CHARTING THE TERRAIN OF POLITICAL FUNDING IN INDIATHROUGH GLOBAL EXPERIENCES

Abstract

Any democracy cannot function without free and fair elections. It is imperative to note that the ideal of free and fair election has been enshrined in the basic structure of our Indian Constitution. In this regard, an independent Election Commission is the watchdog of the electoral procedures in India. This paper is structured to examine the current state of political funding in India. It attempts to highlight various mechanisms of political funding across jurisdictions. The aim is to assess how far India has come in the arena of political funding, and what steps it could take to align with the international best practices. Transparency and accountability in political funding can bring stability in the electoral battleground. This paper would deal with analysis of data and discussions while engaging in a comparative study of political funding transnationally, in relation to India. It aims to offer suggestions upon identifying the challenges in India’s political funding mechanisms and recommends potential pathways for reform, keeping in mind the broader ideal of democratic integrity. The study aspires to contribute to the ongoing discourse on strengthening democratic institutions through more equitable and transparent funding practices.