Chapter - 2
EQUALITY
Short answer questions.
1. What is universal adult franchise?
Ans: Universal adult franchise is an important aspect of a democracy, wherein every adult has an equal right to
vote.
2. Name two ways in which the government tries to ensure equality.
Ans: The two ways in which the government tries to ensure equality are by enacting laws and by launching
schemes and programs.
3. Why is inequality a challenge to democracy?
Ans: Inequality is a challenge to democracy as it continues to exists in one form or the other. The attitude of the
society should also change in order to accept everybody as equal.
Long answer questions.
1. Why is universal adult franchise considered an important step to bring about equality?
Ans: In India, there exist different forms of inequalities. Though every individual is equal in the eyes of
democracy, he or she is not considered socially equal. Universal adult franchise ensure equality among its
people. The term adult franchise means that every adult is given the right to vote and elect a leader. The process
of universal adult franchise does not discriminate among people based on their caste, color, gender or social
status.
2. How does the Right to Education promotes equality?
Ans: In 2009, the Parliament of India passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act to let
children belonging to disadvantaged sections of the society have free access to private schools. Under this Act,
private schools must reserve 25% of their total seats for children from socio-economically weaker sections. This
step is aimed at giving an opportunity to the poor to receive better education. The expense of their education is
borne by the government.
3. Discuss the laws that are made in India to bring about equality.
Ans: In India, several laws exist to protect the dignity of the people. For example,the Scheduled Castes and the
Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, aims to protect members belonging to backward castes
from the atrocities committed against them. It also aims to provide victims of such offenses with relief and
rehabilitation. The Indian constitution, under Article 15 , has the following provisions to ensure equality among
the citizens of India:
I) Every person regardless of religion, race, caste, sex and place of birth are equal before the law.
II) No person can be discriminated against on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex and place of birth.
III) Every Indian citizen has access to all the public places in India.
4. Evaluate the role of the mid-day meal scheme that was introduced in India to ensure equality.
Ans: Under the midday meal scheme, children in all elementary schools run by the government are provided
freshly cooked food. The aim is to provide nutrition as well as increase the enrollment of the children from
economically weaker sections of the society in schools. This has helped in increasing the attendance of students
from economically weaker families in these schools. This scheme has also helped in breaking the caste prejudice
as children belonging to different castes sit together to have their meals.
5. Explain the issue of inequality faced by the democracy of the United States of America.
Ans: Slaves brought from Africa to the USA, centuries back, continued to struggle for their equality even after
the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s. This movement led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which
prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion or country of origin. Despite this, the African-Americans
continue to be among the poorest people in the USA who are unable to afford good education, life in a decent
locality, or lead a comfortable life.