India’s top court strikes down a controversial election funding system ahead of national polls

India’s top court on Thursday struck down a controversial election funding system that allowed individuals and companies to send unlimited donations to political parties without the need to disclose donor identity, a system critics have long said is undemocratic and favored Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party. A five-judge constitution bench on the Supreme Court ruled that “electoral bonds” are unconstitutional and violate citizens' right to information held by the government. The electoral bond scheme was introduced by Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in 2017.