NCERT Solutions-Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System-Class 8 SST

 Exercise Question Answers for Chapter 1- Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System for Class VIII in Subject Social Science

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1. Why is universal adult franchise important for a healthy democracy? 

Answer: 

• Ensures equality — every adult has the same voting right.

• Represents all sections of society in governance.

• Reduces discrimination in political participation.

• Encourages citizen involvement in decision-making.

• Strengthens legitimacy of government.

2. What is the meaning of ‘secret ballot’? Why is this important in a democracy? 

Answer: Meaning of ‘secret ballot’ & importance in a democracy:

• Meaning: A voting method where the voter’s choice is kept private.

• Importance:

  • Prevents pressure or threats.

  • Allows free and honest voting.

  • Protects voter privacy.

  • Ensures fairness in elections.

3. Give examples of direct and indirect elections. 

Answer: Examples of direct and indirect elections:

• Direct election: People directly vote for their representatives — e.g., Lok Sabha elections, State Assembly elections.

• Indirect election: Representatives are elected by other elected members — e.g., Rajya Sabha elections, President of India.

4. How is the election of members to the Lok Sabha different from that to the Rajya Sabha? 

Answer: Difference between election of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members:

• Lok Sabha:

  • Directly elected by people.

  • Based on universal adult franchise.

  • Members serve 5 years.

• Rajya Sabha:

  • Indirectly elected by MLAs of State Assemblies.

  • Represents states and union territories.

  • Members serve 6 years (1/3rd retire every 2 years).

5. What, in your view, are the advantages of the EVM over paper ballots? 

Answer: Advantages of EVM over paper ballots:

• Saves time in voting and counting.

• Reduces paper usage, eco-friendly.

• Minimises chances of invalid votes.

• Portable and easy to use.

• Less chance of tampering compared to paper ballots.

6. Voter turnout has been declining in some urban areas of India. What could be the reasons for this trend, and what steps can be taken to encourage more people to vote? 

Answer: Reasons for declining voter turnout in some urban areas & steps to improve:

• Reasons:

  • Lack of interest or political awareness.

  • Busy lifestyles and work schedules.

  • Feeling that one vote won’t make a difference.

  • Migration and voter list errors.

• Steps:

  • Voter awareness campaigns.

  • Easy online voter registration.

  • Voting on weekends/holidays.

  • Mobile polling booths in certain areas.

7. Why do you think a proportion of seats in the Lok Sabha is reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes? Write a short note. 

Answer: Reservation of seats for SCs and STs in Lok Sabha:

• Ensures political representation for historically marginalised groups.

• Provides them a voice in law-making.

• Helps address social and economic inequalities.

• Strengthens inclusiveness in democracy.

8. Social media is changing the way we experience elections — from catchy campaign reels and live speeches to political debates on Instagram and Twitter. But is this strengthening democracy or confusing it? Discuss in pairs: What are the benefits, what are the challenges, and what might the future of elections be in a digital age? 

Answer: Social media & elections — Benefits, challenges, future:

• Benefits:

  • Quick information sharing.

  • Connects candidates and voters directly.

  • Encourages youth participation.

• Challenges:

  • Spread of fake news.

  • Biased or misleading content.

  • Echo chambers reducing balanced debates.

• Future:

  • More digital campaigns and online voting possibilities.

  • Need for stricter fact-checking and regulations.

9. Visit the website https://www.indiavotes.com, and choose a parliamentary constituency election from any year and explore its results. Do the same for an assembly election in your state. 

Answer: Indiavotes.com exercise (Example)

(You will need to actually visit the site to fill in real data — sample format below)

• Parliamentary constituency chosen: [Name of Constituency]

  • Year: [Year]

  • Winner: [Name, Party]

  • Total votes: [Number]

  • Voter turnout: [Percentage]

• Punjab Assembly constituency chosen: [Name of Constituency]

  • Year: [Year]

  • Winner: [Name, Party]

  • Total votes: [Number]

  • Voter turnout: [Percentage]

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