General Studies 2024 GS Paper II 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Examine

Q1

Examine the need for electoral reforms as suggested by various committees with particular reference to "one nation – one election" principle. (Answer in 150 words) 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

विभिन्न समितियों द्वारा सुझाए गए, एवं "एक राष्ट्र – एक चुनाव" के विशिष्ट संदर्भ में, चुनाव सुधारों की आवश्यकता का परीक्षण करें। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में लिखिए)

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Directive word: Examine

This question asks you to examine. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'examine' requires a critical investigation of the need for electoral reforms through committee recommendations, specifically probing the rationale, feasibility and challenges of simultaneous elections. Structure: brief context on electoral reform committees → analysis of ONOE principle (pros/cons) → balanced conclusion on implementation viability within 150 words.

Key points expected

Mention of key committees: Law Commission (170th Report), Election Commission, Niti Aayog, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice
Rationale for ONOE: reduced election expenditure (₹60,000 crore estimated savings), administrative efficiency, reduced Model Code of Conduct disruptions, policy continuity
Constitutional and practical challenges: Amendment to Articles 83, 85, 172, 174; dissolution scenarios; federalism concerns; regional party disadvantage
Counter-arguments: simultaneous elections may nationalize local issues, reduce accountability through fixed tenure, require massive EVM/VVPAT deployment
Balanced assessment: ONOE as desirable but requiring consensus-building, phased implementation, and constitutional amendments with ratification

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	2	Correctly interprets 'examine' as critical investigation with balanced probing of need, not mere description; addresses 'various committees' plural and links them specifically to ONOE rationale	Partially addresses 'examine' with some analysis but drifts into listing; mentions committees without connecting their specific recommendations to ONOE	Treats as 'describe' or 'list'; ignores committee mandate entirely; fails to critically investigate the 'need' aspect of reforms
Content depth & accuracy	20%	2	Accurately cites specific committee reports (Law Commission 170th, Niti Aayog 2015) with precise constitutional provisions needing amendment; covers both economic and democratic dimensions	Mentions committees generically without report numbers; identifies basic ONOE arguments but with minor constitutional inaccuracies; one-sided coverage	Factually incorrect committee references; conflates ONOE with other reforms; omits constitutional amendment requirements or federalism concerns
Structure & flow	20%	2	Tight 150-word structure: 20-word context → 100-word balanced examination (need vs. challenges) → 30-word nuanced conclusion; seamless transitions between committee inputs and ONOE analysis	Basic intro-body-conclusion but uneven weightage; word count slightly off; some disjointed jumps between committees and ONOE specifics	No discernible structure; exceeds word limit significantly; random arrangement of points; missing conclusion or introduction
Examples / case-law / data	20%	2	Uses specific data: ₹60,000 crore estimated savings (Niti Aayog), 73 days of MCC in 2022-23; cites 1952-67 precedent of simultaneous elections; references 79th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2015	Vague reference to 'huge expenditure' without figures; mentions 1952-67 period without specificity; no bill references	No data or examples; incorrect or fabricated statistics; irrelevant examples from non-Indian contexts
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	2	Offers nuanced verdict: ONOE desirable but requires political consensus, phased approach (panchayat→state→national), and simultaneous constitutional amendment; acknowledges federalism tension without absolutism	Generic balanced conclusion without specific pathway; mere summary of points; avoids taking analytical position on feasibility	Absolutist conclusion (fully support/oppose) without justification; missing conclusion; introduces new arguments in conclusion

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