CBSE Important Questions for Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1: What is Democracy? Why Democracy? focus on the key concepts and principles of democracy, helping students understand its significance and features. This chapter explains the meaning of democracy, its advantages, and the reasons why it is considered the best form of government.
Students should be familiar with the definitions of democracy, its characteristics such as equality, freedom, and justice, and the challenges it faces in real-world situations. Practicing important questions from this chapter will help students strengthen their knowledge on topics like the role of citizens, the functioning of democratic governments, and the reasons behind the widespread preference for democracy worldwide. These questions are useful for revising the chapter’s core ideas and preparing effectively for exams.
Chapter 1 of Class 9 Political Science introduces students to the concept of democracy, explaining its meaning, principles, and significance. It explains why democracy is considered the best form of governance and its advantages over other forms of government. The chapter tells about the fundamental characteristics of democracy, such as equality, freedom, and justice, and emphasizes the role of citizens in the democratic process. It also highlights the challenges that democracies face, like the protection of rights and the need for accountable leadership.
The key questions in this chapter focus on defining democracy, explaining its features, and understanding its importance in the modern world. Students are expected to comprehend why democracy is a preferred choice of government globally, as well as the ways in which it fosters participation, transparency, and representation. These questions will help students grasp the essence of democracy, its evolution, and its practical application in real-life scenarios. This chapter also encourages critical thinking about the functioning of democratic institutions and how democracy can be improved to address contemporary challenges.
Solving these important questions will aid in reinforcing the concepts and help students excel in their exams by enhancing their understanding of the topic.
The PDF link for "CBSE Important Questions for Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1: What Is Democracy? Why Democracy?" is available below. The questions are focused on understanding the definition, principles, and importance of democracy, as well as its advantages and challenges.
By practicing these important questions, students can strengthen their knowledge of democratic concepts and improve their ability to answer related questions confidently in the exam. Download the PDF to access all the essential questions and enhance your exam preparation.
Below are the CBSE Important Questions for Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 What Is Democracy? Why Democracy? -
Q.1. One simple factor common to all democracies is-
(A) Elections are held every 5 years
(B) The Prime Minister is the head of state
(C) The people elect rulers
(D) There is a state religion
Ans. (C) The people elect rulers
Q.2. When did a military coup overthrow the Pakistani government?
(A) 1999
(B) 1998
(C) 1990
(D) 2000
Ans. (A) 1999
Q.3. ‘Quango Renmin Daibiao Dahui’ is the name of –
(A) A Chinese political party
(B) The Chinese parliament
(C) The Chinese president
(D) None of the above
Ans. (B) The Chinese parliament
Q.4. Assertion: Democracy is a Western concept that cannot be applied in non-Western societies.
Reason: Democracy is based on universal values such as freedom, equality, and justice that apply to all societies.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(D) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Ans. (D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Q.5. Select the argument against democracy among the following.
(A) Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability
(B) Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.
(C) Democracy improves the quality of decision-making.
(D) Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
Ans. (A) Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.
Q.6. Democracy comes from which Greek word?
Ans. Greek word, “Demokrati”.
Q.7. Write a drawback of the electoral system of Fiji.
Ans. In Fiji, the value of the indigenous Fiji vote is more compared to an Indian Fijian.
Q.8. What is a referendum?
Ans. A referendum is a direct vote in which the entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. It may involve the adoption of a new constitution, a law, or a specific governmental policy.
Q.9. After how many years does Mexico hold elections for electing the President?
Ans. Since its independence in 1930, Mexico has held elections every six years to elect the President.
Q.10. Why are quality decisions always possible in a democracy?
Ans. Because democratic decisions always involve many persons, discussions, and meetings.
Q. 11. ‘‘Elections in China do not represent people's verdict.’’ Explain.
Ans. In China, the elections do not offer the people any serious choice. They have to choose the ruling party and the candidates approved by it. There is only are political party and people have to vote for its candidates.
Q. 12. ‘In a democracy, the majority of the people rule through their elected representatives.’ Give reasons.
Ans. Modern democracies involve such a large number of people that it is physically impossible for them to sit together, and take a collective decision. Even if they could, the citizens does not have the time, the desire or the skills to take part in all the decisions.
Q.13. What is the role of citizens in promoting democracy?
Ans. Every citizen should be able to play an equal role in decision-making. For this, a citizen not only needs an equal right to vote but also needs to have equal information, basic education, and equal resources.
Q.14. The army is the most disciplined and corruptionfree organization in the country. Therefore the army should rule the country. Give reason.
Ans. No, the army should not rule the country. The army officials are not elected by the people. Whereas in democracy the rulers are elected by the people.
Q. 15. What do understand by political equality?
Ans. Democracy is based on political equality which ensures equal rights. Both the rich and poor the educated and educated get equal rights. Democracy enhances the dignity of the people.
Q.16. “Though democracy is considered to be the best form of government, it is not an ideal form of government.” Give five arguments to prove the above statement.
Ans.
(i) It is not an ideal form of government because every citizen does not play equal role m decision-making. Even the majority does not rule directly. But, it rules through their elected representatives.
(ii) Democracy provides only political equality but people also need social and economic equality.
(iii) An ideal government is a government which is not run by few powerful people.
(iv) An ideal government is free of corruption.
(v) An ideal government is a government where there is gender equality.
Q.17. Why has India never had a famine of the level which occurred in China in 1958-61?
Ans. In China’s famine of 1958-61, nearly three crore people died. In those days India’s economic condition was not much better than China's. Yet India did not have a famine of the kind China had. The reason was the difference in the economic policies of the two countries. The democratic government in India responded to the food shortage in a way that the Chinese government did not. If China too had had multi-party elections, an opposition party and a press free to criticise the government, so many people would not have died in the famine.
Q.18. How popular governments can be undemocratic? Explain with an example.
Ans. In Zimbabwe, since it attained independence in 1980, elections have been held regularly and always won by ZANU-PF the party that led the freedom struggle. Its leader, President Robert Mugabe, is popular but also uses unfair practices in elections. His government has changed the constitution several times to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable.
Q.19. How is democracy better than other forms of government?
Ans. It is correct that democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct its own mistakes. There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in a democracy. No form of government can guarantee that. The advantage in a democracy is that such mistakes cannot be hidden for long. There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes. And there is room for correction. Either the rulers have to change their decisions, or the rulers can be changed. This cannot happen in a non-democratic government.
Q.20. How far is it correct to say that respect for citizen’s rights was not followed in Mexico?
Ans. Yes, it is correct to say that respect for citizen’s rights was not followed in Mexico. The election procedure is not democratic. The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win the elections. All those who are employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings. Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for PRI. Opposition parties did contest elections but never managed to win.
Better Understanding of Key Concepts: By answering these important questions, students can develop a deeper understanding of the core concepts related to democracy, such as majority rule, the role of elected representatives, and the rights of citizens in a democratic system.
Improved Exam Preparation: These questions are designed to cover all essential topics in the chapter, helping students revise effectively and ensuring they are well-prepared for the exams. This focused practice improves performance in both objective and subjective questions.
Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills: The questions encourage students to think critically about democracy's practical application, the challenges it faces, and its importance in the modern world.
Clarity on the Relevance of Democracy: Solving these questions enables students to explore why democracy is preferred globally and how it influences governance, making the chapter more relatable and relevant to real-world scenarios.
Confidence Building: Regular practice with important questions boosts confidence, as students become more comfortable with the format and types of questions likely to appear in the exams.
Time Management: By practicing important questions, students can learn to manage their time efficiently during exams, allowing them to allocate sufficient time to answer all types of questions.