With this edition of YIF’s newsletter, read on for updates about:
- Watch YIF's new webinar series that is for, of and by young people. Sounds cool? Register now!
- India's young change makers are making waves across the sub-continent. Read on for our bi-weekly feature about them.
- The Elephant in the Room – why is the age of candidacy for an MP/MLA in India 25? Join us for a breakdown of historical facts and ask #Why25.
- Come join the movement of, for, and by the youth of India. As your one stop-shop for all youth news, we don’t spam – that’s a promise!
YIF's Centre for Youth Policy Speaks to India's Youngest Leaders!
Why and how should the youth participate in politics?
Is it even pragmatic to file your candidature if you’re in your twenties? Does the political atmosphere, both at a candidate’s home and within political parties’ structure favor young leaders? If these are the questions that hinder you from taking the first step towards active participation too, here’s an esteemed panel of young and seasoned individuals with a host of practical experience answering it for you!
Watch the webinar here.
The Elephant in the Room: #Why25
Bringing young people into public service has been an issue greatly spoken about with little to no action being taken. Decreasing an unreasonable age criteria could be the solution to having a more representative democracy for the country that has the world’s most young people.
31% of India’s Gross National Income is contributed by its young demographic.
Currently? They have 0% representation.
Join us for a weekly breakdown of facts – why should the age of candidacy for an MP/MLA in India be decreased?
| The Scope of Indian Youth’s Political Participation Today - Local Tier Elections | No Standard Age | International Comparisons |
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| Duties of the panchayat and municipality range from providing daily wages, sanitation, health, education to renewable sources and everything in between. As a young Indian, you can stand for elections at the age of 21 for all panchayat, municipal, and Zila Parishad elections. Arya Rajendra was elected Thiruvananthapuram’s mayor at the age of 21, and now handles a budget of 1300 crore rupees for upwards of 1 million inhabitants. If the law can allow 21 year old Mayors to govern cities with millions of people and substantially larger budgets than what one receives as an MP/MLA, why doesn’t the law allow them to contest? |
You can join the army at 16.5, are considered a legal adult at 18, drink, vote and drive at 18, pay taxes at 18, buy cigarettes at 21, marry at 21, possess a firearm at 21, or run an entire district’s administration via the UPSC exam at 21 among many other things. However, 25 and 30 is the age which makes you eligible to enter assembly or parliament. Why? There’s no scientific reasoning behind this age, other than one might subjectively be perceived as ‘too young’ even if young adults contribute to India in all aspects. |
Take a look at most democracies in the world, and you’ll find that countries from Russia to Nigeria and over 150/166 democracies allow citizens to contest at the age of 18 (when they’re allowed to vote) or 21. The UK has even elected many 18 year old MPs. What makes India stand apart? It has the highest average age of candidacy. Whether it’s Germany, Japan or Italy who continue to have a substantial demographic made up of the elderly, they all allow 18 year olds to contest for parliamentary elections. |
Now, You Can Fix This!
Today the reality is that young Indians are contributing in almost every sector other than direct political representation.
Give 670 million citizens the opportunity to raise young people's voices in governance. Lower the age of candidacy of MPs and MLAs from 25 to 21 today.
Read more and sign here.
Newsroom
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| Another New System, Another Possible Roadblock to Education - the CUET | Moving to Germany? Don't Forget This! |
| Does the ever-changing and inconsistent admission process of India’s undergraduate institutions stress you out? With the implementation of the CUET as the sole entrance examination to study at the Delhi University, controversial opinions on the efficacy of the system’s grade inflation are emerging. Will the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) exacerbate the precise issue it was meant to solve? Read here. | If you’re thinking of applying and moving abroad for your masters, and Germany is your dream destination, here’s some news for you! From 1st November onwards, You must mandatorily get your academic records assessed by the Academic Evaluation Centre and attach a proof of the same with all your other documents. |
Youth Across the Globe
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| 7 in 10 Young Americans Believe That Their Rights Are Under Attack. | Are Young Voters "Seeking the Least Worst Options"? |
| As the United States of America prepares for its 2022 midterm elections, its youth is speaking up. According to a survey by the Harvard Kennedy school, 40% of young Americans are definitely going out to vote in this election. This will potentially exceed 2018's historic level of participation. Our counterparts across the world are taking charge of their democratic rights as citizens, are you? |
Gun violence, Climate change, Abortion, Immigration -- there are a multitude of social issues that affect the minds of a young voter. 12 Young voters from across the swing states of USA speak of what is on their minds in an interview with the New York Times before their upcoming midterm elections. Read on to know how the youth perceives policy in the light of activism and how it changes the fate of parties in swing states. Will this be the state of Indian political scenario too in the years to come? |
YIF Recommends
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A Nation of Idiots
Book by Daksh Tyagi Indians are full of contradictions. Nothing in our history would indicate that such a large part, with all its diversity, could come together and call ourselves one. Yet, it feels like it was inevitable. Together, it feels natural. |
Period. End of Sentence.
Documentary Short by Reyka Zehtabchi | Watch here. In a rural village outside Delhi, women lead a quiet revolution. They fight against India’s deeply rooted stigma of menstruation. This documentary short tells their story. For generations, these women didn’t have access to pads, which led to health problems and girls missing school or dropping out entirely. |
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Youth Development in India: Does Poverty Matter?
Research by Bijaya Kumar Malik | Read here. Climbing up the social ladder while fighting the shackles of poverty is a problem that is faced by a greater part of the 670 million young people of this country. |
Young Changemaker of the Week: Chandrani Murmu, LS MP [Odisha]
A mechanical engineer by education, Chandrani Murmu fought for women’s rights and filed for her candidature from the tribal seat of Keonjhar, Odisha. Over the years, she has not just been pulled into the murky waters of Indian politics on the account of her age but also was targeted for being a woman. Besides being declared inexperienced, a morphed obscene image also made rounds as a part of a mudslinging campaign against her.
However, she emerged victorious against her opponents and occupied a seat in the Lok Sabha at the age of 27, currently making her the youngest Lok Sabha Member of Parliament in India.Truly an example of not giving up, no matter what you’re faced with!
