips
- Registration: Section 29A of RPA 1951; recognition and symbols: Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
- The Symbols Order is issued by the ECI under Article 324 read with the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.
- National party: 6% votes in 4 States + 4 LS seats, or 2% LS seats from 3 States, or State party in 4 States.
- State party liberalised criterion (2011): 8% of total valid votes in the State.
- Sadiq Ali (1971) upheld the ECI’s power to decide party splits using the test of majority.
- As of March 2024: six national parties.
Mains points
- Recognition rewards electoral performance and gives parties stable identities through symbols, which matters in a country with many first-time and less literate voters.
- Weakness: the ECI can register parties but cannot deregister them for inactivity or non-compliance, so many ‘paper parties’ exist and may be misused for tax benefits.
- Inner-party democracy is weak; there is no law requiring internal elections or transparency in candidate selection.
- Symbol disputes after splits show the limits of the ‘legislative majority’ test, which can reward defections and overlap with the Tenth Schedule.
- Way forward: a comprehensive law on political parties (as suggested by the Law Commission and NCRWC) covering registration, deregistration, internal democracy and finances.
Did you know?
- Symbols were introduced in the first general election so that voters who could not read could identify parties.
- The ‘free symbols’ list offers everyday objects that independents and unrecognised parties can choose from.
Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the ECI for parties, candidates and governments during elections. It has no statutory backing but is enforced through the ECI’s powers under Article 324 and comes into force from the announcement of the election schedule until the end of the process.
Evolution
It began as a voluntary code agreed among parties in the Kerala Assembly election of 1960; the ECI circulated it to parties for the 1962 Lok Sabha election.
It was expanded over time; a section on the party in power was added in 1979 to prevent misuse of official position.
Strict enforcement began in the 1990s under CEC T.N. Seshan.
A section on election manifestos was added in 2013 after the Supreme Court’s direction in S. Subramaniam Balaji v. State of Tamil Nadu (2013) on freebies.
When It Applies
From the date the ECI announces the election schedule until the completion of the election. This timing was settled in 2001 after litigation (the Harbans Singh Jalal matter), when the Centre agreed that the code operates from the announcement.
Main Provisions
General conduct: no activity that aggravates differences between communities; no appeal to caste or communal feelings; no use of places of worship for campaigning; criticism limited to policies and work, not private life.
Meetings and processions: inform police in advance; respect prohibitory orders; do not disturb rivals’ meetings.
Polling day and booths: only voters and persons with valid ECI passes at booths; party camps away from booths; no liquor distribution.
Party in power: no new schemes, projects, grants or promises once the code is in force; no use of official machinery, vehicles or government advertising for campaigning; no transfers of election-related officials without ECI approval.
Manifestos: must not go against constitutional ideals and should explain how promises will be financed.
Observers appointed by the ECI watch compliance; citizens can report violations through the ECI’s cVIGIL app.
Enforcement and Limits
Sanctions are moral and administrative: notices, censure, temporary bans on campaigning, and orders to remove advertisements. Violations that are also offences (such as bribery or promoting enmity) are prosecuted under the RPA 1951 and criminal law.
The Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice (2013) recommended making the MCC statutory; the ECI has preferred to keep it flexible because court cases could not be decided within the short election period.
Practice
UPSC-style: ‘Should the Model Code of Conduct be given statutory backing?’ Discuss.
| Area | Not allowed after the code applies | Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Schemes and grants | Announcing new schemes, laying foundation stones, new grants | Continuing ongoing schemes already under way |
| Official machinery | Using government vehicles, staff or buildings for campaigning | Normal administration and emergency relief (with ECI clearance where needed) |
| Advertisements | Government ads highlighting achievements at public cost | Statutory notices and public-safety messages |
| Transfers | Transferring election-related officials without ECI approval | Transfers approved by the ECI |
Prelims tips
- MCC is not a law; it draws force from Article 324 and the consensus of parties.
- It originated in the Kerala Assembly election of 1960.
- It applies from the announcement of the election schedule to the completion of the election.
- Guidelines on manifestos were added in 2013 following S. Subramaniam Balaji (2013).
- cVIGIL is the ECI’s app for citizens to report MCC violations.
- A 2013 parliamentary standing committee recommended making the MCC legally binding.
Mains points
- The MCC creates a level playing field by restraining the ruling party from using public resources, which is essential to the basic feature of free and fair elections.
- Its strength is speed and flexibility; statutory backing could invite litigation and delays that outlast the campaign.
- Criticism: inconsistent or delayed action against prominent leaders, especially for hate speech, has raised questions about the ECI’s neutrality.
- Long multi-phase elections keep the code in force for months, stalling routine development decisions; this is one argument used for simultaneous elections.
- Way forward: clear, published timelines for deciding complaints, graded penalties, and use of technology (cVIGIL, social media monitoring) to address online campaigning.
Did you know?
- The 1960 Kerala code was drafted by the State administration and agreed to by political parties before the poll.
- The ECI has at times barred leaders from campaigning for a fixed number of hours as a penalty for MCC violations.
Election Commission: Appointment and Independence
Article 324(2) left the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) to the President, ‘subject to any law made by Parliament’. After the Supreme Court’s ruling in Anoop Baranwal (2023), Parliament enacted the CEC and Other ECs (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, creating a selection committee of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister and the Leader of Opposition.
Composition over Time
From 1950 to 1989 the ECI was a single-member body (only the CEC). Two ECs were appointed in October 1989 but the posts were abolished in January 1990.
Since October 1993 it has been a three-member body. In T.N. Seshan v. Union of India (1995) the Supreme Court upheld the multi-member Commission; decisions are by majority and the CEC is first among equals.
Constitutional Safeguards (Article 324(5))
The CEC can be removed only in the manner and on the grounds of a Supreme Court judge (proved misbehaviour or incapacity, by a special-majority resolution of both Houses).
The conditions of service of the CEC cannot be varied to his disadvantage after appointment.
An EC or a Regional Commissioner can be removed only on the recommendation of the CEC.
Gaps noted by experts: the Constitution does not prescribe qualifications or a term, does not bar re-employment after retirement, and gives ECs less protection than the CEC.
Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2 March 2023)
A five-judge Constitution Bench held that, until Parliament made a law, the CEC and ECs would be appointed by the President on the advice of a committee of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (or leader of the largest opposition party) and the Chief Justice of India.
The Court stressed that an independent ECI is essential to free and fair elections, a basic feature, and that appointments made solely by the executive could compromise this.
The 2023 Act
Selection Committee: Prime Minister (chair), a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM, and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (or leader of the largest opposition party). The CJI is not a member.
Search Committee: headed by the Union Law Minister with two secretary-level officers; prepares a panel of five names, though the Selection Committee may consider others.
Eligibility: persons who hold or have held a post equivalent to Secretary to the Government of India, with experience in managing elections.
Term: six years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier; no reappointment.
Removal: retains the constitutional scheme: CEC like a Supreme Court judge, ECs on the CEC’s recommendation.
Critics argue that the committee gives the government a 2:1 majority; petitions challenging the Act have been filed in the Supreme Court.
Practice
UPSC-style: ‘Independence of the Election Commission depends as much on the method of appointment as on security of tenure.’ Discuss in the light of the 2023 Act.
| Period | Method | Members |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 – March 2023 | President on advice of the Union Council of Ministers (executive practice) | Government alone |
| March 2023 – Act of 2023 | Interim mechanism ordered in Anoop Baranwal | PM, Leader of Opposition, CJI |
| 2023 Act onwards | Statutory Selection Committee after a Search Committee | PM, Union Cabinet Minister nominated by PM, Leader of Opposition |
Prelims tips
- Article 324(2): number of ECs is fixed by the President; appointments subject to a law made by Parliament.
- ECI became multi-member permanently in October 1993; T.N. Seshan (1995) upheld decision by majority.
- Anoop Baranwal (2 March 2023): interim committee of PM, LoP and CJI.
- 2023 Act: Selection Committee = PM + Cabinet Minister nominated by PM + LoP; Search Committee headed by the Law Minister.
- Term: six years or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.
- Removal: CEC like a Supreme Court judge; ECs only on the CEC’s recommendation (Article 324(5)).
Mains points
- Public trust in elections rests on the perceived neutrality of the ECI; an appointment process dominated by the executive weakens that perception even if individuals act fairly.
- Arguments for the 2023 Act: Parliament has filled the gap Article 324(2) intended it to fill, and judges sitting on executive selection panels raise separation-of-powers concerns.
- Arguments against: the 2:1 government majority makes the LoP’s role symbolic and departs from the spirit of Anoop Baranwal.
- Unequal protection for ECs (removable on the CEC’s recommendation) and the absence of a bar on post-retirement posts are long-standing concerns raised by the Goswami Committee and the Law Commission (255th Report).
- Way forward: a broad-based collegium, equal removal protection for all commissioners, a cooling-off period, and an independent ECI secretariat with its own budget charged on the Consolidated Fund.
Did you know?
- Sukumar Sen, the first CEC, later advised Sudan on its first elections.
- The ECI was set up on 25 January 1950, which has been celebrated as National Voters’ Day since 2011.
Electoral Rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (2025)
Electoral rolls are prepared under the RPA, 1950 by Electoral Registration Officers under the ECI’s control. In 2025 the ECI ordered a Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a fresh house-to-house enumeration, first in Bihar and then, from October 2025, in 12 States and Union Territories covering about 51 crore electors.
Legal Framework
Article 325: one general electoral roll for every constituency. Article 326: every citizen aged 18 or more, not otherwise disqualified, is entitled to be registered.
RPA, 1950: Section 16 (disqualification from registration: non-citizens, persons of unsound mind declared by a court, persons disqualified for corrupt practices); Section 19 (age and ordinary residence); Section 20 (meaning of ‘ordinarily resident’); Section 21 (preparation and revision); Section 22–23 (correction and inclusion).
The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 lay down forms and procedures (Form 6 for inclusion, Form 7 for objection or deletion, Form 8 for correction or shifting).
Types of Revision
Summary revision: the existing roll is published as a draft and claims and objections are invited; done regularly, usually every year.
Intensive revision: a fresh roll prepared by house-to-house enumeration, without relying on the existing roll.
Special revision (Section 21(3)): the ECI may order a special revision of the roll for any constituency or part at any time, for reasons to be recorded.
Continuous updation: registration remains open throughout the year, with four qualifying dates since 2021.
The Special Intensive Revision of 2025
Phase 1: conducted in Bihar in 2025, before its Assembly election.
Phase 2: announced on 27 October 2025 for 12 States/UTs: Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Goa, Kerala, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep; about 51 crore electors.
Schedule announced: enumeration up to 4 December 2025; draft rolls on 9 December 2025; claims and objections until 8 January 2026; final rolls on 7 February 2026.
Process: Booth Level Officers distribute pre-filled enumeration forms to every listed elector; electors whose names were in the roll of the last intensive revision (around 2003) do not need extra documents; others must establish eligibility, including citizenship, with documents.
Debate
For: rolls had accumulated duplicate, dead and shifted entries after two decades without intensive revision; rapid urbanisation and migration make a clean-up necessary; Article 326 requires that only citizens vote.
Against: the short timeline and documentary demands may exclude poor, migrant, women and marginalised voters; critics say the ECI should not shift the burden of proving citizenship onto electors. The exercise was challenged before the Supreme Court.
Practice
UPSC-style: ‘Clean electoral rolls and inclusive electoral rolls are both essential for democracy.’ Discuss in the context of the Special Intensive Revision.
| Type | Method | When used |
|---|---|---|
| Summary revision | Existing roll published as draft; claims and objections | Regularly, usually annually |
| Intensive revision | Fresh roll by house-to-house enumeration | Periodically, when rolls need a complete reset |
| Special revision (Sec 21(3)) | Ordered by ECI for any area at any time, reasons recorded | Special circumstances |
| Special Intensive Revision (2025) | Intensive revision ordered under the special power | Bihar (Phase 1), 12 States/UTs (Phase 2) |
Prelims tips
- Electoral rolls are governed by the RPA, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
- Section 21(3) of RPA 1950 empowers the ECI to order a special revision at any time.
- Form 6: new registration; Form 7: objection/deletion; Form 8: correction/shifting.
- SIR Phase 2 (announced 27 October 2025): 12 States/UTs, about 51 crore electors; final rolls scheduled for 7 February 2026.
- Assam was not included in Phase 2; separate orders were to be issued for it.
- Article 326: adult suffrage for citizens aged 18 and above.
Mains points
- Accurate rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections; bogus entries enable impersonation while wrongful deletions disenfranchise citizens.
- The SIR raises a balance between the ECI’s duty to ensure only citizens vote (Article 326) and the right of every eligible citizen to remain on the roll.
- Exclusion risks fall hardest on migrants, women who changed residence after marriage, the homeless and those without documents, so procedural safeguards matter.
- Transparency measures such as publishing lists of deleted names with reasons, giving notice before deletion, and easy appeals build trust.
- Way forward: continuous digital updation, inter-State linking to remove duplicates, special camps for vulnerable groups, and a clear statutory standard for citizenship verification during roll revision.
Did you know?
- Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are usually local government employees such as teachers or anganwadi workers attached to each polling station area.
- National Voters’ Day (25 January) is used to enrol young voters who have just turned 18.
One Nation One Election and Electoral Reforms
Simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies were held from 1951–52 to 1967. A High-Level Committee chaired by Ram Nath Kovind (report 2024) recommended restoring them; the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced in December 2024 and is before a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Separately, the Supreme Court struck down the Electoral Bond Scheme on 15 February 2024.
Background of Simultaneous Elections
The first four general elections (1951–52, 1957, 1962, 1967) were largely simultaneous. The cycle broke after premature dissolution of some Assemblies in 1968–69 and of the Lok Sabha in 1970.
The idea was revived by the Law Commission (170th Report, 1999), a Parliamentary Standing Committee (2015), a NITI Aayog discussion paper (2017) and the Law Commission’s draft report (2018).
Kovind Committee Recommendations (2024)
Hold Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together first; hold municipal and panchayat elections within 100 days after that.
The President notifies an ‘appointed date’ after a general election; Assemblies elected after that date end with the Lok Sabha’s term.
If a House is dissolved early (hung House, no-confidence), fresh elections are held only for the unexpired term.
A single electoral roll and voter ID for all three tiers, prepared by the ECI in consultation with State Election Commissions.
Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024
Introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2024 along with the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024; both were referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee chaired by P.P. Chaudhary.
It proposes a new Article 82A (appointed date and synchronised terms) and amendments to Articles 83, 172 and 327. It does not cover local body elections.
Status (as of October 2026): the JPC’s term was extended in 2026 and its report is awaited.
Arguments
For: lower election costs; less frequent MCC freezes on development work; less diversion of security forces and staff; focus on governance rather than permanent campaigning.
Against: erosion of federalism and of the accountability that comes from mid-term elections; national issues may overshadow State issues; logistics (EVMs, VVPATs, forces) on an unprecedented scale; curtailed terms for some Assemblies.
Other Electoral Reforms
Electoral bonds struck down: in Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India (15 February 2024) a five-judge bench unanimously held the anonymous Electoral Bond Scheme (2018) unconstitutional for violating voters’ right to information under Article 19(1)(a), and struck down related amendments, including unlimited corporate donations under the Companies Act; the State Bank of India was directed to share bond data, which the ECI published.
Earlier reforms: NOTA (PUCL, 2013); immediate disqualification of convicted legislators (Lily Thomas, 2013); VVPAT with EVMs; publicising criminal antecedents of candidates (Public Interest Foundation, 2018); State funding of elections proposed by the Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998).
Practice
UPSC-style: ‘Simultaneous elections may reduce costs but could weaken federalism.’ Critically evaluate.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Simultaneous polls held | 1951–52, 1957, 1962, 1967 |
| High-Level Committee | Chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind; report 2024 |
| Bill | Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024; new Article 82A; amends Articles 83, 172, 327 |
| Status (Oct 2026) | Before a Joint Parliamentary Committee (chair P.P. Chaudhary); term extended |
| Local bodies | Recommended within 100 days of Lok Sabha/Assembly polls; not in the 2024 Bill |
Prelims tips
- Simultaneous elections were held in 1951–52, 1957, 1962 and 1967.
- Kovind Committee: two-step plan—Lok Sabha + Assemblies together, local bodies within 100 days.
- 129th Amendment Bill (2024) inserts Article 82A and amends Articles 83, 172 and 327.
- Law Commission’s 170th Report (1999) first recommended a return to simultaneous elections.
- Electoral Bond Scheme struck down on 15 February 2024 (ADR v. Union of India) under Article 19(1)(a).
- NOTA was introduced after PUCL v. Union of India (2013).
Mains points
- Governance gains: fewer elections reduce policy paralysis from repeated MCC periods and free administrative and security resources.
- Federal concerns: tying State Assembly terms to the Lok Sabha may weaken the autonomy of States and the principle that governments must keep the confidence of the House.
- Democratic accountability: frequent elections act as a feedback mechanism; synchronisation may reduce opportunities for voters to express changing preferences.
- Money power remains the core reform challenge after the electoral bonds verdict; transparent, capped and partly public funding of parties is widely suggested.
- Way forward: build consensus with States, pilot synchronisation where terms already align, strengthen ECI capacity (EVMs/VVPATs), and pair any change with party-finance reform.
Did you know?
- Sweden, South Africa and Indonesia are often cited as countries that hold national and regional elections together.
- The Electoral Bond Scheme was notified in January 2018 and ran for about six years before being struck down.
Indian Polity & Governance: All chapters
- Making of the Constitution
- Salient Features of the Indian Constitution
- Preamble
- Evolution of States & Union Territories
- Citizenship
- Fundamental Rights
- Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
- Amendment and Basic Structure
- Parliamentary System of Government
- Union Executive
- State Executive
- State Legislature
- Centre-State Relations
- Inter-State Relations
- Emergency Provisions
- Supreme Court
- High Court
- Local Government
- Union Territories, Scheduled and Tribal Areas
- Elections and Political Parties
- Governance and Social Justice