Class 9th - Civics Full Explanation

Class - IX
Notes
Complete
Civics
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Class 10th - History
What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
Full Chapter Explanation
Class 9th - Civics - What is Democracy? Why Democracy? - Full Chapter Explanation
What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
With the help of these questions we can understand

democratic government and non-democratic government.
What we are going to study in this chapter?
❖ What is democracy?
❖ Features of democracy
➢ Major decisions by elected leaders
➢ Free and Fair electoral competition
➢ One person, one vote, one value
➢ Rule of law and respect of rights
➢ Summary definition
❖ Why democracy? - Arguments against democracy
❖ Why democracy? - Argument for democracy
❖ Broader meanings of democracy

What is Democracy?
“Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.”
The definition is helpful for us to separate democracy from all forms of

non-democratic governments but it is not adequate.
● It reminds us that democracy is people’s rule.

● But if we use this definition in an unthinking manner, we would end up calling almost
every government that holds an election a democracy.
Explain
● We need to carefully distinguish between a government that is a democracy and one that
pretends to be one.
Why?
● We can do so by understanding each word in this definition carefully and spelling out the
features of a democratic government.
Major Decisions by Elected Leaders
In October, 1999, Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf
Led 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.
● Protest against referendum.
Legal framework order, 2002
● Amended the Constitution of Pakistan.

● According to this Order, the President can dismiss the national and provincial assemblies.
● The work of the civilian cabinet is supervised by a National Security Council which is
dominated by military officers.
● Elections were held in Pakistan, but the final power rested with military officers and General
Musharraf himself.
Analyse Why Pakistan under General Musharraf should not be called a democracy?
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 regularly held after every five years for electing the country’s parliament.
Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (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.
● 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 held in 2002-03.
● The government is always formed by the Communist Party.
In Mexico
● Since its independence in 1930, Mexico holds elections after every six years to elect its President.
● The country has never been under a military or dictator’s rule.
● But until 2000 every election was won by a party called PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party).
What’s wrong in it?
The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win elections.
Explain
China’s case Mexico’s case
Should we consider the elections described above as

examples of people electing their rulers? No
What can be conclude?
A 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
➔ This principle has now come to be accepted almost all over the world. Yet there are many
instances of denial of 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 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.
Conclusion
● Democracy is based on a fundamental principle of political equality.
Explain
In a democracy, each adult citizen

must have one vote and each vote
must have one value.
Rule of Law and Respect for Rights
● Zimbabwe attained independence from

White minority rule in 1980.
➔ ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom

struggle. Its leader, Robert Mugabe, ruled
the country since independence.
➔ Elections were held regularly and always
won by ZANU-PF.
Then what is the problem?

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.
➔ Television and radio were controlled by the government and gave only the ruling party’s
version.
➔ The government ignored some court judgments that went against it and pressurised judges.
Robert Mugabe was forced out of office in 2017.
Analyse
The example of Zimbabwe
● Popular governments can be undemocratic.

● Popular leaders can be autocratic.
● It is important to look at the elections. But it is equally important to
look before and after the elections.
Explain
A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional

law and citizens’ rights.
Features of Democracy: Summary Definition
Features
● 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.
Why Democracy? - Arguments against Democracy
What are the disadvantages/demerits of 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
It is not a magical solution for all the problems.
How?
● The democracy may not be the ideal form of government, but the
question we face in the real life is different.
Is democracy better than other forms of government that are there

for us to choose from?
Why Democracy? - Arguments for Democracy
Advantages/merits of democracy
● A democratic government is a better government because it is a more

accountable form of government.
● Democracy improves the quality of decision-making.
● Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.
● Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
● Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows
us to correct its own mistakes.
China’s famine of 1958 - 1961
● The worst recorded famine in world history.

Situation in India
● Nearly three crore people died in this famine.
Questions
The existence of democracy in India made the Indian government respond

to food scarcity in a way that the Chinese government did not.
Better than any other form of government in responding

Democracy
to the needs of the people.
● A nondemocratic government may and can respond to the people’s needs, but it all
depends on the wishes of the people who rule.
● 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 Democracy is based on consultation and discussion.
● When a number of people put their heads together, they are able to point out
possible mistakes in any decision.
● This reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions.
Thus democracy improves the quality of decision-making.

Democracy Diversity Differences of opinions and interests.
At times, this can lead to conflicts.
How do we resolve such a conflict?
Powerful groups can suppress the Democracy

less powerful and dominate.
Different groups can live with

!! Resentment and Unhappiness!! one another peacefully.
Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.

Democracy Even if democracy does not bring about better decisions and
accountable government, it is still better than other forms of
government.
Why?
Because it does a lot to the citizens.
● 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.
Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.

● There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in democracy.
But in democracy there is a space for public discussion on these mistakes and there
is a room for correction.
Either the rulers have to change their decisions, or the rulers can be changed.
Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to

correct its own mistakes.
Broader Meanings of Democracy
The chapter and democracy
● In democracy as a form of government, we can identify a clear set of

minimal features that a democracy must have.
● The most common form that democracy takes in our times is that of
a Representative democracy.
Explain
A form of government in which the people rule through their elected

representatives, not directly.
Why representative democracy is necessary?
● 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.
How to distinguish between a democracy and a good democracy?

Democracy V/S Good Democracy
Broader meaning of democracy?
1. Democracy as an organisation other than the government.
● A democratic decision involves consultation with and consent of all those who
are affected by that decision.
● This can apply to a government or a family or any other organisation.
● Thus democracy is also a principle that can be applied to any sphere of life.
2. Sometimes we use the word democracy not to describe any existing government but to
set up an ideal standard that all democracies must aim to become.
“True democracy will come to this country only when no one goes hungry to bed.”
● It enables us to judge an existing democracy and identify its weaknesses.

● It helps us to distinguish between a minimal democracy and a good democracy.
Democracy and its scope

No country is a perfect democracy.
● Democracy provides only the minimum conditions.
● It requires a constant effort to save and strengthen democratic forms of

decision-making.
● Citizens can make a difference to making our country more or less democratic.
● The fate of the country depends not just on what the rulers do, but mainly on
what we, as citizens, do.
● This is what distinguishes democracy from other governments.

Class 9th - Civics
Constitutional Design
Class 9th - Civics - Constitutional Design - Full Chapter Explanation
Constitution + Design
Connect with the previous chapter.
A democratic government rules within limits set by

constitutional law and citizens rights.
Constitution
❖ Democratic constitution in South Africa

➢ Struggle against apartheid
➢ Toward a new constitution
❖ Why do we need a constitution?

❖ Making of the Indian Constitution
➢ The path to constitution
➢ The constituent assembly
➢ Leader of constituent assembly
❖ Guiding values of the Indian Constitution

➢ The Dream and the Promise
➢ Philosophy of the constitution - Preamble
➢ Institutional design
Democratic Constitution in South Africa
Background
Nelson Mandela Imprisoned in 1964 for tearson.
Because of his daring to oppose the apartheid regime in his country.
He spent the next 28 years in South Africa’s most dreaded prison,

Robben Island.
Struggle against apartheid
A system of racial discrimination promoted by the white

Apartheid government, the system of apartheid divided the people
and labelled them on the basis of their skin colour.
The white rulers treated all nonwhites as inferiors. The

non-whites did not have voting rights.
➔ The apartheid system was particularly oppressive for the blacks.
How?
● They were forbidden from living in white areas.

● They could work in white areas only if they had a permit.
● Trains, buses, taxis, hotels, hospitals, schools and colleges, libraries, cinema halls, theatres,
beaches, swimming pools, public toilets, were all separate for the whites and blacks.
Segregation
● They could not even visit the churches where the whites worshipped.
● Blacks could not form associations or protest against the terrible treatment.
Sign on Durban beach in

English, Afrikaans and Zulu In
A signboard emblematic of the tense English it reads: ‘CITY OF
relations of the apartheid era, 1953. DURBAN Under section 37 of
the Durban beach by-laws,
this bathing area is reserved
for the sole use of members
of the white race group’.
Role of ANC (African National Congress) in ending apartheid
● Since 1950, the blacks, coloured and Indians fought against the apartheid system.
● They launched protest marches and strikes.
● The African National Congress (ANC) was the umbrella organisation that led the struggle
against the policies of segregation.
As protests and struggles against apartheid had increased, the government realised
that they could no longer keep the blacks under their rule through repression.
Impact
Impact South Africa got independence from the discriminatory system
● The white regime changed its policies.

● Discriminatory laws were repealed.
● Ban on political parties and restrictions on the media were lifted.
● After 28 years of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela walked out of the
jail as a free man.
● The apartheid government came to an end, paving way for the
formation of a multi-racial government.
Connect with the theme of the chapter Constitution and its role
“I have fought against white domination and I have fought

against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a
democratic and free society in which all persons live
together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an
ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be,
it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
Constitution of South Africa
● Black leaders appealed to fellow blacks to forgive the

whites for the atrocities they had committed while in
power.
● The party that ruled through oppression and brutal
killings and the party that led the freedom struggle sat
together to draw up a common constitution.
● Together, they decided that in the search for a solution
to the problems, nobody should be excluded, no one
should be treated as a demon.
● They agreed that everybody should become part of the
solution, whatever they might have done or represented
in the past.
Why do we need a Constitution?
Lessons from the South Africa constitution?
Try to understand the concept with example of a football game.
What is the significance of rules?
● The constitution of a country is a set of written rules that

are accepted by all people living together in a country.
Constitution ● Constitution is the supreme law that determines the
relationship among people living in a territory (called
citizens) and also the relationship between the people and
government.
➔ A constitution does many things:
● First, it generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for different kind of
people to live together.
● Second, it specifies how the government will be constituted, who will have power to take
which decisions.
● Third, it lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells us what the rights of
the citizens are.
● Fourth, it expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.
All countries that have constitutions are not necessarily democratic. But all countries
that are democratic will have constitutions.
Making of the Indian Constitution
The situations under which Indian Constitution was made
It was not easy for the constitution makers, India’s Constitution

was also drawn up under very difficult circumstances.
● The people of India were emerging from the status of subjects to that of citizens.
● The country was born through a partition on the basis of religious differences.
● At least ten lakh people were killed on both sides of the border in partition related violence.
● The British had left it to the rulers of the princely states to decide whether they wanted to
merge with India or with Pakistan or remain independent.
When the constitution was being written, the future of the country
did not look as secure as it does today.
The Path to Constitution
Making of constitution in South Africa VS Making of constitution in India
Unlike South Africa there was one big advantage for the makers of the Indian Constitution.
We already had consensus about what a democratic India should look like.
Explain
Consensus developed during freedom struggle
● Our national movement was not merely a struggle

against a foreign rule.
● It was also a struggle to rejuvenate our country and to
transform our society and politics.
● In 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders
drafted a constitution for India.
● In 1931, the resolution at the Karachi session of the
Indian National Congress dwelt on how independent
India’s constitution should look like.
● Both these documents were committed to the inclusion
of universal adult franchise, right to freedom and
equality and to protecting the rights of minorities in the
constitution of independent India.
Consensus developed due to the familiarity with political institutions of colonial rule.
● The experience gained by Indians in the working

of the legislative institutions proved to be very
useful for the country in setting up its own
institutions and working in them.
● The Indian constitution adopted many

institutional details and procedures from colonial
laws like the Government of India Act, 1935.
Lessons learned from other countries
● Our leaders gained confidence to learn from other

countries, but on our own terms.
● Many of our leaders were inspired by the ideals of
French Revolution.
● The practice of parliamentary democracy in Britain.
● The Bill of Rights in the US.
● The socialist revolution in Russia had inspired many
Indians to think of shaping a system based on social
and economic equality.
They were not simply imitating what others had done. At each step they
were questioning whether these things suited our country.
The Constituent Assembly
The drafting of the document called the constitution was

The Constituent Assembly done by an assembly of elected representatives called the
Constituent Assembly.
How?
● Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946.

● Its first meeting was held in December 1946.
● Soon after, the country was divided into India and Pakistan.
● The Constituent Assembly was also divided into the Constituent Assembly of India and that
of Pakistan.
● The Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian constitution had 299 members.
● The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949 but it came into effect on 26
January 1950.
Republic Day
Why should we accept the Constitution made by this Assembly

Question
more than six decades ago?
I. The Constitution does not reflect the views of its members alone. It expresses a broad
consensus of its time.
Over the last half a century, several groups have questioned some provisions of the
Constitution. But no large social group or political party has ever questioned the legitimacy
of the Constitution itself.
II. The Constituent Assembly represented the people of India.
● So the Constituent Assembly could not have been

No Universal Adult chosen directly by all the people of India.
Franchise ● It was elected mainly by the members of the existing
Provincial Legislatures that we mentioned above.
Advantages
The Constituent Assembly
● Ensured a fair geographical share of members from all the regions of the country.
● Dominated by Congress?
■ The Congress itself included a variety of political groups and opinions.

■ The Assembly had many members who did not agree with the Congress.
● In social terms too, the Assembly represented members from different language groups,
castes, classes, religions and occupations.
III. The manner in which the Constituent Assembly worked gives

sanctity to the Constitution.
● First some basic principles were decided and agreed upon.

● Then a Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
prepared a draft constitution for discussion.
● Several rounds of thorough discussion took place on the Draft
Constitution, clause by clause.
● More than two thousand amendments were considered.
● The members deliberated for 114 days spread over three years.
Rationale is recorded in constituent assembly debates.

Leaders of Constituent Assembly
Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel
● (1875-1950), born - Gujarat.

● Minister of Home, Information and Broadcasting in
the Interim Government.
● Lawyer and leader of Bardoli peasant satyagraha.
● Played a decisive role in the integration of the
Indian princely states.
● Later - Deputy Prime Minister.
Abul Kalam Azad
● (1888-1958), born - Saudi Arabia.

● Educationist, author and theologian.
● Scholar of Arabic.
● Congress leader, active in the national movement.
● Opposed Muslim separatist politics.
● Later - Education Minister in the first union cabinet.
T.T.Krishnamachari
● (1899-1974), born - Tamil Nadu.

● Member, Drafting Committee. Entrepreneur and
Congress leader.
● Later - Finance Minister in the Union Cabinet.
Rajendra Prasad
● (1884-1963), born - Bihar.

● President of the Constituent Assembly.
● Lawyer, known for his role in the Champaran
satyagraha.
● Three times the president of Congress.
● Later - The first President of India.
Jaipal Singh
● (1903-1970), born - Jharkhand.

● A sportsman and educationist.
● Captain of the first national Hockey team.
● Founder President of Adivasi Mahasabha.
● Later - Founder of Jharkhand Party.
H. C. Mookherjee
● (1887-1956), born - Bengal.

● Vice-Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
● Reputed author and educationist.
● Congress leader. Member of All India Christian
Council and Bengal Legislative Assembly.
● Later - Governor of West Bengal.
G. Durgabai Deshmukh
● (1909-1981), born - Andhra Pradesh.

● Advocate and public activist for women’s
emancipation.
● Founder of Andhra Mahila Sabha.
● Congress leader.
● Later - Founder Chairperson of Central Social
Welfare Board.
Baldev Singh
● (1901-1961), born: Haryana.

● A successful entrepreneur and leader of the Panthic
Akali Party in the Punjab Assembly.
● A nominee of the Congress in the Constituent
Assembly.
● Later - Defence Minister in the Union Cabinet.
Kanhaiyalal Maniklal Munshi
● (1887-1971), born - Gujarat.

● Advocate, historian and linguist.
● Congress leader and Gandhian.
● Later: Minister in the Union Cabinet.
● Founder of the Swatantra Party.
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
● (1891-1956), born - Madhya Pradesh.

● Chairman of the Drafting Committee.
● Social revolutionary thinker and agitator against
caste divisions and caste based inequalities.
● Later - Law minister in the first cabinet of
post-independence India.
● Founder of Republican Party of India.
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
● (1901-1953), born - West Bengal.

● Minister for Industry and Supply in the Interim
Government.
● Educationist and lawyer.
● Active in Hindu Mahasabha.
● Later - Founder President of Bharatiya Jan Sangh.
Jawaharlal Nehru
● (1889-1964), born - Uttar Pradesh.

● Prime Minister of the interim government.
● Lawyer and Congress leader.
● Advocate of socialism, democracy and
anti-imperialism.
● Later - First Prime Minister of India.
Sarojini Naidu
● (1879-1949), born - Andhra Pradesh.

● Poet, writer and political activist.
● Among the foremost women leaders in the
Congress.
● Later - Governor of Uttar Pradesh
Somnath Lahiri
● (1901-1984), born - West Bengal.

● Writer and editor.
● Leader of the Communist Party of India.
● Later - Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
Guiding Values of the Indian Constitution
Constitution Provisions + Philosophy
Let us begin by understanding the overall philosophy of what our Constitution is all about.
We can do this in two ways.
I. We can understand it by reading the views of some of our

major leaders on our Constitution.
II. What the Constitution says about its own philosophy?
The dream and the promise
Mahatma Gandhi
● He was not a member of the Constituent

Assembly. Yet there were many
members who followed his vision.
● Years ago, writing in his magazine Young

India in 1931, he had spelt out what he
wanted the Constitution to do.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
● Dreamed of an India without inequalities,

he had a different understanding of how
inequalities could be removed.
● He often bitterly criticised Mahatma Gandhi

and his vision.
● In his concluding speech to the Constituent

Assembly he stated his anxiety very clearly.
Jawaharlal Nehru
● Finally let us turn to Jawaharlal Nehru giving his

famous speech to the Constituent Assembly at the
stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947:
Philosophy of the Constitution
Guiding values of the constitution
I. What the constitution says about its own philosophy.
Preamble
● The Constitution begins with a short statement of its

basic values. This is called the Preamble to the
constitution.
● Taking inspiration from American model, most
countries in the contemporary world have chosen to
begin their constitutions with a preamble.
Preamble of the constitution
● The Preamble of the Constitution reads like a poem

on democracy.
● It contains the philosophy on which the entire
Constitution has been built.
● It provides a standard to examine and evaluate any
law and action of government, to find out whether
it is good or bad.
● It is the soul of the Indian Constitution.
We, the people of India
The constitution has been drawn up and enacted by the

people through their representatives, and not handed
down to them by a king or any outside powers.
Sovereign
People have supreme right to make decisions on

internal as well as external matters. No external power
can dictate the government of India.
Socialist
Wealth is generated socially and should be shared

equally by society. Government should regulate the
ownership of land and industry to reduce
socio-economic inequalities.
Secular
Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion.

But there is no official religion. Government treats all
religious beliefs and practices with equal respect.
Democratic
A form of government where people enjoy equal

political rights, elect their rulers and hold them
accountable. The government is run according to some
basic rules.
Republic
The head of the state is an elected person and not a

hereditary position.
Justice
Citizens cannot be discriminated on the grounds of

caste, religion and gender. Social inequalities have to be
reduced. Government should work for the welfare of
all, especially of the disadvantaged groups.
Liberty
There are no unreasonable restrictions on the citizens

in what they think, how they wish to express their
thoughts and the way they wish to follow up their
thoughts in action.
Equality
All are equal before the law. The traditional social

inequalities have to be ended. The government should
ensure equal opportunity for all.
Fraternity
All of us should behave as if we are members of the

same family. No one should treat a fellow citizen as
inferior.
Institutional Design
Constitution Statement of value and philosophy.

+
It embodies these values into institutional arrangements.
Explain How?
Constitution The constitution makers did not see it as a sacred, static

and unaltered law.
● Therefore it needs to be amended quite regularly to keep it updated.
● So, they made provisions to incorporate changes from time to time.

These changes are called constitutional amendments.
The institutional arrangement in the constitution
● The Constitution describes the institutional arrangements in a very legal language.
● Yet the basic institutional design is not very difficult to understand.
● Like any Constitution, the Indian Constitution lays down a procedure for choosing
persons to govern the country.
● It defines who will have how much power to take which decisions.
● It puts limits to what the government can do by providing some rights to the citizen
that cannot be violated.
Class 9th - Civics - Electoral Politics - One Shot Revision
Assembly elections in Haryana
➢ Haryana state assembly elections (1987) Chaudhary Devi Lal
“Nyaya Yudh”
Lok Dal and its partners Promised to waive the loans

Devilal was chosen as CM
won 76/90 seats. of farmers.
❖ What we can learn from this?

Why do we need elections?

❖ Imagine a democracy without elections. Recall the topic of chapter - 1
➔ Can there be another way to select the
representatives? ∴ Representatives democracy
➔ Education or Knowledge
Would this system be called democratic

and many such questions? ∴ Elections are considered essential in our
times for any representative democracy.
Solution
!! Elections !!
Why do we need elections?
➢ In an election the voters make many choices :
➔ They can choose who will make laws for them.

➔ They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions.
➔ They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.
What makes an Election Democratic?

Election Held in both Democratic countries and Non democratic countries
But what makes an election democratic or undemocratic.

Democratic Elections
I. Everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one vote and
every vote should have equal value.
II. There should be something to choose from. Parties and candidates should be free to contest
elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
III. The choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after
every few years.
IV. The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
V. Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they
really wish.
Is it good to have Political Competition?

❖ Elections Political competition It have some demerits
● It creates a sense of disunity factionalism.
● Were the political leaders ● Parties level allegations, use dirty tricks.
not aware of it ? ● No long term policies can be formulated.
● Good people who may wish to serve the
country do not enter this arena.
No, they were aware of it, Yet they opted
for free competition in elections as the
way to select our future leaders.
Why?
Is it good to have Political Competition?
Competition
➔ In an ideal world all political leaders know what is good for the people and are
motivated only by a desire to serve them. Political competition is not necessary in such
an ideal world.
But the world is real
➔ Leaders are required to work hard to remain in power or to gain it. Political competition
is a reward for serving and at the same time punishment for not performing the duty.
➔ Political competition may cause divisions and some ugliness, but it finally helps to force
political parties and leaders to serve the people.
What is our system of election?
Can we say that Indian elections are democratic?
It depends upon how elections are held in India
Lok sabha Vidhan sabha
➔ Sometimes election is held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by death or
resignation of a member. This is called a by-election.
➔ General elections
Electoral constituencies
➔ Area based system of representation
● The country is divided into different areas for purposes of elections.

● These areas are called electoral constituencies.
● The voters who live in an area elect one representative.
Panchayat and Municipal

Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
Elections
- 543 electoral constituencies - Divided into specific no. of - Divided into wards
- Representatives elected constituencies.
- Representatives elected
MP
MLA
Reserved Constituencies
❖ Open electoral competition Weaker section may not stand a good chance to win.
● Lack of resources, education and contacts.

● Powerful people may prevent them from winning elections.
∴ The system of reserved constituencies was introduced.
Some constituencies are reserved for people who belong to the Scheduled Castes [SC] and
Scheduled Tribes [ST].
In a SC reserved constituency only someone who belongs to the Scheduled Castes can stand
for election.
Similarly only those belonging to the Scheduled Tribes can contest an election from a
constituency reserved for ST.
Reserved Constituencies
No. of seats reserved in Lok sabha Reservation for SC (Schedule cast), ST (Schedule tribe)
84 Seats 47 Seats ● Later on this system of reservation was extended at

for SC for ST the district and local level. (Panchayat and ULB’s)
● The proportion of seats reserved varies from state to
state.
As on 26 January 2019 ● 1/3 of the seats are reserved for women also.
[In rural and urban local government]
Voters’ List
❖ Constituencies are decided Who would vote now?
❖ Electoral roll/Voters list : List of the person eligible to vote.
● Based on the principle of universal adult ❖ Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC)
franchise. (One vote, One value) ❖ Updation of voters’ list.
In our country, all the citizens aged 18 years and

above can vote in an election
➔ Some criminals and person with unsound

mind can be denied the right to vote.
Nomination of Candidates
❖ Anyone who can vote, can also become a candidate to contest elections.
➔ Only difference is of age.
★ Voters = 18 years
★ Candidate = 25 years
● There are some other restrictions on criminals etc. but these apply in very extreme cases.
● Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support. Party’s
nomination is often called party ‘ticket’.
● Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a ‘nomination form’ and give
some money as ‘security deposit’.
Nomination of Candidates
Every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving full details of :

➢ Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate;
➢ Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family;
➢ Educational qualifications of the candidate.
This information has to be made public.
This provides an opportunity to the voters to make their decision on the basis of the information
provided by the candidates.
Why don’t we have any educational qualifications for candidates?

Election Campaign
❖ It provides perspective to the people that who’s policy would be better.
➔ In our country such campaigns take place for a two-week period between the
announcement of the final list of candidates and the date of polling.
What did they do?

➢ Candidates contact their voters.
➢ Election meetings.
➢ Mobilising the support of supporters.
❖ Successful slogans over big issues -

➢ Garibi Hatao, Congress, 1977
➢ Save democracy, Janata party, 1977
➢ Land to the tiller, Left front, 1977
➢ Protect the self respect of the Telugus
Election Campaign
➔ it is sometimes necessary to regulate campaigns to ensure that every political party and
candidate gets a fair and equal chance to compete. How?
➔ According to our election law, no party or candidate can:
● Bribe or threaten voters;

● Appeal to them in the name of caste or religion;
● Use government resources for election campaign;
● Spend more than ` 25 lakh in a constituency for a Lok Sabha election or `10 lakh in a
constituency in an Assembly election.
Election Campaign
➔ In addition to the laws, all the political parties in our country have agreed to a Model Code
of Conduct for election campaigns. According to this, no party or candidate can:
● Use any place of worship for election propaganda.

● Use government vehicles, aircrafts and officials for elections.
● Once elections are announced, Ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any projects,
take any big policy decisions or make any promises of providing public facilities.
Polling and Counting of Votes

❖ Person Name in voters’ list Caste their vote Polling/Voting Day
“Polling booth”
[Usually local schools, government office]
Identifying, Marking, Casting vote
How one can ensure that the elections

takes place in a fair way?
Polling and Counting of Votes
Ballot EVM’s
How does it works?

➔ Let me explain this.
What makes Elections in India Democratic?
Election Unfair practices in election
● Inclusion of false names and exclusion of genuine names in the voters’ list;
● Misuse of government facilities and officials by the ruling party;
● Excessive use of money by rich candidates and big parties;
● Intimidation of voters and rigging on the polling day.
fortunately they are not on such a scale so as to defeat the very purpose of elections.
Explain
Independent Election Commission

❖ Whether elections are democratic or not depends on who conducts the elections?
Election Commission
● Enjoys the same power as Judiciary.
● Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is
appointed by the president but once
appointed not answerable to president or
the government.
● Virtually impossible to remove the CEC.
Sushil chandra
➢ Very few election commissions in the world have such wide-ranging powers as the
Election Commission of India.
Powers of Election Commission :
➔ EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the
announcement of elections to the declaration of results.
➔ It implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that
violates it.
➔ During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some
guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its
chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials.
➔ When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the EC and
not the government
Popular Participation
❖ Quality of election Participation of people. (Enthusiastic or not)
If the election process is not free or fair, people will not continue to participate in the exercise.
Voters turnout figures People's participation
Turnout indicates the per cent of eligible voters who actually cast their vote.
2. In India the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared
to the rich and privileged sections.
This is in contrast to western democracies. Explain

3. Common people in India attach a lot of

importance to elections.
● They feel that through elections they can bring

pressure on political parties to adopt policies and
programmes favourable to them.
● They also feel that their vote matters in the way
things are run in the country.
4. The interest of voters in election related activities has been increasing over the years.
One out of every seven voters is a member of a political party.

Acceptance of Election Outcome

❖ Final test is outcome itself.
➔ The outcome of India’s elections speak for itself.
● The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India both at the national and state level.
● In the US, an incumbent or sitting elected representative rarely loses an election. In India
about half of sitting MPs or MLAs lose elections.
● Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on ‘buying votes’ and those with
known criminal connections often lose elections.
● Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as
‘people’s verdict’ by the defeated party.
Challenges to Free and Fair Elections Understand the topic
➔ Limitations and challenges of Indian elections are -

● Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory, but they do
enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties.
● Candidates with criminal connection have been able to push others out of the electoral
race to secure a ticket.
● Some families tend to dominate political parties.
● Elections offer little choice to ordinary citizen. [Parties have no major difference]
● Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to
bigger parties.
Class 9th - Civics - Working of Institution - One Shot Revision
➢ Major Institution -
Executive Legislature Judiciary
➢ Their Working.
➢ Detailed explanation of each Institution.
How is a major Policy Decision taken?
● Story of Office Memorandum
➔ An order issued by Government of India on What?

August 13, 1990.
By whom? This order announced 27 per cent

reservation for Socially and
Educationally backward classes [SEBC]
● Department of personnel and Training in the in government jobs.
ministry of personnel, Public Grievances and
pension.
➢ Was this so simple to do?

Mandal Commission
● It was the second backward class Commission. What was there in that Report?
● Appointed in 1979, under the chairmanship of ● Many points were discussed in the
B.P. Mandal. report about backward classes.
● One of the recommendation was to
∴ Mandal Commission give 27 percent reservation to
socially and educationally backward
Why it is appointed? classes in Government Jobs.
➔ Dose recommendation means law?

➢ To identify the socially and educationally ➔ Then how did the recommendation
backward classes in India, and to recommend become a law.
steps for their advancement.
➢ Commission gave its report in 1980.
Lok Sabha Election of 1989
● Election manifesto of Janata Dal.
● Promise to implement the Mandal Commission

report if they came in power.
● Eventually Janta Dal came on power, V.P. Singh B.P. Mandal
became the Prime Minister and an Office

Memorandum regarding reservation was brought.
How?
V.P. Singh
Some were in its favour.

Conflicts
Some opposed it.
➔ Then who resolved the conflicts?

■ Judiciary [Supreme court and High court]
● In ‘India Sawhney and other vs Union of India Case’ supreme court declared that this
order of the government of India was valid and government was asked to modify the
original order.
➔ Accordingly, the department of personnel and training issued another Office

Memorandum on september 8, 1993.
Need for Political Institution
● Governing a country involves various activities These activities are performed

E.g. Security, Education, Health, etc. by various institutions.
● Democratic Government rests on different institution to run the Country.
➔ Some institution are required to make laws. [Parliament]
➔ Some institution take decisions and implement them. [Prime Minister and Civil Servant]
➔ Some institution work to resolve the dispute. [Supreme Court]
Then is it good to have

This often leads to delay and complications.
political Institution.
➔ You may think that one person should take all the decision, but it is against the spirit of democracy.
➔ Institution provide an opportunity for consultation and discussion.
Improve the quality of decision.

Parliament
Role of parliament as a political institution?
● Recall the case with Office Memorandum.
● Parliament played a very important role in

making law over the mandal commission’s
recommendation.
How?
● Debate, Discussion and shape the decision

of the Government.
Why do we need a Parliament?
● Elected representative exercises Supreme Political Authority. Democracy = People
➔ The National Assembly of elected representatives is called Parliament. At state level this is
called State Legislative Assembly.
➔ Recall the Parliament of different countries.
Parliament of Russia Parliament of Japan Parliament of Germany

(Duma) (National Diet) (Reichstag)
➔ Need/ Function/ Power of the Parliament ?
● Parliament is the Final authority for making laws in any country.

■ Parliament can make laws, change existing laws or abolish them and can make new
laws in their place.
● Parliament exercise some control over those who run the Government.
■ Those who run the Government can take decision only so long as they enjoy support of
the parliament. How Majority Support.
● Parliament Control all the money that Government have.

■ Parliamentary sanctions are required to spent the public money.
[Budget is needed to be approved in parliament]
● Parliament: Highest forum of discussion and debate.

■ Public issues and national policy are discussed in the parliament.
Two House of Parliament
● Mainly parliaments are divided in two parts. Chamber or Houses
India Parliament
Lok sabha Rajya sabha
● House of the people. President ● Council of states.

● Directly elected by the ● Elected indirectly.
people. ● Performs special
● Exercise real power on functions such as looks
behalf of people. She is not the part of any houses. after the interest of
various states, regions
But Her assent is required in law or federal units.
making process.
Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
Total no. of members? 543 233 + 12
Who elects the member? Directly elected by people Indirectly by the MLAs
What is the length of term 5 years 6 years

(in years)?
Can the house be dissolved or is It is dissolved after every 5 Permanent

it permanent? years.
Which of the House [Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha] is more Powerful?
● Rajya Sabha is called ‘Upper Chamber’ and Lok Sabha is called ‘Lower Chamber’.
Does it mean that Rajya This is just an old style of speaking.

Sabha is more powerful?
● Our constitution does give the Rajya sabha some special powers over the state. But on most
matters the Lok sabha exercise supreme power.
How?
● Lok Sabha exercises more power than Rajya Sabha. How?
1. During joint session, the view of the Lok Sabha is likely to prevail.
■ In case of difference between two houses Members of both the houses sit
together in joint session.
The view is Lok Sabha is likely to prevail due to large no. of members.
2. Lok Sabha exercises more powers in money matters.
■ Budget on any money related laws passed by lok Sabha cannot be rejected by Rajya
Sabha. It can only delay it by 14 days or suggest any change. Whereas Lok Sabha is not
bound follow it.
3. Lok Sabha control the council of Ministers and Prime minister.
■ Only the person who enjoy the majority support in Lok Sabha can be appoint as the
Prime Minister.
■ With “No confidence” All ministers including prime Minister can be forced to quit.
Political Executive
● What does the term executive mean?
■ They executes the decision. They are incharge of

the execution of the policies of the government.
● Relate it with the story of office memorandum?
● Are executives always political?

Political and Permanent Executive
Political Executive Permanent Executive
➔ Elected by the people for a specific ➔ Elected on the basis of merit and
period of time. appointed on a long term basis.
➔ Vacate the position with the change in ➔ They remain in office even when the
government. ruling party changes.
➔ E.g. Political leaders ➔ E.g. Civil servant
[P.M., C.M.] [I.A.S., I.P.S. etc]
● Why does the political executive have more power than non political executive?
➢ Civil servant are usually more educated.

➢ They have more expert knowledge.
➢ Sometimes the ministers may know very little about the issues.
● Then why did the ministers have the final say in decision making?
■ The reason is that in a democracy the will of the people is supreme.
Ministers are elected by the people.
∴ He/She is empowered to exercise the supreme power by the support of people.
Expert can tell the route, but someone with a larger view decides the destination.
Prime Minister
➔ Prime Minister is not only a person, He/She is also the most important Political
Institution in the country.
◆ Yet there is no direct election to the post of Prime Minister.
◆ President appoints the Prime Minister.
◆ Leader of majority party or coalition parties is appointed as Prime Minister.
◆ He/She continues to be in power so long as he remain the leader of the majority

party or coalition.
Powers of the Prime Minister
● Prime Minister chairs the cabinet meetings [Coordinator, Takes final decision]
● All ministers work under his leadership.

[Distribute and redistributes work, can dismiss ministers]
● Parliamentary democracies = Prime Ministerial Form of Government.

➢ Role of political parties and media in influencing the power of P.M.
● The extent of power of P.M. depends on the personality of the person holding that position.
● Power of the P.M. in coalition politics

➢ Coalition Government = Accommodation of different group and people = Power.
∴ He/She is required to heed to the views and position of coalition partners because their
support is essential for survival of government.
Council of Ministers
● President appoints council of minister on the advice of the Prime Minister.
From where?
From his own party or from the coalition partner.
Appointed council of minister may be a
But He/She has to get elected

Or a person who is not a in parliament within six
Member of parliament
member of parliament. months of appointment as
minister.
● It is a body of 60 to 80 minister at different ranks.

Ministers of state with
Cabinet ministers Ministers of state
independent charge
● Top level leaders of the ● In-charge of smaller ● They are attached with
ruling party. ministry. the portfolio to assist
● Incharge of major ● Participate in the the cabinet ministers.
ministry. cabinet meetings only
● Inner ring of council of when specially invited.
ministers, Comprises
about 20 ministers.
➔ Parliamentary democracy = Cabinet form of government Why?

◆ Because cabinet ministers takes major decisions in their ministry.
◆ Ministry Departments Secretaries [Civil Servants]
The President
❖ He/She is the head of the state.

➢ He/She has the nominal power like Queen of
Britain.
➢ His/Her functions are mostly ceremonial.
Then how is
➢ President is not elected directly by the people. he elected?
● Elected MPs and MLAs elects President.
● The one who gets the majority of votes is elected as

President.
● He represent the entire nation but can never claim the

direct popular mandate.
Powers of President
If we go by the constitution, President has the power to do everything.
➢ All Government activities take place in the name of the

President.
➢ Major appointment such as Chief Justice of India, Judges,
Governors, Election Commissioners, Ambassadors to other President exercise all
countries are done by President. this power only on
➢ All international treaties and agreement are made in the the advice of the
council of Ministers.
name of the President.
➢ President is the Supreme Commander of the defence forces
of India.
❖ What if the president does not agree on the advice given to him?
What if the president does not agree on the advice given to him?
● If president is not satisfied with advice given by council of minister.
● He/She can ask the council of minister to reconsider its advice.
● But he/she is bound to act according to the advice rendered after reconsideration.
● You may wonder what does the President really do?
➢ President appoint the Prime Minister [Leader of majority] but in case no party or
coalition get majority in Lok Sabha then President exercises her discretionary power.
The Judiciary
❖ Connect it with Office Memorandum.
● What would have happen in the absence of Judiciary?
● All the court at different level in country put together.
Supreme court
[Entire Nation]
High Courts
[For State]
District Courts
[For District and local level]
❖ Judiciary resolve the disputes such as -
➢ Disputes between citizens of the country.
➢ Disputes between citizen and government.
➢ Disputes between two or more state government.
➢ Disputes between government and state government.
❖ Supreme court is the highest court of appeal in civil and criminal cases.
It can hear appeals against the decision of High courts.

Independent and Powerful Judiciary
❖ Why Independent Judiciary is required?

➢ So that the Judiciary can work impartially, free from the pressure of executive
and legislature.
❖ How this independence is ensured?

➢ Through appointment of Judges.
■ Appointed by President on the advice of Prime Minister and in
consultation with the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
➢ It is nearly impossible to remove a Judge.

■ He/She can be removed only by an impeachment motion passed
separately by two-third member of the two houses of the parliament.
❖ Office of CJI (Chief justice of India)

Indian Judiciary is one of the most powerful Judiciary of the world. How?
● Supreme Court and High Courts have the power to interpret the constitution of the
country. [Determines the constitutional validity of any law]
● Power of Judicial Review.
● Judiciary acts as the Guardian of the Fundamental rights.
● Through public interest Litigation Judiciary work for the protection of Public Interest.
● Judiciary enjoys a high level of confidence among the people.

Class 9th - Civics
Democratic Rights
Class 9th - Civics - Democratic Rights - Full Chapter Explanation
Introduction
Essence of the Democratic Politics -I
Till Now What’s Now
Democracy, constitution, Election,

Citizens and their Rights
Institution and their Working.
True Democracy = Democratic Government respecting the rights of Individuals.

● Case studies of Guantanamo Bay, Saudi Arabia and Kosovo.
● Rights in a Democracy.
➢ Why do we need rights in a democracy
● Rights in the Indian Constitution
➢ Right to Equality, Freedom, against Exploitation, Freedom of Religion, Cultural and

Educational
➢ How can we secure these rights?
● Expanding scope of rights

Prison in Guantanamo Bay
Why are we studying this?
What happened here?

The Story
➔ About 600 people secretly picked up by the U.S. forces from all over the world were
kept in a prison Guantanamo Bay.
● Argument of U.S. government was that they were enemies of U.S. and linked
to the attack on New York on 11 september 2001.
● Arrest was without any information or notice, their families also did not knew
about that.
● No one was allowed to meet the prisoners, there was no trial before any
magistrate.
➔ This was the clear case of infringement of Fundamental Rights.

● Amnesty International worked over this and highlighted the issue.
● U.N. secretary General said that the Prison should be closed down.
● U.S. government refuse to accept these pleas.
Attack on U.S. 9/11

Prisoners suffering in Guantanamo Bay

Citizen Rights in Saudi Arabia

The Story
❖ Case of Saudi Arabia and Position of the citizen with regard to their government.
➢ Rule of hereditary king, people have no rule in electing or changing their ruler.
➢ King selects the Legislature, executive and judiciary.
➢ Citizens cannot form political parties and media is also not free.
➢ No freedom of religion.
➢ Condition of women is worst.
■ Subject to many restrictions.
■ The testimony of one man is considered equal to that of two women.
Subject to many restrictions
Monarch of Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Massacre in Kosovo
● Kosovo was province of Yugoslavia, the population

composition of the province was majority Albanians but
in country Serbs were in majority.
● Narrow minded Serbs nationalist leader Milosevic won
the election.
● Hostile towards Albanians of Kosovo.
Milosevic
○ They had a viewpoint that Albanians should
either leave the country or accept the dominance
of the Serbs.
How?
❖ Story of an Albanian Family in a town in Kosovo.

➢ There was a massacre of Albanians carried out by the army of their own country.
➢ All this was happening under the leadership of a democratically elected leader.
What lesson do we get from all this?
➔ Infringement of rights can happen anywhere and by anyone.

➔ Case in Guantanamo Bay, Saudi Arabia and Kosovo.
Rights in a Democracy
➔ Relation of Rights and Democracy.
➔ Assurance, not only on paper but in reality. Where at least a minimum is guaranteed to
everyone. Basic spirit of rights
❖ How can we define it?

❖ What are rights?
“Rights are reasonable claims of a person recognized by society and sanctioned by laws”.
Why do we need Rights in a Democracy ?
Rights in Democracy
● Sustenance of democracy ● Rights protect minorities from ● Rights protect citizens against
depends on rights. the oppression of majority. the government also.
○ Right to vote
○ Right to express ● Sometime elected government
○ Right to form Rights ensure that majority may also attack the rights of
political parties cannot do whatever it likes. their own citizens.e.g. Kosovo
∴ Some rights need to be placed

higher than government.
❖ If we go by the defination. Rights are “... Sanctioned by law”
Rights are mentioned in the constitution.
∴ We respect them.
Some rights are fundamental to our life are given special

status. They are called as Fundamental Rights.
Right to Equality
The concept of rule of law.
● Law applies in the same manner to all, it means that no person is above the law.
● All citizens are subject to same law. e.g. Prime Minister facing trail.
Right to Equality
● Under right to equality government should not discriminate against any citizen on ground only of
religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
● Every citizen shall have equal access to public places like shops, restaurants, hotels, and cinema
halls and there shall be no restrictions with regard to their use.
● Equality should be there in case of public jobs.
● Banning the practice of untouchability.
Then why government
gives reservation.
Are Reservation Against the Right to Equality
❖ No, they are not. Justify
● Equality doesn’t mean giving everyone the same treatment. Sometimes it is necessary to
give special treatment to someone in order to ensure equal opportunity.
● “Equals should be treated equally and unequal should be treated unequally”.

∴ We can say that reservation of this kind is not a violation of the Right to equality.
Right to Freedom
● Freedom means absence of constraints. By whom?
Be it individual or the governments.

● Under Indian Constitution all citizens have the right to -
○ Freedom of speech and expression.
○ Assembly in a peaceful manner.
○ Form associations and unions.
○ Move freely throughout the country.
○ Reside in any part of the country.
○ Practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.
● Right to freedom comes with some Reasonable Restrictions.
○ Freedom is not unlimited licence to do what one want. Your freedom should not cause
public nuisance or disorder.
∴ To protect larger interests of the society, government can impose certain Reasonable Restrictions.
Freedom of speech and expression

❖ Everyone’s idea of thinking is different and he/she should have the freedom to express them.
❖ You may disagree with a policy of government or activities of an association and you are free
to Criticise them.
How?
One may publicise his/her views through a pamphlet, magazine or newspaper etc.
Reasonable Restrictions
1. Freedom of speech and expression
Reasonable Restrictions
❖ While exercising freedom of speech and expression you cannot use this freedom to instigate
violence against others.
❖ You cannot use it to incite people to rebel against government.
❖ Neither can you use it to defame others by saying false and mean things that cause damage to
a person’s reputation.
2. Citizens have the freedom to hold meetings, Processions, rallies and

demonstrations on any issue
❖ Citizen opt for this mechanism to discuss a problem, exchange ideas mobilise public support on to
seek votes.
❖ Such meetings, demonstrations should be peaceful.
➢ People should not carry weapon with them. Why?
Laws and order should be maintained.

❖ Can anyone form organisations.
➢ Yes it is the freedom of every individual to form organisations.
e.g. Workers in factory, citizen at various level against corruption, pollution etc.
3. Freedom to travel to any part of the country.
❖ Citizens are free to reside and settle in any part of territory of India.
Then what’s the problem with north eastern Reasonable

states, parts of Andaman Nicobar etc. Restrictions
❖ Enjoying this right, people migrate from village to towns, poorer regions
to the prosperous regions.
❖ Same freedom extends to the choice of occupations.
4. Citizens have the freedom to hold meetings, Processions, rallies and

demonstrations on any issue
❖ No person can be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure
established by law. Order of Courts.
❖ Rights during detention or arrest by police.

➢ Government or police officer cannot arrest or detain any citizen unless he has proper
legal justification.
❖ Government or police has to follow some procedure while arresting someone.

➢ Inform the reason for arrest and detention to a person for that.
➢ The Arrested person shall be produced before the magistrate within a period of 24
hours of arrest.
➢ Arrested person has a right to consult a lawyer or engage a lawyer for his/her defence.
Right against Exploitation
❖ Right to equality and liberty explains that no one should be exploited.
Yet the constitution makers thought it was necessary to write down certain clear provisions to
prevent exploitation of the weaker section of the society.
Prohibition of Traffic Prohibition of forced

Prohibition of child labour
in human beings labour and begar
● Traffic means selling and ● A practice where the worker ● Children below the age of
buying of human beings. is forced to render service for 14 cannot be employed in
free or at nominal a factory or mine or in any
● Usually women for Immoral
remuneration. other hazardous work.
purpose.
● Bonded labour [If performed
on life long basis ]
Human Trafficking Bonded labour Child Labour

Right to Freedom of Religion
❖ Right to freedom include right to freedom of religion as well.

❖ Constitution say that India is a secular state.
Indian Secularism
Practices an attitude of a principled and equal distance from all religion.
❖ Every citizen has a right to profess, practice and propagate the religion of his/her choice.
➢ A person is free to change religion on his or her own will.
● But no one should compel another person to convert. [By force, fraud inducement or allurement]
❖ Under the freedom to practice religion one can not do whatever he/she wants.
E.g. Sacrifice animals or humans, discrimination with women.
❖ Government’s work on being secular.

➢ No favour and no discrimination toward any religion.
➢ No religious instructions in government educational institutions.
➢ What about private educational institutions. = No person shall be compelled.
Cultural and Educational Rights
❖ Constitution specifies the cultural and educational rights of the minorities.
Why always minorities?
The Constitution specifies the cultural and educational rights of the minorities :
❖ Any section of citizens with a distinct language or culture have a right to conserve it.
❖ Admission to any educational institution maintained by government or receiving

government aid cannot be denied to any citizen on the ground of religion or language.
❖ All minorities [In relative terms] have the right to establish and administer educational
institution of their choice.
How can we secure these right?
❖ Why fundamental Rights are called so? What makes them so important?
➢ Because of the Enforceable nature of fundamental rights, they are so important.
We can say seek enforcement of fundamental rights in

case of their violation.
Right to seek constitution remedies.

[Seeking enforcement itself is a fundamental right]
❖ In case of the violation of the fundamental right we can seek remedy through courts.
➢ We can directly approach the supreme court or the high court in the case of violation of
fundamental rights.
❖ Dr. Ambedkar called the right to constitutional remedies as

‘The heart and the Soul’ of our constitution.
❖ Fundamental rights are guaranteed against whom?

➢ Actions of Legislatures, the executive and authorities
connected with government. Courts also enforce the
Fundamental rights against private individual and bodies.
❖ Courts issue direction order or writs for enforcement of

fundamental rights.
❖ PIL [Public Interest Litigation] as a right to constitutional remedies.

Expanding Scope of rights
❖ Rights Fundamental Rights Wide range of Rights [Expanding].
❖ Expansion take place in the name of Human Rights.

● Courts gave judgement to
expand the scope of rights.
➔ Universal moral claim that may or may not have been e.g. Freedom of press, Right to
recognised by law. information, Right to
education.
➔ But with the expansion of democracy there is greater [Considered as Legal Rights]
pressure on government to accept these claims.
❖ Some international covenants have also contributed
to the expansion of rights.
E.g. ICCPR
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
This international covenant recognises many rights that are not directly a part of the Fundamental
Rights in the Indian Constitution. This has not yet become an international treaty. But human right
activists all over the world see this as a standard of human rights. These include:
● Right to work: opportunity to everyone to earn livelihood by working
● Right to safe and healthy working conditions, fair wages that can provide decent standard of
living for the workers and their families
● Right adequate standard of living including adequate food, clothing and housing
● Right to social security and insurance
● Right to health: medical care during illness, special care for women during childbirth and
prevention of epidemics
● Right to education: free and compulsory primary education, equal access to higher education.
Use code - DIGRAJ
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Class 9th - Civics Full Explanation

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Class - IX

● Fill the form given below before taking admission at

What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

With the help of these questions we can understand

What we are going to study in this chapter?

❖ Why democracy? - Arguments against democracy

❖ Why democracy? - Argument for democracy

❖ Broader meanings of democracy

The definition is helpful for us to separate democracy from all forms of

● It reminds us that democracy is people’s rule.

Major Decisions by Elected Leaders

In October, 1999, Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf

Led a military coup.

● He overthrew a democratically elected government and

Legal framework order, 2002

● Amended the Constitution of Pakistan.

Free and Fair Electoral Competition

Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (National People’s Congress)

● The country has never been under a military or dictator’s rule.

What’s wrong in it?

China’s case Mexico’s case

Should we consider the elections described above as

What can be conclude?

A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those

One Person, One Vote, One Value

● Democracy is based on a fundamental principle of political equality.

In a democracy, each adult citizen

Rule of Law and Respect for Rights

● Zimbabwe attained independence from

➔ ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom

Then what is the problem?

Robert Mugabe was forced out of office in 2017.

The example of Zimbabwe

● Popular governments can be undemocratic.

A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional

Features of Democracy: Summary Definition

● Rulers elected by the people take all the major decisions.

Why Democracy? - Arguments against Democracy

What are the disadvantages/demerits of democracy?

● Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.

● So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays.

● Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.

It is not a magical solution for all the problems.

Is democracy better than other forms of government that are there

Why Democracy? - Arguments for Democracy

● A democratic government is a better government because it is a more

China’s famine of 1958 - 1961

● The worst recorded famine in world history.

The existence of democracy in India made the Indian government respond

Better than any other form of government in responding

A democratic government is a better government because it is a more

Democracy Democracy is based on consultation and discussion.

● This reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions.

Thus democracy improves the quality of decision-making.

Democracy Diversity Differences of opinions and interests.

At times, this can lead to conflicts.

How do we resolve such a conflict?

Powerful groups can suppress the Democracy

Different groups can live with

Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.

Because it does a lot to the citizens.

Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.

● There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in democracy.