Budget Session 2026 set to revisit ‘One Nation, One Election’ via Joint Parliamentary Committee timeline
As Parliament moves toward the Budget Session 2026, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal remains on the agenda through a Joint Parliamentary Committee that has been granted time to submit its report by the first day of the last week of the session.
Where the election synchronisation debate stands
With Parliament transitioning from the Winter Session into preparations for the Budget Session 2026, the proposal popularly referred to as ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) continues to be a major political and constitutional flashpoint. The reform aims to synchronise elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, replacing the current staggered cycle of polls held across different years.
According to the latest parliamentary status outlined ahead of the 2026 session, the government’s plan is being tracked through a Constitution Amendment route. The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, introduced in late 2024, did not clear the full constitutional bar even after receiving majority support in the Lok Sabha, as constitutional amendments require a special majority.
JPC extension and next milestones
The Lok Sabha approved a motion to refer the bills linked to ONOE to a 39-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The committee has been granted an extension to submit its report until the first day of the last week of the Budget Session 2026, creating a clearer window for the next phase of deliberation.
Supporters argue that simultaneous elections could reduce election expenditure and limit repeated interruptions from the Model Code of Conduct. Critics, including opposition voices cited in the parliamentary run-up coverage, have described the plan as harmful to federalism and as an assault on the Constitution’s basic structure, warning it could dilute the political space for regional mandates.
- ONOE routed through constitutional amendment process
- Bills referred to a 39-member JPC
- JPC report timeline linked to the last week of Budget Session 2026