Class : 10 CBSE CIVICS

OUTCOMES OF DEMOCRACY
SHORT QUESTION AND ANSWERS:
1. What is the most basic outcomes of democracy?

Ans: The most basic outcomes of democracy should be that it produces a government that is
accountable to the citizens and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.

2.Mention two disadvantages of democracy?

Ans: i) It allows worries about majorities and public opinions in decision making and
implementation.

ii)It is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiations so the decisions are delayed.

3. What is meant by transparency?

Ans: In democracy, the term transparency signifies that decisions are taken through the correct
procedure by involving the people and that people have the right to examine the process of
decision making.

4. Democracy is not free from corruption. Is it true?

Ans: There is no denying the fact that democracy is not free from corruption but, it is only in a
democracy that people can openly expose this evil and ask for its elimination.

5.List the factors on which economic development depends.

Ans: Economic development depends on several factors like

a) country’s population like

b) global situation

c) cooperation from other countries

d) economic priorities.

6. Democracy cannot solve all economic and social problems but still it is perceived.
‘Why?

Ans: Not only democracy but no other form of government can fully solve all economic and
social problems, however, it is democracy which creates situations that help citizens to solve
their social and economic problems.

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LONG QUESTION AND ANSWERS:

1. Why democracy is better than other forms of government?

Ans: Democracy is better than other forms of government because:
i) It promotes equality among citizens
ii)It enhances the dignity of individuals
iii) It improves the quality of decision making
iv) It provides a method to resolve conflicts
v) It allows a room to correct mistakes.

2. Non-democratic rule can be very quick and efficient in decision making and
implementation. Do you think with this feature of non-democratic government it is
better government than other? Explain.
Ans:i) Democratic government can take more time to take a decision as compared to
other forms of government.
ii) There is less possibility of resistance from the people because it had followed a
proper procedure in its decision.
iii) On the other hand non-democratic government can take decision quickly but there is
a possibility that it is not accepted by the people.
iv) Transparency is the most important feature of democratic government. Under
democracy a citizen who wants to know if a decision was taken through the correct
procedure, he/she has the right and the means to examine the process of decision
making. This is known as Transparency. This is often missing from a non-democratic
government.

3. How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate

government?
Ans: i) ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT: Democracy produces an accountable
government because it is answerable to the people. It is a form of government in which
people rule themselves through their elected representatives. The elected representatives
form government, make policies and run the administration of the country. If they do
not work according to the wishes of the people, then the people have the right to change
their representatives at the time of next general elections. Thus, in this way, the
government elected by the people is accountable to them.

ii) RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT: Democracy produces a government which is

responsive to the needs and expectations of the people. The government has to follow
certain procedures while taking any decision and the people should know as to what the
government is going to decide. People can participate in the decision making process of
the government and have the right to criticize and question the government policies.

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iii) LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT: A democratic government is a legitimate
government because it is elected by the people and is formed under the norms provided
by the constitution of the country. The party which gets a majority in the legislature
forms the government and other parties form the opposition. It may be slow or less
efficient but it is people’s own government.

4. How are complaints treated as testimony to the success of democracy? Explain

Ans: Complaints are treated as testimony to the success of democracy in the following
ways:
i) Complaints highlight the awareness of the people and their expectations from the
system that has been put in place.
ii)It is a measure of their participation in public debates which democracy seeks to
encourage.
iii) A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the
democratic project.
5. Explain with examples how democracy leads to a peaceful and harmonious life
among citizens.

Ans: i)Every citizen has the right to vote and right to contest election.

ii) Democracy stands for equal economic status to all citizens.

iii)Democracy accommodates social diversity.

iv)Democratic government try to resolve differences.

v)In democracy, government undertakes extensive social welfare schemes.

6. List out the merits and demerits of democracy

Ans: MERITS OF DEMOCRACY:

i)Democracy assures equality in every sphere of life like political, social and economic.
ii) It upholds basic individual liberties like freedom of speech, expression and thought.
DEMERITS OF DEMOCRACY:
i) Democracy gives more importance to quantity rather than quality.
ii)It is not a stable or fixed form of government, there is always uncertainty regarding its
functions.

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7. Explain any four consequences on which democracy has failed.

Ans:i) CORRUPTION: The record of democracy shows that most of the democratic
countries have failed to remove or reduce corruption. India is one of the largest
democratic country of the world which has failed on this issue.

ii) NOT ATTENTATIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPPLE:

A democratic government should be attentive to the needs and demands of the people
but unfortunately the record of democracy is not impressive on this issue. Democracy
often frustrate the needs of the people and often ignore the demands of the majority of
the population.
iii) ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT:
Democracy is considered better government that other form of government. So, one can
expect better economic growth and development but democracy has failed on this. If we
consider all democratic and dictatorship countries for the last fifty years, dictatorships
have slightly higher rate of economic growth as compared to the democracy.
iv) REDUCTION OF INEQUALITY AND POVERTY:
Most of the democratic countries of the world have failed in the reduction of inequality
and poverty. In most of the democracies a small number of ultra rich enjoy a high share
of wealth and incomes. Not only that, their share in the total income of the country has
been increasing. People in several poor countries are now dependent on the rich
countries even for food supplies

8. ‘Democracies accommodate social diversities and provide dignity and freedom

to the citizens.” Justify the statement.

Ans: Social diversity is accommodated in democracy in the following ways:

i) Democracies ensure a peaceful and harmonious life to citizens. Eg. Fundamental

rights to citizens.

ii) Democracy usually develops a procedure to conduct a competition which reduces the
possibility of social tension becoming explosive or violent. Eg: Belgium has
successfully negotiated differences among ethnic populations.

iii) Democratic regimes have the ability to handle social differences, differences,
divisions and conflicts through the provision of accommodation, reservation and special
privileges. Eg. Reservation in jobs for women, differently abled and Scheduled Castes
and Tribes. By : ALI SIR
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