Civics Ch - 3 Electoral Politics
Q1. What are Electoral Constituencies?
Ans. The country is divided into different areas for ease in purpose of representation.These areas are
called 'electoral constituencies'.
Q2. How many constituencies do we have for Lok Sabha?
Ans. For Lok Sabha elections the country is divided into 543 constituencies.
Q3. What is EVM?
Ans. EVM is an electronic voting machine, which is used to record votes.
Q4. What do you know about 'Election Commission'?
Ans. In our country, elections are conducted by an independent and very powerful election commission.
It enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys.
Q5. What is 'booth capturing'?
Ans. Supporters or hired muscle men of a party or a candidate gain physical control of a polling booth
and cast false votes by threatening everyone or by preventing genuine voters from reaching the polling
booth.
Q6. What is the 'Voters' List'?
Ans. (i) In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the
election and is available to everyone.
(ii) This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voters List.
(iii) This is an important step as it is linked to the first condition of a democratic election.
Q7. Mention any three powers and functions of the Election Commission of India?
Ans. Powers and Functions of Election Commission of India:
(i) To conduct and control the elections.
(ii) To implement the code of conduct.
(iii) To order the government to follow guidelines.
(iv) To prevent use and misuse of government machinery at the time of election.
Q8. In what manner does the Election Commission monitor the election candidate? OR What is Election
Commission of India? Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner? What is its role in the elections?
Ans. The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for
administering election process in India. The Chief Election Commissioner is appointed by the President
of India.
The Election Commission monitor the election in the following ways:
(i) It takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the
announcement of elections to the declaration of the results.
(ii) It implements code of conduct and punishes the candidate or party that violates it.
(iii) During the election period the election commission can order the government to follow
some guidelines to prevent use and misuse of government power to enhance its chances to
win the elections or to transfer some government officials.
(iv) When on election duty government workers work under the control of the election
commission and not the government.
Q9. How can you say that elections in India are free, fair and democratic?
Ans. (i) Elections in India are basically free and fair. The party that wins an election and forms
government does so because people have chosen it over its rivals.
(ii) India has an independent Election Commission which regulates the election process. It's virtually
impossible to remove him. During election period, he can order the government to follow some
guidelines to prevent it from misusing its power to enhance its chances of winning.
(iii) Once the polling is over, all Electronic Voting Machines are sealed and taken to a secure place. They
are opened on a fixed day in the presence of agents of all the candidates for counting of the votes.
Usually all the parties accept the electoral outcome.
Q10. What are the merits and demerits of an electoral competition?
Ans . Merits:
(i) In an ideal world, all political leaders know what is good for the people and are motivated only by a
desire to serve them.
(ii) Our constitution makers opted for free competition in elections as the way to select our future
leaders, because this system works better in the long run.
(iii) Political leaders are motivated by a desire to advance in their political careers. They want to remain
in power or get power and position for themselves for which they can compete with other political
parties.
Demerits:
(i) An electoral competition creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality.
(ii) Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another.
(iii) Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.
Q11. What election laws are made for campaigning?
Ans . Every political party and candidate gets a fair and equal chance to compete. According What
election law, no party or candidate can:
(i) bribe or threaten the voters to vote for them only,
(ii) appeal to the voters in the name of caste or religion;
(iii) use the government resources for election campaigns,
(iv) Spend more than 25 lakhs in a constituency for the Lok Sabha elections or 10 lakhs in a
constituency during an assembly election.
If they do so, their election can be rejected by the court even after they have been declared elected.
Q12. What are the challenges to free and fair elections in India?
Ans. Challenges to free and fair elections in India are as follows:
(i) Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory be enjoy a big and unfair
advantage over smaller parties and independents.
(ii) In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have been a 'ticket' from major
parties.
(iii) Some families tend to dominate the political parties; tickets are distributed to relatives these
families.
(iv) Very often, elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens as both the major paris similar to each
other in their policies and practices.
(v) Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage as comparel the bigger
parties.
Q13. How does the principle of 'Universal Adult Franchise' work in the Indian democracy: OR Which
section of our country's population is eligible to vote?
Ans .(i) Universal adult franchise means that everyone should one vote and each vote should have equal
value no one should be denied the right to vote without good reason.
(ii) In India, all citizens aged 18 years and above can vote in an election.
(iii) Every citizen has the right to vote, regardless of caste, religion, and gender.
(iv) Some criminals and persons with an unsound mind can be denied the right to web only in rare
situations.
(v) Every five years, complete revision of the voters' list takes place so that the names of new voters who
have attained the voting age are included and names of those who ha moved to some other place or are
dead can be deleted.
Q14. What is model code of conduct in Indian electoral system? Mention its chief elements.
Ans . It is a set of norms as prescribed by the election commission to be followed by all the political
parties in our country for contesting elections or during campaigns . It is called model code conduct.
According to this no party or candidate can:
(i) Use any place of worship for election propaganda.
(ii) Use government vehicles, aircrafts and officials for elections.
(iii) Once elections are announced, ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any projects, or take any
big policy decisions.
(iv) Ruling party cannot make any promises of providing public facilities.
Q15. Examine the need for reserved constituencies in India. OR why were 'reserved constituencies'
devised for the weaker sections by the makers of the Indian constitution?
Ans. (i) The constitution makers were worried that in an open electoral competition, certain weaker
sections may not stand a chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assembly.
(ii) They may not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win elections
against others.
(iii) Those who are influential and resourceful may prevent them from winning elections.
(iv) If that happens, our parliament and assemblies would be deprived of the voice of a significant
section of our population.
(v) That would make our democracy less representative and less democratic.
So, the makers of our constitution thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for the weaker
sections.
