NCERT Class 9 Social Science Understanding Society India and Beyond Part 1 Chapter 07 Elections PDF Download

Chapter 7: Elections

The Big Questions

1. Why are elections essential to a democratic system?
2. How do electoral systems and rules shape political representation and fairness?
3. What role do institutions and laws play in ensuring free and fair elections?
4. What challenges do elections face in practice, and how can these challenges affect democracy?

Why do Elections Matter?

Elections are one of the most important processes for exercising democratic rights. Regular and periodic elections lie at the core of democracy. Representatives to public offices can be chosen through either direct or indirect elections. In India, members of the Lok Sabha at the central level, members of the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) at the state level, and members of local bodies (like Panchayats, municipal corporations, etc.) are elected through direct elections every five years. In contrast, the President, Vice President, and members of the Rajya Sabha are elected through indirect elections.

You read about a case in Grade 8 where Gurmat was elected as class representative (CR). Can we allow her to continue as the CR in Grade 9 without facing a fresh election? Similarly, can the government continue beyond the prescribed term without seeking the people's mandate again? And can we exercise our choice if only one political party is contesting the election? The answer to all these questions is No, because one of the most crucial elements of democracy is participating in the periodic election of those who will make decisions on our behalf. Elected representatives are accountable to the people. The right to elect our representatives and holding them accountable is ensured through periodic elections, and our vote is the principal means by which we exercise this right.

An election is a process through which we exercise the right to vote and fulfil our responsibility as citizens.

[Figure 7.1: Importance of elections in a democracy. (Fill in the two empty boxes to indicate why elections are important for democratic functioning, and discuss how each one of them is ensured through elections.) -, See in your textbook]

Teacher's Note

Remember that direct and indirect elections serve different purposes in India's system. Direct elections are used when you, as a citizen, vote directly for your representatives like MPs and MLAs. Indirect elections happen when elected representatives vote to choose leaders like the President. Do not confuse the two - if the question asks how the President is chosen, the answer is indirect election, not direct.

Don't Miss Out

Have you heard the term 'psephology'? It refers to the scientific study of elections. The term is derived from the Greek word psephos, meaning 'pebble,' and logy, meaning 'systematic study.' In ancient Greece, pebbles were used for voting, leading to the origin of the term 'psephology.'

Inside India's Election Machinery

For democracy to be realised, elections must be conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner. The electoral process in a vast and diverse country like India, where millions of people vote across thousands of constituencies, requires laws, a well-organised and coordinated system at all levels - national, state, and local - and a robust machinery to manage it. This is where the electoral system and the various stakeholders, like the Election Commission of India (ECI), various political parties, civil society, media, and the voters, come to play their roles. Our Constitution and various parliamentary laws provide for the functions and powers of all these stakeholders.

The Electoral System

The first step towards successfully conducting elections is deciding on the method of converting the votes cast into seats in the legislature. The way an electoral system allocates seats is what distinguishes it from other systems. The framers of our Constitution discussed the two most common electoral systems and ultimately chose the plurality system, also known as the 'First-Past-The-Post' (FPTP) system.

We elect members of the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha using the FPTP, and the elections to the Rajya Sabha and those of the President and the Vice President are conducted using the system of proportional representation.

The Vidhan Sabhas are directly elected bodies that make laws for their respective States and some Union Territories. Elections to the Vidhan Sabha are conducted in the same manner as those to the Lok Sabha, using the FPTP electoral system. In six states - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh - the legislature has a bicameral structure. This means it has two houses - the Upper House, known as the Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council), and the Lower House, known as the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly). The Vidhan Parishad consists of representatives elected by the members of the Vidhan Sabha and local bodies, and also by graduates and teachers in the State having such a Parishad. In addition, the Governor of the State nominates some members to represent fields, such as art, science, social service,

Teacher's Note

The FPTP system is the key electoral method used in India for most elections. Make sure you understand that in FPTP, the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they do not have a majority - this is different from proportional representation. When studying election results or answering questions about how India chooses its representatives, FPTP applies to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas.

Key Points

• Elections are essential to democracy because they allow citizens to choose their representatives, hold them accountable, and ensure that power comes from the people's consent.
• India uses two main electoral systems: the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, and proportional representation for Rajya Sabha and presidential elections.
• Direct elections allow citizens to vote directly for their representatives, while indirect elections occur when elected representatives vote to choose leaders like the President.
• The Election Commission of India, political parties, civil society, and the media all play important roles in ensuring that elections are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent way.

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