CBSE Class 10 Political Science Outcomes Of Democracy Worksheet Set D

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question: How is democracy based on political equality in India?
Answer: In India, every citizen above 18 years of age has the right to vote. Every citizen has the right to contest elections irrespective of his/her caste, religion, creed, economic status, etc. if he/she is 21 years of age. Hence, democracy is based on political equality in India.
OR
Democracies are based on political equality because:
All individuals have equal weight in electing representatives. (Right to vote)

Question: Mention any two common features of democratic politics.
Answer: Features of democratic politics are:
(1) Free and fair elections are organised.
(2) The principle of ‘one person, one vote, one value’ is followed.
(3) Major decisions are taken by elected leaders.
(4) The rule of law prevails.

Question: What does this image show about the outcomes of democratic politics? Explain in your own words.

Answer: This image shows when existing social divisions are minimized through democratic means it is good for country’s unity and integrity. This situation helps in the development of each individual of the society regardless of their status.

Question: Give any one example of economic development in dictatorial regimes.
Answer: Dictatorships have higher rates of economic growth as compared to democracies. For example, China’s growth rate is higher than most of the other democracies in the world department

Question: Which type of government develops mechanisms for citizens to hold the government accountable?
Answer: Democratic governments.

Question: If you want to extract information about the functions of any government department, which right would you exercise ?
Answer: I would exercise my Right to Information (RTI) to extract information about the functions of any government

Short Answer Type Questions

Question: What is the relationship between democracy and economic development? Explain.
Answer: Economic development depends on several factors:
(1) Country’s population size
(2) Global situation
(3) Cooperation from other countries
(4) Economic priorities adopted by the country The difference in the rate of economic development in democracies and dictatorships is negligible.
In practice democracy cannot give us the guarantee of economic development. But we can expect democracy not to lag behind dictatorship in this respect.

Question: “Democracy is accountable and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.” Evaluate the statement.
Answer: Democracy forms an accountable government, which is responsive to needs and expectations of citizens. This can be asserted by following arguments:
(1) In a democracy, people have the right to choose their representatives and the people will have control over them. The decisions taken by ruling parties are always taken considering people’s will, else they will not receive support in following elections.
(2) The essence of democracy is for citizens to have the right to participate in decisionmaking that affects them all. This makes governments more responsive to their needs. Through elections, democracies maintain this essense.
(3) The opposition parties can also question and criticize government policies. They keep a check on the ruling party and make sure that it does not misuse its power.
(4) Political debates in a democracy ensure that transparency is maintained and thus an accountable government is produced. Democracy itself creates various mechanisms for the public to test its own success and thus creates a responsive government.

Question: ‘‘Democracies have had greater success in setting regular free and fair elections.’’ Analyse the statement.
Answer: Democracies have had greater success in setting regular free and fair elections:
(1) In a democracy, all people above a certain age have the right to vote as well as stand in elections.
(2) Elections are free and fair in a democracy as there is an independent body (Election Commission, in India) which monitors all election related activities impartially.
(3) If there are any malpractices during elections, then a re-election is conducted in that constituency.

Question: How can we assess democracy in the enhancement for the dignity of the individual? Explain.
Answer: Democracy enhances the dignity:
(1) Equal status without any discrimination.
(2) Respect and freedom are the basis of democracy.
(3) Equal opportunities to all.
(4) Democratic rights to all.
(5) Participation in decision making.
(6) Conflict resolution.

Question: How is Democracy a better form of government when compared with dictatorship or any other alternative government?
Answer: Democracy is a better form of government when compared with dictatorship or any other alternative form of government because it:
(1) Promotes equality among citizens
(2) Enhances the dignity of the individual
(3) Improves the quality of decision making
(4) Provides a method to resolve conflicts
(5) Allows room to correct mistakes.

Question: Read the sources given below and answer the questions that follow:
Source A: Accountable, responsive and legitimate government
There are some things that democracy must provide. In a democracy, we are most concerned with ensuring that people will have the right to choose their rulers and people will have control over the rulers. Whenever possible and necessary, citizens should be able to participate in decision making, that affects them all.
Source B: Reduction of inequality and poverty
Perhaps more than development, it is reasonable to expect democracies to reduce economic disparities. Even when a country achieves economic growth, will wealth be distributed in such a way that all citizens of the country will have a share and lead a better life? Is economic growth in democracies accompanied by increased inequalities among the people? Or do democracies lead to a just distribution of goods and opportunities?
Source C: Dignity and freedom of the citizens
In a non-democratic set up, this unacceptability would not have legal basis because the principle of individual freedom and dignity would not have the legal and moral force there. The same is true of caste inequalities. Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.
Source A: Accountable, responsive and legitimate government
(A) Define democracy in a single sentence on the basis of your reading of the given extract.
Source B: Reduction of inequality and poverty
(B) What are economic disparities? Has the Indian Democracy been capable of reducing them?
Source C: Dignity and freedom of the citizens
(C) Justify the statement with an example, “Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.”
Answer: (A) Democracy can be defined as a political system in which people have the right of choosing or changing their rulers who are answerable to them.
(B) Economic Inequalities in terms of status and income across the cross-section of Indian Society are known as Economic Disparities. No, Democracy in India has not been capable of reducing them.
(C) It is true that democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal opportunity. For example, Dalits in India have been given reservations of seats in educational institutions and government jobs while 27 percent reservation has been given to Socially and Educationally Backward Classes so that they can come up at par with the common people in the society.

Question: Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:
Over a hundred countries of the world today claim and practice some kind of democratic politics: they have formal constitutions, they hold elections, they have parties and they guarantee rights of citizens. While these features are common to most of them, these democracies are very different from each other in terms of their social situations, their economic achievements and their cultures. Consequently, what may be achieved or not achieved under each of these democracies will be very different.
(A) Explain the fascination for democracy amongst various countries.
(B) Explain democracy on the basis of expected and actual outcome.
Answer: (A) Democracies give freedom of speech, expression and religion along with promoting dignity and freedom of human beings. It provides people with a free and dignified life and reduces possibilities of social conflicts. This is why countries are fascinated with democracy.
(B) People often say that democracies have different expected and actual outcomes. Where it is expected to deliver fair and free elections and acceptable and quick outcomes, it is unable to produce the same due to corruption, ineffcient working and delay in decisions. It is expected to reduce economic inequality but it has not been able to do the same.

Question: Analyse any three values that make democracy better.
Answer: Values that can make democracy better are:
(1) Providing equality among citizens.
(2) The dignity of an individual can be enhanced only in a democracy.
(3) A democratic government improves the quality of decision making. It may be both more acceptable to the people and more effective.
(4) It provides a method to resolve conflicts and produce a harmonious life among citizens.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question: “Democracy is best suited to produce better results.” Examine the statement.
Answer: Democracy produces better results because:
(1) Democracy is a popular form of government. People participate in making decisions that affects them, including chosing of their representatives. This makes results acceptable.
(2) Regular elections offer a chance to the people to change the current rulers. People can vote for other leaders in the following elections.
(3) Democracy provides an efficient method to deal with differences and conflicts, which are bound to arise in a diverse society, in a peaceful manner through negotiations.
(4) Only a democratic setup is able to accommodate various social divisions without violence.
(5) Democratic governments have a formal constitution
(6) In ademocracy there is room to correct mistakes.
(7) Since democracies have popular support, are inclusive of all diversities provide regular chances to express dissatisfaction with administration, they are best suited to produce better results than authoritarian rulers who don’t pay much attention to the needs of common people.

Question: ‘‘Democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities.’’ Justify the statement.
Answer: A democracy doesn’t guarantee economic development. In most of the democracies, a small number of ultra-rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and income. For example, in countries like South Africa and Brazil, the top 20% people take away more than 60% of the national income. Unfortunately, those who are at the bottom of the society have a very little share (less than 3%) to depend upon. Thus, it can be concluded that in actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities.
The situation is much worse in some other countries. In Bangladesh, more than half of the population lives in poverty. People in several other poor countries are now dependent on the rich countries even for food supplies.

Question: “Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual.” Justify this statement.
Answer: Following are the ways in which democracy promotes dignity and freedome of people:
(1) Democracy ensures that it addresses possible conflicts that arise among the individuals because they might feel alienated or unequal. It ensures equality of socio-political and economic rights to all classes.
(2) Every individual wants to receive respect from fellow beings. Democracy recognises that all individuals are equal.
(3) Freedom and respect are the bases of democracy
(4) All individuals are treated with respect and dignity , citizens are not subjects of the government. They enjoy equality.
(5) Democracy in India has strengthened the dignity of women & discriminated caste by granting them equal status.

Question: ‘Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation’. Examine the statement.
Answer: Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation
(1) Democracy gives importance to deliberation and public opinion.
(2) The democratic government will take more time to follow procedures before arriving at a decision.
(3) Its decisions may be both more acceptable to the people and more effective.
(4) Democracy ensures that decision making will be based on norms and procedures.
(5) Transparency as Persons have the right and the means to examine the process of decision making.
(6). It follows procedures and is accountable to the people.
(7) The democratic government develops mechanisms for citizens to hold the government accountable
(8) Democratic govt. follows mechanisms for citizens to take part in decision making whenever they think fit.

Question: ‘Respect and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society’. Examine the statement.
Answer: Respect and Equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society.
(1) Economic independence or access to an inherited or self-generated income is considered to be the major means of empowering women.
(2) Equal political and civil rights as men
(3) Ways of autonomy and freedom.
(4) Distributive justice to reduce inequalities in resources and power.
(5) Love, universal brotherhood, sincerity, honesty and integrity of character, firm attitude of rendering help
(6) Removing social evils including violence, torture, humiliation etc.

Question: How are democratic governments accountable to its citizens? Explain with examples.
Answer: In a democracy, people have the right to choose their representatives and have control over their them. Therefore, democracy produces a government that is accountable to the citizens and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens. Democracy ensures that decision making is based on norms and procedures. Citizens have the right and the means to examine the process of decision making. This signifies that a democracy produces an accountable government.

Question: Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:
Democracies usually develop a procedure to conduct their competition. This reduces the possibility of these tensions becoming explosive or violent. No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups. But we can certainly learn to respect these differences and we can also evolve mechanisms to negotiate the differences. Democracy is best suited to produce this outcome. Non-democratic regimes often turn a blind eye to or suppress internal social differences. Ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts is thus a definite plus point of democratic regimes.
(A) Which is the best form of government to handle social differences?
(B) How does Democracy handle Social Differences?
(C) Suggest two ways to increase peace and harmony in a socially/communally divided country.
Answer: (A) Democratic Governments are better suited to handle social differences than Non- democratic regimes.
(B) Democracy accepts, acknowledges social differences and gives loess volatile mediums to express it without violence in the country. It develops its own method of competition.
(C) Two ways to reduce differences and promote peace and harmony:
(1) one should try to first bring total equality among all communities or social groups. No group should be preferred for any favours.
(2) one should try to develop national unity by reminding them of shared struggles, culture and historical events.

Question: ‘‘Democracies lead to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens.’’ Support the statement with examples.
Answer: Democracy lead to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens:
(1) Democracy accommodates various social divisions.
(2) Democracy reduces the possibility of tensions becoming explosive and violent.
(3) Ability to handle social differences and conflicts among different groups is a plus point of democracy.
(4) Democracy develops procedure to conduct healthy competitions among different groups in a society.
(5) Democracy respects differences and provides mechanism to resolve them.
(6) Democracy always accommodates minority view.

Question: Describe any five features of democracy.
Answer: Features of democracy are:
(1) Elected representatives: The people elect representatives from among who would govern them.
(2) Civil liberties: Civil liberties such as freedom of speech, expression, etc. are provided to the people.
(3) Independent judiciary: The judiciary is free from the control of the executive and hence results in a more democratic resolution of disputes.
(4) Organised opposition party: An organised opposition party is an essential part of the democracy as it keeps a check on the government.
(5) Rule of law: Rule of law prevails in a democracy and no one is above the law. The law is supreme and all citizens are equal in the eyes of the law.
(6) Majority rule: It is the system of government which is based on parliamentary majorities.

Question: ‘Complaints are treated as testimony to the success of democracy.’ Justify this statement.
Answer: Democracy supports the dignity and freedom of the citizens. Every man wants to be respected by fellow people in the society. A lot of conflicts take place among human beings because some feel that they are not treated with due respect. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy.
Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.
A democracy undergoes one test after the other. People expect more from the government after initial benefits. Hence, people usually have more complaints than satisfaction. These complaints are proof enough that the democracy is successful.

Question: What are the main issues on which democracy has failed? Explain.
Answer: Democracy has failed in finding solutions to the following issues or problems:
(1) Democracy has failed in giving attention to the needs and demands of its people. It has been found that democracies often frustrate the needs of the people and often ignore the demand of a majority of its population.
(2) Democracy is one of the best forms of government in the world and so is expected to have better economic growth and development. But unfortunately, democracy has failed on this issue also. It is so because if we consider all democracies and all dictatorship for the 50 years between 1950 and 2000, dictatorships have slightly better rate of economic growth.
(3) Routine tales of corruption are the part of democratic countries throughout the world.
(4) Reduction of inequality and poverty are the most important economic problems of democratic governments in the world.
(5) In most the democracies, a small number of ultra-rich enjoy a highly disproportionate wealth and income. Their share in the total income of the country has been increasing. Those at the bottom have little to depend upon. Sometimes they find it difficult to meet their basic needs of life such as food, clothing, house, education and health.