The minimum age to vote in Indian State Legislative Election is ______.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2: 18 years.
Explanation:
According to the Indian Constitution, the minimum age for voting in elections for the State Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha is 18 years.
• Universal Adult Suffrage: The principle of 'one person, one vote' is applicable in India. Under Article 326, every citizen who has attained the age of 18 years has the right to vote, without any discrimination based on caste, religion, or gender.
• Historical Change: Originally, the voting age prescribed in the Constitution was 21 years. This was reduced to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988 (which came into effect in 1989).
Minimum Age Limits for Various Positions:
The following table is highly important for competitive examinations:
Position / Right Minimum Age
Right to Vote - 18 years
Member of a Panchayat or Municipality - 21 years
Member of Lok Sabha (MP) / Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) - 25 years
Member of Rajya Sabha / Member of Legislative Council (MLC) - 30 years
President / Vice-President / Governor - 35 years
Additional Facts:
• Article 326: This relates to the Electoral Roll and Universal Adult Suffrage.
• National Voters' Day: In India, National Voters' Day is celebrated annually on January 25th to encourage the youth to participate in the electoral process.
• 61st Amendment: This historic change was brought about during the tenure of the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi.
Potential Questions for Upcoming Exams:
Question: By which Constitutional Amendment Act was the voting age reduced from 21 years to 18 years?
Answer: 61st Constitutional Amendment Act (1988).
Question: What is the minimum age required to contest a Gram Panchayat election?
Answer: 21 years.
Question: Which Article of the Indian Constitution guarantees Universal Adult Suffrage?
Answer: Article 326.