padhle akshayDr eFeCol iy C-wrel eye y VERY SHORT ANOMH QUESTIONS padh la akchavQ.1 What is meant by transparency? Ans. Transparency means that every citizen belonging to any democratic country has the right to information, the right to examine or investigate whether the laws, plans, action, policies or decisions taken by the government are correct or are beneficial to them or not. Q.2 How does democracy on accountable development? Ans. Democracy produces an accountable government by giving the citizen the right to examine the process by which decisions are made. Q.3 Give any one example of economic development in dictatorial regimes. Ans. 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. Q.4 If you want to extract information about the functions of any government department, which right would you exercise ? Ans. | would exercise my Right to Information (RTI) to extract information about the functions of any government department. Q.5 Mention any two common features of democratic politics. Ans. Features of democratic politics are: = Free and fair elections are organised. = The principle of ‘one person, one vote, one value' is followed. Q.6 How is democracy based on political equality in India? Ans. 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.) padhie aksna\ SHORT ANU QUESTIONSQ.1 Democracy accommodates the social diversities. Support with examples. Ans. Democracy accommodates social diversities and this can be asserted as follows: = Democracies develop a procedure to conduct their competition. This reduces the possibility of these tensions becoming explosive or violent. = A Democratic society learns to respect these differences and can evolve a mechanism to negotiate these differences. = Ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts is a benefit of democratic regimes. Q.2 Establish the relationship between democracy and development. Ans. Relationship between democracy and development are: = Democracies are expected to produce development. = They are supposed to develop conditions conducive for common development of the people from all sections of the society. . Development depends upon many factors, i. ., SIZE OF population, global situation, cooperation from other countries, etc. Democracies are supposed to ensure those conditions for everyone. Q.3 What are the expected outcomes of democracy? Explain. Ans. The expected outcomes of democracy are as follows: = Democratic government produces a chosen and accountable government, elected by the people. = A government that is responsive to the needs of the people. = Democracy produces economic growth and development, reducing all forms of inequality and end of poverty. = Democracies accommodates all social diversities. = Ensuring the dignity and freedom of the individuals. Q.4 "Democracies have had greater success in setting regular free and fair elections.” Analyse the statement. Ans. Democracies have had greater success in setting regular free and fair elections: = Ina democracy, all people above a certain age have the right to vote as well as stand in elections. = Elections are free and fair in a democracy as there is an independent bod (Election Commission, in India) which monitors all election related activities impartially. = If there are any malpractices during elections, then a re-election is conducted in that constituency. Q.5 How can we assess democracy in the enhancement for the dignity of the individual ? Explain. Ans. Democracy enhances the dignity: = Equal status without any discrimination. = Respect and freedom are the basis of democracy. = Participation in decision making.Q. ee is the relationship between democracy and economic development? Explain. Ans. Economic development depends on several factors: = Country's population size = Global situation = Cooperation from other countries = 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.LO ANU QUESTIONS _— 78 v _ eorcleolall “1a ar hlQ.1 Democracy is more effective than its alternatives. Justify the statement. Ans. Democracy is more effective because: = Democracy promotes equality among citizens. = It enhances the dignity of the individual. = It also improves the quality of de: mn making among the citizens. = It provides a method to resolve conflicts. = It gives room to correct mistakes. Q.2 "Democracies lead to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens." Support the statement with examples. Ans, Democracy lead to peaceful and harmonious Life among citizens: = Democracy accommodates various social divisions. = Democracy reduces the possibility of tensions becoming explosive and violent. « Ability to handle social differences andconflicts among different groups is a plus point of democracy. = Democracy develops procedure lou to conduct healthy competitions among different groups in a society. = Democracy respects differences and provides mechanism to resolve them. Q.3 ‘Complaints are treated as testimony to the success of democracy. Justify this statement. Ans. 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. Q.4 "Democracy is better than any other form of government." Justify the statement. Ans. DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT = Democratic governments have a formal constitution. = They hold regular elections. = They have political parties which act as the face of the democracy « Citizens are given many rights under the constitution, using which they enjoy equality and freedom. = There is room to correct mistakes in a democracy. OTHER FORMS OF GOVERNMENT = They don't have a formal constitution. = Regular elections don't take place in such governments. = They don't have political parties. « There is no equality and citizens don't enjoy any equal rights. " There is no room for the correction of mistakes.Q.5 How are democratic governments accountable to its citizens? Explain with examples. Ans. In a democracy, people have the right to choose their representatives and have control over 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. Q.6 "Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promotingdignity and freedom of the individual.” Justify this statement. Ans. Following are the ways in which democracy promotes dignity and freedom of people: = 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. « Every individual wants to receive respect from fellow beings. Democracy recognises that all individuals are equal. = Freedom and respect are the bases of democracy. « All individuals are treated with respect and dignity, citizens are not subjects of the government. They enjoy equality. = Democracy in India has strengthened the dignity of women and discriminated caste by granting them equal status. Q.7 Describe any five features of democracy. Ans. Features of democracy are: = Elected Representatives: The people elect representatives from among who would govern them. = Civil Liberties: Civil liberties such as freedom of speech, expression, etc. are provided to the people. = Independent Judiciary: The judiciary is free from the control of the executive and hence results in a more democratic resolution of disputes. « Organised Opposition Party: An organised opposition party is an essential part of the democracy as it keeps a check on the government. = 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.) evs Vola le¥rel ear kl CASE QUESTIONS _— i o. b paaniec.aKxksnav1. 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. (A) Define democracy in a single sentence on the basis of your reading of the given extract. 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) What are economic disparities? Has the Indian Democracy been capable of reducing them? Economic inequality is the unequal distribution of income and opportunity between different groups in society. In the following ways, Democracy has been able to reduce inequality and poverty: + Democracy gives equal rights to the people; it does not discriminate on the basis of sex, religion, color, caste etc. + Democracy promotes the redistributive mechanism for conveying financial benefits on the grounds of the necessity of any section of the community, this directs to a more equal division of privileges to under privilege which overcomes poverty. (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.” It is true that democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the dis advantaged 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 per cent 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.2. Read the source 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? Democratic Governments are better suited to handle social differences than Non democratic regimes. (B) How does Democracy handle Social Differences? Democracy accepts, acknowledges social differences and gives less volatile mediums to express it without violence in the country. It develops its own method of competition. (C) Suggest two ways to increase peace and harmony in a socially/communally divided country. Two cine to reduce differences and promote peace and harmony: + one should try to first bring total equality among all communities or social groups. No group should be preferred for any favours. + one should try to develop national unity by reminding them of shared struggles, culture and historical events.