DAILY CLASS NOTES

NCERT: Indian Polity

Lecture -01
Introduction of Indian Polity
 2

Introduction of Indian Polity

Outline of today’s lecture:

 Democracy

 Definition of Democracy

Features/Prerequisites of Democracy

Preparation Strategy:

Do’s and Don'ts for studying Polity:

 3

Democracy:
 Definition:

 “Democracy is a form of government in which rulers are elected by people.”

 In India, people elect their rulers (Government) through election.

 All those people who are above 18 years of age can cast their vote in the
election.

 Abraham Lincoln said, “Democracy is of the people, for the people and by the
people.”

 The government works for the people, that's why the term “Janta
Janardhan” is used in India.

Example:

 In Pakistan, General Parvez Musharraf was the elected

President and claimed that Pakistan was a democracy.
However, the Government of Pakistan was heavily
influenced by General Parvez Musharraf and military
officials or the army of Pakistan. Thus there was a
dictatorship in Pakistan even though the rulers were
elected (same situation in Myanmar now). This shows
that a country cannot be called a democracy truly on
the basis of elections.
 4

Prerequisites / Features of Democracy:

 Free and Fair Elections:

 It means the election is free of force or cheating.

Example:

 Robert Mugabe was the President of Zimbabwe. He was a true

dictator as he conducted the elections (to show the world)
but the elections were not fair as no rights were given to the
opposition parties during or after the elections (not able to
conduct rallies, etc.). Thus, Zimbabwe was not a democracy
even though elections were conducted there.
 In China, only members of the Communist Party are allowed
to contest the elections. But there is no such provision in India.
 Thus China and Pakistan cannot be called as true democracies.
 5

 The ruling government gives an equal chance to all the contesting parties to
participate in the elections.

 So, a democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently
in power have a fair chance of losing.

 One Person, One Vote and One Value:

 In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have
one value (even if he is a Prime Minister or a rickshaw puller).

 Example:

 During British rule in India, people got voting rights on the basis of level of
education, property, etc.

 Earlier in many countries females were not given voting rights.

 However, in Independent India, everyone above the age of 18 years got

voting rights.

 The Election Commission of India conducts the elections in India.

 Universal Adult Suffrage/Franchise means all those persons who are above 18
years of age have the right to vote in the elections of India.

 Rule of Law and Respect for Rights:

 Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law of the land.

 Example: In China, the members of the Communist Party are given special
privileges in front of the law or judiciary. Which is against the principle of equality.

 The state should respect the basic rights of the citizens. It implies that the rights
of all people should be respected by the government and the other people.

 Independent and Impartial Judiciary:

 In a democracy, the judiciary makes decisions according to the law of the land
and is not influenced by the government.

 The judiciary treats everybody equally whether the person is rich or poor.
 6

 Freedom of Speech and Expression:

 Everyone has the right to freedom of speech and expression and the right to
criticise the government while behaving responsibly and respecting other people’s
rights.

 Example: Jack Ma, the founder of

Alibaba.com disappeared from the public eye
after he criticised the Chinese government.
This shows a lack of freedom of speech and
expression

 Thus, China and Russia are not true

democracies but India is a true democracy.

India is a true democracy because all the essential features of democracy are present in our
country

