HSS India Insights
Youth Engagement in Participatory Democracy
Demographic Dividend in India
India has the world’s largest youth population, with about 27.3 percent of its total population in the age group 15-29 years. Unlike the world’s four largest economies - the USA, China, Japan and Germany – where ageing populations are on the rise, India has the potential to leverage its large, young population to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth. To advance youth development and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Government of India launched a draft National Youth Policy (NYP) in 2022 by reviewing the existing NYP 2014. The policy outlines comprehensive interventions across five priority areas – education, employment and entrepreneurship, youth leadership and development, health, fitness and sports, and social justice. It also provides a roadmap for training young leaders to enhance their participation in politics and governance.
Another important initiative, organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is Mock Parliaments at various levels to increase knowledge of the youth about the procedures and functioning of the Indian Parliament, while enhancing their leadership skills and civic engagement.
AI-generated image
Youth power in elections and beyond
The pivotal role of young voters was evident in the recent national Parliamentary elections in India, with voters aged 18-29 making up approximately 22.3% of the total registered voters in the country. To foster meaningful youth participation in the democratic process, the government and the Election Commission of India actively promoted civic education and electoral awareness among the youth through online campaigns and interactive sessions at colleges and institutes of higher education.
However, the participation of youth in democracy goes beyond merely casting votes during elections, ensuring their voices are heard.
Given certain age restrictions, youth remain largely excluded from participating in policy and governance-related issues, as well as have a limited representation in government institutions such as National Parliaments. In India, for instance, a person must be at least 25 years old to contest elections. Currently, the representation of youth in the Indian Parliament is limited, with only four members of Parliament (MPs) in the Lok Sabha (House of the People) aged 25, while the average age of candidates is 55.
Therefore, it is crucial to explore non-traditional ways for youth to enhance their participation in politics and democratic processes at local, national and international levels. The increased use of online platforms and social media has opened new avenues for youth to engage in public consultations, track government initiatives and provide feedback and ideas on draft policies. To achieve the vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047, the Government of India is also focusing on the skill development of the youth, with substantial investments in education, vocational training and upskilling initiatives. In the recent budget, the government has allocated approx. €1.64 billion for education, employment and skilling initiatives, marking a 30 per cent increase from the previous allocation of around €1.26 billion.
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India: ''The greater the youth’s participation in democracy, the better will be the future of the nation''
Role of HSF in empowering youth
Guided by the motto “In service of Democracy, Peace and Development’’, Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) promotes democratic and civic education through capacity building programmes, socio-political debates, dialogue with various interest groups and stakeholders as well as the development of solution strategies. In India, the Foundation has been actively working on youth-centric initiatives such as Young South Asia Network (YSAN) and Youth for Governance (Y4G) Fellowship (in cooperation with Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM)). In 2023, HSF also launched a fun and innovative board game ‘Sabha’, in partnership with Justice Adda, for people of all age groups (16+) to demystify the complexities of the Parliamentary system in India.
'Sabha' - board game launch event in Delhi
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Hanns Seidel Foundation.