Question

Deferment of adult franchise for fifteen years was advocated in constituent assembly by
1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
2. Jawahar Lal Nehru
3. Maulana Azad
4. Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Maulana Azad

The correct answer is Maulana Azad.

• Adult franchise means that the right to vote should be given to all adult citizens and irrespective of caste, class, colour, religion or gender.
• The adult franchise becomes a fundamental pillar of any democracy. 
• The elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage.
• That is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than eighteen years of age has the right to vote.
•  Adult franchise for fifteen years was advocated in constituent assembly by Maulana Azad.

• About Maulana Azad:
  • Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was independent India’s first education minister​.
  • His birthday, 11 November, is celebrated as National Education Day.
  • Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-cooperation to fight the British, he started leading the Khilafat Movement.
  • He advocated for free and compulsory primary education for all children up to the age of 14.
  • Later, he went on to establish the Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi and contributed to the setting up of the IITs.
  • He was also one of the brains behind the University Grants Commission, India’s higher education regulator.
  • He also played a key role in the establishment of other educational institutions.