CBSE Class 8 Social Science Chapter 05 Universal Franchise And Indias Electoral System MCQs Set 01

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for Class 8 Social Science: Chapter 05 Universal Franchise And Indias Electoral System

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Practice Chapter 05 Universal Franchise And Indias Electoral System MCQs for Class 8 Social Science

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Question: At what age did India lower its minimum voting requirement in the electoral system?
A. From 25 to 21 years
B. From 21 to 18 years
C. From 18 to 16 years
D. From 30 to 18 years
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) From 21 to 18 years

Explanation:
The chapter explicitly states that India changed the minimum age for voting from 21 to 18 in 1988.

Question: Which of the following best describes universal adult franchise as established in the Indian Constitution?
A. Only literate citizens above 25 can vote
B. Every adult citizen aged 18 and above gets one vote regardless of background
C. Only property owners and educated citizens can vote
D. Women cannot vote but all men aged 21 and above can
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Every adult citizen aged 18 and above gets one vote regardless of background

Explanation:
Universal adult franchise means every adult citizen aged 18 and above has the right to vote—irrespective of caste, creed, race, religion, gender, education, income, and other factors.

Question: Before Independence, what proportion of Indians were permitted to vote?
A. About 50 percent
B. Around 25 percent
C. Approximately 13 percent
D. Nearly 75 percent
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) Approximately 13 percent

Explanation:
The chapter notes that before Independence, around 13 per cent of Indians were allowed to vote, and franchise was not universal.

Question: In which year did women in Switzerland gain the right to vote?
A. 1947
B. 1960
C. 1971
D. 1988
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) 1971

Explanation:
The chapter specifically mentions that women were given the right to vote in Switzerland only in 1971, highlighting that India granted women voting rights much earlier from the very beginning of independence.

Question: What was India's literacy rate in 1947, according to the chapter?
A. About 25 percent
B. Around 40 percent
C. Approximately 14 percent overall, with about 8 percent among women
D. Nearly 50 percent
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) Approximately 14 percent overall, with about 8 percent among women

Explanation:
The chapter states that in 1947, India's literacy rate was about 14 per cent, with only about 8 per cent literacy among women.

Question: Which Indian institution is responsible for conducting elections across the country?
A. The Parliament of India
B. The State Election Commission only
C. The Election Commission of India
D. The Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) The Election Commission of India

Explanation:
The Election Commission of India is established as an independent constitutional body responsible for conducting free and fair elections at the national level and overseeing the entire electoral process.

Question: In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, how many parliamentary constituencies were there?
A. 400 constituencies
B. 480 constituencies
C. 543 constituencies
D. 600 constituencies
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) 543 constituencies

Explanation:
The chapter clearly states that there are 543 constituencies for the Lok Sabha elections, and over 968 million voters were eligible to exercise their franchise for these constituencies in 2024.

Question: What does the acronym NOTA stand for in India's electoral system?
A. National Official Tally Analysis
B. None Of The Above
C. National Organization of Taxation Agencies
D. No Official Transfers Allowed
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) None Of The Above

Explanation:
NOTA stands for 'None Of The Above' and allows voters to reject all candidates if they are not satisfied with any of them, sending a message that voters want better choices.

Question: In the class representative election at Suryodaya School, how many votes did Gurmat receive?
A. 8 votes
B. 10 votes
C. 12 votes
D. 15 votes
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) 12 votes

Explanation:
The chapter's case study shows that after all 33 votes were cast, Ahmed received 8 votes, Gurmat received 12 votes, and Ravi received 10 votes, making Gurmat the new Class Representative.

Question: What is the First-Past-the-Post electoral system?
A. The candidate with the most votes across all regions wins nationally
B. All candidates must secure a majority of votes to win
C. The candidate receiving the most votes in a constituency wins that seat
D. The candidate who wins first in polling booth order wins the constituency
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) The candidate receiving the most votes in a constituency wins that seat

Explanation:
The chapter explains that in India's First-Past-the-Post electoral system, the candidate receiving the most votes in a constituency wins, even without securing 50 per cent of total votes.

Question: How many members of the Rajya Sabha are nominated by the President of India?
A. 5 members
B. 8 members
C. 12 members
D. 20 members
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) 12 members

Explanation:
Of the 245 members of the Rajya Sabha, 233 are elected by the elected members of state legislative assemblies, while the President of India nominates 12 members.

Question: Which of the following groups is NOT involved in electing the President of India?
A. Members of the Lok Sabha
B. Members of State Legislative Assemblies
C. Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha
D. Members of the Rajya Sabha
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha

Explanation:
• The Electoral College for Presidential elections includes MPs from both houses and MLAs from states and territories
• It explicitly excludes nominated members of Rajya Sabha, nominated members of State Legislative Assemblies, and nominated members of union territories
• This ensures only directly elected representatives vote, maintaining democratic legitimacy.

Question: What was the primary purpose of the Model Code of Conduct established in Kerala in 1960?
A. To increase voter participation rates
B. To ensure free and fair elections by setting dos and don'ts for parties and candidates
C. To eliminate illiteracy among voters
D. To reduce the number of polling stations
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) To ensure free and fair elections by setting dos and don'ts for parties and candidates

Explanation:
The Model Code of Conduct was adopted voluntarily to ensure free and fair elections by listing rules that parties, candidates, and leaders must follow—including restrictions on government resource use, requirements for peaceful conduct, and prohibitions on vote-buying through gifts.

Question: Which Chief Election Commissioner is remembered for bringing reforms that made Indian elections fairer and more transparent?
A. Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
B. Shyam Saran Negi
C. T.N. Seshan
D. Ms. Usha
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) T.N. Seshan

Explanation:
T.N. Seshan became Chief Election Commissioner in 1990 and brought reforms including precise campaigning rules, voter IDs to eliminate proxy voting, and strict vigilance on candidate spending, earning him recognition as the officer who made Indian elections fairer, transparent, and fearless.

Question: What does the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system allow voters to do?
A. Mark their preference multiple times
B. Vote through postal mail from anywhere
C. Verify that their electronic votes were cast correctly
D. Change their vote after electronic submission
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) Verify that their electronic votes were cast correctly

Explanation:
VVPAT produces a physical paper record that allows voters to verify their electronic votes were cast correctly, providing a backup for verification and recounting purposes in case of disputes or failures of the electronic voting machine.

Question: In the Suryodaya School class representative election, what was the most significant aspect of the voting process that Ms. Usha implemented?
A. She allowed students to vote multiple times to ensure fairness
B. She used a secret ballot system to keep votes private and prevent undue influence
C. She announced the results immediately after voting without verification
D. She permitted only literate students to cast their votes
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) She used a secret ballot system to keep votes private and prevent undue influence

Explanation:
Ms. Usha established secret ballot voting booths where students marked their choice confidentially, ensuring no one knew how anyone else voted. This maintained privacy and fairness, preventing any voter intimidation or pressure.

Question: Which statement correctly explains why India adopted universal adult franchise at the time of Independence despite having a low literacy rate in 1947?
A. The Constitution makers believed that education was not necessary for voting rights
B. The Constitution makers had abundant faith in the common man and democratic principles rooted in India's ancient traditions
C. India copied the electoral system from Western countries that had higher literacy rates
D. The low literacy rate made it impossible to deny voting rights to anyone
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) The Constitution makers had abundant faith in the common man and democratic principles rooted in India's ancient traditions

Explanation:
The chapter emphasizes that despite arguments for restricting voting to literate citizens, the Constitution makers chose universal franchise because of their confidence in democratic values and India's progressive constitutional vision. This decision reflected deep democratic principles rather than literacy levels.

Question: What does the fact that candidates like Gurmat won with only 36 percent of the votes (12 out of 33) reveal about India's electoral system?
A. It demonstrates that the majority of voters were not satisfied with any candidate
B. It shows that the First-Past-the-Post system allows candidates to win without securing a majority of votes
C. It proves that vote counting was done incorrectly in the class election
D. It indicates that secret balloting is an ineffective voting method
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) It shows that the First-Past-the-Post system allows candidates to win without securing a majority of votes

Explanation:
The chapter explicitly states that in the First-Past-the-Post system, a candidate receiving the most votes wins, even without securing 50 percent of total votes. Gurmat's victory with 12 votes exemplifies this principle.

Question: Which accessibility measure introduced for the first time in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections particularly demonstrates India's commitment to ensuring no voter is left behind?
A. Requiring all voters to bring photographic identification
B. Allowing elderly citizens and people with disabilities to cast votes from home
C. Limiting voting to morning hours only
D. Restricting voting to urban areas with better infrastructure
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Allowing elderly citizens and people with disabilities to cast votes from home

Explanation:
• The chapter specifically highlights home voting for elderly and disabled citizens as a 2024 innovation
• Assistive technologies like braille-enabled voter cards were also made available
• These measures directly address barriers that prevented participation by vulnerable groups

Question: How does the Rajya Sabha's structure differ from the Lok Sabha in terms of its permanence and member tenure?
A. The Rajya Sabha is dissolved every five years while the Lok Sabha remains permanent
B. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body where members serve six-year terms with one-third retiring every two years
C. Both bodies function identically with members serving identical term lengths
D. The Lok Sabha is permanent while the Rajya Sabha dissolves after each election
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body where members serve six-year terms with one-third retiring every two years

Explanation:
The chapter describes the Rajya Sabha as the 'Permanent House' that is never dissolved, with members serving six-year terms. One-third of members retire every two years, ensuring continuity. This contrasts with the Lok Sabha's standard five-year term structure.

Question: Which mechanism in the Rajya Sabha election process specifically ensures that smaller states receive fair representation despite their lower populations?
A. States are given equal seats regardless of population
B. The single transferable vote system is used to weight votes in favor of smaller states
C. The President nominates all members to balance state representation
D. Only states with populations above a certain threshold can participate in Rajya Sabha elections
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) The single transferable vote system is used to weight votes in favor of smaller states

Explanation:
The chapter notes that the Rajya Sabha uses a 'single transferable vote system' as a special mechanism to ensure smaller states also get fair representation, despite seats being allocated by population. This prevents larger states from completely dominating the upper house.

Question: What principle ensures that only directly elected representatives participate in electing India's President, rather than including nominated members?
A. It reduces the total number of people involved in the election process
B. It maintains democratic legitimacy by ensuring the President is indirectly chosen by the people's direct representatives
C. It makes the election process faster and more efficient
D. It prevents nominated members from wielding too much political power
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) It maintains democratic legitimacy by ensuring the President is indirectly chosen by the people's direct representatives

Explanation:
The chapter explains that excluding nominated members ensures democratic legitimacy because the President is meant to represent the will of the people indirectly but meaningfully—through those who were directly elected by ordinary citizens, not appointed.

Question: What does the term 'voter apathy' in the context of challenges facing Indian democracy primarily refer to?
A. Voters becoming angry at political candidates during campaigns
B. The reluctance or indifference of eligible voters to participate in the electoral process
C. Voters casting invalid ballot papers intentionally
D. The fear that voters experience when entering polling stations
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) The reluctance or indifference of eligible voters to participate in the electoral process

Explanation:
The chapter identifies voter apathy as one of the significant challenges facing Indian democracy, particularly in urban areas, where a considerable proportion of eligible voters choose not to exercise their right to vote, indicating indifference toward participation.

Question: How did T.N. Seshan's reforms as Chief Election Commissioner contribute to strengthening Indian democracy?
A. He introduced electronic voting machines without any verification systems
B. He introduced precise campaigning rules, voter IDs to eliminate proxy voting, and strict spending vigilance on candidates
C. He eliminated the secret ballot system to make voting more transparent
D. He reduced the number of constituencies to simplify the electoral process
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) He introduced precise campaigning rules, voter IDs to eliminate proxy voting, and strict spending vigilance on candidates

Explanation:
• Seshan implemented precise rules for campaigning
• He introduced voter IDs to prevent proxy voting
• He enforced strict vigilance on candidate spending
• These reforms made elections fairer, more transparent, and more fearless by preventing manipulation and fraud

Question: According to the chapter, what is the primary purpose of the Model Code of Conduct in ensuring free and fair elections?
A. It replaces the need for an Election Commission to oversee elections
B. It establishes rules for the party in government, candidates, and political parties to prevent misuse of resources and ensure peaceful elections
C. It requires all voters to pass a literacy test before voting
D. It eliminates the use of technology in conducting elections
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) It establishes rules for the party in government, candidates, and political parties to prevent misuse of resources and ensure peaceful elections

Explanation:
The chapter explains that the Model Code of Conduct lists dos and don'ts to ensure free and fair elections, including preventing the ruling party from using government resources for campaigns, requiring candidates to exercise restraint, and making vote-buying punishable. These provisions work together to maintain electoral integrity.

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Chapter 05 Universal Franchise And Indias Electoral System Objective Questions & Solutions for Class 8 Social Science

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