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CBSE Notes Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1-What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

What is a democracy? What are its features? Chapter 1 from CBSE Class 9 Political Science textbook, ‘Democratic Politics- I’, builds on a simple definition of democracy. The aim of the book is to help students understand clearly the bare minimum features of a democratic form of government. After going through this chapter, you will be able to find the difference between a democratic form of government and a non-democratic government. Democracy is the most prevalent form of government in the world today, and it is expanding to more countries. But why is it so? What makes it better than other forms of government? Students can just browse through these CBSE Notes Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 – ‘What is Democracy? Why Democracy?’ and understand these concepts thoroughly.

Click on the downloadable link to access the CBSE Class 9 Social Science Notes of Political Science Chapter 1 below in this article.

• Chapter 2 Constitutional Design
• Chapter 3 Electoral Politics
• Chapter 4 Working Of Institutions
• Chapter 5 Democratic Rights

CBSE Notes Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1-What Is Democracy? Why Democracy?

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What Is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Definition of Democracy

Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. One chief factor common to all democracies is that the government is chosen by the people. It also helps students to demarcate between democratic and non-democratic governments. For the non-democratic government, take the example of Myanmar, where rulers were not elected by the people. Those who were in charge of the country’s army took over as rulers, and people had no say in this decision. Dictators like Pinochet (Chile) are not elected by the people. This also applies to monarchies.

Features of Democracy

The simple definition of democracy gives rise to various questions, which are given below:

• Who are the rulers in this definition?
• What kind of election constitutes a democratic election?
• Who are the people who can elect the rulers or get elected as rulers?
• Finally, what form of government is a democracy?

Major Decisions by Elected Leaders

Some countries like Pakistan do not follow this rule. In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999. He overthrew the democratically elected government and went on to become the President of the country. In 2002, he also held a referendum in the country that granted him a five-year extension. Meanwhile, after the passing of this ‘Legal Framework Order’, elections were held in the national and provincial assemblies, and elected representatives were granted some powers. But the final power rested with military officers and General Musharraf himself. Hence, we can conclude it was not a democratic country. The same thing happens in many dictatorships and monarchies. Thus, we can conclude that in a democracy, the final decision-making power must rest with those elected by the people.

Free and Fair Electoral Competition

In China, elections are held after every five years to elect the country’s parliament, called Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (National People’s Congress). Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party. The government is always formed by the Communist Party. Alternatively, since its independence in 1930, Mexico has held elections after every six years to elect its President. But until 2000, every election was won by a party called PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). Should we consider the elections described above as examples of people electing their rulers? Reading these examples, we get a sense that we cannot. Democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.

One Person, One Vote, One Value 

Democracy is based on a fundamental principle of political equality. However, there are many instances of denial of the equal right to vote. Until 2015, in Saudi Arabia, women did not have the right to vote. Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to the Russian minority found it difficult to get the right to vote. In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian-Fijian. Definitely not a democratic government. The feature of democracy this highlights is that in a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote, and in turn, each vote must have one value.

Rule of Law and Respect for Rights

Zimbabwe attained independence from White minority rule in 1980, and since then, the country has been ruled by the party that led the freedom struggle, ZANU-PF. Its leader,

Robert Mugabe has ruled the country since independence. Even if elections were held regularly, it was always won by ZANU-PF. President Mugabe was popular but also used unfair practices in elections. There was a law that limited the right to criticise the President. Television and radio were controlled by the government and gave only the ruling party’s version. There were independent newspapers, but the government harassed those journalists who went against it and so on. Not a democratic government. Democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens’ rights.

Hence, we can deduce that democracy is a form of government in which:

• Rulers elected by the people take all the major decisions
• Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the current rulers
• This choice and opportunity is available to all people on an equal basis
• The exercise of this choice leads to a government limited by basic rules of the constitution and citizens’ rights

Why Democracy?

Cons of Democracy

• Leaders keep changing in a democracy leading to instability.
• Democracy is all about political competition and power play, leaving no scope for morality.
• Many people have to be consulted in a democracy, which leads to delays.
• Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people, resulting in bad decisions.
• Democracy leads to corruption since it is based on electoral competition.
• Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them; they should not decide anything.

From these arguments, we can see that democracy of the kind we see may not be the ideal form of government. However, we will see if democracy is better than other forms of government that are there for us to choose from.

Arguments in Favour of Democracy

A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of government: Take the example of the famines of 1958-1961 in India and China. While China was hit badly, India did not fare as badly, despite its economic condition. The reason for this could be that India responded to the food scarcity in a way that the Chinese government did not. Here, we see that democracy is better than any other form of government in responding to the needs of the people.

Democracy improves the quality of decision-making: Democracy is based on consultation and discussion. A democratic decision always involves many people, discussions and meetings, and they are able to point out possible mistakes in any decision. This may take time. However, the advantage of taking time over important decisions is that it reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions.

Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts: In any society, people are bound to have differences of opinions and interests. These differences are particularly more in a country like ours, with amazing social diversity. People belong to different regions, speak different languages, practise different religions and have different castes. The preferences of one group can clash with those of other groups. How do we resolve such a conflict? Democracy provides the only peaceful solution to this problem. In a democracy, no one is a permanent winner or loser. Different groups can live with one another peacefully.

Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens: Democracy is based on the principle of political equality. It recognises that the poorest and the least educated have the same status as the rich and the educated.

Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct our own mistakes: Even if no government can guarantee that no mistakes will be made, in a democracy, one can be sure that it will not be hidden for too long. It makes space for public discussion on these mistakes. There is also room for correction. Rulers have to change their decisions, or they could themselves be changed.

Thus, we can correctly infer that while democracy may not be the solution to all problems, it is still clearly better than any other alternative.

Broader Meanings of Democracy

In this chapter, the meaning of democracy is discussed in a descriptive sense. Students get to learn about democracy as a form of government, thus helping them to identify a clear set of minimal features that democracy requires. The common form adopted by democracy is representative democracy. In democratic countries, all people do not rule. A majority is allowed to take decisions on behalf of all the people through their elected representatives. This has become necessary for the reasons given below:

• Modern democracies involve such a large number of people that it is physically impossible for them to sit together and take a collective decision.
• Even if they could, the citizen does not have the time, the desire or the skills to take part in all the decisions.

Democracy, as a principle, can go beyond the government and can be applied to any sphere of life. People use the word democracy not to describe any existing government but to set up an ideal standard that all democracies must aim to become. However, if the ideals of democracy are considered, then no country in the world is correctly democratic. Still, having an understanding of democracy as an ideal will explain why to value democracy. It enables people to judge an existing democracy and identify its weaknesses. It also helps to distinguish between a minimal democracy and a good democracy. The most common form of democracy in today’s world is being ruled by people’s elected representatives. However, for a small community, there can be other ways of making democratic decisions. All people can sit together and make decisions directly. This is how the Gram Sabha should work in a village.

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Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE Class 9 Political Science Notes Chapter 1 What Is Democracy, Why Democracy?

Why should we have a democracy.

1. Equality and freedom of all actions 2. Voting leads to the proper selection of government officials 3. Deal with conflicts 4. Enhances women empowerment

Where is Zimbabwe located?

Zimbabwe, a landlocked country in South East Africa, is separated from Zambia by the Zambezi River.

What is a ‘Legal Framework Order’?

The Legal Framework Order refers to presidential decrees issued during military rule in Pakistan in 1970 and 2002 over the organisation of elections.

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Extra Questions for Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Class 9 Social Science Civics Chapter 1 What is Democracy Why Democracy extra questions and answers available here in PDF format. Solving class 9 extra questions help students to revise the Chapter most competently. We prepared these questions with PDF as per the latest NCERT book and CBSE syllabus. Practising these questions before the exam will ensure excellent marks in the exam.

Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Extra Questions and Answers

Very short answer questions.

1: Which party of Zimbabwe helped its country to gain independence? Answer:  The ZANU-PF party of Zimbabwe helped its country to gain independence.

2: Which Pakistani general led a military coup in October 1999? Answer:  The Pakistani general who led a military coup in October 1999 was General Pervez Musharraf. 

3: Since 1930, which country holds elections after every six years and which has never been under a military or dictator’s rule? Answer:  The country is Mexico. 

4: Zimbabwe attained independence from white minority rule in which year? Answer:  Zimbabwe attained independence from white minority rule in 1980. 

5: During which period did China record its worst famines in world history? Answer:  China’s famine of 1958-1961 was the worst recorded famine in world history. Nearly three crore people died in this famine. 

6: Which one country out of France, USA, Myanmar and India is not a true democratic country? Answer:  Myanmar is not a true democratic country because it is ruled by military rulers. 

7: In Iraq, the real powers are held by which outside country? Answer:  The real powers in Iraq are held by the USA.

Question than that of migrants from other countries? Answer:  In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fijian has more value than that of an Indian-Fijian (Fijian who is a  descendent of migrants from India.

9: What are the major challenges to the working of democracy in India? Answer:  Casteism and communalism are the major challenges to the working of democracy in India. 

10: Is it true of democracy that it allows a way of correcting its mistakes and offers more dignity to all citizens? Answer:  It is true, because elections are held regularly in a democracy every few years, thus allowing a way of correcting our mistakes. It offers more dignity to all citizens by treating all of them equally. 

11: Name the famous political party of Mexico. Answer:  The famous political party of Mexico is Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). 

12: What is the most common form of democracy in today’s world? Answer:  The most common form of democracy in today’s world is representative democracy.

13 : Where did democracy make its first formal appearance in the 5th and 6th century BC? Answer:  Democracy made its first formal appearance in the Greek city states during the 5th and 6th century BC. 

14 : What are the three types of government practiced in Belgium? Answer:  The three types of government practiced in Belgium are Central Government, State Government and Community Government. 

15 : Which one country out of Bangladesh, USA, Saudi Arabia and India has the lowest participation of women in public life? Answer:  Saudi Arabia has the lowest participation of women in public life. 

16 : Name the capital of Republic of Fiji. Answer:  Suva is the capital of Republic of Fiji. 

17 : Which form of Government is present in Fiji? Answer:  Fiji is Parliamentary republic run by military appointed government. 

18 : When did Estonia restore its independence from the Soviet Union? Answer:  Estonia, a state in the Baltic region at Northern Europe got independence from the Soviet Union an 20th August, 1991. 

19 : Name the capital and official language of Estonia. Answer:  The capital of Estonia is Tallinn and the official language is Estonian. Other recognised regional languages are Voro, Setu. 

20 : Explain the type of government present in Mexico. Answer:  The United Mexican states are a federation whose government is representative, democratic and republican based on a presidential system according to the 1917 Constitution. 

21 : On which respect Saudi Arabia in the only country in the world? Answer:  Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world which ban womens from driving. 

22 : What was the designation taken by pervez Musharraf for himself when he overthrew the democratic government of Pakistan in 1999? Answer:  Pervez Musharraf declared himself the Chief Executive of Pakistan when he overthrew the democratic government of Pakistan in 1999. 

23 : ‘Banning Trade Unions’-is it a characteristic of democracy or not? Answer:  ‘Banning Trade Unions’ is not a characteristic of democracy. Ans. In democracy, people can choose their own leaders. 

24 : Suggest one of the important features of democracy Answer:  According to this order, the President can dismiss the national or provincial assemblies and the final power rests with military officers and General Musharraf himself. 

25. Which members are allowed to contest for the elections in China? Answer:  Only those who are members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to it were allowed to contest elections held in 2002 – 03. The government is always formed by the Communist Party. 

26. What was PRI? Answer:  It was a political party of Mexico called as Institutional Revolutionary Party. 

27. How can you say that people did not have any choice in democratic Mexico? Answer:  People seemed to have no choice. There was no way the ruling party PRI could be defeated, even if people were against it. There were no fair elections. 

28. What does the true democracy say? Answer:  A democracy must be based on a free and fair elections where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.

29. In which country women do not have the right to vote? Answer:  Saudi Arabia. 

30.What is the electoral system in Fiji? Answer:  In Fiji, the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian Fijian.

31. When did Zimbabwe attain independence? Answer:  Zimbabwe attained independence from white minority rule in 1980. 

32. Which party is ruling over Zimbabwe since independence? Answer:  ZANU-PF is the party that is ruling over Zimbabwe since independence. 

33. Who is the President of Zimbabwe? Answer:  President Robert Mugabe. 

33. What do you derive from democratic government like Zimbabwe’s? Answer:  Popular governments can be undemocratic and popular leaders can be autocratic. 

34. Give any one demerit of democracy. Answer:  Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability. 

35. Give any one merit of democracy. Answer: A democratic government is a better government because it is more accountable form of government and it enhances the dignity of citizens. 

36. How democracy allows us to correct its own mistakes? Answer:  In democracy there is space for public discussion on government’s or rulers’ mistakes and there is a room for correction. Either the rulers have to change their decisions, or the rulers can be changed. 

37. How does democracy enhance the dignity of citizens? Answer:  Democracy is based on the principle of political equality, on recognising that the poorest and the least educated has the same status as the rich and the educated. 

38. Why modem democracies are representatives democracies? Answer:  Modern democracies involve such a large number of people that it is physically impossible for them to sit together and take a collective decision. 

39. What is the basic sense behind a method of taking decision in democracy? Answer:  A democratic decision involves consultation with and consent of all those who are affected by that decision.   

40. Define the term ‘Democracy’. Answer:  Democracy is a form of government in which the rule over the country is of the people, for the people and elected by the people. E.g: India. 

41. What does a candidate need before contesting elections in China? Answer:  A candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party before contesting elections in China. 

42. Who said this : ‘Democracy is the rule of the people, for the people and by the people’? Answer:  Abraham Lincoln, the former President of USA said this. 

43. The King of which country has declared that in future he will be guided by the advice given to him by elected representatives? Answer:  King of Bhutan has declared that in future he will be guided by the advice given to him by elected representatives.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Why were every elections won by PRI in Mexico?

Answer:  PRI managed to win elections in Mexico every six years because they used many unfair means to win elections. Like they spent a large sum of money in the campaign for its candidates and forced people to vote for them. 

2: Government has not made any provision for drinking water in some villages in remote areas. The villagers of a particular remote area decided to pay some money to the government officials to get water to their villages. Was this a democratic method?

Answer:  No, this was not a democratic method. They could have organised public meetings against government’s policies, filed a case in the courts claiming that water is part of the right to life, or even boycotted the next elections to give a message to all parties, which are all democratic methods. 

3 : Do the women of Saudi Arabia have the right to vote?

Answer:   On 25th September, 2011, Saudi Arabia’s king Abdullah has announced that women will have the right to stand and vote in future local elections and join the advisory Shora, a council as full members. 

4: What kind of government does Zimbabwe have?

Answer:   Zimbabwe is a republic with a presidential system of government. But now the country is effectively authoritarian dictatorship under President Robert Mugabe who has re-elected in 2013 at the age of 89 for another five years.

5. How President Mugabe changed the constitution of Zimbabwe?

Answer:  President Mugabe has changed the constitution several times to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable. Public protests and demonstrations against the government are declared illegal. There is a law that limits the right to criticise the President. 

6: With what motive did General Pervez Musharraf issue a ‘Legal Framework order’ in August 2002?

Answer:  In august 2002 he issued a legal framework order that amended the constitution of Pakistan. In this order the President can dismiss the national and provincial assemblies. After passing this law elections were held to the national and state assemblies. So the election were held regularly and power rest with elected representatives. But still the final power rests with military officers and muhraff himself.

7. From which word or words, has the word ‘Democracy’ been derived?

Answer:  The word ‘Democracy’ is derived from the Greek words – ‘Demos’ and ‘cratia’. ‘Demos’ means ‘people’ and ‘cratia’ means ‘power’. Thus, Democracy means a form of government in which the power to rule lies in the hands of the people.

8. What is direct democracy?

Answer:   It is a form of government in which people directly participate in the affairs of the state. This system is possible only in those states where the population is small and all the citizens can directly participate in the affairs of the state. All the adult citizens have the right to participate in the meetings of the Assembly where all the laws are passed and decisions are taken. Today this system exists only in a few cantons of Switzerland. 

9. What do you understand by ‘indirect democracy’?

Answer:  Indirect democracy has been established in almost all the modern states, because modern states are much larger in size and population than before. Here people do not directly taken part in the affairs of the state, but they elect their representatives for a fixed period. If the representatives do not work according to the wishes of the people and for their welfare, they are changed at the time of the next election. 

10. How does democracy enhance the dignity of the citizens?

Answer:  Democracy is based on the principle of political equality. It means that the poorest and the least educated have the same status as the rich and the educated. People are not subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves. Even when they make mistakes, they are responsible for their own mistakes.

11. This cartoon was published in Canada just before its Parliamentary elections of 2005. Everyone, including the cartoonist, expected the Liberal Party to win once again. When the result came, the Liberal Party lost the elections. In this cartoon an argument against democracy or for democracy?

Answer:   This cartoon is an argument for democracy. Because in democracy, the voters decide in favour of or against the ruling party. Although the cartoonist expended the Liberal Party to win, he criticised the Liberal Party which he could do only in a democracy.

12. This cartoon was titled ‘Building Democracy’ and was first published in a Latin American Publication.  (i) What do money bags signify here?  (ii) Could this cartoon be applied to India?

Answer:  (i) At the time of election, the political parties in the fray spend a lot of money to win the election. Not only political parties, the government also spends a lot of money to conduct free and fair election. The cartoon suggests that we establish democracy with the help of money power. (ii) Yes, this cartoon could be applied to India. 

13. Chinese Government blocked free flow of information on the internet by placing restrictions on popular websites like ‘Google’ and ‘Yahoo’. The image of tanks and an unarmed student reminds the reader of another major event in recent Chinese history. Find out about that event. 

Answer:   The cartoon reminds us of the Massacre in liananmen square in 1989. In April 1989, triggered by the death of Hu Yaobang, a liberal reformer, mass gathering and protests took place in and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing. It was largely a student run demonstration which called for economic reform, freedom of the press and political liberalisation. The Chinese Government brutally suppressed the movement for which it was internationally 

14. I want to be in Lyngdoh Madam’s class! That sounds like a democratic classroom, doesn’t it?

Answer:   Yes, Lyngdoh Madam’s classroom sounds like a democratic classroom. Here everybody can speak his own mind. The students are giving their own arguments passionately. The feel very bad if someone that the environment in the classroom is democratic.

15. Why is democracy considered the best form of government?

Answer:  Democracy cannot give us everything but is clearly better than any other alternative. It offers better chances of a good decision, it is likely to respect people’s wishes and allows different kinds of people to live together. Even when it fails to do some of these things. It allows a way of correcting its mistakes and offers more dignity to all citizens. That is why democracy is considered the best form of government.

16. How does democracy allow us to correct its own mistakes?

Answer:   There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in democracy. No form of government can guarantee that. The advantage in a democracy is that such mistakes cannot be hidden for long. There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes. And there is room for correction. Either the rulers have to change their decisions or the rulers can be changed. This cannot happen in a non-democratic government.

17. How does democracy improve the quality of decision making?  

Answer:  A democratic decision involves consultation with and consent of all those who are affected by that decision. Those who are not powerful have the same say in taking the decisions as those who are powerful. This can apply to a government or a family or any other organisation. The chance of rash or irresponsible decision is also less in a democracy.

18. What would have happened if India was not a democracy? Could we have stayed together as a single nation?

Answer:   No, we would have not stayed together as a single nation if India was not a democracy. India has multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-linguistic population. If there was no democracy then all the people could not have followed their religion and customs with freedom and there would have been conflicts between different religious and linguistic groups where the minorities would have lived in fear and insecurity. But democracy provides the peaceful solutions to every problem. It provides the best method of dealing with differences and conflicts. 

19. What according to you is the broader meaning of democracy?

Answer:  Democracy is a form of government in which representatives of an area in a country sit together to take decisions. Elections are held to choose the representatives and native people or citizens are allowed to participate in the elections. Democracy is also a principle that can be applied to any sphere of life. 

20. How does democracy enhance the dignity of the citizens

Answer:  Democracy is based on the principle of political equality, on recognising that the poorest and the least educated has the same status as the rich and the educated. People are not subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves. Even when they make mistakes, they are responsible for their conduct.

21. How democracy can enhance the dignity of the citizens?

Answer:   (i) Democracy is based on the principle of political equality, on recognising that the poorest and the illiterate has the same status as rich and the educated. (ii) People are not subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves. (iii) Even when they make mistakes, they are responsible for their conduct.   

22: Write three arguments in favour of democracy.

Answer:  Arguments for democracy are (i) A democratic government is a more accountable form of government. A democracy requires that the ruters have to attend to the needs of the people. (ii) Democracy is based on negotiation and deliberation, which improves the quality of decision-making. (iii) It allows us to correct our own mistakes. In democracy there is always a scope that the rulers can change their wrong decisions or the rulers themselves can be changed.

23: Is China a democratic country or not? Give two arguments in favour of your answer.

Answer:   China is not a democratic country in the true spirit. (i) For contesting the election to the Chinese Parliament, the candidates need the approval of the Chinese Communist Parry. Only the members of Communist Party and its eight allies are allowed to contest the election. (ii) There is one party rule, i.e., Communist Party in China, which is not the indication of a true democracy. Therefore, China cannot be said to be a true democracy.

24: Examine any three demerits of democracy.

Answer:   Some demerits of democracy are (i) Leaders keep changing in a democracy. It leads to instability. (ii) Democracy is all about political competition and power play. Here political parties try to win elections spreading caste feelings, communalism, practising immoral methods etc. (iii) So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays. Involving people in the decision-making does lead to delay which is not desirable for the nation. 

25: Describe four features of democracy as a form of government.

Answer:  The features of democracy are (i) Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. (ii) A democracy must be based on a free and fair election, where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing. (iii) In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value. (iv) In a democracy, government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens rights. 

26: Explain any three difficulties faced by the people in a non-democratic country.

Answer:  Three difficulties faced by the people in a non-democratic country are (i) In a non-democratic country, all the people are at the mercy of the dictator or the military rulers. They may or may not respond to the people’s need. (ii) In non-democratic countries, the people are not allowed to criticise the government. By doing this people may face imprisonment, harassment, etc. (iii) In a non-democratic country, no opposition is tolerated, so the question of opposition party or trade unions does not arise. 

27: How does democracy allow us to correct our own mistakes?

Answer:   There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in a democracy. Actually, no form of government can guarantee it. The advantage of democracy is that mistakes cannot be hidden for a long time. There is always a scope for a public discussion of mistakes in democracy. In democracy, all citizens can take part and there is room for correction. Either the rulers have to change their decisions or the rulers themselves can be changed in democracy. 

Long Answer Type Questions

1: Write any three instances of denial or equal right to vote in the world politics. Or Why are China, Estonia and Saudi Arabia not truely democratic countries? State one reason to each one of them. Or Why are China and Saudi Arabia non-democratic countries though they declared themselves as democracies? State one reason to each of the countries.

Answer:  One major demand of democracy is ‘Universal adult franchise’ i.e., right to vote for every adult citizen. But in the world politics there are many instances of denial of equal right to vote. In Saudi Arabia women did not have the right to vote until 2011. On 25th September, 2011, king Abdullah has declared that women will have the right to stand and vote in future. Estonia made its citizenship rule in such a manner, that people belonging to Russian minority find it difficult to get the right to vote.

In China, before contesting the election, the needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party. Although the countries declare themselves as democracies, but the fundamental principle of ‘political equality’ is denied in all the Cases. Thus, these are not truly democratic countries. 

2: State the freedoms which are usually taken away when democracy is overthrown by a military regime.

Answer:  The freedoms usually taken away by a military regime are (i) There will be no freedom of expression and speech. (ii) In a non- democratic government, the rulers do not have to act according to the wishes of the people. The needs of the people can be ignored by the military ruler. (iii) In democracy, no one is a permanent loser or winner. But in military regime same ruler or ruling party can rule the country for a very long time. (iv) In non-democratic country, there is no freedom to form political associations and organize protests and political action. In reality, political freedom of the citizen is completely denied in military regime. 

3: ‘Democracy is all about political competition and powerplay. There is no scope for morality’. Justify the statement by giving arguments against democracy.

Answer:  Democracy as a form of government only ensures that people can take their own decision. It does not guarantee that their decisions will be good always. In democracy leaders keep changing which leads to instability. Democracy is based on consultation and discussion, but so many people have to be consulted in a democracy that if leads to delay.

Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions. As democracy is all about political competitions it leads to corruption. Political parties utilise many corrupt tricks to win the election. Ordinary people do not know what is good for them. People can make mistakes so they should not decide anything. 

4: ‘Democracy is better than any other form of government, because it allows to correct its own mistakes. Justify the statement with the help of three examples. Or Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct own mistakes. Discuss.

Answer:  Democracy always offers scope for correction which is impossible in any other form of government. No form of government is free from mistakes. Democracy also involves many mistakes. But the good thing is that it allows to correct its own mistakes.   The advantage of democracy is that, if there is any mistake, it cannot be hidden for long. Sooner or later the public comes to know about them.

There is always space for public discussion on these mistakes. And there is a room for correction. Correction of mistakes results in either the rulers have to change their decision or the rulers themselves can be changed through election. This cannot happen in a non-democratic government.

5. How does democracy improve the quality of decision-making?

Answer:  Democracy is based on consultation and discussion. A democratic decision always involves many persons, discussions and meetings. Those who are not powerful have the same say in taking the decisions as those who are powerful. When many people put their heads together, they are able to point out possible mistakes or drawbacks in any decision. It takes time. But important decisions should be taken after proper discussion. This process may be time-consuming, but it reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions. Thus the lengthy process of taking decisions on any important issue in democracy improves the quality of the decision. 

6. Explain the difficulties faced by the people in a non-democratic country? 

Answer:  The common difficulties faced by the people in a non-democratic country are (i) People cannot choose or change their ruler. (ii) People cannot question the authority of the ruler or dictator. (iii) People do not enjoy any rights. Supporters of democracy are tortured or killed. For example, in Chile more than 3000 people were killed by military. (iv) In a non-democratic country, public protests and demonstration against the government are declared illegal. Sometimes political activists are imprisoned for   indefinite time. For example, Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar spent a long time in under house arrest. (v) In a non-democratic country, people do not have political equality. Universal adult Franchise is denied sometimes. (vi) In a non-democratic country people may have elected their representatives, but in reality they are not really the rulers. The power of taking final decision rests with army officials. For example, in Pakistan, the real power is enjoyed by the army. 

7. “Democracy is the most popular form of government emerging in modern times. Still its shortcomings cannot be ruled out.” Justify the statement by assessing any five shortcomings of democracy.

Answer:  Shortcomings of democracy are (i) In the democratic form of government, leaders keep on  changing, which leads to instability. (ii) There is political competition and power play everywhere. This situation hardly follows any rules of morality. (iii) Elected leaders are unable to contact a large number of people and can hardly guess about the real problems of the people, which results in wrong decisions, delay of work, etc. (iv) A large number of people are illiterate. They do not know what is good for them. So they cannot decide anything properly. (v) Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition. To win the election, the political parties adopt their own policies and try to win election by hook or by crook. 

8. How did. Musharraf establish his rule in Pakistan?

Answer:  General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in Pakistan in October 1999. He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself the Chief Executive of the country. Later the changed his designation to President. In 2002, he held a referendum in the country that granted him a five year extension. In August, 2002, he issued a ‘Legal Framework Order’ that amended the Constitution of Pakistan. According to this order, the President can dismiss the national or provincial assemblies. A National Security Council dominated by military officers supervised the work of the civilian cabinet. After passing the ‘Legal Framework Order’ Law, elections were held to the national and state assemblies.  

9. How did Robert Mugabe establish his dictatorial rule in Zimbabwe after independence?

Answer:   Zimbabwe attained independence from white minority rule in 1980. After independence, the country has been ruled by ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle. Its leader Mugabe has been ruling since independence. Mugabe is popular, but also uses unfair practices in elections. Over the years, his government has changed the constitution several times to increase the power of the President and make him less accountable. Opposition party workers are harassed, public protests against the government are declared illegal and both electronic and print media are controlled by the government. Even the government ignores the court judgements that go against it. He has re-elected in 2013 at the age of 89 for another five years. His supporters characterise him as a true Pan-Africanist who stands strong against forces of imperialism in Africa.  

10. Write a response to the following arguments against democracy.  (a) Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country. Therefore Army should rule the country.  (b) Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.  (c) If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.

Answer:  (a) The Army is for the defence of the country. Even if it is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation it should not be allowed to rule the country as its primary duty is defence and not governance. (b) Rule of majority is democratic as it represents the views of all sections of people. Illiterate and poor people cannot be called ignorant. At least they can realize which representative is good for them. Democracy means equal opportunity to all without any discrimination (c) This statement is wrong. We should not mix religion and politics, especially in a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-lingual country like India, Besides, many religious leaders do not have any experience of administration.

11. Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?  (a) Father to Daughter I don’t want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In our family, children marry what the parents tell them to.  (b) Teacher to Student Don’t disturb my concentration by asking me Questions in the classroom.  (c) Employee to the Officer Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.

Answer:   (a) The first statement is undemocratic because a girl is not allowed to give her opinion relating to her own marriage. Just as the people have the right to choose their representatives, the girl should also be allowed to have a say in the selection or choice other husband. (b) The second statement is undemocratic because the student is not being allowed to speak and ask questions. It is the duty of the teacher to teach and satisfy the queries of the students. (c) The third statement is democratic because it calls for the reduction of working hours according to the law. Employees should enjoy the right to work for fixed hours as fixed by international law. 

12. Why is democracy considered the best form of government?

Answer:   Democracy has been accepted as the best form of government in the modern world. Under this, government works for the welfare of the people. Democracy performs better regarding the removal of poverty and backwardness in a country. It offers better conditions of living. It implements policies to ensure equal opportunities for all the citizens in education and employment. Democracy is likely to respect people’s own wishes and allows different kinds of people to live together. Even if it fails to deliver on some of its promises, always there is a scope to correct its mistakes. Above all, it offers more dignity to all citizens. That is why democracy is considered the best form of government.

13. Is Mexico a democratic country or not? Give arguments in favour of your answer.

Answer:  Mexico became independent in 1930. It holds elections after every six years. But until 2000, every election was won by a party called PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). PRI used many dirty tricks to win the elections. It spent a large sum of money for its candidates. Opposition parties did contest elections, but never managed to win. Media largely ignored the activities of the opposition political parties. But from 2000 the scenario has changed. In the 2000 election, Vicente Fox of National Action Party (PAN) in alliance with Ecologist Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) became the first opposition candidate to win the election. Vicente Fox became the President of Mexico. After him Felipe Calderone of National Action Party (PAN) again became the President. It suggests that Mexico has marched towards democracy. 

15. Explain the representative democracy. Why is the representative democracy the most common form of government in modern times? Explain any four reasons. Or What is the representative democracy? Discuss its significance in the contemporary world.

Answer:  The most common form of democracy in present time is that of a representative democracy. It is a type of democracy founded on the principle of elected representatives representing a group of people as opposed to direct democracy. (i) India and most of the countries follow the representative democracy. In a democracy, all the people do not rule. Direct rule by people is not possible. (ii) In a democracy, a majority is allowed to take decisions on behalf of all the people. Even the majority does not rule directly. It rules through its elected representatives. (iii) Representative democracy becomes necessary in the contemporary world. Because modern democracies involve such a large number of people that it is physically impossible for them to sit together and take a collective decision. (iv) Even if they could, the citizens do not have the time, desire or skill to take part in all the decisions. 

16. Elections in China do not represent people’s verdict. Explain. Or Why are elections in China not free and fair? Explain any three reasons. Or Why can’t the democratic set up in China be called a true democracy? Explain.

Answer:  

(i) Democracy is a major concept introduced to China in the late 19th century. (ii) In China, elections are regularly hold after every five years for electing the country’s Parliament, called National People’s Congress. (iii) It has nearly 3000 members elected from all over China. Some members are elected by the army. (iv) This National People’s Congress has the power to appoint the president of the country. (v) Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist party. (vi) Only those who are members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to if are allowed to contest elections in China. (vii) The government is always formed by the communist party.   (viii) Thus, we cannot say that the elections in China are  free and fair. It is always restricted by the communist   party.

17. What steps were taken by PRI to win election in Mexico? Or The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) used many dirty tricks to win elections in Mexico”. Justify the statement with five example. Or Describe any five dirty tricks used by PRI to win elections in Mexico. Or “Till 2000 Mexican people seem to have a choice to elect their leader but practically they had no choice.” Support this statement with three suitable reasons.  

Answer: The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) of Mexico won all the elections from 1930 to 2000. The opposition parties did contest elections, but never managed win. The PRI used many dirty tricks to attend the elections. (i) All the government employees had to attend the party meetings of PRI.\ (ii) Teachers of government schools advised and sometimes forced the parents for casting their votes in favour of PRI. (iii) Media always criticised the opposition parties but ignored their good effort. (iv) Sometimes the Polling booths are shifted from one place to another without prior notice. It tried to hamper the election procedure. (v) Being in power, the PRI spent a large sum of money to manipulate the election and the campaign for the candidate. In Mexico people seemed to really have a choice, but in reality they had no choice, but to cast their vote in favour of the PRI. 

18. I have heard a different version. Democracy is off the people far (from) the people and (where they) buy the people. Why don’t we accept that?

Answer:   In some cases, the democracy is off the people far (from) the people and (where they) buy the people i.e., where the democracy does not belong to the people it is not for them but far away from them, where the democracy is not by the people but the candidates the votes with money which means that true democracy does not exist. But we should not see these examples and be hopeless. These cases are exceptions and not the rule, which will be removed with the passage of time.

19. Let us take Lyngdoh Madam seriously and try to write down the exact definition of some of the simple words that we use all the time : pen, rain and love. e.g., is there a way of defining a pen that distinguishes it clearly from a pencil, a brush, a chalk or crayon.  (i) What have you learnt from this attempt?  (ii) What does it teach no about understanding the meaning of democracy?

Answer:   (i) From this conversation, I have learnt that there is no shortest to our thinking about the matter ourselves. We have to think about its meaning and evolve a definition. Each and every thing has some specific features on the basis of which we can define that thing. (ii) We need a definition only when we come across a difficulty in the use of a word. We need a clear definition of democracy because there are different kinds of governments which are known as Democracy. Abraham Lincoln said that Democracy is a rule of the people, for the people and by the people. We must not accept the definition, jug. because everyone accepts it. We do not know if this is the best way of defining democracy unless we think about it ourselves. After thinking about it we can say that democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. This is a common basic feature of democracy.

20. Syria is a small West Asian country. The ruling Ba’ath Party and some of its small allies are the only parties allowed in that country. (i) Do you think this cartoon could apply to China or Mexico?  (ii) What does the crown of leaves on democracy signify?

Answer:  (i) Yes, this cartoon could be applied to China, because there is one party rule in China. Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese communist party. So China cannot be said fo be a true democracy. Mexico has a multiparty system. Nationally there are three large political parties, viz, Institutional Revolutionary   Party (IRP), National Action Party (NAP), and Party of the Democratic Revolution (PDR). But until 2000 every election was won by the PRI. The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to to win elections. So the cartoon can be applied to Mexico until 2000 election. But in 2006, election the PRI fell to third place behind both the PAN and the PRD. Now Mexico has a coalition government. (ii) Crown of leaves means a circle of leaves that is worn on somebody’s head as a sign of victory. The cartoon signifies that democracy has won in some of the countries of the world, but it is not accepted by all. 

21. This cartoon was drawn in the context of Latin America. (i) Do you think it applies to the Pakistani situation as well? (ii)Think of other countries where this could apply?  (iii) Does this happen sometimes in our country as well?

Answer:   (i) The cartoon suggests the scene of booth capturing with the gun. This can be applicable to the Pakistan. In Pakistan, General Musharraf with the help of army officials   controlled the elected representatives. (ii) This could be applied in Iraq, China, etc. (iii) Booth capturing by the political hooligans happens sometimes in our country also. 

22. All this is so remote for me.  (i) Is democracy all about rulers and governments? (ii) Can we talk about a democratic classroom? (iii) Or a democratic family?

Answer:  (i) Democracy is not only about rulers and governments. Democracy is a principle that can be applied to any sphere of life. A democratic decision involves consultation with and consent of all those who are affected by that decision. In this sense, it can be applied to any organisation other than the government.

(ii) We can have democratic classrooms where the students can ask questions without hesitation. Where the teachers have a democratic temperament. Where the interaction is not a one-way traffic but a healthy two-way interaction.

(iii) Democracy can be seen in families also. We could have democratic families where the decisions are not taken by any one individual and imposed on rest of the family members. All the family members should sit down and arrive at a general consensus. My opinion should matter as much as my father’s. In this way, we can have, democracy in our family also.

23. This cartoon is about the Iraqi election held after Saddam Hussein’s regime was overthrown. He is shown behind the bars.  (i) What is the cartoonist saying here?  (ii) Compare the message of this cartoon with the first cartoon in this chapter.

Answer:  (i) In one of the quotation of the cartoon, the cartoonist tells us about the equality of the right to vote and equal value of each man’s vote. In another quotation, he says that the dicta top, mostly prefers the situation when he is the only man to decide any matter by his only vote. (ii) The first cartoon shown in two chapter suggests that the US army personnel are elevating the process to form a democracy in Iraq. But in this cartoon the message is that the democracy is already established.    

24. (i) Why talk about Zimbabwe?  (ii) I read similar reports from many parts of our own country. Why don’t we discuss that?

Answer:  (i) The President of Zimbabwe is the head of the state of Zimbabwe. In 1987, Robert Mugabe becomes the president and he revise the Constitution to make himself Executive President. President Mugabe is popular but also uses unfair practices in elections. Opposition party workers are harassed, public protest and demonstration against the government are declared illegal, both print and electronic media are controlled by the government. The government has pressurised judges to give verdict in favour of the government. The example of Zimbabwe shows that popular approval of the rulers is necessary in a democracy, but it is not sufficient. A democratic government cannot do whatever it likes, simply because it has won the election. This is the reason for which Zimbabwe is discussed here.

(ii) Our country is democratic and elections are by and large free and fair. However, sometimes we hear reports about use of unfair means, violence and money power in elections. These tactics (methods) are adopted by some candidates with criminal connections or criminal background. However, such cases are decreasing day by day. 

25. This cartoon is from Brazil, a country that has long experience of dictatorship. It is entitled The Hidden Side of Dictatorship’  (i) Which hidden sides does this cartoon depict?  (ii) Is it necessary for every dictatorship to have a hidden side?  (iii) Find this out the dictators discussed in the first chapter and, if possible, about Abacha in Nigeria and Macros in the Philippines. 

Answer:  (i) The hidden side depicted by the cartoon is the brutal side to the dictator. Dictator like Hitler ordered mass killings to eliminate ‘undesirable’ persons like Hitler many dictator killed the innocent people who were against their regime. This evil side of the dictator is shown in this cartoon.

(ii) No, it is not necessary for every dictatorship to have a hidden side. Because, if the dictator really wants to work for the betterment of people, he does not need to have a hidden side.

(iii) (a) The revolt by the army took place in Chile on 11th, September, 1973 under General Augusto Pinochet in which President Salvador Allende was killed. Pinochet became the president of the country and ruled it for the next 17 years. (b) Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski was the last communist leader of Poland who was the head of the state from 1985 to 1990. He resigned from the power after the Polish Round table Agreement in 1989 that led to democratic elections in poland. (c) General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military dictator and politician. He was the defacto president of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998. His regime was tied to human rights violations and allegations of corruption. He hanged the fomous social activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. He did not allow democratic process like elections in Nigaria He was listed as the world’s fourth most corrupt leader in recent history. (d) Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos was the president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He implemented wide-ranging programmes of infrastructure development and economic reform. However, his administration was marred by massive authoritarian, political repression and human rights violations. In the 2004, Global Transparency Report, Marcos appeared in the list of the world’s corrupt leader. He was said to have amassed between $ 5 billion to $ 10 billion in his 21 years as President of Philippines. 

26. Giving an example of Mexico, prove that although having a democratic system, they were not practising democracy.

Answer:  (i) Since independence in 1930, Mexico holds elections every six years to elect their President. (ii) But until 2000, every election was won by a party called PRI. Opposition parties did contest elections, but never managed to win. (iii) The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win elections. The PRI spent large sums of money in the campaign for its candidates and booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute, which made it difficult for the people to cast their votes. 

27. Compare the democratic system in China with Mexico.

Answer:   (i) In China, the elections do not offer people any choice. (ii) They have to choose the ruling party and the candidates approved by it. Mexico: (i) In Mexico, the people seemed to have a choice but practically they did not have any choice. (ii) There was no way that the ruling party could be defeated, even if the people were against it. 

28. Give examples of the countries which do not provide equal rights to vote.

Answer:  There are many examples of countries which do not provide equal rights to vote.   Examples: (i) In Saudi Arabia, women do not have the right to vote. (ii) Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to Russian minority find it difficult to get their right to vote. (iii) In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of the Fijian has more value than that of an Indian Fiji. 

29. Give arguments against democracy.

Answer: The arguments against democracy are: (i) Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability. (ii) Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality. (iii) So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays. (iv) Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decision-making. (v) Democracy leads to corruption because it is based on electoral competition. (vi) Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them, so they should not decide anything.

30. Give arguments in favour of democracy.

Answer:  The arguments in favour of democracy are: (i) A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of government. (ii) Democracy improves the quality of decision-making. (iii) Democracy provides methods to deal with differences and conflicts. (iv) Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens. (v) Democracy is better than other forms of government as it allows rulers to correct its own mistake. 

31. What is democracy? Give examples of non-democratic countries.

Answer:  Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. Examples of non-democratic countries: (i) The army rulers of Myanmar are not elected by the people. Those who happen to be in control of the army become the rulers of the country. People have no say in the decision making. (ii) Dictators like Pinochet are not elected by the people. (iii) The king of Nepal and Saudi Arabia rule, not because the people have chosen them to do so but because they happen to be born into the royal family. 

32. How does democracy provide a platform to deal with differences and conflicts?

Answer:   In any society people are bound to have differences of opinions and interests. These differences are particularly sharp in a country like ours which has an amazing social diversity. People of our country belong to different regions, speak different languages, practise different religions. So they look at the world very differently and have different preferences. Democracy provides the peaceful solution to this problem. In a diverse country like India, democracy keeps our country together and united. 

33. What have you understood by the term ‘Democracy’?

Answer:   Democracy is a form of government in which rulers are elected by the people. But, this definition is not adequate to define democracy. We need to add up following features: (i) Democracy is a form of government in which rulers elected by the people take all the major decisions. (ii) Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to   change the current rulers. (iii) This choice and opportunity is available to all the people on an equal basis. (iv) The exercise of this choice leads to a government limited by basic rules of the constitution and citizens rights.   

34. “Democracy is better than other forms of governments because it allows us to correct its own mistakes.” Do you agree with it or not ?  

Answer:   (i) There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in democracy. No form of government can guarantee that. (ii) The advantage in a democracy is that such mistakes cannot be hidden for long. (iii) There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes. And there is a room for correction. (iv) Either the rulers have to change their decision or the rulers can be changed. (v) I believe, this cannot happen in a non-democratic government; so I fully agree that democracy does allow us to correct its own mistakes.

35. State the main features of democracy.

Answer:  The main features of democracy are: (i) In a democracy, the final decision-making power must rest with those elected by the people. (ii) A democracy must be based on free and fair elections, where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing. (iii) In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value. (iv) A democratic government rules within limits set by the constitutional law and citizens’ rights. (v) Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts. It enhances the dignity of the citizens. 

36. How can you say that Pakistan was not exercising democracy when General Musharraf was ruling?

Answer:  In Pakistan, General Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999. (i) He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself the ‘Chief Executive’ of the country. (ii) Later, he changed his designation to that of a President and in 2002, held a referendum in the country that granted him a five-year extension.   The government in Pakistan, under General Musharraf, cannot be called a democracy because: (i) People may have elected their representatives to the national and provincial assemblies but those elected representatives are not really the rulers. They cannot take the final decisions. (ii) The power to take the final decision rests with the army officials and with General Musharraf and none of them are elected by the people. (iii) Pakistani media, human right organisations and democracy activists said that referendum held by General Musharraf was based on malpractices and fraud. 

37. Giving an example of Zimbabwe, show how laws were made by one single ruler.

Answer:  Since Zimbabwe got independence in 1980, it is being ruled by ZANU-PF which led the freedom struggle. (i) Its leader, Robert Mugabe has been ruling the country since independence. But ZANU-PF won due to unfair practices in elections. (ii) His government has made changes in the constitution several times to increase the power of the President and make him less accountable. (iii) The opposition party workers were harassed and their meetings were disrupted. (iv) Public protests demonstrations are declared illegal. (v) Laws are made to limit the right to criticise the President. (vi) The media has been forced to write and speak in favour of the ruling party. (vii) There are independent newspapers but the government harasses those journalists who go against it. This example of Zimbabwe shows that popular government can be undemocratic. Popular leaders can be autocratic. If we wish to assess a democracy, it is important to look at the elections and how they are fought. 

38. How did Musharraf establish his rule in Pakistan?

Answer:  Musharraf came to power after attempting a military coup. He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself the Chief Executive of the country. Later he changed his designation to President and in 2002 held a referendum in the country that granted him a five-year extension. Pakistani media, human right organisations and democracy activists said that the referendum was based on malpractices and fraud. In August 2002, he issued a ‘Legal Framework Order’ that amended the constitution of Pakistan. According to this order, the President can dismiss the national or provincial assemblies. The work of the civilian cabinet is supervised by a National Security Council which is dominated by military officers.  

39. Why Pakistan may not be called a democracy under General Musharraf?

Answer:  Pakistan under General Musharraf should not be called a democracy. People may have elected their representatives to the national and provincial assemblies but those elected representatives are not really rulers. They cannot take the final decisions. The power to take final decision rests with army officials and with General Musharraf, and none of them are elected by the people. This happens in many dictatorships or monarchies. They formally have an elected parliament and government but the real power is with those who are not elected.

40. How did China establish a Communist Government?

Answer:   In China elections are regularly held after every five years for electing the country’s parliament, called National People’s Congress. The National People’s Congress has the power to appoint the President of the country. It has nearly 3,000 members elected from all over China. Some members are elected by the army. Before contesting the elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party. Only those who are members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to it were allowed to contest elections held in 2002 -2003. The government is always formed by the communist party.

41. What was PRI? What dirty tricks did it play to win elections in Mexico?

Answer:  PRI was a party called Institutional Revolutionary Party of Mexico. All those who were employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings. Even the teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for the PRI. Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticise them. Sometimes the polling booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute, which made it difficult for people to cast their votes. The PRI spent a large sum of money in the campaign for its candidates.

42. How did Robert Mugabe establish his dictatorial rule in Zimbabwe, after Independence?

Answer:  After Independence, the country has been ruled by ZANU-PF, the part that led the freedom struggle. Its leader Mugabe had been ruling since Independence. Elections have been held regularly and always won by ZANU- PF. President Mugabe is popular but also uses unfair practices in elections. Over the years, his government has changed the constitution several times to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable. Opposition party workers are harassed and their meetings disrupted. Public protests and demonstrations against the government are declared illegal. There is a law that limits the right to criticise the President. Television and radio are controlled by the government and give only the ruling party’s version. There are independent newspapers but the government harasses those journalists who go against it. The government has ignored some court judgements that went against it and has pressurised judges. 

43. Under what conditions is a government run after the elections?  

Answer:  A democratic government cannot do whatever it likes simply because it has won the elections. It has to respect some basic rules. In particular it has to provide some guarantees to the minorities. Every major decision has to go through a series of consultations. Every office bearer has certain rights and responsibilities assigned by the constitution and the law. Each of these is accountable not only to the people but also to other independent officials.

44. Why do we need to define democracy accurately?

Answer:  (i) The simple definition of democracy is not adequate. It reminds us that democracy is people’s rule. (ii) But if we use this definition in an unthinking manner, we would end up calling almost every government that holds an election in a democracy. That would be misleading. (iii) Every government in contemporary world wants to be called a democracy, even if it is not so. (iv) That is why we need to carefully distinguish between a government that is a democracy and one that pretends to be one. (v) We can do so by defining it carefully that democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people and the final decision-making power must rest with those elected by the people. 

45. Why Pakistan under General Musharraf should not be called a democracy as stated by President Musharraf?

Answer:  Pakistan under General Musharraf should not be called a democracy due to the following reasons: (i) People may have elected their representatives to the national and provincial assemblies but those elected representatives are not really the rulers. (ii) They cannot take the final decisions. (iii) The power to take final decision rests with army officials and with General Musharraf, and none of them are elected by the people. (iv) This happens in many countries,’ where formally they have an elected parliament and government but the real power is with those who are not elected. 

46. In which countries, even today, there is denial of equal right to vote?

Answer:  The principle of universal adult franchise has been accepted almost all over the world, yet there are many instances of denial of equal right to vote. (i) In Saudi Arabia, women do not get the right to vote, they remain mpardah and being told not to interfere in the political matters. (ii) Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to Russian minority find it difficult to get the right to vote. (iii) In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fijian has more value than that of an Indian Fijian.  

47. Once elected by the people, what kind of duties are needed to be performed by the office bearers?

Answer:  (i) A democratic government cannot do whatever it likes, simply because it has won an election. (ii) It has to respect some basic rules. (iii) In particular, it has to extend some guarantees to the minorities. (iv) Every major decision has to go through a series of consultations. (v) Every office bearer has certain rights and responsibilities assigned by the constitution and the law. (vi) Each of these is accountable not only to the people but also to other independent officials. 

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Class Notes

Free Class Notes & Study Material

Class 9 Political Science Chapter 2 What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Last Updated on July 3, 2023 By Mrs Shilpi Nagpal

NCERT Solutions for Political Science Chapter 2 – What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Intext Questions

Question 1  I have heard a different version. Democracy is off the people far (from) the people and (where they) buy the people. Why don’t we accept that?

Answer In some cases, the democracy is off the people far (from) the people and (where they) buy the people i.e., where the democracy does not belong to the people it is not for them but far away from them, where the democracy is not by the people but the candidates the votes with money which means that true democracy does not exist. But we should not see these examples and be hopeless. These cases are exceptions and not the rule, which will be removed with the passage of time.

Question 2 Let us take Lyngdoh Madam seriously and try to write down the exact definition of some of the simple words that we use all the time : pen, rain and love. e.g., is there a way of defining a pen that distinguishes it clearly from a pencil, a brush, a chalk or crayon.

(i) What have you learnt from this attempt?

(ii) What does it teach no about understanding the meaning of democracy?

(i) From this conversation, I have learnt that there is no shortest to our thinking about the matter ourselves, We have to think about its meaning and evolve a definition. Each and every thing has some specific features on the basis of which we can define that thing.

(ii) We need a definition only when we come across a difficulty in the use of a word. We need a clear definition of democracy because there are different kinds of governments which are known as Democracy. Abraham Lincoln said that Democracy is a rule of the people, for the people and by the people.

We must not accept the definition, just because everyone accepts it. We do not know if this is the best way of defining democracy, unless we think about it ourselves. After thinking about it we can say that democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. This is a common basic feature of democracy.

Question 1 Ribiang went back home and collected some more famous quotations on democracy. This time she did not mention the names of the people who said or wrote these. She wants you to read these and comment on how good or useful these thoughts are

(i) Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor.  

(ii) Democracy consists of choosing your dictators after they, have told you what you think it is you want to hear.  

(iii) Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.  

(iv) Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.  

(v) All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.

Answer 1  The first and second thoughts are about those forms of government in which the people have the right to elect their ruler without having options. It means they have to elect the candidate only from the ruling party.

In the third thought, it suggests that if man accepts justice, then democracy is possible. But when the man follows injustice, the democracy is necessary there to give justice to others.

In the fourth thought, it suggests that there must be a balance between the form of government and our need. The strongest argument for democracy is about what it does to the citizens. Democracy recognises our needs and enhances our dignity.

In the last thought, there is scope for changing the features and activities of democracy as per our need. There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in democracy. The advantage is that there is a room for correction. Either the rulers have to change their decisions or the rulers can be changed. In this way, the ills of democracy can be cured.

Question 2  This cartoon was drawn when elections were held in Iraq with the presence of US and other foreign powers.

(i) What do you think this cartoon is saying?  

(ii) Why is ‘democracy’ written the way it is?

(i) The cartoon is saying that democracy is being established in Iraq with the help of the US military power.  

(ii) Democracy is written in this particular way because it shows that it is not true democracy and it is mockery of democracy setup by the US for its own interest. Democracy is being ridiculed in this cartoon.

Question 1 Syria is a small West Asian country. The ruling Ba’ath Party and some of its small allies are the only parties allowed in that country.  

(i) Do you think this cartoon could apply to China or Mexico?

(ii) What does the crown of leaves on democracy signify?

(i) Yes, this cartoon could be applied to China, because there is one party rule in China. Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese communist party. So China cannot be said of be a true democracy.  Mexico has a multiparty system. Nationally there are three large political parties, viz, Institutional Revolutionary Party (IRP), National Action Party (NAP), and Party of the Democratic Revolution (PDR). But until 2000 every election was won by the PRI. The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to to win elections. So the cartoon can be applied to Mexico until 2000 election. But in 2006, election the PRI fell to third place behind both the PAN and the PRD. Now Mexico has a coalition government.

(ii) Crown of leaves means a circle of leaves that is worn on somebody’s head as a sign of victory. The cartoon signifies that democracy has won in some of the countries of the world, but it is not accepted by all.

Question 1  This cartoon was drawn in the context of Latin America.

(i) The cartoon suggests the scene of booth capturing with the gun. This can be applicable to the Pakistan. In Pakistan, General Musharraf with the help of army officials controlled the elected representatives.

(ii) This could be applied in Iraq, China, etc.

(iii) Booth capturing by the political hooligans happens sometimes in our country also.

Question 2  All this is so remote for me.

(i) Is democracy all about rulers and governments?

(ii) Can we talk about a democratic classroom?

(iii) Or a democratic family?

(i) Democracy is not only about rulers and governments. Democracy is a principle that can be applied to any sphere of life. A democratic decision involves consultation with and consent of all those who are affected by that decision. In this sense, it can be applied to any organisation other than the government.

(ii) We can have democratic classrooms where the students can ask questions without hesitation. Where the teachers have a democratic temperament. Where the interaction is not a one-way traffic but a healthy two-way interaction.

(iii) Democracy can be seen in families also. We could have democratic families where the decisions are not taken by any one individual and imposed on rest of the family members. All the family members should sit down and arrive at a general concensus. My opinion should matter as much as my father’s. In this way, we can have, democracy in our family also.

Question 1 This cartoon was titled ‘Building Democracy’ and was first published in a Latin American Publication.

(i) What do money bags signify here?  

(ii) Could this cartoon be applied to India?

(i) At the time of election, the political parties in the fray spend a lot of money to win the election. Not only political parties, the government also spends a lot of money to conduct free and fair election. The cartoon suggests that we establish democracy with the help of

money power.

(ii) Yes, this cartoon could be applied to India.

Question 1  This cartoon is about the Iraqi election held after Saddam Hussein’s regime was overthrown. He is shown behind the bars.

(i) What is the cartoonist saying here?  

(ii) Compare the message of this cartoon with the first cartoon in this chapter.

(i) In one of the quotation of the cartoon, the cartoonist tells us about the equality of the right to vote and equal value of each man’s vote. In another quotation, he says that the dictator , mostly prefers the situation when he is the only man to decide any matter by his only vote.

(ii) The first cartoon shown in two chapter suggests that the US army personnel are elevating the process to form a democracy in Iraq. But in this cartoon the message is that the democracy is already established.

(i) Why talk about Zimbabwe?  

(ii) I read similar reports from many parts of our own country. Why don’t we discuss that?

(i) The President of Zimbabwe is the head of the state of Zimbabwe. In 1987, Robert Mugabe becomes the president and he revise the Constitution to make himself Executive President. President Mugabe is popular but also uses unfair practices in elections. Opposition party workers are harassed, public protest and demonstration against the government are declared illegal, both print and electronic media are controlled by the government.

The government has pressurised judges to give verdict in favour of the government. The example of Zimbabwe shows that popular approval of the rulers is necessary in a democracy, but it is not sufficient. A democratic government cannot do whatever it likes, Simply because it has won the election. This is the reason for which Zimbabwe is discussed here.

(ii) Our country is democratic and elections are by and large free and fair.

• However, sometimes we hear reports about use of unfair means, Violence and money power in elections.  

• These tactics (methods) are adopted by some candidates with criminal connections or criminal background. However, such cases are decreasing day by day.

Question 1 Chinese Government blocked free flow of information on the internet by placing restrictions on popular websites like ‘Google and ‘Yahoo’. The image of tanks and an unarmed student reminds the reader of another major event in recent Chinese history. Find out  about that event.

In April 1989, triggered by the death of Hu Yaobang, a liberal reformer, mass gathering and protests took place in and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing. It was largely a student run demonstration which called for economic reform, freedom of the press and political liberalisation. The Chinese Government brutally suppressed the movement for which it was  internationally condemned.

Question 1 Read these five examples of working or denial of democracy. Match each of these with the relevant feature of democracy discussed above.

Questions 2 I want to be in Lynadoh Madam’s class! That sounds like a democratic classroom. doesn’t it?

Answer  Yes, Lyngdoh Madam’s classroom sounds like a democratic classroom. Here everybody can speak his own mind. The students are giving their own arguments passionately. The feel very bad if someone that the environment in the classroom is democratic.

Question 1  This cartoon is from Brazil, a country that has long experience of dictatorship. It is entitled “The Hidden Side of Dictatorship’

Answer  (i) The hidden side depicted by the cartoon is the brutal side to the dictator. Dictator like Hitler ordered mass killings to eliminate “undesirable’ persons like Hitler many dictator killed the innocent people who were against their regime. This evil side of the dictator is shown in this cartoon.

(ii) No, it is not necessary for every dictatorship to have a hidden side. Because, if the dictator really wants to work for the betterment of  people, he does not need to have a hidden side.

(iii) (a) The revolt by the army took place in Chile on 11th September, 1973 under General Augusto Pinochet in which President Salvador Allende was killed. Pinochet became the president of the country and ruled it for the next 17 years.

(b) Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski was the last communist leader of Poland who was the head of the state from 1985 to 1990. He resigned from the power after the Polish Round table Agreement in 1989 that led to democratic elections in Poland.

(c) General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military dictator and politician. He was the dictator president of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998. His regime was tied to human rights violations and

allegations of corruption. He hanged the famous social activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. He did not allow democratic process like elections in Nigaria. He was listed as the world’s fourth most

corrupt leader in recent history.

(d) Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos was the president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He implemented wide-ranging programmes of infrastructure development and economic reform. However, his administration was marred by massive authoritarian, political repression and human rights violations. In the 2004, Global Transparency Report, Marcos appeared in the list of the world’s corrupt leader. He was said to have amassed between $ 5 billion to $ 10 billion in his 21 years as President of Philippines.

Question 1  What would have happened if India was not a democracy? Could we have stayed together as a single nation?

Answer No, we would have not stayed together as a single nation if India was not a democracy. India has multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-linguistic population.

If there was no democracy then all the people could not have followed their religion and customs with freedom and there would have been conflicts between different religious and linguistic groups where the minorities would have lived in fear and insecurity. But democracy provides the peaceful solutions to every problem. It provides the best method of dealing with  differences and conflicts.

Question 1 This cartoon was published in Canada just before its Parliamentary elections of 2005. Everyone, including the cartoonist, expected the Liberal Party to win once again. When the result came, the Liberal Party lost the elections. In this cartoon an argument against democracy or for democracy?

Question 2  Rajesh and Muzaffar read an article. It showed that no democracy has ever gone to war with another democracy. Wars take place only when one of the two governments is non-democratic. The article said that this was great merit of democracy. After reading the  essay, Rajesh and Muzaffar had different reactions. Rajesh said that this was not a good argument for democracy. It was just a matter of chance. It is possible that in future democracies may have wars. Muzaffar said that it could not be a matter of chance. Democracies take decisions in such a way that it reduces the chances of war. Which of the two positions do you agree with and why?

Answer I some how agree with Muzaffar’s argument. In democracy, the decision is taken after discussion and keeping in view the welfare of the people. So, the chances of war are minimised in democracy, but we cannot say that it is not possible. Some wars were fought between two democracies like India and Pakistan, e.g., ‘Kargil War’ when both countries  were democratic countries.

Question 1  This famous cartoon by RK Laxman comments on the celebrations of the fifty years of independence.

(i) How many images on the wall do you recognise?  

(ii) Do you common people feel the way the common man in this cartoon does?

(i) The images on the wall are the images of former Prime Ministers of India. They were Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Gulzari Lal Nandu, Morarji Desai, Choudhary Charan Singh, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, VP Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Narasimhan Rao, Devegowda and A B Vajpayee.

(ii) Yes, the common people feel the way the common man in this cartoon does. After 50 glorious years of Independence, the condition of the common man has changed very little. The claims and promises of the politicians became meaningless to the common man, so he fell  asleep by hearing these again. It is a true picture of our democracy.

Question 1  In my village, the Gram Sabha never meets. Is that democratic?

Answer The Gram Sabha should meet regularly to carry out its functions for the welfare of the people but if the Gram Sabha does not meet that would not be democratic, it would be undemocratic.

Question 2 (i) Find out the total number of eligible voters in your Assembly Constituency and your Parliamentary Constituency and your Parliamentary Constituency.  

(ii) Find out how may people can fit into the largest stadium in your area.  

(ii) Is it possible for all the voters in your Parliamentary or Assembly Constituency to sit together and have a meaningful discussion?

(iii) No, it is not possible. It is impossible for all the voters in my Parliamentary or Assembly Constituency to sit together and have a meaningful discussion. The large number of voters cannot sit together for taking a decision.

Question 1  Here is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries.Write ‘democratic’, ‘undemocratic’ or ‘not sure’ against each of these,

(a) Country A People who do not accept the country’s official religion do not have a right to vote.  

(b) Country B The same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years.  

(c) Country C Ruling party has lost in the last three elections.  

(d) Country D There is no independent election commission.

(a) Undemocratic

(b) Not sure

(c) Democratic

(d) Undemocratic

Question 2  Here is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries.Write ‘democratic’, ‘undemocratic’ or ‘not sure’ against each of these.

(a) Country P The Parliament cannot pass a law about the army without the consent of the Chief of Army.  

(b) Country Q The Parliament cannot pass a law reducing the powers of the judiciary.  

(c) Country R The country’s leaders cannot sign any treaty with another country without taking permission from its neighbouring country.  

(d) Country S All the major economic decisions about the country are taken by officials of the Central Bank which the ministers cannot change.

(b) Democratic

(c) Undemocratic

Question 3  Which of these is not a good argument in favour of democracy? Why?

(a) People feel free and equal in a democracy

(b) Democracies resolve conflict in a better way than others

(c) Democratic government is more accountable to the people

(d) Democracies are more prosperous than others

Answer (d) Democracies are more prosperous than others is not a good argument in favour of democracy because countries of the middle East like UAE and Iran are economically strong but they have non-democratic governments whereas India is a developing country but is a democracy. The poor countries can be democratic while the rich ones may not be. A

good monarch can make his country more prosperous than some of the democracies.

Question 4  Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element. Write out the two separately for each statement.

(a) A minister said that some laws have to be passed by the Parliament in order to conform to the regulations decided by the World Trade Organisation.  

(b) The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency where large scale rigging was reported.

(c) Women’s representation in the Parliament has never reached 10 per cent. This led women’s organisations to demand one-third seats for women.

Answer 4   (a) Passing of laws by the Parliament is democratic, whereas passing in conformity to the regulations decided by World Trade Organisation in undemocratic.  

(b) To order redpoll in a constituency by the Election Commission is democratic, whereas large-scale rigging is undemocratic.  

(c) Women’s representation in the Parliament has never reached 10 per cent is undemocratic, whereas demand by women’s organisations to reserve one third seats for women is democratic.

Question 5  Which of these is not a valid reason for arguing that there is a lesser possibility of famine in a democratic country?

(a) Opposition parties can draw attention to hunger and starvation.

(b) Free press can report suffering from famine, in different parts of the country.

(c) Government fears its defeat in the next elections.

(d) People are free to believe in and practise any religion.

Answer  Option (d) is not a valid reason for arguing that there is a lesser possibility of famine in a democratic country, because practising a religion is in no way related to prevent famines.

Question 6  There are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provision for drinking water. These villagers met and considered many methods of forcing the government to respond to their need. Which of these is not a democratic method?

(a) Filing a case in the courts claiming that water is part of right to life.

(b) Boycotting the next elections to give a message to all parties.

(c) Organising public meetings against government’s policies.

(a) Paying money to government officials to get water.

Answer  (d)

Question 7  Write a response to the following arguments against democracy

(a) Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country. Therefore army should rule the country.

(b) Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.

(c) If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.

Answer 7  (a) The army is for the defence of the country. Even if it is the most disciplined and corruption free organisation it should not be allowed to rule the country as its primary duty is defence and not governance. Military rule is nothing but dictatorship. Many army men are not disciplined and corrupt.  

(b) Rule of majority is democratic as it represents the views of all sections of people. Illiterate and poor people cannot be called ignorant. Atleast they can realize which representative is good for them. There is no guarantee that the educated people will make theright choices and   have their own interests to promote. Democracy mean equal opportunity to all without any discrimination.  

(c) The third statement is wrong. We should not mix religion and politics especially in a multi-racial multi-religious and multi-lingual country like India. Because it will lead to conflict between the different religious and linguistic groups, just as it had happened in Sri Lanka  between the Tamils and the Sinhalese.  Besides, many religious leaders do not have any experience of administration.

Question 8  Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?

(a) Father to Daughter I don’t want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In our family children marry where the parents tell them to.  

(b) Teacher to Student Don’t disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom.  

(c) Employee to the Officer Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.

Answer 8  (a) The first statement is undemocratic because girl is not allowed to give her opinion relating to her own marriage. Just as the people have the right to choose their representatives, the girls should also be allowed to have a say in the selection or choice of her husband.

(b) The second statement is undemocratic because the student is not being allowed to speak and ask questions. It is the duty of the teacher to teach and satisfy the queries of the students.

(c) The third statement is democratic because it calls for the reduction of working hours but according to the law. Employees should enjoy the right to work for fixed hours as fixed by law.

Question 9  Consider the following facts about a country and decide SE you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.

(a) All the citizens of the country have right to vote. Elections are held regularly.   

(b) The country took loan from international agencies. One of the conditions for giving loan was that the government would reduce its expenses on education and health.  

(c) People speak more than seven languages but education is available only in one language, the language spoken by 52 per cent people of that country.  

(d) Several organisations have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nation wide strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders.  

(e) The government owns the radio and television in the country. All the newspapers have to get permission from the government to publish any news about government’s policies and protests.

Criticism of Democracy

(a) A country where all the citizens have a right to vote and elections are held regularly can certainly be called democratic, because the basic conditions are being fulfilled.  

(b) Democratic countries are generally welfare states. If a country reduces expenses on education and health it will definitely harm the people. Since all the international agencies apply certain conditions while giving loans, the country does not become undemocratic.  

(c) In a multi-lingual country making any one language as the official language or national language is a complicated situation. In democracy, people should enjoy the freedom to have education in their own language.  

(d) The country is not democratic because the people are not allowed to hold peaceful demonstrations or oppose government policies. Their right to freedom of speech and peaceful demonstration is denied.

(e) A country which imposes censorship of both print and electronic media is undemocratic because freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right of the people in a democracy. In democracy, people are free to express their views about the policies of the

government.

Question 10  In 2004, a report published in USA pointed to the increasing inequalities in that country. Inequalities in income reflected in the participation of people in democracy. It also shaped their abilities to influence the decisions taken by the government. The report highlighted that

• If an average Black family earns $ 100 then the income of average White family is $ 162. A White family has twelve times more wealth than the average Black family.  

• In a President’s election nearly 9 out of 10 individuals in families with income over $ 75,000 have voted. These people are the top 20% of the population in terms of their income. On the other hand only 5 people out of 10 from families with income less than $ 15.000 have voted. They are the bottom 20% of the population in terms of their income.  

• About 95% contribution to the political parties comes from the rich. This gives them opportunity to express their opinions and concerns, which is not available to most citizens.  

• As poor sections participate less in politics, the government does not listen to their concerns – coming out of poverty, getting job, education, health care and housing for them.  Politicians hear most regularly about the concerns of business persons and the rich.

Write an essay on ‘Democracy and Poverty’ using the information given in this report by using examples from India.  Most newspapers have an editorial page. On that page, publishes its own opinions about current affairs. The paper also publishes the views of other writers and intellectuals and letters  written by the readers. Follow any one newspaper for one month and a collect editorials, articles and letters on that page that have anything to do with democracy. Classify these into the following categories

• Constitutional and legal aspects of democracy

• Citizens’ rights

• Electoral and party politics

• Criticism of democracy

Answer   There is no denying the fact that poverty has a direct and deep impact an democracy. Modern democracy is a form of government run by the rich section of society. The rich control the media and use it for their own benefit. Influence of the rich over politics is clearly visible in the countries like  England, USA and India. In India, only rich can contest the election. The votes of poor people are bought and sold. The poor cannot fight elections  against the rich and get elected.

As a result, the rich influence the government when it takes decisions about the policies. The government formed by the different politicians pay much attention to the interests of the business class and rich sections of the society. As poor people participate less in our Parliamentary democracy. their interests, viz, education, employment, healthcare, housing problems etc are neglected.

Our government has taken many Welfare Scheme like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), Indira Awaas Yajona (IAY) etc. But their implementation is far from satisfactory. Like USA and in India different political parties pay more attention to the concerns of the rich who contribute most of their funds.

About Mrs Shilpi Nagpal

Author of this website, Mrs. Shilpi Nagpal is MSc (Hons, Chemistry) and BSc (Hons, Chemistry) from Delhi University, B.Ed. (I. P. University) and has many years of experience in teaching. She has started this educational website with the mindset of spreading free education to everyone. In addition to this website, author also has a Youtube channel, here is the link Class Notes Youtube Channel

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it is good to read and know the things wanted i to read is and it is really helpful ,thank you madam Mrs.Shilpi Nagpal

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CBSE What is Democracy? Why Democracy? Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Notes PD

• Revision Notes
• Social Science: Political Science
• Chapter 1 What Is Democracy? Why Democracy?

What is Democracy? Why Democracy? Class 9 Notes FREE PDF Download

Democratic Politics-I, Chapter 1 of the CBSE Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Notes PDF , deals with the basic notion of democracy as well as its characteristics. Civics Class 9 Chapter 1 Notes PDF available on Vedantu's official website contains all of the key themes mentioned in the chapter. Experts handpicked the revision notes to assist students in developing a precise better knowledge of democracy and its elements. Vedantu provides the most detailed and exact review in Class 9th Civics Chapter 1 Notes.

When generating Civics Class 9 Chapter 1 Notes, the CBSE board's criteria are taken into account. As a result, folks can consult them and benefit from good exam scores. Get the free printable PDF version of the Chapter 1 Civics Class 9 Notes and begin learning whenever and wherever you choose.

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Access Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Notes PDF: What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Definition of democracy.

It is defined as a form of government where rulers are elected by the choice of people.

So, the difference between democratic and non-democratic governments is that the power of electing their representative is in people’s hands.

Examples of Non-Democratic Governments

In Myanmar, the army controller becomes the ruler and people over there have no role to play in electing their representative.

In Saudi Arabia, the representatives are from royal families, this is the base on which they qualify to become kings. Here also, people have no role to play in making decisions.

Features of Democracy

Here are few questions which is necessary to be answered for a true democracy:

Which type of people are going to be elected as rulers and what kind of decisions need to be taken by non-elected officials?

In which circumstances an election is to be considered democratic?

What includes in the elector’s population and whether they are equal or have some exceptions?

What is the form of a democratic government? Also, state what are the limitations and freedoms of a decision making by the representative who is elected?

How much is necessary for a democracy to respect the rights of a citizen?

Major Decision by the Elected Leaders

Pakistani General Pervez Musharraf, in October 1999 led the military and overthrew a democratic government and declared himself the ‘Chief Executive’.

In the year 2002, he changed his designation to President and declared himself an additional 5 years.

In the year August 2002, he passed the ‘Legal Framework Order’ which stated that the President can dismiss the national and provincial assemblies.

After elections, elected candidates vested some powers, the final power rested with military officers and General Musharraf. It shows that it is not a democratic country.

In the USSR in communist Poland and the US in contemporary Iraq, power lied with external instead of elected locals. Whereas in democracy, the final power lies with those which are elected by the people.

Free and Fair Electoral Competition

In China, to elect members for the country’s parliament which is called Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (National People’s Congress), elections are held every 5 years.

Candidate needs to be a member of the Chinese Communist Party or 8 of its allies to contest elections in 2002-03.

The communist party used to form the government.

Since independence, 1930, Mexico presidential elections have been held every 6 years. Until 2000 each and  every election was won by PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party).

A fair and free electoral competition where the existing ruling party has a fair chance to lose is an aspect of democracy.

Examples of Democracy are – India and the United States etc.

One Person, One Vote, One Value

Political equality is the basis of democracy. 

In a few instances where equal rights are denied have been observed.

Women had no right to vote until 2015, in Saudi Arabia.

In Estonia, citizen rules made it very much difficult for people from Russian minorities to gain the right to vote.

Fiji’s electoral system gave more value to indigenous Fiji than Indian-Fijian.

These are some examples which contradict the basis of democracy where an adult citizen must have one vote with equal value.

Rule of Law and Respect for Rights

In the year 1980, Zimbabwe gained independence. The leader Robert Mugabe of the ZANU-PF party, which led for the freedom struggle ruled the country.

President Mugabe used malpractices in elections so that ZANU-PF always won.

Only the verdicts of the ruling party were presented by the television and radios since a law existed that restricted the right to criticize the President.

Harassment was done to the independent journalist who talked against the government.

Hence, in a democratic government:

Major decisions were taken by the rulers elected by the people. 

Fair choice of people in changing rulers.

Equal opportunity to all the citizens in choosing their representative.

Government’s power is limited by the basic rules of the constitution.

Arguments Against Democracy

Argument of instability may rise because the government is changed frequently:

Political competition and power-play can take the dominance over morality.

Delay in decision making because of multiple consultations.

Lack of knowledge in the public interest can result in wrong decision making.

Democracy is based on electoral competition, it brings corruption.

People electing their representative may be unaware of their wellbeing.

Arguments in Favor of Democracy

A democratic government is always a better government since it is an accountable form of government.

Democracy improves decision making quality.

Democracy gives a method to deal with differences and conflicts.

Democracy enhances citizens' dignity.

Democracy is better compared to other forms of government since it allows us to correct our mistakes.

Broader Meaning of Democracy

Under representative democracy, everyone does not rule. The elected representative takes a decision on behalf of their people:

Modern democracies are characterized by huge populations; which makes it impossible for them to make the right decision.

If they could make the right decision, citizens would not have a greater amount of time, the skill to play a role in all the decisions.

Understanding democracy can help people to identify the weakness of existing democracy and can differentiate between minimal and good democracy.

Democracy in India

India is seen as the largest democracy around the world.

Since independence, citizens have been given the right to vote and have equal rights in voting without considering their caste, religion, gender or color.

Democratic principles by which the Indian government functions are: sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic and republic.

Elections are held after every 5 years.

Government officials work under the Election Commission during election days.

Why Democracy? What are the Merits of Democracy?

The merits of democracy are:

In a democracy, the dignity of citizens is maintained.

It improves the quality of decision making.

Provides a path for resolving conflicts.

The form of government is more accountable.

The government abides by the constitution as it is answerable to the citizens.

What are the Demerits of Democracy?

The demerits of democracy are:

A democratic government might not be stable as the leaders keep on changing.

Morality may not always prevail in the government.

There might be corruption in relation to electoral competition.

Ordinary people would not choose the best leader. They might not have a proper idea about governance.

Did You Know?

There are three songs that garner huge respect internationally for India. These songs uphold the plurality and oneness of Indian democracy:

National Anthem: Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya Hey.

National Song: Vande Mataram.

Saare Jahan Se Achchha Hindustan Humara.

To learn more about democracy and its features, go through the What is Democracy Why Democracy Class 9 Notes that is available in a freely downloadable PDF format on Vedantu’s website.

This was a complete discussion on the NCERT Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 Revision Notes (Free PDF Download). Get your queries resolved by experts at  Vedantu. We follow the updated NCERT criteria for curating the content for CBSE Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 Revision Notes.

Important Topics Covered in Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Notes PDF - What Is Democracy? Why Democracy?

The following are the most important topics that are covered in detail in CBSE Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 What is Democracy Why Democracy Class 9 Notes.

Definition of democracy

Features of democracy

Major decisions by elected leaders

Free and fair electoral competition

One person, one vote, one value one value

Rule of law and respect for rights

Cons of democracy

Arguments in favour of democracy

Broader meanings of democracy

Important Questions: NCERT Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 - What is Democracy Why Democracy Class 9 Notes

Since we have covered all the important aspects of What is Democracy? Why Democracy? Let us look into some of the important questions in Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Notes PDF.

Define Democracy.

Democracy is a form of governance in which the people directly or indirectly decide on laws, policies, leadership, and key initiatives for a state or other polity.

Define Representative Democracy.

In a representative democracy, a majority of elected representatives have the authority to make choices on behalf of all the people, rather than all the people ruling or making decisions.

Which kind of Democracy is More Prevalent in the Modern World?

The most prevalent type of democracy in today's world is a representative democracy.

When can we declare elections to be fair?

To be deemed fair, elections must provide voters with a genuine selection of political options.

Define referendum.

A referendum is a general vote in which all voters are asked to accept or reject a proposition.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Why is a democratic form of government most popular?

Ans: Some features of democracy make it most popular form of government:

In democracy, the government is accountable for the public interests. Decision making is not completely dependent on the ruler.

This form of government takes all decisions pertaining to the best of their people.

A passive resolution to every predicament is provided in democracy.

Democracy gives the best method for dealing with conflicts in ideology.

Countries like India have a vast diversity of religion, language, castes and creeds, one solution leads to unity.

Political equality is maintained in democracy by giving equal priority to the poor, educated and uneducated.

2. What is direct democracy and why can it not be implemented in modern times?

Ans: Direct democracy is a form of democracy where citizens share an equal role in the decision making process.

Modern democracies consists of a large amount of people, which is not physically possible for them to sit together and make a decision.

All citizens do not have time or skill to take part in entire decision making.

3. Why is the most common form of democratic government is representative democracy?

Ans: Representative democracy is the form of democracy in which the majority of people rule through their elected representative.

This kind of democracy is realistic and huge democracies as all people do not have desired qualifications to rule.

So, direct rule is not possible.

Hence, the majority through their elected representative is allowed to take decisions on behalf of all the people.

So, representative democracy is required where elected people can take collective decisions.

4. What are the basic differences between good and minimal democracy?

Ans: The differences between good and minimal democracy are:

5. What are the common features of a non-democratic government?

Ans: Ideologies of a non-democratic government are:

In non-democratic countries, criticizing the government may lead to oppressive action such as harassment, imprisonment etc.

No elections are held as it is ruled by the king or military.

There is no place for the opposition party.

Unions which abide by the government policies are welcome.

Final words of the dictator or the military rulers are taken into consideration.

Common people cannot think of high positions in government.

6. Give a classic example of a better response of a democratic government over a non-democratic one.

Ans: In China 1958-1961, word recorded famine. The casualties were around three crores of China’s population.

India was economically weaker compared to China, but it was not hit by famine as China.

It was believed it was the government policies of the country that created such a scenario.

Indian democratic responded well to food scarcity. 

Existence of multi-party elections, an opposition party and a press free to criticize the government might have saved China from huge famine casualties.

Advantages of CBSE Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 What is Democracy Why Democracy Class 9 Notes (Free PDF Download)

The following are some of the most important advantages of referring to the Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 What is Democracy Why Democracy Class 9 Notes provided by Vedantu.

It covers all the important topics of the chapter.

The concepts are described in precise and easy-to-understand language.

The revision notes are according to the latest CBSE syllabus guidelines.

Chapter 1 Civics Class 9 Notes are the best way to prepare for the exams in an effective manner and shorter time span.

It saves time while allowing candidates to learn all the concepts and thereby reduces revision time.

It helps in developing a better understanding of the topics at just a  single glance.

Check these Exam Preparation Tips With Civics Class 9 Chapter 1 Notes

Let us look at some of the tips that will help students to perform well in the upcoming examinations.

Cover the complete syllabus.

Make revision notes to get the last-minute revision.

Solve previous year's question papers and sample papers.

Always analyse the mistakes and work on them.

Focus on the NCERT exercises and examples as the questions are majorly posed from the NCERT book.

Prepare flowcharts and diagrams to explain the complicated concepts. This would help students to memorise better and also help them to retain information for a longer time.

The Civics Class 9 Chapter 1 Notes provided here are meant to assist students in understanding the key features of constitutional democracy. After reading this Class 9th Civics Chapter 1 Notes, students will be able to distinguish between a democratic form of government and a non-democratic administration. Democracy is the most popular form of governance in use today, and it is spreading to more countries. But, how come? What makes it preferable to other forms of government? Our CBSE Notes Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 notes address all of these concerns.

You must prepare for your exams by downloading the Revision Notes PDF from Vedantu.

We wish you all the very best for your upcoming examinations!

FAQs on CBSE What is Democracy? Why Democracy? Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Notes PD

1. What are the Features of a Democracy?

The features of democracy are as follows:

The rulers of the nation are elected representatives.

There are proper elections held for choosing of rulers.

A rule of law is followed by everybody.

The citizens have a lot of liberty.

An independent judiciary exists.

A political opposition exists.

A democratic government is more accountable for its action than a non-democratic government. Moreover, in case the government is not functioning properly then citizens can vote for other leaders.

2. How should one study Class 9 Democratic Politics?

Class 9 political science is a pretty interesting subject. Students often end up mugging up this subject instead of trying to understand it. Political science is a very relevant subject that affects us in our daily lives. So, approach it in a way to understand its concepts and their applicability in our lives. Read the textbook well and then refer to extra study notes and NCERT 

Solutions to broaden your understanding of the chapter.  

3. What are the study resources offered by Vedantu for Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1?

Vedantu makes sure that it offers an array of study tools to benefit the students of all classes. Vedantu offers the following resources for Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1:

NCERT Solutions 

Revision notes

Important questions

Sample papers

Previous years' question papers 

Masterclasses

 Demo classes

Conceptual videos

Interactive Classes

Students can access these beneficial tools from Vedantu 's website and mobile app at free of cost. 

4. What is the significance of Chapter 1 “What is Democracy? Why Democracy?”

Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 "What is Democracy? Why Democracy?" is indeed an important chapter. It teaches the students about the fundamental principles of democracy. Additionally, the chapter tries to explain these principles via examples of different countries which do not fulfil the requirements of being true democracies. It introduces the students to the significance of democracy. The chapter also teaches the students the broader meaning of democracy. 

5. What is democracy and why do we need democracy?

Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people through the process of elections. It is a form of government that holds its leaders accountable to the people.  We need democracy because other forms of government are not held accountable to the people. Democracy is indeed a better form of government as it ensures maintaining law and order and equal rights in a country.

6. What is the significance of democracy?

Several significant features of democracy make it better than other forms of government. These include the fact that democracy makes the government accountable to its citizens. It allows for a better decision-making process and paves the way to resolve conflicts. In a democracy, citizens are treated as dignified, equal citizens who have the power to choose their leaders.  This improves the quality of the decision-making process in a democracy.  

7. What are the challenges to democracy discussed in Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 Notes?

The chapter discusses challenges such as corruption, inequality, discrimination, political apathy, and the rise of authoritarianism, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues to strengthen democratic institutions and practices.

8. How does Chapter 1 of Class 9 Civics explore the concept of democracy?

The chapter explores democracy through historical examples, contemporary case studies, and theoretical discussions. It examines different forms of democracy and highlights the principles and institutions that sustain democratic governance.

9. What are some real-life examples discussed in Class 9 Political Science Chapter 1 Notes to illustrate the functioning of democracy?

Examples include the functioning of democracies in India and other countries, the role of citizens in elections and decision-making processes, and instances of democratic struggles and movements for rights and freedoms.

10. What is the main focus of Class 9 Ch 1 Civics Notes: What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

The main focus of this chapter is to understand the meaning and significance of democracy. It explores the concept of democracy, its principles, and why it is considered a preferred form of government.

11. What are the key concepts covered in Chapter 1 of Class 9 Civics?

The key concepts covered include the meaning of democracy, its features, the importance of democracy in ensuring equality and justice, the role of citizens in a democratic society, and the significance of democratic values.

12. What are the objectives of studying Class 9 Ch 1 Civics Notes?

The objectives include in Class 9 Ch 1 Civics Notes are understanding the principles and functioning of democracy, recognizing the importance of citizen participation in a democracy, analyzing the challenges faced by democratic societies, and appreciating the values inherent in democratic governance.

13.  How can I use my Class 9th Civics Chapter 1 Notes effectively for exam preparation?

Review your Class 9th Civics Chapter 1 Notes regularly to reinforce your understanding of the chapter. Use them as a reference while practicing questions, solving sample papers, or revising for exams. You can also create flashcards or mind maps based on your notes to aid in memory retention and concept clarification.

STUDY MATERIALS FOR CLASS 9

Class 9 Political Science(Civics) Chapter 1 Notes

Ncert Class 9 Political Science (civics) Chapter 1 Notes WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? in this step by step answer guide . In some of State Boards and CBSE schools, students are taught thru NCERT books. As the chapter comes to an end, students are requested few questions in an exercising to evaluate their expertise of the chapter. Students regularly want guidance managing those NCERT Notes. It’s most effective natural to get stuck withinside the exercises while solving them so that you can assist students score higher marks, we’ve provided step by step NCERT answers for all exercises of Class nine Social Science WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? so you can are looking for assist from them. Students should solve those exercises carefully as questions withinside the final exams are requested from those so these exercises immediately have an impact on students’ final score. Find all NCERT Notes for Class nine Social Science WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY?  below and prepare in your tests easily

WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY?

What is Democracy?

Definition of Democracy

• The word democracy comes from a Greek word ‘Demokratia’. In Greek ‘demos’ means people and ‘kratia’ means rule. So democracy is rule by the people.
• Abraham Lincoln to us, ‘Democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people.
• Simple definition: democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.

Non Democratic Government

• The army ruler of Myanmar were not elected by the people.
• Those who happened to be in control of the army became the rulers of the country.
• Dictators like Pinochet (Chile) are not elected by the people.
• The kings of Saudi Arabia rule not because the people have chosen them to do so put because they happen to be born into the royal family.

FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY

A simple definition the democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the peple.

• In a democracy the final decision making power must rest with those who elected the people.
• A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have affair change of losing.
• A democratic government rules within limits sets by constitutional law and citizen’s right.
• The opposition parties are allowed to function free before and the elections.
• The democratic governments are based on fundamental principles of political equality.

Major decisions by elected leaders

• In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999.
• He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself the Chief Executive of the country.
• Later he changed his Designation to President and in 2002 held a referendum in the country that granted him a five year extension.
• The referendum was based on malpractices and fraud.
• In August 2002 he issued a Legal Framework order that amended the Constitution of Pakistan.

According to this Order

• The President can dismiss the national and provincial assemblies.
• Civilian cabinet is supervised by a National Security Council which is dominated by military officers.
• After passing this law, elections were held to the national and provincial assemblies.
• Pakistan has had elections, elected representatives have some powers. But the final power rested with military officers and General Musharraf himself.

Hence, This could not have been called democracy

In a democracy the final decision making power must rest with those elected by the people.

Free and fair electoral competition

What is the name of China Parliament?

National people’s Congress

• In China elections are regularly held after every five years for electing the country’s parliament called Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahul National People’s Congress.
• The National People’s Congress has the power to appoint the President of the country.
• Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese communist party.
• Only those who are members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to it were allowed to contest elections.
• The government is always formed by the Communist Party.

PRI – Institutional Revolutionary Party

• Mexico holds elections after every six years to elect its President.
• The country has never been under a military or dictator’s rule.
• Until 2000 every election was won by a party called PRI.
• The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win elections.
• Who were employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings.
• Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for the PRI.
• The polling booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute.
• It difficult for people to cast their votes. The PRI spent a large sum of money in the campaign for its candidates.

A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.

• Both China and Mexico government could not be turned as democracy a democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have of a fair China of losing, there is no manipulation.

One person, one vote, one value

This principle has now come to be accepted almost all over the world.

• Until 2015, in Saudi Arabia women did not have the right to vote.
• Estonia has made its citizenship rules. People belonging to Russian minority find it difficult to get the right to vote.
• In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian – Fijian

In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value.

Rule of law and respect

• Zimbabwe attained independence from white minority rule in 1980.
• The country has been ruled by ZANU-PF.
• Its leader, Robert Mugabe, ruled the country since independence. Elections. Were held regularly and always won by ZANU-PF.
• President Mugabe was popular but also used unfair practices in elections.
• His government changed the constitution.
• Several times to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable.
• Opposition party workers were harassed and their meeting disrupted.
• Public protests and demonstrations against the government were declared illegal.
• There was a law that limited the right to criticize the President.
• Television and radio were controlled by the government and gave only the ruling party’s version.
• There were independent newspapers but the government harassed those journalists who went against it.
• The government ignored some court judgments that went against it and pressurized judges.
• He was forced out of office in 2017.

In this case, government is not democratic as there is no citizen basic rights, no-political opposition, no judiciary.

A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens rights.

• A democratic government cannot do whatever it likes, simply because it has won an election.
• Respect some basic rules.
• Every major decision has to go through a series of consultations.
• Each of these is accountable not only to the people but also to other independent officials.

Summary definition

Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.

Accordingly, democracy is a form of government in which:

• Rulers elected by the people take all the major decisions.
• Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the current rulers.
• This choice and opportunity is available to all the people on an equal basis.
• The exercise of this choice leads to a government limited by basic rules of the constitution and citizens rights.

Arguments against democracy

• Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.
• Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality.
• So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays.
• Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions.
• Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.
• Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them, they should not decide anything.
• Democracy is not a magical solution for all the problems.
• It has not ended poverty in our country and in other parts of the world.

People take their own decisions. Their decisions will be good.

Arguments for democracy

China’s famine of 1958-1961 was the worst recorded famine in world history.

• This was a result of different government policies in the two countries. The existence of democracy In India made the Indian government respond to food scarcity in a way that the Chinese government did not.
• Democracy is better than any other form of government in responding to the needs of the people.
• A non-democratic government may and can respond to the people’s needs but it all depends on the wishes of the people who rule.
• If the rulers don’t want to, they don’t have to act according to the wishes of the people.
• A democracy requires that the rulers have to attend to the needs of the people.
• A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of government.
• Democracy is based on consultation and discussion.
• A democratic decision always involves many persons, discussions and meetings.
• A number of people put their heads together.
• They are able to point out possible mistakes in the decision. This takes time.
• But there is a big advantage in taking time over important decisions. This reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions.

Thus democracy improves the quality of decision-making

• Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts. India has an amazing social diversity.
• People belong to different regions, speak different languages, practice different religions and have different castes.
• The preferences of one group can clash with those of other groups.
• The conflict can be solved by brutal power.
• Whichever group is more powerful will dictate its terms and others will have to accept that.
• That would lead to resentment and unhappiness.
• Different groups may not be able to live together for long in such a way.
• Democracy provides the only peaceful solution to this problem.
• In democracy, no one is a permanent winner. No one is a permanent loser.
• Different groups can live with one another peacefully.
• In a diverse country like India, democracy keeps our country together.
• Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
• Democracy is based on the principle of political equality.
• The poorest and the least educated has the same status as the rich and the educated.
• Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct is own mistakes.
• The big advantage in a democracy is that such mistakes cannot be hidden for long.
• There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes.
• Either the rulers have to change their decisions, or the rulers can be changed. This cannot happen in a non-democratic government.

BROADER MEANINGS OF DEMOCRACY

• Democracy takes in our times is that of a representative democracy.
• In the countries we call democracy, all the people do not rule.
• A majority is allowed to take decisions on behalf of all the people. The majority of people rule through their elected representatives.
• A democratic decision involves consultation with and consent of all those who are affected by the decision. Those who are not powerful have the same say in taking the decision as those who are powerful.
• Thus democracy is also a principle that can be applied to any sphere of life.

Benefits of Ncert Class 9 Political Science (civics) Chapter 1 Notes WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY?

Ncert Class 9 Political Science (civics) Chapter 1 Notes WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? contains extremely important points, and for each chapter, each concept has been simplified to make it easier to remember and increase your chances of achieving excellent exam results. Exam Preparation References Here are some tips on how these solutions can help you prepare for the exam.

• This helps students solve many of the problems in each chapter and encourages them to make their concepts more meaningful.
• Ncert Class 9 Political Science (Civics) Chapter 1 Notes WHAT WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? encourage you to update your knowledge and refine your concepts so that you can get good results in the exam.
• These solutions are the best exam materials, allowing you to learn more about your week and your strengths. To get good results in the exam, it is important to overcome your weaknesses.
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Tips & Strategies for Class 9 Exam Preparation

• Plan your course and syllabus and make time for revision
• Please refer to the NCERT solution available on the  cbsestudyguru  website to clarify your concepts every time you prepare for the exam.
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• Take rest and a proper meal.  Don’t stress too much. 

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Arinjay Academy » Social Science Class 9 » Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Extra Questions and Answers

Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Extra Questions and Answers

What is Democracy? Why Democracy? Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Extra Questions and Answers covers various types i.e. Very short,  Short and Long questions, related to the topic so as to help the students with their preparation by helping them do an in-depth study of the topic.

• The chapter defines democracy and talks about its features in details.
• It distinguishes between the different forms of governments and tries to give students a justification of the statement why democracy.
• The Chapter also presents a number of case studies of different countries and their forms of government and tries to create awareness about the true meaning of the notion.
• The chapter also points out the arguments against the notion and proceeds with an aim to state the real and broader meaning of democracy.

Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Extra Questions are Answered in detail by our team of experts which includes teachers and professionals. These solutions have been compiled in an easy to understand manner, keeping in mind, the perspective of strong, and weak students. We are providing NCERT Solutions for Class 9  all subjects which can be accessed by  clicking here .

Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Extra Questions and Answers – Very Short Type Questions: [1-2 marks]

1. In which country there was a law that limited the right of the citizens to criticize the president? In which year did it gain Independence from the white minority? Name the party and the ruler of this country.

Ans) Zimbabwe, 1980, ZANU-PF, Robert Mugabe

2. Everyone should be ______ in the eyes of law and these rights must be protected by an ______ where orders are obeyed by everyone.

Ans) Equal, Independent Judiciary

3. Which government blocked the free flow of information by placing restrictions on popular websites like ‘Google’ and ‘Yahoo’?

Ans) Chinese Government

4. Which country has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to Russian community find it difficult to get the right to vote?

Ans) Estonia

5. Since Independence in 1930 this country holds elections after every 6 years to elect its presidents. Name the country.

Ans) Mexico

6. In China, elections are held after every 5 years for electing the country’s parliament called ___, ____, ____, _____ or National People’s Congress.

Ans) Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui

7. _______ is the smallest west Asian country where the ruling party and some of its allies are the only parties allowed in the country.

8. In Pakistan ______ led a ______ in the October 1999.

Ans) General Pervez Musharraf, Military Coup

9. Till 2015, who did not have the Right to Vote in the country Saudi Arabia?

10. Which country witnessed the worst recorded famine in the world history and during which period or years?

Ans) China, 1958-1961

11. Who gave the definition of democracy as of the people, by the people and for the people?

Ans) Abraham Lincoln

12. ______ is a direct vote in which the entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.

Ans) Referendum

Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Extra Questions and Answers – Short Type Questions: [2-4 marks]

1. What is meant by legal framework order? Who issued it?

Ans) A legal framework order refers to an order issued by the Chief Executive of Pakistan which gave him the power to terminate the national and provincial assemblies of the country. It was issued by General Pervez Musharraf.

2. What is PRI and what do you know about it?

Ans) PRI was a political party of Mexico, named Institutional Revolutionary Party which won every election till the year 2000 by using a number of malpractices like forcing candidates to vote for them with the help of various means like appealing with the help of government teachers etc., spending huge sums on election campaigns, shifting polling booths at last moment etc.

3. Give two arguments against democracy or list two disadvantages of having a democracy.

Ans) Even though democracy is considered one of the best forms of government still it has got a few disadvantages.

a) In a democracy, the power of election lies with the people.As a result, owing to a number of causes a leader is removed.As a result, changing the leaders regularly creates instability and the development processes are hampered. b) In a democratic form of government, it is a race for power among different parties.As a result, it often leads to corruption.

4. Why is democracy considered as one of the best forms of government?

Ans) Democracy is considered to be one of the best forms of government because in this form people rule themselves or can choose their own leaders by the process of elections. It also checks the power of the ruling party as they have the fear of losing power since elections are regularly held and the power is in the hands of the people.

5. Universal Adult Franchise is the right of the people. Name two countries and mention how they denied this right to their citizens.

Ans) Universal adult franchise means that all adults above the age of 18 should be given the right to vote without any discrimination.However, many countries for a long period of time did not conform to this. One of them is Saudi Arabia who denied voting rights to women till 2015. Even Estonia can be considered as one of the nation doing this injustice as rules were made in such a manner that the minority community of Russians found it difficult to vote.

6. Discuss how till the year 2000 Mexico cannot be considered as a democratic country.

Ans) Till the year 2000 Mexican people did not seem to have a real choice as all the elections were won by a party named PRI or Institutional Revolutionary Party. A number of malpractices were carried out, freedom of press was curbed and people could never vote this party out of power.As a result, even though regular elections took place and it was portrayed that choice was available, in reality it was the rule of one single party which ruled in an authoritarian way and left people with no real choice.

7. What is meant by the term of Rule of law?

Ans) Rule of law proposes that no one should be considered above the law and administrative decisions must be made only by keeping in mind the known legal and moral principles. The Rule of Law restricts the powers of Government by judicial defense of laws and the Constitution which is established on standard legal values.

8. What are the three important aspects of democracy?

Ans) Three important aspects of democracy are social, political and economic. Where in case of political aspect it talks about how free, fair and regular elections are to be held.In case of social, it talks about the equality of justice to all without discrimination and in case of economic it talks about welfare schemes for the under-privileged.

9. Pervez Musharraf’s government was far away from democracy.Explain.

Ans) Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in Pakistan in the year 1999 and started ruling the country according to his own wishes. He changed his designation from General to President, held a referendum,and issued a legal framework order. He changed the rules and laws and dominated every sphere. He made the final decision, powers lay entrusted with the army officials and ruled the country like a military dictator.

Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Extra Questions and Answers – Long Type Questions: [4-6 marks]

1. Give 4 essentials features of a democratic government. Give two examples of democracies.

Ans) Democracy is a type of government where people elect their own representatives and rule themselves. Few essential features of a democracy are as follows:

• Free and fair elections to be held under the concept of Universal adult franchise in a regular manner i.e. after every 5 years or 6 years as the case may be.
• In a democracy, the final decision-making power should vest with the people of the country and not with the ruling party.
• In a democracy, equality is the key norm and hence people should not be discriminated on any basis and everybody should have a fair chance in the election process.
• In a democracy there should be a system of checks and balances and no unit or body should have unlimited powers to prevent it from becoming authoritarian. For example, a strong independent judiciary.

India, America, Britain are few examples of democratic nations.

2. Point out 4 features of a non-democratic government. Also name two countries who portray themselves as democracies but actually are far away from the concept.

• In a non-democratic country people are either ruled by a dictator or a monarch and they are often not given the freedom to choose their own representatives.
• People often do not have even the basic rights like, freedom to practice one’s own religion, or the freedom of speech to raise voice against the government.
• In a non-democratic country, people often do not have the right to choose their own ways of living lives and are often forced to live according the wishes of the government.
• In a non-democratic country, regular change of ruling parties does not take place and a party rules till it wishes to or is removed by another with the help of violence.

Countries like China and Mexico who portrays themselves as democracies are actually not because they do not offer any real choice to the people of the nation to choose their representatives.

3. Describe the faults of the Chinese government system. And discuss what happened during the Chinese famine of 1958-61.

Ans) China is among those democratic countries in the world which does not really provide its people with an actual choice but runs on a mono-party system where people have to choose the ruling party and the candidates approved by it. The party is Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui or National people’s congress.

China is also one of the communist countries where the freedom of speech of people is curbedand the government has blocked the free flow of information by placing restrictions on popular websites like ‘Google’ and ‘Yahoo.’

In 1958 China was hit by world’s worst famine in history owing to which almost three crore people died and its economy was severely affected.

The Chinese government was proved to be failure in food security measures during the famine as according to the economists.Owing to the freedom of press and speech curtailed by the government the failure of the government was not highlighted and due to the lack of a strong opposition the ruling party never took seriously the conditions of the people,due to which many were forced below the poverty line after the famine.

4. Mention 4 steps in which Robert Mugabe controlled the nation to remain in power?

Ans) Robert Mugabe was the ruler of Zimbabwe and he took a number of steps to remain in power.

• He curbed the freedom of protest by people and declared public demonstrations, protests, rallies etc. as illegal.
• He made laws to curb the freedom of speech of people and the right to criticize government.
• The freedom of press was withdrawn and the media people were harassed and threatened and were forced to work for the government.
• Development of an opposition possessed to be a threat to him and as a result it was strictly prohibited and any opposition party members or leaders were severely harassed

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CBSE Class 9th Maths 2023 : 30 Most Important Case Study Questions with Answers; Download PDF

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CBSE Class 9 Maths exam 2022-23 will have a set of questions based on case studies in the form of MCQs. CBSE Class 9 Maths Question Bank on Case Studies given in this article can be very helpful in understanding the new format of questions.

Each question has five sub-questions, each followed by four options and one correct answer. Students can easily download these questions in PDF format and refer to them for exam preparation.

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CBSE Class 9 Mathematics Case Study Questions

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If you’re looking for a comprehensive and reliable study resource and case study questions for class 9 CBSE, myCBSEguide is the perfect door to enter. With over 10,000 study notes, solved sample papers and practice questions, it’s got everything you need to ace your exams. Plus, it’s updated regularly to keep you aligned with the latest CBSE syllabus . So why wait? Start your journey to success with myCBSEguide today!

Significance of Mathematics in Class 9

Mathematics is an important subject for students of all ages. It helps students to develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, and to think logically and creatively. In addition, mathematics is essential for understanding and using many other subjects, such as science, engineering, and finance.

CBSE Class 9 is an important year for students, as it is the foundation year for the Class 10 board exams. In Class 9, students learn many important concepts in mathematics that will help them to succeed in their board exams and in their future studies. Therefore, it is essential for students to understand and master the concepts taught in Class 9 Mathematics .

Case studies in Class 9 Mathematics

A case study in mathematics is a detailed analysis of a particular mathematical problem or situation. Case studies are often used to examine the relationship between theory and practice, and to explore the connections between different areas of mathematics. Often, a case study will focus on a single problem or situation and will use a variety of methods to examine it. These methods may include algebraic, geometric, and/or statistical analysis.

Example of Case study questions in Class 9 Mathematics

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has included case study questions in the Class 9 Mathematics paper. This means that Class 9 Mathematics students will have to solve questions based on real-life scenarios. This is a departure from the usual theoretical questions that are asked in Class 9 Mathematics exams.

The following are some examples of case study questions from Class 9 Mathematics:

Class 9 Mathematics Case study question 1

There is a square park ABCD in the middle of Saket colony in Delhi. Four children Deepak, Ashok, Arjun and Deepa went to play with their balls. The colour of the ball of Ashok, Deepak,  Arjun and Deepa are red, blue, yellow and green respectively. All four children roll their ball from centre point O in the direction of   XOY, X’OY, X’OY’ and XOY’ . Their balls stopped as shown in the above image.

Answer the following questions:

Answer Key:

Class 9 Mathematics Case study question 2

• Now he told Raju to draw another line CD as in the figure
• The teacher told Ajay to mark  ∠ AOD  as 2z
• Suraj was told to mark  ∠ AOC as 4y
• Clive Made and angle  ∠ COE = 60°
• Peter marked  ∠ BOE and  ∠ BOD as y and x respectively

Now answer the following questions:

• 2y + z = 90°
• 2y + z = 180°
• 4y + 2z = 120°
• (a) 2y + z = 90°

Class 9 Mathematics Case study question 3

• (a) 31.6 m²
• (c) 513.3 m³
• (b) 422.4 m²

Class 9 Mathematics Case study question 4

How to Answer Class 9 Mathematics Case study questions

To crack case study questions, Class 9 Mathematics students need to apply their mathematical knowledge to real-life situations. They should first read the question carefully and identify the key information. They should then identify the relevant mathematical concepts that can be applied to solve the question. Once they have done this, they can start solving the Class 9 Mathematics case study question.

Students need to be careful while solving the Class 9 Mathematics case study questions. They should not make any assumptions and should always check their answers. If they are stuck on a question, they should take a break and come back to it later. With some practice, the Class 9 Mathematics students will be able to crack case study questions with ease.

Class 9 Mathematics Curriculum at Glance

At the secondary level, the curriculum focuses on improving students’ ability to use Mathematics to solve real-world problems and to study the subject as a separate discipline. Students are expected to learn how to solve issues using algebraic approaches and how to apply their understanding of simple trigonometry to height and distance problems. Experimenting with numbers and geometric forms, making hypotheses, and validating them with more observations are all part of Math learning at this level.

The suggested curriculum covers number systems, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, mensuration, statistics, graphing, and coordinate geometry, among other topics. Math should be taught through activities that include the use of concrete materials, models, patterns, charts, photographs, posters, and other visual aids.

CBSE Class 9 Mathematics (Code No. 041)

Class 9 Mathematics question paper design

The CBSE Class 9 mathematics question paper design is intended to measure students’ grasp of the subject’s fundamental ideas. The paper will put their problem-solving and analytical skills to the test. Class 9 mathematics students are advised to go through the question paper pattern thoroughly before they start preparing for their examinations. This will help them understand the paper better and enable them to score maximum marks. Refer to the given Class 9 Mathematics question paper design.

QUESTION PAPER DESIGN (CLASS 9 MATHEMATICS)

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Class 9 is an important milestone in a student’s life. It is the last year of high school and the last chance to score well in the CBSE board exams. myCBSEguide is the perfect platform for students to get started on their preparations for Class 9 Mathematics. myCBSEguide provides comprehensive study material for all subjects, including practice questions, sample papers, case study questions and mock tests. It also offers tips and tricks on how to score well in exams. myCBSEguide is the perfect door to enter for class 9 CBSE preparations.

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14 thoughts on “CBSE Class 9 Mathematics Case Study Questions”

This method is not easy for me

aarti and rashika are two classmates. due to exams approaching in some days both decided to study together. during revision hour both find difficulties and they solved each other’s problems. aarti explains simplification of 2+ ?2 by rationalising the denominator and rashika explains 4+ ?2 simplification of (v10-?5)(v10+ ?5) by using the identity (a – b)(a+b). based on above information, answer the following questions: 1) what is the rationalising factor of the denominator of 2+ ?2 a) 2-?2 b) 2?2 c) 2+ ?2 by rationalising the denominator of aarti got the answer d) a) 4+3?2 b) 3+?2 c) 3-?2 4+ ?2 2+ ?2 d) 2-?3 the identity applied to solve (?10-?5) (v10+ ?5) is a) (a+b)(a – b) = (a – b)² c) (a – b)(a+b) = a² – b² d) (a-b)(a+b)=2(a² + b²) ii) b) (a+b)(a – b) = (a + b

MATHS PAAGAL HAI

All questions was easy but search ? hard questions. These questions was not comparable with cbse. It was totally wastage of time.

Where is search ? bar

maths is love

Can I have more questions without downloading the app.

I love math

Hello l am Devanshu chahal and l am an entorpinior. I am started my card bord business and remanded all the existing things this all possible by math now my business is 120 crore and my business profit is 25 crore in a month. l find the worker team because my business is going well Thanks

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CBSE Class 9 Maths Most Important Case Study Based Questions With Solution

Cbse class 9 mathematics case study questions.

In this post I have provided CBSE Class 9 Maths Case Study Based Questions With Solution. These questions are very important for those students who are preparing for their final class 9 maths exam.

All these questions provided in this article are with solution which will help students for solving the problems. Dear students need to practice all these questions carefully with the help of given solutions.

As you know CBSE Class 9 Maths exam will have a set of cased study based questions in the form of MCQs. CBSE Class 9 Maths Question Bank given in this article can be very helpful in understanding the new format of questions for new session.

All Of You Can Also Read

Case studies in class 9 mathematics.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has included case study based questions in the Class 9 Mathematics paper in current session. According to new pattern CBSE Class 9 Mathematics students will have to solve case based questions. This is a departure from the usual theoretical conceptual questions that are asked in Class 9 Maths exam in this year.

Each question provided in this post has five sub-questions, each followed by four options and one correct answer. All CBSE Class 9th Maths Students can easily download these questions in PDF form with the help of given download Links and refer for exam preparation.

There is many more free study materials are available at Maths And Physics With Pandey Sir website. For many more books and free study material all of you can visit at this website.

Given Below Are CBSE Class 9th Maths Case Based Questions With Their Respective Download Links.

CBSE Expert

CBSE Case Study Questions Class 9 Maths Chapter 6 Lines and Angles PDF Download

Case Study Questions Class 9 Maths Chapter 6  are very important to solve for your exam. Class 9 Maths Chapter 6 Case Study Questions have been prepared for the latest exam pattern. You can check your knowledge by solving  case study-based   questions for Class 9 Maths Chapter 6  Lines and Angles

CBSE Case Study Questions for Class 9 Maths Lines and Angles PDF

Case study questions class 9 maths chapter 6 lines and angles.

Case Study 1. A group of students is studying the concepts of lines and angles. They encountered the following scenario during their class:

A classroom has two parallel boards, Board A and Board B, on opposite walls. Two students, Rahul and Riya, are standing in the classroom, facing the boards. Rahul is standing between the two boards and looking at Board A, while Riya is standing near Board B and looking at Board A. They observed the following:

• Rahul and Riya are facing each other.
• Rahul’s left hand is pointing towards the ceiling.
• Riya’s right hand is pointing towards the floor.

Based on this information, the students were asked to analyze the angles formed by the hands of Rahul and Riya. Let’s see if you can answer the questions correctly:

Q1. The angle formed between Rahul’s left hand and his line of sight is a: (a) Right angle (b) Obtuse angle (c) Acute angle (d) Straight angle

Answer: (a) Right angle

Q2. The angle formed between Riya’s right hand and her line of sight is a: (a) Right angle (b) Obtuse angle (c) Acute angle (d) Straight angle

Q3. The angle between the hands of Rahul and Riya is a: (a) Complementary angle (b) Supplementary angle (c) Vertical angle (d) Adjacent angle

Answer: (c) Vertical angle

Q4. The angle formed between Rahul’s left hand and Riya’s right hand is a: (a) Complementary angle (b) Supplementary angle (c) Vertical angle (d) Adjacent angle

Answer: (b) Supplementary angle

Q5. The sum of all the angles formed by the hands of Rahul and Riya is: (a) 180 degrees (b) 360 degrees (c) 90 degrees (d) 270 degrees

Answer: (b) 360 degrees

Case Study 2. A group of students is learning about the properties of angles and the concepts of lines. During their study session, they encountered the following scenario:

In their classroom, there is a wall with a vertical line drawn on it. The line is intersected by a horizontal line, forming four angles. The students observed the following:

• The angle formed at the top-left corner is acute.
• The angle formed at the top-right corner is obtuse.
• The angle formed at the bottom-left corner is a right angle.
• The angle formed at the bottom-right corner is a straight angle.

Based on this information, the students were asked to analyze the angles formed by the intersecting lines. Let’s see if you can answer the questions correctly

Q1. The acute angle formed at the top-left corner measures: (a) 90 degrees (b) Less than 90 degrees (c) More than 90 degrees (d) It cannot be determined

Answer: (b) Less than 90 degrees

Q2. The obtuse angle formed at the top-right corner measures: (a) 90 degrees (b) Less than 90 degrees (c) More than 90 degrees (d) It cannot be determined

Answer: (c) More than 90 degrees

Q3. The right angle formed at the bottom-left corner measures: (a) 90 degrees (b) Less than 90 degrees (c) More than 90 degrees (d) It cannot be determined

Answer: (a) 90 degrees

Q4. The straight angle formed at the bottom-right corner measures: (a) 90 degrees (b) Less than 90 degrees (c) More than 90 degrees (d) It cannot be determined

Answer: (d) It cannot be determined

Q5. The sum of all the angles formed by the intersecting lines is: (a) 90 degrees (b) 180 degrees (c) 270 degrees (d) 360 degrees

Answer: (b) 180 degrees

Hope the information shed above regarding Case Study and Passage Based Questions for Case Study Questions Class 9 Maths Chapter 6 Lines and Angles with Answers Pdf free download has been useful to an extent. If you have any other queries about Case Study Questions Class 9 Maths Chapter 6 Lines and Angles and Passage-Based Questions with Answers, feel free to comment below so that we can revert back to us at the earliest possible.

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Case Study Questions Class 9 Science Motion

Case study questions class 9 science chapter 8 motion.

CBSE Class 9 Case Study Questions Science Motion. Important Case Study Questions for Class 9 Exam. Here we have arranged some Important Case Base Questions for students who are searching for Paragraph Based Questions Motion.

At Case Study Questions there will given a Paragraph. In where some Questions will made on that respective Case Based Study. There will various types of marks will given 1 marks, 2 marks, 3 marks or 4 marks.

CBSE Case Study Questions Class 9 Science – Motion

(1) Distance and displacement are two quantities that seem to mean the same but are different with different meanings and definitions. Distance is the measure of “how much distance an object has covered during its motion” while displacement refers to the measure of“how far the abject actually from initial place.” using this data answer following questions.

(i)Which of the following relation is always true when object moves in straight line

(a)distance is always equal to displacement

(b)distance is always greater than or equal to displacement

(c)distance is always lesser than or equal to displacement

(d)none of the above

(ii) Kapiltravels 20 km to North but then come back to South for 40 km to pick up a friend. Whatis kapil’s total distance?

(d) none of the above

(iii) Rahul travels 20 km to East but then come back to West for 10 km. Find displacement.

(iv) Define distance and displacement of particle.

(v) Write difference between distance and displacement

Answer key -1

(iv) Distance and displacement are two quantities that seem to mean the same but are different with different meanings and definitions. Distance is the measure of “how much distance an object has covered during its motion” while displacement refers to the measure of “how far the abject actually from initial place.”

(v) difference between distance and displacement is given by

(2 ) Answer the following questions by observing following diagram

(i ) What is distance and displacement when particle moves from point A to B?

(a)distance is equal to displacement

(b)distance is greater than and equal to displacement

(c)distance is lesser than and equal to displacement

(ii)What is Displacement when particle moves from point A to D?

(iii) What is Displacement when particle moves from point A to C through A-B-C?

(c) 10√2 km

(iv) Find distance covered when particle moves in path ABCDA i.e. starts from A and ends at A?

(v) Find Displacement covered when particle moves in path ABCDA i.e. starts from A and ends at A?

ANSWER KEY-2

(3) The speed of an object is the distance covered per unit time,and velocity is the displacement per unit time.To specify the speed of anobject, we require only its magnitude while Velocity is the speed of an object moving in adefinite direction.

(i) S.I unit of speed is

(d) none of these

(ii) Which of the following is true

(a)speed is scalar

(b)velocity is vector

(c)both a and b

(d)none of these

(iii) To specify speed we require

(a)magnitude

(b)direction

(c)both magnitude and direction

(iv) Define speed and velocity of  particle.

(v)Differentiate between speed and velocity.

Answer key-3

(iv)The speed of an object is the distance covered by object per unit time.Velocity is defined as the displacement by particle per unit time.

(v) Difference between speed and velocity.

(4) The speed of an object need not be constant. In most cases, objects will be in non-uniform

motion. Thereforewe describe the rate of motion of such objects in terms of their average speed. The average speed of an object is obtained by dividing the total distance travelled by the total time taken. That is, average speed =total distance travelled / total time taken. Answer the following.

(i)An object travels 20 m in 5 s and then another 20 m in 5s. What is the average speed in m/s of the object?

(d) None of these

(ii) An object travels 20 m in 5 s and then another 40 m in 5s. What is the average speed in m/s of the object?

(d)None of these

(iii)A man starts walking from a point P on a circular field of radius 7 km and after 1 hour later he comes to same point P after one complete round. find his speed. (take pi=22/7)

(a) 30km/hr

(b) 40km/hr

(c) 44km/hr

(d) 33km/hr

(iv) A man travelled on square field of side 10m .he completed one round of field by taking time 2s, 3s 1s and 2s respectively for each side. Find his average speed.

(v) Define average speed.write its formula and SI unit

Answer key-4

(v) The average speed of an object is obtained by dividing the total distance travelled by the total time taken. That is, average speed =total distance travelled / total time taken.Its SI unit is given by  m/s.

(5) We know that the circumference of a circle of radius r is given by . If the body takes

t seconds to go once around the circular path of radius r, the speed v is given by

When an object moves in a circular path with uniform speed, its motion is called

uniform circular motion. Refer the paragraph and answer the following questions

(i) What happens when a body is moving with constant speed?

(a)acceleration is non uniform

(b)velocity is uniform

(c)velocity is changing

(ii) Cyclist on circular track with constant speed is example of

(a)uniform circular motion

(b)nonuniform circular motion

(iii) Which of the following changes whenbody performsuniform circular motion?

(b)direction of velocity

(iv) Define uniform circular motion. Give 2 examples of uniform circular motion

(v) Give the name of device used for measurement of speed of rotation

Answer key -5

(iv) When an object moves in a circular path with uniform speed, its motion is calleduniform circular motion. Rotation of hour hand of clock and motion of fan at constant speed are examples of uniform circular motion.

(v) Odometers and speedometers are two of the many instruments used to measure speed of rotation.

Plz put more difficult these all are very much easy.

But all over excellent

Yes we have think also it. This year we will put more hard.

A bit hard question may be helpful

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Class 9th Social Science - The French Revolution Case Study Questions and Answers 2022 - 2023

By QB365 on 09 Sep, 2022

QB365 provides a detailed and simple solution for every Possible Case Study Questions in Class 9th Social Science Subject - The French Revolution, CBSE. It will help Students to get more practice questions, Students can Practice these question papers in addition to score best marks.

QB365 - Question Bank Software

The french revolution case study questions with answer key.

9th Standard CBSE

Final Semester - June 2015

Social Science

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow: Some of the basic rights set forth in Olympe de Gouges’ Declaration. 1. Woman is born free and remains equal to man in rights. 2. The goal of all political associations is the preservation of the natural rights of woman and man: These rights are liberty, property, security, and above all resistance to oppression. 3. The source of all sovereignty resides in the nation, which is nothing but the union of woman and man. 4. The law should be the expression of the general will; all female and male citizens should have a say either personally or by their representatives in its formulation; it should be the same for all. All female and male citizens are equally entitled to all honours and public employment according to their abilities and without any other distinction than that of their talents. 5. No woman is an exception; she is accused, arrested, and detained in cases determined by law. Women, like men, obey this rigorous law. (a) How did Olympe de Gouges, view women? (b) What should be the goal of all political associations according to her? (c) What was her opinion about law?

*****************************************

The french revolution case study questions with answer key answer keys.

(a) Olympe de Gouges opined that woman was born free and, therefore, she should remain equal to man in rights. There should not be any disparity between both the sexes. (b) According to Olympe de Gouges, the goal of all political associations should be the preservation of all the natural rights (liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression) of woman and man. (c) She was of the opinion that the law should be the expression of the general will. All female and male citraens should have a say either personally or by their representatives in its formulation, it should be the same for all.

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Class 9 Science Case Study Questions Chapter 1 Matter in our Surroundings

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Case study Questions in Class 9 Science Chapter 1 are very important to solve for your exam. Class 9 Science Chapter 1 Case Study Questions have been prepared for the latest exam pattern. You can check your knowledge by solving Class 9 Science Case Study Questions  Chapter 1 Matter in our Surroundings

Join our Telegram Channel, there you will get various e-books for CBSE 2024 Boards exams for Class 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th.

In CBSE Class 9 Science Paper, Students will have to answer some questions based on Assertion and Reason. There will be a few questions based on case studies and passage-based as well. In that, a paragraph will be given, and then the MCQ questions based on it will be asked.

Matter in our Surroundings Case Study Questions With Answers

Here, we have provided case-based/passage-based questions for Class 9 Science  Chapter 1 Matter in our Surroundings

Case Study/Passage-Based Questions

Case Study 1: There are three states of matter – solid, liquid, and gas.

Solids  have a definite shape, distinct boundaries, and fixed volumes, that is, have negligible compressibility. Solids have a tendency to maintain their shape when subjected to outside force. Solids may break under force but it is difficult to change their shape, so they are rigid.

Liquids  have no fixed shape but have a fixed volume. They take up the shape of the container in which they are kept. Liquids flow and change shape, so they are not rigid but can be called fluid.

Gas  has an indefinite shape and no fixed volume. Gas gets the shape and volume of the container.Gas has a very low density and hence is light. Gas can flow easily and hence is called fluid.

i.) Which of the following state of matter takes the shape of the container in which it is filled?

d.) Both b and c

Answer: d.) Both b and c

ii.) Distance between particles of matter least in

d.) None of these

Answer: a.) Solid

iii.) Compressibility is least in case of

Case Study 2: Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass. It exists in various forms, such as solid, liquid, and gas. The physical properties of matter, such as shape, size, and state, can be observed and measured. The particles that makeup matter are constantly in motion, and their motion determines the state of matter. In a solid, the particles are tightly packed and have a fixed shape and volume. In a liquid, the particles are close together but can move past each other, giving the substance a fixed volume but no fixed shape. In a gas, the particles are far apart and move freely, allowing the substance to occupy any volume and shape. Matter can undergo changes in its state through the processes of evaporation, condensation, melting, and freezing. Understanding the properties and behavior of matter is essential for studying various scientific phenomena and practical applications in our daily lives.

What is matter? a) Anything that occupies space and has mass b) Anything that is visible to the naked eye c) Anything that is in a solid state d) Anything that is in a gaseous state Answer: a) Anything that occupies space and has mass

What determines the state of matter? a) Physical properties b) Chemical properties c) The motion of particles d) The color of the substance Answer: c) The motion of particles

How are particles arranged in a solid? a) Far apart and move freely b) Close together but can move past each other c) Tightly packed and have a fixed shape d) Tightly packed but have no fixed shape Answer: c) Tightly packed and have a fixed shape

What is the behavior of particles in a gas? a) They are far apart and move freely b) They are close together but can move past each other c) They are tightly packed and have a fixed shape d) They are tightly packed but have no fixed shape Answer: a) They are far apart and move freely

What processes can matter undergo to change its state? a) Evaporation, condensation, melting, and freezing b) Dissolution, combustion, sublimation, and oxidation c) Fermentation, photosynthesis, respiration, and digestion d) Oxidation, reduction, precipitation, and ionization Answer: a) Evaporation, condensation, melting, and freezing

Hope the information shed above regarding Case Study and Passage Based Questions for Class 9 Science Chapter 1 Matter in our Surroundings with Answers Pdf free download has been useful to an extent. If you have any other queries about CBSE Class 9 Science Matter in our Surroundings Case Study and Passage Based Questions with Answers, feel free to comment below so that we can revert back to us at the earliest possible By Team Study Rate

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Mexico’s election: A victory for organised crime

Under Claudia Sheinbaum’s presidency, organised crime will likely be calling the shots.

On June 2, Mexico elected Claudia Sheinbaum as its first woman president. The 61-year-old scientist served as mayor of Mexico City from 2018 until 2023 and is the protégée of outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), to whose Morena party she belongs and in whose shadow she will now govern.

In the largest election in Mexico’s history, Sheinbaum faced off against ex-senator Xóchitl Gálvez, head of a conservative coalition. In addition to the presidential race, Mexicans also voted for candidates contesting more than 20,700 federal and local positions countrywide.

In the run-up to the election, observers relentlessly cast the prospect of an impending female head of state in Mexico as a victory for women’s empowerment, although a glance at facts on the ground suggests the prematurity of any such celebration.

Back in 2019, Sheinbaum, the first female mayor of Mexico City, promised to eradicate violence against women. During her tenure, however, the femicide epidemic in the Mexican capital – and the rest of the country – continued to rage.

Mexico currently sees at least 10 women and girls killed on a daily basis, with tens of thousands of women missing. The vast majority of femicides go unprosecuted.

Of course, the surge in femicides occurs within a general context of violence; in the first four and a half years of AMLO’s term, Mexico registered 160,594 homicides, while the estimated number of missing people has now surpassed 111,000 – a figure AMLO has preferred to drastically lowball.

The outgoing president has also found it prudent to accuse people overly concerned with the search for the missing of suffering from “delirium of necrophilia”.

The violence extends to the political realm, too. More than two dozen candidates were assassinated ahead of the June 2 polls, and hundreds more dropped out of their races. In April, two mayoral contenders were found dead on a single day.

Some might go as far as to call it a “delirium of necrophilia”.

The pre-electoral spike in political killings is attributed primarily to cartels and other organised crime outfits conducting their own form of elections – if you will – by eliminating unfriendly candidates. After all, there is no time like the biggest election in Mexican history to show who will really be calling the shots in the coming years.

In March, for example, the mayor of the diminutive coastal town of Zipolite in Mexico’s southern Oaxaca state – my intermittent home – was fatally shot in broad daylight outside the local municipality building. The incident went almost entirely unreported in the Mexican press, but the rumour in town was that “they” had warned him – “they” being the dominant drug trafficking group in the area, whose operations the mayor was apparently endeavouring to obstruct.

I left Zipolite in April but recently phoned a Mexican friend there to inquire about candidates for the mayor’s replacement. His response: “No one wants the job.”

Multiply the case of Zipolite across the entire expanse of Mexico, and you get an idea, perhaps, of just how “free” Sunday’s election really was.

And while the United States prefers to categorically blame Mexico’s violence on drug cartels and end the discussion there, the truth of the matter is that the US itself plays an outsize role in maintaining the violent landscape south of the border. For one thing, the simultaneous demand for and criminalisation of drugs in the US is what spawned the whole cartel business in the first place.

Add to that the US demand for undocumented labour and criminalisation of migration, on which front AMLO has been only too eager to do the gringos’ dirty work – a pattern Sheinbaum will no doubt continue.

As unprecedented numbers of asylum seekers now traverse Mexico to reach the US, drug trafficking outfits have expanded their services to include people smuggling, as well. People on the move are abused and extorted at every turn by agents of the state and organised crime groups alike, often working in cahoots.

I had the opportunity to experience such collaborative efforts firsthand when in March I drove from Oaxaca to the neighbouring state of Chiapas to pick up two young Venezuelan friends of mine who had just crossed into Mexico from Guatemala. I had initially offered to pay acquaintances in Chiapas to retrieve them from the border but had been politely informed: “If we pick up migrants, the cartels will kill us.”

Our ensuing daylong odyssey entailed extortion by every possible branch of the Mexican immigration and security apparatus, including AMLO’s beloved National Guard, three members of which cornered us in a car park with their pick-up truck after having been tipped off by migrant smugglers that I was interfering with business.

Disgruntled to hear that all of my pesos had already been distributed to other Mexican officials, the National Guard officers suggested that I proceed to a nearby petrol station to conduct a hefty payment on my credit card, which the station attendant would then pass along to the officers in cash.

Created in 2019, the National Guard has been accused of torture, extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances and sexual violence against asylum seekers. Now, Sheinbaum has optimistically expressed her hope that the National Guard will “be closer to the public, act like a local police, really become the first responders”.

Speaking of criminal actors, Sheinbaum also hopes to boost cooperation with the US in the realm of so-called “free trade” despite the concept’s rather sordid history in Mexico. Recall that the implementation of the US-imposed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 destroyed millions of livelihoods in the country while fuelling poverty and forcing countless Mexicans into narco-trafficking-related jobs in order to survive. That is when lethal violence against women soared .

Anyway, what is US-imposed capitalism if not very organised crime?

As Mexico now prepares for a new administration, it is safe to assume that violence, official corruption, and impunity will remain the name of the game. A woman may have won the Mexican election, but the real winner is organised crime – in every sense of the term.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

• Open access
• Published: 07 June 2024

Preclinical obesity curriculum: audit, implementation, and evaluation

• Amber Olson 1 ,
• Rosanna Watowicz 2 ,
• Eileen Seeholzer 3 ,
• Katherine Lyons 3 ,
• W. Scott Butsch 4 &
• Colleen Croniger 2  

BMC Medical Education volume  24 , Article number:  639 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

This study aimed to (1) evaluate the current status of obesity education at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (CWRU) (2), introduce a comprehensive first-year curriculum on obesity, and (3) assess the impact of the curriculum on self-reported attitudes and knowledge regarding obesity among first-year medical students.

The preclinical curriculum at CWRU was reviewed to determine the degree of coverage of Obesity Medicine Education Collaborative (OMEC) competencies for healthcare professionals, and recommendations were provided for revising the curriculum to better adhere to these evidence-based competencies. A survey on obesity attitudes and knowledge was given before and after the implementation of the new curriculum to measure intervention-related changes. Changes in obesity attitudes and knowledge were compared (1) before and after the intervention for the class of 2025 and (2) after the intervention for the class of 2025 to a historical cohort that did not receive the intervention.

Among the 27 competencies examined in the audit, 55% were unmet and 41% were partially met. Of 186 first-year medical students (M1s), 29 (16%) completed the baseline survey and 26 (14%) completed the post-intervention survey. Following the intervention, there was a notable improvement in attitudes and knowledge regarding obesity. Specifically, there was a significant decrease in the belief that obesity is caused by poor personal choices, and knowledge of obesity in fourteen out of fifteen areas showed significant improvement from pre- to post-intervention. Additionally, obesity attitudes and knowledge were significantly better post-intervention when compared to the historical cohort.

Conclusions

The improvements made to the preclinical curriculum through this project improved obesity attitudes and knowledge among first-year medical students. This method provides a practical approach for evaluating and enhancing obesity education in medical school curricula.

Peer Review reports

Obesity is a complex chronic disease that impacts over 41.9% of the US adult population, with higher rates seen in minority groups [ 1 ]. Its prevalence is on the rise, with estimate medical costs related to obesity in the United States reaching $173 billion in 2019 [ 2 ]. Obesity’s detrimental health effects extend to every organ, making it one of the largest contributors to preventable, noncommunicable diseases like heart disease, stroke, and cancer [ 1 ].

Despite obesity’s prevalence, cost, and adverse health effects, medical students lack education about obesity and training in obesity management. In 2007, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) published a Contemporary Issues in Medicine Report VIII entitled The Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity and concluded that future physicians needed to be better prepared through their medical education to provide respective, effective care of patients with overweight and obesity [ 3 ]. Despite this recommendation, little progress has been made on improving obesity education [ 4 , 5 ].

A 2020 study aiming to describe the state of obesity education in undergraduate medical education illustrates the need for obesity education reform in medical schools [ 6 ]. They found that only 10% of medical schools reported their students are very prepared to treat patients with obesity [ 7 ]. One-third of schools reported they had no obesity education program in place and no plans to develop one, and half of schools reported obesity education to be a low priority or not a priority at all [ 7 ]. The greatest barrier to incorporating obesity education was lack of room in the curriculum [ 7 ] Studies of obesity coverage in graduate medical education have shown that obesity is similarly neglected during residency training [ 8 , 9 ].

The Obesity Medicine Education Collaborative (OMEC) competencies provided an opportunity (1) to compare the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (CWRU) curriculum with accepted standards for obesity education and (2) to implement reforms to better adhere to these competencies. Spearheaded in 2016 by the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA), The Obesity Society (TOS), and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the OMEC competencies were created as the first set of obesity-related competencies that are based on the Six Core Domain Competencies of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) that are used in both undergraduate and graduate medical education programs [ 10 ].

This study had three objectives. First, this study assessed the state of obesity education at CWRU by evaluating adherence to OMEC competencies through a comprehensive audit. Second, this study implemented a first-year obesity preclinical curriculum to better adhere to OMEC competencies. Third, a survey tool was administered both before and after the implementation of the curriculum to evaluate the self-reported change of attitudes toward and knowledge of obesity among first-year medical students.

This study was conducted at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (CWRU) in Cleveland, OH and approved by the Case Western Reserve University Institutional Review Board. Informed consent was obtained from all participants in the study.

CWRU’s current preclinical curriculum was systematically assessed to determine the coverage of OMEC competencies. The CWRU preclinical curriculum is divided into 8 blocks (Table  1 ). All components of each block—including lectures, multiple-choice questions, team-based learning sessions, Case Inquiry (IQ) sessions, end-of-week free response questions, anatomy and radiology sessions, histopathology sessions, doctoring seminars, communication workshops, and physical diagnosis sessions—were reviewed. Both required and elective components of the curriculum were reviewed. One member of the research team (A.O.) reviewed all components of the curriculum and made the determination about the level of coverage. The audit determined the coverage of 27 OMEC competencies among five core domains: patient care and procedural skills, medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and system-based practice. A Likert scale was developed by the OMEC from 1 (no coverage) to 5 (full coverage), and this scale was used to rate the degree of implementation of each competency. The OMEC core domain entitled practice-based learning and improvement was not included in this audit, as it was determined that this core domain is not relevant to the preclinical curriculum at CWRU. If a competency scored 1, it was determined that the competency was unmet. If a competency scored 2–3, it was determined that the competency was partially met. If a competency scored 4–5, it was determined that the competency was met.

New preclinical curriculum

Based on the results of the audit, evidence-based recommendations were made for the revision of current curricular content and the addition of new curricular content to better adhere to the OMEC competencies. Recommendation sheets were emailed to all block leaders in the CWRU curriculum. Meetings were held with each block leader to discuss the recommendation sheets in detail. The number and types of recommendations that were made can be viewed in Table  1 .

Several large additions were made to the existing CWRU preclinical curriculum. Two, two-hour team-based learning sessions were held on November 17, 2021 (Obesity Pathogenesis) and January 19, 2022 (Obesity Treatment) for all first-year medical students. The sessions were facilitated by two obesity medicine physicians, a dietitian, a professor in nutrition, and a second-year medical student [ 11 ]. A standardized patient was also incorporated into a communication workshop for students to practice counseling patients with obesity. Each student engaged in a standardized patient encounter to practice motivational interviewing regarding lifestyle changes. Each student was then assessed on their performance and given feedback. The new curriculum began with the class of 2025, starting at the beginning of their M1 year.

A questionnaire on attitudes toward and knowledge of obesity was administered before and after the implementation of the obesity curriculum to gauge intervention-related changes (see Additional File 1 ). After reviewing the existing literature on tools used to assess attitudes toward and knowledge of obesity, a 37-item Likert scale questionnaire was created. Twenty-two items inquired about attitudes toward obesity, based on the NEW Attitudes Scale [ 12 ]. Respondents were asked about their extent of agreement using a Likert scale from 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree). The section on obesity knowledge consisted of fifteen competencies, based on the Medical School Curriculum Benchmark Study [ 7 ]. Respondents were asked to rate their knowledge of each competency using a Likert scale from 1 (not at all knowledgeable) to 4 (very knowledgeable). The baseline questionnaire was administered via email by the CWRU Department of Nutrition in August 2021, which was the beginning of M1 for the class of 2025 and the beginning of M2 for the class of 2024. After the obesity curriculum was carried out during the 2021–2022 academic year, the post-intervention questionnaire was administered in August 2022, at the beginning of M2 for the class of 2025, to assess for changes in attitudes toward and knowledge of obesity after the implementation of the obesity medicine curriculum. Study data was collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools hosted at Case Western Reserve University [ 13 ].

A composite self-perceived knowledge score (out of 60) was computed by taking the sum of the obesity knowledge questions. Because responses were anonymous, baseline questionnaire data could not be paired with post-questionnaire data. Because unpaired t-tests have been used in other studies to determine the effect of a medical education intervention when pairing was not available, we decided to use unpaired t-tests in this study to assess the short-term impact of our intervention [ 14 ]. Since a high number of hypothesis tests were being conducted, we decided a priori to use a conservative p -value of < 0.01 to establish statistical significance. The change in obesity attitudes and knowledge was compared (1) pre- to post-intervention for the class of 2025 and (2) post-intervention for the class of 2025 to a historical cohort without the intervention ( p -value < 0.01). The pre- to post-intervention comparison gives a sense of where the new curriculum may have improved obesity attitudes and knowledge. Comparing the class of 2025 post-intervention to the historical comparison cohort at the same time point (class of 2024) provides stronger evidence for the impact of the new curriculum. Analysis was conducted with JASP.

Of all 27 OMEC competencies studied in the audit (Table  2 ), 15 (55%) were unmet in the CWRU curriculum and 11 (41%) were partially met. Only 1 competency—obesity-related comorbidities—was met in the CWRU curriculum.

Attitudes toward obesity

Of 186 M1s in the intervention cohort, 29 (16%) completed the baseline survey and 26 (14%) completed the post-intervention survey. Of 184 M2s in the historical comparison cohort, 51 (28%) completed the baseline survey. After this intervention, attitudes toward obesity improved. Mean scores for attitudes toward obesity both before and after the intervention, as well as compared to the historical comparison cohort are presented in Table  3 . Notably, the attitude that obesity is caused by poor personal choices decreased significantly from baseline to post-intervention (2.86 vs. 1.89, p  < 0.001), representing a decrease in stigma, and was significantly less than the historical comparison cohort (2.75, p  < 0.001). Confidence in treating obesity increased significantly from baseline to post-intervention (2.66 vs. 3.58, p  < 0.01) and was significantly greater than the historical comparison cohort (2.45, p  < 0.001). Perceived self-efficacy in treating obesity also increased significantly from baseline to post-intervention (2.38 vs. 3.42, p  < 0.001) and was significantly greater than the historical comparison cohort (2.45, p  < 0.001). This intervention did not change students’ personal desires to counsel patients about weight management, nor did it change the students’ attitude regarding obesity as a disease. Surprisingly, students largely agreed that it is important to counsel patients about weight management and that obesity is a disease, even prior to the intervention.

Knowledge of obesity

After this intervention, knowledge about obesity also improved. Mean scores for knowledge of obesity both before and after the intervention, as well as compared to the historical comparison cohort are presented in Table  4 ; Fig.  1 . Knowledge of obesity in fourteen out of fifteen areas – medical history, physical exam, behavior change, epidemiology, energy homeostasis, body composition, etiologies, comorbidities, nutrition, physical activity, behavioral interventions, pharmacology, surgery, and language – increased significantly from baseline to post-intervention. When comparing the post-intervention group to the historical comparison cohort, obesity knowledge was significantly higher in the post-intervention group in thirteen out of fifteen categories. Knowledge of the physical exam and body composition was not significantly different between the post-intervention group and the historical comparison cohort. The composite knowledge score (out of 60) increased significantly from baseline to post-intervention (27.90 vs. 45.69, p  < 0.001) and was significantly greater than the historical comparison cohort (32.49, p  < 0.001).

Knowledge of obesity pre- and post-intervention with comparison to historical cohort

*post-test vs. historical control p  < 0.01

Obesity is one of the most pressing US public health concerns. Yet there remains a lack of sufficient obesity education in medical training. This curricular improvement project enhanced self-reported attitudes toward and knowledge of obesity among first-year medical students at CWRU, offering a practical mechanism to introduce more obesity education into undergraduate medical curricula.

A 2021 review of the state of obesity education found only 17 high-quality studies since 1982 that have attempted to improve obesity education at the undergraduate medical level, and only seven of these studies included first-year medical students [ 15 ]. Based on their review of the 17 studies, the authors suggested several important qualities in any obesity medical education intervention: teaching behavior change techniques, using small group sessions, using in-person learning, teaching obesity pathophysiology, and placing the intervention in the preclinical years of medical school [ 15 ]. Our intervention was able to implement all of these recommendations.

This study has several strengths. Our study is the only study to date that evaluates the implementation of a comprehensive obesity preclinical curriculum. The use of a historical control group also improved our ability to make interpretations about the effect of the new curriculum on obesity attitudes and knowledge. There are also several limitations to this present study. First, a new questionnaire was implemented. Although adapted from a validated tool, this questionnaire does not yet have established reliability or validity among this population. This questionnaire also relied on self-reported beliefs and knowledge, which may vary from actual attitudes and knowledge. As this was an optional survey with no incentive, there was a low response rate, which may limit the power to detect statistical significance. In addition, although we were able to verify the implementation of all of the large changes, we were not able to verify the implementation of all of the recommendations (see Table  1 ). It is possible that a limited number of recommendations were never implemented.

Moving forward, there are several improvements that can be made to this curriculum. First, the curriculum needs to better address both [ 1 ] body composition and [ 2 ] the physical exam in patients with obesity. Knowledge in both of these areas was not significantly different post-intervention vs. the historical cohort. Second, all recommendations need to be verified and reinforced to ensure the fidelity and sustainability of the curriculum. Finally, the curriculum needs to be extended into the clinical years, in order to continue obesity education throughout all years of medical school.

This study showed that first-year medical student self-reported attitudes toward obesity and knowledge of obesity significantly improved after a preclinical obesity curriculum was implemented. This curriculum provides a model for other medical schools to follow in improving their own curricula. Making small changes throughout the entire preclinical curriculum is both a practical and innovative route toward increasing obesity education. Improved obesity education at the undergraduate medical level will serve to create a generation of physicians that are more confident and competent in obesity management.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

Obesity Medicine Education Collaborative

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

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Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA

Amber Olson

Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA

Rosanna Watowicz & Colleen Croniger

Adult Weight Loss Surgery & Weight Management Center, MetroHealth System, Cleveland, OH, USA

Eileen Seeholzer & Katherine Lyons

Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

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Contributions

AO was responsible for completing the audit, designing the study, analyzing the data, creating the new curriculum, and drafting and editing the manuscript. RW, ES, KL, WSB, and CC were responsible for designing the study, creating the new curriculum, and editing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Amber Olson .

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Olson, A., Watowicz, R., Seeholzer, E. et al. Preclinical obesity curriculum: audit, implementation, and evaluation. BMC Med Educ 24 , 639 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05606-9

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Received : 16 October 2023

Accepted : 27 May 2024

Published : 07 June 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05606-9

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