LESSON-3 ELECTORAL POLITICS

Choose the correct option:

Question 1.How many seats are reserved in the Lok Sabha for the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes?
(a) 47
(b) 60
(c) 84
(d) 100

Answer (c) 84

Question 2.Our country is divided into

(a) 500 constituencies
(b) 543 constituencies
(c) 550 constituencies
(d) 552 constituencies

Answer (b) 543 constituencies

Question 3.
The number of Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh is
(a) 80
(b) 82
(c) 84
(d) 90

Answer (c) 84

Question 4.
The number of Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi is
(a) 2
(b) 4
(c) 6
(d) 7

Answer: (d) 7

Question 5.
The minimum age required for being a voter is:
(a) 25 years
(b) 21 years
(c) 18 years
(d) 15 years

Answer: (c) 18 years

Question 6.
Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner of India?
(a) The Chief Justice of India
(b) The Prime Minister of India
(c) The President of India
(d) The Law Minister of India

Answer: (c) The President of India

Question 7.
Who led the ‘Nyaya Yudh’?
(a) Chaudhary Charan Singh
(b) Chaudhary Devi Lal
(c) Ajit Singh
(d) None of these

Answer (b) Chaudhary Devi Lal

Question 8.
Which of these is not a feature of Indian democracy?
(a) India has the largest number of voters in the world
(b) India’s Election Commission is very powerful
(c) In India, everyone above the age of 18 has a right to vote
(d) In India, the losing parties refuse to accept the electoral verdict

Answer (d) In India, the losing parties refuse to accept the electoral
verdict

Question 9.
What is meant by the term ‘constituency’?
(a) Place where the copy of constitution is kept
(b) A particular area from where voters elect a representative to the Lok
Sabha / Vidhan Sabha
(c) A body of voters
(d) None of the above
Answer (b) A particular area from where voters elect a representative to
the Lok Sabha / Vidhan Sabha

Question 10.
In India, elections for which of these bodies are held after every five
years?
(a) Rajya Sabha
(b) Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha
(c) Vidhan Parishad
(d) Only Lok Sabha

Answer: (b) Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha

Question 11.
What is an election held for only one constituency to fill the vacancy
caused due to the death or resignation of a member called?
(a) By-election
(b) Mid-term election
(c) General election
(d) None of these

Answer (a) By-election

Question 12.
Constituencies called ‘wards’ are made for the election to
(a) Parliament
(b) State Legislative Assembly
(c) State Legislative Council
(d) Panchayats and municipal bodies

Answer (b) State Legislative Assembly

Question 13.
Which of these is not a part of the district and local level bodies?
(a) Panchayats
(b) Municipalities
(c) Corporations
(d) Lok Sabha

Answer (d) Lok Sabha

Question 14.For voting, the voter has to show which of these as identity
proof?
(a) Ration card
(b) Driving license
(c) Election Photo Identity Card
(d) None of these

Answer (d) None of these

Question 15.What is the details the candidates have to give in the legal
declaration before contesting the elections?
(a) Serious criminal cases pending against them
(b) Details of assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family
(c) Educational qualification of the candidate
(d) All the above

Answer (d) All the above

Question 16.Name the body which conducts the elections in India

(a) Supreme Court
(b) Parliament
(c) Cabinet
(d) Election Commission

Answer (d) Election Commission

Question 17.When on election duty, under whose control does the

government officers work?
(a) Central Government
(b) Election Commission
(c) District Magistrate
(d) District Court

Answer (b) Election Commission

Question 18.What does the term ‘incumbent’ mean?

(a) The current holder of a political office
(b) The candidate contesting the election
(c) The outgoing candidate of the dissolved House
(d) None of the above

Answer (a) The current holder of a political office

Question 19.The Election Commission is:

(a) An elected body
(b) An appointed body
(c) An independent body
(d) both (b) and (c)

Answer (b) An appointed body

Question 20.Which of the following statement is incorrect?

(a) All citizens above the age of 21 can vote in an election
(b) Every citizen has the right to vote regardless of caste religion or
gender
(c) Some criminals and persons with unsound mind can be denied the
right to vote in rare situations
(d) It is the responsibility of the government to get the names of all
eligible voters put in the voters list

Answer (a) All citizens above the age of 21 can vote in an election

Question 21.What is the age of a person who can contest election for
the Lok Sabha in India?
(a) 25 years
(b) 30 years
(c) 35 years
(d) 40 years

Answer (a) 25 years

Question 22.Voter’s List is also known as:

(a) Election Number
(b) Voter Identity Card
(c) Electoral Roll
(d) None of these

Answer (c) Electoral Roll

Question 23.Which of the following statements is against the democratic

process of elections?
(a) Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections
(b) Elections must be held regularly immediately after the term is over
(c) The right to vote should be given to the selected people only
(d) Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner
Answer (c) The right to vote should be given to the selected people only

Question 24.Reserved Constituencies ensures

(a) Right to equality
(b) Proper representation to all religious groups
(c) Proper representation to the weaker sections of society
(d) None of these

Answer (c) Proper representation to the weaker sections of society

Question 25.Who has given the slogan ‘Garibi Hatao’?

(a) Indira Gandhi
(b) Rajiv Gandhi
(c) Sonia Gandhi
(d) Pt. Nehru

Answer (a) Indira Gandhi

Question 26.Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner of India?

(a) The Chief Justice of India
(b) The Prime Minister of India
(c) The President of India
(d) The people of India

Answer: (c) The President of India

Question 27.The number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes in the

Lok Sabha is:
(a) 59
(b) 79
(c) 89
(d) 99

Answer (b) 79

Fill in the Blanks:

Question 1.Free and fair elections are ensured by the _______ .

Answer: Election Commission

Question 2.The leader, Mr Devi Lai from Haryana is the Chief of

Haryana Sangharsh Samiti, led a movement named _______ .
Answer:NyayaYudh
Question 3.What does ‘EPIC’ stand for?
Answer: Election Photo Identity Card.

Question 4.How many voters took part in campaign-related activities

during the 2004 elections?
Answer: More than one-third voters took parts in campaign-related
activities during the 2004 elections.

Question 5.In India, Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections are held
regularly after every _______ .
Answer: Five years

Question 6.Sometimes, election is held only for one constituency to fill

the vacancy caused by death or resignation of a member. This type of
election is called _______ .
Answer:By-election

Question 7.In India, we follow area based system of representation. The

country is divided into different areas for purposes of elections. These
areas are called _______ .
Answer: Electoral constituency

Question 8.Each state is divided into a specific number of Assembly

constituencies. The elected representative from each area is called
_______ .
Answer: MLA or Member of Legislative Assembly

Question 9.The list of those people who are eligible to vote is officially
called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as _______ .
Answer: Voters List

Question 10.To be a candidate to contest the elections, the minimum

age is _______ .
Answer:25 years

Question 11.According to our election law, no party or candidate can

_______ .
Answer: Bribe or threaten voters and appeal to them in the name of
caste/religion.

Question 12.As per code of conduct for election campaign, _______ .

Answer: No party or candidate can use any place of worship for election
propaganda.

Question 13.What do you mean by “Universal Adult franchises”?

Answer: Every citizen of India who is 18 years of age or above has a
right to vote without discrimination of caste, creed, sex, colour, etc.

Question 14.The members of Election Commission are appointed by the

_______ .
Answer: President of India

Question 15.What do you mean by voters?

Answer: People who have the right to vote or participate in the election
of representatives are known as ‘voters’.

Question 16.Name the political party that ruled over Haryana between
1982 to 1987.
answer: The Congress Party.

Question 17.What is the significance of Election Photo Identity Card?

Answer: This card is given to every person on the voter’s list. The voters
are required to carry, this card when they go out to vote, so that no one
can vote for someone else.

Question 18.Who formed a new party ‘Lok Dal’?

Answer: Chaudhary Devi Lai

Question 19.How many seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Lok
Sabha?
Answer: One-third seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Lok
Sabha.

Question 20.What do you mean by ‘Polling Booth’?

Answer: A polling booth is a place where voters go inside to caste their
vote. Inside the booth, and election officials identify them and put a mark
on their finger and allow them to cast their vote. .

1. What is Electoral Roll?

Ans. In a democratic election, the list of those citizens who are

eligible to vote is prepared. This list is officially called as Electoral
Roll and is commonly known as the voters’ list.
 2. What is a constituency?

Ans. For the smooth functioning of the election the vast country or
state is divided into smaller areas or units, those smaller areas are
called as constituency. From each constituency a leader is elected
to Lok Sabha or Vidhansabha. These constituencies are
sometimes referred as seats.

3.Give examples of various slogans given by various political

parties in various elections.

Ans. The slogans given by various political parties are:

 Garibi Hatao in Lok Sabha election of 1971 by Indira Gandhi.
 Save Democracy by Janata Party in 1977 general election.
 Land to the Tiller in West Bengal Assembly elections in 1977.
 Protect the Self –Respect of the Telugus by N.T.Rama Rao in
Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections in 1983.

4.Mention three demerits of election competition.

Ans: Three demerits are:

 It creates disunity and factorizations.
 It prevents the formation of sensible long –term policies.
 Due to this some good people may not enter this arena as
competitors.

5. Why are elections in India democratic?

Ans.Elections in India can be considered to be democratic

because of the following:
 Independent Election Commission: elections are conducted by an
independent and very powerful Election Commission which enjoys
the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys.
 Popular participation: India has a high voter turnout with illiterate
and underprivileged people voting in larger proportion as
compared to the rich and privileged sections.
 Acceptance of election outcome: ruling parties routinely lose
elections both at national and state level, mostly the electoral
outcomes are accepted as people’s verdict’ by the losing party.
 6. Why do we need an independent Election Commission?
Ans.We need an independent Election Commission:
 To hold free and fair elections.
 Prevent misuse of governmental power, transferring government
officials.
 To control and conduct every aspect of the elections.
 So that people have faith and trust in the democratic process.

7.Is it good to have political competition?

Ans.If there is no competition, there will be no point in having
elections.
 Political competition is a way in which political leaders may be
rewarded or punished by the people for their performance or non-
performance.
 Political competition provides incentives to political parties and
leaders.
 If they work for the people, chances of their victory will increase.
 So even if power is the only motivation, even then they will serve
the people.

8. What are reserved constituencies? How do they help the voters?

Ans. In order to ensure the election of weaker sections of society,

to ensure the voice of the deprived section, and to ensure that our
democracy is truly representative, we have a special system of
reserved constituencies.
 Some constituencies are reserved for people belonging to the
Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes so that they too have a
representation in the election process.
 Only people belonging to these categories can stand in elections in
these constituencies.
 This ensures that even the weakest and deprived sections get
adequate representation.

9. Explain any four challenges to free and fair elections.

Ans. Some of the challenges to free and fair elections are:

 Candidates and parties with a lot of money have an unfair
advantage over smaller parties and independents.
 A number of criminals are entering politics and contesting
elections.
 Some families dominate in the elections.
  There is a lack of choice to the voters in politics and candidates.

10. What makes an election democratic?

Ans. In a democratic election some minimum conditions have to be

fulfilled:
 One person, one vote and every vote has the same value.
 Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and the
voters should have a real choice.
 Elections should be held after regular intervals.
 The choice of the people should get selected.
 Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner.

 11. Read the given extract and answer the following questions:
In our country elections are conducted by an independent and very
powerful Election Commission (EC). It enjoys the same kind of
independence that the judiciary enjoys. The Chief Election Commissioner
(CEC) is appointed by the President of India. But once appointed, the
Chief Election Commissioner is not answerable to the President or the
government. Even if the ruling party or the government does not like
what the Commission does, it is virtually impossible for it to remove the
CEC.
 Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option.
1. Election Commission in our country is responsible for
___________________
A. Campaigning elections B. conducting elections
C.Making suitable laws
D. Law and order
Answer: B. conducting elections
2. The Head of the Election Commission is _________________
A. CEC B. SEC C. EC D. Prime Minister
Answer: A. CEC
3. Chief Election Commissioner of India is appointed by the
_____________
A. Prime Minister B. President C. Governor D. Chief
Minister
Answer: B. President
4. Free and fair elections could possible only when there is
___________
A. An Independent Election Commission B. a Powerful
Judiciary
B. Corrupted politicians D. Good Education system
Answer: A. An Independent Election Commission