Telangana CM backs lowering minimum age for MLAs and MPs to 21
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has proposed lowering the minimum age for contesting Assembly and Lok Sabha elections from 25 to 21 years. He argued that if 21-year-olds can become IAS officers, they should also be eligible to become MLAs and MPs. The Telangana Assembly is set to pass a resolution on this, after which Reddy plans to raise the issue in Parliament.
Background
Currently, the minimum age to contest Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections is 25 years, while the voting age is 18. The age for becoming an IAS officer is 21. There have been occasional calls to lower the candidacy age, but no major legislative action has been taken.
Key facts
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy supports lowering the minimum age for MLAs and MPs from 25 to 21.
He argued that 21-year-olds can become IAS officers, so they should also be eligible for elected positions.
The Telangana Assembly will first pass a resolution on this proposal.
After the resolution, Reddy will raise the issue in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The proposal requires a constitutional amendment as the age is specified in the Constitution of India.
Prelims pointers
- Minimum age for Lok Sabha and Assembly membership: 25 years (Article 84(b) and Article 173(b)).
- Minimum age for voting: 18 years (61st Amendment, 1988).
- Minimum age for IAS: 21 years.
- Constitutional amendment required to change age for candidacy.
Mains angles
- Discuss the rationale behind the current age requirement for elected representatives and the implications of lowering it.
- Examine the constitutional process for amending Articles 84 and 173.
- Compare age qualifications in India with other democracies (e.g., US House: 25, Senate: 30; UK: 18).