The Election Commission of India (ECI) has released the Lok Sabha 2024 Atlas, revealing changes in the demographics of voters. The data indicates a decline in the share of young electors aged 18-29 from 25.37 per cent in 2019 to 22.78 per cent in 2024. The findings highlight the ageing population of India and its implications for future elections.
Young Electors’ Share
The share of young electors has decreased in all states and UTs, with the exception of Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir. In Jharkhand, the percentage rose from 27.42 per cent to 28.38 per cent. In Jammu & Kashmir, it increased from 24.03 per cent to 27.89 per cent. However, data comparability is affected due to Ladakh’s status change.
Age Demographics of Electors
The ECI data shows an increase in older elector demographics. The share of electors aged 30-59 rose from 59.77 per cent to 60.63 per cent. Electors aged 60-79 also increased from 13.15 per cent to 14.72 per cent. The percentage of electors above 80 years rose slightly from 1.71 per cent to 1.87 per cent.
Regional Variations
Kerala has the highest share of electors aged 60-79, with 20.46 per cent. Other states with shares include Goa (19.19 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (17.7 per cent). This regional variation reflects differing demographic trends across the country.
Overall Elector Growth
The total number of electors in India increased by 7.43 per cent from 2019 to 2024. This growth rate is lower than the 9.34 per cent increase observed from 2014 to 2019. The decline in young electors contrasts with the overall growth in the electorate.
Constituencies with Highest Increase
Jharkhand’s Koderma leads the list of constituencies with the highest percentage increase in electors, with a rise of 21.7 per cent. Other notable constituencies include Telangana’s Chevella (20.3 per cent) and Haryana’s Gurugram (20.19 per cent). This trend indicates a shift in voter composition in specific regions.
Implications for Future Elections
The declining share of young voters may impact political strategies and campaign focuses. Political parties may need to address the concerns of older demographics while finding ways to engage younger voters. This shift could influence policy priorities and electoral outcomes in future elections.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically discuss the implications of an ageing population on India’s electoral politics.
- Examine the factors contributing to the decline in young electors in India.
- Analyse the significance of regional variations in elector demographics across India.
- Estimate the impact of increasing elector numbers on the representation of various age groups in the Lok Sabha.
Answer Hints:
1. Critically discuss the implications of an ageing population on India’s electoral politics.
- Older voters tend to have different priorities, influencing party platforms and policies.
- Political strategies may shift to cater to the needs of an ageing demographic.
- Campaigns may focus more on health care, pensions, and social security.
- Potential decrease in youth engagement could lead to lower voter turnout among younger populations.
- Parties may need to balance addressing older voters while still appealing to younger electorates.
2. Examine the factors contributing to the decline in young electors in India.
- Demographic shifts indicate an ageing population, leading to fewer young voters.
- Increased urbanization and migration may affect youth registration and participation.
- Political disillusionment among youth can lead to lower engagement in electoral processes.
- Educational and employment pressures may divert attention from voting.
- Changes in social values and priorities may reduce the significance of voting among young people.
3. Analyse the significance of regional variations in elector demographics across India.
- Regional demographics reflect diverse socio-economic conditions and cultural factors.
- States with higher older elector percentages may influence policy focuses differently.
- Variations can affect local political dynamics and electoral outcomes .
- About regional trends aids in tailoring political campaigns to specific elector needs.
- Disparities in age demographics may lead to uneven political representation and advocacy.
4. Estimate the impact of increasing elector numbers on the representation of various age groups in the Lok Sabha.
- Overall growth in electors indicates a broader base for representation, but age disparities persist.
- Increasing older elector numbers may overshadow the representation of younger voters.
- Political parties may prioritize issues relevant to older demographics due to their growing numbers.
- Electoral strategies may need to evolve to ensure diverse representation across age groups.
- Shifts in age representation could influence legislative priorities and policy-making in the Lok Sabha.
