Chhattisgarh State Board Class 10 Social Science Chapter 15 People’s Participation in Democracy Exercise Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blanks, Questions and Answers here.
Chhattisgarh State Class 10 Social Science Chapter 15 Solution
Exercise
Fill in the blanks
1.) Parliamentary
2.) 18
3.) Officially recognised.
4.) Election Commission of India
5.) Election Commission of India
6.) Anglo-Indian Community
7.)
8.) South Africa
9.) Pressure Groups
10.) Women
Multiple Choice
1.) 4
2.) 1
3.) 2
4.) 3
5.) 4
6.) 1
7.) 1
8.) 4
9.) 1
10.) 1
Answer the following.
1.) Right to Vote to all the adult population of the country is known as Universal Adult Suffrage. Earlier the minimum voting age in India was 21 years which later got reduced to 18 years by a Constitutional Amendment in 1989.
2.) Political Party is an officially recognised organisation that follows a certain ideology. It formulates policies and programmes for the country based on its ideology. Its main aim is to win elections and form the government and implement its policies and programmes.
3.) After the independence of India, the minimum voting age in India was 21 years and the participation of female voters was less than male voters. In 1989 the minimum voting age was reduced to 18 years it led to the increase in the eligible population for voting. India also has a huge population base which are the main reasons for the increase in the number of eligible voters in India.
4.) In India every citizen above the 18 years of age has the right to vote. The factors influencing the voting pattern of an individual is known as voter behaviour. Like their interests, national interests, government policies, caste, religion, regionalism, language, power politics etc are the factors influencing voter behaviour.
5.) The factors influencing the voting pattern of an individual is known as voter behaviour. Like their interests, national interests, government policies, caste, religion, regionalism, language, power politics etc are the factors influencing voter behaviour. Other factors like performance of present government, election manifesto, political campaigns, social media, newspapers etc also affect the voter behaviour.
6.) There are various methods of public participation in democracy other than elections, like pressure groups, trade unions, professional associations, caste and religious groups, women’s organisations, media groups etc.
7.) Some major political organisations in the country are Indian National congress, Bhartiya Janta Party, Trinamool Congress, Aam Admi Party, Communist Party of India, shivsena, Samajwadi party, Rashtriya Janta Dal etc.
8.)
Pressure group |
Political Party |
● They do not contest elections, they only lobby for their demands through pressurising government by protests and demonstrations.
● It is formed when people come together to pursue their common objectives, rights and viewpoints. |
● They contest election and form the government in centre and states. ● After forming the government, they work holistically for the betterment of people. |
9.) Communication channels play an important role in democracy and people’s participation. There are various communication channels like radio, television, mobile phones, internet, social media, magazines, cinema etc.
10.) Any political party can a government only when it has majority of its members in the house. The government is formed by the political party which has the majority in the Lok Sabha or State Assembly. If it is not present, then coalition government is formed.
11.) There are two main reasons for the rise of number of voters in India. Firstly, in 1989 the voting age in India got reduced from 21 years to 18 years and secondly India has a huge population. Both these reasons led to the significant increase in the votable population of the country.
12.) People’s participation in democracy means the participation of common people in the policy formulation and execution in the country. In India it is done at various levels. For example, any important policy is presented as a draft for seeking the reviews of public, Panchayati raj system was introduced to increase the participation of local people in formulating policies for themselves etc. Other methods of public participation are pressure groups, trade unions, professional associations, caste and religious group, women’s organisations etc.
13.)
Pressure group |
Political Party |
● They do not contest elections, they only lobby for their demands through pressurising government by protests and demonstrations.
● It is formed when people come together to pursue their common objectives, rights, and viewpoints. ● They influence the policy making of the government. ● Their activities include media communication, demonstrations, workshops, meetings, publications etc. |
● They contest election and form the government in centre and states.
● After forming the government, they work holistically for the betterment of people. ● They make policies for the public. ● They take part in the legislative discussion in the House of Parliament and pass the bills. |
14). The voting age was reduced in 1989 from 21 years to 18 years to increase the public participation in the democracy and make the democratic governments more participatory. It also increases the participation of youth in the government procedures and increases the confidence of people.
15.) The main reasons behind the non-casting votes by people are-
- Poor literacy levels
- Lesser awareness about the political happenings of the country.
- Lack of desired candidates in the elections. Power politics influences the presence of undeserving candidates in politics.
- Poverty and ignorance by the present government demotivates the poor sections of society to exercise their independent choices.
- Employment in other states than their parent constituency.
- Migration to other countries and states.
16.) Generally, with the previous records nearly 60% of the eligible candidate caste their votes. In 1952 the voting percentage was 61.2%, and it was lowest in 1971 with only 59.49%. While the voting percentage of women is lower than the voting percentage of male population. The main reason behind the poor poll outcomes is-
- Lower literacy levels in the society, which is also the main reason behind lesser awareness among people about their voting rights.
- Lesser awareness about the political happenings of the country and lesser participation of people in political happenings of the country.
- Lack of desired candidates in the elections. The use of money and muscle power also influences the presence of undeserving and corrupt people in politics.
- Employment and migration out of their parent constituency.
- Poverty and ignorance of the present government demotivates the poor sections of society to exercise their independent choices.
17.) Local bodies and Panchayats are the third tier in the decentralisation of powers. It is the lowest level of governance and the main reason behind the higher participation of people in voting in local elections than, the Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha elections are-
- Their policy decisions directly impact the local population.
- Regional aspirations affect the polling outcomes of the local bodies.
- The individuals contesting the election is from the local population only, and he must work in the same local body because of this people of the constituency have more emotional and social connect with them.
- They can convey their demands and aspirations directly to the members of local bodies as they are accessible to them because of this people of constituencies are more interested in the affairs of local bodies rather than Parliament and legislative bodies.
18.) Kitikho-Hachiko movement was launched in Karnataka in 1987 against the Karnataka Pulpwood Ltd company. The Karnataka Pulpwood Ltd company was established in 1984 in Karnataka and 30000 hectares of land was granted to them for planting eucalyptus trees for making paper. This 30000-hectare land was traditionally a pastureland which was used by villagers for grazing their cattle. Farmers launched a movement against the government to save their common lands which was supported by many writers and environmentalists. Villagers launched a satyagraha in Kunsur village, which later came to be known as Kitikho Hachiko satyagraha. In this movement farmers uprooted eucalyptus plants and planted fruit and fodder saplings which were beneficial for them. This movement had a great significance in the political developments of the state, and it highlighted the importance of pressure groups. Because of the pressure from the farmers the government was forced to shut down the company. It exemplified the importance of pressure groups in lobbying for the demands of the public and pressurising the government for working for the betterment of people.
19.) People’s participation in democracy would have been seriously affected if universal adult suffrage would not have been there. Universal adult suffrage means the voting rights are given to all the adult population of the country. It is one of the fundamental principles of democracy. The major shortfalls would have been like-
- Majoritarian form of government and less representation of deprived and minority sections of the society.
- Lesser people’s participation would result in authoritarian form of government. It also causes violation of human rights of minorities.
- People would not be able to take part in policy formulation which will reduce the social and economic outcomes of any policy formulated.
- Because of lack of accountability the political decisions might benefit only a certain section of society, causing inequalities in the society.
20.) Different factors which affect the voter behaviour are-
- Literacy- Higher the literacy levels, higher would be the participation of people in the political happenings of the country.
- National interests- People cast their votes while keeping their national interest in mind. The directional development is considered by the common people is considered before casting their votes.
- Government policies- Various political parties launch their manifestoes which shows their aspirations and targets after forming the government. It influences the voting behaviour of the people.
- Regional considerations- Regional and cultural affiliations of an individual affects his/her voting behaviour. Caste is also an important consideration in Indian politics. People want their caste, religion, place of birth etc to prosper and get benefited by the policies of government because of which they vote in favour of their regional or caste candidates.
- Campaigns- Political campaigns through radio, television, media, social media etc affect the voting behaviour.
- Money and muscle power- With the increasing criminalisation of politics it is evident that money and muscle power influence the voting pattern of an individual.
21.) Pressure groups is a people’s organisation which is driven by common objectives, rights, viewpoints, or professional interest. It seeks to influence policy makers to achieve its objectives. There are some famous pressure groups in India like Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, All India Students Federation, National Students Union of India etc. There are also some religious groups like Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Jamaat-e-Islami etc. Present government is influenced by the Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, and Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad.
Additional questions & Answers:
Mcq
1.) What was the minimum voting age specified in the original constitution.
a.) 20 years
b.) 21 years
c.) 25 years
d.) 18 years
Answer: B
2.) The electoral process commences with the notification issued by the
a.) President
b.) Governor
c.) Prime Minister
d.) Both a and b
Answer: D
3.) How many days are given to a candidate to file his nomination to contest an election.
a.) 10
b.) 5
c.) 7
d.) 8
Answer: D
4.) Election campaign ends before how many hours of date of voting.
a.) 24
b.) 26
c.) 48
d.) 72
Answer: C
5.) Right to recall is available in which level of government-
a.) Central government
b.) State government
c.) Local self-government
d.) Presidential elections
Answer: C
6.) What was the voter’s turnout in the first general elections?
a.) 60.5%
b.) 62.2%
c.) 65.6%
d.) 61.2%
Answer: D
7.) Which one of the following influences the behaviour of Indian voters-
a.) Television
b.) Social media
c.) Newspapers
d.) All of the above
Answer: D
8.) How much reservation is provided to women in local bodies elections?
a.) 30%
b.) 35%
c.) 33%
d.) 50%
Answer: C
9.) Kitikho-Hachiko movement took place in which state?
a.) Karnataka
b.) Andhra Pradesh
c.) Chhattisgarh
d.) Jharkhand
Answer: A
10.) Which one of the following is not a trade union?
a.) AITUC
b.) INTUC
c.) BMS
d.) AIDMK
Answer: D
Very short
1.) The minimum voting age was reduced from 21 years to 18 years in which year?
1989
2.) What is right to recall?
Under this provision, if half of the elected representatives and two thirds of the local voters if they desire, they can remove Panch, Sarpanch, corporator etc from their posts.
3.) Which organisation registers all the political parties which contest the elections?
Election commission of India
4.) What is a political party?
It is a formal organisation which contests elections based on a particular ideology and they formulate policies and programmes based on it.
5.) What are the functions of pressure groups?
They put pressure on the government for raising issues of public importance, such as environment, education, health, foreign policy etc.
6.) The All-India Trade Union Congress was established in which year?
1920
7.) The Lokapal and Lokayukta bill was passed in which year.
2011
8.) Name some caste and religious groups which formed a political party.
Republican Party, Muslim Majlis, Jamaat-e-Ulema, Hindu Mahasabha etc.
9.) Name some professional associations.
All India Medical Council, All India Bar Association, All India Teacher’s Federation etc.
10.) What are trade unions?
These are the organisations of workers which work for the betterment of work conditions and workers welfare.
Short
1.) By which amendment act the voting age in India was changed?
The original constitution mentioned the minimum age of voting as 21 years, which was later reduced to 18 years through the 61st amendment Act in 1989.
2.) What are electoral rolls and who is included in it?
Electoral roll is the common voter’s register for elections of Parliament, state legislature, and Panchayati raj institutions. Every citizen is included in it irrespective of caste, religion, ethnicity, or gender.
3.) What is the purpose of NOTA?
NOTA button is present in the electronic voting machines. It is used by a voter in case he/she does not like to vote for any candidate in the election. It is usually mentioned at the last in the electronic voting machine.
4.) Mention the factors influencing the voters.
Factors like caste, religion, regionalism, language, money, liquor, and other incentives in the form of policies and programs influence the voter behavior in India.
5.) People elect their representatives at how many levels of government?
The Indian constitution provides for three tired government. So, people elect their representatives at Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, and local bodies elections.
6.) How many seats are reserved in 16th Lok Sabha?
The constitution provides for the reservation of socially, educationally, and economically deprived sections of the society. In 16th Lok Sabha 84 seats are reserved for Scheduled castes and 47 seats are reserved for scheduled tribes.
7.) What kind of citizens organizations are formed in Indian democracy?
The constitution of India provides for the fundamental right to form an organization. Different types of citizens organizations are formed like self help groups, clubs, cooperative societies, language, caste and religious associations, occupation-based groups like trade unions, advocacy groups, lawyer’s associations etc.
8.) What are professional associations and why they are formed?
Professional associations are the group of professional professionals like government employees, lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers etc. They are formed to lobby for the favorable working conditions and demands of the professional workforce of the country.
9.) What are the communication media channels used today to ensure people’s participation?
Communication channels like newspapers, television, radio, mobile phones, internet, social website, magazines, cinema etc. are the media channels used to ensure people’s participation in democracy.
10.) Explain the role of women’s organizations in democracy.
Women’s organizations played a large role in the development of democracy like enactment of laws like Hindu code bill, bride burning issue, dowry, property rights, rape, sexual harassment, domestic violence etc.
Long
1.) Mention the difference between the voting behavior of men and women.
The constitution of India ensures equal voting rights to all men and women but there is a difference visible in the voting percentage of men and women in the country. In 1962 general elections the total percentage of male voting was 63.31%, while female voting percentage was 46.63%. In 1984, the male voting percentage was 68.18% and the female voting percentage was 58.60%. in 2004 general elections the voting percentage of male population was 61.66% and the female voting percentage was 53.30%. So, in general there is a difference of about 10% visible in every general election between the male and female voting percentage.
2.) How communication media can be a threat to a democracy?
The Media houses are usually controlled by the government or by rich corporations. They can use the media channels to publish the narrow interests serving news articles. There is also the issue of biasness and ignorance in India media as most of the people serving in media are from urban middle class and they are unaware of the problems of the poor sections of society. It could lead to misinformation and partisan opinions. Various political parties, pressure groups, and other organizations use media to serve their narrow interests.
3.) How caste, language, and religion play an important role in Indian democratic setup?
Language has been instrumental in the political division of the country. There has been continuous struggle for linguistic states in India. Whereas the constitution of India provides for the reservation of socially, educationally, and economically backward classes of India for their overall development. Caste and religion have also been instrumental in the formation of pressure groups and political organizations. Many religious organizations which converted into political associations like Republican party, Muslim Majlis, Jamaat-e-Ulema, Hindu Mahasabha and Shiromani Akali dal etc.
4.) Write a short note on the trade union.
Trade Unions are workers organizations which work for the issues of workers. They work by negotiating with factory owners on issues that affect the welfare of workers, such as wages, hours of work and working conditions etc. These are self-help and mutual aid organizations. The first trade union was formed in India in 1920 known as All India Trade Union Congress. They also play a significant role in the policy formulation for the welfare of workers, and they lobby for their demands through white papers, pamphlets, banners, protests etc. Some famous trade unions in India are All India Trade Union congress, Indian National Trade Union Congress, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, United Trade Union Congress etc.
5.) Explain the electoral process in India.
The electoral process starts in India through a notification issued by the President or Governor of the state. The Election Commission announces the election plan. The candidates wishing to be elected are given an eight-day window to file their nomination. The election officer examines the nomination papers and candidates can withdraw their nomination if they want. After this the final list of candidates is declared and symbols are allotted to them. Then at least 14 days are provided for election campaigning in which he/she must abide by the electoral code of conduct. Then the election campaign ends before 48 hours of the date of voting and the candidate securing the maximum votes is declared as the winner.
Chapter 11 |
Mass Media in the 20th Century |
Chapter 12 | |
Chapter 13 |
The Constitution, Government System and their Social Concerns |
Chapter 14 |
Democracy In Independent India and the Working of Political Institution |