Most of the fields require applicants to have minimum qualification to be eligible for a given job.But politics is one such field which never had any prerequisite eligibility criteria. There have been many politicians in the past and currently in power who are not even graduates, yet they have been a member of Parliament or of State assembly

Should there be a minimum educational qualification to contest elections is a moot point.

Four points in favor of the topic

1) Politicians with basic qualification would be better candidates since they will be able to understand the requirements of the masses better and frame policies accordingly.

2) Relevant qualification will not only help them in framing better policies for the electorate but also help politicians empathize with the masses.

3) Relevant and basic qualification will help a politician in decision making and problem solving.

4) Relevant qualification will also help a politician to be a good team member or an effective leader with his cabinet.

Four Points against the topic

1) Relevant qualification is not a perfect recipe to be a better politician. There are numerous example of politicians who have not completed their schooling yet have framed policies for the betterment of the electorate.

2) Basic qualification is more inclined towards educating the politician with theories than practical approach to a problem. Politics require a practical problem solving approach than a theoretical one.

3) Qualities such as being an effective leader and or a team player is gained by experience and not by education.

4) If an eligibility criteria is kept to contest an election many deserving politicians who couldn’t complete their education due to family or financial problems will be left out thus doing the nation more harm than good.