The Union Cabinet has given the nod to the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill, PTI reported quoting sources. The bill, approved by the union cabinet on Thursday is likely to be introduced in the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament.

The One Nation One Election model aims at nationwide simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The proposal first received the union cabinet’s approval on September 18, 2024, following the recommendations of the former President Ram Nath Kovind-led committee. 

The concept of 'One Country, One Election' has been touted as a significant reform to reduce the costs and disruptions associated with frequent elections.

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While the Kovind-committee had also proposed holding the municipality and panchayat polls along with the national and state elections in a phased manner, the Cabinet has decided to stay away, "as of now", from the manner in which local body elections are conducted, PTI reported.

The sources also informed the news agency that the Constitution amendment bill to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will not require ratification by at least 50 percent of the states.

What did the Kovind Committee recommend?

The Kovind-led Committee recommended bringing state, local, and general elections under one phase by 2029.

The Committee, in its report, suggested amendments to several Articles of the Constitution including Article 327, Article 83, Article 172, and the statutes governing India’s Union Territories. The committee proposed the sed insertion of Article 82A and Article 324A.

The report said the elections would be synced in two phases. To begin with, it suggests syncing the Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections. After that, the Panchayat and Municipality elections should be held within 100 days of the Lok Sabha and State elections, it added. The Committee has also said there needs to be a single electoral roll and Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) for General, state, and local elections.

Read In Detail About The Constitutional Changes Suggested By The Kovind Committee

In a press release dated March 14, 2024, the PIB said the “Committee has crafted its recommendations in such a way that they are in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution of India and would require bare minimum amendments to the Constitution."

The cabinet also approved an ordinary bill on Thursday that proposes alignment of elections for assemblies in Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir. The statutes this bill proposes to amend are: the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act-1991, the Government of Union Territories Act-1963 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act-2019. The proposed bill will be an ordinary legislation not requiring a change in the Constitution and will also not need ratification by the states, PTI wrote.

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The government is expected to hold wider consultations on these bills and also wants to consult the speakers of various state legislative assemblies through the committeegolden palasyo, sources told the news agency.