← All questionsGS2 · 2017 · Polity ·ECI's 2016 Electoral Reform Proposals
QUESTION 14
GS2
15 marks

To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful?

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11 min
250 words
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What the examiner wants

State the ECI's 2016 reform proposals and assess their value for democracy.

What + How farAnswer exactly what the question asks.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1Proposals: debar candidates charged with serious offences; make bribery cognisable; paid news an electoral offence; ban anonymous donations of ₹2,000 and above; power to deregister parties; totaliser machines for counting; equal removal protection for Election Commissioners; independent secretariat; curbs on government ads before polls≈50 words
  2. 2Significance: tackles criminalisation, money power, voter intimidation, ECI independence≈50 words
  3. 3Later steps: electoral bonds (2018) struck down (2024); appointment law for CEC (2023)≈50 words
  4. 4Gaps remaining: parliament inaction, party resistance≈50 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Answer plan

Proposals grouped by themeSignificance of eachWhat was implementedConclusion

Where marks usually go

  • Listing generic reforms not from the 2016 proposals
  • No evaluation of significance

Draw this

  • Table: problem → ECI proposal → status

Value addition

  • CaseADR v Union of India (February 2024) struck down the electoral bond scheme.Supreme Court, 2024
  • CaseAnoop Baranwal v Union (2023) required a panel of PM, LoP and CJI for appointing ECs until Parliament legislated.Supreme Court, 2023

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