India's "One Nation, One Election" policy plan would make big changes to the way people vote, which could have a big effect on the country's federal structure. The idea is to organize elections for the national and state legislatures. This would cut down on the number of elections and the costs that come with them. India is known for its complex political system and federal government. This way of thinking can have big effects because it can center political power, which can make it harder for states to make their own decisions.

Having elections at the same time raises questions about how issues in different areas are represented and how state governments affect the country as a whole. To figure out how this idea might affect India's federalism, we need to know about its history and the parts of the law that deal with elections.

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the 'One Nation, One Election' report. This concept aims to conduct simultaneous elections for both Lok Sabha and State Assemblies across India. Proponents believe it will save costs, improve efficiency, and boost voter turnout. However, implementation faces significant constitutional and logistical challenges.

Overview Of Federalism In India

Indian federation is unique because it has a unique mix of centralized and decentralized government. This is because India has a lot of different languages and cultures. The One Nation, One Election policy idea could make it easier for people to vote at both the national and state levels. This would have big effects on the government system. Because it asks for changes to the constitution that could change the balance of power between the federal and state governments, this kind of policy could make it harder for states to make their own decisions (Singh g248-g255).

The Representation of the People Act, 1951 also lays out the rules for voting, which would need to be changed a lot to work with parallel elections ("The Representation of the People Act, 1951"). When federalism and electoral reform come together, it shows how sensitive India's political system is and how important it is to pay close attention to the constitutional values that govern the country's democracy processes.

The Historical Background Of India's Elections

The history of India's elections is closely linked to the country's federal structure, which has changed and been hard to work with over time. Before 1967, when early dissolutions and changes in the political climate messed up the cycle, it was usual to think about holding elections for both the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies at the same time (Bairagi 1726–1736). This change led to the current delayed election cycle, which raises questions about how resources are shared and how the government works.

The "One Nation, One Election" idea wants to hold elections at the same time again. This would make government work more efficiently, but it also raises worries about how it would affect the balance of power in the federal government (Singh g248–g255). The plan calls for changes to the constitution, which shows how hard it will be to combine the national and state voting methods in India's complicated political landscape.

Understanding Of The One Nation, One Election Policy

The One Nation, One Election program calls for holding elections for both the Lok Sabha and the state governments at the same time. This would have a huge impact on India's federal system (Bairagi 1726–1736) because it would centralize political processes. Centralizing power could lead to similar political goals at different levels of government, which would reduce the variety in each area.

This could put state governments' independence at risk. The policy raises constitutional concerns because it would require changes to align the terms of state governments with those of the Lok Sabha. This would have an impact on the Representation of the People Act, which sets rules for when and how elections are held. As we saw in previous discussions about federalism (Bairagi 1726–1736), these kinds of changes could change the way votes are run, which would have an effect on India's politics and government. So, this approach needs to be carefully looked at in order to find the best balance between the benefits of coordinating elections and protecting federal values.

Effects On The Society, The Economy, And Politics

One Nation, One Election could have big effects on India's federal system because it could change the balance of power between the central government and the state governments.
From an economic point of view, coordinated elections could save a lot of money, which would relieve the public exchequer of financial burden and free up money for growth projects.

The implications of 'One Nation, One Election' on India's federal structure
Politically, this way may make government easier by reducing the number of times the Model Code of Conduct is used. This is because it cuts down on administrative interruptions (Bairagi 1726–1736). On the other hand, this way of doing things might affect regional representation because national issues might get more attention than local issues during elections. This would hurt the political diversity and authority that India's federal system tries to protect. Also, the need for changes to the constitution and fixes to the laws raises questions about the future role of regional parties and their power to have a big effect on both national and state policies.

Implications Of "One Nation, One Election" Mean For India's Federal Structure

The idea of "One Nation, One Election" changes the balance of power between the federal government and the state governments, which has big effects on India's federal system. By organizing national and state elections, this project could make it easier for people to vote, which would save them money and make them less tired during the election (Bairagi 1726-1736).

But because state governments might not be able to handle regional issues on their own, it raises concerns about the loss of state independence and the possible concentration of political power. To make the project work with the Lok Sabha's election cycle, the Indian Constitution might need to be changed.

This is especially true when it comes to how long state governments last and how they are dissolved. The Representation of the People Act, 1951, would also need to be changed to reflect these changes. This would make sure that the law is clear and consistent in the vote process.

Constitutional Provisions And Implications

This plan for One Nation, One Election (ONOE) will have big effects on India's government system, mostly because of the constitutional requirements it sets. To hold polls for both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies at the same time, the Indian Constitution would need to be changed, especially the parts that deal with how elections work. This would affect the independence of state governments (Raju).

Such changes can make it easier for a few people to control a lot of people, which goes against the idea behind federalism, which is that the national government and state governments with different powers can work together. Also, the Act that controls the election process would need to be changed a lot to fit ONOE policy (The Representation of the People Act, 1951). These changes to the Indian constitution and laws aren't just for show; they also raise questions about the balance of power and democratic participation between India's different states.

Relevant Articles Of Constitution

According to the Constitution's idea of "dual polity," the federal government and state governments should work separately in their own areas of power. To protect regional diversity and deal with local problems, this framework is needed.

Implementing simultaneous elections requires constitutional amendments, a two-thirds majority in Parliament, and ratification by at least half the states. Amendments to key articles, including 83, 85(2)(B), 174(2)(B), 356, and 75(3), along with changes to the Representation of People's Act, 1951, pose significant challenges. Ensuring sufficient EVM availability, polling, and security staff adds to the complexity.

Important legal provisions:

• Article 246 says that only the Parliament can pass laws on issues on the Union List. Only the governments of the states can pass laws on issues on the State List.
• Articles 80 and 171 spell out who makes up the State Legislative Councils and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), which makes sure that each state is involved in the legislative process.
• The Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951 are the laws that govern how votes are held in India. The Act sets the stage for free and fair elections by outlining how to vote, what you need to do to qualify, and who can't vote or run for office.
   

Analysis Of Supreme Court Cases

If you want to know what the One Nation, One Election (ONOE) strategy means for India's federal system, you mostly have to look to the Supreme Court of India. As part of this judicial review, the Indian Constitution is often looked at. The Constitution sets the rules for the central government and the voting process. A lot of the time, these cases also use the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to deal with legal issues and making sure that election cycles are in sync (The Representation of the People Act, 1951).

The Supreme Court has looked at past decisions to see if ONOE is in line with the basic ideas of federalism, which are what allow states to be independent and share power. These rulings show how hard it is to include ONOE without threatening the balance between the federal and state governments that is protected by the Constitution.

Relevant Legal Case Laws
A lot of aw scholars and constitutional experts have looked into what ONOE means for the constitution. In many cases, the Indian Supreme Court has backed up the independence of states and the idea of federalism. In State of West Bengal v. Union of India (1963), for example, the Court talked about how important state rights and independence were in a federal system.

Case laws:
This important decision from 1973, State of Kerala v. Keshavananda Bharati, says that some basic parts of the Constitution, like federalism, can't be changed or taken away by amendments. This basic structure theory is what made this decision possible. This idea could be broken if ONOE is carried out in a way that weakens state power.

In the S.R. In Bommai v. Union of India, the Supreme Court made it clear that federalism is an important part of the Constitution. This means that the states are protected from being broken up without a reason or from federal actions that are too intrusive. One could say that a move toward ONOE goes against this idea.

Impact On State Autonomy

The "One Nation, One Election" concept makes it much harder for states to make their own decisions in India's federal system. This program aims to organize elections for both the federal and state governments. This could lead to more centralization of power and less differentiation between state governments (Singh g248-g255). This kind of centralization could hurt the constitutional idea of federalism in India, which says that states should be able to handle problems on their own in their own country (Raju).

The 1951 Representation of the People Act, which controls elections, could also be affected, since big changes will need to be made to it in order for simultaneous elections to work with the shared vote process. So, even though the program might make government easier to use and lower costs, it could weaken the political and regulatory power of the states, which would go against India's basic principles of federalism.

Challenges To The Federal Structure

The One Nation, One Election (ONOE) program brings up a lot of questions about India's federal system because it might change the balance of power between the central government and the state governments. Because this plan wants to hold national and state elections at the same time, which would centralize the voting process, changes to the constitution are needed that could make it harder for state governments to make their own decisions (Singh g248-g255). The Representation of the People Act, 1951, which rules how elections are run, would need major modifications to work with such a coordinated system.

This makes people wonder if regional politics might become less active ("The Representation of the People Act, 1951"). The plan also calls into question the ideas that are written into the Indian Constitution, which backs a federal system where the federal government and the states have separate powers. The fact that these constitutional and legislative changes are so complicated shows how careful balancing needs to be in order to keep fair representation and make elections run more smoothly.

Amendments To The Representation Of The People Act And Their Significance

The Representation of the People Act, 1951 has a big impact on India's election scene. It sets the rules for running polls to Parliament and State Legislatures. "The Representation of the People Act, 1951" protects against fraud and election crimes, making sure that elections are fair. It also lists the requirements and things that prospects can't do. The Act has been changed many times over the years to fit the changing political and social situations in India.

This is because the Indian democracy has changed over time. These changes have kept the Act relevant, especially during discussions about the "One Nation, One Election" strategy, which calls for coordinating national and state elections. It is important to understand the Act's parts and changes in order to figure out how it might affect India's democracy and federal systems, since this policy could completely change the way the federal system works.

Potential Prons And Cons
The idea of "One Nation, One Election" (ONOE) in India has both pros and cons that have a big impact on the country's government system. Bairagi (1726–1736), who studied this topic, said that one possible gain is that election-related costs would go down and the election cycle would have less of an effect on government. But this program might hurt the independence of state governments by putting too much power in one place, which goes against the basic of unity in the Indian Constitution.

Also, big problems with logistics and the need for major changes to the constitution make execution very tough. By prioritizing unity over the needs of each state's government, ONOE risks wiping out the federal balance, even if it will make the voting process easier.

Conclusion
The "One Nation, One Election" project wants to make big changes to India's voting system so that elections for the Lok Sabha and state governments can be coordinated. This plan has a big impact on federalism because it calls into question the careful balance of power between the federal government and the state governments. By possibly changing the voting dates and processes, the project could bring more power to a few people, which would have an effect on regional independence and political diversity.

Also, for this reform to work, changes to the constitution and the legal system must be carefully looked over to make sure they are in line with the Representation of the People Act and the Indian Constitution's democratic ideals in general. It is important to be careful with this project so that India's federal structure and democratic values are not lost, even though it offers to save time and money.

References:

1. SCC Digital. The rulings made by the Indian Supreme Court. This piece shows how important it is to be careful and fair in order to protect the democratic spirit of the country by looking at the effects of One Nation, One Election on India's federalism.
2. In 2022, Bairagi wrote Indian One Nation, One Election: A Modern Need: Vis-a-vis a Matter of Mere Discussion in the International Journal of Law Management & Humanities. It says who at (http://lawmin.gov.in/dr-g-narayana-raju)
3. Raju and G.N. The Constitution Legislative Department of India, the Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Government of India (2020). (http://lawmin.gov.in/dr-g-narayana-raju)
4. "One Nation, One Election: Implications and Challenges, by Singh, K., published in the Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research in 2023. (http://www.jetir.org/)
5. The Legislative Department, the Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Government of India manage India's Constitution. It says who at (http://lawmin.gov.in/dr-g-narayana-raju)
6. "One Nation, One Election's effects on India's federal system," 2023 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) vol. 10, no. 9's author and distributor. (http://www.jetir.org/)
7. India's Constitution from 1950: formal Public Gazette.
8. The Act on Representation of the People was passed in 1951. The official newspaper.
9. The Economic Times. (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/what-is-one-nation-one-election-how-will-it-change-the-way-the-polls-are-conducted-in-india/articleshow/113453745.cms?utm_source=content-of-interest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst)