NCERT solutions for Social Science Understanding Society India and Beyond Part 1 [English] Class 9 chapter 7 - Elections [Latest edition]

Why are elections essential to a democratic system?

How do electoral systems shape political representation?

How do electoral rules ensure fairness?

What role do institutions play in ensuring free and fair elections?

What role do laws play in ensuring free and fair elections?

What challenges do elections face in practice, and how can these challenges affect democracy?

Different democracies use different electoral systems. Make groups of 5–6 students. Each group will select six countries from different continents. Prepare and present a case study on the type of electoral system(s) operating in those countries, and discuss their latest election results of those countries.

Article 82 of the Constitution of India mandates the establishment of a Delimitation Commission. India has had four Delimitation Commissions in 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002. Can you find out the reason for the long interval between 1973 and 2002 with the help of your teacher?

You will turn 18 in a few years. As a responsible citizen, you should register yourself as a voter. Find out the various steps of the procedure for registration and the list of required documents for the same. Discuss, with anyone who has just turned 18 and has registered as a voter, the ease or difficulty faced in the voter registration process.

• Do you know what ETPBS is?

ETPBS stands for Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System. It enables service voters to cast their vote on an electronically received postal ballot from their preferred location, which is outside their originally assigned voting constituency.

• Find out who are classified as service voters and who can vote usinETPBS?

Choose any three states (including yours). Find the symbols of state parties belonging to those states and plot them on the given map of India. List down their major agenda, as mentioned in their manifesto in the latest Lok Sabha/Vidhan Sabha/Local Body Elections.

Form groups of 4–6 students. Identify and compare the policy preferences on the following parameters for two political parties in the last Lok Sabha Elections using credible sources like party manifestos, newspapers, etc. Present the points of comparison in a poster using bullet points, symbols, colour coding, etc.

Find out the number of state parties. You may visit the website of ECI.

Find out the number of Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP). You may visit the website of ECI.

Find out the name and the composition (number and name of the national and state parties) of the alliances that won in the following elections to the Lok Sabha.

Look at the road to free and fair elections above Fig. Fill in the empty potholes with some more challenges after discussing them with your teachers and parents. How can we overcome these challenges?

What reform has been introduced by the ECI to make voting more inclusive for the following group?

People with Disabilities

What reform has been introduced by the ECI to make voting more inclusive for the following group?

Service Voters

What reform has been introduced by the ECI to make voting more inclusive for the following group?

Senior Citizens - 60 years and above; and 80 years and above

What reform has been introduced by the ECI to make voting more inclusive for the following group?

Prisoners

What reform has been introduced by the ECI to make voting more inclusive for the following group?

Persons in preventive detention

What are the various functions of the Election Commission of India? Which of these functions is most important for the conduct of free and fair elections? Explain.

Elections are the soul of a democracy. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Explain at least three differences between the national and state/regional political parties.

Why should you vote? Arrange the following in the descending order of your choice. Discuss the reasons for your choice.

1. Opportunity to choose my representative 
2. Makes me a responsible person 
3. Opportunity to change the non-performing representative 
4. Strengthens democracy

What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative of the ECI?

Explain the objectives and the necessity of conducting SIR.

Match the political party name with its symbol.

Political Parties Name	Symbol
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)]
Indian National Congress (INC)
National People’s Party (NPP)

Read the case study below and answer the following questions.

1. What initiatives were taken by the ECI to enable the voters to cast their vote?
2. If Ishani was allowed to vote even without carrying her voter ID card or Aadhaar card, which other document might she be carrying that is valid for voting? 
3. Cite the examples of violations of the Model Code of Conduct. 
4. Give a suitable title to the passage. 
5. Find out how the police and army personnel cast their votes.

A comparative chart of three countries is given below. Based on the information given in the chart, answer the questions.

1. What is the difference between having a voting right in a country with a multi-party system and another with a single-party system?
2. In which of the above countries would you like to stay and why?

State the challenges in conducting free and fair elections.

On the Stage.

Elections are to be held in your school for the posts of Head Girl, Head Boy, and Sports Captain. Assume the roles of an Election Commissioner, Returning Officer, Polling Agent, Candidate, Campaigner, Polling Officer, Police Personnel, and a Journalist, and perform their roles while ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections.

Try and make videos or audios on topics like: My Vote My Nation; No Voter to be Left Behind; How to Eliminate the Ill of Money Power, etc.

1. Some promises made in the Election manifesto
2. Percentage of votes polled 
3. Number of seats won 
4. Number of women who contested 
5. Number of women candidates elected

Present the data for both elections in a clear and comparative format, citing all sources used.

Do you think ‘One Nation, One Election’ can improve the efficiency of the electoral process? Divide the class and discuss into two groups one to examine its potential advantages and the other to analyse its limitations.