CHAPTER 3.

5
Popular Struggles and Movement

ONE MARK QUESTIONS 6. “The challenge of deepening of democracy is being

faced by every democracy in one form or another.”
Support the statement with arguments. [CBSE 2016]
1. ‘A challenge is not just any problem but an opportunity Ans :
for progress.’ Analyse the statement. [CBSE 2018]
Deepening of democracy:
Ans :
a. Deepening of democracy involves strengthening
A challenge is a difficulty that carries within it the institutions and the practices of democracy.
an opportunity for progress. Once we overcome a b. The ordinary people have different expectations
challenge we go up to a higher level than before. from democracy in different societies.
2. What does the challenge of expansion faced by c. It wants more of people’s participation and
established democracies involve? [CBSE 2016] control.
d. They want to bring down the control of rich and
Ans :
powerful people in the making of the governmental
a. It involves applying basic principles of democratic decision.
governments across all regions, different social
7. How would you like to expand the definition of
groups and various institutions.
democracy? Explain. [CBSE 2016, 2012]
b. Greater power to local governments.
Ans :
3. A country holds election to elect peoples representatives
to form the government but the elections are not fair. Definition of democracy shall be expanded by adding
Identify the kind of challenge faced by the people in following features:
such a country. [CBSE 2016] a. The government elected by the people must take
all the decisions.
Ans :
b. Elections must offer a choice and fair opportunity
People face the challenge of expansion of democracy. to the people to change the current rulers.
4. Which challenge to established democracies ensures c. The choice and opportunity should be available to
more participation of women and minority groups in a all the people on an equal basis.
democratic country? [CBSE 2015] d. The exercise of this choice must lead to a
Ans : government limited by the basic rules of the
constitution and citizen’s rights.
The challenge of expansion.

THREE MARKS QUESTIONS

5. Elaborate the challenge of expansion of democracy.

Give an example. [CBSE 2016]
or
“Most of the established democracies are facing the
challenge of expansion.” Support the statement with
examples. [CBSE 2016]
or
Explain the ‘Challenge of Expansion’ to democracy.
8. Suggest some broad guidelines that can be kept in
Ans : [CBSE 2012]
mind while devising ways and means for political
Most of the established democracies face the Challenge reforms in India. [CBSE 2016]
of Expansion:
Ans :
a. Citizens have great expectations from the
government. Guidelines for political reform:
b. Government tries its best for the upliftment of a. Any legal change must carefully look at what
the society. results it will have on politics. Sometimes the
c. Ensuring greater power to the local government. results may be counter-productive.
d. Extension of federal principles to all the units b. The main focus of political reforms should be on
of the federation including women and minority ways to strengthen democratic practice.
groups. c. Any proposal for political reforms should think
 not only about what is a good solution but also Features of a good democracy are:
about who will implement it and how? a. Rulers are elected by the people to take all
9. How are the challenges to democracy linked to the decisions.
possibility of political reforms? Explain. b. Elections give an opportunity and choice to the
people.
Ans : [CBSE 2015]
c. Democracy ensures that rights are given to the
Each challenge in democracy is linked to the citizen.
possibility of reforms. All the countries do not have
same challenges. 14. Highlight any three challenges that democracy faces
a. Carefully devised changes in law can help to in Contemporary India. [CBSE 2012]
discourage wrong political practices. Ans :
b. Democratic reforms are to be carried out by Challenges that democracy faces in contemporary
political activists, parties, movements and India are as follows:
politically conscious citizens. a. Challenge of corruption by government ministers
c. Political participation by ordinary citizen should and bureaucracy.
be there. b. Challenge of caste politics and division of votes on
d. Democratic movements, citizen’s organization the basis of caste instead of policies.
and media should play an important role. c. Challenge of communal politics leading to voting
e. Empowerment of people through laws, e.g., RTI. on the basis of religion.
10. “A challenge is an opportunity for progress”. Support d. Challenge of regionalism leading to disunity of
the statement with your arguments. society and country.
Ans : [CBSE 2015] 15. Explain the challenges faced by countries which do
A challenge is an opportunity for progress because: not have a democratic form of government.
a. A challenge is not just a problem. Ans : [CBSE 2012]
b. A challenge is a difficulty that carries within it an a. These countries face the foundational challenge
opportunity for progress. of making the transition to democracy and then
c. Once we overcome a challenge, we go up to a instituting democratic government.
higher level than before. b. They also face the challenge of bringing down the
d. Challenges alone cannot overcome challenges to existing non-democratic regime and keeping the
democracy like inequality, poverty, unemployment military away from controlling the government.
illiteracy, regionalism, casteism, communal ism, c. Such countries have to make great efforts to
etc. establish a sovereign and functional state.
e. Legal constitutional changes and the cooperation
16. Suggest any three political reforms to strengthen
of the citizen is the need of the hour.
democracy.
11. What type of financial reforms should be brought to Ans : [CBSE 2012]
strengthen democracy and why?
Some of the reforms to strengthen the working of
Ans : [CBSE 2015]
political parties are as follows: Anti-defection law,
a. The financial accounts of every political party under which a member would be disqualified, if he/she
should be made public. These accounts should be goes against the directions of the party. Reduction in
made public. These accounts should be examined the influence of money. Cash votes have been banned
by government auditors. by the election commission and anybody involved in
b. There should be state funding of elections. the process is likely to be punished.
c. Citizen should be encouraged to give more
It is important for a candidate to file an affidavit
donations to parties and to political workers such
giving details of his property and eliminate cases
donations should be exempted from income tax.
pending against him/her. The election commission
12. Explain three foundational challenges faced by has made it necessary for political parties to hold
democracies. [CBSE 2012] their organizational elections and file their income tax
or returns.
How do some countries face foundational challenge of
A law is strictly advisable to make or regulate the
democracy? Explain with example.
internal affairs of political parties. It should be made
Ans : [CBSE 2013]
mandatory for political parties to give a minimum
Foundational challenge: number of tickets, about one-third, to women
a. Involves making the transition to democracy and candidates.
then instituting democratic government.
17. What is a democratic reform. Mention a few broad
b. This involves bringing down the existing non-
democratic regime, keeping military away from guidelines for devising political reforms in India.
controlling government and establishing a Ans : [CBSE 2012]
sovereign and functional state. All suggestions or proposals about overcoming various
c. For example: Democratic Government of Nepal. challenges to democracy are called democratic reform
or political reform.
13. What are the features of a good democracy?
Broad guidelines for devising political reforms in India
Ans : [CBSE 2012]
are:
 a. Legal Ways of reforming politics. The guidelines to be kept in mind while adopting
b. The Right to Information Act. political reforms also include:
c. Reforms through political practice, a. Involving political parties, political activists and
d. Implementation reforms. people in bringing about reforms rather than
18. How is Myanmar facing the foundational challenge of imposing reforms through laws.
making a transition to democracy? Explain. b. Legal measures should be positive, more like
incentives.
Ans : [CBSE 2011] c. Improving the quality of political practices by
There is absence of democracy in Myanmar as the increasing people’s participation.
legitimately elected leader Suu Kyi has been under d. Laws being considered may meet with resistance
house arrest for more than 15 years. in the legislatures and by political parties.
She has been released recently:
So, the best way to bring about the change is
a. The army is in power in Myanmar and a
through democratic movements and media.
democratically elected government is not allowed
to function. 22. Explain various type of challenges being faced by the
b. The country faces the challenge of making a modem democracies of the world? [CBSE 2011]
transition to democracy and then instituting a or
democratic government. Why do most of the established democracies face the
c. The people of Myanmar need to bring down the challenge expansion? Give any three reasons.
military regime and keep it away while they sets [CBSE 2011]
up a sovereign and democratic government. or
“Different countries face different kinds of challenges.”
Support the statement with suitable examples.
FIVE MARKS QUESTIONS Ans : [CBSE 2009]
It is true that different countries face different kinds
19. When was the ’Right to Information Act’ implemented? of challenges:
How does it act as the watch-dog of democracy? a. Non-democratic countries face foundational
Explain. challenges. This involves bringing down the
Ans : [CBSE 2016] existing non-democratic regime, keeping military
‘The Right to Information Act’ was implemented in away from controlling government and establishing
2005. a sovereign and functional state. Example: In
a. It empowers the people to find out what is Myanmar, military rule should be challenged. Suu
happening in government. Kyi should be freed and should be elected as the
b. It acts as the watchdogs of democracy. representative of the popular government,
c. It helps to control corruption and supplements the b. Every democracy faces the challenge of deepening
existing laws that banned corruption and imposed of democracy. This involves applying the basic
strict penalties. principle of democratic government across all
d. It gives political actors incentives to do good. the regions, different social groups and various
institutions. Example: In Saudi Arabia, women are
20. Explain any five major challenges being faced by the
not allowed to take part in public activities, and
Indian democracy. [CBSE 2014]
no freedom of religion is there for the minorities.
Ans : c. Every democracy face the challenge of expansion.
Major challenges are: This involves strengthening of the institutions and
a. Foundational challenge. practices of democracy. It requires an attempt
b. Challenge of expansion. to bring down that control and influence of the
c. Challenge of deepening of democracy. “The main rich and powerful people in making governmental
challenge to democracy in India is the challenge decision. Example: In USA, Black or African-
of expansion”. American people have won equal rights, but are
still poor, less educated and marginalised.
Decentralization of powers and applying the basic
principle of democratic government across all the 23. How can the countries facing the foundational
regions, have been developed; but still more is to be challenge of making a transition to democracy set-up a
done. Inclusion of women and minority groups is still democratic government? Suggest any three measures.
a challenge. All the decisions should be in the arena of [CBSE 2011]
democratic control. To get this thing to be done and or
possess is a big challenge. What is a ‘challenge’ ? Explain the three major
Some other challenges to democracy include: challenges before the countries of the work regarding
a. Constitutional design democracy. [CBSE 2010]
b. Federalism and its functions or
c. Elections “The challenge of deepening of democracy is faced by
d. Democratic rights. every democracy in one form or another”. Support
the statement with three suitable arguments. How can
21. What are the guidelines to be kept in mind while
democracy be reformed and deepened? Suggest any
adopting political reforms? [CBSE 2012] three guidelines.
Ans :
 Ans :
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,

24. “Legal reforms may sometimes be counterproductive”.

Support the statement with suitable arguments.
Ans : [CBSE 2009]
a. Any legal change must carefully look at the results
it will have on politics. Sometimes, the results
can be counter¬productive. For example, many
states have banned people who have more than
two children from contesting panchayat elections.
b. This has resulted in the denial of democratic
opportunity to many poor men and women, which
was not intended. Generally, laws that seek to ban
something are not very successful in politics.
c. The best laws are those which empower people to
carry out democratic reforms. For example, Right
to Information Act.