Volume-XII, Issue-III, May 2026 |
Democratic Participation of Youth in India Amaira Jain, Student, Modern School Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, India |
Received: 09.05.2026 | Accepted: 16.05.2026 | Published Online: 31.05.2026 | Page No: 242-251 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.12.issue.03W.338 | |||||||
ABSTRACT | ||
India is the world’s largest democracy, yet the patterns of inconsistent political participation among its youth have shown an upward trajectory, thus raising questions about the effectiveness of its democratic structures. This paper seeks to investigate the factors that influence the political participation of youth in India and how institutions like family, education, and social media shape their engagement in democratic processes. This study employed a mixed-method research design that triangulated primary data from semi-structured interviews with 20 Delhi-NCR residents aged 18-30 along with secondary electoral data post 1950, revealing a disjunction between democratic ideals and its reality in practice. It also found the theory of civic education isolated from societal context. Alternatively, digital media, a major source of political learning, may also be the cause for misinformation and bias. Some other factors that may suppress political participation include logistical challenges, electoral inaccessibility, and a sense of political inefficacy. The study underscores a need for a multi-dimensional approach to strengthen youth participation and provides a framework to influence future research, educational practices and electoral reforms aimed at bridging the gap between formal laws and active engagement. | ||
Keywords: India, Electoral Politics, Decolonisation, Political Socialisation, Voter Turnout, Democratic Deficit |