NCERT MCQ Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 5 Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System

This principle ensures that every citizen aged 18 and above has the right to vote, regardless of their caste, religion, gender, education, or wealth, promoting equality in the democratic process.

India made this significant change in 1988, expanding the base of its electorate and giving younger citizens a voice in the democratic process.

Unlike many countries where women had to fight long struggles for suffrage, India’s constitution ensured women had equal voting rights from the start, a progressive move for its time.

Before India became independent, the right to vote was severely restricted based on factors like property and education, with only a small fraction of the population being eligible.

By giving everyone a vote, the constitution makers ensured that all citizens could participate in shaping the nation’s future and hold their elected leaders accountable, fostering true democracy.

To ensure no voter is left behind, the Election Commission introduced home voting, allowing senior citizens and persons with disabilities to cast their ballots from their homes, enhancing inclusivity.

A secret ballot protects voters from being pressured or intimidated. It allows them to make their choice freely, which is a fundamental requirement for a fair and democratic election.

NOTA is a powerful tool for voters to express their dissatisfaction with the available candidates without abstaining from the voting process, sending a message that they desire better choices.

While the ECI manages national and state-level elections, the responsibility for conducting elections to local bodies rests with the State Election Commissions in each state.

The ECI was established in 1950 as an independent constitutional body to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections in the newly formed republic.

The ECI is responsible for elections at the national and state levels, including those for the President and Parliament. Local body elections like for panchayats are managed by State Election Commissions.

The ECI’s structure is hierarchical. At the state or Union Territory level, the Chief Electoral Officer is responsible for overseeing the election machinery.

For the purpose of electing members to the Lok Sabha, the entire country is divided into 543 parliamentary constituencies, each of which elects one Member of Parliament (MP).

The system of reserved constituencies is a constitutional provision to ensure that members from Scheduled Castes and Tribes, who might otherwise be at a disadvantage, are elected to the legislature.

VVPAT provides an extra layer of transparency. It prints a slip that allows the voter to see if their vote went to the intended candidate, and this paper trail can be used for verification if needed.

The MCC is a set of guidelines that comes into force before elections. It regulates the conduct of candidates and parties to prevent malpractice and ensure a level playing field for everyone.

The MCC prevents the party in power from using government resources or announcing new projects that could unfairly influence voters, as this would give them an advantage over other parties.

T.N. Seshan is credited with strengthening the ECI’s authority in the 1990s. He took firm steps to curb electoral malpractices by strictly implementing rules for campaigning and voter identification.

In this system, victory is determined by who gets the highest number of votes, not necessarily a majority of all votes cast. This is the system used for India’s Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.

While both are chosen through similar electoral processes, their domains are different. MPs represent their constituencies in the national parliament in Delhi, while MLAs represent theirs in the state capital’s assembly.

In India’s parliamentary system, the party or alliance that secures a majority in the Lok Sabha gets to form the national government, and its leader is appointed as the Prime Minister.

The Rajya Sabha represents the states. Its members are not chosen by a direct public vote but are elected by the MLAs of each state, in what is known as an indirect election.

Unlike the Lok Sabha, which is dissolved every five years, the Rajya Sabha ensures continuity. It undergoes a staggered renewal process, with a portion of its members retiring every two years, but the house itself continues to exist.

The President is elected indirectly. The electoral college is composed of the elected representatives of the people at both the central (MPs) and state (MLAs) levels to ensure broad representation.

The electoral college for the President consists only of elected representatives (MPs and MLAs). Nominated members, like the 12 distinguished individuals in the Rajya Sabha, do not participate in this election.

The electoral college for the Vice President consists of all members (both elected and nominated) of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

The Vice President’s main function is to preside over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha as its ex-officio chairperson.

The chapter highlights that issues like excessive campaign spending, which can create an unfair advantage, and the election of candidates with criminal backgrounds pose serious questions about the health of the democracy.

Voter apathy refers to a situation where a significant number of eligible citizens choose not to vote, often due to a lack of interest or a feeling that their vote doesn’t matter, which is a challenge for democracy.

These inscriptions describe a system where representatives were chosen by drawing names written on palm leaves from a sealed pot, showing that democratic values and processes have deep roots in Indian traditions.