CBSE Class 10 Political Science Challenges To Democracy Worksheet

We have learnt that democracy is the dominant form of government in the contemporary world. We have also learnt that the promise of democracy is far from realized anywhere in the world. To realize that promise remains the challenge of Democracy.
A challenge is not just any problem. We usually call only those difficulties a ‘challenge’ which are significant and which can be overcome. A challenge is a difficulty that carries within it an opportunity for progress. Once we overcome a challenge we go up to a higher level than before.

THINKING ABOUT CHALLENGES

Foundational Challenge

1. At least one fourth of the globe is still not under democratic government. These countries face the foundational challenge of making the transition to democracy and then instituting democratic government.
2. This involves bringing down the existing nondemocratic regime, keeping military away from controlling government and establishing a sovereign and functional state.

Challenge of Expansion

1. The established democracies face the challenge of expansion. This involves applying the basic principle of democratic government across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions.
2. Ensuring greater power to local governments.
3. Extension of federal principle to all the units of the federation, inclusion of women and minority groups, etc. falls under this challenge. This also means that less and less decisions should remain outside the arena of democratic control. Most countries including India and other democracies like the US face this challenge.

Challenge of deepening of Democracy

1. The challenge of deepening of democracy is faced by every democracy in one form or another. This involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy.
2. This should happen in such a way that people
can realize their expectations of democracy.
3. In general terms, it usually means strengthening those institutions that help people’s participation and control. This requires an attempt to bring down the control and influence of the rich and powerful people in making governmental decisions.

From the above descriptions it is clear that different countries face different kinds of challenges of democracy. These challenges depend at what stage of social development the country is. Solutions to these challenges also depend on a particular country’s unique situation. It can be said that there is no pre-prescribed method to tackle the challenge faced by a democracy.

THINKING ABOUT POLITICAL REFORMS

• The challenges we face as individuals or as a society gives us hope for a possible political reform. We discuss challenges only because we think these can be overcome.
• Legal ways to political reform : Well thought out changes in laws can certainly help to discourage bad political practices and pave the way for good ones. However the reforms must be carried out by the political activists, political parties and responsible citizens.
• Laws that empower common people : The most useful laws are those that common people can use for the betterment of democracy. For example, “Right to Information” (RTI) improves transparency in government departments and reduce corruption.
• Reforms of political parties : The principle aim of political reforms should be aimed at strengthening democracy. This can be done by improving the quality of political behavior of the politicians and the citizens.
• Implementation of Laws : There should be proper and uncompromised implementation of laws.
• Any proposal for political reforms should consider not only about what a good solution is but also about who will implement it and how. It is not very wise to think that the legislatures will pass legislations that go against the interest of all the political parties. But the measures that rely on democratic movements, citizens’ organizations and the media are likely to succeed.

REDEFINING DEMOCRACY

In a nutshell we can say that democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. The salient points can be summarized as follows:

• The rulers elected by the people must take all the major decisions.
• Elections must offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the current rulers if they aren’t any good. ff This choice and opportunity should be available to all the people on an equal basis.
• The exercise of this choice must lead to a government limited by basic rules of the constitution and citizens’ rights.
• Democratic rights are not limited to the right to vote, stand in elections and form political organizations.
• Power sharing between governments and social groups is necessary in a democracy.
• Democracy cannot be the brute rule of majority and how a respect for minority voice is necessary for democracy.
• Democracy paves the path for eliminating discrimination based on caste, religion and gender.

Question. The full form of RTI is:
(a) Right to Intelligence
(b) Right to Ice-cream
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of the above

Answer : D

Question. Which of the following countries disintegrated due to the ethnic tension?
(a) Sri Lanka
(b) Bolivia
(c) Yugoslavia
(d) Belgium

Answer : C

Question. Society is divided in the name of:
(a) religion
(b) caste
(c) language
(d) none of the above

Answer : B

Question. In India, people are still living in abject:
(a) poverty
(b) illiteracy
(c) unemployment
(d) none of the above

Answer : A

Question. Aung San Suu Kyi spent house arrest for more than .......... years under the military regime of Myanmar.
(a) 20
(b) 25
(c) 15
(d) 28

Answer : C

Question. Every established democracy faces
(a) Challenge of expansion
(b) Dictatorship
(c) Challenge of foundation
(d) Deepening of democracy

Answer : D

Question. The challenges of making the transition to democracy from a non democratic
(a) Challenge of expansion
(b) Foundational challenge
(c) Deepening of democracy
(d) None of the above

Answer : B

Question. Which legal Act is the best to empower people to carry out democratic reforms?
(a) Right to Freedom
(b) Right to Information Act
(c) Right to Education
(d) Right to Move Freely

Answer : A

Question. Which of the following is a challenge to democracy?
(a) Corrupt leaders
(b) Communal-ism
(c) Illiterate citizens
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

Question. Write the full form of GDP.
(a) Gross Dam Policy
(b) Gross Production Departure
(c) Gross Domestic Production
(d) None of the above

Answer : C

Question. Who carries out democratic reforms?
(a) People
(b) Leaders
(c) Political parties
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. Which one of the following is challenge of expansion for the established democracies?
(a) Ensuring greater power to local government
(b) Strengthening of institutions
(c) Bringing down non-democratic regime
(d) Establishing a sovereign and functional state

Answer : A

Question. .......... a feeling when the people living in a particular region of country awaken to their separate existence.
(a) Regionalism
(b) Democracy
(c) Communalism
(d) Casteism

Answer : A

Question. The ‘challenge’ which involves the strengthening of institutions and practices of democracy is called:
(a) foundational challenge
(b) challenge of expansion
(c) challenge of deepening of democracy
(d) none of these

Answer : C

Question. Which of the following statements reflects the right impact of “The Right to Information Act”?
(a) It supplements the existing laws that banned corruption.
(b) It enables the people to became law abiding good citizens.
(c) It empowers the people to find out what is happening in government.
(d) It acts as a water dog of democracy.

Answer : C

Question. What is a challenge to democracy?
(a) Vote bank
(b) Corruption
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above

Answer : C

Question. Which one of the following is different from the other three with reference to challenge of democracy?
(a) Deepening of democracy
(b) Foundational challenge
(c) Religious beliefs in democracy
(d) Challenge of expansion

Answer : C

Question. Which of the following is a foundational challenge?
(a) Extension of federal principle to all the units of federation
(b) Greater power to local governments
(c) Bringing down the existing non democratic region
(d) To increase people’s participation

Answer : C

Question. Which one of the following is not true regarding how politics can be reformed?
(a) There is need to strengthen government practices.
(b) Only legal constitutional changes can reform politics.
(c) Citizens organisation and media should play an active role.
(d) The citizens should be empowered through rights like the Right to Information.

Answer : B

Question. Democratic reforms are to be carried out mainly by
(a) Political activists
(b) Political parties
(c) Movements and politically conscious citizens
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

Question. The bureaucrats should be made more:
(a) responsive
(b) regular
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of the above

Answer : A

Question. In which country did the ethnic riots between Serbs and Albanians take place?
(a) Poland
(b) India
(c) Pakistan
(d) Yugoslavia

Answer : D

Question. Women representation in governance is not even:
(a) 70%
(b) 80%
(c) 6%
(d) 10%

Answer : D

FILL IN THE BLANK :

Question. .......... disintegrated due to the ethnic tension between Serbs and Albanians. 

Answer : Yugoslavia

Question. As per the text, .......... of the world is working under democratic government.

Answer : Three fourth

Question. Any person, who can read and write in any Indian language is known as .......... .

Answer : Literate

Question. The ideology of believing in supremacy of one’s caste is known as .......... .

Answer : Casteism

Question. According to the text [NCERT], .......... of the globe is still not under democratic government.

Answer : One fourth

TRUE/FALSE :

Question. The bureaucrats should not be made responsive to the needs of people.

Answer : False

Question. Deeping of democracy is strengthening of institution.

Answer : True

Question. Citizens should become more active and enlightened to keep democracy functioning.

Answer : True

Question. Political reforms should not promote democracy.

Answer : False

Question. Protests itself is a testimony of democracy.

Answer : True

ASSERTION AND REASON :

DIRECTION : Mark the option which is most suitable :
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason isnot the correct explanation of assertion.
(c) If assertion is true but reason is false.
(d) If both assertion and reason are false.

Question. Assertion : Any legal change must carefully look at what results it will have on politics.
Reason : As sometimes the results may be counterproductive.

Answer : A

Question. Assertion : Democratic reforms are to be brought about principally through political practice.
Reason : Any proposal for political reforms should think only about what is a good solution but not care about who will implement it and how.

Answer : C

Question. Assertion : At least one fourth of the globe is still not under democratic government.
Reason : Because the challenge for democracy in these parts of the world is very stark.

Answer : A

Question. Assertion : The rulers elected by the people must not take all the major decisions.
Reason : Democracy cannot be the brute rule of majority and a respect for minority voice is necessary for democracy.

Answer : A

Question. Assertion : The third challenge of deepening of democracy is usually not faced by every democracy in one form or another.
Reason : This involves strengthening of the country and practices of democracy.

Answer : D

Question. Assertion : Power sharing is the spirit of democracy.
Reason : As the rights of the people are not limited to the right to vote, stand in elections and form political organizations.

Answer : B

1. Making the transition to democracy is:
  a. Foundational challenge
  b. Challenge of expansion
  c. Challenge of deepening of democracy

2. Which of the following countries faces foundational challenges:
  a. India
  b. China
  c. USA
  d. France

3. Inclusion of women and minorit groups is:
  a. Foundational challenge
  b. Challenge of expansion
  c. Challenge of deepening of democracy

4. Strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy is:
  a. Foundational challenge
  b. Challenge of expansion
  c. Challenge of deepening of democracy

ONE MARK QUESTIONS

Question. ‘A challenge is not just any problem but an opportunity for progress.’ Analyse the statement.
Answer : A challenge is a difficulty that carries within it an opportunity for progress. Once we overcome a challenge we go up to a higher level than before.

Question. What does the challenge of expansion faced by established democracies involve?
Answer : a. It involves applying basic principles of democratic governments across all regions, different social groups and various institutions.
b. Greater power to local governments.

Question. A country holds election to elect peoples representatives to form the government but the elections are not fair. Identify the kind of challenge faced by the people in such a country. 
Answer : People face the challenge of expansion of democracy.

Question. Which challenge to established democracies ensures more participation of women and minority groups in a democratic country? 
Answer : The challenge of expansion.

FIVE MARKS QUESTIONS

Question. Suggest any three political reforms to strengthen democracy.
Answer : Some of the reforms to strengthen the working of political parties are as follows: Anti-defection law, under which a member would be disqualified, if he/she goes against the directions of the party. Reduction in the influence of money. Cash votes have been banned by the election commission and anybody involved in the process is likely to be punished. It is important for a candidate to file an affidavit giving details of his property and eliminate cases pending against him/her. The election commission has made it necessary for political parties to hold their organizational elections and file their income tax returns. A law is strictly advisable to make or regulate the internal affairs of political parties. It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to women candidates.

Question. Explain any five major challenges being faced by the Indian democracy.
Answer : Major challenges are:
a. Foundational challenge.
b. Challenge of expansion. c. Challenge of deepening of democracy. “The main challenge to democracy in India is the challenge of expansion”. Decentralization of powers and applying the basic principle of democratic government across all the regions, have been developed; but still more is to be done. Inclusion of women and minority groups is still a challenge. All the decisions should be in the arena of democratic control. To get this thing to be done and possess is a big challenge.
Some other challenges to democracy include:
a. Constitutional design
b. Federalism and its functions
c. Elections
d. Democratic rights.

Question. What are the guidelines to be kept in mind while adopting political reforms?
Answer : The guidelines to be kept in mind while adopting political reforms also include:
a. Involving political parties, political activists and people in bringing about reforms rather than imposing reforms through laws.
b. Legal measures should be positive, more like incentives.
c. Improving the quality of political practices by increasing people’s participation.
d. Laws being considered may meet with resistance in the legislatures and by political parties. So, the best way to bring about the change is through democratic movements and media.

Question. Explain various type of challenges being faced by the modem democracies of the world?
or Why do most of the established democracies face the challenge expansion? Give any three reasons.
or “Different countries face different kinds of challenges.” Support the statement with suitable examples.
Answer : It is true that different countries face different kinds of challenges:
a. Non-democratic countries face foundational challenges. This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic regime, keeping military away from controlling government and establishing a sovereign and functional state. Example: In Myanmar, military rule should be challenged. Suu Kyi should be freed and should be elected as the representative of the popular government,
b. Every democracy faces the challenge of deepening of democracy. This involves applying the basic principle of democratic government across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions. Example: In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to take part in public activities, and no freedom of religion is there for the minorities.
c. Every democracy face the challenge of expansion. This involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy. It requires an attempt to bring down that control and influence of the rich and powerful people in making governmental decision. Example: In USA, Black or African- American people have won equal rights, but are still poor, less educated and marginalised.

Question. How can the countries facing the foundational challenge of making a transition to democracy set-up a democratic government? Suggest any three measures. or What is a ‘challenge’? Explain the three major challenges before the countries of the work regarding democracy. [CBSE 2010] or “The challenge of deepening of democracy is faced by every democracy in one form or another”. Support the statement with three suitable arguments. How can democracy be reformed and deepened? Suggest any three guidelines.
Answer : A ‘challenge’ is a difficulty which carries within it an opportunity for progress. Three major challenge are: Foundational challenge is about making the transition to democracy and then instituting a democratic government. This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic regime, keeping military away from controlling the government and establishing a sovereign and functional state. Example: Myanmar, Chile, Nepal Challenge of Expansion is faced by most of the established democracies. This involves applying the basic principle of democratic government across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions.” Most countries including India and other democracies like the US face this challenge. Deepening of Democracy: This involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy, especially those that help people’s participation and control. This attempts to bring down the control and influence of the rich and powerful people in making governmental decision.

Important Questions for NCERT Class 10 Social Science Challenges To Democracy

Question. Discuss two challenges that Indian democracy is facing.
Answer : Casteism: People from different castes form different communities and they have different interests. Under the caste system, work is divided on the basis of the caste of the person. The high-paying and respectable jobs are usually given to the higher caste groups and low-paying jobs are given to the low caste groups. Castes have led to caste discrimination in the country.
2. Communalism: Communalism means promoting the ideas of a particular religion with a view to divide the society on religious grounds. It believes that people belonging to one religion belong to one community. The British followed the policy of ‘divide and rule’ and created differences in two major communities, the Hindus and the Muslims. This sowed the seeds of communalism in the society.

Question. What do you understand by ‘counter-productive law’?
Answer : If there is any legal change, it must carefully look at what results it will have on politics. Sometimes the results may be counter productive. For example, many states have banned people who have more than two children from contesting panchayat elections. This has resulted in denial of political opportunity to many poor and women which was not intended.
Generally laws that seek to ban something are not successful in politics, instead laws that give political actors incentives to do good things are more successful. The best laws are those which empower people to carry out democratic reforms. The Right to Information Act is a good example of law that empowers people to find out what is happening in the government and act as watchdogs of the democracy.
Such law helps to control corruption and supplements the existing laws that banned corruption and imposed strict penalties.

Question. Where did the most cases of doctor absenteeism take place?
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Bihar
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) Gujarat
Answer : C

Question. Discuss some ways and means for political reform in India.
                                        Or
Mention some of the guidelines that can be kept in mind while devising ways and means for political reforms in India.
Answer : Some broad guidelines that can be kept in mind while devising ways and means for political reforms in India are:
1. Legal ways of reforming politics: Carefully devised changes in laws can help to discourage wrong political practices and encourage good ones. But, legalconstitutional changes by themselves cannot overcome challenges to the democracy. Democratic reforms are to be carried out mainly by the political activists, parties, movements and politically conscious citizens.
2. Careful study of consequences should be done: If there is any legal change, it must carefully look at what results it will have on politics. Sometimes the results may be counter-productive. For example, many states have banned people from contesting Panchayat elections who have more than two children. This has resulted in denial of political opportunity to many poor and women, which was not intended.
3. Ways to strengthen the democratic practice: Democratic reforms are to be brought about principally through political practice. Therefore, the main focus of the reforms should be on ways to strengthen the democratic practice. The most important concern should be to increase and improve the quality of political participation by ordinary citizens.
4. Any proposal of political reform should think not only about what is a good solution but also consider about who will implement it and how. It is not wise to think that legislatures will pass legislations that will go against the interest of all political parties and MPs. But, measures that rely on democratic movements, citizens, organisations and the media are likely to succeed.

Question. Mention two points about which any proposal for political reforms should think.
Answer : (i) It should think about what is a good solution.
(ii) It should think about who will implement it and how.

Question. Define the challenge of deepening of democracy in general terms.
Answer : It means strengthening those institutions that help people’s participation and control.

Question. What are the various aspects of democratic government and politics?
Answer : Various aspects of democratic government and politics:
1. Democratic rights are not limited to right to vote, stand in elections or forming organisations. Democracy should also offer some social and economic rights to its citizens.
2. Power sharing (how it is being shared between governments and social groups) is necessary in a democracy.
3. Democracy cannot be a brute rule of majority and that respect for minority voice is necessary for democracy.
4. Eliminating discrimination on the basis of the caste, religion and gender is important in democracy.

Question. What should be the main focus of political reforms?
Answer :The main focus of political reforms should be an ways to strengthen democratic practice.

Question. What type of challenge is faced by a non-democratic country for democratic set up?
(a) Foundational challenge
(b) Challenge of deepening
(c) Challenge of expansion
(d) Challenge of money power
Answer : A

Question. What are the reforms needed to decrease doctors’ absenteeism?
Answer : 1. The government should make it compulsory for the doctors to live in the village where they are posted; otherwise their service should be terminated.
2. Surprise raids to check the attendance of the doctors by district administration and police should be carried out.
3. 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.
4. Uttar Pradesh should be split into several smaller states which can be administered more efficiently.