Franchise in Indian Polity

🔹 Meaning of Franchise

• Franchise = Right to Vote in elections.

• Derived from French word franc, meaning free.

• It is the most important element of democracy, as it gives citizens the power to choose representatives.

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🔹 Types of Franchise

1. Restricted Franchise

   • Right to vote given only to certain classes based on property, education, gender, income, or religion.

   • Example: Before Independence, under British rule in India (Government of India Act, 1935), only about 14% of Indians had voting rights.

2. Universal Adult Franchise

   • Right to vote given to all adult citizens without discrimination of caste, class, religion, gender, or wealth.

   • Adopted in India in 1950 with the enforcement of the Constitution.

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🔹 Franchise in India

1. Article 326 – Elections to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies are based on Universal Adult Franchise.

2. Eligibility to Vote:

   • Must be an Indian citizen.

   • Minimum age: 18 years (reduced from 21 by the 61st Constitutional Amendment, 1988).

   • Must be registered as a voter in the constituency.

3. Disqualification:

   • Unsound mind

   • Crime or corruption conviction

   • Non-residence

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🔹 Significance of Universal Adult Franchise in India

• Strengthens democracy.

• Ensures political equality → "one person, one vote, one value".

• Provides representation to all groups, including minorities, poor, women, Dalits.

• Promotes social justice.

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📌 Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

1. UPSC 2017 (Prelims):
   Which Article of the Constitution of India provides for Universal Adult Franchise for elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies?

   • (a) 325

   • (b) 326

   • (c) 327

   • (d) 328
     ✅ Answer: (b)

2. SSC CGL 2020:
   In which year was the voting age reduced from 21 to 18 years in India?

   • (a) 1987

   • (b) 1988

   • (c) 1989

   • (d) 1991
     ✅ Answer: (b)

3. RRB NTPC 2021:
   Universal Adult Franchise in India means:

   • (a) All adults above 21 can vote

   • (b) All adult citizens above 18 years can vote irrespective of caste, religion, gender, or wealth

   • (c) Only educated adults can vote

   • (d) Voting rights limited to property holders
     ✅ Answer: (b)

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📌 MCQs for Practice

1. Which Constitutional Article provides for Universal Adult Franchise in India?

   • (a) Article 324

   • (b) Article 325

   • (c) Article 326

   • (d) Article 327
     ✅ Answer: (c)

2. By which Constitutional Amendment was the voting age in India reduced from 21 to 18 years?

   • (a) 42nd Amendment

   • (b) 44th Amendment

   • (c) 61st Amendment

   • (d) 73rd Amendment
     ✅ Answer: (c)

3. Universal Adult Franchise was first introduced in India in:

   • (a) 1935

   • (b) 1947

   • (c) 1950

   • (d) 1952
     ✅ Answer: (c)

4. Universal Adult Franchise is based on the principle of:

   • (a) Equality

   • (b) Liberty

   • (c) Secularism

   • (d) Socialism
     ✅ Answer: (a)

5. Which of the following can disqualify a person from voting in India?

• (a) Poverty

• (b) Religion

• (c) Unsoundness of mind

• (d) Gender
  ✅ Answer: (c)

Universal Adult Franchise: India vs USA vs UK

Aspect	India	USA	UK
Article / Law	Article 326 of Indian Constitution	US Constitution (15th, 19th, 24th, 26th Amendments)	Representation of the People Acts (1918, 1928, 1969)
Voting Age	18 years (61st Amendment, 1988)	18 years (26th Amendment, 1971)	18 years (since 1969)
Citizenship	Only Indian citizens can vote	Only US citizens can vote	British citizens, Irish citizens, and some Commonwealth citizens can vote
Restrictions (History)	Before 1950 – property, education, income restrictions under British rule	Before 1965, discriminatory practices (poll tax, literacy tests) excluded African-Americans	Before 1918 – only property-owning men; women got equal rights in 1928
Principle	“One person, one vote, one value” (Political equality)	Federal + State laws regulate elections	Parliamentary sovereignty decides electoral rules
Disqualifications	Unsound mind, corruption/ crime, non-residence	Criminal conviction (varies by state), mental incompetence	Imprisoned individuals, peers in House of Lords
Representation System	FPTP for Lok Sabha & Assemblies; PR for Rajya Sabha/President	FPTP in Presidential & Congressional elections	FPTP for House of Commons elections