🗳️ ELECTORAL POLITICS
Question Paper (80 Marks)
📋 Question Paper Sections
SECTION A: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1 Mark Each | Total: 10 Marks | Choose the correct answer
Elections require political competition to offer real choices to voters. Preventing competition would make elections pointless.
SECTION B: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
2 Marks Each | Total: 16 Marks | Answer in 2-3 sentences
Universal adult franchise means every adult citizen (18+ years) has the right to vote regardless of caste, religion, gender, or education. It is important because all citizens deserve equal say in decisions affecting them, as all are human beings with their own needs and views.
A general election is held for all constituencies at the same time after every five years when the term of all elected representatives ends. A by-election is held only for one constituency to fill a vacancy caused by death or resignation of a member.
• Bribe or threaten voters
• Appeal to voters in the name of caste or religion
• Use government resources for campaign purposes
• Spend more than spending limits
Reserved constituencies ensure weaker sections get representation in Parliament and Assemblies. Without reservation, these sections might not win elections due to lack of resources and face discrimination from powerful candidates. This makes democracy more representative and inclusive.
One Vote One Value means every vote has equal importance—each constituency has roughly equal population so every citizen's vote carries equal weight. This ensures fairness and prevents some people's votes from counting more than others, making elections truly democratic.
The Election Commission is an independent body that conducts all elections. It can punish candidates/parties violating Code of Conduct, order repoll if voting is unfair, transfer government officials, and prevent government misuse of power during elections.
Citizens participate in activities like attending rallies, campaigning, and party membership because they believe elections help them influence government policies. They feel their vote and participation matter in how the country is run, showing strong democratic engagement.
Electoral constituencies are geographical areas into which the country is divided for election purposes. Each constituency elects one representative. They are defined by population—each constituency should have roughly equal population to ensure One Vote One Value principle.
SECTION C: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
3 Marks Each | Total: 18 Marks | Answer in 4-5 sentences
Political competition may cause divisions and factional conflicts, but it ultimately serves democracy. It forces political leaders to work for people because they want to win elections. Leaders know that if they raise issues people care about and serve them well, they'll win the next election; if they fail, they'll lose power. Without competition, leaders have no incentive to serve people properly. The Constitution makers knew this reality and chose free electoral competition as the best system despite its drawbacks.
On polling day, voters go to a nearby polling booth, usually located in a school or government office. Election officials identify the voter by checking the voters' list, mark their finger with indelible ink, and allow them to enter the booth. The voter presses a button on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) against their chosen candidate's name and symbol. Agents of each candidate are present to ensure fair voting. This process ensures one person cannot vote twice and voting happens in a fair, secret manner.
Saying Indian elections are free and fair means the election outcomes genuinely reflect people's preferences, not manipulation or fraud. Supporting facts: (1) Ruling parties routinely lose elections at national and state levels—in fact, in 2 out of 3 elections in the last 25 years, ruling parties lost, which would not happen in rigged elections. (2) About half of sitting MPs and MLAs lose re-election, proving that even established leaders can be voted out, showing voters have real power. These facts demonstrate elections are not controlled by those in power.
In 1987, people in Haryana were unhappy with the Congress government. Opposition leader Devi Lal led the Lok Dal party and promised to waive farmers' and small businessmen's loans. People voted overwhelmingly for Lok Dal, which won 60 out of 90 seats. After winning, Devi Lal's government immediately waived the loans as promised. However, in 1991 elections, his party lost and Congress formed government. This example teaches that: (1) Elections can lead to policy changes, (2) Leaders can be held accountable if they don't keep promises, (3) Electoral outcomes can change based on people's satisfaction.
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of rules that all political parties in India have agreed to follow during election campaigns to ensure fair competition. Three restrictions are:
1) No party can use any place of worship for election propaganda
2) No use of government vehicles, aircraft, and officials for elections
3) Once elections are announced, Ministers cannot lay foundation stones of projects, take big policy decisions, or make promises of providing public facilities
Reserved constituencies ensure that weaker sections like Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes get fair representation in Parliament and state assemblies. Without reservations, influential and resourceful people would prevent these sections from winning elections due to discrimination and resource scarcity. This would deprive Parliament of the voice of a significant population, making democracy less representative. By reserving seats (84 for SC, 47 for ST in Lok Sabha), we ensure Parliament reflects the diversity of Indian society. Similarly, reserving one-third seats for women ensures women's representation in decision-making, making democracy truly representative of all sections.
SECTION D: LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
4 Marks Each | Total: 18 Marks | Answer in 6-8 sentences
1) Universal adult franchise (Everyone can choose): Every citizen aged 18+ should have one vote with equal value. This is important because all citizens deserve equal say in decisions affecting them, regardless of wealth, education, or social status.
2) Something real to choose from: Multiple political parties and candidates should be free to contest, offering genuine alternatives. Without choices, elections become meaningless. People need options to express their preferences and hold different ideologies accountable.
3) Regular elections at fixed intervals: Elections must be held every few years (5 years in India). This ensures leaders remain accountable. If elections were irregular or could be delayed by those in power, leaders would become dictators.
4) Winner determined by votes: The candidate with most votes should get elected. This ensures people's preference decides outcomes, not powerful groups or government officials.
5) Free and fair process: Elections must be conducted without threats, bribes, intimidation, or fraud. This ensures voters can vote as they truly wish without fear, making the outcome legitimate reflection of people's will.
This statement captures the essence of how electoral competition keeps leaders accountable. In this "exam" metaphor: Politicians are the students who must perform (govern well and raise issues people care about) to pass (win elections). If they fail to serve people well, they "fail" (lose elections). Voters are the examiners—they evaluate politicians' performance every five years and decide whether to re-elect them or vote them out. Electoral competition is the grading system: because parties compete for votes, they know that raising popular issues increases chances of victory in next elections. Conversely, ignoring people's needs leads to electoral defeat. Even politicians motivated only by power-seeking are forced to serve people because they want to win. This is similar to how a shopkeeper wanting only profit must give good service or lose customers. Through competition, democracy ensures leaders serve people—not because of their character, but because it's in their self-interest to do so. This system works better than depending on leaders' sense of duty alone, which is unrealistic in real life.
Stage 1: Announcement of Election Schedule
Election Commission announces election schedule; constituencies are finalized (543 Lok Sabha constituencies); Election schedule is published with polling dates.
Stage 2: Preparation of Voters' List
Electoral Roll (voters' list) is prepared with names of all eligible citizens (18+); List is revised every 5 years with names added (new voters) and removed (shifted/deceased); Published so people can check and raise objections. EC role: Ensures complete and accurate list; hears objections.
Stage 3: Nomination and Candidate Declaration
Candidates file nomination forms and pay security deposit; Candidates must declare criminal cases pending, assets/liabilities, educational qualifications; This information made public for voters to know candidates' backgrounds. EC role: Verifies nominations; ensures legal declarations are submitted.
Stage 4: Election Campaign (2 weeks)
Parties and candidates hold rallies, meetings, address voters; Campaign issues discussed in media. EC role: Enforces Code of Conduct; prevents bribery, caste/religion appeals, government resource misuse; monitors spending limits.
Stage 5: Polling Day
Voters go to polling booths; officials identify them from voters' list; Voters press button on EVM for chosen candidate; Candidate agents present to ensure fairness. EC role: Conducts voting; ensures secrecy and fairness; uses armed personnel if needed.
Stage 6: Counting and Results
EVMs sealed after polling; Few days later, all EVMs from constituency opened; Votes counted; candidate with highest votes declared elected; Candidate agents present during counting for verification. EC role: Supervises counting; orders repoll if irregularities found; declares final results.
Throughout all stages, the Election Commission ensures elections are free and fair through its independence and wide powers.
Main Challenges:
1) Money Power: Rich candidates and big parties can spend more on campaigns, giving unfair advantage. Many voters can be influenced by money-buying tactics.
2) Criminal Candidates: Some candidates with criminal backgrounds still get party nominations and win, undermining democracy's values.
3) Family Politics: Dominant families monopolize parties; tickets given to relatives instead of capable candidates, limiting real choice.
4) Limited Real Choice: Sometimes major parties have similar policies, so voters feel they lack genuine alternatives.
5) Unequal Resources: Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer huge disadvantage against big parties in campaigning and visibility.
Suggested Reforms:
1) Strict Campaign Finance: Government should fund campaigns equally for all parties; limit private donations; track money flow through candidates' accounts.
2) Criminal Background Bar: Candidates with serious criminal convictions should be barred from contesting for fixed years.
3) Party Transparency: Parties should have internal democracy when selecting candidates; merit-based ticket distribution.
4) Media Regulation: Equal prime time for all parties on government-controlled media; fair coverage in newspapers.
5) Strengthen Election Commission: Give more resources to EC for monitoring; use technology to prevent fraud; increase surprise inspections.
6) Voter Education: Teach citizens about elections and candidates' records through Electoral Literacy Clubs; strengthen SVEEP programme.
7) Proportional Representation: Some suggest proportional representation system to give smaller parties fair chance (though this is debated).
These reforms can help make Indian elections even more democratic and representative.
SECTION E: SOURCE-BASED QUESTIONS
2 Marks Each | Total: 16 Marks | Read passages carefully and answer
PASSAGE 1: The Haryana Election Story
The passage does not explicitly state why people were unhappy with Congress government, but it mentions they were attracted to Devi Lal's promise to waive loans of farmers and small businessmen. This suggests the previous government had not addressed their economic problems or needs.
This story teaches two important lessons: (1) Elections can lead to changes in government policies—Devi Lal waived loans immediately after winning, which the previous government had not done. (2) Elections make leaders accountable—people voted out the Congress government because it didn't serve their interests, and Lok Dal knew it must keep its promise to stay in power.
PASSAGE 2: The Election Commission's Role
Independence of Election Commission is important because: (1) It ensures the ruling party or government cannot influence or control elections in their favor. (2) The EC can freely implement Code of Conduct and punish violations without pressure. (3) It can order government officials to follow guidelines and even transfer them, preventing misuse of government power. Without independence, elections would not be free and fair.
This means the Election Commission is free from government control, just like courts are. The CEC cannot be removed by the President or government even if they dislike EC's decisions. This constitutional protection ensures EC acts independently to conduct fair elections without any pressure, protecting democracy from those in power.
PASSAGE 3: Electoral Participation
In India, poor and underprivileged people participate more in elections compared to the USA. In India, these sections vote in large proportions, but in USA, poor people, African Americans, and Hispanics vote much less than rich and white people. This shows Indian democracy has more participation from marginalized sections.
Common people in India believe elections help them influence government policies in their favor. They feel their vote matters in how the country is run and they can use elections to pressure political parties to adopt policies beneficial to them. This high civic engagement shows strong democratic consciousness among Indian citizens.
PASSAGE 4: Election Campaign Rules
Spending limits ensure that rich candidates and big parties don't have unfair advantage over poor candidates and small parties. Without limits, wealthy candidates could spend unlimited money on campaigns, making elections unequal. Limits create level playing field where candidates compete on ideas and performance, not just money.
If bribery were allowed, elections would not be free and fair. Rich candidates could buy votes with money rather than winning through public support. Poor candidates would lose even if they had better ideas. Elections would reflect money power, not people's real preferences, destroying democracy. That's why bribery is strictly prohibited and punishable.
ANSWER KEY SUMMARY
📊 Marks Distribution
- Section A (MCQ): 10 marks (1 mark × 10)
- Section B (Short Answer): 16 marks (2 marks × 8)
- Section C (Short Answer): 18 marks (3 marks × 6)
- Section D (Long Answer): 18 marks (4 marks × 4)
- Section E (Source-Based): 18 marks (2 marks × 9)
- TOTAL: 80 MARKS
✅ Section A Answer Key
1-c, 2-b, 3-b, 4-b, 5-c, 6-b, 7-c, 8-c, 9-b, 10-b
📋 Marking Scheme Guidelines
- Multiple Choice: Full mark only if answer is correct
- Short Answer (2-3 marks): Give partial marks for incomplete but relevant answers
- Long Answer (4 marks): Award marks for: accuracy (1 mark), explanation depth (1 mark), examples (1 mark), clarity (1 mark)
- Source-Based Questions: Give marks for understanding the passage and applying knowledge correctly
- General Rule: Slight variations in answers that convey same meaning should be accepted
