UNIT 5

Other than these six parties, most of the

major parties of the country are classified
by the Election Commission as ‘State
parties’. These are commonly referred
to as regional parties
Parties like
the Samajwadi Party, Samata Party and
Rashtriya Janata Dal have national level
political organisation with units in several
states. Some of these parties like Biju
Janata Dal, Sikkim Democratic Front
and Mizo National Front are conscious
about their State identity
Q6. +

Q3. What is democracy? What are its various characteristics?

Ans
. Democracy is formed by two Greek words ‘‘demos’’ and “kratia”. “Demos” means people and
“kratia” means the government. Democracy, thus, means “rule by the people”. In a democratic set-
up, every citizen has the right to take a part in the decision-making process. It is a form of
government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or
by their elected agents under a free electoral system. Characteristics of democracy: (i) It promotes
equality among citizens. (ii) It looks after the interest of the people. (iii) It allows room to correct
mistakes.

Q7.
Democracy is a better form of government when compared with dictatorship or any other
alternatives because it promotes equality among citizens, enhances the dignity of the individuals,
improves the quality of decision-making, etc

Q24. Democracy has not been successful in reducing economic inequalities. Give reasons to support
your answer. (HOTS)
Ans. (i) The wealth and means are accumulated in hands of a few people and their share in the total
income of the country has been increasing. (ii) However, the people at the bottom of society find it
difficult to meet even their basic needs of life such as food, clothing, house, education and health.
Not only that, their incomes have been declining. (iii) The deprived people are a large ratio of voters
and no party will like to lose their votes. (iv) Yet democratically elected governments do not appear
to be attentive to the cause of the poor. Thus democracies do not appear to be very successful in
reducing economic inequalities.