Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has renewed his call to lower the minimum age for contesting Assembly and Lok Sabha elections from 25 to 21 years, arguing that if young Indians are considered capable of serving as civil servants at 21, they should also be eligible to become legislators.
Addressing a youth gathering in Hyderabad, he announced that the Telangana government will convene a special session of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council in the first week of August to pass a resolution urging the Centre to amend the Constitution.
The proposal seeks to improve youth representation in elected bodies and will be taken up with Congress leaders and other INDIA bloc parties before being raised in Parliament.
Young Voices Into Legislatures
Making a case for the reform, Revanth Reddy said the existing eligibility criteria no longer reflects the responsibilities already entrusted to young Indians.
“When the voting age was 21, the minimum age to contest Assembly and Parliament elections was 25. Today, the voting age is 18. I want to reduce the minimum age for contesting elections from 25 to 21,” he said. The Chief Minister argued that 21-year-olds are already eligible to join the IAS, IPS and other civil services, besides contesting local body elections and serving as mayors. “If a 21-year-old can become an IAS or IPS officer, why can’t they become an MLA or MP?” he asked.
He said the reform would allow more young people to participate directly in lawmaking rather than waiting several years despite already holding positions of public responsibility.
Resolution Planned Before Parliament Push
Revanth Reddy said the Telangana government would move a resolution during a special session of the State Legislature in August, describing it as the first step towards a constitutional amendment that would ultimately have to be approved by Parliament.
He said he would present the proposal to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi before reaching out to other INDIA bloc leaders to build broader political consensus.
The Chief Minister also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support the proposal, suggesting that it could be discussed alongside other major electoral reforms in Parliament. Linking his proposal to previous democratic reforms.
He also noted that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 through the 61st Constitutional Amendment, while the P. V. Narasimha Rao government enabled 21-year-olds to contest local body elections through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India is home to one of the world’s youngest populations, yet its legislatures do not fully reflect that demographic reality. Lowering the minimum age to contest elections is a proposal that merits thoughtful public debate, balancing the need for fresh perspectives with the responsibilities that come with elected office.
Whether or not such a constitutional amendment is eventually adopted, creating meaningful pathways for young people to participate in democratic decision-making can strengthen representative governance and deepen public trust in institutions.
Do you think India should lower the minimum age to contest Assembly and Lok Sabha elections to 21 years, or should the existing age requirement remain unchanged? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments.
— Revanth Reddy (@revanth_anumula) July 26, 2026
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