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FAQs on CBSE Class 9 Political Science (Civics) Important Questions Chapter 3 Electoral Politics
1. From an exam perspective, why are elections in India considered democratic? Mention key features.
Indian elections are considered democratic because they uphold several core principles essential for a free and fair electoral process. For your exams, you should highlight the following features:
- Universal Adult Franchise: Every citizen aged 18 and above has the right to vote, regardless of their caste, religion, gender, or wealth.
- Regular Elections: Elections are held at regular intervals (typically every five years), ensuring that voters can change the government if they are dissatisfied.
- Free and Fair Conduct: An independent Election Commission (EC) is empowered to supervise and control the entire election process to prevent malpractice.
- Multi-Party System: Voters have a real choice among several political parties and candidates, which is a hallmark of a vibrant democracy.
- Acceptance of Outcome: The losing party peacefully accepts the verdict of the people, allowing for a smooth transfer of power.
2. What are the major challenges that threaten the conduct of free and fair elections in India?
Despite being largely successful, Indian elections face several significant challenges that are important to know for a 5-mark question. Key challenges include:
- Use of Money Power: Candidates and parties with huge funds have an unfair advantage over smaller parties. This often leads to corruption and policy-making that favours wealthy donors.
- Criminalisation of Politics: Parties sometimes nominate candidates with serious criminal cases pending against them, as they may have a better chance of winning through muscle power and intimidation.
- Dynastic Succession: Political parties are often controlled by one family, where top positions are passed down through generations, limiting opportunities for ordinary workers.
- Lack of Meaningful Choice: Often, major parties have very similar policies and ideologies, leaving voters with little real choice.
3. Explain the concept of a 'Reserved Constituency' and state its importance in the Indian political system.
A Reserved Constituency is an electoral district where the right to contest elections is reserved for candidates belonging to specific weaker sections of society, primarily the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). While all voters in that constituency can vote, only a person from the designated social group can stand as a candidate.
Its importance lies in ensuring political representation for communities that have faced historical discrimination and might not otherwise get a fair chance to win elections. This system promotes social justice and makes our democracy more inclusive by ensuring their voices are heard in Parliament and State Assemblies.
4. What are the key powers and functions of the Election Commission of India that make it an independent body?
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional body with wide-ranging powers to ensure democratic elections. Its key functions include:
- Taking all decisions related to elections, from the announcement of election dates to the declaration of results.
- Implementing the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and penalising any candidate or party that violates it.
- Ordering the government to follow its guidelines to prevent the misuse of state machinery for electoral advantage.
- Recognising political parties and allotting them unique election symbols.
- During election duty, government officials work under the control of the EC, not the government.
This independence from government control is crucial for its impartiality.
5. How is political competition considered both a merit and a demerit in electoral politics?
Political competition is a double-edged sword in a democracy, with both significant advantages and disadvantages.
Merits of Competition:
- It forces political parties and leaders to be accountable to the people. The fear of being voted out makes them work for the voters.
- It provides more choices to the voters, allowing them to select the party whose policies they prefer.
- It motivates parties to develop better policies and programmes to win public support.
Demerits of Competition:
- It can create disunity and factionalism in society.
- Parties may resort to 'dirty tricks', false promises, and personal attacks to win elections.
- The pressure to win at any cost can lead to the use of money and muscle power, undermining the democratic spirit.
6. Arrange the following election-related activities in the correct chronological sequence for a typical Indian election.
For an exam question on the election process, the correct chronological sequence of activities is as follows:
- Announcement of election schedule: The Election Commission formally declares the dates for the election.
- Making of Voters' List (Electoral Roll): The list of eligible voters is prepared and updated.
- Filing of nomination papers: Candidates formally enter the contest by filing their nomination documents.
- Release of election manifestos: Parties release documents outlining their policies and promises.
- Election campaign: Parties and candidates hold rallies, meetings, and use media to persuade voters.
- Casting of votes (Polling): Eligible citizens vote on the designated polling day.
- Counting of votes: Votes are counted under the supervision of the EC.
- Declaration of results: The winner is officially declared.
7. What is the significance of the legal declaration that every candidate must file during nomination? What does it contain?
The legal declaration is a crucial step for ensuring transparency and accountability in elections. The Supreme Court has made it mandatory for every candidate to provide a sworn affidavit containing:
- Serious criminal cases pending against them. This helps voters know if a candidate has a criminal background.
- Details of assets and liabilities of the candidate and their family. This allows the public to check for any disproportionate increase in wealth if the candidate is elected.
- Educational qualifications of the candidate.
This information is made public, empowering voters to make an informed decision based on the candidate's background and integrity.
8. What is the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), and why is it considered important for fair elections?
The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission for political parties and candidates to follow during the election period. It is important because it ensures a level playing field for all contestants and prevents the ruling party from misusing its power. Key rules include:
- Prohibition on using government resources like vehicles or official machinery for campaigning.
- No appeals for votes based on caste or religious sentiments.
- Restrictions on announcing new government schemes or financial grants once the code is in effect.
- Strict regulations on campaign activities, such as holding rallies and using loudspeakers.
9. How does the principle of 'Universal Adult Franchise' ensure political equality in a large and diverse country like India?
Universal Adult Franchise is the principle that all adult citizens have the right to vote, without any discrimination based on caste, creed, religion, gender, or economic status. This ensures political equality by upholding the value of 'one person, one vote, one value'. In a diverse country like India, this is fundamental because it means the vote of a poor farmer in a village carries the same weight as the vote of a wealthy industrialist in a city. It guarantees that every citizen has an equal say in choosing their government, making the democratic process truly representative and inclusive.
10. What is the difference between a general election, a by-election, and an election?
While often used together, these terms have specific meanings that are important to distinguish:
- Election: This is a general term for the formal process of people choosing their representatives for any office.
- General Election: This refers to elections held in all or most constituencies of a country or state at roughly the same time, usually every five years, to elect the Lok Sabha or a State Legislative Assembly.
- By-Election: This is a special election held to fill a vacancy in a single constituency that has arisen due to the death, resignation, or disqualification of the sitting member before their term ends.

















