CLASS 10- POLITICAL SCIENCE

Challenges To Democracy

CHAPTER-8

Class-X

Q.1 How can democracy be more democratic in it's practice and outcomes ?

Ans. Indian democracy has many reforms :

 a. New laws can be introduced to ban undesirable things.

  b. It is important to improve the quality of political participation by ordinary citizens.

  c. Reforms in the political administration that would reduce the corruption in political  circles and the bureaucracy

Q.2 what are the features of a good democracy ?

Ans. (a)  Good democracy is the mode of government in which the rulers elected by the citizens make the decisions.

b. Elections must give a choice and an opportunity to the people to change the leaders.

c.  All the citizens of the country must have the opportunity to participate in the elections.

d. It is system wherein the citizens are ensured with their basic rights by the constitution. 

 Q.3 Explain the ways by which democracy ca be redefined in the democracy and make it more effective.

Ans. In democracy, people have extensive rights from right to vote ,to participate and stand in the elections or form a political organization .They also have socio-economic rights.

Democracy ensures that the views of the people who are in the minority must be respected.

In democracy caste, religion an d gender based discrimination  are eliminated over periods.

Q.4 What are the challenges faced by the Indian Democracy ?

Ans. A .Poverty is the major challenge ,when people are poor they are concerned about their basic needs and the political parties exploit theses weaknesses and corrupt practices play a major role in elections.

B  Casteism and communalism pose great problems to the functioning of democracy .Casteism and communal politics is dangerous to democracy.

Q.5 What are the various aspects of democratic governments and politics ?

Ans. Various aspects of the democratic politics and politics :

       (a) Democratic rights are not limited to right to vote, stand in elections and forming organizations .Democracy should offer social and economic rights to it's citizens.

(b) Power sharing is necessary in a democracy.

(c) Democracy cannot be the brute rule of majority and that respect for minority voice is necessary in democracy.

(d) Elimination of discrimination on the basis of caste ,religion and gender is important in democracy.

Q.6 What are the reforms need to decrease doctor's absenteeism ?

Ans. Government should make it compulsory to live in the village they are posted; otherwise their services should not be terminated.

Surprise raids to check the attendance of doctors by district administration and police should be carried out.

Village panchayat should be given the power to write the annual report of the doctor which should be read out in gram sabha meetings .

Uttar pradesh should be split up into several states for administration efficiency.

Q.7 Discuss two challenges that two democracy are facing .

a. Casteism : People from different states form different communities and they have differnet interests .Under this system the high paying and the respectable jobs are usually given more importance as compared to one religion and community

b. Communalism : It means to promote the ideas of practical religion. It believs that people belonging from one community are a member of other community .The British followed the policy of divide and rule  and created major differences in two communities ,Hindu and Muslim.

Q. 8 Explain the challenge of expansion in democracy.

Ans. Countries already having the democratic set-up face the challenge of expanding it to more social groups and religions follow their functioning.

a. Ensuring greater power to the local government.

b. Extension of federal unit to all the units of federations.

c. Inclusion of women and minority groups etc.

d. It also means that less and less decision should remain outside the political domain of democratic control.

e. Most of the countries including India and U.S face this challenge.

Q.9 What role can a common man can play in deepening democracy ?

Ans. No democracy can function without the enlightened citizens because they are the pillars of democracy. Citizens maintain a balance between government and public issues.

well informed and enlightened citizens form a healthy public opinion which puts  a check on unresponsive government policies.

Socially responsible citizens  also help in the regulation of reforms and can put a rash and unsocial conduct.

Hence ,strength of democracy lies in respecting its citizens and creating a atmosphere of fair and frank interaction and equal beings.

Q.10 How can communalism take various forms in politics ?

Ans. Communalism is based on the idea that the religions is the principal basis of social community.

Religious Form : The most formidable form of communalism is in everyday religious ideas of the people .The followers of one religion believe it to be  superior to other all religions .There is blind faith in one and contempt for all others.

Political form : Actually ,people of a particular religion want  maximum representation of their representation  of religion in politics and want to achieve political and social dominance over the country.

Forms of political mobilization:  Communalism in politics sometimes take the shape of political mobilization on the basis of communal lines. It involves the use of sacred symbols and religious leaders to appeal to the people of particular religion.

Forms of riot and physical violence : The most adverse form of communalism is that it may also lead to riots and violence .The people from various religions are in opposition to each others and use their violence to show their dominance of their religion .In this way it disturbs the social peace and cause turmoil.

Q.11 What do you understand by 'Counter Productive Law' ?

Ans. If there is any change ,it must carefully be looked at what results it will have on politics .Sometimes , the results may be counter productive .For example ,many states have banned  people who have more than two children from contesting panchayat elections .This has resulted in denial of political oppurtunity to many poor men and women which was not intended.

Generally ,the laws that seek to ban something are not successful in politics ,instead laws that give political actors incentives to do good things are more successful.

The best laws are those that carry out to and empower democratic reforms .The Right to information act is a good example of law that empowers people to find out what is happening in our government and act as a watchdogs of the democracy.

Q.12 How can the influence of money be decreased in politics ?

Ans. The financial accounts of every political party should be examined by the government auditors .There should be state funding of elections .Citizens should be encouraged to give more donations to parties and political workers .Such income should be exempted from Income tax.

Q.13 How can democracy be improved in practical form ?

Ans. Democratic principles should be reformed in practical form by strengthening the democratic practices and traditions .there is a need to enhance the political involvement of common citizens .The efforts of political organizations ,parties and movements can do this.

Q.14  How are social diversities accommodated in democracies ?

or

      How does democracy leads to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens ?

Ans.  A. No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups. However we can certainly learn to respect these differences and we can also evolve mechanisms to negotiate the differences .Democracy is the best suited to produce this outcome.

B. Non-democratic regimes often turn a blind eye to or suppress internal social differences ,divisions and conflicts is thus a definite plus point of a democratic government.

C. Social diversities can be accommodated by deliberation ,negotiation  and mutual understanding.

D. It can be accommodated by power sharing as in Belgium.

Q.15 How do expectations from democracy function as the criteria for judging a democratic country ?

Ans.1.As people get benefits of democracy ,they ask for more and want to make democracy even better .That is why we ask people about the way democracy functions ,they always come up with more expectations and complaints.

2.The fact that people are complaining itself is a testimony to the success of the democracy ,it shows that people have developed awareness and ability to look critically at power holders and the high and the mighty.

3. A public expression of dissatisfaction  whose the success of the project ,it transforms people from the status of subject under a king into the status f that of a king into that of a citizen .Most individuals today believe that their vote makes a difference as how the government will work and to their own self interest.

Q.16 What challenges do non-democratic countries face in their way to democracy ?

Ans. Non-democratic countries face the foundational challenge of making transition to democracy and their instituting democratic government .This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic rule ,keeping military away from controlling the government and establishing a sovereign and functional state.

Q.17 Suggest any four guidelines that should be kept in mind while devising ways for political reforms in India.

Ans. a. People think of legal ways of reforming politics ,think of new laws to ban undesirable things .But this temptation needs to be resisted .Carefully devised changes in law can help to discourage  wrong political practices and encourage the good ones .But legal constitutional changes by themselves cannot overcome challenges to democracy .Democratic reforms are to be carried out by political activists ,parties ,movements ,politically conscious citizens.

b. Any change that must be looked at what the results it will have on politics .Sometimes the results may be counter productive .Generally the laws that seek to ban something are not successful in politics .Laws that give political actors incentives to do good things have more chance of working .The best laws are those , which empower people to carry out democratic reforms .

c. Democratic reforms are to brought about principally through political practice .Therefore ,the main focus of political reforms must be to increases and improve the quality of participation by ordinary citizens.

d. Any proposal for political reforms should think not only about what is a good solution but also about who will implement it and how? It is not very wise to think that the legislatures will pass legislations that go against the interest of all political parties and M.Ps .But the measures that rely on democratic movements ,organizations and media are likely to succeed.

Q.18 Do you think that legal reforms in politics can bring about a change in the politics of a country ?

 Ans. Law has an important role to play in bringing about political reforms.

        Laws can help in discouraging wrong political practices and encourage good ones.

         However, these are not enough to bring about a complete change .The democratic       can be brought only  about when political activists ,administrators parties and politically conscious citizens carry out these reforms.

Q.19 How countries are facing the problem of fundamental challenges of sticking to democracy ?

Ans. This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic regime ,keeping military away from controlling government and establishing a functional state.

Q.20 How challenge of deepening democracy is faced by every democracy ?

Ans. 1. This involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy .

         2. This should occur in such a way that people can realize their expectations of    democracy.

3. In general terms it means strengthening those institutions that help people's participation and control.

4. This requires and attempt to bring down the control and influence of the rich and the

powerful people in making governmental institutions.

Q.21 What are the basic rights of citizens for exercising voting rights ?

Ans.1. The rulers elected by the people must take all the major decisions.

        2. Elections must offer a choice and a fair oppurtunity to change the rulers

       3. The choice and oppurtunity should be available to all the people on an equal      basis.

       4. The exercise of this choice must lead to a government limited by basic ruler of the constitution and citizen rights.