Daily Mains Practice Answer 16-07-2026

Q. Examine the merits and limitations of the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill on simultaneous elections. Do you think electoral reforms should prioritise institutional reforms over calendar reforms? Justify your answer. (250 words, 15 marks)

Introduction:

Briefly mention the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill.

Main Body

Merits of simultaneous election

• Reduction in election expenditure – Election logistics, security deployment, etc.
• Continuity in policy implementation – Reduce the delay in policy implementation due to MCC.
• Enhance efficient administration – Continuity in governance and service delivery.
• Greater electoral stability – Predictable election calendar, better planning by election commission, government and political parties.
• Potential economic benefits.

Limitations of simultaneous election

• Impact on federalism - Bringing together may require curtailing or extending the tenure of State Assemblies.
• Weakening of regional representation – Regional issues may receive less attention.
• Left the election to third-tier government to the states.
• Constitutional difficulties – amending constitution, extending tenure, premature dissolution of assemblies, etc.
• Weaken democratic accountability via frequent elections.

Should the electoral reforms prioritise institutional reforms over calendar reforms?

Yes, it prioritises institutional reforms:

Reason

• Enforce political funding reforms.
• Enforce expenditure limit to political parties and candidates.
• Address criminalisation of politics.
• Prevent misuse of state machinery.
• Improved voter participation.

No, it does not prioritise institutional reforms:

Reasons

• Rather than reforming MCC, it is reducing its frequency of enforcement.
• Issues like black money and opaque funding remains resolved.
• Not strengthened ECI’s powers.
• Election campaign practices remain unchanged.
• It changes the election calendar, not the election system.

Conclusion:

Give a balanced and way-forward conclusion – Like simultaneous elections should complement, not substitute—comprehensive electoral reforms, etc.