Enumerate the salient features of Representation of People's Act, 1951. In your opinion, what amendments are needed in the Act to further the cause of free and fair elections in light of contemporary challenges.

Representation of People's Act, 1951 was brought by the parliament in pursuance of Article 324 and 329 to lay down detailed provisions on actual conduct of elections. Salient Features of RPA(1951): 1) Sec. 3: Qualifications to become member of Rajya Sabha. 2) Sec.4: Qualifications to become member of Lok Sabha. 3) Sec. 8-9,10: Provisions on criteria for disqualification of candidates. 4) Sec. 39: Provision for fighting elections from not more than 2 constituencies from 2 constituencies. 5) Sec. 29A: Registration of Political parties. 6) Sec. 77: Financial account at political parties to be submitted to election commission. 7) Sec. 123: Malpractices in election holding, bribed etc. 8) Sec. 53: Bans using muscle power, betta capturing. 9) Sec. 129A: Ban on opium units pills.

However, RPA(1951) faced various issues that restrict its potential, hence, following amendments are needed: a) Election Commission of India ECI recommended to amend Sec.59 to include Money Power in electoral malpractices. 2) Sec. 33 need to be amended to restrict nomination from one constituency. 3) Sec. 29A should be amended to expand control over ECI by election commission. 4) Parliamentary Standing Committee recommended to give legal backup to Model Code of Conduct, hence Duvesh Giswami Committee recommendations need to be adopted for holistic electoral reforms and ensure effectiveness of RPA 1951 by FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

Political parties. 4) [CEI] recommended amendment of Sec. 129A to ban exit pills too. 5) [Sec. 77] should be amended to set limit on expenditure by the political parties asked of just candidates. 6) [Sec.123] should be amended to expel list of electoral malpractices. 7) [Parliamentary Standing Committee] recommended to give legal backup to Model Code of Conduct.

Hence, Duvesh Giswami Committee recommendations need to be adopted for holistic electoral reforms and ensure effectiveness of RPA 1951 by FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.