Class 9 SST Understanding Society india and beyond Chapter 7 Elections Excercise

Questions and activities

1. What reforms have been introduced by the ECI to make voting more inclusive for the following groups?

a. People with Disabilities

b. Service Voters

c. Senior Citizens 60 years and above; and 80 years and above

d. Prisoners

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e. Persons in preventive detention

2. What are the various functions of the Election Commission of India? Which of these functions is most important for the conduct of free and fair elections? Explain.

3. Elections are the soul of a democracy. Do you agree? Why or why not?

4. Explain at least three differences between the national and state/regional political parties.

5. Why should you vote? Arrange the following in the descending order of your choice. Discuss the reasons for your choice.

a. Opportunity to choose my representative

b. Makes me a responsible person

c. Opportunity to change the non-performing representative

d. Strengthens democracy

6. What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative of the ICI? Explain the objectives and the necessity of conducting SIR.

7-Elections

7. Match the political party name with its symbol.

Political Parties Name

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) (Jhadu)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (Lotus)

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) (Elephant)

Communist Party of India. (Marxist) [CPI (M Darati)]

Indian National Congress (INC) (Hand)

National People's Party (NPP)

8. Read the case study below and answer the following questions.

Ishani and her mother were in the local market, day before the state assembly elections. She noticed wall writing and campaign posters pasted everywhere. Large groups of campaigners were distributing pamphlets and raising slogans in support of the respective candidates. Ishani has turned 18 and will be voting for the first time. She had registered to vote through the ECI's online portal. The next morning, she, along with her mother and her disabled elder brother, went to the polling station. which was well guarded by the police personnel. A wheelchair was made available to them, and volunteers guided them to the polling booth. Inside the polling booth, there were only three people who were performing all duties. Ishani had forgotten her voter ID card and Aadhaar card, but she was surprised as no one asked for them. After casting her vote, she was also able to see the VVPAT slip. While leaving, she wondered how the police personnel vote, as they must be on duty from early morning till late evening. When she went home, she narrated her entire experience to her 89-year-old grandmother, who cast her vote from home.

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a. What initiatives were taken by the ECI to enable the voters to cast their vote?

b. If Ishani was allowed to vote even without carrying her Voter ID card or Aadhaar card, which other document might she be carrying that is valid for voting?

c. Cite the examples of violations of the Model Code of Conduct.

d. Give a suitable title to the passage.

e. Find out how the police and army personnel cast their votes.

9. A comparative chart of three countries is given below. Based on the information given in the chart, answer the questions.

Political Dimension

Written

Country A

Written constitution, periodic elections, voting rights, party system varies from two-party to multi-party.

Country B

Written

constitution, periodic elections, voting rights, one political party.

Country C

constitution, monarchy, no voting no party. published

Economic Dimension

Average living. standard of

Above-average standard of living.

High standard of living.

a. What is the difference between having a voting right in a country with a multi-party system and another with a single-party system?

b. In which of the above countries would you like to stay and why?

10. What are the challenges to conducting free and fair elections?

11. On the Stage.

Elections are to be held in your school for the posts of Head Girl, Head Boy, and Sports Captain. Assume the roles of an Election Commissioner, Returning Officer, Polling Agent, Candidate, Campaigner, Polling Officer, Police Personnel, and a Journalist, and perform their roles while ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections.

Answers

1. What reforms have been introduced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to make voting more inclusive?

a. People with Disabilities (PwDs):

Wheelchair and ramp facilities at polling stations.

Braille-enabled EVMs.

Volunteers and transport assistance where required.

Option of home voting for eligible voters.

b. Service Voters:

Postal ballot facility.

Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) for armed forces and government personnel on duty.

c. Senior Citizens (60 years and above; and 80 years and above):

Priority at polling stations.

Home voting facility for eligible senior citizens (especially 80+ years).

Wheelchairs and assistance.

d. Prisoners:

Convicted prisoners and those in judicial custody generally cannot vote.

However, people on bail can vote if eligible.

e. Persons in Preventive Detention:

They are allowed to vote through postal ballots.

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2. What are the various functions of the Election Commission of India? Which function is the most important?

Functions of the ECI:

Conducts free and fair elections.

Prepares and updates electoral rolls.

Registers and recognises political parties.

Allots election symbols.

Enforces the Model Code of Conduct.

Monitors election expenditure.

Declares election results.

Most Important Function: Conducting free and fair elections, because it ensures that the people's choice is reflected honestly without unfair practices.

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3. Elections are the soul of a democracy. Do you agree? Why?

Answer:

Yes. Elections allow citizens to choose their representatives, make governments accountable, and provide an opportunity to change a government peacefully. Without elections, democracy cannot function effectively.

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4. Explain three differences between National and State/Regional Political Parties.

National Party State/Regional Party

Works across many states. Works mainly in one or a few states.

Deals with national issues. Focuses on regional issues.

Recognised by the ECI as a national party. Recognised only in the concerned state(s).

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5. Why should you vote? Arrange the following in descending order.

Suggested Order:

1. (d) Strengthens democracy.

2. (a) Opportunity to choose my representative.

3. (c) Opportunity to change the non-performing representative.

4. (b) Makes me a responsible person.

Reason:

Voting strengthens democracy, allows citizens to elect good leaders, replace ineffective representatives, and encourages responsible citizenship.

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6. What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative of the ECI? Explain its objectives and necessity.

Answer:

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a programme conducted by the Election Commission to prepare and update the electoral roll.

Objectives:

Add eligible new voters.

Remove duplicate, shifted, or deceased voters.

Correct errors in voter details.

Ensure accurate electoral rolls.

Necessity: It helps maintain fair, transparent, and error-free elections by ensuring that only eligible citizens are included in the voter list.

7. Match the political party with its election symbol.

Political Party Election Symbol

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) 🧹 Broom

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 🌸 Lotus

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) 🐘 Elephant

Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] 🌾🔨 Hammer, Sickle and Star

Indian National Congress (INC) ✋ Hand

National People's Party (NPP) 📖 Book

8. Read the case study and answer the questions.

a. What initiatives were taken by the ECI to enable the voters to cast their vote?

Answer:

Online voter registration.

Wheelchair facility for Persons with Disabilities.

Volunteers to assist voters.

Police for security at polling stations.

EVM with VVPAT for transparent voting.

Home voting facility for eligible senior citizens (such as 85+/89-year-old grandmother).

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b. If Ishani was allowed to vote even without carrying her Voter ID card or Aadhaar card, which other document might she be carrying that is valid for voting?

Answer:

She could have carried another government-approved photo identity card, such as:

Passport

Driving Licence

PAN Card

MNREGA Job Card

Passbook with photograph issued by a bank/post office

Government/PSU employee ID card

Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR

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c. Cite the examples of violations of the Model Code of Conduct.

Answer:

Writing slogans on public walls.

Pasting campaign posters on walls without permission.

Distributing campaign pamphlets on the day before polling if it violates local election rules or silence period.

Raising slogans during the prohibited campaign period.

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d. Give a suitable title to the passage.

Answer:

"My First Voting Experience"

(or "A Day at the Polling Booth")

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e. Find out how the police and army personnel cast their votes.

Answer:

Police personnel on election duty and members of the armed forces generally cast their votes through postal ballots or the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS), depending on their category.

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9. Comparative Chart

a. What is the difference between having voting rights in a multi-party system and a single-party system?

Answer:

In a multi-party system, voters can choose from several political parties, giving them more options. In a single-party system, only one political party is allowed, so voters have little or no real choice.

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b. In which of the above countries would you like to stay and why?

Answer:

I would like to stay in Country A because it has a written Constitution, regular elections, voting rights, and a multi-party system, which provides freedom, democratic participation, and choice.

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10. What are the challenges to conducting free and fair elections?

Answer:

Money power and bribery.

Use of muscle power and violence.

Fake news and misinformation.

Misuse of government machinery.

Low voter turnout.

Hate speech and communal campaigning.

Electoral malpractices.

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11. On the Stage – School Election Activity

Roles and Responsibilities:

Election Commissioner: Supervises the entire election and ensures fairness.

Returning Officer: Conducts the election, counts votes, and declares results.

Polling Officer: Verifies voters and manages the polling process.

Polling Agent: Represents candidates and observes polling.

Candidate: Contests the election and presents ideas.

Campaigner: Promotes the candidate while following election rules.

Police Personnel: Maintains law and order at the polling station.

Journalist: Reports the election process and results impartially.

Objective:

To conduct a free, fair, peaceful, and transparent school election while following democratic principles.