Overview

• The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) reviewing the 'One Nation, One Election' bill has increased its membership from 31 to 39, including representatives from smaller parties after demands for broader inclusion.
• The proposed constitutional amendment aims to align Lok Sabha, state assembly, and local body elections but requires significant constitutional changes, including a two-thirds majority in Parliament and state ratifications.
• Opposition parties argue the bill undermines India's federal structure and democratic accountability, while the ruling BJP asserts it will streamline governance and reduce election costs.
• The JPC includes 27 Lok Sabha members and 12 from the Rajya Sabha, with BJP MP PP Chaudhary appointed as the committee's chairman.
• The committee is tasked with submitting its report by the first day of the last week of the 2025 budget session, as political divisions persist over the bill's implications.