One Nation, One Poll

Current Context : Central government approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ – aligning polls for both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies,

• The committee, headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind
• The committee had recommended 15 amendments to the Constitution of India — in the form of both new provisions and changes to existing provisions to enable the holding of simultaneous polls in the country.

WHAT IS ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION?

• One Nation, One Election’ basically means holding elections to Lok Sabha, all the state assemblies, and local bodies – municipalities and panchayats, together.
• It aims to ensure that elections are held every five years, simultaneously across the country.

POLLS BEEN HELD BEFORE

• India held simultaneous elections in 1951-52, 1957, 1962, and 1967 for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
• This synchronisation was disrupted due to political instability, including the rise of regional parties and frequent use of Article 356 (President’s Rule) in state assemblies.

BENEFITS:

• Cost Efficiency
• Administrative Ease
• Governance Stability
• Curbing Policy Paralysis