Class 10 Social Science Political Science Chapter 1 Question Answer | Indian Democracy | English Medium

Class 10 Social Science Political Science Chapter 1 Question Answer | Indian Democracy | English Medium | ASSEB

Class 10 Social Science Political Science Chapter 1 — Indian Democracy

Welcome to HSLC Guru! In this English medium study guide, we present a complete question and answer resource for Class 10 Social Science (Political Science) Chapter 1 – Indian Democracy based on the latest ASSEB (Assam State School Education Board) syllabus. This chapter introduces students to the meaning of democracy, its types, the salient features of Indian democracy, the role of the Election Commission, the electoral process, and the major challenges that the world’s largest democracy faces today. Read the summary, textbook questions, additional MCQs, fill in the blanks, true/false statements and the glossary to score full marks in your HSLC examination.

Chapter Summary

The word democracy has been derived from two Greek words – “demos” meaning people and “kratos” meaning rule or power. Therefore, democracy literally means “rule by the people”. The most popular definition was given by Abraham Lincoln, the former President of the United States, who described democracy as “government of the people, by the people, and for the people“. In a democracy, supreme political power lies with the citizens who exercise this power either directly or through their elected representatives. Democracy ensures equality, liberty, justice and fraternity for all citizens irrespective of caste, creed, religion, gender or place of birth.

Democracy is broadly classified into two types – direct democracy and indirect or representative democracy. In a direct democracy, the people themselves participate in law-making and decision-making, as practised in ancient Greek city-states and presently in some cantons of Switzerland. In a representative democracy, citizens elect representatives who form the government and run the administration on their behalf, as in India, the United Kingdom and the United States. Representative democracy is further sub-divided into the parliamentary form (where the executive is responsible to the legislature, e.g., India and the UK) and the presidential form (where the executive is independent of the legislature, e.g., the USA). India has adopted the parliamentary form of government at both the Union and State levels.

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution declares India to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic. The salient features of Indian democracy include universal adult franchise (every citizen of 18 years and above has the right to vote without discrimination), a multi-party system, separation of powers among the legislature, executive and judiciary, an independent judiciary, the rule of law, fundamental rights guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Part IV. The Constitution also provides for free, fair and periodic elections conducted by an autonomous body called the Election Commission of India, established under Article 324. Major national parties include the Indian National Congress (INC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), while regional parties such as the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the DMK, the TMC and the Shiv Sena play important roles in their respective states.

Despite being the largest democracy in the world, Indian democracy faces several challenges. Communalism divides society on the basis of religion; regionalism emphasises narrow regional loyalties over national interest; casteism distorts free voting; money power and muscle power corrupt elections; while widespread illiteracy and poverty prevent voters from making informed choices. Other problems include political defection, criminalisation of politics, gender inequality and corruption. Yet, in spite of these difficulties, India’s commitment to democratic values, its written Constitution, free press, independent judiciary and active civil society continue to make Indian democracy strong and vibrant. The merits of democracy include protection of liberty, accountability, peaceful change of government and equal rights, while its demerits include slow decision-making, the influence of money, and rule by majority that may overlook minority interests.

Textbook Questions and Answers

A. Very Short Answer Type Questions (1 Mark)

Q1. From which two Greek words is the word “democracy” derived?

Answer: The word “democracy” is derived from two Greek words – “demos” meaning people and “kratos” meaning rule or power.

Q2. Who defined democracy as “government of the people, by the people and for the people”?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln, the former President of the United States of America, gave this famous definition of democracy.

Q3. What is the minimum age for voting in India?

Answer: The minimum age for voting in India is 18 years.

Q4. Which Article of the Indian Constitution provides for the Election Commission of India?

Answer: Article 324 of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of the Election Commission of India.

Q5. Name the two main types of democracy.

Answer: The two main types of democracy are (i) Direct Democracy and (ii) Indirect or Representative Democracy.

Q6. What form of government has India adopted – parliamentary or presidential?

Answer: India has adopted the parliamentary form of government.

Q7. What is universal adult franchise?

Answer: Universal adult franchise means that every adult citizen (18 years and above) has the right to vote without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, religion, gender, education or property.

Q8. Name any two national political parties of India.

Answer: Two national political parties of India are the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Q9. Name two regional political parties of Assam.

Answer: Two regional political parties of Assam are the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

Q10. What is a by-election?

Answer: A by-election is an election held to fill a seat that has fallen vacant due to the death, resignation or disqualification of the elected member before the completion of the normal term.

B. Short Answer Type Questions (2-3 Marks)

Q1. Distinguish between direct democracy and indirect democracy.

Answer: In a direct democracy, the people themselves participate directly in law-making and decision-making, as in ancient Greek city-states and modern Swiss cantons. In an indirect or representative democracy, the people elect representatives at periodic intervals who make laws and run the government on their behalf, as in India, the UK and the USA. Direct democracy is suitable only for small populations, while representative democracy works for large countries.

Q2. Mention any four features of Indian democracy.

Answer: Four important features of Indian democracy are: (i) Sovereign Republic with a written Constitution; (ii) Universal adult franchise guaranteeing the right to vote to every citizen of 18 years and above; (iii) Multi-party system allowing free political competition; and (iv) Independent judiciary protecting the fundamental rights of citizens and the rule of law.

Q3. What is meant by the rule of law?

Answer: The rule of law means that all persons – rich or poor, ruler or ruled – are equal before the law and are governed by the same laws of the land. No one is above the law. The rule of law ensures that the government acts according to law, that arbitrary action is prevented and that the rights of citizens are protected. It is one of the basic features of Indian democracy.

Q4. Write a short note on the Election Commission of India.

Answer: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous constitutional body established under Article 324 of the Constitution. It consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners appointed by the President. Its main functions are: preparing electoral rolls, conducting free and fair elections to Parliament, State Legislatures and the offices of the President and Vice-President, recognising political parties, allotting election symbols and enforcing the Model Code of Conduct.

Q5. Explain any three challenges to Indian democracy.

Answer: Three major challenges to Indian democracy are: (i) Communalism – the use of religious identities for political gain that divides society; (ii) Casteism – voting and political mobilisation on caste lines that undermines merit and unity; and (iii) Money and muscle power – the use of large funds and criminal force to influence voters during elections. Together, these problems weaken the spirit of democracy.

Q6. Distinguish between a general election and a by-election.

Answer: A general election is held throughout the country (or a state) at the end of the normal term of the Lok Sabha or a State Legislative Assembly to elect all members at once – usually every five years. A by-election, on the other hand, is held only in a particular constituency to fill a seat that has fallen vacant due to the death, resignation or disqualification of the elected member before the term ends.

C. Long Answer Type Questions (5-6 Marks)

Q1. Define democracy. Discuss the main features of Indian democracy.

Answer: The word “democracy” comes from the Greek words demos (people) and kratos (rule), meaning “rule by the people”. Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as “government of the people, by the people and for the people”.

The main features of Indian democracy are:

Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic – declared by the Preamble.
Written Constitution – the supreme law of the land.
Universal adult franchise – every citizen of 18 years and above can vote.
Parliamentary form of government at the Centre and the States.
Multi-party system – several national and regional parties contest elections.
Separation of powers among the legislature, executive and judiciary.
Independent judiciary headed by the Supreme Court.
Fundamental Rights (Part III) and Directive Principles (Part IV).
Free, fair and periodic elections conducted by the Election Commission.
Rule of law ensuring equality before law for all citizens.

Q2. Discuss the merits and demerits of democracy.

Answer: Merits of democracy:

It safeguards the liberty, equality and fundamental rights of citizens.
The government is accountable to the people through periodic elections.
It allows peaceful change of government without violence or revolution.
It encourages public participation in politics and creates political awareness.
It protects the interests of minorities through constitutional safeguards.
It promotes equality of opportunity and social justice.

Demerits of democracy:

Decision-making is often slow because of debate and discussion.
It can be influenced by money power, muscle power and corruption.
The majority may sometimes ignore minority interests (tyranny of majority).
Voters may not always be well-informed, leading to wrong choices.
It is expensive to conduct frequent elections in a large country.
Communalism, casteism and regionalism can distort the electoral process.

Q3. Describe the role and functions of the Election Commission of India.

Answer: The Election Commission of India is the constitutional body responsible for the conduct of elections in India. It was established under Article 324 of the Constitution and started functioning from 25 January 1950. It consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and two other Election Commissioners appointed by the President of India.

Its main functions are:

To prepare and revise the electoral rolls of all constituencies.
To conduct elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and Councils.
To conduct elections to the offices of the President and Vice-President of India.
To recognise political parties as national or regional and allot election symbols.
To enforce the Model Code of Conduct during elections.
To fix the schedule of elections and announce results.
To advise the President or Governor on disqualification of legislators.
To cancel polls in case of irregularities and order re-polling.

Q4. What are the major challenges to Indian democracy? How can they be overcome?

Answer: Indian democracy faces the following major challenges:

Communalism: Politics based on religion divides society.
Regionalism: Excessive love for one’s region weakens national unity.
Casteism: Voting on caste lines undermines merit-based politics.
Money power: Excessive election expenses corrupt the electoral process.
Muscle power: Use of force, booth-capturing and intimidation of voters.
Illiteracy and poverty: Prevent voters from making informed choices.
Criminalisation of politics: Persons with criminal records contesting elections.
Political defection: Frequent change of party by elected members.

Remedies: spreading education and political awareness, removing poverty, strengthening the Election Commission, banning candidates with criminal cases, controlling election expenses, electoral reforms, promoting national unity beyond caste and religion, and encouraging an active and free press.

Q5. Explain the differences between the parliamentary and presidential forms of government.

Answer: The differences between the parliamentary and presidential forms of government are as follows:

Parliamentary Form	Presidential Form
The executive is responsible to the legislature.	The executive is independent of the legislature.
The Head of State (President) is nominal; real power is with the Prime Minister.	The President is both the Head of State and the Head of Government.
The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers are members of Parliament.	The President and his Secretaries are not members of the legislature.
The government can be removed by a vote of no-confidence.	The President is elected for a fixed term and cannot be easily removed.
There is close cooperation between executive and legislature.	There is strict separation of powers.
Examples: India, United Kingdom.	Example: United States of America.

Additional Practice Questions

D. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

Q1. The word “democracy” is derived from which language?
(a) Latin (b) Greek (c) French (d) Sanskrit

Answer: (b) Greek

Q2. Who said “Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people”?
(a) Aristotle (b) Plato (c) Abraham Lincoln (d) Mahatma Gandhi

Answer: (c) Abraham Lincoln

Q3. The minimum voting age in India is –
(a) 16 years (b) 18 years (c) 21 years (d) 25 years

Answer: (b) 18 years

Q4. The Election Commission of India was established under –
(a) Article 324 (b) Article 356 (c) Article 370 (d) Article 14

Answer: (a) Article 324

Q5. Which of the following is NOT a feature of Indian democracy?
(a) Universal adult franchise (b) Hereditary rule (c) Independent judiciary (d) Multi-party system

Answer: (b) Hereditary rule

Q6. India has adopted which form of government?
(a) Presidential (b) Monarchical (c) Parliamentary (d) Dictatorial

Answer: (c) Parliamentary

Q7. Which one is a regional party of Assam?
(a) BJP (b) Congress (c) Asom Gana Parishad (d) CPI

Answer: (c) Asom Gana Parishad

Q8. Fundamental Rights are mentioned in which Part of the Constitution?
(a) Part II (b) Part III (c) Part IV (d) Part V

Answer: (b) Part III

Q9. Directive Principles of State Policy are contained in –
(a) Part III (b) Part IV (c) Part V (d) Part VI

Answer: (b) Part IV

Q10. Direct democracy is practised today mainly in –
(a) India (b) USA (c) Switzerland (d) China

Answer: (c) Switzerland

E. Fill in the Blanks

Q1. The word “democracy” is derived from the Greek word _________.
Answer: demos

Q2. The Election Commission of India is established under Article _________ of the Constitution.
Answer: 324

Q3. India is a _________, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.
Answer: Sovereign

Q4. The minimum age for voting in India is _________ years.
Answer: 18

Q5. The famous definition “government of the people, by the people and for the people” was given by _________.
Answer: Abraham Lincoln

F. True or False

Q1. India has adopted the presidential form of government.
Answer: False

Q2. Universal adult franchise is a feature of Indian democracy.
Answer: True

Q3. A by-election is held throughout the country at the end of the term of the Lok Sabha.
Answer: False

Q4. The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional body.
Answer: True

Q5. Communalism strengthens Indian democracy.
Answer: False

Glossary

Term	Meaning
Democracy	A form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly or through elected representatives.
Sovereign	Supreme and independent; free from any external control.
Republic	A state in which the head is an elected person and not a hereditary monarch.
Secular	The state has no official religion and treats all religions equally.
Socialist	The state aims at reducing inequalities of wealth and providing social justice.
Universal Adult Franchise	Right to vote granted to every adult citizen without discrimination.
Parliamentary Government	A system in which the executive is responsible to the legislature.
Presidential Government	A system in which the executive is separate from and independent of the legislature.
Multi-party System	A political system in which more than two political parties can come to power.
Separation of Powers	Distribution of powers among legislature, executive and judiciary.
Rule of Law	The principle that all persons are equal before the law.
Fundamental Rights	Basic rights of citizens guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution.
Directive Principles	Guidelines (Part IV) to the State for establishing social and economic justice.
Election Commission	Autonomous body established under Article 324 to conduct elections in India.
General Election	Election held throughout the country to elect all members of the legislature.
By-election	Election held to fill a vacant seat before the normal term ends.
Communalism	Use of religion for political mobilisation, leading to communal divisions.
Regionalism	Excessive attachment to one’s region at the cost of national interest.
Casteism	Political mobilisation and discrimination on the basis of caste.
Model Code of Conduct	Guidelines issued by the Election Commission for political parties and candidates during elections.

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