Chapter 8 Challenges To Democracy Long Answer Questions
Question 1. How is communalism a hindrance in the way of democracy in our country? What are its remedies’?
Answer:
Communalism means considering one’s own religion superior to that of others and hating others’ religions. This type of feeling is a big hindrance in the way of democracy in our country due to the following reasons:
- Communalism results in riots and breach of peace. Democracy cannot function well under such circumstances.
- Communalism gives rise to hatred and differences which harm the unity of the country. It becomes a danger to democracy.
- Democracy has its basis in tolerance, liberty, inequality, and fraternity.
Remedies:
- Through education, the students should be taught about tolerance and to have respectful feelings for other religious opinions.
- People should be told the importance of tolerance, equality, and fraternity through the press, the radio, the television, the cinema, and the national leaders.
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Question 2. Which things sustain democracy in India?
Answer:
India is the biggest democracy in the world. In spite of wide disparity and diversity in terms of religions and seats, languages spoken and regional imbalances, the country has remained one nation. This is mainly due to the absorbing traits of Indian culture, the spirit of tolerance, and the democratic setup of government.
- Our constitution gives equal rights and freedom to every citizen. Our country is a secular state which doesn’t differentiate between two men on the basis of religion or sex.
- The state makes no discrimination in public sector employment on the basis of sex, religion, or language and in admission to educational institutions.
- We have adopted a universal adult franchise which gives every adult citizen the right to vote. Thus our constitution empowers citizens to elect their representatives to form and run the government.
- Caste and communal-based politics is a legal offense. Untouchability has been abolished.
- There is a reservation of seats for SCs, STs, and other backward classes in parliament, state assemblies, and educational institutions in local bodies. Seats are also reserved for women candidates.
- Our press and mass media are free. There is a freedom of speech and expression.
- There is a rule of law and all are equal in the eyes of the law.
- Everyone can aspire for the highest office in the country.
Question 3. Suggest some measures to deepen democracy in India.
Or
Write some measures to deepen democracy in India.
Answer:
Democracy and our Constitution guarantee certain rights and freedoms to every citizen. Every citizen is equal in the eyes of the law of the land. To deepen democracy in the country, institutions that involve people’s participation and control over the government need to be strengthened. For this government has taken the following measures:
Educating The Citizens: This is one of the most important steps in the direction of deepening democracy in the country. Educated citizens are the greatest assets and resources for a democratic country.
Education brings qualitative change in the citizens and enables them to use better knowledge and other tools to deepen democracy. This improves productivity in the work field, increases national and per capita income, and brings awareness about the political rights and duties and how to exercise them.
Fundamental Rights: These guard citizens’ rights and make them secure. These rights cannot be taken away by any government. These rights deepen the spirit of faith and trust in the constitution of India.
Freedom Of The Press: Our press and mass media are free. Our press is free to shape public opinion by giving genuine news and views on all issues concerning the country. It makes people aware of the happening in the country as well as abroad and keeps them informed about them.
Democracy recognizes the freedom of speech and information and allows people to form opinions even if they are against the government or the ruling party.
Question 4. Suggest some measures for political reforms to be taken in India to strengthen democracy.
Or
Mention some of the guidelines that can be kept in mind while using ways and means for political reforms in India.
Answer:
- We need carefully devised changes in existing laws which would help to discourage wrong political parties and encourage good ones. But simply legal constitutional changes by themselves cannot overcome challenges to democracy.
- Democratic reforms are to be carried out mainly by political activists, parties, movements, and politically conscious citizens.
- Any legal change must carefully look at what results it will have on politics. Sometimes results may be counterproductive however, laws that seek to ban something are not very successful in politics. Laws that give actors incentives to do good things have more chance of working.
- The best laws are those which empower people to carry out democratic reforms, for example, the Right to Information Act is a good law. Such a law helps to control corruption and supplements the existing laws that ban corruption and impose strict penalties.
- Democratic reforms are to be brought about principally through political practice. Hence, the main focus of political reforms should be on the way to strengthen democratic practice. Moreover, the quality of political participation must be improved.
- Any proposal for political reform should think not only about what is a good solution but also about who will implement it and how.
- It is also very wise to think that the legislative will pass legislations that go against the interests of all the political parties and MPs. But measures that rely on democratic movements, citizen organizations, and the media are likely to succeed.
Question 5. What role can an ordinary citizen play in deepening democracy?
Answer:
- No democracy can function in the absence of socially responsible and informed citizens.
- Citizens must learn how to tolerate the differences and views of all others who disagree with them. That is, the citizens must accept the principle of mutual tolerance and dissent.
- Citizens must act with a sense of discipline and responsibility. They have a right to express their dissent. They must express their grievance through channels provided by the democratic system.
- Citizens must participate and seek to influence the public opinion. This can happen only when they are well-informed on civic matters.
- Citizens must exercise their right to vote. This provides a direction for the whole democratic process.
Question 6. What measures have been taken for the upliftment of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes? Describe any three of them.
Answer:
- Some seats are reserved in the schools and colleges.
- Some constituencies of the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies are reserved for the scheduled caste candidates.
- Some jobs under the government are reserved for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
Question 7. Describe the main provisions contained in the constitution of India for the protection of the interests of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in India.
Answer:
The Constitution of free India, which came into force in January 1950 guarantees some provisions for the welfare, security, and development of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The main provisions are given below:
- The Constitution ends discrimination on the basis of caste, religion race, or sex. It gives the right of entry and use of every place like shops, temples, wells, and places of entertainment to every Indian without any discrimination (Article 15(2)).
- The Constitution abolished untouchability in any form. Practice preaching of untouchability is a punishable offense (Article 17).
- The Constitution provides protection to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes from any type of social and economic exploitation (Article 40).
- For the welfare of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, the government will have the right to reserve vacancies in the government (Articles 16 and 335).
Question 8. Discuss the regional imbalance in India.
Or
There is a regional imbalance in India. Justify the statement.
Answer:
- With a population of about 1200 million, India is the world’s second most populous country after China. In terms of area, it is the seventh biggest country in the world. In spite of best efforts to reduce the regional disparity, there are still several regions in the country that are economically backward while some areas are economically quite well off.
- The eastern states, hilly areas, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, etc., are economically backward. On the other hand, the northern states, western states, and southern states are economically rich.
- There is a wide gap and disparity in the income level of the poor and the rich and between the urban and the rural population.
- The difference in the availability of natural resources and the lack of infrastructural facilities such as roads, water, electricity, banking, and communication also contribute to the regional imbalance.
Question 9. What are the broad guidelines to be kept in mind while devising ways and means for political reforms in India?
Answer:
Broad guidelines for political reforms:
- As legal constitutional changes by themselves cannot overcome the challenge to democracy, democratic reforms need to be carried out mainly by political activists, parties, movements, and politically conscious citizens.
- Any legal change must be carefully looked at, i.e., what results it will have on politics, generally laws seeking to ban something are rather counter-productive.
- For example, many states have debarred people who have more than two children from contesting panchayat elections. This has resulted in a denial of democratic opportunity to many poor women, which was not intended.
- The best laws are those that empower people to carry out democratic reforms, For Example., the Right to Information Act acts as a watchdog of democracy by controlling corruption.
- Democratic reforms are to be brought about principally through political parties. The most important concern should be to increase and improve the quality of political participation by the ordinary citizens.
- Any proposal for political reforms should consider not only what is a good solution but also who will implement it and how measures that rely on democratic movements, citizens’ organizations, and media are likely to succeed.