Holding that young individuals can be “reliable and responsible” political participants, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended reducing the age for contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to 18 years, which is the minimum age of voting in India.
This view was, however, contested by the Election Commission of India which said that it was “unrealistic” to expect 18-year-olds to possess the necessary “experience and maturity” for being Members of Parliament and State legislative bodies.
At present, the minimum age for a person to contest Lok Sabha and Assembly polls is 25 years, while one can become a member of the Rajya Sabha or the State Legislative Council only at 30 years.