DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ – 22 December, 2025

Explanation:
Opaque funding allows business interests to influence political decisions secretly. This can lead to preferential policies and unfair advantages. Such practices distort market competition. Crony capitalism becomes a systemic risk when funding lacks transparency.

Explanation:
After the Supreme Court struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme, transparency in political funding largely depends on disclosure and public dissemination of information. The Election Commission of India is the constitutional body responsible for supervising elections and ensuring a level playing field. It publishes financial disclosures submitted by political parties and places funding data in the public domain. While SBI provides raw data, and CAG audits government accounts, the ECI ensures electoral transparency and democratic accountability. Hence, ECI plays the most critical role.

Explanation:
State funding of elections is frequently proposed to reduce dependence on private donors. It aims to ensure a level playing field among parties. However, fiscal costs and implementation challenges remain. Despite limitations, it is considered a transparency-enhancing reform.

Explanation:
Popular sovereignty rests on informed citizen choice. Transparency in funding enables voters to understand who influences political parties. This strengthens electoral accountability. The Supreme Court linked transparency directly with democratic choice. Hence popular sovereignty is reinforced.

Explanation:
Anonymous funding allows donors to influence policies without public scrutiny. This increases the risk of quid pro quo arrangements. It can lead to regulatory capture and crony capitalism. Transparency is essential to prevent misuse of political power. Hence anonymity undermines democratic accountability.