Maarg Manthan · Topic 17.5

Committees on One Nation One Election

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Key Government Committees and Commissions · Topic 17.5

One Nation One Election is a proposal to hold Lok Sabha and state assembly elections together, with local body polls following within a fixed time. The Union government set up a High-Level Committee under former President Ram Nath Kovind on 2 September 2023, and it submitted its report on 14 March 2024. It recommended two steps: simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls first, then municipal and panchayat polls within 100 days. The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were introduced in December 2024 and sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee chaired by P.P. Chaudhary.

6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Key Government Committees and Commissions

At a Glance

High-Level Committee Chair Ram Nath Kovind, set up Sep 2023
Report 14 March 2024
Plan LS and assemblies, then local bodies in 100 days
Bill Constitution (129th Amendment), Dec 2024
Present stage Joint Parliamentary Committee
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Key Government Committees and Commissions

Where Does It Fit?

This topic builds on electoral reforms and shows how the Election Commission and Parliament would have to coordinate. It also touches federalism and the Finance Commission cycle of five years. Previous topic: Election Commission Committees on Electoral Reforms. Next topic: Reserve Bank of India Committees (Monetary Policy, Digital Lending, etc.).

Recommendation	Detail
Two-step model	Hold Lok Sabha and state assembly elections together in the first step, and local body elections within 100 days of them in the second step
New article	Insert Article 82A on simultaneous elections, and amend Articles 83, 172 and 327. Add Article 324A to let Parliament make laws on simultaneous municipal and panchayat polls
Appointed date	The President would notify an appointed date after a general election, and assemblies elected afterwards would end with the Lok Sabha term
Hung houses	If a House is dissolved early, fresh elections would be held only for the unexpired term
Single voters list	A common electoral roll and voter identity card for all three tiers of elections, prepared by the Election Commission with state election commissions
Logistics	The Election Commission should plan equipment and staff in advance and consult states

What Is the Present Status of the Bills?

Cabinet approval: The Union Cabinet accepted the committee recommendations on 18 September 2024
Bills introduced: The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were introduced in the Lok Sabha on 17 December 2024
Vote: Leave to introduce was granted by division, with 269 members for and 198 against
Referral: Both bills were referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee of 39 members, with 27 from the Lok Sabha and 12 from the Rajya Sabha
Chair: P.P. Chaudhary, a Lok Sabha member, chairs the committee
Tenure: The Lok Sabha extended the committee tenure in 2026, and later reports said the committee report was not tabled in the Monsoon Session and would be due in a later session. Readers should check the current deadline
Special majority: The 129th Amendment Bill needs two-thirds of members present and voting, and the Union Territories bill needs a simple majority
State ratification: The government says the first step does not need ratification by half the states, as it does not alter state powers, but critics dispute this

What Else Should You Remember?

History: All elections were held together in 1951-52, 1957, 1962 and 1967. Early dissolution of some assemblies and the Lok Sabha broke the cycle after 1968-70
Earlier reports: The Election Commission raised the idea in 1983 and the Law Commission discussed it in its 170th report of 1999. A Parliamentary Standing Committee report of 2015 and a NITI Aayog paper of 2017 also examined it, and the Law Commission issued a draft report in 2018
Name of the idea: The slogan One Nation One Election is shorthand for simultaneous elections. The official papers use the term simultaneous elections
Arguments in favour: Lower election costs, less disruption from the Model Code of Conduct, fewer breaks in governance, better use of security forces and higher voter turnout
Arguments against: It may weaken federalism, reduce accountability of governments to voters, favour national parties and raise issues if a government falls midterm
Constitutional concerns: The basic structure doctrine and federalism, as upheld in the S.R. Bommai case, are cited by critics. Supporters say a carefully drafted amendment can meet these tests
Logistics: Experts estimate large additions to EVMs and VVPATs and security staff, and a sharp rise in cost in the first cycle
International examples: South Africa, Sweden and Indonesia hold some elections together, though India has a larger federal structure
Link to delimitation: Simultaneous polls and the expansion of the Lok Sabha after a census are separate questions, as in Delimitation Commission
Link to local bodies: Elections to panchayats and municipalities are run by State Election Commissions under Articles 243K and 243ZA, so the second step needs a distinct legal route
Committee on fiscal impact: Costs and savings estimates differ across studies, so claims about large savings should be hedged

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Key names: Ram Nath Kovind, P.P. Chaudhary, Article 82A
Dates: September 2023 set up, March 2024 report, December 2024 bills
Structure: Two steps and 100 days
Majority: Special majority needed for the constitutional amendment
Common errors: Saying panchayat polls are included in the first step or the committee was set up in 2024

As an analytical point, the case for simultaneous polls rests on cost and governance continuity, while the case against rests on federal balance. A staged approach, strong safeguards for early dissolution and wide consultation with states would reduce the risks.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Current affairs Active bill and JPC
Polity Articles and majorities
Mains Federalism debate

What Came Next?

The next topic covers Reserve Bank of India committees. Next topic: Reserve Bank of India Committees (Monetary Policy, Digital Lending, etc.).

Key People and Terms

Simultaneous elections Elections held together
Appointed date Date from which the new scheme starts
JPC Joint Parliamentary Committee
Unexpired term Remaining period of a House
Special majority Two-thirds present and voting
State Election Commission Runs local body polls

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Committee chair: Ram Nath Kovind.
Report: 14 March 2024.
Proposed new article: 82A.
Local polls within 100 days.
JPC chair: P.P. Chaudhary.

Do Not Confuse With

Kovind committee and JPC Expert panel versus parliamentary committee on the bills
Election Commission and State Election Commission Union and state polls versus local body polls
Simultaneous elections and delimitation Timing of polls versus redrawing seats

Memory Hook

Kovind panel, two steps, 100 days, Article 82A.

Mains Angle

Mains questions ask for a balanced view. These points give a frame with benefits, risks and safeguards.

Benefits Cost, governance continuity
Risks Federalism, accountability
Safeguards Staged approach and consensus

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Critically examine the proposal for simultaneous elections in India with reference to the recommendations of the Kovind committee.”

How to Answer

Proposal Two steps and 100 days.
Gains Cost and continuity.
Concerns Federalism and early fall.
Way Consensus and safeguards.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Kovind committee, 129th Amendment Bill, articles involved. GS Paper 2: electoral reforms, federalism, parliamentary committees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is One Nation One Election?

One Nation One Election is a proposal to hold Lok Sabha and state assembly elections together, followed by local body polls within 100 days. The aim is to cut election costs and the disruption caused by a near-constant election cycle, but it needs constitutional amendments and wide agreement among parties and states.

Who headed the committee on One Nation One Election?

Former President Ram Nath Kovind headed the High-Level Committee on simultaneous elections. It was constituted on 2 September 2023 and submitted its report to the President on 14 March 2024, recommending a two-step plan with new constitutional provisions such as Article 82A.

What did the Kovind committee recommend?

It recommended simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections in the first step and municipal and panchayat elections within 100 days after that in the second. It proposed Article 82A, a single electoral roll, and fresh polls only for the unexpired term if a House is dissolved early.

What is the status of the One Nation One Election Bills?

The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill were introduced in December 2024 and sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee chaired by P.P. Chaudhary. As reported, the committee had its tenure extended in 2026, and its report was still pending.

What are the main arguments against simultaneous elections?

Critics say simultaneous polls could weaken federalism, favour national parties and reduce the accountability of state governments. They also raise the problem of what happens if a government loses its majority midterm, and the large cost of extra voting machines and security in the first cycle.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The High-Level Committee on simultaneous elections was chaired by Ram Nath Kovind.

True

It reported in March 2024.

2 The committee recommended holding local body elections before Lok Sabha polls.

False

Local polls would follow within 100 days.

3 Article 82A was proposed for simultaneous elections.