Question 15GS2GS1
Electoral funding in India is fraught with the double infamy of legal loopholes and political inefficiencies. In this context, discuss the challenges to electoral funding. What lessons can India draw from global best practices in this regard? (Answer in 250 words, 15 marks)
Introduction
Electoral funding is a key challenge to free and fair elections in India, with nearly 30% of black money being laundered through electoral machine. (Pew Research Centre)
27 words
Main Body
Challenges to electoral funding
(A) Legal loopholes:
1Lack of robust legal framework for electoral funding, especially post electoral bond judgement of 2024.
2Lack of public accountability mechanisms.
3Inability of ECI to furnish electoral expense of candidates.
4Sec 77 of RPA => the party expenditure is not to united with candidate cap/disbursement.
(B) Political inefficiencies:
1Magnetisation of chunk of electoral funding by the big national parties.
Eg: ADR Data => 60% of 1cr bonds were taken by 4 maj national parties!
2Issue of cash flow and anonymity of donations below ₹20,000.
3Lack of clear defined routes for funding => behind the door, instant parent funding.
4Establishment of corporate-criminal political nexus.
117 words2 paragraphs
Answer continues on next page
- Clear categorization of challenges into legal and political dimensions
- Use of data (ADR Data, Pew Research)
- Relevant legal references (Sec 77 RPA)
- Examples of current affairs relevance
Topper
Ritika Chitlangia
Subject & Paper
GS2GS1
Topic
Indian Polity
Electoral Reforms
Electoral Funding Challenges
Writing Stats
144
Total words
2
Paragraphs
analytical
Tone