COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS ON ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION

Why in the News?

  • Former President Ram Nath Kovind leads the high-level committee on One Nation, One Election.
  • Discussion revolves around potential impacts of synchronized elections on GDP growth, fiscal deficits, crime rates, and education outcomes.
Source : HT

Key Points of Discussion:

  • Committee evaluated a draft research paper by NK Singh and Prachi Mishra, covering education, GDP growth, and investment impacts of simultaneous elections.
  • Participants included Ghulam Nabi Azad and Sanjay Kothari; Amit Shah and Arjun Ram Meghwal were absent.
  • Consequences discussed: development disruption, crime impact, security force deployment.
About “One Nation, One Election”

·   Definition and Purpose:

o    ONOE advocates simultaneous national and sub-national elections.

o    Aims to streamline the electoral process, cut costs, and potentially boost voter turnout.

·   Historical Context: Simultaneous elections were initially practiced post-independence, conducting Lok Sabha and state assembly elections together in 1952, 1957, 1962, and 1967.

·   Discontinuation: Discontinued after 1967 due to early dissolution of some State Legislative Assemblies in 1968-69.

·   Panel : Panel led by Ex. President Ram nath Kovid is discussing the One Nation, One Election.