NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 What is Democracy? Why is Democracy? contains answers to the exercise questions given in ‘Democratic Politics -I’. These solutions will help students for the preparation of CBSE Class 9 SST exam. All the answers are useful for exams as most of the questions are asked from the NCERT textbooks. So, students can study these solutions and score high in their exams.
Class 9 Civics What is Democracy Why is Democracy Questions and Answers
Question 1: Here is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries? Write ‘democratic’, ‘undemocratic’ or ‘not sure’ against each of these.
(a) Country A: People who do not accept the country’s official religion do not have a right to vote.
(b) Country B: The same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years.
(c) Country C: Ruling party has lost in the last three elections.
(d) Country D: There is no independent election commission.
Answer:
(a) Undemocratic
(b) Not sure
(c) Democratic
(d) Undemocratic
Question 2: Here is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries? Write ‘democratic’, ‘undemocratic’ or ‘not sure’ against each of these.
(a) Country P: The parliament cannot pass a law about the army without the consent of the Chief of Army.
(b) Country Q: The parliament cannot pass a law reducing the powers of the judiciary.
(c) Country R: The country’s leaders cannot sign any treaty with another country without taking permission from its neighbouring country.
(d) Country S: All the major economic decisions about the country are taken by officials of the central bank which the ministers cannot change.
Answer:
(a) Undemocratic
(b) Democratic
(c) Undemocratic
(d) Undemocratic
Question 3: Which of these is not a good argument in favour of democracy? Why?
(a) People feel free and equal in a democracy.
(b) Democracies resolve conflict in a better way than others.
(c) Democratic government is more accountable to the people.
(d) Democracies are more prosperous than others.
Answer: (d) Democracies are more prosperous than others.
Reason: Democracies are more prosperous than others is not a good argument in favour of democracy as there are many countries such as Sri Lanka, India which opted for democracy but not prosperous where other countries such as China or Saudi Arabia which have communist and monarchy rule respectively are more prosperous. The prosperity of any country depends on the correct policies of the government. It also depends on the availability of natural resources not with the form of government. Democracy can’t guarantee prosperity.
Question 4: Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element. Write out the two separately for each statement.
(a) A minister said that some laws have to be passed by the parliament in order to conform to the regulations decided by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
(b) The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency where large-scale rigging was reported.
(c) Women’s representation in the parliament has barely reached 10 per cent. This led women’s organisations to demand one-third seats for women.
Answer: (a) A minister said that some laws have to be passed by the parliament – Democratic element to the regulations decided by the World Trade Organisation (WTO). – Undemocratic element
(b) The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency – Democratic element large-scale rigging was reported – Undemocratic element
(c) This led women’s organisations to demand one-third seats for women. – Democratic element Women’s representation in the parliament has barely reached 10per cent. – Undemocratic element
Question 5: Which of these is not a valid reason for arguing that there is a lesser possibility of famine in a democratic country?
(a) Opposition parties can draw attention to hunger and starvation.
(b) Free press can report suffering from famine in different parts of the country.
(c) Government fears its defeat in the next elections.
(d) People are free to believe in and practise any religion.
Answer: (d) People are free to believe in and practise any religion.
Reason: Option ‘d’ is not a valid reason because there are lesser changes for famine to take place in a democratic country. This is because practicing of a religion is not at all related to famine.
Question 6: There are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provision for drinking water. These villagers met and considered many methods of forcing the government to respond to their need. Which of these is not a democratic method?
(a) Filing a case in the courts claiming that water is part of right to life.
(b) Boycotting the next elections to give a message to all parties.
(c) Organising public meetings against government’s policies.
(d) Paying money to government officials to get water.
Answer: (d) Paying money to government officials to get water.
Reason: Option ‘d’, which advocates paying the government officials money, is an undemocratic method.
Question 7: Write a response to the following arguments against democracy:
(a) Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country.
Therefore, army should rule the country.
(b) Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.
(c) If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.
Answer: (a) The army is well disciplined but it not by the people, from among the people themselves. In a democratic country, the government is formed by the people, for the people and of the people.
(b) It is not necessary that wise people necessarily understand the problems of the majority of people & their perspective of life. Most of the people have necessary intelligence to understand rules and regulations.
(c) Religion has nothing to do with politics and there is more probability of conflict between leaders from different religion.
Question 8: Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
(a) Father to daughter: I don’t want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In our family children marry where the parents tell them to.
Answer: This statement of father is undemocratic as every adult has right to choose their life partner. The father does not have right to impose their choice on daughter.
(b) Teacher to student: Don’t disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom.
Answer: This statement also is not under democratic setup. The student have right to ask question. This is undemocratic if his right is denied.
(c) Employee to the officer: Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.
Answer: The third statement is democratic as it calls for a rule of law which is beneficial for the employees.
Question 9: Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision
(a) All the citizens of the country have right to vote. Elections are held regularly.
Answer: It is a democracy as citizens are allowed to vote and choose their government.
(b) The country took loan from international agencies. One of the conditions for giving loan was that the government would reduce its expenses on education and health.
Answer: A democratic country has to look after the welfare of its people. The condition of reducing of expenses on health and education is against the welfare of the people.
(c) People speak more than seven languages but education is available only in one language, the language spoken by 52 percent people of that country.
Answer: It is undemocratic as half of the population of the country can’t have proper education as they don’t have access to education in the language they understand.
(d) Several organisations have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nation-wide strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders.
Answer: In a democracy people have right to express their opinion in peaceful manner. It is undemocratic behaviour.
(e) The government owns the radio and television in the country. All the newspapers have to get permission from the government to publish any news about government’s policies and protests.
Answer: A very important part of democracy is the freedom of the press. Therefore, the total control of media shows that there is no freedom of speech and expression and right to speak against the government.
Thus, though the country is democratic in some manners, it is also undemocratic in some ways.