How much One Nation One Election report costs centre? Rs 491 per day - Rs XX,000 total

The Ministry of Law and Justice disclosed that Rs 95,344 was spent on drafting the 'One Nation, One Election' report, following an RTI query. The report explored the feasibility of conducting simultaneous elections nationwide.

A high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind was established on September 2, 2023, to draft the report. After 194 days of deliberation, the committee submitted its findings on March 14, 2024. The expenditure translates to roughly Rs 491 per day, assuming the committee worked daily. However, accounting for non-working days, the per-day cost could be higher.

The RTI application also sought a breakdown of expenses, which were categorized under:

• Information, Computer, and Telecommunication
• Office Expenses
• Professional Services
• Machinery and Equipment
• Digital Equipment
• Domestic Travel Expenses
• Printing and Publication

The government clarified that no payments were made to committee members, indicating their contributions were honorary.

Committee members

The committee comprised distinguished members, including:

• Chairman: Ram Nath Kovind, former President of India
• Members: Union Minister Amit Shah, former Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Finance Commission Chairman N.K. Singh, former Lok Sabha Secretary General Dr. Subhash C. Kashyap, Senior Advocate Harish Salve, and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari.
• Special Invitee: Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Law and Justice
• Secretary: Dr. Niten Chandra

Legislative developments

On December 17, 2024, two significant bills—the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Law (Amendment) Bill—were introduced in the Lok Sabha. A total of 269 members supported the bills, while 198 opposed them. The government recommended referring the bills to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further consultation.