NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Civics, Chapter 1 : What is Democracy

Class 9 is the first stepping stone for a student in the competitive world. With the introduction of the CBSE Board Exam for class 10 a few years back, this has become an important gateway for a student. Based on the results of class 9th a student selects his future stream of Science, Commerce or Arts suiting his interest.

Takshila Learning is providing NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Polity as per the latest syllabus by CBSE. Class 9 is the building block for the CBSE Class 10 Board Exams, not only for your exams but also for your higher studies and career. Polity is the most essential subject and the knowledge in this field opens up wider career opportunities for the students.

Below you can find the NCERT solution for Class 9th Polity. You can get a Solution for the all-important question of Class 9 Civics, Chapter 1 : What is Democracy

Exercises Page No. 15

1. Here is some information about the four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries. Write ‘democratic’, ‘undemocratic’ or ‘not sure’ against each of these.
2. Country A: People who do not accept the country’s official religion do not have a right to vote.
3. Country B: The same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years.
4. Country C: The Ruling party has lost in the last three elections.
5. Country D: There is no independent election commission.

Answer.

1. Country A: Undemocratic
2. Country B: Not sure
3. Country C: Democratic
4. Country D: Democratic
5. 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.
6. Country P: The parliament cannot pass a law about the army without the consent of the Chief of Army.
7. Country Q: The parliament cannot pass a law reducing the powers of the judiciary.
8. Country R: The country’s leaders cannot sign any treaty with another country without taking permission from its neighbouring country.
9. Country S: All the major economic decisions about the country are taken by officials of the central bank which the ministers cannot change.

Answer.

1. Country P: Undemocratic
2. Country Q: Democratic
3. Country R: Undemocratic
4. Country S: Undemocratic
5. Which of these is not a good argument in favour of democracy? Why?
6. People feel free and equal in a democracy.
7. Democracies resolve conflict in a better way than others.
8. Democratic government is more accountable to the people.
9. Democracies are more prosperous than others.

Answer.

D. Others who are more prosperous than democracy are not good arguments in favor of democracy. Sri Lanka is an example of democratic countries like India, although democratic countries are not as rich, which are communist or monarchist in nature. For example, China which is a communist country and Saudi Arabia which is a monarchist country is more prosperous than India which is a democratic country. The country’s prosperity depends on government policies, natural resources and availability of human resources.

4. Each of these statements contains a democratic and undemocratic element. Write out the two separately for each statement.
5. 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 (WTO).
6. The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency where large-scale rigging was reported.
7. Women’s representation in parliament has barely reached 10 per cent. This led women’s organisations to demand one-third seats for women.

Answer.

a. Democratic element – A minister said that some laws have to be passed by Parliament. Undemocratic element – conforming to the rules set by the World Trade Organization (WTO).B. Democratic Elements – The Election Commission ordered re-voting in one constituency. Undemocratic elements – large scale rigging was reported.C. Democratic element – women’s organization to demand one-third seats for women. Undemocratic element – women’s representation in Parliament has barely reached 10%.

5. Which of these is not a valid reason for arguing that there is a lesser possibility of famine in a democratic country?
6. Opposition parties can draw attention to hunger and starvation.
7. Free press can report suffering from famine in different parts of the country.
8. Government fears its defeat in the next elections.
9. People are free to believe in and practise any religion.

Answer.

1. The statement, ‘People are free to believe in and practice any religion,’ is not a valid reason for arguing that there is a lesser possibility of famine in a democratic country.
2. 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?
3. Filing a case in the courts claiming that water is part of the right to life.
4. Boycotting the next elections to give a message to all parties.
5. Organising public meetings against the government’s policies.
6. Paying money to government officials to get water.

Answer.

1. Paying money to government officials to get water is not a democratic method.
2. Write a response to the following arguments against democracy:
3. The army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country. Therefore the army should rule the country.
4. 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.
5. 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 a disciplined organization. However, it is unfair if the army is not elected by the civilians, and therefore it would be an undemocratic practice.B. The rule of majority is not the rule of the ignorant. Intelligence is subjective and the government is run by people who know law and order.C. Religion and politics are two different things. While religion can guide someone for religious matters, it cannot be anyone’s guide to politics, which is an important segment of a nation.

8. Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
9. 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.
10. Teacher to student: Don’t disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom.
11. Employee to the officer: Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.

Answer.

a. The statement does not hold with democracy as a value, since the daughter is not allowed to express her opinion.B. The statement does not hold with democracy as a value, because students are not allowed to ask questions that are their right.C. The statement rests with democracy as law, as the employee gives his opinion for his authority under the law.

9. Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.
10. All the citizens of the country have the right to vote. Elections are held regularly.
11. The country took loans from international agencies. One of the conditions for giving loan was that the government would reduce its expenses on education and health.
12. 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.
13. Several organisations have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nationwide strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders.
14. 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 the government’s policies and protests.

Answer.

1. From this statement we can understand that this is a democratic country where citizens are allowed to vote and choose their government.
2. While taking loans from international agencies, the country is compromising on the welfare of the people by reducing its expenditure on education and health, which is completely undemocratic.
3. The provision to make education accessible in only one language is undemocratic. It is a fundamental right for people to get education and it is the duty of the government to provide them in the language that they know.

D. The right to assemble and perform peacefully is a person’s basic right. Therefore, arresting protesters is undemocratic.I. When the government owns radio and television, it is preventing people from taking advantage of their right to an independent press. It is undemocratic.

Tag – NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Political science Chapter 1; NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Polity; class 9 Political science chapter 1; class 9 Political science chapter 1 question answer; What is Democracy Class 9; What is Democracy class 9 pdf; What is Democracy class 9 notes; NCERT Solutions for Class 9 SSt; What is Democracy; class 9 polity ncert; NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Civics; Class 9 Civics Chapter 1