In India, what is the minimum qualifying age required for a citizen to be registered as a voter in the electoral rolls and to be eligible to vote in elections?

Introduction / Context:
Universal adult franchise is a cornerstone of Indian democracy. It means that every adult citizen, subject to certain minimal conditions, has the right to vote in elections. The minimum age at which a citizen becomes eligible to be entered in the electoral roll is a basic fact tested in almost all general knowledge and polity exams. This minimum voting age is set by the Constitution and subsequent amendment.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question concerns the minimum age for being a voter, not for contesting elections.- Options are 24, 22, 20 and 18 years.- We assume the context of current constitutional provisions.

Concept / Approach:
Originally, the minimum age for voting in India was 21 years. The Sixty First Constitutional Amendment Act later reduced this age to 18 years, recognising the importance of involving youth in the democratic process. Article 326 of the Constitution now provides that elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies shall be on the basis of adult suffrage, meaning that every citizen who is not otherwise disqualified and who is 18 years or above is entitled to be registered as a voter.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the current minimum voting age in India is 18 years, widely publicised in civic education materials.Step 2: Understand that 24 and 25 years are associated with eligibility to contest certain elections, such as for the Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly, but not with voting itself.Step 3: The options 22 and 20 lie between the former and current voting ages but do not match the official figure codified after the constitutional amendment.Step 4: Therefore, among the options given, 18 years is the correct minimum age to be a voter.

Verification / Alternative check:
A simple check is to think of standard statements used in awareness campaigns, such as 'Every citizen of India who is 18 years or above has the right to vote'. This line is repeated in election commission advertisements, textbooks and media messages, providing strong confirmation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (24 years) is wrong because it exceeds the required age and is associated more with other eligibility thresholds.Option B (22 years) and Option C (20 years) are wrong as they are intermediate figures that do not correspond to the constitutional age for voting.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may remember that the voting age was once 21 and might get confused if they have not updated their knowledge about the Sixty First Amendment. Others may mix up ages for voting with ages for contesting elections. To avoid this, it is useful to remember a basic age ladder: 18 to vote, 25 to contest for Lok Sabha or State Assembly and 30 to contest for Rajya Sabha or State Legislative Council.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: 18 years