Notes And Questions For NCERT Class 10 Social Science Outcomes of Democracy

Students can refer to Notes And Questions For NCERT Class 10 Social Science Outcomes of Democracy below designed as per the latest syllabus and examination patter for CBSE Class 10 Social Science

Facts that Matter

1. Democracy is formed by two Greek words ‘‘demos’’ and “kratia”. “Demos” means people and “kratia” means the government. Democracy, thus, means “rule by the people”. In a democratic set-up, every citizen has the right to take part in the decision making process. It is a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

2. Democracy is a better form of government when compared with dictatorship or any other alternatives because it promotes equality among citizens, enhances the dignity of the individuals, improves the quality of decision-making, etc.

3. Democracy is just a form of government. It can only create conditions for achieving something. The citizens have to take advantage of those conditions and achieve those goals.

4. The most basic outcome of democracy should be that it produces a government that is accountable to the citizens, and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.

5. Some people think that democracy produces less effective government. It is true that non-democratic rulers are very quick and efficient in decision-making and implementation. It is because they do not bother about deliberation in assemblies or worry about majorities.

6. Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. So, some delay is bound to take place. But because it has followed procedures, its decisions may be both more acceptable to the people and more effective.

7. Democracy ensures that decision-making will be based on norms and procedures. A citizen who wants to know if a decision was taken through the correct procedures can find this out. This is not seen in a non-democratic government.

8. There are some shortcomings in a democratic form of government. For example, most democracies fall short of elections that provide a fair chance to everyone and in subjecting every decision to public debate. But it is much better than any non-democratic regime.

9. A democratic government is attentive to the needs and demands of the people and is largely free of corruption. It is a legitimate government. It is people’s own government.

10. These are the reasons why people wish to be ruled by representatives elected by them. They believe that democracy is suitable for their country.

11. But in matters of economic development, not all the democracies get developed because of various factors like population, lack of basic infrastructure etc. If you consider all democracies and all dictatorships for the fifty years between 1950 and 2000, dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic growth. The inability of democracy to achieve higher economic development worries us. But this is not a sole reason to reject democracy. The difference in the rates of economic development between less developed countries with dictatorships and democracies is negligible. Overall, we cannot say that democracy is a guarantee of economic development. Yes, we can expect democracy not to lag behind dictatorship in this respect.

12. Democracy does not appear to be successful in reducing economic inequalities. A small number of ultra rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and income. Their share in total income is increasing. People at the bottom of society have to lead a very tough life.

13. But we find accommodation of social diversity in a democracy. 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.

14. Democracy supports dignity and freedom of the citizens. Every man wants to get respect from fellow persons in the society. A lot of conflicts take place among human beings because some feel 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. As democracy passes one test, it produces another test. As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more and want to make democracy even better. That is why when we ask people about the way democracy functions, they will always come up with more expectations, and many complaints. The fact that people are complaining is itself a testimony to the success of democracy. Overall, we can say that democracy is better than dictatorship or monarchy or military rule.

Words that Matter

1. Democracy is formed by two Greek words ‘‘demos’’ and “kratia”. “Demos” means people and “kratia” means the government. Democracy, thus, means “rule by the people”.

2. Legitimate government: Legally chosen government is legitimate government.

3. Dictatorship: Under dictatorship all the powers are vested in a single person or in group of people.

4. Transparency: People have the right and the means to examine the process of decision making. This is known as transparency through which everything can be clearly seen.

5. Accountable government: The government elected by the people and therefore responsible to them.

6. Responsive government: The government in which people have the right to know the decisions and have the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making.

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS SOLVED

Question 1. How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government?
Ans. 1. Accountable Government: Democracy is an accountable government because it is the government of the people and made by people and for the people. The representatives elected by the people are responsible to them. If the people are not happy with the government they can change the leaders in coming elections.
2. Responsive Government: A citizen who wants to know if a decision was taken through the correct procedures can find this out. He has the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making. This type of transparency is not available in non-democratic government.
3. Legitimate Government: There is one aspect in which democratic government is certainly better than its alternatives: democratic government is legitimate government. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean but a democratic government is people’s own government. So people wish to be ruled by representatives elected by them. They favour democracy as government.

Question 2. What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities?
Ans. (i) 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.
(ii) Democracy continues to be democracy as long as all citizens have a chance to be part of majority at any point of time. If someone is debarred from being part of majority on the basis of birth then democracy is said to be concentrated in a few hands.
(iii) It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply a rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that government can function to represent the opinion of common people.
(iv) The rule of majority should not be ruled by majority on the basis of religion or race or linguistic group etc. Rule by majority means that in case of every decision or in case of every election, different persons and groups may form a majority.

Question 3. Give arguments to support or oppose the following assertions:
(a) Industrialised countries can afford democracy but the poor need dictatorship to become rich.
(b) Democracy can’t reduce inequality of incomes between different citizens.
(c) Government in poor countries should spend less on poverty reduction, health, education and spend more on industries and infrastructure.
(d) In democracy all citizens have one vote, which means that there is absence of any domination and conflict.
Ans. (a) This statement is incorrect. In 1947, India was included in the Third World nations, but now, it is one of the fast-growing economies in the world. On the other hand, Zimbabwe, which was a fairly prosperous nation, has run into huge international debt with the progression of Robert Mugabe’s regime.
(b) This statement is incorrect. The Minimum Wages Act enacted by the government and other policies regulate the basic price at which agricultural producers and small industries sell their goods, have helped increase the per capita income of the country, thereby making its citizens more prosperous.
(c) This is not a wise option as in poor countries the people cannot afford health and education services.
(d) This is a true statement. Democracy stands for political equality and guarantees right to vote to every adult citizen of the country. This reduces the chance of political domination and conflict.

Question 4. Identify the challenges to democracy in the following descriptions. Also suggest policy/institutional mechanism to deepen democracy in the given situations:
(a) Following a High Court directive a temple in Orissa that had separate entry doors for dalits and non-dalits allowed entry for all from the same door.
(b) A large number of farmers are committing suicide in different states of India.
(c) Following allegation of killing of three civilians in Gandwara in a fake encounter by Jammu and Kashmir police, an enquiry has been ordered.
Ans. (a) The challenge to democracy is to provide equal status to all citizens.
(b) The challenge to democracy is to provide farmers with subsidies which will help them earn profits and have a satisfactory level of livelihood.
(c) The challenge to democracy is to preserve the people’s trust in government armed forces like the police.

Question 5. In the context of democracies, which of the following ideas is correct –democracies have successfully eliminated:
A. conflicts among people
B. economic inequalities among people
C. differences of opinion about how marginalised sections are to be treated
D. the idea of political inequality
Ans. D. the idea of political inequality.

Question 6. In the context of assessing democracy which among the following is odd one out. Democracies need to ensure:
A. free and fair elections
B. dignity of the individual
C. majority rule
D. equal treatment before law
Ans. C. majority rule.

Question 7. Studies on political and social inequalities in democracy show that
A. democracy and development go together.
B. inequalities exist in democracies.
C. inequalities do not exist under dictatorship.
D. dictatorship is better than democracy.
Ans. B. Inequalities exist in democracies

Question 8. Read the passage below:

Nannu is a daily wage earner. He lives in Welcome Mazdoor Colony, a slum habitation in East Delhi. He lost his ration card and applied for a duplicate one in January 2004. He made several rounds to the local Food and Civil Supplies office for the next three months. But the clerks and officials would not even look at him, leave alone do his job or bother to tell him the status of his application. Ultimately, he filed an application under the Right to Information Act asking for the daily progress made on his application, names of the officials, who were supposed to act on his application and what action would be taken against these officials for their inaction. Within a week of filing application under the Right to Information Act, he was visited by an inspector from the Food Department, who informed him that the card had been made and he could collect it from the office. When Nannu went to collect his card next day, he was given a very warm treatment by the Food and Supply Officer (FSO), who is the head of a Circle. The FSO offered him tea and requested him to withdraw his application under the Right to Information, since his work had already been done.

What does Nannu’s example show? What impact did Nannu’s action have on officials? Ask your parents their experiences when they approach government officials to attend to their problems.
Ans. Nannu’s example shows that government officials shun away from their duties and look for all possible excuses to get rid of their work. It’s because they have job security. Usually they work when they get pressure from their seniors or they get fear of losing job or some action being taken against them, as it happened in Nannu’s case.
Once my parents also went to a government hospital to take my grandmother to the doctor where the doctors were gossiping and having tea party with their colleagues and the patients were waiting for long for them. My father got really upset seeing all that. He went inside the C.E.O. room and complained against all the doctors who were not doing their duties properly and immediately a meeting was called and a strict action was taken against them.

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Choose the correct option:

1. Democracy is better than any other form of rule because it ……… .
(a) promotes equality among citizens
(b) enhances the dignity of the individual
(c) improves the quality of decision-making
(d) all of the above.

2. How many countries of the world have democratic set-up of government?
(a) More than hundred countries
(b) Less than hundred countries
(c) Less than fifty countries
(d) More than fifty countries.

3. Higher rate of economic growth is usually found in ……… .
(a) democracies
(b) monarchy
(c) dictatorships
(d) all of the above.

4. What is the most distinctive feature of democracy?
(a) Its examination never gets over.
(b) Its examination gets over after a period.
(c) It never fulfills people’s demands.
(d) None of the above.

5. Democracy is not preferred by this country ……… .
(a) China
(b) Pakistan
(c) India
(d) U.S.A.

6. Democracy is preferred over dictatorship everywhere except ……… .
(a) Nepal
(b) Pakistan
(c) India
(d) Bangladesh.

7. What does the term ultra-rich mean?
(a) Highly wealthy
(b) Wealthy
(c) Highly healthy
(d) Not very wealthy.

8. More than half of its population lives in poverty in the country called ……… .
(a) India
(b) South Africa
(c) China
(d) Bangladesh.

9. Which country in South Asia has no democracy?
(a) Nepal
(b) Sri Lanka
(c) Bhutan
(d) Maldives.

II. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1. Why is democracy better than dictatorship or any other alternative? Give one point.
Ans. It is because democracy promotes equality among citizens.

Question 2. What do we do if some of our expectations are not met?
Ans. We start blaming the idea of democracy we start doubting if we are living in a democracy.

Question 3. Which is the must basic outcome of democracy?
Ans. It produces a government that is accountable to the citizens and responsive to the need and expectations of the citizens.

Question 4. Why do some people think that democracy produces less effective government?
Ans. According to these people democracy takes much time in decision-making and its implementation.

Question 5. Why is some delay bound to take place in a democratic set up?
Ans. We know that democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. So, some delay is bound to take place.

Question 6. What is known as transparency in a democracy?
Ans. In a democracy, a citizen who wants to know if a decision was taken through the correct procedures can find this out. He/She has the right and means to examine the process of decision-making. This is known as transparency.

Question 7. Mention the one point on which the record of democracies is not good or impressive.
Ans. Democratic governments do not have a very good record when it comes to sharing information with citizens.

Question 8. Why is there an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world?
Ans. It is because a democratic government is people’s own government.

Question 9. What is it in a democracy that worries us?
Ans. Its inability to achieve higher economic development often worries us.

Question 10. In which respect do democracies lag behind dictatorships?
Ans. Democracies lag behind dictatorships in economic growth.

Question 11. ‘Democracies are based on political equality’. What does it mean?
Ans. It means that all individuals have equal weight in electing representatives.

Question 12. Which is a definite plus point of democratic regimes?
Ans. Ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflict is a definite plus point of democratic regimes.

Question 13. What is most distinctive about democracy?
Ans. It examination never gets over. As democracy passes one test, it produces another test.

Question 14. What do you mean by an accountable government?
Ans. An accountable government is always answerable to its people.

III. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1. What is democracy? What are its various characteristics?
Ans. Democracy is formed by two Greek words ‘‘demos’’ and “kratia”. “Demos” means people and “kratia” means the government. Democracy, thus, means “rule by the people”. In a democratic set-up, every citizen has the right to take a part in the decision-making process. It is a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
Characteristics of democracy:
(i) It promotes equality among citizens.
(ii) It looks after the interest of the people.
(iii) It allows room to correct mistakes.

Question 2. ‘Democratic governments are attentive to the needs of people and less corrupt’. Do you agree to this point? Write your opinion.
Ans. Democratic governments are expected to be attentive to the needs of people and less corrupt. But in reality, it does not happen so. Democracies often frustrate the needs of the people and often ignore the demands of a majority of its population. Democracy is also not free of corruption. Our politicians are indulged in money making. Our top officials are also doing the same.

Question 3. Mention any two conditions that democracy must fulfil in order to achieve its outcome.
Ans. (i) It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply a rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that government can function to represent the general view.
(ii) It is also necessary that a rule by majority does not become a rule by majority in terms of religion or race or linguistic group etc. rule by majority means that in case of every decision or in case of every election, different persons and groups may and can form a majority. Democracy remains democracy only as long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at some point of time.

Question 4. Democracy has not been successful in reducing economic inequalities. Give reasons to support your answer.
Ans. (i) The wealth and means are accumulated in hands of a few people and their share in the total income of the country has been increasing.
(ii) However, the people at the bottom of society find it difficult to meet even their basic needs of life such as food, clothing, house, education and health. Not only that, their incomes have been declining.
(iii) The deprived people are a large ratio of voters and no party will like to lose their votes.
(iv) Yet democratically elected governments do not appear to be attentive to the cause of the poor. Thus democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities.

Question 5. “Democratic governments are less effective, slow, not very responsive or clean.” How far do you agree with this view?
Ans. Democracy means rule by the people. The government is formed by the people, for the people and of the people. Every citizen takes part in the decision-making process directly or indirectly through their elected representatives. All policies of the government are debated in the parliament before making them final decisions. This takes a lot of time and leads to delays in the decision-making process.

Question 6. Why do we expect a lot from a democratic government?
Ans. A democratic government is people’s own government. People have faith in it because it provides equal status to all and resolves conflicts among individuals in an amicable way. People wish to be ruled by representatives elected by them. They also believe that democracy is suitable for their country. When people get some benefits, they start expecting more which is quite natural.

Question 7. How are complaints treated as testimony to the success of democracy? Explain.
                              Or
The fact that people are complaining is itself a testimony to the success of democracy. Justify the statement with appropriate points.
Ans. (i) Democracy supports dignity and freedom of the citizens. Every man wants to get respect from fellow persons in the society. A lot of conflicts take place among human beings because some feel they are not treated with due respect. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy.
(ii) Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.
(iii) As democracy passes one test, it produces another test. As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more and want to make democracy even better.
(iv) That is why, when we ask people about the way democracy functions, they will always come up with more expectations, and many complaints. The fact that people are complaining is itself a testimony to the success of democracy.

Question 8. Why is democracy preferred to other forms of government?
Ans. Democracy is better than other forms of government such as dictatorship, monarchy etc because of the following reasons:
1. It promotes equality among citizens.
2. It enhances the dignity of the individuals.
3. It improves the quality of decision-making.
4. It provides a method to resolve conflicts.
5. It allows room to correct mistakes.
6. It is a legitimate government.
7. It is people’s own government.
8. It gives equal status to women and weaker sections.

Question 9. ‘Democratic government is a legitimate government’. Explain.
Ans. 1. Accountable Government: Democracy is an accountable government because it is the government of the people and made by people and for the people. The representatives elected by the people are responsible to them. If the people are not happy with the government they can change the leaders in coming elections.
2. Responsive Government: A citizen who wants to know if a decision was taken through the correct procedures can find this out. He has the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making. This type of transparency is not available in non-democratic government.
3. Legitimate Government: There is one aspect in which democratic government is certainly better than its alternatives: democratic government is legitimate government. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean but a democratic government is people’s own government. So people wish to be ruled by representatives elected by them. They favour democracy as government.

Question 10. An ideal government would not only keep itself away from corruption but also make fighting corruption and black money a top priority.” Justify the statement by highlighting the values attached to it.
Ans. (i) An ideal government is always transparent. It decisions are based on norms and procedures. The citizens have the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making.
(ii) Corruption and black money are closely linked to each other. They flourish when the government grope them. Hence, it is the responsibility of the government to put these two closely linked issues on top priority and give punishment to all those who are indulged in them.
(iii) The government should give emphasis on building the character of its people. Only the men with high moral values will keep themselves away from corruption and money making business.

IV. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1. Economic development of a country depends on which factors and what is the role of democracy in it?
Ans. In matters of economic development, not all the democracies get developed because of various factors like population, lack of basic infrastructure, etc. If you consider all democracies and all dictatorships for the fifty years between 1950 and 2000, dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic growth. The inability of democracy to achieve higher economic development worries us. However, the difference in the rates of economic development between less developed countries with dictatorships and democracies is negligible. Overall, we cannot say that democracy is a guarantee of economic development.
Economic development depends on several factors:
(i) Country’s population size
(ii) Global situation
(iii) Cooperation from other countries
(iv) Economic priorities adopted by the country
Democracy does not appear to be successful in reducing economic inequalities. A small number of ultra rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and income. Their share in total income is increasing. People at the bottom of society have very little to depend on.

Question 2. How can democracy be successful in bringing social harmony?
                            Or
Democracies lead to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens.” Support this statement with examples.
                            Or
Explain how democracies lead to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens.
Ans. 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. Democracy continues to be democracy as long as all citizens have a chance to be part of majority at any point of time. If someone is debarred from being part of majority on the basis of birth then democracy is said to be concentrated in few hands. Example of Sri Lanka reminds us that a democracy must fulfil two conditions in order to achieve this outcome:
(i) It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that government can function to represent the opinion of common people.
(ii) The rule of majority does not become rule by majority on the basis of religion or race or linguistic group etc. Rule by majority means that in case of every decision or in case of every election, different persons and groups may form a majority.

Question 3. Democracy is based on dignity and freedom. Explain.
                            Or
How does democracy stand much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual? Explain with suitable examples.
                            Or
“Democracy is a better form of government than the other forms of government.” Justify the statement.
Ans. Democracy supports dignity and freedom of the citizens. Every man wants to get respect from fellow persons in the society. A lot of conflicts take place among human beings because some feel they are not treated with due respect. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy. Democracies throughout the world have recognised this, at least in principle. This has been achieved in various degrees in various democracies. We can take the case of dignity of women. Most societies across the world were historically male
dominated. Long struggles by women have created some sensitivity today that respect to and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society. 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.
Democratic government is legitimate government. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean. But a democratic government is people’s own government. That is why there is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world.

Question 4. Explain any four ways in which democracies have been able to reduce inequality and poverty.
Ans. (i) Democracy accommodates various social division and thus leads to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens.
(ii) Democracy has the ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflict.
(iii) It recognises dignity and freedom of the citizens. In fact, the person for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy.
(iv) Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.

Question 5. Explain any four consequences on which democracy has failed.
Ans. (i) If democracies are expected to produce good governments, then it is fair to expect that they would also produce development evidence shows that in practice many democracies did fulfil this expectation. The inability of democracy to achieve higher economic development worries us.
(ii) Democracy is the government of the people hence, one can expect it to reduce economic disparities. But, it is a better truth that even when a country achieves economic growth, wealth is not distributed in such a way that all citizens of the country will have a share and lead a better life. Most of the democrats of the world have miserably failed on this issue.
(iii) Democracies have also failed on the issue of poverty reduction. A smaller number of ultra rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and incomes. Not only that, their share in the total income of the country has been increasing. Those at the bottom of the society have very little to depend upon. Their incomes have been declining.
(iv) Democracies often frustrate the needs of the people and often ignore the demands of a majority of its population. The routine talks of corruption are enough to convince us that democracy is not free of this evil.

Question 6. Explain with three examples, how democracies accommodate social diversities.
Ans. (i) 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.
(ii) Democracy continues to be democracy as long as all citizens have a chance to be part of majority at any point of time. If someone is debarred from being part of majority on the basis of birth then democracy is said to be concentrated in a few hands.
(iii) It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply a rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that government can function to represent the opinion of common people.
(iv) The rule of majority should not be ruled by majority on the basis of religion or race or linguistic group etc. Rule by majority means that in case of every decision or in case of every election, different persons and groups may form a majority.

Question 7. Why do people prefer democracy? Explain with four reasons.
Ans. Democracy is better than other forms of government such as dictatorship, monarchy etc because of the following reasons:
1. It promotes equality among citizens.
2. It enhances the dignity of the individuals.
3. It improves the quality of decision-making.
4. It provides a method to resolve conflicts.
5. It allows room to correct mistakes.
6. It is a legitimate government.
7. It is people’s own government.
8. It gives equal status to women and weaker sections.

Question 8. “Democracy stands much superior to any other froms of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual.” Explain.
Ans. Democracy supports dignity and freedom of the citizens. Every man wants to get respect from fellow persons in the society. A lot of conflicts take place among human beings because some feel they are not treated with due respect. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy. Democracies throughout the world have recognised this, at least in principle. This has been achieved in various degrees in various democracies. We can take the case of dignity of women. Most societies across the world were historically male
dominated. Long struggles by women have created some sensitivity today that respect to and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society. 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.
Democratic government is legitimate government. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean. But a democratic government is people’s own government. That is why there is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world.

V. VALUE BASED QUESTIONS

Question 1. “Democracy stands much superior to any other forms of government.” Read the above statement carefully and then answer the questions that follow:
(i) Do you agree to the above statement? Give a suitable reason.
(ii) Democracies are based on political equality. What does this mean?
(iii) Are democracies successful in reducing economic inequalities? If not, why?
Ans. (i) Yes, I agree to the above statement. Democracies promote dignity and freedom of the individual.
(ii) All individuals have equal weight in electing representatives.
(iii) No, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities. The reason behind this is that political parties are so indulged in their own selfish goals that they get no time to address the question of poverty. The rich remain rich and the poor miserably fail to meet their basic needs of life.

Question 2. What expectations are associated with democracy?
Ans. Democracy is better than the other forms of government such as dictatorship, monarchy etc because it:
(i) promotes equality among citizens.
(ii) enhances the dignity of the individuals.
(iii) improves the quality of decision making.
(iv) provides a method to resolve conflicts.
(v) allows room to correct mistakes.
(vi) is a legitimate government.
(vii) is people’s own government.
(viii) gives equal status to women and weaker sections.