In which year a Committee on electoral reforms was set up under the chairmanship of Dinesh Goswami?

The correct answer is 1990.

Key Points

• A committee on electoral reforms was set up in the year 1990 under the chairmanship of Dinesh Goswami.
• The committee was constituted to examine and suggest reforms in India’s electoral process.
• Dinesh Goswami was a prominent legal expert and a senior leader in the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) party from Assam.
• The committee recommended significant changes in areas such as the use of money power, criminalization in politics, and voting behavior.
• It laid the foundation for discussions and amendments to improve the transparency and fairness of elections in India.

Additional Information

• Electoral Reforms in India
  • Electoral reforms are measures aimed at improving the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.
  • Some significant reforms include the introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 (by the 61st Constitutional Amendment), and making affidavits about candidates' criminal records mandatory.
• Criminalization of Politics
  • Criminalization in politics refers to individuals with criminal records contesting elections or holding public office.
  • The Dinesh Goswami Committee recommended measures to address this issue by disqualifying candidates with serious criminal charges.
• Use of Money Power in Elections
  • Excessive use of money to influence voters has been a major concern in Indian elections.
  • The committee suggested stricter regulations on election expenditure and transparency in campaign funding.
• Other Committees on Electoral Reforms
  • Tarkunde Committee (1974): Suggested reforms in the working of political parties and elections.
  • Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998): Proposed state funding of elections.
  • Law Commission (2015): Recommended measures for electoral transparency and reducing corruption.