Subject: Indian Polity

India's democratic framework received significant attention in 2016 when the Election Commission of India (ECI) proposed comprehensive electoral reforms to strengthen the democratic process. These reforms aimed to address various challenges in the electoral system and enhance the quality of democracy.

Key Electoral Reforms Proposed by ECI

Transparency in Political Funding

• Mandating disclosure of donor identities above a certain threshold to ensure transparency in electoral bonds.
• Limiting corporate donations to prevent undue influence of money power in elections.
• Introduction of digital payment systems for political donations to maintain clear audit trails.

Technological Enhancement

• Implementation of VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines across all polling stations.
• Integration of biometric identification systems to prevent voter fraud.
• Strengthening the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) infrastructure with enhanced security features.

Voter Participation Initiatives

• Exploring the possibility of compulsory voting to increase voter turnout.
• Introduction of online voter registration systems.
• Enhanced accessibility features for differently-abled voters.

Significance of the Reforms

Democratic Strengthening

• Enhanced transparency in political funding reduces corruption and improves public trust.
• Technology integration ensures foolproof voting mechanisms and reduces electoral malpractices.
• Greater voter participation strengthens democratic representation.

Electoral Integrity

• VVPAT implementation ensures verifiable paper trails and increases confidence in the electoral process.
• Biometric identification prevents duplicate voting and maintains electoral roll accuracy.
• Digital payment tracking systems prevent black money in elections.

Challenges in Implementation

• Resource constraints in implementing technology across all polling stations.
• Resistance from political parties regarding funding transparency.
• Constitutional and practical challenges in implementing compulsory voting.

These reforms represent a significant step towards strengthening India's democratic framework, aligning with constitutional principles like Article 324 (powers of ECI) and Article 326 (universal adult suffrage). The success of these reforms depends on effective implementation and cooperation from all stakeholders, including political parties, citizens, and government machinery, to achieve the goal of free, fair, and transparent elections.