Out of 12 candidates from major political parties, 10 are at least graduates
Pic/PTI
After 75 years of independence and in the 18th Lok Sabha election, the education level of candidates has increased and it is reflecting in Mumbai too. According to the affidavits filed by candidates, out of 12 candidates contesting from major parties, 10 have at least a graduate degree, one completed HSC and another one passed the first year of junior college.
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There isn’t any minimum mandatory educational qualification required for Members of Parliament (MPs) in India. However, the vast majority of MPs (75 per cent) in the last Lok Sabha (2019) had at least a bachelor's degree and there was one illiterate MP from Andhra Pradesh. Though an educational qualification does not influence an MP’s efficiency in work, it ensures a certain level of understanding and analytical skills that enhance the quality of governance.
The most common qualifications among candidates in Mumbai are law and commerce. Of the 12 candidates, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam and Anil Desai completed their LLB, while Rahul Shewale is an engineer and Varsha Gaikwad completed her master’s degree in science.