The Centre is advancing plans to implement simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, with the One Nation One Election Bill currently under review by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
The Centre is moving ahead with efforts to revive the proposed One Nation One Election legislation, alongside a fresh delimitation Bill, following recent setbacks in Parliament.
The latest development comes months after the government introduced the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, aimed at enabling simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies. The proposal sought to establish a framework under which elections across the country could be held together, reducing the frequency of electoral cycles and associated administrative costs.
In December 2024, the government proposed amendments to the Constitution, including the introduction of a new constitutional provision and changes to existing articles, to facilitate synchronized elections for Parliament and state Assemblies. The proposal was subsequently referred to a 39-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed examination.
According to The Indian Express reports, work is now underway to formalize the One Nation One Election Bill while the JPC continues its review. The committee’s tenure has been extended until the first day of the last week of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
JPC Chairman P. P. Chaudhary told The Indian Express that the committee was making progress on its report and would submit its findings within the stipulated timeline. “The law will be amended soon. We are making good progress as far as the report is concerned, and we will submit the report in time,” he said.
The renewed push for the legislation comes alongside efforts to reintroduce the delimitation Bill after the government’s attempt to pass the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, reportedly failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha earlier this year.
The One Nation One Election proposal is based on recommendations made by a high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The committee submitted its report in September 2024 after examining the feasibility of conducting simultaneous elections across the country.
Among its key recommendations was the synchronization of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections through constitutional amendments. The committee also proposed the creation of a single electoral roll and a single Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) system for elections conducted by the Election Commission of India and State Election Commissions. According to the committee, such a system could help reduce duplication, improve voter record management, and streamline the electoral process.
Supporters of the proposal argue that simultaneous elections would reduce election-related expenditure, minimize disruptions caused by the Model Code of Conduct, and allow governments to focus more consistently on governance and development. Critics, however, have raised concerns regarding its impact on India’s federal structure, regional political representation, and the practical challenges of synchronizing elections across states with different political timelines.
With the JPC continuing its review and the government preparing the legislative framework, the One Nation One Election proposal appears set to remain a key political and constitutional issue in the lead-up to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.