Class 8 new ncert Chapter 5 SST Solution - Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System

Q & A —  6th   7th   8th   9th   10th

Questions and Activities (NCERT BASED QUESTIONS)

Question 1. Why is universal adult franchise important for a healthy democracy?

Answer: Universal adult franchise is the foundation of democracy because—

• All citizens aged 18 years or above get the equal right to vote.
• There is no discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, gender, language, education or wealth.
• People choose the government of their choice.
• The government remains accountable to the people.
• It makes democracy strong and successful.

Question 2. What is the meaning of 'secret ballot'? Why is this important in a democracy?

Answer: Secret ballot means that no one can know which candidate a voter has voted for.

It is important because—

• A voter can vote without any fear or pressure.
• Elections remain free and fair.
• A voter can choose the right candidate according to their own choice.

Question 3. Give examples of direct and indirect elections.

Answer:

Direct Election: In these elections, people directly elect their representatives. Examples:

• Lok Sabha elections
• Assembly elections
• Panchayat and Municipal elections

Indirect Election: In these elections, representatives elected by the people vote for a particular post. Examples:

• Rajya Sabha elections
• Presidential election
• Vice-Presidential election

Question 4. How is the election of members to the Lok Sabha different from that to the Rajya Sabha?

Answer: Difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha:

Lok Sabha	Rajya Sabha
People vote directly.	MLAs elect indirectly.
Direct election takes place.	Indirect election takes place.
The term is 5 years.	It is a permanent House.
The candidate getting the highest number of votes wins.	Election is held through the Single Transferable Vote system.

Question 5. What, in your view, are the advantages of the EVM over paper ballots?

Answer: Advantages of EVM:

• Voting is quick and easy.
• Vote counting is very fast.
• Incorrect or invalid votes are reduced.
• Paper is saved.
• The cost of elections is reduced.
• VVPAT allows the voter to verify their vote.

Question 6. Voter turnout has been declining in some urban areas of India. What could be the reasons for this trend, and what steps can be taken to encourage more people to vote?

Answer:

Reasons:

• Lack of awareness about voting.
• Work and busy life.
• Lack of interest in voting.
• Difficulty in reaching the polling station.
• Thinking that one vote will not make any difference.

Measures:

• Awareness campaigns about voting should be conducted.
• Youths should be encouraged to vote.
• Good facilities should be provided at polling stations.
• Awareness should be increased through social media and schools.
• Every citizen should understand the importance of their vote.

Question 7. Why do you think a proportion of seats in the Lok Sabha is reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes? Write a short note.

Answer: Some Lok Sabha seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) so that—

• They get equal political representation.
• Their rights and problems can receive attention.
• They can also express their views in Parliament.
• Social justice and equal opportunities can be ensured.

Question 8. Social media is changing the way we experience elections from catchy campaign reels and live speeches to political debates on Instagram and Twitter. But is this strengthening democracy or confusing it? Discuss in pairs: What are the benefits, what are the challenges, and what might the future of elections be in a digital age?

Answer:

Benefits:

• Information is received quickly.
• Young people take greater interest in elections.
• Candidates can connect directly with the public.
• Election-related information is easily available.

Challenges:

• Fake news can spread.
• Rumours and misinformation can confuse people.
• Social media can be misused.

Future: If social media is used responsibly and people rely on correct information, digital technology can make elections more transparent, faster and more effective.

Question 9. Visit the website https://www.indiavotes.com and choose a parliamentary constituency election from any year and explore its results. Do the same for an assembly election in your state.

Answer: This is a project work-based question. Students will carry out the following tasks themselves—

• Visit the indiavotes.com website and see the result of any one Lok Sabha constituency.
• Also see the result of any one Assembly constituency of your state.
• Write a brief description of the winning candidate, political party, votes received and margin of votes in your notebook.

"Think About It", "Let's Find Out" and "Don't Miss Out"

Question 1. Why was the voting age in India reduced from 21 years to 18 years?

Answer: So that more and more young people could participate in democracy and use their right to vote to choose the government of the country.

Question 2. What percentage of Indians had the right to vote before independence?

Answer: Before independence, only about 13% of Indians had the right to vote.

Question 3. Why were women given the right to vote in India from the beginning?

Answer: Because the makers of the Constitution decided to give equal rights to all citizens. Therefore, women were also given the right to vote from the beginning.

Question 4. Why was everyone given the right to vote despite low literacy in 1947?

Answer: Because the makers of the Constitution believed that every citizen is equal in a democracy and everyone should have the right to choose the government.

Question 5. What facilities does the Election Commission provide for persons with disabilities and elderly voters?

Answer:

• Facility to vote from home (for some voters)
• Postal ballot
• Wheelchairs and ramps
• Braille ballot papers
• Assistance through mobile apps

Question 6. What could be the reasons for low voter turnout?

Answer:

• Lack of awareness about voting
• Busy life
• Difficulty in reaching the polling station
• Lack of interest in voting

Question 7. How were representatives selected in ancient India?

Answer: The names of candidates were written on palm leaves and placed in a container. Then a child picked them out and the names were read aloud in front of everyone. This kept the selection process fair.

Question 8. Why was the provision of Braille ballot papers introduced?

Answer: So that visually impaired (blind) voters could also cast their votes independently.

Question 9. What is NOTA?

Answer: NOTA (None of the Above) means "None of the Above". If a voter does not like any of the candidates, they can choose the NOTA option.

Question 10. When was the first general election held in India?

Answer: The first general election in India was held in 1951–52.

Question 11. How many seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha?

Answer:

• Scheduled Castes (SC) – 84 seats
• Scheduled Tribes (ST) – 47 seats

Question 12. Who was India's first voter?

Answer: India's first voter was Shyam Saran Negi, who voted in the first general election of 1951.

Question 13. What is the function of VVPAT?

Answer: VVPAT shows the voter that their vote has been recorded for the correct candidate and helps in verification when required.

Question 14. What is the Model Code of Conduct?

Answer: The Model Code of Conduct is a set of rules made for political parties and candidates during elections so that elections can be conducted in a fair and peaceful manner.

Question 15. Which actions violate the Model Code of Conduct?

Answer:

• Giving gifts or money to voters.
• Using government resources for election campaigning.
• Using insulting language against opposing candidates.

Question 16. What was the contribution of T. N. Seshan to Indian elections?

Answer: He made elections more fair and transparent, ensured strict compliance with electoral rules, and strengthened systems such as voter identity cards.

Question 17. What does the "first past the post" system mean in India?

Answer: The candidate who gets the highest number of votes wins, even if they receive less than 50% of the total votes.

Question 18. Why is the Rajya Sabha called a permanent House?

Answer: Because the Rajya Sabha is never dissolved. One-third of its members retire every two years and new members are elected.

Question 19. Why does the general public not vote directly in the election of the President?

Answer: Because the President is elected indirectly by elected representatives so that the President can represent the entire country.

Other Important Questions

Question 1. What is Universal Adult Franchise?

Answer: Universal Adult Franchise means that every Indian citizen who is 18 years of age or above can vote without any discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, gender, education, wealth, etc. Every vote has equal value.

Question 2. What is an electoral system?

Answer: An electoral system is the system through which free and fair elections are conducted and people elect their representatives.

Question 3. What is the Election Commission of India (ECI)?

Answer: The Election Commission of India is an independent constitutional institution, established in 1950. Its function is to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in the country.

Question 4. Write the major functions of the Election Commission of India.

Answer:

• Announcing the date of elections.
• Preparing the voter list.
• Registering political parties.
• Implementing the Model Code of Conduct.
• Supervising the entire election process.

Question 5. What are EVM and VVPAT?

Answer:

• EVM (Electronic Voting Machine): It is used for voting electronically.
• VVPAT: It shows a slip to the voter for a few seconds so that the voter can confirm that the vote has been recorded for the correct candidate.

Question 6. Differentiate between a Member of Parliament (MP) and a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA).

Answer:

• Member of Parliament (MP): Represents the people in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.
• Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA): Represents the people in the State Legislative Assembly.

Question 7. How is the President elected?

Answer: The President is not directly elected by the people. The President is elected indirectly by the elected Members of Parliament and the elected members (MLAs) of the Legislative Assemblies of the states.

Question 8. What are the major challenges of the Indian electoral system?

Answer:

• Increasing influence of money power in elections.
• Candidates with criminal backgrounds.
• Low voter turnout.
• Indifference among voters.

Question 9. Why is voting necessary?

Answer: Voting is the greatest strength of democracy. It enables citizens to choose the government of their choice, make the government accountable, and participate in shaping the future of the country.