Maharashtra Board Class 10 Political Science Chapter 2 The Electoral Process Solutions

 

Question 1. Choose the correct option from the given options and complete the sentences.
(1) The Election Commissioner is appointed by the ......................... .
(a) President
(b) Prime Minister
(c) Speaker of Loksabha
(d) Vice President
Answer: (a) President
In simple words: The President of India is the head of the country and has the official power to appoint the Election Commissioner to ensure the election process remains independent.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that to keep the Election Commission independent and free from political influence, its head is appointed by the President rather than the Prime Minister or Parliament.

 

Question (2). .................... was appointed as the first Chief Election Commissioner of independent India.
(a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(b) T.N. Sheshan
(c) Sukumar Sen
(d) Neela Satyanarayan
Answer: (c) Sukumar Sen
In simple words: Sukumar Sen was the very first person chosen to lead and manage nationwide elections in India after the country became independent.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remembering key historical firsts, like the first Chief Election Commissioner, is highly important for scoring full marks in civics.

 

Question (3). Constituencies are created by .................... committee of the Election Commission.
(a) Selection
(b) Delimitation
(c) Voting
(d) Timetable
Answer: (b) Delimitation
In simple words: The Delimitation committee is a special group responsible for drawing and deciding the boundaries of different voting areas.

🎯 Exam Tip: Associate the word 'boundary' or 'creating constituencies' directly with 'delimitation' to easily recall this answer.

 

Question 2. State whether the following statements are true or false. Give reasons for your answer.
(1) The Elections Commission lays down the code of conduct during elections.
Answer: The above statement is True. This system helps maintain democratic integrity throughout the nation. Reasons:

• It ensures free and fair elections.
• Malpractices during the election come under control.
• Due to the strict observance of the code of conduct in the last few elections, the common voters have become confident.

In simple words: This statement is true because the code of conduct sets fair rules for everyone during elections, which stops cheating and makes voters feel safe and confident.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering True/False questions with reasons, always state clearly whether the statement is True or False first, and then list at least two clear reasons to secure full marks.

 

Question (2). Under special circumstances the Election Commission holds re-elections in a particular constituency for a second time.
Answer: The above statement is True. Reasons:
• Sometimes, the representative of Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha or the local self government resigns from his/her constituency.
• In some cases, death of the representative occurs.
• In such special situations, the Election Commission has to conduct an election for a second time. It is called By-elections. This process ensures that citizens always have active representation in the legislature.
In simple words: If a representative resigns or passes away, their seat becomes empty. The Election Commission then holds a special election, called a by-election, to choose a new representative for that area.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to define the term 'By-elections' clearly when explaining why re-elections are held under special circumstances.

 

Question (3). The state government decides as to when and in how many stages the elections would be held in a particular State.
Answer: The above statement is False. Reasons:
• The entire process of conducting elections is entrusted upon and managed by the Election Commission.
• If this responsibility is given to the state government it may adopt a biased approach.
• Hence, the Constitution has formed the Election Commission an independent body to carry out the responsibility.
Therefore, it is decided by the Election Commission as to when and in how many stages it will conduct elections. This independence is crucial for maintaining the democratic integrity of the voting process.
In simple words: The state government does not run elections because it might favor its own political party. Instead, an independent group called the Election Commission decides when and how elections happen to keep them fair.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly state that the Election Commission is an independent body, which prevents the ruling state government from influencing election schedules.

 

Question 3. Explain the concept.
(1) Reorganising the constituencies
Answer:
(1) The Election Commission of India formed constituencies for Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly.
(2) The Election Commission had decided upon the constituencies before the first election. As the years passed, there was a lot of migration of the people for business. This movement of people significantly altered the population balance across different regions, making it necessary to redraw the boundaries.
In simple words: Constituencies are the specific areas that voters belong to. Over time, as people move to different places for work, the boundaries of these areas must be adjusted so that each area has a fair number of voters.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining the reorganization of constituencies, mention that population shifts due to migration are the primary reason for redrawing boundaries.

 

Question 4. Complete the following picture.
The process of elections:

• Role of the Election Commission: ....................
• Role of the voters: ....................
• Role of political parties and their candidates: ....................

Answer: The process of elections in a democracy requires the active and coordinated participation of multiple stakeholders to ensure fairness and transparency.

Role of Election Commission:	Role of Political Parties and their candidates:	Role of Voters:
(1) Prepare electoral rolls (2) Demarcate constituencies (3) Announce election date (4) Accept nomination form of the candidates (5) Make arrangements for polling/polling booths (6) Count votes (7) Announce the result	(1) Decide the candidates and give them election tickets. (2) Submit nomination forms to the Election Commission within the stipulated time. (3) Inform the commission about election expenditure. (4) Follow Code of Conduct. (5) Conduct election campaign.	(1) Follow Code of Conduct. (2) Attend party rally and decide for whom to vote. (3) Cast vote.

In simple words: Conducting an election is a team effort where the Election Commission manages the rules, political parties choose candidates to campaign, and citizens cast their votes responsibly.

🎯 Exam Tip: Presenting this answer in a neat tabular format with clear headings for each stakeholder helps you secure full marks easily.

 

Question 2. Complete the concept map showing the work done by the Election Commission about electoral rolls.
Answer: The work done by the Election Commission regarding electoral rolls includes:

• To prepare voters' list
• To include names of new voters
• To delete names of migrated and dead voters
• To publish updated voters' list

In simple words: The Election Commission keeps the voter list up-to-date by adding new voters, removing those who have died or moved away, and then publishing the final list.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember all four key steps of managing electoral rolls: preparing, including new names, deleting old/dead names, and publishing the final list to score full marks.

 

Question 3. Complete the concept map showing the attributes in a representative.
Answer: The essential attributes required in a representative are:

• Efficient
• Honest
• Trustworthy
• Respect public opinion

In simple words: A good leader or representative should be hard-working, honest, reliable, and should listen to what the people want.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize these four essential qualities of an ideal representative as they are frequently asked in short-answer and diagrammatic questions.

 

Question 4. Complete the concept map:
First General Election in India 1951-52
(i) First Election Commissioner -> [ ]
(ii) First Voter -> [ ]
Answer:
The completed concept map is as follows:

• First General Election in India 1951-52
  • First Election Commissioner: Sukumar Sen
  • First Voter: Sham Sharan Negi

This structure ensures that the democratic process is led by capable administrators and participated in by citizens.
In simple words: This diagram shows the key people in India's very first general election. Sukumar Sen was the first person in charge of running the elections, and Sham Sharan Negi was the very first citizen to cast a vote.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize the names of key historical figures like Sukumar Sen and Sham Sharan Negi as they are frequently asked in objective questions.

 

Question 5. Answer in brief.
(1) Explain the functions of the Election Commission.
(2) Write some additional information about post of the Election Commissioner.
Answer:
(1) The functions of the Election Commission are:
(1) Prepare the voters' list.
(2) Decide election timetable and decide the entire process of holding elections.
(3) Scrutinize the applications of the candidates.
(4) Conduct free and fair elections and do all the work related to it.
(5) Give recognition and also de-recognize political parties.
(6) Resolve all the disputes and complaints regarding elections. These functions ensure that democracy is maintained in its truest spirit.

(2) Additional information about post of the Election Commissioner:
(1) The Election Commission in India has one Chief Election Commissioner and two other Chief Commissioners.
(2) All the commissioners are appointed by the President. This independent appointment process helps maintain the impartiality of the commission.
In simple words: The Election Commission is responsible for organizing and managing all elections in India, from preparing voter lists to resolving disputes. The commission is headed by a Chief Election Commissioner and two other commissioners appointed directly by the President to keep the process fair.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining functions, list them point-by-point using clear headings to make it easy for the examiner to award full marks.

(3) The Chief Election Commissioner of India is usually a member of the Indian Civil Service or Indian Administrative Service.
(4) The responsibility of conducting free and fair elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures lies with the Election Commissioner.
(5) In order do safeguard the independence of the Election Commissioner, he cannot be easily removed from the post for any political reasons.

 

Question (3) Explain the meaning of Code of Conduct.
Answer:
(1) After the announcement of elections till the declaration of results, the Election Commission enforces the Code of Conduct.
(2) It explains the rules to be followed by the government, political parties candidates and voters before and during elections.
(3) Code of conduct is adopted to control malpractices during elections. It ensure free and fair ecections. This helps maintain the purity of the democratic process.
In simple words: The Code of Conduct is a set of rules that political parties, candidates, and voters must follow during elections to ensure they are fair.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly state when the Code of Conduct is enforced and its main purpose to secure full marks.

 

Project

 

Organise a mock poll in the school to understand the process of voting.
Answer: Students can organize a mock poll in their classroom by creating a voting booth, ballot papers, and electing a class representative to experience the voting process firsthand. This hands-on activity helps students understand the practical steps involved in a democratic election.
In simple words: You can set up a fake voting booth in class to practice how real voting works.

🎯 Exam Tip: Participating in mock polls helps in understanding the real-world application of electoral processes.

 

Memory Map

The Electoral Process

• Importance of Elections
  • Types of Elections
  • Representative Democracy
  • How should be the Representatives?
• The Election Commission
  • Election Commissioner
  • Functions of Election Commission
• The Process of Elections
  • Code of Conduct
  • Challenges in conducting free and fair elections
• Electoral Reforms
  • Which reforms are required?
• Ballot Boxes
  • Ballot Boxes to EVM
  • Advantages of using EVM machine

 

Question 6. Choose the correct option from the given options and complete the sentences:

 

Question (a). Article of Indian Constitution created the independent body of Election Commission.
(a) 351
(b) 370
(c) 324
(d) 301
Answer: (c) 324
In simple words: Article 324 of the Indian Constitution is the specific rule that sets up the Election Commission to make sure all elections are conducted fairly.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember Article 324 as the foundation of India's electoral system; it is a highly important constitutional provision frequently asked in exams.

 

Question (b). system exists in India.
(a) Single-party
(b) Two-party
(c) Multi-party
(d) No-party
Answer: (c) Multi-party
In simple words: India has a multi-party system, which means many different political parties can compete in elections and help run the government.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly distinguish between single-party, two-party, and multi-party systems, using India as the prime example of a multi-party democracy.

 

Question (c). The right to give recognition or de-recognize a political party lies with ................. .
(a) President
(b) Election Commission
(c) Parliament
(d) Vice-President
Answer: (b) Election Commission
In simple words: The Election Commission has the sole authority to officially approve a political party or take away its official status.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always associate administrative decisions regarding political parties, such as symbols and recognition, directly with the Election Commission rather than the President or Parliament.

 

Question (d). There are constituencies of Lok Sabha at present.
(a) 288
(b) 350
(c) 500
(d) 543
Answer: (d) 543
In simple words: The entire country is divided into 543 small areas called constituencies, and each area elects one member to represent them in the Lok Sabha.

🎯 Exam Tip: Do not confuse the number of Lok Sabha constituencies (543) with state assembly numbers like Maharashtra's (288).

 

Question (e). from the present state of Himachal Pradesh was the first voter.
(a) Sukumar Sen

p>Question 6(e). Who was the first voter of India?
(a) Sukumar Sen
(b) Sham Sharan Negi
(c) Prem Kumar Ghumal
(d) P N. Chadda
Answer: (b) Sham Sharan Negi
In simple words: Shyam Saran Negi from Himachal Pradesh was the very first person to cast his vote in the general elections of independent India in 1951.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that Shyam Saran Negi was the first voter of independent India, hailing from Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh.

 

Question 6(f). Due to EVM, ______ people can also vote easily.
(a) elder
(b) salaried
(c) Divyanga
(d) Transgender
Answer: (c) Divyanga
In simple words: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have special features like Braille, which help specially-abled (Divyanga) people cast their votes easily without help.

🎯 Exam Tip: Keywords like 'Divyanga' and 'EVM accessibility' are crucial for scoring full marks in questions about inclusive voting.

 

Question 6(g). The first elections in India were held in ______
(a) 1948-49
(b) 1949-50
(c) 1950-51
(d) 1951-52
Answer: (d) 1951-52
In simple words: India's first general elections took place over several months between October 1951 and February 1952 after becoming a republic.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always write the complete span of years (1951-52) for the first general elections, as they spanned across both years.

 

Question 7. State whether following statements are True or False. Give reasons for your answer :
(a) There should be secrecy in Election process.
Answer: The above statement is False. Reasons :
• Election should be conducted in a free and fair environment.
• If the elections are not held in free environment then there are chances of malpractices and corruption.
• Then, it will be impossible to elect the honest and efficient candidates. A transparent system is essential to maintain public trust in democracy.
In simple words: Elections must be held openly, freely, and fairly so that there is no cheating or corruption, allowing people to choose the best leaders.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining True/False statements, always state 'True' or 'False' clearly before listing the supporting reasons in bullet points.

Question (b) The Election Commission has started awareness campaign for registration of voters.
Answer: The above statement is True. Reasons:
• The responsibility of preparing and updating electoral roll lies with the Election Commission.
• The Election Commission starts an awareness campaign to create awareness among new eligible voters so that they register themselves in the voter’s list.
• The Indian voter is not much aware about the election process. Educating them helps strengthen our democracy.
• Special voter’s awareness campaign is run for voter’s registration.
• For their awareness National Voter’s Day is celebrated every year.
In simple words: The Election Commission runs campaigns to help new voters register and learn about voting. This ensures that every eligible citizen can easily participate in elections.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining why a statement is true, list at least three distinct reasons clearly using bullet points to secure full marks.

 

Question (c) Every candidate who fills the nomination form can contest election.
Answer: The above statement is False. Reasons:
• Every candidate of a party or independent candidate has to be personally present to fill the nomination form.
• It is necessary for him or her to give complete information in the nomination form as decided by the Election Commission.
• The nomination forms are then scrutinized. If there are irregularities in a nomination paper and if the information is found to be false the nomination forms are rejected. This strict scrutiny ensures only qualified candidates enter the election.
Therefore, it is not possible for every candidate who fills the nomination form to contest election.
In simple words: Just filling out the form is not enough to run in an election. The Election Commission checks all forms carefully, and if any information is wrong or incomplete, the candidate is disqualified.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to write the final concluding sentence starting with 'Therefore...' to summarize your argument clearly for the examiner.

 

Question (d) Sometimes, the Election Commission has to conduct mid-term elections. OR Explain the concept : Mid-Term Elections.
Answer: The above statement is True. Reasons:
• If the elected government loses its majority in the Parliament or State Legislative Assembly before completing its five-year term, and no alternative government can be formed, the house is dissolved.
• In such a situation, the Election Commission has to conduct elections before the completion of the term. These elections are called mid-term elections. This process helps resolve political instability in the state or country.
In simple words: If a government falls early and no other group can form a new government, the Election Commission must hold new elections before the usual five years are up. These are called mid-term elections.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly define the condition under which mid-term elections occur—specifically, the loss of majority and the inability to form an alternative government.

 

Question 8. Explain the following concepts :
(a) What is representation?
(b) Election Commission :
Answer:
(a) What is representation?
Modern democracy is a representative democracy. In a democracy it is not possible to involve the entire population in the ecision-making process. This resulted in the starting of the practice of electing some people on behalf of entire population as representatives who would run the government. The representatives who form the government are expected to be responsible to the people and give preference to the welfare of the people. This system ensures that public interests are prioritized in policy decisions.

• Direct and Indirect or representative democracy rire two types of democracy.
• In modem nation-states; the population has increased to a great èxtent.
• So it is impossible to involve all the people in decision-making process.
• Thus, th practice of electing some people on behalf of entire population as representatives started.
• The elected representatives form government and work for the welfare of the people.

(b) Election Commission :
In India, the Election Commission is central to the process of elections. Art. 324 of the Indian Constitution has established this autonomous body which consists of one Chief Election Commissioner and two other commissioners. This structure helps maintain the impartiality and efficiency of the electoral process.
In simple words: Representation means choosing a group of leaders to make decisions for everyone because the whole country cannot sit together to govern. The Election Commission is the independent body that conducts and manages these elections in India.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining representation, highlight why direct democracy is difficult in modern times, and always mention Article 324 for the Election Commission.

Important Features of the Election Commission

1. One of the most important features of a democratic nation is elections at regular intervals. Holding free and fair elections at regular intervals is essential for a democratic system.
2. Under the Article 324 of the Constitution, Election Commission was formed in 1950. The President appoints one Chief Election Commissioner and two additional commissioners. It is an autonomous body.
3. The rank and powers of all the three commissioners are the same. The declaration of dates of the elections to the announcement of the results the entire procedure is monitored by the Election Commission.
4. The Election Commission does not have its own staff to carry out this procedure. So they carry out the work with help of government employees and teachers. Special provisions are made for all finances incurred by the Election Commission.

 

Question 9. Write short notes :
(a) Journey from Ballot box to EVM machine
(b) Recognition to Political Parties
Answer:
(a) Journey from Ballot box to EVM machine :
1. From the first election in 1951-52 till 1999, elections were held using ballot box. Twenty lakh ballot boxes were used in the first election. Voters used to cast his or her vote by stamping in front of the candidate’s name and put them in the metal boxes.
2. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were first used for 5 seats in Rajasthan, 5 seats in Madhya Pradesh and 6 seats in New Delhi 1998 in Legislative Assembly.
3. EVM machines were used at all polling booths in the general elections held in 2004. It proved to be a very useful device. This technological shift marked a major milestone in India's electoral history.
4. It has been improvised since its first use. Due to the use of EVMs the results are declared early and at a very fast rate.

(b) Recognition to Political Parties :
[The answer text for this section is not present in the source document.]
In simple words: India transitioned from using paper stamps and metal ballot boxes to electronic voting machines (EVMs). This change made voting and counting votes much faster and more efficient.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing about the journey of EVMs, make sure to mention key years like 1951-52, 1998, and 2004 to secure full marks.

Political Parties and Election Commission

• India has a multi-party system with recognition accorded to national, state and regional level parties by the Election Commission.
• Their recognition depends on the voting percentage received by them in the assembly elections and number of elected representatives of their party.
• If any party does not fulfill these criteria, its recognition is cancelled.
• The Election Commission allots appropriate symbols to parties and independent candidates. All political parties should have recognition of the Election Commission.

 

Question 10. Complete the concept map :
(a) Prepare a flow chart on the process of election.
(b) Which two conditions among following is the violation of code of conduct?
(1) The candidate distributes items of household use.
(2) Promises made to resolve the water problem if elected.
(3) To go from door to door to meet voters and request them to vote.
(4) To appeal on the basis of caste and religion to get support.

Answer:
(a) The sequential steps in the process of election are:
• Establishment of constituencies
• Finalising voter's list
• Nomination of candidates and scrutiny of their nomination forms
• Election campaign
• Actual voting
• Results of election
• Resolution of disputes regarding elections

(b) The two conditions that violate the code of conduct are:
• (1) The candidate distributes items of household use.
• (4) To appeal on the basis of caste and religion to get support.
These rules ensure that elections are conducted in a free, fair, and unbiased manner.
In simple words: The election process has a set order of steps from preparing voter lists to declaring results. Violating the code of conduct includes giving gifts to voters or asking for votes based on caste and religion.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize the sequential steps of the election process flow chart in order, as examiners frequently ask to complete this specific sequence.

 

Question 11. Answer in brief :
(a) Why is it important to conduct elections?
(b) What are the conditions for voting?
(c) What action is taken by the Election Commission if disputes arise regarding elections?
Answer:
(a) It is important to conduct elections because of the following reasons:
• The existence and working of democracy depends on elections.
• All political parties get a chance to rule.
• Elections help to bring a change in power through peaceful means.
• It not only changes government policies but also society.

(b) The following are the conditions for voting:
• The person should be a citizen of India.
• He should have completed 18 years of age.
• His name should appear in voters' list.
• The person should have photo identity card issued by the Election Commission of India.

(c) The following actions are taken by the Election Commission if disputes arise regarding elections:
• If any disputes arise regarding the elections, the Election Commission is empowered to take final decisions.
• The Election Commission conducts a thorough inquiry about the said dispute.
• If there is evidence of any malpractices during elections, in any constituency, it declares the elections invalid and announces re-polls.
• If any candidate breaks the code of conduct and contests elections, he/she is barred by the Election Commission from contesting elections.
In simple words: Elections are necessary for democracy to work and allow citizens to choose their representatives. To vote, a person must be an Indian citizen of at least 18 years of age with their name on the voter list. If any cheating or dispute happens during elections, the Election Commission has the power to investigate, cancel the election, or ban the candidate.

🎯 Exam Tip: Presenting your answers in clear, numbered, or bulleted points for each sub-question helps you secure full marks easily.

 

Question (d). What challenges are faced by the Election Commission to conduct free and fair elections?
Answer: The following challenges are faced by the Election Commission tcx conduct free and fair elections :
• Managing the large geographical landscape and huge electoral population.
• To stop misuse of money and muscle power during elections.
• Barring candidates with criminal background from contesting elections.
• Conducting elections successfully in politically criminalised environment.
• Conducting elections in spite of increasing instances of violence and making them a success. Ensuring safety at all polling booths is also a major priority during this process.
In simple words: The Election Commission faces big challenges like managing a huge number of voters across a large country. They also have to stop bad practices like using illegal money, violence, or letting criminals run in elections.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly list at least three to four distinct challenges, such as money power and criminal background, to secure full marks.

 

Question (e). What are the advantages of EVM machines?
Answer: The battery operated Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) has more advantages than the ballot box. They are as follows :
• It saves tonnes of paper used to make ballot paper.
• So, it conserves the environment as it stops the reckless cutting of trees required to make paper.
• If the voter does not wish to cast his vote in favour of any candidate contesting, he can make use of NOTA (None Of The Above).
• It makes counting of the votes much faster which enables the election officer to declare result in a short time.
• It is helpful for disabled (Divyanga) people to cast vote. These modern machines have revolutionized the entire voting process in India.
In simple words: EVM machines save paper and protect trees because we do not need paper ballots anymore. They also make counting votes much faster and have options like NOTA for voters who do not like any candidate.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mentioning environmental benefits (saving paper) and speed of counting are key points that examiners look for in this answer.

 

Question (f). Explain the features of procedures of voting during the first Lok Sabha Election.
Answer:
• It was a challenge to prepare voters' list at the time of the first election. Illiteracy rate was very high in our country. Therefore, the procedure to vote and making the voter list was a challenge. Special methods like using different colored ballot boxes for each candidate were introduced to help illiterate voters.
In simple words: During the first election, most people in India did not know how to read or write. This made it very difficult to create a list of voters and design a simple way for them to cast their votes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the challenge of high illiteracy and the difficulty of preparing the first-ever voter list in a newly independent nation.

Give Your Opinion

 

Question 12. (a) When candidates have only the condition of age, why should they give other information to Election Commission?
Answer:

• While filling the form candidates should reveal information about his property assets and if there are any criminal charges against him.
• When candidates have only the condition of age as eligibility, why should they give other information to election commission?
• Why are the candidates required to give the information of their property to Election Commission?
• Such candidates if elected can misuse power and amass wealth with corrupt practices.
• With criminal background they can even threaten voters to vote for him.
• His nomination could get cancelled based on the information.

This requirement ensures complete transparency so that voters can make an educated choice.
In simple words: Candidates must share details about their wealth and criminal records so voters can decide if they are trustworthy.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight how sharing background details prevents corruption and helps voters make an informed decision.

 

Question 12. (b) Why is it so? (A) Some constituencies are reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
Answer:

• It is difficult for the people of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes to get representation as they are scattered in different parts.
• Without a representative it is difficult to discuss their problems in Parliament.
• Lack of representative will hinder their progress. Hence some constituencies are reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
• Some constituencies are kept reserved for Scheduled caste and Scheduled tribes.
• Every political party has an election symbol.
• At the time of voting and counting of votes, the official representatives of political parties remain present.

This system of reservation ensures that marginalized communities are not left without a voice in the legislature.
In simple words: Reserved seats make sure that people from scheduled castes and tribes have their own leaders in Parliament to talk about their problems.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain that reservation is necessary because these communities are scattered, making it hard for them to win elections without reserved seats.

p>Question (B) Why every political party has an election symbol?
Answer:
• After independence, the literacy rate was quite low in India.
• It was not possible for the voters to read the name of the candidate and vote.
• Therefore, the Election Commission gave symbols to political parties and independent candidates which helped the voters to identify and decide whom to vote for. This visual representation made the democratic process inclusive for everyone.
In simple words: Since many people could not read or write after independence, symbols were used to help them recognize their chosen party. This made it easy for everyone to cast their vote correctly.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the low literacy rate post-independence as the primary reason for introducing election symbols.

 

Question (C) At the time of voting and counting of votes, the official representatives of political parties remain present.
Answer:
• There are incidences of duplicate voters who register in multiple constituencies.
• There are cases of rigging of EVM or booth capturing.
• Such incidences are brought to light by representatives who are present at polling centres.
• During the counting process, if the EVM machine looks tampered, the representative can raise an objection. This presence ensures transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
In simple words: Representatives of political parties stay present during voting and counting to make sure no one cheats or tampers with the voting machines. This keeps the election fair and honest.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight key terms like "booth capturing", "rigging", and "transparency" to secure maximum marks.

 

Question (D) All recognised parties should get an equal opportunity to express their opinion on media such as television and radio.
Answer:
• All political parties should get a fair chance to express their agenda.
• Their ideas and philosophy should reach the people.
• Television and radio are owned by the government.
• Political parties have equal right on both.
• Hence, all the recognised parties can express their opinion on Doordarshan and Radio. This ensures a level playing field for all contestants during elections.
In simple words: All political parties should have an equal chance to share their ideas with the public on TV and radio. This helps voters make an informed choice without any unfair advantage.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize the role of government-owned media in providing equal opportunities to all recognized parties.

(c) Think!

 

(A) How political parties suffer due to family monopoly in the party? OR What are the disadvantages of dynasty rule?
Answer:
1. If only one family has domination on the political party because of dynasty rule then others are not given leadership opportunity. This concentration of power often discourages young and capable leaders from joining the political process.
2. It is impossible to have all the members of the family efficient. An inefficient heir can cause damage to the party.
3. The growth and expansion of party comes to a halt because of such heir. His faults seep into the party making it weak in the long term.
4. The nature of such a party become dictatorial. Opposing views are suppressed and the internal democracy in the party vanishes.
5. If the heir does not have progressive thoughts then the party becomes regressive and of obsolete ideology.
6. How political parties suffer due to family monopoly in the party?
7. What do you understand by the system of ‘one vote one value’?
In simple words: Dynasty rule hurts political parties because it stops talented outsiders from leading, and an inefficient family heir can weaken the entire party.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly list the negative impacts of dynasty rule, such as the lack of internal democracy and inefficient leadership, to score full marks.

 

(B) What do you understand by the system ‘One Vote One Value’?
Answer:
• There is great importance in political and social equality in democracy.
• According to this ideology, ‘One Vote One Value’ is very important.
• In a democracy, each vote has the same value. The value of the vote of a Prime Minister and a common man is same. This ensures that every citizen has an equal say in choosing their representatives.
• Under military rule or dictatorship or during monarchy the value of a vote for privileged classes was more. There was no importance given to the vote of the common man.
• ‘One Man One Vote’ indicates all the people in the country have same status. This is the gift of democracy.
In simple words: 'One Vote One Value' means that every single citizen's vote is equally important, whether they are rich, poor, a common person, or the Prime Minister.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the comparison between a Prime Minister's vote and a common man's vote to illustrate the concept of political equality clearly.

 

(d) Voting is our duty as well as responsibility to vote.

 

Question (e) What measures should be taken to increase the credibility of elections?
Answer: To increase the credibility of elections the following measures should be taken :
• 50% seats should be reserved for women candidates by every party.
• Candidates with a criminal background should be permanently barred from contesting any elections.
• The misuse of money should be stopped during elections. The government should incur the expenditure.
• Candidates who resort to malpractices should be immediately booked. A strict inquiry and action should be taken against them by the court.
• Laws and regulations should be followed strictly by the political parties before giving election tickets.
• If the political parties do not co-operate with the above terms, the Election Commission should cancel their recognition.

These steps will ensure that the democratic process remains fair, transparent, and truly representative of the people's will.
In simple words: To make elections more trustworthy, we should stop criminals from contesting, limit the use of unfair money, reserve half the seats for women, and strictly punish anyone who cheats.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly list at least four distinct measures using bullet points to make your answer easy for the examiner to read and grade.

 

Question (f) Which rules would you include in Code of Conduct for voters?
Answer: The following rules should be included in Code of Conduct for voters :
• The voters who abstain from voting should be fined and government should suspend all the facilities given to them.

Additionally, voters must strictly refrain from accepting any bribes, gifts, or favors in exchange for their votes.
In simple words: Voters should face penalties if they do not vote without a valid reason, and they must never accept money or gifts to vote for a specific candidate.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the responsibility of the voter and suggest practical, enforceable rules to show a deep understanding of civic duties.

• If it is proved that the voter has accepted money or any kind of gifts, he should be punished.
• The action of voters should not instigate common people.
• They should not involve in bogus voting.
• They should not resort to illegal means for voting.
• The candidate distributes items of household use.
• Promise made to resolve the water problem if elected.
• To go from door to door to meet voters and request them to vote.
• To appeal on the basis of caste and religion to get support.