ONE NATION ONE ELECTION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: A high-level committee, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, is currently at work to submit its report on the feasibility “One Nation One Election” proposal to the Union government by the end of February 2024.

High Level Committee for One Nation One Election

• Committee Formation: A high-level committee, spearheaded by former President Ram Nath Kovind, has been established to examine the feasibility of implementing the "One Nation One Election" proposal.
• Report Submission Timeline: The committee aims to submit its comprehensive report to the Union government by the end of this month.
• Recommendation:

oThe report is anticipated to advocate for India's adoption of the German model of "constructive no-confidence" to ensure political stability and continuity in governance.

• German Model Overview: The German model entails that the removal of a government through a no-confidence motion must promptly lead to the formation of a new government to serve the remainder of the legislative term.
• Potential Economic Benefits: The report is also expected to emphasize the potential economic advantages of synchronized elections, which could bolster the gross domestic product (GDP).

Committee Study and Recommendations

• The high-level committee has extensively examined the German model, and if its recommendations are accepted, it would necessitate an amendment to Rule 198 in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.
• Parliamentary Standing Committee and Law Commission Reports: Previous reports, including one from a parliamentary standing committee in December 2015 and a Law Commission report in 1999, have acknowledged the Speaker of the Lok Sabha's authority to enact such amendments.
• Feasibility Report of 2015: The feasibility report presented to Parliament in December 2015 suggested considering Germany's "constructive no-confidence" model to ensure political stability.
• German Model Specification: Article 67 of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany delineates the procedures for a "constructive vote of no-confidence," requiring the Bundestag to elect a successor with a majority and request the Federal President to dismiss the incumbent, with a 48-hour period between the motion and the vote.