In a bid to educate 15 to 17-year-old future voters, who would enroll as voters when they turn 18, the Election Commission has asked the Union HRD Ministry to introduce ‘electoral literacy’ in the curriculum at the secondary school level. And till the time the subject becomes part of the curriculum, the Commission has asked the HRD Ministry to ask the NCERT to bring out a booklet on elections and electoral process that may be included in the list of supplementary reading material for schools at appropriate level.
In India, over 62 million persons fall in the age group of 15 to 17 years and have been described as ‘future voters’ by the Election Commission.
Last July, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi had written to HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar requesting him to include ‘electoral literacy’ in the curriculum.
In August, Javadekar responded saying the poll panel’s request was examined in consultation with NCERT which prepares the National School Curriculum Framework for the country.
He also said existing Political Science textbooks prepared by the NCERT have many details about the electoral process.