NCERT Questions & Answers
Q1. Country A: People who do not accept the country’s official religion do not have a right to vote. Country B: The same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years. Country C: Ruling party has lost in the last three elections. Country D: There is no independent Election Commission. Classify them.
Answer:
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Country A – Undemocratic (excludes people on religious basis).
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Country B – Not sure (could be democratic, but repeated wins may hint unfairness).
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Country C – Democratic (shows ruling party can lose).
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Country D – Undemocratic (elections not free and fair).
Q2. Country P: Parliament cannot pass a law about the army without army chief’s consent. Country Q: Parliament cannot pass a law reducing judiciary’s powers. Country R: Leaders cannot sign treaties without neighbouring country’s permission. Country S: Economic decisions are taken only by central bank officials. Classify.
Answer:
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Country P – Undemocratic (army controls government).
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Country Q – Democratic (judiciary’s independence is protected).
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Country R – Undemocratic (loss of sovereignty).
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Country S – Not sure (technical experts may decide, but ministers must remain accountable).
Q3. Which of these is not a good argument for democracy?
a) People feel free and equal
b) Democracies resolve conflict better
c) Democratic government is more accountable
d) Democracies are more prosperous
Answer: (d) Democracies are not always more prosperous than others.
Q4. Separate democratic and undemocratic elements in the statements:
a) WTO requires laws – Undemocratic; Parliament passes laws – Democratic.
b) Re-polling ordered – Democratic; Rigging happened – Undemocratic.
c) Women’s demand for 1/3 seats – Democratic; Only 10% women present – Undemocratic.
Q5. Which is not a valid reason that famines are less likely in democracy?
Answer: (d) People are free to believe in any religion. (Religion is unrelated to famine.)
Q6. Villagers without drinking water used methods to pressure government. Which is not democratic?
Answer: (d) Paying bribes to officials.
Q7. Write responses to arguments against democracy:
a) Army rule is better – Wrong, because armies are not accountable to people.
b) Rule of majority = ignorant rule – Wrong, democracy respects equality and collective wisdom.
c) Religious leaders should rule – Wrong, politics mixed with religion excludes others and becomes undemocratic.
Q8. Are these statements democratic?
a) Father denies daughter’s opinion – Undemocratic.
b) Teacher stops student’s questions – Undemocratic.
c) Employee demands legal working hours – Democratic.
Q9. A country with elections, but loans dictate policy, only one language used, leaders arrested, and press censored. Is it a democracy?
Answer: No, because despite elections, freedom, equality, and rights are denied.
Q10. Write an essay on Democracy and Poverty (based on US & Indian examples).
Answer (short):
Democracy allows participation, but poverty often limits it. In the US, wealthier people influence politics more. In India too, the poor struggle to make their voices heard. Yet democracy gives the poor opportunities through elections, protests, and court petitions. Democracy must reduce inequality to be meaningful.
Extra Long Answer Questions
Q1. Explain four major features of democracy with examples.
Answer:
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Elected rulers – Leaders chosen by citizens (India, not Myanmar under military).
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Free and fair elections – Real choice of parties (India vs. China’s one-party rule).
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One person, one vote, one value – Universal adult franchise (India vs. Fiji’s unequal votes).
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Rule of law and rights – Leaders bound by Constitution and rights (Zimbabwe lacked this).
Q2. Why is democracy considered the best form of government?
Answer:
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Ensures accountability of rulers.
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Improves decision-making through consultation.
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Peacefully resolves conflicts in diverse societies.
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Enhances dignity of citizens.
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Allows correction of mistakes.
Q3. Explain any five arguments against democracy. Do you agree?
Answer:
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Frequent changes cause instability.
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Decision-making is slow.
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Leaders may lack knowledge.
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Corruption due to elections.
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Ordinary people may not know best.
While these are challenges, they can be improved within democracy. Other forms like dictatorship remove freedom and accountability, so democracy is still better.
Q4. Distinguish between a democracy and dictatorship with examples.
Answer:
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Rulers: Elected by people in democracy (India), by force in dictatorship (Hitler’s Germany).
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Elections: Free and fair in democracy, sham in dictatorship.
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Rights: Citizens enjoy freedom in democracy; restricted in dictatorship.
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Accountability: Governments answerable to people in democracy, not in dictatorship.
Q5. “Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.” Explain.
Answer:
In democracy, every citizen has equal status regardless of wealth or education. People are rulers of their own destiny, not subjects of a monarch. This equality enhances dignity. Even the poorest voter’s choice counts as much as the richest. Citizens participate in decision-making and can criticise or replace leaders, which gives them self-respect.
MCQs
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The word democracy comes from Greek words meaning:
(a) Rule by law (b) Rule by the people (c) Rule by king (d) Rule by priests
Answer: (b) -
In Pakistan, power rested finally with:
(a) Parliament (b) General Musharraf (c) People (d) Supreme Court
Answer: (b) -
Elections in China are held every:
(a) 3 years (b) 5 years (c) 10 years (d) 6 years
Answer: (b) -
PRI dominated elections in which country till 2000?
(a) Mexico (b) China (c) Nepal (d) Sri Lanka
Answer: (a) -
Women got voting rights in Saudi Arabia only after:
(a) 1950 (b) 2000 (c) 2015 (d) 1995
Answer: (c) -
In Fiji, whose votes had more value?
(a) Indian-Fijians (b) Indigenous Fijians (c) Women (d) None
Answer: (b) -
Robert Mugabe ruled which country?
(a) Zambia (b) Zimbabwe (c) South Africa (d) Nigeria
Answer: (b) -
Which feature ensures equality in democracy?
(a) Rule of law (b) Universal adult franchise (c) Federalism (d) Elections
Answer: (b) -
In democracy, rulers must:
(a) Be nominated by king (b) Be elected by people (c) Be chosen by army (d) None
Answer: (b) -
Which body ensures constitutional limits on government?
(a) Army (b) Judiciary (c) Police (d) Media
Answer: (b) -
Democracy in India is:
(a) Direct (b) Representative (c) Dictatorship (d) Monarchy
Answer: (b) -
The famine in China (1958–61) showed failure of:
(a) Dictatorship (b) Democracy (c) Army (d) Market
Answer: (a) -
Which argument is NOT valid for democracy?
(a) Provides dignity (b) Ensures accountability (c) More prosperous (d) Resolves conflicts
Answer: (c) -
Who said democracy is “government of the people, by the people, for the people”?
(a) Lincoln (b) Aristotle (c) Plato (d) Gandhi
Answer: (a) -
In democracy, people are:
(a) Subjects (b) Rulers themselves (c) Slaves (d) None
Answer: (b) -
Which feature of democracy protects minorities?
(a) Rule of law (b) Free elections (c) Equality of vote (d) Consultation & constitutional limits
Answer: (d) -
Which is NOT an example of free and fair elections?
(a) China’s one-party system
(b) India’s multi-party elections
(c) Mexico post-2000 elections
(d) USA elections
Answer: (a) -
Which feature distinguishes democracy from monarchy?
(a) King rules by birth (b) Rulers elected by people (c) Both a & b (d) None
Answer: (c) -
The principle “one person, one vote, one value” is linked to:
(a) Equality (b) Liberty (c) Justice (d) Sovereignty
Answer: (a) -
Democracy allows correction of:
(a) Natural disasters (b) Its own mistakes (c) Poverty automatically (d) None
Answer: (b)
Fill in the Blanks
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Democracy means rule by the people.
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In Pakistan, General Musharraf held power through a coup.
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Elections in China allow only the Communist Party candidates.
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The PRI ruled Mexico continuously till 2000.
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Universal adult franchise means one person, one vote, one value.
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Robert Mugabe was the leader of Zimbabwe.
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Democracy ensures rule of law and citizens’ rights.
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The Judiciary protects fundamental rights.
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The famine in China killed nearly 3 crore people.
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Abraham Lincoln gave the famous definition of democracy.