Class 9 Civics

Meaning of Democracy

NCERT Exercise Solution

Part 2

Question 6: There are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provision for drinking water. These villagers met and considered many methods of forcing the government to respond to their need. Which of these is not a democratic method?

  1. Filing a case in the courts claiming that water is part of right to life.
  2. Boycotting the next elections to give a message to all parties.
  3. Organising public meetings against government’s policies.
  4. Paying money to government officials to get water.

    Answer: (d) Paying money to government officials to get water.

Question 7: Write a response to the following arguments against democracy:

  1. Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country. Therefore army should rule the country.

    Answer: Army officers are not elected by people and hence an army rule would be undemocratic.
  2. Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.

    Answer: Democracy is based on the idea of universal adult franchise. Restricting the rulers from a small section comprising of ‘wise’ people would defeat the purpose of representational democracy.
  3. If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.

    Answer: Religious leaders are not elected by people and hence a country should not be ruled by religious leaders.

Question 8: Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?

  1. Father to daughter: I don’t want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In our family children marry where the parents tell them to.

    Answer: In this case, the daughter does not have the freedom of choice, hence this is undemocratic.
  2. Teacher to student: Don’t disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom.

    Answer: The teacher may be involved in thinking about an important topic and hence is asking the student not to disturb her. It cannot be said with surety whether the teacher’s request is democratic or not.
  3. Employee to the officer: Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.

    Answer: The employee is asking for a fundamental right and hence it is democratic.

Question 9: Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.

  1. All the citizens of the country have right to vote. Elections are held regularly.

    Answer: Regular elections and universal adult franchise are two important features of a democracy and hence this is a democratic situation.
  2. The country took loan from international agencies. One of the conditions for giving loan was that the government would reduce its expenses on education and health.

    Answer: An international agency should not interfere in the internal matters of a country. Hence this is undemocratic.
  3. People speak more than seven languages but education is available only in one language, the language spoken by 52 percent people of that country.

    Answer: This is an example where majority view is being imposed and hence is undemocratic.
  4. Several organisations have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nation wide strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders.

    Answer: Democratic government should provide the right to protest. The government is denying such right to its citizens and hence is undemocratic.
  5. The government owns the radio and television in the country. All the newspapers have to get permission from the government to publish any news about government’s policies and protests.

    Answer: Freedom of media is very important for a democracy. This is an undemocratic example.