India, July 17 -- The British government has announced that the voting age for all elections in the country will soon be lowered to 16 from the existing 18 years.

This may set off new debates in democracies around the world, including in India which was 20 years behind UK on this count the last time.

The UK's new move comes nearly six decades after the earlier reduction from 21 to 18 in 1969. India did that only in 1989, through the 61st Amendment to the Constitution.

UK's Labour government argues that bringing it down further to 16 will "break down barriers to participation" and "ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy".

Prime Minister Keir Starmer cited laws that allow the younger citizens to take up jobs a...