Polity & Governance GS 2 In the news 7 times

Article 326

Universal Adult Suffrage

Article 326 of the Constitution of India guarantees that elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies shall be on the basis of adult suffrage. Every citizen of India who is not less than 18 years of age and is not disqualified on grounds of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime, or corrupt or illegal practice, is entitled to be registered as a voter.

Key details

Originally set voting age at 21 years; reduced to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988
Article 326 is in Part XV (Elections) of the Constitution
Disqualification grounds are exhaustively listed: non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime, corrupt/illegal practice — no disqualification on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or literacy
Right to vote is a statutory right, not a fundamental right (PUCL v. Union of India, 2003), but the right to stand for elections is considered part of the broader democratic framework
Article 325 prohibits any person from being excluded from the general electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex

In the news

● Tracked since February 12, 2026 · last seen August 28, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes

28 Aug '26

Bengaluru to Lucknow, why urban centres are seeing high electoral roll deletions during SIR

Polity & Governance

13 Jul '26

Explained: EC adds parents' SIR details to new voter registration Form 6: What changes and why it matters

Polity & Governance

11 Jul '26

Election Commission changes Form 6 for new voters, inserts section asking them about parents in SIR

Polity & Governance

21 Jun '26