Chapter 23. Challenges to Indian Democracy Textbook Solutions

NIOS Social Science Class 10 Chapter 23 Solutions

INTEXT QUESTIONS 23.1

1. What do you mean by political democracy?

Ans: Democracy is defined as a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and is exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodic free elections. In essence, democracy is a form of government which is run by the elected representatives of the people.

2. Do you think the definition of democracy is incomplete unless it is defined in social and individual contexts as well? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans: The definition of democracy is incomplete unless it is defined in social and individual contexts as well. In the present age, it means more than a mere form of government. In its comprehensive form, democracy means,

(i) a form of government
(ii) a type of state
(iii) a pattern of the social system
(iv) a design of economic order
(v) a way of life and culture.

Therefore, when we say Indian democracy, we mean not only that its political institutions and processes are democratic but also that the Indian society and every Indian citizen is democratic, reflecting basic democratic values of equality, liberty, fraternity, secularism and justice in the social sphere and individual behaviour.

3. Write at least two essential conditions of political and social democracy.

Ans: A system can be termed as a genuine democracy only when it fulfils

(a) Political conditions as follows:
- (i) having a Constitution that vests supreme power in the people and protects fundamental rights, such as equality, liberty of thought and expression, belief, movement, communication and association;
- (ii) having a universal adult franchise as the basis of electing representatives;
- (iii) having a responsible government in which the executive is answerable to the legislature and the legislature to the people;
(b) social and economic conditions as follows:
- (i) the system ensuring social development that is in tune with democratic values and norms reflecting equality of social status, social security and social welfare
- (ii) the system facilitates a situation where the fruits of economic development reach all, especially the poor and deprived sections of society.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 23.2

1. How do illiteracy, inequality and poverty adversely affect the functioning of Indian democracy?

Ans: Illiteracy, inequality and poverty adversely affect the functioning of Indian democracy.

(i) Illiterate citizens are not able to play their roles effectively and exercise meaningfully their right to vote, which is an individual expression of the power of the people. Literacy enables citizens to be aware of various issues, problems, demands, and interests in the country, be conscious of the principles of liberty and equality of all and ensure that the representatives elected by them truly represent all the interests in the society.
(ii) Poverty is perhaps the greatest bane of democracy. It is the root cause of all kinds of deprivations and inequalities and is the state of denial of opportunities to people to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.

2. Do you agree that the portrayal of women by popular entertainment channels or films depict gender discrimination? Justify with examples.

Ans: Yes, the popular entertainment channels and films generally depict gender discrimination. In fact, the serials on television channels are reinforcing the prevailing patriarchal system, showing females playing traditional roles of mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. A few of them indeed question the traditional roles, but those also somehow reflect gender discrimination.

3. Explain with two examples as how do casteism or communalism impact our day to day lives and influence Indian democracy?

Ans: Caste System: The most detrimental and inhuman example of the prevailing caste system is the practice of untouchability, which is continuing in different covert and overt ways despite the constitutional ban imposed on it. The Dalits still bear the brunt of discrimination and deprivation. This has led to segregation of so called low castes, depriving them of education and other social benefits. The second example relates to the politicisation of the caste system.

Casteism has become notorious as a strategy of exploitation of caste consciousness for narrow political gains. The caste system acts against the roots of democracy. Communalism: It disrupts quite often the smooth process of co-existence in a multi-religious Indian society. Communal riots happening in the country since independence have been dangerous for peace, order and social harmony. Secondly, the misuse of religion by fundamentalist people during elections and even in other situations has always been proven to be counterproductive.

4. If regionalism and sub-regionalism are inseparable part of Indian democracy, why are they considered as challenges?

Ans: Although the development process in the country aims at growth and development of all regions, the regional disparities and imbalances continue to exist. Existence and continuation of regional inequalities in terms of differences in per capita income, literacy rates, state of health and educational infrastructure and services, population situation and levels of industrial and agricultural development both among States and within a State create a feeling of neglect, deprivation and discrimination.

5. What are the reasons for criminalization of politics in India?

Ans: The influence of muscle power in Indian politics has been a fact of life for a long time. Political parties and candidates do not hesitate to seek the help of criminal elements to dominate the election scene in India. Earlier in the 1960’s, the criminals were content by covertly helping the politician win the election so that they could, in turn, get protection from him. But the roles have now been reversed. It is the politicians who now bank on the support of the criminals for protection.

6. What are the reasons of increase of political violence in India?

Ans: One of the major reasons for the increase in political violence has been the emergence of serious conflicts of interest between higher and middle castes as an outcome of agricultural development, abolition of the zamindari system, and developments like green revolution and white revolution. These have led to aggressive competition for political power, which many a time leads to violence. Another reason is the backlash of the higher castes against the growing awareness and assertion of their rights by the lower castes, particularly the Scheduled Castes and the lowest backward castes. Moreover, violence has been associated with demands for separate States, reorganisation of States or adjustment of State boundaries. As we observe, the Telangana Movement in Andhra Pradesh and the Bodo Movement in Assam often turned violent. Violence has also been used quite frequently during industrial strikes, farmers’ movements, students’ agitations, and a number of other civil disobedience campaigns.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 23.3

1. Describe the measures undertaken to achieve the goals of universal literacy, poverty alleviation and removal of gender discrimination?

Ans: To attain the goal of universal literacy, a nation-wide programme known as Saakshar Bharat is being implemented. Moreover, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is a flagship programme for the universalization of elementary education for children between 6-14 years of age. Besides, the Parliament of India in 2009 passed the Right to Education Act, through which education has become a fundamental right of all children in the age group of 6-14 years. For poverty alleviation, two kinds of programmes are being implemented:

(i) Programmes to lift beneficiaries above the poverty line by providing them with productive assets or skills or both so that they can employ themselves usefully and earn a higher income
(ii) Programmes to provide temporary wage employment for the poor and the landless. Public Distribution System (PDS) contributes towards meeting people’s basic food needs, the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) provides rural households below the poverty line with credit to purchase income-generating assets, and the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) provides more than 700 million person days of work a year. Moreover, TRYSEM (Training Rural Youth for Self Employment) was started to provide technical skills to the rural youth and to help them to get employment.

2. Discuss the steps needed for solving the problem of regional imbalances in India.

Ans: Besides the State-specific efforts for reducing intra-State regional disparities, several Centrally Sponsored Programmes have been in operation for the last two to three decades for taking care of specific aspects of backwardness of such regions. Some of the major programmes are:

(i) the Tribal Development Programme
(ii) the Hill Area Development Programme
(iii) the Border Area Development Programme
(iv) the Western Ghat Development Programme
(v) the Drought Prone Area Programme
(vi) the Desert Development Programme.

3. What needs to be done to reform administration and judiciary in India?

Ans: For administrative reforms, the following recommendations need to be implemented:

(i) to make administration accountable and citizen-friendly
(ii) to build its capacity for quality governance
(iii) to orient administration for promoting people’s participation, decentralization and devolution of powers
(iv) to make the administrative decision-making process transparent
(v) to improve the performance and integrity of the public services
(vi) to reinforce ethics in administration
(vii) to inculcate readiness for e-governance.

For judicial reforms, the steps that are to be taken are as follows:

(a) Simplification of Rules and Procedures
(b) Repealing Outdated Laws
(c) Increase in the Judge Population Ratio
(d) Time-bound filling of Vacant Posts in the judiciary
(e) Transparency in Appointment, Promotion and Transfer of Judges
(f) Judicial Accountability
(g) Transparency of Court Proceedings.

4. What is sustainable development? How will it strengthen Indian democracy?

Ans: Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for future generations. When the development is human-centred and directed towards improvement of the quality of life of all the people, it has to be focused on the removal of poverty, ignorance, discrimination, disease and unemployment. All these steps will strengthen Indian democracy.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 23.4

1. What do you mean by participation of citizens in the democratic process?

Ans: Participation in a democratic polity is not confined simply to participation in elections. A vital form of participation comes through membership of political parties and, more importantly, active membership in independent non-governmental organizations, which are known as “civil society organizations.” Civil Society Organizations represent a variety of interests of different groups: women, students, farmers, workers, doctors, teachers, business owners, religious believers and human rights activists.

2. What are the various forums or tools available to a common citizen for making the government accountable?

Ans: Citizens have to make the democratic system responsive and responsible. They are needed to ensure that the Parliamentarians, Members of State Legislatures and their representatives in Panchayati Raj and Municipal Institutions are accountable. The instruments created by the Right to Information Act, 2005, in our country enable citizens to play their role effectively. Citizens must watch carefully how their political leaders and representatives use their powers, and express their own opinions and interests.

3. Fill in the Blanks:

(a) If you have a right to do certain things, you have also ……………………. to ensure that your actions do not infringe upon the ……………………. of others.

Ans: responsibility, rights

(b) Citizens must respect the ……………………. and reject …………………….

Ans: law, violence

(c) Every group has the right to practice its ……………………. and to have some ……………………. over its own affairs.

Ans: culture, control;

(d) When a citizen expresses his/her ……………………. he/she should also listen to the ……………………. of other people.

Ans: opinion, views.

TERMINAL EXERCISES

1. Define democracy. Why cannot democracy be defined only in political context?

Ans: “Democracy is a government of the people, for the people, and by the people.” The term ‘democracy’ comes from the Greek word demokratia, which means “rule of the people”. It was coined from two words: demos, which means “people” and Kratos, which refers to “power”. That is, in a democracy, the power rests with the people.

In its comprehensive form, democracy means, or ought to mean, (i) a form of government, (ii) a type of state, (iii) a pattern of social system, (iv) a design of economic order, and (v) a way of life and culture. Thus, democracy cannot be defined only in a political context.

2. Describe the essential conditions for a successful democracy.

Ans: The essential conditions for a successful democracy are

Political conditions

The first and foremost are the political conditions of democracy. It is essential that for a system to be democratic, we must adopt a Constitution and laws that vest supreme power in the people. Human rights and fundamental rights, such as equality, liberty of thought and expression, belief, movement, communication and association must be protected by the Constitution. The democratic system has to have a universal adult franchise as the basis of electing representatives at various levels of the government.

Socio-economic conditions

A democratic system has to ensure that the social development is in tune with democratic values and norms reflecting equality of social status and opportunities for development, social security and social welfare. Citizens must avail opportunities of universal and compulsory education. They must also be

enabled to utilize means of economic development. The fruits of economic development must reach all and especially to the poor and the deprived sections of the society. Socio-economic development of the people strengthens social democracy.

3. What are the major challenges the Indian democracy faces? How these challenges are opportunities to make India an effective democratic system.

Ans: The major challenges the Indian democracy is facing are illiteracy, poverty, gender discrimination, casteism, communalism, religious fundamentalism, regionalism, corruption, criminalization of politics, and political violence.

Literacy is necessary for enabling citizens to participate in elections and exercise their right to vote effectively, be aware of various issues, problems, demands, and interests in the country. It also makes them conscious of the principles of liberty and equality of all and ensures that the representatives elected by them truly represent all the interests in the society.
Eliminating poverty provides equality in society, leading to better health and nutritional standards among the public.
Proper implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill and other women empowering acts or bills can counter the gender discrimination faced by women and improve their stature in society.
Eliminating casteism brings social-economic equality. Communalism and religious fundamentalism are both harmful to society. Removing these threats can enhance secularism and the fundamental rights of the citizens.
Regionalism is like cancer, and removing it can help counter militant movements and other regional groups that threaten national integrity.
Corruption is spreading to all phases of our lives. Removing it can help grow integrity and authenticity in every aspect.
To enhance democratic values and progress of the nation, we must eliminate both criminalization of politics and political violence.

4. Examine the trends of protest and violence in India. Why do some protests turn into violent movements?

Ans: In India, we have been witnessing various forms of violence. Communal violence, caste violence and political violence in general have attained serious proportions.

Communal riots are engineered by vested interests for political, religious and economic reasons.
Caste violence in various shapes has been increasing. A serious conflict of interest has emerged between higher and middle castes, and this has led to aggressive competition for political power, which many a time leads to violence.
During elections, violence is being adopted either to mobilise voters or to prevent them from exercising their right to vote.
Moreover, violence has been associated with demands for separate States, reorganisation of States or adjustment of State boundaries.
Violence has also been used quite frequently during industrial strikes, farmers’ movements, and students’ agitations.

5. What are the significant corrective measures that are required to meet the challenges to Indian democracy?

Ans: Certain significant corrective measures that have been adopted and can be initiated are as follows:

Universal Literacy ‘Education for All’

Currently, a nation-wide programme known as Saakshar Bharat is being implemented that aims at developing functional literacy and numeracy to non-literate and non-numerate adults in the age group of fifteen and above, to enable them to continue their learning beyond basic literacy and acquire equivalence to formal educational systems.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is a flagship programme for universalization of elementary education for children between 6 and 14 years of age.
Further, the Parliament of India in 2009 passed the Right to Education Act, through which education has become a fundamental right for all children in the age group 6-14 years.

Poverty Alleviation

Programmes implemented for the alleviation of poverty in India fall into two broad categories:

(i) There are programmes to lift beneficiaries above the poverty line by providing them with productive assets or skills or both, so that they can employ themselves usefully and earn higher income.

(ii) Programmes are also being implemented to provide temporary wage employment for the poor and the landless.

Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY) is a programme for the creation of rural economic infrastructure with employment generation as a secondary objective.
The Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) covers 1,778 drought-prone, desert, tribal and hill area blocks.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) is being implemented to enhance the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing a hundred days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Elimination of Gender Discrimination

Besides constitutional provisions, several laws have been enacted, policies have been made and implemented, and institutional reforms have been carried out for the development of women.

The 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Indian Constitution in 1993 are the milestones in the process of political empowerment of women. These Amendments have reserved one-third of the seats in the Panchayati Raj Institutions, Municipalities and Municipal Corporations.
Another significant development has been the adoption of the National Policy for Empowerment of Women in 2001, the overarching goal of which is to “bring about the advancement, development and empowerment of women.”

Removal of Regional Imbalance

State-specific efforts for reducing intra-State regional disparities, several Centrally Sponsored Programmes have been in operation for the last two to three decades for taking care of specific aspects of backwardness of such regions. Some of the major programmes are:

(i) the Tribal Development Programme, (ii) the Hill Area Development Programme, (iii) the Border Area Development Programme, (iv) the Western Ghat Development Programme, (v) the Drought Prone Area Programme and (vi) the Desert Development Programme.
For the development of North-East states, a certain percentage is earmarked from the budget for each developmental scheme or programme in the region.

Administrative and Judicial Reforms

Several Commissions and Committees have been set up in this regard. But bureaucratic reluctance to change has prevented the reforms from taking place in full measure. The recommendations of various Commissions and Committees focus around the need (i) to make administration accountable and citizen friendly, (ii) to build its capacity for quality governance, (iii) to orient administration for promoting peoples’ participation, decentralization and devolution of powers, (iv) to make administrative decision-making process transparent, (v) to improve the performance and integrity of the public services, (vi) to reinforce ethics in administration, and (vii) to inculcate readiness for e-governance.
Judicial reform has also been a critical concern for a long time. Various recommendations have been made on many occasions. The major issues that need consideration in this regard are : (a) Simplification of Rules and Procedures, (b) Repealing Out-dated Laws, (c) Increase in the Judge Population Ratio, (d) Time-bound filling of Vacant Posts in Judiciary, (d) Transparency in Appointment, Promotion and Transfer of Judges, (e) Judicial Accountability; and (f) Transparency of Court Proceedings.

Sustainable Development (Economic, Social, Environmental)

Indian democracy can adequately respond to all the challenges when it moves forward on the path of sustainable development. A model of development without taking into account the basic needs of millions, today as well as in the future, cannot be conducive to the survival of democracy. Development has to be human-centred and directed towards the improvement of the quality of life of all people. It has to be focused on the removal of poverty, ignorance, discrimination, disease and unemployment. The development process has to aim at sustained economic, social and environmental development.

6. Discuss the expected roles of citizens in Indian democracy, especially in the context of the experiences of Indian society and government.

Ans: Major opportunities for roles of citizens may be as follows:

(a) Participation

The key role of citizens in a democracy is to participate in public life.
The most commonly observed opportunity of participation is exercising the right to vote during elections.
A vital form of participation comes through membership of political parties and more importantly, active membership in independent non-governmental organizations, which are known as “civil society organisations.”
These organizations represent a variety of interests of different groups, and they help to bring political awareness about different issues among the people.

(b) Making the System Accountable

The Constitution makes the executive responsible to the legislature, but citizens are needed to ensure that the Parliamentarians, Members of State Legislatures and their representatives in Panchayati Raj and Municipal Institutions are accountable.

The instruments created by the Right to Information Act, 2005, in our country enable citizens to play their role effectively.
Citizens have an obligation to become informed about public issues, to watch carefully how their political leaders and representatives use their powers, and to express their own opinions and interests. If the government still fails to fulfil promises, citizens may protest, carry out peaceful satyagraha, civil disobedience or non-cooperation campaigns to make the government accountable.

(c) Fulfilling Obligations

A citizen has to accept that freedom is never absolute. If you have the right to do certain things, you also have the responsibility to ensure that your actions do not infringe upon the rights of others.

7. What are the qualities that need to be reflected in an individual to be an Indian citizen in true sense?

Ans:

The citizens must respect the law and reject violence.
Every citizen must respect the rights of his or her fellow citizens and their dignity as human beings.
No one should denounce a political opponent as evil just because of holding different views.
People should question the decisions of the government, but not reject the government’s authority.
Every group has the right to practice its culture and to have some control over its own affairs, but each group should accept that it is a part of a plural society and democratic state.
When you express your opinion, you should also listen to the views of other people, even people you disagree with.
Everyone has a right to be heard.
When you make demands, you should understand that in a democracy, everyone can’t achieve everything one wants.
Groups with different interests and opinions must be willing to sit down with one another and negotiate.
If one group is always excluded and fails to be heard, it may turn against democracy in anger and frustration.
Everyone willing to participate peacefully and respect the rights of others should have some say in the way the country is governed.

8. Write some qualities of a good citizen.

Ans:

Respect the law and reject violence.
Respect the rights of his or her fellow citizens and their dignity as human beings.
Never denounce a political opponent as evil for having different views.
Question the decisions of the government, but do not reject the government’s authority.
Should listen to the views of other people, even people you disagree with.
Should understand that in a democracy, everyone can’t achieve everything one wants.