No system to groom political leaders in India; youth must enter public life with awareness: Arlekar

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar has expressed concern over the lack of minimum educational qualifications for politicians in India, calling for a mechanism to groom leaders.

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Saturday rued the lack of minimum educational qualifications for politicians in the country, while urging the youth to equip themselves with knowledge and awareness before entering public life.

Addressing the National Youth Parliament programme here, Arlekar called for serious introspection on the current system and lamented that the country lacks a mechanism to groom its political leaders.

Arlekar, along with Goa Governor P Ashok Ganapathi Raju, inaugurated the event.

Drawing from an anecdote often shared by veteran leader Lal Krishna Advani, and a satirical poem by Hindi poet Kaka Hathrasi, Arlekar highlighted the contrast between politics and other professions.

He noted that even to drive a car, one requires basic qualifications, training, and a licence, and professions, such as law, medicine, teaching, and even entry-level government jobs, require minimum educational criteria.

''Even a peon in an office is required to have passed Class 10, and officers are expected to be graduates or postgraduates. But in politics, there is no such requirement. One can even become a minister without basic educational qualifications,'' said Arlekar, who also holds the charge of Kerala.

He said this situation reflects the need for serious introspection, particularly at a time when governance and policymaking demand deeper understanding and responsibility.

''There is training for IAS and IPS. But what training is required to be a political leader? Unfortunately, we don't have any system to develop a political leader,'' he remarked.

The governor further stressed that youth must question whether such a system is desirable and prepare themselves to bring informed leadership into politics.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call to bring at least one lakh committed young people into politics who are well-versed in India's history, geography and constitutional framework.

The future leadership of the country should emerge from a generation that understands India's cultural unity, historical journey and developmental aspirations, he said.

Arlekar urged young participants to take this responsibility seriously and equip themselves with education, awareness and a sense of national purpose before stepping into public life.