Revanth Reddy Seeks to Lower Election Contesting Age to 21, Proposes 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Yuva'

Key Highlights

• Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has urged the Centre to reduce the minimum age for contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from 25 to 21 years.
• He proposed the slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Yuva' to emphasize the role of young people in nation-building.
• The Telangana government plans to convene a special Assembly session to pass a resolution on the proposal.
• Reddy also raised concerns over the conduct of national-level examinations such as NEET, NET and CBSE exams.
• He called for greater youth participation in politics and reforms aimed at addressing student welfare issues.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has proposed lowering the minimum age for contesting Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections from 25 years to 21 years, arguing that young Indians should have a greater role in shaping the country's future.

Along with the proposal, Reddy introduced a new slogan:

"Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Yuva."

He said the addition of "Jai Yuva" reflects the growing importance of youth participation in India's democratic process.

Proposal to Reduce Election Contesting Age

Addressing reporters, Reddy urged the Union government to introduce a constitutional amendment to reduce the eligibility age for candidates contesting parliamentary and Assembly elections.

He suggested that the proposal be considered alongside other electoral reforms, including:

• Delimitation of constituencies.
• Increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats.
• Implementation of women's reservation.

According to the Chief Minister, young people have already demonstrated leadership in various fields and should receive greater opportunities within the political system.

Telangana Assembly to Pass Resolution

Reddy announced that the Telangana government intends to convene a special session of the Assembly and Legislative Council during the first week of August.

During the session, the government plans to pass a resolution urging the Centre to amend the Constitution and lower the minimum contesting age for Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from 25 to 21 years.

The resolution will subsequently be forwarded to the Prime Minister for consideration.

Concerns Over National Examinations

Apart from electoral reforms, the Chief Minister also expressed concern over the conduct of national-level entrance and recruitment examinations.

He said there was a need to strengthen mechanisms governing examinations such as:

• NEET
• NET
• CBSE examinations

Reddy urged the Centre to implement measures that safeguard the interests of students and their families.

Appeal on Student Welfare

The Telangana Chief Minister also called on the Union government to:

• Review cases registered against students during protests at Jantar Mantar.
• Consider compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy.

These remarks come amid ongoing national discussions about examination reforms, transparency and student welfare.

Why Lowering the Contesting Age Requires a Constitutional Amendment

Under the current constitutional framework:

• A candidate must be at least 25 years old to contest elections to the Lok Sabha or a State Legislative Assembly.
• Lowering this minimum age would require an amendment to the relevant constitutional provisions passed by Parliament.

No such amendment has been introduced by the Union government at this stage.

Why This Matters

If implemented, the proposal would represent one of the most significant electoral reforms affecting youth participation in recent decades.

Supporters argue that lowering the eligibility age could encourage greater political representation of young people, while critics may debate whether additional political experience should remain a prerequisite for legislative office.

The proposal is currently at the recommendation stage and would require constitutional approval before any change can take effect.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What has Revanth Reddy proposed?

He has proposed reducing the minimum age for contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from 25 years to 21 years.

What is the new slogan proposed by Revanth Reddy?

He suggested "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Yuva" to emphasize the role of youth in nation-building.

What is the current minimum age to contest Lok Sabha elections?

Under existing constitutional provisions, candidates must be 25 years old to contest Lok Sabha or State Assembly elections.

Will the election age change immediately?

No. Any such change would require a constitutional amendment passed by Parliament.

What other issues did Revanth Reddy raise?

He also called for reforms in national examinations such as NEET, NET, and CBSE exams, along with measures related to student welfare and protest-related cases.