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Q.2) Examine the issues with political funding in India. How far has the introduction of electoral bonds succeeded in dealing with the issues with political funding? (10 marks)

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Swatantra

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  • https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/needed-full-disclosure-on-electoral-bonds/article34824570.ece
  • In the intro, mention the importance of fair and transparent political funding in a democracy.
  • In the body, discuss the issues such as use of black money, lack of transparency, lack of information to the voters etc. In the next part, mention the issues with electoral bond and issues with its introduction and its inability to bring in transparency.
  • Conclude by mentioning the need for making political donations through electoral bonds more transparent.

Comments

37 responses to “Q.2) Examine the issues with political funding in India. How far has the introduction of electoral bonds succeeded in dealing with the issues with political funding? (10 marks)”

  1. SUMITA DOWERAH Avatar
    SUMITA DOWERAH

    Payment Id: pay HFrdyJMOEZ9967. Please review, Sir.

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Sumita

      You have written well. Most of the points are mentioned.

      Try to improve the presentation. Also write the purpose or stated aims of introduction of electoral bonds.

      You can mention some factual points such as removal of 7.5% of net profit cap for corporate funding, allowing foreign funding etc

      Conclusion is good, if possible you can write a brief way forward.

      Nice attempt. Keep writing. 🙂

  2. Vishal Nagle Avatar
    Vishal Nagle

    Ref id 422329
    Please review

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Vishal

      First part of the answer is good.

      Some key points are missing in the 2nd part about electoral bonds, you have written generic points.

      Mention about lack of transparency(neither political parties nor companies need to disclose the information about funding), lack of information to voters harming their right to know, no limit to corporate funding, allowing foreign funding, assymetry in donation etc as some of the issues with electoral bonds.

      You can write a short way forward before concluding.

      Keep writing. 🙂

  3. Anupam Singh Avatar
    Anupam Singh

    Refid# 422544

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Anupam

      You have written well. Introduction and first part is good.

      However, electoral bonds have not been successful in implementing a transparent political funding structure, hence you need to bring out the issues with electoral bonds better.

      Mention some points such as removal of limit on corporate funding(earlier 7.5% of net profits in last 3 years cap was there), allowing foreign funding and removal of need of both political parties as well as companies to disclose information about political funding as some of the issues.

      Also you can write a way forward and then conclude.

      Nice attempt. Keep writing. 🙂

  4. shubham yadav Avatar
    shubham yadav

    Please review it sir
    Pay I’d – pay_HHhwlNw9vfR4HH

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Shubham

      Nice answer.

      However, some points are repeated. In 1st part, you can write about how the current political funding structure undermines the principle of ‘one person-one vote’ as large corporations with huge funds can distort policy decisions. Also you can mention criminalization of politics with nexus between money and muscle power.

      You have brought out the issues with electoral bonds very well. You can mention how they work very briefly first.

      Write a brief way forward in such questions.

      Nice attempt. Keep writing. 🙂

      4.5/10

  5. Harshaa Sharma Avatar
    Harshaa Sharma

    Idpay_HJ2s89guguFYwg

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Harshaa

      Introduction is good. After that in 3-4 lines you can mention general issues about political funding before moving on to electoral bonds.

      You can mention black money in politics leads to criminalization of politics(nexus between money and muscle power), undue influence of corporates with huge donations over policy making, lack of transparency
      etc

      You have introduced the electoral bonds well, however bring out the draw backs better as electoral bonds have been unable to limit the discrepancies in political funding. The point that government doesn’t know about donations is not true, rather it is a drawback as only the ruling party can have information on who is donating how much to whom.

      You can mention role of she’ll companies, removal of cap of 7.5% of profits in last 3 years on corporates for donation, no need for either political parties or companies to disclose information etc as some of the issues.

      Conclusion is good. Keep writing. 🙂

  6. Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi. Avatar
    Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi.

    Review
    Ref no 0000420120

  7. Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi. Avatar
    Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi.

    Review

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Rajlaxmi

      You have written very well about electoral bonds. But before jumping to that, in introduction you can start with writing about the importance of free and fair elections in a democracy and some general issues about political funding.

      You can mention about criminalization of politics with nexus between money and muscle power, undue influence of corporates with huge donations over policy making etc

      Points for electoral bonds are very good. Way forward you have written that is also good. You can mention about the need to explore the idea of state funding of elections.

      Nice attempt. Keep writing.

  8. Deepali Rajan Avatar
    Deepali Rajan

    please review
    id- #000420326

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Deepali

      You have begun well, points under issues with political funding are also good. You can also start with mentioning how transparent political funding is essential for a free and fair election process which is the hallmark of a democracy.

      However, in 2nd part mention how electoral bond was supposed to make the funding process transparent by introducing donations via cheques, digital mode etc and then move on the issues.

      Mention role of shell companies, removal of cap of 7.5% of profits in last 3 years on corporates for donation, no need for either political parties or companies to disclose information , retrospective amendment of FCRA act to legalise foreign donations etc

      You have written way forward, that is good, you can mention about the need to explore state funding of elections there.

      Read some other answers. Keep writing. 🙂

  9. Utkarsha Yadav Avatar
    Utkarsha Yadav

    Please review
    Payment Id pay_HHWzC2O9xhkaqA

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Utkarsha

      Graph is good. You can make it just after introduction. Also, keep the introduction simple, mention that free and fair elections are a hallmark of democracy and transparent political funding is necessary for that.

      You can also mention about criminalization of politics with nexus between money and muscle power, undue influence of corporates with huge donations over policy making etc as general issues with political funding before moving to electoral bonds.

      In issues with electoral bonds,mention removal of cap of 7.5% of profits in last 3 years on corporates for donation, subjugation of right to know under article 19 of public etc. You need to focus more on the problems as electoral bonds have largely been unsuccessful in bringing transparency to political funding.

      Way forward and conclusion is good.

      Keep writing.🙂

      4.5/10

  10. ankita thakur Avatar
    ankita thakur

    Payment id-HJHAZEWKSzM3CX

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Ankita

      The answer is very good. Most of the points are covered. No need to make changes until issues with electoral bonds.

      In issues you can mention the removal of 7.5% of net profit in last 3 years limit, link it with constitution, subjugation of right to know under article 19 and right to equality, amendments in FCRA to allow retrospective foreign funding, role of shell companies etc

      Write a short way forward, you can mention ideas like state funding of elections need to be explored.

      Nice attempt. Keep writing. 🙂

      5.5/10

  11. AABHA RANI Avatar
    AABHA RANI

    Razor payment id- HHOoNABVzCCLcD

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Aabha

      First part of the answer is good.

      You need to write in a bit of detail about electoral bonds. In success, you can mention use of cheque, digital modes which has stopped illegal routing of cash.

      In issues mention about lack of transparency (neither political parties nor corporates are required to disclose information), subjugation of right to know of public under article 19 of the constitution, role of shell companies, removal of cap of 7.5% of profits in last 3 years on corporates for donation, retrospective amendment of FCRA act to legalise foreign donations etc.

      Way forward is good. Try to write a concluding statement.

      Read some other answers. Keep writing. 🙂

  12. Vishnu Agrawal Avatar
    Vishnu Agrawal

    Order id:0000422561

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Vishnu

      Answer is good. You can separately write a way forward. You can use hub and spoke diagram, that will improve the presentation of the answer. You can mention the need to explore state funding of elections.

      In issues ,you can link with the constitution- subjugation of right to know of public under article 19 of the constitution, right to equality also violated, mention the role of shell companies, removal of cap of 7.5% of profits in last 3 years on corporates for donation, retrospective amendment of FCRA act to legalise foreign donations etc.
      These will add value to the answer.

      Rest of the points are good.

      Nice attempt. Keep writing. 🙂

  13. Jaya Ratnasami Avatar
    Jaya Ratnasami

    Payment:0000382105

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Jaya

      Very well written answer. You have covered most of the points. You can talk about criminalization of politics with the nexus of money and muscle power in issues with political funding.

      Also can mention 1-2 positives of electoral bond (donation via cheques, digital mode prohibits illegal cash in the system). Rest of the points are good.

      Write a brief way forward where you can talk about the need to explore state funding of elections.

      Good attempt. Keep writing. 🙂

      5.5/10

  14. Rohan Sinha Avatar
    Rohan Sinha

    @swatantra
    Order id -#0000420396

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Rohan

      Legal angle in the first part of the answer is very good.

      You can mention some consequences- criminalization of politics with nexus between money and muscle power, quid pro quo to corporates via suitable policy making hampers the principle of one vote-one value, role of shell companies etc

      When writing about electoral bonds briefly mention about the purpose of introducing these bonds.
      In issues you can link it with constitutional articles 14 and 19, violation of right to equality with undue advantage to ruling party and right to know of general public. Rest of the points are good.

      Way forward is good, you can also talk about the need to explore state funding of elections.

      Read some other answers. Keep writing. 🙂

  15. Arpit Singh Avatar
    Arpit Singh

    Payment id HHU8LODcXby9Db

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Arpit

      In introduction you can mention about the need for transparent funding as free and fair elections are a hallmark of democracy.

      You have pointed institutional loopholes in the first part, that is good. However, cash donation to Rs2000 was reduced to make it difficult to donate via cash and encourage donation through cheque and digital modes, so you can avoid that point.

      Also mention some consequences of opaque funding-criminalization of politics with nexus between money and muscle power, quid pro quo to corporates via suitable policy making hampers the principle of one vote-one value etc

      In issues with electoral bonds you can link it with constitutional articles 14 and 19, violation of right to equality with undue advantage to ruling party and right to know of general public.

      Mention a short way forward in such questions, it will give some bonus marks.

      Nice attempt. Keep writing. 🙂

      4.5/10

  16. shivanshu pandey Avatar
    shivanshu pandey

    pay_HH4AoVE2qPd386 please review

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Shivanshu

      Your content is very good, structure the answer better.

      Don’t directly jump to electoral bonds in introduction. First mention why we need a transparent political funding(free and fair elections hallmark of democracy).

      Then mention some consequences of opaque funding- criminalization of politics with nexus between money and muscle power, quid pro quo to corporates via suitable policy making hampers the principle of one vote-one value etc

      Then come to electoral bonds, write the purpose of introducing it and issues. Points you have written are good, those related with electoral bonds can be written here and the rest move to the first part in issues with political funding overall.

      Way forward is good, you can mention the need to explore state funding of elections.

      Good attempt, use subheadings for different parts of the question, it will improve presentation.

      Keep writing.

      4.5/10

  17. Kartikey Singh Avatar
    Kartikey Singh

    pay_HHogiMPYpQ87sC

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Kartikey

      Your answer is good. Try to use some keywords for value addition.

      In introduction, you can write first about why transparent political funding is required.

      Mention FCRA amendment which legalised retrospective foreign donations, removal of 7.5% of last 3 year net profits cap on corporate donations, even loss making companies can donate now etc

      In issues with electoral bonds, points are good, you can link it with violation of constitutional articles 14 and 19, right to equality because of unfair advantage to ruling party and right to know of general public. Also the ruling party can know about donations, so frame that point carefully.

      Also try to write a short way forward (you can use hub-spoke diagram) in such questions, mention the need to explore state funding of elections.

      Good attempt. Keep writing.

      4.5/10

  18. Vivek H Avatar
    Vivek H

    Payment Id : 115213946268

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Vivek

      Introduction is good.

      Before moving to electoral bonds mention some consequences of opaque funding- criminalization of politics with nexus between money and muscle power, quid pro quo to corporates via suitable policy making hampers the principle of one vote-one value etc

      Also mention some leagal constitutional angles-mention FCRA amendment which legalised retrospective foreign donations, removal of 7.5% of last 3 year net profits cap on corporate donations, even loss making companies can donate now etc

      In issues with electoral bonds, points are good, you can link it with violation of constitutional articles 14 and 19, right to equality because of unfair advantage to ruling party and right to know of general public.

      Also there is no direct state funding of elections in India till now, so you can avoid that point; alternatively you can write a brief way forward where need to explore state funding of elections can be mentioned.

      Conclusion is good.

      Read some other answers. Keep writing.

  19. Dr. House Avatar
    Dr. House

    REF ID: #0000425733
    Please review @Swatantra Sir

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Dr House

      In introduction you can mention why transparent political funding is needed.

      Points mentioned in issues with electoral funding are good, you can add criminalization of politics- nexus between money and muscle power.

      Put a separate subheading about issues with electoral bonds and mention some points there as these have been largely unsuccessful in improving the political funding process. Your answer should bring that out clearly.

      You can mention some legal-constitutional points there: can mention FCRA amendment which legalised retrospective foreign donations, removal of 7.5% of last 3 year net profits cap on corporate donations, even loss making companies can donate now etc

      You can link it with violation of constitutional articles 14 and 19, right to equality because of unfair advantage to ruling party and right to know of general public. Rest of the content is good.

      Also you can mention a brief way forward (can use diagram in case of word limit or space constraint), points like need to explore state funding of elections can be written.

      Read some other answers. Keep writing.

      4.5/10

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