Reducing minimum age to contest polls

Why in news?

• A Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended lowering the minimum age for contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to 18 years, aligning it with the minimum age for voting in India.
• The Committee believes that young individuals can be responsible political participants, supported by global practices and increasing political consciousness among youth.

Current Minimum Age Requirements

• Lok Sabha and Assembly Polls:
  • According to Article 84 of the Indian Constitution and Section 36 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a person must be at least 25 years old to contest elections to the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly.
• Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council:
  • As per Article 80(4) of the Constitution and Section 43 of the RP Act, 1951, a person must be at least 30 years old to become a member of the Rajya Sabha or the State Legislative Council.

Why has the committee come up with such a proposal?

• Global Practices:
  • The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law, and Justice cited examples from the UK, Australia, and Canada, where the minimum age to run for any elected public office is 18.
  • Even in most European countries, the minimum age for contesting national general elections is 18.
• Inadequate Representation:
  • In 2019, a report by PRS Legislative Research revealed that 47 percent of Lok Sabha MPs were over 55 years old. The panel found this troubling considering India’s median age was only 27.9 years.
  • The report also highlighted that only 2.2 percent of Lok Sabha MPs were under 30 years old. Hence, the panel has raised concerns over lack of representation.
• Bridging the generation gap:
  • The committee stated that global surveys indicate a significant political awareness among the youth. Hence, having younger candidates could help bridge the generation gap, promote dialogue, and foster cooperation.

Response of the Election Commission:

• The Election Commission (EC) has said that expecting 18-year-olds to have the required experience and maturity to serve as public representatives was unrealistic.
• Hence, it advised the panel not to change the constitutional provision for the age requirement to contest in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Legislative Assemblies, and Legislative Councils, unless compelling reasons exist.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements:

1. Any person above the age of 18 years can contest elections to the State Legislative Assembly.

2. Minimum age requirement to contest elections to both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is 25 years.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer