Election Laws In India

Since India’s independence in 1947, an elaborate and robust framework of election-related laws and institutions has enabled the successful conduct of elections with peaceful transfers of power. This chapter provides an overview of this framework and its evolution by examining the role of the Constitution of India, laws that govern elections and the institutions that administer them. It reviews the challenges pertaining to implementing laws affecting political parties, candidates and media, and laws to combat defection and criminalisation of politics. It also describes the deepening of democracy through elections to local government and affirmative measures that empower historically disadvantaged groups.