NCERT Solutions
Intext Questions:
Question 1: Do most leaders fulfill their election promises?
Answer: Many leaders make big promises during elections to get votes. But after elections, they often forget these promises and do not fulfill them.
Question 2: The time is after midnight. An expectant crowd sitting for the past five hours in a chowk of the town is waiting for its leader to come. The organisers assure and reassure the crowd that he would be here any moment. The crowd stands up whenever a passing vehicle comes that way. It arouses hopes that he has come. The leader is Mr. Devi Lal, chief of the Haryana Sangharsh Samiti, who was to address a meeting in Karnal on Thursday night. The 76-year-old leader, is a very busy man these days. His day starts at 8 am and ends after 11 pm… he had already addressed nine election meetings since morning…been constantly addressing public meetings for the past 23 months and preparing for this election. Jagdeep and Navpreet read this story and drew the following conclusions. Can you say which of these are right or wrong (or if the information given in the story is inadequate to call them right or wrong)
(a) Elections can lead to changes in the policy of the government.
Explanation: This is correct. Elections often result in different parties or leaders coming to power, who may have different policies and agendas. The example of Mr. Devi Lal, who was busy campaigning and preparing for the election, indicates that he and his party could bring policy changes if elected.
(b) The Governor invited Devi Lal to become the Chief Minister because he was impressed with his speeches.
Explanation: This is incorrect. The Governor inviting a leader to become the Chief Minister is a constitutional process based on the majority obtained in the election, not on personal impressions such as the quality of speeches.
(c) People are unhappy with every ruling party and vote against it in the next election.
Explanation: This is a wrong generalization. While discontent with the ruling party can be a factor in elections, it’s not a universal rule that people are always unhappy with the ruling party and vote against it. The story doesn’t provide enough information to support this conclusion.
(d) The party that wins the election forms the government.
Explanation: This statement is correct. In a democratic system, the party that wins the majority of seats in an election is typically invited to form the government. The narrative about Mr. Devi Lal preparing for the election implies a pursuit of victory, which, if achieved, would lead to his party forming the government.
(e) The election led to a lot of economic development in Haryana.
Explanation: This is incorrect as the statement about economic development in Haryana cannot be conclusively determined from the information about Mr. Devi Lal’s election campaign. Economic development is a complex process influenced by many factors beyond just an election.
(f) The Congress Chief Minister need not have resigned after his party lost elections.
Explanation: This statement is incorrect. In a parliamentary democracy, it is customary for the incumbent Chief Minister to resign if their party loses the majority in an election. The story mentions the change in leadership following the election, suggesting that the Congress Chief Minister resigned due to the electoral defeat, adhering to democratic norms and practices.
Question 3: Why do rulers in non-democratic countries need to hold elections?
Answer: Rulers in non-democratic countries hold elections to show the world they are popular and have people’s support. This improves their image globally. They also want to show their government and position is legal.
Question 4: Elections are like exams where politicians and parties know if they have passed or failed. But who are the examiners?
Answer: The voters are the examiners. They give marks as votes.
Question 5: Should we reserve at least one-third of the seats in Parliament and Assemblies for women, like in Panchayats?
Answer: Yes, we should reserve one-third of the seats for women in Assemblies and Parliament to uplift their status in society.
Question 6: Why are candidates required to give a detailed statement of their property?
Answer: Candidates give detailed property statements to control misuse of money in elections. It helps voters know more about the candidates.
Question 7: Match the following features of our electoral system with the principles they reflect.
(i) Universal Adult Franchise
(ii) Representation of Weaker Sections
(iii) Open Political Competition
(iv) One Vote-One Value
(a) Each constituency has roughly the same population.
(b) Everyone who is 18 years of age or older has a right to vote.
(c) Anyone can form a party or contest elections.
(d) Reservation of seats for the SCs and the STs.
Answer: (i) (b), (ii) (d), (iii) (c), (iv) (a)
Question 8: Why are party agents present in the polling booth and the counting center?
Answer: Party agents ensure fair voting and counting, and prevent unfair practices.
Question 9: Identify the fair and unfair electoral practices among the following.
(a) A minister flags off a new train in his constituency a week before polling day.
(b) A candidate promises she will get a new train for her constituency if elected.
(c) Supporters of a candidate take voters to a temple and make them take an oath to vote for him.
(d) Supporters of a candidate distribute blankets in slums for votes.
Answer: (a) Unfair (b) Fair (c) Unfair (d) Unfair
Question 10: Why does the Election Commission have so much power? Is this good for democracy?
Answer: The Election Commission is powerful to ensure efficient, free, and fair elections. This is good for democracy as it prevents malpractices.
Question 11: Comment on the following facts about Indian elections to say whether they reflect the strength or weakness of our electoral system.
(a) Less than 10% women members in the Lok Sabha until 2009.
(b) The Election Commission often refuses the government’s advice on election dates.
(c) More than 145 members in the current Lok Sabha have assets over 1 crore.
(d) A defeated Chief Minister said, “I respect the people’s verdict”.
Answer: (a) Weakness (b) Strength (c) Weakness (d) Strength
Exercise Questions
Question 1: Which of the following statements about the reasons for conducting elections are false?
(a) Elections enable people to judge the performance of the government.
(b) People select the representative of their choice in an election.
(c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
(d) People can indicate which policies they prefer.
Answer: (c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary is false.
Question 2: Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian elections are democratic?
(a) India has the largest number of voters in the world.
(b) India’s Election Commission is very powerful.
(c) In India, everyone above the age of 18 has a right to vote.
(d) In India, the losing parties accept the electoral verdict.
Answer: (a) India has the largest number of voters in the world is not a good reason to say that Indian elections are democratic.
Question 3: Match the following:
(A) It is necessary to keep the voters list up to date because
(B) Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that
(C) Everyone has one and only one vote so that
(D) Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicles because
(i) There is a fair representation of all sections of our society.
(ii) Everyone has equal opportunity to elect their representative.
(iii) All candidates must have a fair chance of competing in elections.
(iv) Some people may have moved away from the area where they voted last.
Answer: A (iv), B (i), C (ii), D (iii)
Question 4: List all the different election-related activities mentioned in the chapter and arrange them in a time sequence, beginning with the first activity and ending with the last.
Answer:
Making of voters list
Announcing election schedule
Filing of nomination
Releasing election manifestos
Election campaign
Casting of votes
Ordering of re-poll
Counting of votes
Declaration of election results
Question 5: Surekha is an officer in charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an Assembly constituency in a state. Describe what she should focus on for each of the following stages of the election.
(a) Election campaign
(b) Polling day
(c) Counting day
Answer:
(a) During the election campaign, Surekha should ensure no use of muscle or money power to influence voters, no misuse of government resources, adherence to spending limits, no distribution of money or goods for votes, and no appeals for votes based on caste or religion.
(b) On polling day, she must ensure no booth capturing, no fake votes, free and fearless voting by all sections, and no unauthorized persons in polling booths.
(c) On counting day, she should ensure the integrity of voting machines, presence of candidates’ agents during counting, accurate counting, and no unauthorized persons in the counting center.
Question 6: The table below gives the proportion of different communities among the candidates who won elections to the US Congress. Compare these to the proportion of these communities in the population of the US. Based on this, would you suggest a system of reservations in the US Congress? If yes, why and for which communities? If no, why not?
Answer: Given the underrepresentation of Blacks and Hispanics in the US Congress compared to their population proportions, a reservation system could be suggested for these communities to ensure fair representation.
Question 7: Can we draw the following conclusions from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for each of these.
(a) Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections in the country.
(b) There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country.
(c) It is very easy for the party in power to win an election.
(d) Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.
Answer:
(a) No, this conclusion is incorrect. The Election Commission is powerful and independent, ensuring free and fair elections.
(b) Yes, there is high popular participation, evidenced by high voter turnout and engagement in electoral activities.
(c) No, this is incorrect. Often, the ruling party loses elections, showing the efficacy of the electoral process.
(d) Yes, reforms are needed to address issues like money power, criminal candidates, and family dominance in politics.
Question 8: Chinappa was convicted for torturing his wife for dowry. Satbir was held guilty of practicing untouchability. The court did not allow either of them to contest elections. Does this decision go against the principles of democratic elections?
Answer: No, this decision upholds democratic principles by ensuring that individuals who break the law, particularly in ways that harm society, are not allowed to hold positions of power.
Question 9: Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the world. Is there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve their elections? What would you suggest in each case?
(a) During an election in Nigeria, the officer in charge of counting votes deliberately increased the votes of one candidate and declared him elected. The court later found out that more than five lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another.
(b) Just before elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhary will lead to bloodshed. This was a threat to voters of Indian origin.
(c) In the US, each state has its own method of voting, its own procedure of counting and its own authority for conducting elections. Authorities in the state of Florida took many controversial decisions that favoured Mr. Bush in the presidential elections in 2000. But no one could change those decisions.
Answer:
(a) Implement strict monitoring and transparent counting procedures like in India, with representatives of all candidates present during counting.
(b) Enforce strict election codes to prevent fear-mongering and threats, similar to India’s model code of conduct.
(c) Establish a centralized, independent election commission like India’s to ensure uniformity and fairness in the election process across all states.