Class 10 Civics Ch 5 – Outcomes of Democracy
NCERT CLASS 10 CIVICS • CHAPTER 5 • OUTCOMES OF DEMOCRACY • SOLUTIONS

Outcomes of Democracy

Detailed Solutions from Textbook

Descriptive Questions
Question 1
How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government?
1. Accountable: Democracy produces a government that is accountable to the citizens. It provides mechanisms like regular, free and fair elections, and open public debate. Citizens have the right to choose their leaders and hold them answerable.
2. Responsive: A democratic government is expected to be responsive to the needs and demands of the people. It must attend to the needs of the majority while respecting the minority.
3. Legitimate: A democratic government is a legitimate government because it is the people’s own government. It is elected by the people and enjoys their trust and confidence (unlike dictatorships).
Question 2
What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities?
Democracies accommodate social diversities when:
  • Not Just Majority Rule: It is understood that democracy is not simply rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that government functions to represent the general view.
  • No Permanent Majority: Rule by majority does not become rule by majority community (religion/race). Every citizen has a chance of being in the majority at some point in time. If someone is barred from being in the majority by birth, then democracy ceases to be accommodating.
Question 3
Give arguments to support the statement that “Democracy is a better form of government than any other form.”
Democracy is better because:
  • It promotes equality among citizens.
  • It enhances the dignity of the individual.
  • It improves the quality of decision making through consultation and debate.
  • It provides a method to resolve conflicts.
  • It allows room to correct mistakes.
Long Answer Questions
Question 1
Explain the relationship between democracy and economic growth. Why is there a difference in the rates of economic development between democracies and dictatorships?
The Record: If we consider all democracies and all dictatorships for the fifty years between 1950 and 2000, dictatorships have slightly higher rates of economic growth.
Reasoning:
Economic development depends on several factors: country’s population size, global situation, cooperation from other countries, and economic priorities adopted by the country.
Conclusion:
While dictatorships may have a slight edge in speed, the difference is negligible. However, when we compare this with the *positive* outcomes of democracy (dignity, freedom, equality), democracy is still preferred. Democracy cannot guarantee economic development, but it guarantees that the fruits of development are not limited to just a few (Reduction of Inequality).
Question 2
“Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual.” Justify this statement.
Democracy is based on the principle of individual freedom and dignity:
  • Dignity of Women: The long struggles by women have created some sensitivity that respect to women and equal treatment are necessary ingredients of a democratic society. In a non-democratic set-up, this unacceptability would not have legal or moral force.
  • Caste Inequalities: Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity. While atrocities still happen, they lack moral and legal legitimacy.
  • Citizen Empowerment: Most individuals today believe that their vote makes a difference to the way the government is run and to their own self-interest. This transforms them from ‘subjects’ to ‘citizens’.
Objective Questions
Question 1
In the context of assessing democracy, which among the following is odd one out? Democracies need to ensure:
(a) Free and fair elections
(b) Dignity of the individual
(c) Majority rule
(d) Equal treatment before law
Answer: (c) Majority rule
Reason: Democracy acts on majority *opinion*, but it is not simply rule *by* the majority community dominating others.
Question 2
Studies on political and social inequalities in democracy show that:
(a) Democracy and development go together.
(b) Inequalities exist in democracies.
(c) Inequalities do not exist under dictatorship.
(d) Dictatorship is better than democracy.
Answer: (b) Inequalities exist in democracies.
Reason: While democracy provides political equality, it has not successfully eliminated economic inequalities.
Question 3
Read the passage (Nannu’s story about RTI) and answer: What is the relation between the Right to Information and democracy?
Answer: The Right to Information (RTI) acts as a watchdog of democracy. It empowers citizens to question the government and its functionaries (like Nannu did). It makes the government more accountable and transparent, which are the two pillars of a successful democracy.
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