Challenges to Democracy Important Questions Class 10 Political Science

Challenges to Democracy Important Questions Class 10 Political Science helps to improve your problem-solving abilities as you practice more and more. It helps you to remember the concepts for longer and enables you to solve problems even more efficiently.

Class 10 Political Science Important Questions helps them to think more analytically and develop a better understanding of the chapter. This can help them to become more confident in their abilities and be better prepared for exams.

Challenges to Democracy Important Questions and Answers Class 10 Political Science

Challenges to Democracy Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark)

1. What should be the main focus of political reforms?

Solution

The main focus of political reforms should be an ways to strengthen democratic practice.

2. Which challenge is being faced by every democracy is one form or the other?

Solution

The challenge of deepening of democracy.

3. Define the challenge of deepening of democracy in general terms.

Solution

It means strengthening those institutions that help people’s participation and control.

4. In what way does RTI help the people in a democracy?

Solution

Such a law helps to control consumption and supplements the existing laws that banned corruption and imposed strict penalties.

5. What is the most common form of democracy in today’s world?

Solution

Indirect or representative democracy.

6. How can a challenge be overcome?

Solution

Challenge can be overcome by identifying your challenge, believing in your goal, strengthening will-power, and by trying consistently.

7. What type of challenge is being faced by most of the established democracies across the world?

Solution

The challenge of expansion.

8. If a non-democratic country wants to change into a democratic set up, then which kind of challenge would it face?

Solution

Foundational Challenge.

9. What does deepening democracy mean?

Solution

Deepening democracy means strengthening institutions that help people’s participation in governance.

10. Not allowing women to take part in public activities refers to which kind of challenge to democracy?

Solution

Challenge of expansion to democracy.

11. A country holds election to elect people’s representatives to form the government but the elections are not fair. Identify the kind of challenge faced by the people in such a country.

Solution

People face the challenge of expansion of democracy.

12. Write the name of any two countries which are facing the foundational challenge to democracy.

Solution

Bhutan and Saudi Arabia.

Challenges to Democracy Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)

1. What are the reforms needed to decrease doctors’ absenteeism?

Solution

(i) The government should make it compulsory for the doctors to live in the village where they are posted; otherwise their service should be terminated.
(ii) Surprise raids to check the attendance of the doctors by district administration and police should be carried out.
(iii) Village panchayat should be given the power to write the annual report of the doctor which should be read out in the gram sabha meeting.
(iv) Uttar Pradesh should be split into several smaller states which can be administered more efficiently.

2. Explain ‘foundation challenge’ faced by democracies of the world.

Solution

(i) Foundation challenge takes place when the basic structure or foundation of the government changes.
(ii) It can be monarchy or military dictatorship, changed into democracy.
(iii) The Nepal King Gyanendra, who replaced democracy with autocracy was forced to leave the palace and accept democracy and political rights of the people, when the movement against autocracy took place. This transition may take many decades or centuries.

3. How can democracy be improved in practical form?

Solution

The democratic practises and traditions need to be strengthened so that the democratic principles can be reformed in a way that is more applicable. There is a pressing need to increase the value placed on political participation by everyday citizens. This can be accomplished through the work of political organisations, parties, and movements.

4. “The challenge of deepening of democracy is being faced by every democracy in one form or another.” Support the statement with arguments.

Solution

(i) Deepening of democracy involves strengthening of the institutions and practice of democracy.
(ii) The ordinary people have different expectations from democracy in different societies. Therefore, this challenge has different meanings in different parts of the world.
(iii) It wants more of people’s participation and control.
(iv) It controls and wants to bring down the control of rich and powerful people in making of the governmental decision.

5. “The Right to Information Act acts as a watchdog of democracy.” Explain.

Solution

(i) The best laws are those which empower people to carry out democratic reforms.
(ii) The Right to Information Act empowers the people to find out the role of government and makes its functioning more transparent.
(iii) The citizens have the right to ask what happened and how it happened. It helps them check corruption, malpractices, etc. supplements the existing that banned corruption.

6. How can democratic reforms be carried out?

Solution

Democratic reforms can be carried out by
(i) legally
(ii) by good quality of people’s participation
(iii) Development of democratic movement and the media.

Challenges to Democracy Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)

1. What are the broad guidelines to be kept in mind while devising ways and means for political reforms in India?

Solution

(i) Legal ways of reforming politics are very tempting. However, only carefully devised changes in law can help to discourage wrong political practices and encourage good ones. Democratic reforms should be carried out by political activities, parties, movements and politically conscious citizens.
(ii) A legal change must be clear in its results. Best laws are those which empower people to carry out democratic reforms. One such Act is the Right to Information Act, which helps in controlling corruption.
(iii) Democratic reforms need to be carried out through strengthening its practice. There should be an increase in quality of political participation by citizens.
(iv) Any proposal for political reform should even devise ways of implementing the reform.

2. “Most of the democracies of the world face the challenge of expansion and challenge of deepening of democracy.” Justify the statement.

Solution

A challenge is not just a problem. It is a difficulty that carries within an opportunity for progress. Once we overcome a challenge we go up to a higher level than before. The serious challenges that democracy faces in different countries of the world for smooth running of government are called challenges to democracy. Few challenges faced by democracy in several parts of the world:
(i) Foundational Challenge: At least one-fourth of the globe is still not under democratic governments. Countries that do not have democratic setup face the foundational challenge of making a transition to the democratic style of government. They need to lay the foundation in terms of laws and policies that would be followed under the democratic setup. This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic regime, keeping military away from controlling government and establishing a sovereign and functional state.
(ii) Challenge of Expansion: Countries already having the democratic setup face the challenge of expansion. Such countries need to ensure that more and more social groups, regions and institutions follow democracy in their functioning. This involves ensuring greater power to local governments, extension of federal principle to all the units of the federations, inclusion of women and minority groups etc. It also means that less and less decision should remain outside the domain of democratic control. Most countries including India and US face this kind of challenge.
(iii) Challenge of deepening: This challenge is faced by every democracy in this form or another. Every democratic country needs to strengthen the institutions that ensure democracy. This should happen in such a way that people can realise their expectations of democracy. This involves- strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy and bringing down the control and influence of rich and powerful people in the making of governmental decision.