Election Expenditure Committee – UPSC GS2

Background: The committee was set up after the Ministry of Law & Justice has notified an amendment in Rule 90 of Conduct of Elections Rules,1961 increasing the existing election campaign expenditure limit by 10% with immediate effect in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Members of the Committee: The committee comprises Harish Kumar (Ex.IRS) and Umesh Sinha(DG-Expenditure).

Terms of Reference: The committee will have following terms of reference:-

To assess the change in number of electors across the States/Union Territories and its bearing on expenditure.

To assess the change in Cost Inflation Index and its bearing on the pattern of expenditure incurred by the candidates in recent elections.

To seek views/inputs of the political parties and other stakeholders.

To examine other factors which may have bearings on expenditure.

Expenditure Limit: Election Commission of India imposes limits on the expenditure incurred by a candidate, but not political parties on their election campaign.

Range: The expenditure limits range from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 28 lakh for assembly elections and from Rs. 54 lakh to Rs.70 lakh for Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier Revision: The expenditure limit was last revised in 2014 while the same was done for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2018, following their bifurcation in 2014.

After that, the limit has not been increased despite an increase in the electorate and an increase in the Cost Inflation Index.