Elections - Social Science Class 9 In English

Chapter 7. Elections

Extra Questions with Answers

1. What is an election?

Answer: An election is a process through which citizens exercise their right to vote and fulfil their responsibility as citizens. Through elections, people choose representatives who make decisions on their behalf.

2. Why are elections essential in a democracy?

Answer: Elections are essential because they enable citizens to choose their representatives, participate in government formation and hold elected representatives accountable. Regular and periodic elections are therefore at the core of democratic functioning.

3. What is meant by periodic elections?

Answer: Periodic elections are elections held at regular intervals according to the prescribed term of elected bodies. They ensure that representatives cannot continue indefinitely without seeking the people's mandate again.

4. How do elections make elected representatives accountable?

Answer: Elections give citizens the opportunity to choose representatives and later decide whether to support them again. Thus, representatives remain answerable to the people and must seek their mandate through periodic elections.

5. What is a direct election?

Answer: A direct election is an election in which citizens directly vote to choose their representatives or leaders.

6. Give examples of direct elections in India.

Answer: Members of the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and local bodies such as Panchayats and Municipal Corporations are elected through direct elections.

7. What is an indirect election?

Answer: An indirect election is an election in which citizens elect representatives who then choose or elect the leaders.

8. Give examples of indirect elections in India.

Answer: The President, Vice President and members of the Rajya Sabha are elected through indirect elections.

9. What is meant by an electoral system?

Answer: An electoral system is the method through which votes cast by citizens are converted into seats in a legislature. The manner in which seats are allocated distinguishes one electoral system from another.

10. Which electoral system is used for Lok Sabha elections in India?

Answer: Elections to the Lok Sabha are conducted using the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system, also called the plurality system.

11. Explain the First-Past-The-Post system.

Answer: Under the First-Past-The-Post system, each voter votes for one candidate in their constituency. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes wins, even if the candidate receives less than 50 percent of the total votes polled.

12. Why is the FPTP system called a plurality system?

Answer: It is called a plurality system because the candidate who receives more votes than any other candidate wins, even when that candidate does not receive more than 50 percent of the total votes.

13. What is a majority system?

Answer: In a majority system, a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the votes to win. If no candidate achieves this in the first round, the top candidates may compete again in a second round.

14. What is proportional representation?

Answer: Proportional representation is an electoral system in which seats are allotted in proportion to the votes received by political parties. The chapter illustrates this system through a nationwide party vote and proportional distribution of seats.

15. Which elections in India use proportional representation?

Answer: Elections to the Rajya Sabha and the elections of the President and Vice President are conducted using proportional representation. Elections to the Vidhan Parishad are also held under proportional representation by means of a Single Transferable Vote.

16. What is the Single Transferable Vote system?

Answer: The Single Transferable Vote system allows voters to mark their preferences. First-preference votes are counted, candidates who achieve the required quota are elected, and votes of eliminated candidates can be transferred according to the next preferences marked by voters.

17. What is a quota in the Single Transferable Vote system?

Answer: A quota is the minimum number of votes required for a candidate to be elected. The chapter gives the formula based on the total valid votes and the number of seats to be filled.

18. What are the major laws governing elections in India discussed in the chapter?

Answer: The major laws discussed are the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.

19. What does the Representation of the People Act, 1950 deal with?

Answer: The Representation of the People Act, 1950 mainly deals with allocation of seats, delimitation of constituencies, preparation and revision of electoral rolls, and ensuring voting rights for citizens aged 18 years and above without discrimination.

20. What does the Representation of the People Act, 1951 deal with?

Answer: The Representation of the People Act, 1951 deals with other aspects of conducting elections and post-election disputes. It includes rules relating to nomination of candidates, election campaigns, voting procedures and resolution of disputes.

21. Why are the Representation of the People Acts important?

Answer: Together, the Representation of the People Acts provide a legal framework for elections and help ensure the integrity, transparency and accountability of India's electoral process.

22. What are electoral offences?

Answer: Electoral offences are prohibited actions that can affect the fairness and integrity of elections. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 lists various electoral offences and corrupt practices.

23. Give one example of a corrupt practice during elections.

Answer: Giving a gift, offer or promise to a person to make them contest, withdraw, vote or refrain from voting is given as an example of a prohibited practice.

24. Why is appealing for votes on the basis of religion, caste, race, community or language prohibited?

Answer: The chapter identifies such appeals as electoral offences because they can influence voting on the basis of these identities rather than through the democratic electoral process.

25. What is delimitation?

Answer: Delimitation is the process of determining the number of seats and fixing the territorial boundaries of constituencies for elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha.

26. Why is delimitation necessary?

Answer: Population density changes over time. Without appropriate delimitation, one Member of Parliament could represent a much larger population than another. Delimitation therefore aims to keep the ratio of seats to population as close to equal as possible across constituencies.

27. Which Article provides for the establishment of the Delimitation Commission?

Answer: Article 82 of the Constitution of India provides for the establishment of a Delimitation Commission.

28. How many Delimitation Commissions does the chapter mention?

Answer: The chapter mentions four Delimitation Commissions, established in 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002.

29. What is the Election Commission of India?

Answer: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous permanent constitutional body vested with the superintendence, direction and control of the entire process of conducting elections in India.

30. When was the Election Commission of India established?

Answer: The Election Commission of India was established on 25 January 1950.

31. Which Articles of the Constitution provide for the Election Commission of India?

Answer: Articles 324 to 329 of the Constitution provide for the establishment of the Election Commission and define its powers and duties.

32. Which elections are conducted by the Election Commission of India?

Answer: The ECI conducts elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Parishad, President and Vice President of India.

33. What is the role of the ECI in preparing electoral rolls?

Answer: The ECI prepares electoral rolls for each constituency. It collects information about eligible electors and organises electoral rolls polling-station-wise. Only voters whose names appear on the electoral roll are allowed to vote.

34. What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

Answer: Special Intensive Revision is an initiative of the ECI for updating, verifying and correcting electoral rolls. Its objective is to ensure that eligible citizens are included and ineligible persons are not included in the electoral roll.

35. Why is SIR important?

Answer: SIR helps add eligible voters, including young people who have recently turned 18, and remove names because of death, change of residence, duplicate enrolment or permanent untraceability. It also provides an opportunity to raise claims and objections.

36. What factors does the ECI consider while deciding election schedules?

Answer: The ECI considers factors such as weather conditions, agricultural cycles, school and university examination schedules and festivals while deciding election schedules.

37. What is the role of the ECI in political parties?

Answer: The ECI registers political parties, classifies them according to specified criteria and allocates election symbols. It also insists that political parties hold organisational elections periodically as part of its role in ensuring inner-party democracy.

38. What is the role of election symbols?

Answer: Election symbols help identify political parties and candidates during elections. The ECI allocates symbols and also deals with disputes concerning recognition of political parties and allotment of symbols.

39. Why must elections be free and fair?

Answer: Elections must be free and fair so that citizens can exercise their voting rights without unfair influence or obstacles. Fairness, transparency and impartiality help maintain public confidence in electoral institutions and give elections democratic value.

40. What can happen if elections are not conducted fairly?

Answer: If candidates are influenced by personal favours, votes are not counted accurately or voters face difficulties in exercising their rights, public confidence in electoral institutions may weaken and the democratic value of elections may be reduced.

41. Which groups are specifically mentioned in the chapter in relation to inclusive elections?

Answer: The chapter discusses initiatives for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), Senior Citizens, transgender persons and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

42. What special voting provision was extended across India during the 2024 General Elections?

Answer: Voting from home was extended across India for senior citizens above 85 years of age and persons with disabilities having a benchmark disability of 40 percent.

43. What is ETPBS?

Answer: ETPBS stands for Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System. It enables service voters to receive and cast their postal ballots electronically from a location outside their originally assigned constituency.

44. What is the Voter Helpline App?

Answer: The Voter Helpline App provides various voter services such as registration, transposition and verification. It also provides election-related information, news and updates.

45. What is the purpose of the cVIGIL App?

Answer: The cVIGIL App enables voters to report violations of the Model Code of Conduct and election misconduct. It helps facilitate prompt action through the election machinery.

46. What is ERONET?

Answer: ERONET facilitates the processing of electoral forms and management of databases. It also supports maintenance of electoral rolls through efficient form processing, dashboards and role-based access.

47. What is the purpose of the Saksham App?

Answer: The Saksham App provides customised services for Persons with Disabilities. It helps with voter registration, finding polling stations and other voting-related requirements.

48. What is meant by “No Voter to Be Left Behind”?

Answer: “No Voter to Be Left Behind” expresses the objective of making the electoral process inclusive so that eligible citizens, including persons with disabilities and senior citizens, can participate in elections.

49. What is the importance of EVM with Braille?

Answer: The EVM with Braille is one of the measures shown in the chapter to make voting more accessible, particularly for voters with visual disabilities.

50. What is National Voters’ Day?

Answer: National Voters’ Day is observed every year on 25 January. The chapter connects the day with awareness about democratic participation and responsible voting.

51. What is the role of political parties in elections?

Answer: Political parties present their policies, programmes, development visions and positions on various issues. They organise public opinion, campaign on specific issues, offer voters meaningful choices and help voters make informed decisions.

52. Why are political parties important in a democratic system?

Answer: Political parties are important because they help democracy function effectively by providing representation, governance, accountability and public engagement. They also work directly at the grassroots level.

53. What information do political parties provide to voters?

Answer: Political parties provide information about candidates, policies, development visions and positions on social, economic, cultural and political issues. They also present their agendas and promises during election campaigns.

54. What is a multi-party system?

Answer: A multi-party system is a system in which many political parties exist and compete in elections. India has a multi-party system that reflects its diversity of languages, cultures, religions and regions.

55. What is defection?

Answer: Defection refers to abandoning or switching from the political party under whose banner a candidate was elected. It may involve joining another party or acting independently of party decisions, particularly in legislative voting.

56. What is the Anti-Defection Law?

Answer: The Anti-Defection Law was passed in 1985 through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act. Its purpose is to prevent defection and provide stability to elected governments.

57. Under what circumstances can a member face disqualification under the Anti-Defection Law?

Answer: According to the chapter, a member of Parliament or a State Assembly may be disqualified if they voluntarily give up their party membership or vote against the party’s instructions, known as the whip, subject to the provisions of the law.

58. Who decides cases under the Anti-Defection Law?

Answer: The Speaker or Chairman of the concerned House decides what needs to be done in such cases.

59. What are Registered Unrecognised Political Parties?

Answer: Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP) include parties that have not secured the required percentage of votes in Legislative Assembly or General Elections and parties that have never contested elections since their registration.

60. What was significant about the year 1967 in Indian elections?

Answer: The chapter states that 1967 witnessed the end of the era of single-party dominated elections in India and the beginning of an era of alliances in various states.

61. What happened politically in 1977?

Answer: In 1977, various political parties formed an alliance as the Janata Party against the backdrop of the National Emergency of 1975–1977. The Janata Party formed the first coalition government at the national level, popularly known as the Janata Government.

62. What are the major challenges to free and fair elections mentioned in the chapter?

Answer: The chapter identifies challenges such as misinformation, fake news and intimidation. It also discusses difficulties related to accessibility and the need to maintain accurate and trustworthy electoral processes.

63. How can misinformation affect elections?

Answer: Misinformation can affect citizens’ understanding of electoral issues and may influence public opinion. Therefore, addressing misinformation is important for maintaining the integrity of elections.

64. How does the Model Code of Conduct contribute to elections?

Answer: The Model Code of Conduct is one of the measures mentioned in the chapter for addressing challenges to free and fair elections and regulating election-related conduct.

65. What is VVPAT?

Answer: VVPAT stands for Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail. It is mentioned in the chapter as one of the measures used in India's electoral process to support transparency and verification in voting.

66. Why are voter awareness campaigns important?

Answer: Voter awareness campaigns help citizens understand the electoral process and encourage informed and responsible participation in elections.

67. Why is citizen participation important for free and fair elections?

Answer: Constant vigilance and active citizen participation can help make elections more representative and strengthen democracy. Citizens have a role in exercising their voting rights and reporting electoral misconduct.

68. Why are elections called the “soul of democracy” in the chapter?

Answer: The chapter describes elections as the soul of democracy because they give every citizen an equal voice in the formation of a government.

69. Is conducting elections alone sufficient for democracy?

Answer: No. Elections must also be free, fair, transparent, inclusive, impartial and trustworthy. Democratic value depends not only on holding elections but also on ensuring that citizens can meaningfully exercise their electoral rights.

70. What is the main message of Chapter 7, “Elections”?

Answer: The main message is that elections are central to democracy because they enable citizens to choose representatives and hold them accountable. A democratic electoral system requires appropriate laws, institutions, political parties, inclusive arrangements, responsible citizens and continuous efforts to address challenges such as misinformation, fake news and intimidation.