Electoral bonds are a double-edged sword, providing anonymity to donors while raising concerns about transparency in political funding. To what extent have electoral bonds further legitimized opaqueness in electoral funding?

Electoral bonds were introduced through Finance Act 2017 with aim of cushing cash flows and black money. But many have challenged them and PIL is pending in Supreme Court. Positives 1. Prevent cash-based donations above Rs 2000 to political parties 2. While developing NAC norms and SDI as institute to deliver bonds it has curshed black money 3. It provide anonymity to donors as they can now support even multiple parties at same time 4. Formalized election funding

Negatives 1. There are no checks & limit and no information as to how much does companies donate to political parties 2. Many experts have argued that loophole of 2000 Rs can be misused by mere accounting gimmick in balance sheets 3. There are fears of access to data by ruling government as SBT is PB. Way ahead There need to be bipartisan consensus on need to reform bond working mechanism. They are a positive step but need addition of a transparency and accountability layers in which it functions.