UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2 : Questions on Parliamentary Committees and One Nation, One Election (Week 82) | UPSC Current Affairs News

QUESTION 2

Examine the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ in the Indian context. What are the advantages and disadvantages of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections?

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: Discuss the role of Parliamentary Committees in India’s legislative process. How do they contribute to developing and evaluating policies like the Minimum Support Price?

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— Parliament is primarily responsible for creating laws and keeping the government accountable for its activities. Parliamentary Committees serve as a method for improving the effectiveness of Parliament.

— Parliamentary Committees were formed to analyse new legislation, government programs, and expenditures thoroughly.

— In India, many parliamentary committees look at issues such as government spending, legislation, government policies and schemes, and parliament management. They are divided into Departmentally Related Standing Committees, Financial Committees, Administrative Committees, Accountability Committees, and Ad Hoc Committees.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— A parliamentary committee has suggested adopting a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price, as part of a package of measures to boost farmer welfare.

— In the 18th Lok Sabha, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food Processing presented its first report on the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare’s grant demands for 2024-25.

— The committee, chaired by former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, has also proposed raising budgetary allocations, compensating for stubble disposal, and waiving debt, among other measures.

Key recommendations of the report

— According to the group, a legally mandated MSP would secure farmers’ financial stability, minimise suicides, mitigate market volatility, reduce debt burdens, and improve farmers’ general mental health.

— “The implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) remains a focal point in the debate over agricultural reform and farmer welfare in India. “Implementing a legally binding MSP in India is critical not only for protecting farmers’ livelihoods, but also for promoting rural economic growth and improving national food security,” the committee stated.

— According to the committee, the MSP mechanism supports broader national food security goals by guaranteeing that food grains are available at stable rates, which benefits public distribution systems.

— The committee reaffirmed that the benefits of adopting the legal guarantee of MSP exceed the hurdles. This could boost economic activity in these locations, boosting local businesses and economies. Farmers who get guaranteed income under MSP are more willing to invest in their agricultural practices, resulting in higher production and farming sustainability.

— The group also stated that constitutionally guaranteeing MSP will benefit the nation’s long-term food security by stabilising food grain output.

— The committee has suggested that the department issue a road map for legally ensuring MSP as soon as possible. This would also allow the central government to plan its budget properly, resulting in a smooth transition.

Conclusion:

— The committee has recommended that farmers be compensated for managing and disposing of crop leftover, or parali, in order to discourage them from burning it. The management of rice stubble has been a serious environmental concern, particularly during the winter months when the national capital transforms into a rapid chamber.

— The committee has proposed enhancing monetary support for the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi initiative from Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000 per year. It also suggested expanding seasonal incentives for tenant farmers and farm labourers.

(Source: Explained: Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendations on MSP, debt waiver by Kanchan Vasdev)

Points to Ponder

What are Ad Hoc Committees?

Other parliamentary committees

Difference between public account committee and estimate committee

Related Previous Year Questions

Explain the structure of the Parliamentary Committee system. How far have the financial committees helped in the institutionalisation of Indian Parliament? (2023)

Do Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees keep the administration on its toes and inspire reverence for parliamentary control? Evaluate the working of such committees with suitable examples. (2021)

QUESTION 2: Examine the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ in the Indian context. What are the advantages and disadvantages of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections?

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— “One Nation, One Election” is a plan to synchronise elections for the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies. The idea would hold elections concurrently, either on the same day or within a set time range.

— The government took the first step towards carrying out the BJP’s long-standing promise of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, known as “One Nation, One Election”.

— Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced two bills in Lok Sabha: a Constitution Amendment Bill to align the terms of Lok Sabha and state assemblies, and a consequential Bill to amend the relevant Acts for Union Territories and Delhi to allow for simultaneous polls.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

Key takeaways from the two Bills

— First, simultaneous polling is now only available for Parliament and state assemblies, not local corporations.

— Second, in most cases, these modifications can be implemented as early as the 2034 election cycle. The bill amending the Constitution specifies that the “President may by a public notification issued on the date of the first sitting of the House of the People after a general election, bring into force the provision of this article, and that date of the notification shall be called the appointed date”.

— The first Lok Sabha session will be held in 2029, with the next election cycle taking place in 2034, provided that both the 18th and 19th Lok Sabhas complete their full five-year terms.

— Other specifics can be found in the fine print of the two Bills, including instances in which a midterm election at the state or federal level may be required.

— To enact the Constitutional amendment in Parliament, a “special majority” in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha is required. Two requirements must be met under Article 368 of the Constitution, which grants the right to amend.

— First, half of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha must support the amendment. Second, the amendment must be supported by two-thirds of all “present and voting” members.

— It is feasible to omit local elections at this point. That would have necessitated an amendment being “ratified” (agreed to) by the legislatures of at least half of the states in the Union.

Conclusion:

— The proposed revisions are consistent with the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on One Nation, One Election, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind and which delivered its report to President Droupadi Murmu in March this year.

— The first bill is the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes amending three articles of the Constitution and inserting a new one, Article 82A(1-6).

— This new provision is intended to ease the transition to simultaneous elections. It is intended to be added after Article 82, which deals with delimitation, or the reallocation of Lok Sabha seats among states following each decadal census.

(Source: One Nation One Election Bill Explained: Proposals, key takeaways by Damini Nath and Apurva Vishwanath)

Points to Ponder

One Nation, One Election

What is Article 82?

Read about delimitation

Related Previous Year Questions

Examine the need for electoral reforms as suggested by various committees, with particular reference to the ‘‘One Nation–One Election’’ principle. (2024)

Explain the significance of the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act. To what extent does it reflect the accommodative spirit of federalism? (2023)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 81)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 80)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 80)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 81)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 82)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 81)

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