Rajiv Gandhi-era reforms: From 18-year-old voters to National Policy on Education
On the 82nd birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, this article reviews key reforms from his tenure, including lowering the voting age to 18 and the establishment of C-DOT for telecommunications. These initiatives significantly impacted India's democratic participation and digital infrastructure.
Why it matters
These historical reforms laid the groundwork for modern Indian digital connectivity and expanded the youth electorate, shaping contemporary Indian politics.
Rajiv Gandhi became the youngest Prime Minister of India, after his mother Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984. At the time, India’s basic infrastructure was crippled, with limited access to telecommunications and increasingly high disparities in education. Despite the roadblocks, the PM pioneered several initiatives that marked a sharp shift from the erstwhile governance. On Rajiv Gandhi’s 82nd birth anniversary on August 20, 2026, here’s a look at the three measures taken during his tenure, including lowering the voting age. He was also instrumental in setting up C-DOT and introducing the National Policy on Education.
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