 bill no xxiv of 2019 the constitution (amendment) bill, 2019 a billfurther to amend the constitution of indiabe  it enacted by parliament in the seventieth year of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the constitution (amendment) act, 2019short title, and commencement(2) it shall come into force on such date as the central government may, by notificationin the official gazette, appoint2 in the constitution, for article 282, the following shall be substituted namely;substitution of new article for article 282"282 the union or a state may make any grants for any public purpose, notwithstanding that the purpose is not one with respect to which parliament or the legislature of the state, as the case may be, may make laws:expenditure defrayable by the union or a state out of its revenues"provided further that in case of a scheme or programme already commenced by the union government or a state government under the provisions of this article but the initial transfer of benefits to the eligible beneficiaries under that scheme or programme has not commenced prior to six months of the general election to the house of the people or an election to the legislative assembly of a state, the transfer of such benefits shall not be commenced till the completion of the process of such elections"5 statement of objects and reasonsnowadays, the political parties and persons contesting various elections promise and boast of distribution of freebies to electors as a short route to please them and seek electoral mandate in their favour there is a tendency of choosing this freebie distribution just before general elections from government treasuries under various popular schemes and programmes for public purpose under article 282 of constitution the reality cannot be ruled out that distribution of freebies of any kind, undoubtedly, influences all people it shakes the root of free and fair elections to a large degree and vitiates the electoral process these freebies are gifts that have no other purpose than to induce voters to vote for a particular party or person the attempt of each party to outdo the other has taken a vicious form of competitive populism if not curtailed, this will ruin the state financiallyarticle 282 was incorporated in the constitution with a noble aim to give power to union and states to spend public money for public purpose in the emergent contingencies and special situations this article is source of spending funds for the public purpose and is normally meant for special, temporary or adhoc schemes apart from normal government spending enshrined under article 275 but spending under the provision of this article shall be subject to other constitutional requirements freebie distribution by parties should be considered as a corrupt practice as defined under section 123 of representation of people's act, 1951it is necessary to prevent misuse of this article just before the general electionsannouncement of a new scheme or program before general election within six months and commencing distribution of freebies under already announced schemes before six months when general elections are due, needs to be curtailed to ensure a level playing field to all contestants of election and to promote free and fair electionthis bill seeks to further amend the constitution to put a check on distribution of freebies under the garb of provisions of article 282 just before general elections by the union and the state from the government treasureskvp ramachandra rao annexure extracts from the constitution of india    282 the union of a state may make any grants for any public purpose, notwithstanding that the purpose is not one with respect to which parliament or the legislature of the state, as the case may be, may make lawsexpenditure defrayable by the union or a state out of its revenues    ———— a billfurther to amend the constitution of india————(dr kvp ramachandrarao, mp)mgipmrnd—2364rs(s3)—02-08-2019