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Electoral Politics in a Democracy: NBSE class 9 Social Science
Here are notes, questions, solutions, textual answers, pdf, and extras for chapter 13: Electoral Politics in a Democracy, which is a part of the social science class 9 syllabus for students studying under the Nagaland Board of School Education. However, these notes should be used only for references and additions/modifications should be made as per the requirements.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Introduction
India follows the indirect form of democracy also known as representative democracy. In this form of democracy, we choose a local leader who represents us in the state assemblies and parliament and makes decisions on our behalf. We follow this kind of democracy because India has a large population and direct democracy is not possible.
And it is not only for state assemblies and parliament that we choose leaders, but we also choose leaders to represent us in the panchayats, municipalities and village councils. To make democracy happen, the entire country has been divided into small parts and each part is represented by a local leader. These small parts are called constituencies. Now constituencies are also of two types- one is a reserved constituency and another is an unreserved constituency. In a reserved constituency, only a particular group of people can fight elections. In an unreserved constituency, anyone from anywhere can fight elections.
In this chapter, we will learn in detail about the various processes involved in conducting a democratic election and the different aspects of it.
Textual questions and answers
Choose the correct answers
1. How many total seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the present Lok Sabha?
A. 120
B. 131
C. 140
D. 150
Answer: C. 140
2. Door to door canvassing is allowed till how many hours before the polling closes?
A. 36
B. 40
C. 48
D. 72
Answer: C. 48
3. What is the minimum age required to be eligible as a Member of Lok Sabha?
A. 20 years
B. 18 years
C. 25 years
D. 30 years
Answer: C. 25 years
4. Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner?
A. Prime Minister
B. President
C. Chief Justice of India
D. Vice President
Answer: B. President
5. Which state has the largest number of members in the Vidhan Sabha?
A. Goa
B. Bihar
C. U.P.
D. Maharashtra
Answer: C. U.P.
6. There are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as per the codes provided below:
Assertion (A): The minimum age to be nominated as a candidate is 25 years.
Reason (R): There is no restriction because of education.
A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
C. (A) is correct but (R) is wrong
D. (A) is wrong but (R) is correct
Answer: B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
7. Which of the following statements regarding an election campaign is incorrect?
I. Opposition parties highlight the failures of the ruling party
II. Parties focus public attention on big and contentious issues to attract votes
III. Two weeks’ gap is kept between the declaration of candidates and polling of votes
IV. Campaign is allowed till 48 hours before the polling begins.
A. I and II are incorrect
B. III and IV are incorrect
C. Only III is incorrect
D. Only IV is incorrect
Answer: C. Only III is incorrect
Very short answer type questions
1. What is a constituency?
Answer: A constituency is an area, based on population, from which one representative is sent to the Lok Sabha.
2. What is the Universal Adult Franchise?
Answer: Universal Adult Franchise means every adult citizen should be able to vote. One vote for one person and every vote should have the same value.
3. How do elections lead to political competition?
Answer: Elections lead to political competition by way of different ideologies, policies, etc. All this competition is very healthy. Elections without competition would become meaningless.
4. What is the expenditure limit for a candidate during a Lok Sabha election?
Answer: The expenditure limit for a candidate during a Lok Sabha election is Rs 70 lakhs per candidate.
Short answer type questions
1. Explain the difference between:
(I) The ballot paper and EVM.
(II) General Constituency and Reserved Constituency.
Answer: (I)
| Ballot paper | EVM |
| I. A ballot paper is a sheet of paper on which the contesting candidates and their party’s name and symbol are listed. | I. Electronic Voting Machines show the names of candidates and party symbols. |
| II. Results are known slower compared to EVM. | II. Results are known faster than ballot papers. |
(II)
| General Constituency | Reserved Constituency |
| I. In these constituencies, only those who belongs to a scheduled caste or tribe can stand election. | I. In these constituencies, anyone belonging to any tribe or community can contest in elections. |
2. Why have seats been reserved for weaker sections in Lok Sabha and Assemblies?
Answer: People belonging to weaker sections, such as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, would, without reservations, never get an opportunity to win an election and become members of the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas. If that happened, our Parliament would fail to be representative of a large section of our population. So, the makers of our constitution thought of a unique system of reserved constituencies for the weaker sections.
3. Describe the model code of conduct for an election campaign. [HOTS]
Answer: A model code of conduct is a set of rules that the Election Commission has drawn within which the political parties need to campaign, and if any party or candidate fails to adhere to the guidelines, there can be penalties. Some of these guidelines are:
I. Votes cannot be sought by an appeal to religious or caste sentiments of the voters.
II. Personal lives of opponents will not be attacked. Criticism to be limited to their policies, programmes, past record, and work.
Long answer type questions
1. Briefly discuss the steps taken to hold elections.
Answer: The process to hold elections begins with the identification of the number of constituencies after which the following steps are taken:
I. Voters List: After the number of constituencies are decided, the voters’ list is prepared which decides who can vote.
II. The nomination of Candidates: Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support. This is called getting the “Party Ticket.”
III. Election Campaign: In India, two weeks gap is kept between the declaration of candidates and polling of votes. This period is for candidates to contact their voters, address, election, meetings and mobilize their supporters with the help of their respective parties.
IV. Polling and Counting of Votes: The last stage of an election is the day when the voters cast or ‘poll’ their votes. Every voter, whose name is in the voters’ list, goes to the nearest polling booth to cast his/her vote.
V. Declaration of results: The results are declared when counting is over. The candidate securing the highest number of votes from a constituency is declared the winner.
2. In a democracy, elections are a must. Discuss.
Answer: In a democracy, elections are a must because there is no other democratic way of selecting representatives except through elections and voting. That is the only way to make sure that the government represents the will, the choice of the people. One could choose representatives on the basis of education, wisdom, honesty, and experience, but this would be selected. They may not represent those who are liked by the people. The only way to ensure true representation is through elections.
3. Is it good to have political competition? Why? Why not?
Answer: Yes, it is good to have political competition. Without political competition, people who would be choosing their representatives would not be able to make a clear decision. They need to be aware of which candidate and political party is bringing what on the table and what problems of the voters they are promising to solve and how. Political competition brings out the different ideologies and policies of different political parties. Elections also make the people aware of the national problems. Through the manifestos of different political parties, people come to know how each party is going to deal with national problems.
All this competition is very healthy. Elections without competition would become meaningless.
4. Discuss the basic features essential for a democratic election.
Answer: The basic features essential for a democratic election are:
I. Every citizen should be able to vote. One vote for one person and every vote should have the same value.
II. There should be candidates and parties who are allowed to contest elections.
III. Elections should be free and fair. Every person chosen by the people should get elected.
IV. Elections should be held at regular intervals.
Extra MCQs
1: What are the elected representatives at the state level in India called?
A. MPs
B. Councillors
C. MLAs
D. Panchas
Answer: C. MLAs
2: According to the principle of Universal Adult Suffrage, what is the minimum age to vote in India?
A. 16 years
B. 18 years
C. 21 years
D. 25 years
Answer: B. 18 years
3: How many seats are there in the Lok Sabha?
A. 272
B. 500
C. 543
D. 600
Answer: C. 543
4: Which state has the largest Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) in terms of the number of members?
A. Maharashtra
B. Bihar
C. Goa
D. Uttar Pradesh
Answer: D. Uttar Pradesh
5: What is the total number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the Lok Sabha?
A. 120
B. 131
C. 147
D. 84
Answer: B. 131
6: What is the minimum age required for a person to be nominated as a candidate for an election?
A. 18 years
B. 21 years
C. 25 years
D. 30 years
Answer: C. 25 years
7: What does the acronym EPIC stand for in the context of Indian elections?
A. Electronic Polling Information Card
B. Election Photo Identity Card
C. Elector’s Personal Identification Code
D. Electoral Process and Information Commission
Answer: B. Election Photo Identity Card
8: Door-to-door canvassing must stop how many hours before the polling closes?
A. 12 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 36 hours
D. 48 hours
Answer: D. 48 hours
9: In which state were Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) first used?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Kerala
C. Karnataka
D. West Bengal
Answer: B. Kerala
10: Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India?
A. The Prime Minister
B. The Chief Justice of India
C. The President
D. The Parliament
Answer: C. The President
11: What was the approximate overall voter turnout in the 17th Lok Sabha General Elections in 2019?
A. 55%
B. 61%
C. 67%
D. 72%
Answer: C. 67%
12: A candidate is disqualified from becoming an MLA or MP if convicted for an offence for a duration of:
A. 1 year or more
B. 2 years or more
C. 5 years or more
D. Any duration
Answer: B. 2 years or more
13: What is the term for an election held in all constituencies at the same time, either on the same day or within a few days?
A. By-election
B. Mid-term election
C. General Election
D. Local Election
Answer: C. General Election
14: The list of all eligible voters prepared before an election is known as the:
A. Candidate List
B. Party Manifesto
C. Electoral Roll
D. Constituency Map
Answer: C. Electoral Roll
15: What is the expenditure ceiling for a candidate in a Lok Sabha election in larger states?
A. ₹28 lakh
B. ₹40 lakh
C. ₹75 lakh
D. ₹95 lakh
Answer: D. ₹95 lakh
16: Assertion (A): The minimum age to be nominated as a candidate is 25 years.
Reason (R): There is no restriction on candidacy based on educational qualifications.
A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
C. (A) is correct but (R) is wrong
D. (A) is wrong but (R) is correct
Answer: B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
17: (I) In India, political parties and candidates are given symbols.
(II) This system helps illiterate voters recognize and vote for their chosen representative.
A. I is a contradiction of II.
B. I is independent of II.
C. II is the reason for I.
D. I is an example of II.
Answer: C. II is the reason for I.
18: Statement 1: The Election Commission of India is an independent body.
Statement 2: The Chief Election Commissioner cannot be removed even if the government disagrees with his decisions.
A. Statement 1 is true, and Statement 2 is false.
B. Statement 1 is false, and Statement 2 is true.
C. Both statements are true, and Statement 2 provides evidence for Statement 1.
D. Both statements are true, but they are unrelated.
Answer: C. Both statements are true, and Statement 2 provides evidence for Statement 1.
19: (I) A system of reserved constituencies was created for weaker sections.
(II) Without this system, it was felt that Parliament would fail to be representative of a large section of the population.
A. I is the result of II.
B. I is a contradiction of II.
C. I is independent of II.
D. II is an example of I.
Answer: A. I is the result of II.
20: (I) A candidate must make a legal declaration of their assets and liabilities.
(II) This provides voters with information to make an informed choice during the election.
A. I is a contradiction of II.
B. II is the purpose of I.
C. I is an example of II.
D. I is independent of II.
Answer: B. II is the purpose of I.
21: (I) Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are now widely used to record votes.
(II) Election results are known faster than with the earlier method of counting ballot papers.
A. I is the cause of II.
B. I is a contradiction of II.
C. II is the cause of I.
D. I is independent of II.
Answer: A. I is the cause of II.
22: Statement 1: In a democracy, elections are held at regular intervals.
Statement 2: This allows people to change the government if it fails to perform.
A. Statement 1 is true, and Statement 2 is false.
B. Both statements are true, and Statement 2 is the consequence of Statement 1.
C. Both statements are false.
D. Both statements are true, but they are unrelated.
Answer: B. Both statements are true, and Statement 2 is the consequence of Statement 1.
23: Arrange the following steps of the election process in the correct order:
(i) Polling and counting of votes
(ii) Nomination of candidates
(iii) Preparation of the voters list
(iv) Election campaign
A. (iii) → (ii) → (iv) → (i)
B. (ii) → (iii) → (i) → (iv)
C. (iv) → (iii) → (ii) → (i)
D. (iii) → (iv) → (ii) → (i)
Answer: A. (iii) → (ii) → (iv) → (i)
24: Select the option that lists the events in their correct sequence during the polling day process:
(i) The voter casts their vote.
(ii) Election officials identify the voter from the voters list.
(iii) A mark is put on the voter’s finger.
(iv) The voter goes to the nearest polling booth.
A. (iv) → (i) → (ii) → (iii)
B. (ii) → (iv) → (iii) → (i)
C. (iv) → (ii) → (iii) → (i)
D. (i) → (iii) → (ii) → (iv)
Answer: C. (iv) → (ii) → (iii) → (i)
25: Consider the following stages after the polling is over. Choose the correct chronological order.
(i) The candidate with the highest votes is declared the winner.
(ii) All EVMs are sealed and taken to a secure location.
(iii) EVMs are opened in the presence of candidates’ agents.
(iv) Counting of votes begins on a fixed date.
A. (ii) → (iii) → (iv) → (i)
B. (iii) → (ii) → (i) → (iv)
C. (ii) → (iv) → (iii) → (i)
D. (iv) → (ii) → (iii) → (i)
Answer: A. (ii) → (iii) → (iv) → (i)
26: Arrange the pre-polling activities in the correct sequence:
(i) Parties release their election manifestos.
(ii) The number of constituencies is decided.
(iii) Candidates file their nomination papers.
(iv) The Electoral Roll is prepared.
A. (ii) → (iv) → (iii) → (i)
B. (iv) → (ii) → (i) → (iii)
C. (i) → (ii) → (iv) → (iii)
D. (ii) → (iii) → (iv) → (i)
Answer: A. (ii) → (iv) → (iii) → (i)
Extra questions and answers
1. What are the representatives at the local level called?
Answer: At the local level, people choose representatives for Panchayats or Municipalities. These representatives are called Panchas or Councillors.
2. What does the acronym MLA stand for?
Answer: The acronym MLA stands for Members of Legislative Assembly.
3. What are the elected members of Parliament known as?
Answer: The elected members of Parliament are known as MPs.
4. What is the only democratic way of selecting representatives?
Answer: There is no other democratic way of selecting representatives except through elections and voting.
5. What choices can voters make in an election?
Answer: In an election, voters can choose:
(i) The party that would make policies and guide the government in law making.
(ii) The people who will make laws for them.
6. What does the principle of Universal Adult Suffrage state?
Answer: The principle of Universal Adult Suffrage states that every citizen should be able to vote. One vote for one person and every vote should have the same value.
7. What is a “General Election”?
Answer: When elections are held in all the constituencies at the same time, either on the same day or within a few days, this is called a “General Election”.
8. How often are elections to the Lok Sabha held?
Answer: Elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years.
9. What is a constituency in the context of elections?
Answer: A constituency is an area, based on population, from which one representative is sent to the Lok Sabha.
10. How many seats are there in the Lok Sabha?
Answer: There are 543 seats in the Lok Sabha.
11. What are unreserved constituencies also called?
Answer: The unreserved constituencies are also called General Constituencies.
12. How many seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes in the Lok Sabha?
Answer: In the Lok Sabha, 84 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes.
13. How many seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha?
Answer: In the Lok Sabha, 47 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.
14. What is the Voters List also known as?
Answer: The Voters List is also known as the Electoral Roll.
15. What is the minimum age for a citizen to vote in India?
Answer: Anyone who is 18 years of age and above can vote.
16. What does the acronym EPIC stand for?
Answer: The acronym EPIC stands for Election Photo Identity Card.
17. What is the minimum age to be nominated as a candidate?
Answer: The minimum age to be nominated as a candidate is 25 years.
18. What is meant by getting a “Party Ticket”?
Answer: When political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support, this is called getting the “Party Ticket”.
19. What is a ballot paper?
Answer: A ballot paper is a sheet of paper on which the contesting candidates and their party’s name and symbol are listed.
20. What does the acronym EVM stand for?
Answer: The acronym EVM stands for Electronic Voting Machines.
21. Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)?
Answer: The President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
22. What does the acronym CEC stand for?
Answer: The acronym CEC stands for Chief Election Commissioner.
23. What are Voter identity cards?
Answer: Voter identity cards are cards with the voters’ pictures which they have to carry while voting.
24. What was the voter turnout in the 2019 General Elections?
Answer: During the General Elections to the 17th Lok Sabha in 2019, the overall turnout of voters was around 67%.
25. Why are elections an integral part of India’s representative democracy?
Answer: Since our Constitution makes India a representative democracy, at all levels all political decisions have to be taken by the elected representatives of the people. Elections as such become an integral part of our political system. From the Panchayats to the Union Government, all political institutions function through elected representatives of the people. There is no other democratic way of selecting representatives except through elections and voting, which is the only way to make sure that government represents the will and the choice of the people.
26. What are the various forms that political competition can take during elections?
Answer: Elections lead to political competition, which can take various forms:
(i) It is a competition among various political parties.
(ii) It also involves competition among various ideologies and policies of different political parties.
(iii) At the level of a constituency, it takes the form of competition among many candidates.
27. How do elections make people aware of national problems?
Answer: Elections make the people aware of the national problems. Through the manifestos of different political parties, people come to know how each party is going to deal with the national problems.
28. What are the basic features essential for a democratic election?
Answer: The basic features essential for democratic elections are as below:
(i) Universal adult suffrage – Every citizen should be able to vote. One vote for one person and every vote should have the same value.
(ii) There should be candidates and parties who are allowed to contest elections.
(iii) Elections should be free and fair. Every person chosen by the people should get elected.
(iv) Elections should be held at regular intervals.
29. How are constituencies for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha formed?
Answer: A constituency is an area, based on population, from which one representative is sent to the Lok Sabha. Our Constitution ensures that each constituency has roughly equal population living in it. The same system applies to the Vidhan Sabha constituencies. The state is divided into Assembly constituencies and they vary according to the population of the state.
30. Why was the system of reserved constituencies introduced for weaker sections?
Answer: The system of reserved constituencies was introduced because people belonging to weaker sections, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes would, without reservations, never get an opportunity to win an election and become members of the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas. They would never have the resources, the education and contact to fight an election on equal terms against other candidates. If that happened, our Parliament would fail to be representative of a large section of our population. So, the makers of our constitution thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for the weaker sections.
31. What is the process for preparing and revising the Voters List?
Answer: After the number of constituencies are decided, the voters list is prepared. For this, an Electoral Roll is prepared much before the elections, which decides who can vote. The government prepares the list of the names of eligible voters and then they are put on the voters list. This list is revised every year and a new list is prepared every five years.
32. Why are there no educational qualifications required for candidates in India?
Answer: There are no restrictions because of education because the qualification needed for being an MP or an MLA is not a college degree but an ability to understand the people’s problems, concerns and an ability to represent them. In a vast country like India, if only graduates could appear for elections, many people would be deprived of their right to stand for election.
33. What legal declarations must a candidate make when filing a nomination?
Answer: After a recent Supreme Court judgement, candidates have to make a legal declaration stating whether:
(i) Serious criminal cases are pending against them.
(ii) Details of their assets and liabilities.
(iii) Educational qualifications.
34. What are the main restrictions imposed on how election campaigns are run?
Answer: There are certain restrictions imposed on how election campaigns are run:
(i) Votes cannot be sought by an appeal to religious or caste sentiments of the voters.
(ii) Returns showing details of and expenses incurred in connection with the election campaigns have to be submitted to the Election Commission after the elections. These expenses have to be within the limits set by the Election Commission.
(iii) Government resources cannot be used for election campaigns.
(iv) Candidates cannot bribe or threaten voters to vote for them.
35. Explain the purpose and use of symbols in Indian elections.
Answer: India has a majority of voters who are illiterate. To help the voters, each political party and individuals who fight elections are given a symbol. Voters recognise the symbols and vote for their representatives.
36. How does the use of EVMs improve the election process compared to ballot papers?
Answer: Nowadays, Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) are used to record votes. With an EVM, a voter cannot vote for more than one candidate, and election results are known faster than the earlier method of counting of the ballot papers.
37. Describe the process of counting votes and declaring the winner.
Answer: When the polling is over, all the EVMs are sealed and taken to the headquarters of the constituency. When all the EVMs are secured, they are opened in the presence of the agents of the candidates on the date of the counting. The results are declared when counting is over. The candidate securing the highest number of votes from a constituency is declared the winner.
38. What are the common allegations of ‘rigging’ made during elections?
Answer: The biggest allegation is of ‘rigging’. The common allegations are:
(i) Allegations refer to inclusion of false names in the voters’ list or that genuine names are not included in the list.
(ii) The ruling party is accused of using Government facilities and officials.
(iii) Rich candidates use their “money power” to win elections.
(iv) The voters are intimidated by the use of “muscle power” and are prevented from voting.
(v) “Rigging” takes place by people using unfair and illegal means to win. For example, more than one person votes under the same name.
39. How does people’s participation serve as a test for free and fair elections?
Answer: Another way of testing whether elections are free and fair is to see whether the maximum number of voters participated in it. If the elections are not free and fair, people will not participate in them.
40. What challenges do smaller parties and independent candidates face in elections?
Answer: Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory, but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents. Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to bigger parties.
41. What is the role of an election manifesto during a campaign?
Answer: Through the manifestos of different political parties, people come to know how each party is going to deal with the national problems. Candidates also make their promises through their election manifestos.
42. Explain the different levels of elections in India. Who are the elected representatives at each level?
Answer: In India, all political institutions function through elected representatives of the people. Elections are held at the local, state, and national levels.
(i) At the local level, people choose representatives to Panchayats or Municipalities. These representatives are called Panchas or Councillors.
(ii) At the state level, people elect MLAs (Members of Legislative Assembly).
(iii) At the national level, people elect Members of Parliament, known as MPs.
43. Why is political competition considered healthy for a democracy? What forms does it take?
Answer: Political competition is considered very healthy for a democracy because elections without competition would become meaningless. It ensures that representatives are answerable to the people who elect them, as people can reverse their previous decision and change the government if it fails to perform. Elections also make the people aware of the national problems. Through the manifestos of different political parties, people come to know how each party is going to deal with the national problems.
Elections lead to political competition, which can take various forms:
(i) It is a competition among various political parties.
(ii) It also involves competition among various ideologies and policies of different political parties.
(iii) At the level of a constituency, it takes the form of competition among many candidates.
44. Describe the system of reserved constituencies in India. Why is this system considered necessary?
Answer: There are some constituencies which are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). In these reserved constituencies, only a person who belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Tribe can stand for election. Currently, in the Lok Sabha, 84 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 47 for the Scheduled Tribes, a number that is in proportion to their share in the total population. This system of reservation was later extended to other weaker sections at the district and local level, where seats are reserved in panchayats and municipalities for Other Backward Classes (OBC). Similarly, one-third of the seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates.
This system is considered necessary because, without reservations, people belonging to weaker sections, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes would never get an opportunity to win an election and become members of the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas. They would never have the resources, the education and contact to fight an election on equal terms against other candidates. If that happened, our Parliament would fail to be representative of a large section of our population. Therefore, the makers of our constitution thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for the weaker sections.
45. Outline the process from the nomination of candidates to the legal declarations they must make.
Answer: The minimum age to be nominated as a candidate is 25 years. Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support, which is called getting the “Party Ticket”. Independent candidates can also stand for election.
A person who wishes to stand for an election has to fill in a nomination form. After a recent Supreme Court judgement, candidates have to make a legal declaration stating whether:
(i) Serious criminal cases are pending against them.
(ii) Details of their assets and liabilities.
(iii) Educational qualifications.
This legal declaration made by a candidate has to be made public. This provides an opportunity to the voters to make their choice and decision on the basis of the information provided by the candidates at the time of election.
46. Describe the key aspects of an election campaign. What is the Model Code of Conduct?
Answer: In India, a two-week gap is kept between the declaration of candidates and the polling of votes. This period is for candidates to contact their voters, address election meetings, and mobilise their supporters. Door-to-door canvassing is allowed until 48 hours before the polling closes. Candidates make their promises through their election manifestos. In election campaigns, political parties try to focus attention on some big issues to attract public attention and highlight the failures of the opposition parties.
The Model Code of Conduct is an agreement among all political parties for election campaigns. Though freedom of speech is allowed, parties have agreed to follow this code. The key points of the Model Code of Conduct are:
(i) Any place of worship will not be used for election purposes.
(ii) Personal lives of opponents will not be attacked. Criticism is to be limited to their policies, programmes, past record and work.
(iii) Government transport (aircraft, vehicles, machinery and personnel) will not be used by the ruling party.
(iv) No flags, banners, notices, slogans shall be placed on buildings without the permission of the owner.
(v) Ministers shall not announce any projects or any foundation stones once elections have been announced.
47. Explain the independent nature of the Election Commission of India. What are its main powers?
Answer: In our country, we have an independent body, totally free from government interference, to conduct the elections. The powerful Election Commission of India enjoys the same kind of independence as the judiciary. Though the President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), he is not answerable to the President or the government. He cannot be removed even if the government disagrees with his decisions or actions. Even if the ruling party does not like what the Election Commission does, they have to obey. This would have been impossible if the Election Commission was not independent and powerful.
The powers of the Election Commission include the following:
(i) The Constitution has empowered the Election Commission to take decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections – from the time of declaration of elections to the declaration of results.
(ii) It can implement the Code of Conduct and punish any party or candidate for breaking or violating any rule.
(iii) During the period of elections, the Election Commission can order the government to follow its guidelines, including the transfer of government officials.
(iv) The government officers who work on election duty are under the control of the Election Commission and not the government.
(v) If it thinks that the polling was not fair, it can cancel a polling and order a repoll in some booths or even the entire constituency.
48. How has technology been used to prevent rigging and ensure fairness in Indian elections?
Answer: The Election Commission has made use of technology to prevent rigging. Voter Identity Cards and Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) are ways used to ensure free and fair elections.
Voter identity cards are cards with the voters’ pictures which they have to carry while voting. This prevents the malpractice of voting by a person not on the voters list.
Electronic Voting Machines stop a voter from voting again and the counting is faster, with no scope for rigging the results.
49. How is people’s participation a measure of the quality of an election? Compare it with Western democracies.
Answer: Another way of testing whether elections are free and fair is to see whether the maximum number of voters participated in it. If the elections are not free and fair, people will not participate in them. The growing interest of voters can be proven by voter turnout figures, which indicate the percent of eligible voters who actually cast their vote. During the General Elections to the 17th Lok Sabha in 2019, the overall turnout of voters was around 67%, the highest so far.
This is in contrast to western democracies, like the USA. Though India is poor and many people are illiterate, the voters have shown growing interest in voting in elections. In the USA, the poor people, Blacks and Hispanics vote much less than the Whites.
50. What are the major challenges that question the fairness of elections in India?
Answer: The major challenges to free and fair elections in India are:
(i) Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents.
(ii) In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have been able to push others out of the electoral race and to secure a ‘ticket’ from major parties.
(iii) Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to relatives from these families.
(iv) Very often elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens, for both the major parties are quite similar to each other both in policies and practice.
(v) Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to bigger parties.
51. “Elections without competition would become meaningless.” Discuss this statement in detail.
Answer: The statement “Elections without competition would become meaningless” is true because competition is a very healthy and essential part of a democratic electoral process.
Elections lead to political competition, which can take various forms. It is a competition among various political parties and also involves competition among various ideologies and policies of different political parties. At the level of a constituency, it takes the form of competition among many candidates.
This competition provides voters with a meaningful choice. In an election, voters can choose the party that would make policies and guide the government in law making, and they can choose the people who will make laws for them. Without competition, this choice would not exist.
Competition makes representatives answerable to the people who elect them. In a democratic election, people can reverse their previous decision and change the government if it fails to perform. This accountability is a direct result of the competition, as elected officials know they can be voted out in the next election.
Furthermore, elections also make the people aware of the national problems. Through the manifestos of different political parties, people come to know how each party is going to deal with the national problems. This public awareness is fostered by the competitive environment where parties try to present better solutions than their rivals. All this competition is very healthy for a democracy.
52. Explain the role and powers of the Election Commission of India. How does it ensure free and fair elections?
Answer: In our country, we have an independent body, totally free from government interference, to conduct the elections, known as the Election Commission of India. It enjoys the same kind of independence as the judiciary. Though the President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), he is not answerable to the President or the government and cannot be removed even if the government disagrees with his decisions or actions.
The powers of the Election Commission are wide-ranging.
(i) The Constitution has empowered the Election Commission to take decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections – from the time of declaration of elections to the declaration of results.
(ii) It can implement the Code of Conduct and punish any party or candidate for breaking or violating any rule.
(iii) During the period of elections, the Election Commission can order the government to follow its guidelines, including the transfer of government officials.
(iv) The government officers who work on election duty are under the control of the Election Commission and not the government.
(v) If the Commission thinks that the polling was not fair, it can cancel a polling and order a repoll in some booths or even the entire constituency.
The Election Commission ensures free and fair elections through various measures. It has made use of technology to prevent rigging. Voter Identity Cards, which are cards with the voters’ pictures, prevent the malpractice of voting by a person not on the voters list. Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) stop a voter from voting again and make the counting faster, with no scope for rigging the results. No candidate is allowed to spend more than the specific amount set by the Election Commission on his or her elections. All these methods enforced by the Election Commission ensure free and fair elections.
53. What are the major challenges to conducting free and fair elections in India? What measures have been taken to address them?
Answer: There are several challenges to conducting free and fair elections in India:
(i) Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents.
(ii) In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have been able to push others out of the electoral race and to secure a ‘ticket’ from major parties.
(iii) Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to relatives from these families.
(iv) Very often elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens, for both the major parties are quite similar to each other both in policies and practice.
(v) Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to bigger parties.
(vi) Another major allegation is of ‘rigging’, which includes the inclusion of false names in the voters’ list, the use of “money power” and “muscle power” to win elections, and intimidation of voters.
To address these challenges and ensure free and fair elections, several measures have been taken:
(i) An independent Election Commission, totally free from government interference, is in place to conduct the elections.
(ii) To counter the influence of money and criminal connections, candidates have to make a legal declaration stating whether serious criminal cases are pending against them and providing details of their assets and liabilities. This information is made public, allowing voters to make an informed choice.
(iii) According to a recent judgement of the Supreme Court, a candidate convicted by a court of law for any offence for a duration of 2 years or above is not eligible to become an MLA or an MP.
(iv) The Election Commission has imposed an expenditure ceiling for candidates in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to curb the use of “money power”.
(v) The Election Commission has made use of technology. Voter Identity Cards prevent malpractice, and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) stop a voter from voting again and ensure faster, tamper-proof counting.
(vi) A model code of conduct for election campaigns is implemented, which all political parties have agreed to. This code prevents the misuse of government facilities and appeals to religious or caste sentiments.
Give the details answers