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?
Approach · directive: “what... how far”
What it asks · Outline the main reforms the Election Commission put forward in 2016 on candidates, money, media and the conduct of polls, and judge how much each would improve democratic quality and where it faces limits.
It asks 2 things — answer each
- State the electoral reforms the Election Commission proposed in 2016
- Assess how far they are significant for a successful democracy, where their limits lie, and the way forward
Open with · In 2016 the Election Commission placed before the Government reforms aimed at criminal candidates, unaccounted money and manipulated campaigns, most of which need Parliament to amend election law.
Cover
- Decriminalisation: disqualify at framing of charges for offences punishable with five years or more, with safeguards (Law Commission, 244th Report).
- Funding: cap cash donations at ₹2,000 per donor, with cheque or digital giving encouraged.
- Paid news an electoral offence; false affidavits a corrupt practice; one constituency per candidate; totalisers.
- Significance: the Law Commission's 244th Report (2014) examined disqualification; Budget 2017-18 adopted the ₹2,000 cash cap on the Commission's suggestion.
- The Law Commission's 255th Report (2015) endorsed the totaliser to prevent harassment of voters.
- Limits: legislators must regulate themselves; risk of motivated cases; cash caps can push money to other opaque channels.
- Way forward: fast-track trials, full donor disclosure, and the 255th Report's three-member collegium for appointing Election Commissioners.
Close with · The Budget 2017-18 cash cap shows the Commission's ideas can become law when adopted; enacting the rest, with an independently appointed Commission, would move India from free elections to fair ones.
Add value (verified)
- Budget 2017-18 capped cash donations to a political party at ₹2,000 from one person, in accordance with the Election Commission's suggestion.Budget Speech 2017-18 - Ministry of Finance, Government of India ↗“In accordance with the suggestion made by the Election Commission, the maximum amount of cash donation that a political party can receive will be”
- The Law Commission's 255th Report (2015) endorsed the ECI's proposal for a totaliser in counting EVM votes.Law Commission of India submits its Report No. 255 on Electoral Reforms - PIB, 12 March 2015 ↗“The Commission reiterates and endorses the ECI’s suggestion for introducing a totaliser for the counting of votes recorded in electronic voting machines to prevent the harassment of voters in areas”
- The Law Commission submitted its 244th Report, 'Electoral Disqualification', on 24 February 2014, after the Supreme Court asked it to examine criminalisation of politics.Law Commission of India submits its Report No. 255 on Electoral Reforms - PIB, 12 March 2015 ↗“submitted its 244 th Report titled ‘Electoral Disqualification’ on 24 th February 2014 to the Government of India”
- The 255th Report recommended appointing Election Commissioners in consultation with a three-member collegium including the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.Law Commission of India submits its Report No. 255 on Electoral Reforms - PIB, 12 March 2015 ↗“should be made by the President in consultation with a three-member collegium or selection committee, consisting of the Prime Minister; the Leader of the Opp”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2017, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 358words · Minimalist IAS
In 2016 the Election Commission of India placed before the Government a package of reforms aimed at three weak points of Indian elections: criminal candidates, unaccounted money and manipulated campaigns.
The suggested reforms
| Problem | Reform proposed |
|---|---|
| Criminal candidates | Disqualify at framing of charges |
| Black money | Cash donation cap of ₹2,000 per donor |
| Paid news | Paid news made an electoral offence |
- Decriminalisation: disqualify at the stage of framing of charges for offences punishable with five years or more, with safeguards (Law Commission, 244th Report).
- Clean funding: cap cash donations at ₹2,000 per donor, with cheque or digital giving encouraged (Budget 2017-18).
- Paid news: make paying for or receiving payment for news an electoral offence, as the 255th Report proposes.
- False affidavits: a false declaration becomes a corrupt practice and a ground for disqualification.
- Conduct of polls: one constituency per candidate, and totalisers so that booth-wise counts do not expose a locality.
How far they are significant for democracy
- Candidate quality: charge-stage disqualification acts before a conviction that may take years; the Law Commission's 244th Report, 'Electoral Disqualification' (2014), examined this on the Supreme Court's direction.
- Traceable money: partly achieved; the Budget 2017-18 capped cash donations to a party at ₹2,000 from one person, citing the Commission's suggestion.
- Informed choice: penalising paid news and false affidavits protects the information voters rely on.
- Voter freedom: the Law Commission's 255th Report (2015) endorsed the totaliser to prevent harassment of voters where booth-level trends are visible.
Limits
- Self-regulation: legislators must pass laws that bind themselves, so political will is uncertain.
- Misuse risk: charge-stage disqualification invites motivated cases against rivals.
- Leakage: a cash cap alone can push money into other opaque channels.
Way forward
- Speedy trials: fast-track courts for cases against legislators make charge-stage rules fair.
- Full disclosure: donor transparency and audited accounts, checked by the Commission.
- Independent umpire: the 255th Report proposed appointing Election Commissioners through a three-member collegium that includes the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
The 2017 cash cap shows that the Commission's ideas become law once the Government adopts them. Enacting the rest, with an independently chosen Commission, would make Indian elections not only free but fair.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
