India, Sept. 22 -- Smarter attire, youngish lingo and contemporary music-from rap to rock-is unlikely to impress Gen Z, which is gearing up to play a significant role in the upcoming 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, dubbed decisive in turning the political landscape of the state and the country.

Can the youth, many of whom would be first-time voters, actually become agents of social and political change?

Until the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, youth (18-25) participation in electoral politics was low. To enrol and activate first-time voters, the Election Commission of India (ECI) launched a countrywide campaign in 2012 to boost their turnout till 2024. Along with that, the BJP also launched a positive and ...