Chapter 5 Outcomes of Democracy Important Questions Class 10 Political Science
Chapter 5 Outcomes of Democracy Important Questions Class 10 Political Science will help in being better prepared for the exam. It helps in understanding the pattern of the questions and the type of questions asked.
It will help you to become familiar with the test format and give you the confidence to succeed. Chapter 5 Class 10 Political Science Extra Questions will help you to identify any weaknesses in your knowledge.
Chapter 5 Outcomes of Democracy Important Questions and Answers Class 10 Political Science
Chapter 5 Outcomes of Democracy Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark)
1. What is meant by transparency?
Solution
To examine the process of decision-making in a democracy is known as transparency.
2. Which form of government is better-democratic or non-democratic?
Solution
Democratic government is better.
3. How can you say that democracies are based on political equality?
Solution
Democracy gives political equality by granting every individual the right to vote. All citizens. have equal rights to influence decision-making and have equal access to political power.
4. Why is democratic government better than other alternatives?
Solution
Democracy is a better form of government because it is legitimate, accountable, responsive, promotes equality among citizens, enhances dignity of the individual, improves quality of decision-making and allows room to correct mistakes.
5. In which area does democracy fail to achieve the same results as in dictatorship?
Solution
Economic development.
6. What is the most basic outcome of democracy?
Solution
The most basic outcome of democracy is that it produces a government that is accountable to citizens and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.
7. Which system can reduce the possibility of tension and conflict among different groups of society?
Solution
Democracy has a plus point in resolving social differences, diversion and conflicts because they have evolved a mechanism to negotiate the differences.
8. Which is the must basic outcome of democracy?
Solution
It produces a government that is accountable to the citizens and responsive to the need and expectations of the citizens.
9. Mention the one point on which the record of democracies is not good or impressive.
Solution
Democratic governments do not have a very good record when it comes to sharing information with citizens.
10. In which respect do democracies lag behind dictatorships?
Solution
Democracies lag behind dictatorships in economic growth.
Chapter 5 Outcomes of Democracy Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)
1. What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities?
Solution
(i) The majority always needs to work with the minority so that governments function to represent the general views.
(ii) It is necessary that rule by majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of religion, race, linguistic group, etc. Different persons or groups should be allowed to form a government as a result of an election conducted.
2. Which factors help economic growth in the country?
Solution
(i) Economic growth depends on the size of the population of a country. We can see that in our country economic growth cannot cope with the problem of a bursting population of more than a billion people.
(ii) It also depends on the global situation and cooperation from other countries. All developing countries need help of the rich and developed nations to grow.
(iii) The policies of the government also affect economic growth of country.
3. Some people think that democracy produces less efficient and effective government. Do you agree with their views?
Solution
True, since democracy is founded on discussion and negotiation, some delay is unavoidable. It is also true that non-democratic authorities can make and execute decisions quickly and efficiently. However, they may be obliged to make judgements that are unacceptable to the people. On the other hand, since democratic administrations adhere to processes, their choices may be more popular and successful. As a result, I disagree with the view that democracy is a less effective and inefficient form of governance.
4. Democracy can’t reduce inequality of incomes between different citizens.
Solution
This is a true reality that inequality of incomes cannot be reduced between different citizens; no matter which type of government system is in place. Even the historical experiences of socialism in Russia and China indicate that it is very difficult to construct a society in which everyone has equal economic power. The same may be said about democracy.
5. Examine with the help of three examples how the dignity and freedom of citizens are best guaranteed in a democracy.
Solution
(i) Dignity of women. Long struggles by women have created some sensitivity today that respect to and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society.
(ii) Caste inequalities. Democracy in India have strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.
(iii) Public expression of dissatisfaction. A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the democratic project : it transforms people from the status of a ‘subject’ to that of a ‘citizen’. Public expression shows that people are aware and have the ability to look critically at the powerholders.
6. Government in poor countries should spend less on poverty reduction, health, education and spend more on industries and infrastructure.
Solution
While it is always prudent to invest in companies and infrastructure to create more jobs, the significance of social security cannot be overlooked. Many individuals are so impoverished and oppressed that they need assistance to change their situation. Poverty eradication, health care, and education programmes should always be available to such individuals. A proper balance should be struck in spending on social security and on industries.
7. Democratic governments are attentive to the needs of people and less corrupt’. Do you agree to this point? Write your opinion.
Solution
Democratic governments are supposed to be more responsive to people’s demands and less corrupt. However, this is not the case in practise. Democracies often frustrate people’s desires and frequently reject the wishes of the majority of their population. Democracy is not without corruption. Our politicians are in the business of earning money. Our top officials are also doing the same.
8. Democracy has not been successful in reducing economic inequalities. Give reasons to support your answer.
Solution
(i) The wealth and means are accumulated in hands of a few people and their share in the total income of the country has been increasing.
(ii) However, the people at the bottom of society find it difficult to meet even their basic needs of life such as food, clothing, house, education and health. Not only that, their incomes have been declining.
(iii) The deprived people are a large ratio of voters and no party will like to lose their votes.
(iv) Yet democratically elected governments do not appear to be attentive to the cause of the poor. Thus democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities.
9. “Democratic governments are less effective, slow, not very responsive or clean.” How far do you agree with this view?
Solution
Democracy means rule by the people. The government is constituted by, for, and on behalf of the people. Every individual, directly or indirectly, participates in decision-making via their elected representatives. Before making final choices, the government’s policies are discussed in parliament. This takes a long time and slows the decision-making process.
10. A democratic government has to be accountable, responsive and legitimate government. Discuss.
Solution
(i) Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. They ensure that the decisions taken are acceptable to all the people.
(ii) Democracies are accountable to its citizens. That is, all decision making has to be transparent. This factor is missing from a non-democratic government. In a democracy, citizens also take part in decision making.
(iii) Democracies are responsible for the decisions they make. If a wrong decision is made, it is the duty of the government to rectify it. In a non-democratic government, decisions are taken by a single person without any discussion.
Chapter 5 Outcomes of Democracy Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
1. “There is overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world.” Support the statement.
Solution
(i) A democratic government is people’s own government.
(ii) The evidence from South Asia shows that the support exists in countries with democratic regimes.
(iii) People wished to be ruled by representatives elected by them.
(iv) People believe that democracy is suitable for their country.
(v) Democracy has the ability to generate its own support which in itself is an outcome that cannot.
2. The fact that people are complaining is itself a testimony to the success of democracy. Justify the statement with appropriate points.
Solution
(i) Democracy supports dignity and freedom of the citizens. Every man wants to get respect from fellow persons in the society. A lot of conflicts take place among human beings because some feel they are not treated with due respect. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy.
(ii) Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.
(iii) As democracy passes one test, it produces another test. As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more and want to make democracy even better.
(iv) That is why, when we ask people about the way democracy functions, they will always come up with more expectations, and many complaints. The fact that people are complaining is itself a testimony to the success of democracy.
3. The prime duty of any democratic government is to reduction inequality in wealth among its citizens and eliminate poverty. Discuss.
Solution
(i) The development strategies of a democracy should always work towards the goal of reducing the gap between the rich and the poor.
(ii) Economic growth should ensure that wealth is distributed in such a way that all citizens of the country will have a share and lead a better life.
(iii) In a democracy it is possible to provide equal opportunity to all the citizens to prosper because democracies are based on political equality as all individuals have equal right in electing their representatives.
(iv) In practise we find that democracies have not been able to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. In most democracies a small number of rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth while the poor find it difficult to meet the basic needs of life, such as food, clothing, house, education and health.
(v) It is the duty of a democratic country to lift the poor from the clutches of poverty, for all citizens have equal rights in a democracy. Programmes for the upliftment of the poor are necessary. Free education, free health care is very necessary in poor democracies. India is implementing many schemes for the upliftment of the poor. The gap between the poor and the rich is slowly becoming narrower in India.
4. Explain any four consequences on which democracy has failed.
Solution
(i) If democracies are expected to produce good governments, then it is fair to expect that they would also produce development evidence shows that in practice many democracies did fulfil this expectation. The inability of democracy to achieve higher economic development worries us.
(ii) Democracy is the government of the people hence, one can expect it to reduce economic disparities. But, it is a better truth that even when a country achieves economic growth, wealth is not distributed in such a way that all citizens of the country will have a share and lead a better life. Most of the democrats of the world have miserably failed on this issue.
(iii) Democracies have also failed on the issue of poverty reduction. A smaller number of ultra rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and incomes. Not only that, their share in the total income of the country has been increasing. Those at the bottom of the society have very little to depend upon. Their incomes have been declining.
(iv) Democracies often frustrate the needs of the people and often ignore the demands of a majority of its population. The routine talks of corruption are enough to convince us that democracy is not free of this evil.