1. Choose the correct option from the given options and complete the sentences
(1) In a democracy ………… participate in elections and get political power.
(a) political parties
(b) courts
(c) social organisations
(d) none of the above
Ans. (a) political parties
(2) The major challenge faced by all democratic nations in the world is ………… (March ’19; July ’19)
(a) Religious conflicts
(b) Naxal activities
(c) Deepening the roots of democracy
(d) Importance to muscle power
Ans. Religious conflicts
2. State whether following statements are true or false. Give reasons for your answer.
(1) Alertness is required to sustain democracy. (July ’ 19; Nov. ’20)
Ans. The above statement is True.
(i) Alert and conscious effort are required to sustain democracy.
(ii) It is necessary to understand threats to democracy in time and deal with them in a democratic manner and try to overcome it.
(2) Importance of the problems of farmers and tribals has increased in the left extremist movement. (March ’20)
Ans. The above statement is False.
(i) Naxalism began as a movement to remove injustice against aggressive landless farmers and tribal people. (ii) But the importance of problems of farmers and
tribal people has reduced. Naxalism has become violent struggle. (iii) In Naxalite movement, the importance of problems of the farmers and tribal people has reduced. (iv) Instead violent measures to oppose the government in policies attacking police forces and such other tactics are used by the Naxalite groups.
(3) People may lose confidence in the democratic process due to corruption during elections. (March ’19)
Ans. The above statement is True.
(i) Government’s working capacity is reduced due to corruption at political and administrative levels. (ii) Corruptions in electoral process, bogus voting, bribing the voters, abducting the voters and such other things reduces people’s confidence in democratic process.
3. Write notes on:
(1) Left extremists-Naxalism.
Ans. (i) Naxalism is a major problem in India. (ii) Naxalism began as a movement to remove injustice against aggressive landless farmers and tribal people. (iii) In the Naxalite movement the importance of the problems of farmers and tribal people has reduced. (iv) Instead, violent measures to oppose the government policies, attacking the police forces and such other tactics are used by the Naxalite groups.
(2) Corruption
Ans. (i) In India, extent of corruption is very high in public sector. (ii) Government’s working capacity is reduced due to corruption at political and administrative
levels. (iii) People develop distrust and dissatisfaction about the entire governmental system due to delay in governmental work, poor public services and facilities and different financial blunders. (iv) Corruption in the electoral process, bogus voting, bribing the voters, abducting the voters and such other things reduces people’s confidence in democratic process.
4. Answer the following questions in brief.
(1) Which factors are required for the success of democracy in India? (July ’19)
Ans. The following factors are required for the success of democracy in India :
(i) Though democracy is a government by majority, minorities should also be included in the process of decision making. (ii) It is the duty of government to
take into consideration the interests of minorities. (iii) In short, in democratic government everyone’s opinion should be considered important. (iv) All religious,
linguistic, ethnic and caste groups should get equal opportunity to participate in the decision-making process. (v) To make democracy successful in India, it is not just sufficient to make efforts at the level of government, administration and judiciary. Everyone at social and individual level should make conscious efforts towards it.
(2) What are the effects of criminalisation of politics ?
Ans. The following are the effects of criminalization of politics:
(i) Increased participation of criminals in political process becomes a serious problem for democratic systems. (ii) Political parties give candidature to the people
having criminal background, criminal allegations and allegations of corruption. (iii) This increases the role of money and muscle power in politics. (iv) This may also lead to violence during elections.
3) What efforts are undertaken to bring transparency in political process? (March ’19)
Ans. (i) Judiciary in India is seen to be making conscious efforts to make political process transparent. (ii) To prevent criminalization of politics, judiciary has adopted measures like strict punishment to criminals and prohibiting criminals to participate in political process. (iii) Increase in participation of people at all level of government, administration and judiciary. (iv) Public policies should be made through interaction with the people and also those who are not in power.