Questions & Answer For Grade 6 Civics

Class 6 Civics 

Class 6 Civics is one of the most important parts of class 6 social science and to score good marks in the school exam one must read the NCERT textbook theory and solve all the questions asked in the NCERT textbook exercise with the help of NCERT solutions for class 6 social science. We have prepared chapter-wise MCQ questions on Class 6 Civics and each chapter of Class 6 Civics has 100 plus MCQ-based questions with detailed explanations of questions. 

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What makes elections in India democratic? 

A. Independent Election Commission: Election Commission is an independent body provided for in the Constitution.

The whole election business is carried out by the Election Commission. It is charged with the responsibility of conducting free and fair elections which are the foundation of the whole system of democracy. Headed by the Chief Election Commissioner and two other members, the functions of the Commission are as follows:

(i) Preparation of voters' list

(ii) Delimitation of the constituencies

(iii) Controlling the election machinery 

(iv) Recognizing newly formed parties 

(v) Allotting party symbols to parties 

(vi) Conducting of polling and counting of votes 

(vii) Announcement of results.

The procedure for the appointment of the Election Commission is laid down in the Constitution.

The Election Commission makes sure that the party in power does not take undue advantage of its position.

(b) Popular Participation:

Another way to check the quality of the election process is to see whether people participate in it with enthusiasm. If the election process is not free or fair, people will not continue to participate in the exercise. 

(i) People's participation in elections is usually measured by voter turnout figures. Turnout indicates the per cent of eligible voters who cast their vote. Over the last fifty years, the turnout in Europe and North America has declined. In India, the turnout has either remained stable or gone up. 

(ii) In India the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich and privileged sections. This is in contrast to western democracies.

(iii) Common people in India attach a lot of importance to elections. They feel that through elections they can bring pressure on political parties to adopt policies and programmes favourable to them. They also feel that their vote matters in the way things are run in the country.

(iv) The interest of voters in election-related activities has been increasing over the years. During the 2004 elections, more than one-third of voters took part in campaign-related activities. More than half of the people identified themselves as being close to one or the other political party. One out of every seven voters is a member of a political party.

(c) Acceptance of Election Outcome:

If elections are not free and fair, the outcome always favours the powerful. In such a situation, the ruling parties do not lose elections. The out come outcome of India's elections speaks for itself:

(i) The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India both at the national and state level. In fact in every two out of the three elections held in the last fifteen years, the ruling party lost.

(ii) In the US, an incumbent or 'sitting' elected representative rarely loses an election. In India, about half of the sitting MPs or MLAs lose elections.

(iii) Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on `buying votes' and those with known criminal connections often lose elections.

(iv) Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as ‘people's verdict’ by the defeated party.

(d) Challenges to free and fair elections:

(i) Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents.

(ii) In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connections have been able to push others out of the electoral race and secure a `ticket' from major parties.

(iii) Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to relatives from these families.

(iv) Very often elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens, for both the major parties are quite similar to each other both in policies and practice.

(v) Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to bigger parties.

Elections are the barometer of democracy:

The election is rightly said to be the barometer of democracy.

(i) It is through an election that the people give expression to their opinion.

(ii) It is through an election that the persons who have to work as representatives of the people are identified.

(iii) Any unpopular government can be unseated in an election.

(iv) Election help in maintaining effective control over the executive.

(v) Election is the time when it is possible to debate publicly on various socio-economic issues.

(vi) The true character of social and political workers comes out during the election campaign. The real worth of individuals can easily be adjudged.

In short, a fair and free election is indicative of a healthy and robust democracy.

Importance of political parties in a democracy:

Political parties are important for the functioning of democracy.

(i) They participate in the elections.

(ii) They put forward their aims and goals before the people.

(iii) Through their manifestos they let the people know what programme of action they would follow if they are voted to power.

(iv) This makes it easier for voters to make their choice between different candidates.

(v) The ruling party helps the government to keep in touch with what the people feel about its policies. 

(vi) Opposition parties act as watch-dogs on the government. They are always alert to the Policies and actions of the government. They criticised the government for its acts of omission and commission. All of these Make sure that the government should not go out of track.

Role of an opposition party in a democracy:

The opposition in a legislature represents the legitimised dissent of the people. 

An opposition party plays a significant role in a democracy.

(i) It acts as an alert watchdog.

(ii) it exercises a check on ill-considered legislation.

(iii) It helps check the slackness of the government and its various departments.

(iv) The members of the opposition can move adjournment motions, cut motions, and vote of no-confidence, to highlight any major governmental failure or acts of omission.

(v) The investigative commissions set up to enquire into alleged cases of corruption or negligence of duties have members from the opposition parties also. This ensures that they act in a fair and unbiased manner.

CBSE Class 6 Social Science Important Questions 2023-24