6.

UNDERSTANDING DEMOCRACY

A. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. The word ‘Democracy’ is derived from the Greek word:

✅ (b) Demokratia

2. Who defined democracy as “the government of the people, by the people, for the people”?
✅ (c) Abraham Lincoln

3. In a democracy, the final decision-making power must rest with:

✅ (c) Elected representatives

4. In a parliamentary system, the real executive head of the government is the:

✅ (c) Prime Minister

5. Which of the following is a major challenge faced by democracy?

✅ (c) Growing economic inequality

6. Which type of democracy is depicted in the given image?

✅ (d) Representative
(The image shows people voting to elect representatives.)

7. Which of the following statements is correct regarding democracy?

✅ (c) It protects the interests of both majority and minority.

8. Consider the given statement and choose the correct option.

Statement I: Direct democracy is difficult to practise in large countries.
Statement II: In a representative democracy, the final decision-making power rests with elected
representatives.
✅ (c) Both statements are correct.

9. Match the following columns and choose the correct option:

A. Democracy → 3. Rule by the people
B. Rule of Law → 4. Equality before the law
C. Representative Democracy → 2. People elect their rulers
D. Direct Democracy → 1. Citizens participate directly in decision-making

✅ (a) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1

10. Identify the incorrect statement about democracy.

✅ (a) It eliminates all economic inequality immediately.

11. In a village, all adult citizens gather to discuss and decide directly without electing representatives.
This is an example of:
✅ Direct democracy
B. Fill in the blanks

1. In a representative democracy, citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

2. In a democracy, rulers are chosen through free and fair elections.

3. The idea of the brotherhood of mankind, expressed through the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

4. The presidential form of government is based on the principle of separation of powers between the
executive and the legislature.

C. Very short answer type questions

1. What does the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam convey?

It conveys that the whole world is one family and promotes unity, peace and shared humanity.

2. Why is regular election considered essential in a democracy?

Regular election is considered essential in a democracy because it allows people to choose their leaders
and hold them accountable.

3. How does political equality strengthen democracy?

It gives every citizen equal voting rights and equal opportunity to participate in governance irrespective
of their colour, caste, religion, gender etc.

4. Why is voter apathy considered a challenge to democracy? Give a reason.

Voter apathy considered a challenge to democracy because low voter participation weakens
representative government and reduces accountability.

5. Differentiate between absolute monarchy and dictatorship.

o Absolute monarchy: Power is inherited and rests with a king or queen.

o Dictatorship: Power is seized by force and rests with one person or group.

D. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Define democracy. Mention any two essential features of a democratic government.

Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. It is based on the principle
of popular sovereignty, meaning that ultimate power rests with the people.

Two essential features of democracy are:

 Free and fair elections: Citizens elect their representatives through regular, transparent and
competitive elections.

 Political equality: Every adult citizen has one vote and each vote has equal value.

2. Distinguish between a parliamentary system and a presidential system.

In a parliamentary system, the executive is drawn from the legislature and is responsible to it. The Prime
Minister is the real head of the government, and the Council of Ministers remains in power as long as it enjoys
the confidence of the legislature.

In a presidential system, the President is directly elected by the people and is independent of the legislature.
The President is both the head of the state and the head of the government, and there is a clear separation of
powers between the executive and the legislature.

3. State any two merits of democracy over other forms of government.

 Accountability: In a democracy, the government is accountable to the people and can be removed
through elections.

 Protection of rights: Democracy guarantees fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, equality
and justice to all citizens.

4. Explain the significance of regular elections in maintaining democratic values.

Regular elections ensure that the government remains answerable to the people. They provide citizens with an
opportunity to evaluate the performance of their leaders and either re-elect or replace them. Elections allow
peaceful transfer of power and strengthen people’s participation in governance, thereby upholding democratic
values like accountability and transparency.

5. How does democracy accommodate social diversity?

Democracy respects and protects the diversity of society by ensuring equal rights to all citizens regardless of
religion, language, caste or culture. It provides representation to different groups and protects minority
interests. Through dialogue, tolerance and constitutional safeguards, democracy promotes unity in diversity.

E. Long Answer Type Questions

1. “Democracy is considered better than other forms of government.” Justify the statement.

1. Democracy is considered better than other forms of government because it is based on the principles of
freedom, equality and justice. In a democracy, rulers are elected by the people through free and fair elections.
This ensures that the government is accountable and responsive to the needs of citizens.

2. Democracy protects fundamental rights such as freedom of speech and expression. It allows people to
criticise the government and participate in decision-making. Unlike dictatorship or monarchy, power in a
democracy is not concentrated in the hands of one person.
3. Although democracy may not provide immediate solutions to all problems, it allows peaceful change of
government and encourages public participation. Therefore, despite its limitations, democracy is regarded as
the best form of government.

2. Trace the roots of democracy in ancient India. Explain the role of Sabha and Samiti in the Vedic era.

1. The roots of democracy in India can be traced back to ancient times. In the Vedic period, institutions like
Sabha and Samiti played an important role in governance. These were assemblies where people participated
in discussions and decision-making.

2. The Sabha consisted mainly of elders and learned people who advised the king on important matters. The
Samiti was a larger body that included common people and played a role in selecting or approving the king.

3. These institutions reflected elements of collective decision-making and public participation, showing that
democratic practices existed in early India.

3. Discuss the challenges faced by modern democracies.

Modern democracies face several challenges such as:

 Economic inequality: Growing gap between rich and poor affects equal participation in elections.

 Corruption: Misuse of power and money weakens democratic values.

 Voter apathy: Low voter turnout reduces the effectiveness of democracy.

 Influence of money and muscle power: Wealthy candidates often have unfair advantages in elections.

 Social divisions: Caste, religion and regional differences sometimes create conflict.

To strengthen democracy, citizens must actively participate and uphold democratic values.

F. Assertion–Reason Answers

1. Assertion (A): Sabha and Samiti were important institutions in early Indian governance.
Reason (R): They enabled participation of people in decision-making processes.
✅ Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

2. Assertion (A): Ancient Indian political systems had no elements of democracy.

Reason (R): Institutions like Sabha and village councils existed in early India.
✅ Answer: (d) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.

3. Assertion (A): Representative democracy is suitable for large modern states.

Reason (R): It is difficult for all citizens to directly participate in decision-making in large populations.
✅ Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
G. Case-Based Questions

1. Explain any two features of democracy.

o Leaders are chosen through free and fair elections.

o Power is transferred peacefully after elections.

2. When did India declare itself democratic?

India declared itself a democratic state in 1950, when the Constitution came into force.

3. Which form of democracy is followed by India? State any one feature of it.
India follows a Parliamentary democracy.
One feature: The executive (Prime Minister and Council of Ministers) is responsible to the legislature
(Parliament).