Indian Political CompassConstitutional Amendment · In force
61th Amendment (1988)
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, enfranchising India's youth.
Why it was passed
Two-thirds of India's population was under 35. The Rajiv Gandhi government argued that young people were mature enough to vote and that a lower voting age would increase political participation.
Key changes
- Amended Article 326 to reduce voting age from 21 to 18 years
Related articles
Content is editorial draft pending fact-check against official Gazette notifications and Supreme Court judgment texts. Last reviewed: 2026-07-02.
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