Question Bank — Elections

NCERT Class 9 Social Science · Chapter 7 · CBSE Board Pattern

Class 9 Social Science Chapter 7 Question Bank CBSE Board Pattern

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

  1. Which electoral system is used for electing members of the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha in India?
    (a) Proportional Representation
    (b) First-Past-The-Post (FPTP)
    (c) Single Transferable Vote
    (d) Majority System

  2. The Representation of the People Act, 1950 mainly deals with:
    (a) Conduct of elections and corrupt practices
    (b) Allocation of seats, delimitation and electoral rolls
    (c) Reservation of seats for women
    (d) Anti-defection provisions

  3. Assertion (A): The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional body.
    Reason (R): Articles 324 to 329 of the Constitution provide for the establishment of the ECI and define its powers.
    (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true but R is false.
    (d) A is false but R is true.

  4. Delimitation is necessary because:
    (a) It fixes the term of the Lok Sabha
    (b) It ensures equal representation by adjusting constituency boundaries according to population
    (c) It registers political parties
    (d) It conducts Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls

  5. Assertion (A): The Anti-Defection Law was enacted through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment in 1985.
    Reason (R): The law aims to prevent political opportunism and provide stability to elected governments.
    (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true but R is false.
    (d) A is false but R is true.

  6. Which of the following is NOT a function of the Election Commission of India?
    (a) Preparing electoral rolls
    (b) Allocating election symbols to recognised parties
    (c) Deciding the date of elections
    (d) Making laws for the country

  7. In the FPTP system, the winner is the candidate who:
    (a) Secures more than 50% of votes
    (b) Gets the highest number of votes in the constituency
    (c) Is nominated by the largest number of parties
    (d) Wins through proportional representation

  8. The ECI classifies political parties as national or state parties on the basis of:
    (a) Their performance in elections as per fixed criteria
    (b) The ideology mentioned in their manifesto
    (c) The number of members in the party
    (d) The age of the party

  9. Voting from home facility was first extended in the 2024 General Elections to:
    (a) All voters above 60 years
    (b) Senior citizens above 85 years and PwDs with 40% benchmark disability
    (c) Only service voters
    (d) Only prisoners

  10. The main purpose of the Model Code of Conduct is to:
    (a) Increase voter turnout
    (b) Ensure free and fair elections by regulating the behaviour of political parties and candidates
    (c) Fix the number of constituencies
    (d) Register new voters

Section B — Very Short Answer (6 questions, 2 marks each)

  1. Distinguish between direct and indirect elections with one example of each from India.
  2. What is the difference between the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Representation of the People Act, 1951?
  3. State any two functions of the Delimitation Commission.
  4. What is meant by ‘defection’? How does the Anti-Defection Law check it?
  5. Mention any two initiatives taken by the ECI to make elections more inclusive for Persons with Disabilities.
  6. Why is the Election Commission described as an autonomous body?

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

  1. Explain any three functions of the Election Commission of India in conducting free and fair elections.
  2. Compare the First-Past-The-Post system with the Proportional Representation system on any three points.
  3. Describe the role of political parties in a democracy as mentioned in the chapter.
  4. Why is periodic revision of electoral rolls through Special Intensive Revision (SIR) necessary? Explain any three reasons.
  5. What challenges does the ECI face while conducting elections in India? Give any three points.

Section D — Long Answer (3 questions, 5 marks each)

  1. “Elections are the soul of democracy.” Analyse the statement by explaining the significance of elections in ensuring equality, representation, accountability and legitimacy.
  2. Examine the role of the Election Commission of India in ensuring free and fair elections. Discuss at least five major functions with examples.
  3. Describe the various measures taken by the ECI and the legal framework to make the electoral process transparent and inclusive in India.

Section E — Source-Based (2 questions, 4 marks each)

Source 1

“An election is a process through which we exercise the right to vote and fulfil our responsibility as citizens. Regular and periodic elections lie at the core of democracy. Elected representatives are accountable to the people. The right to elect our representatives and holding them accountable is ensured through periodic elections, and our vote is the principal means by which we exercise this right.”

Sub-questions:
a. What does the source identify as the core of democracy? (1 mark)
b. How are elected representatives made accountable according to the source? (1 mark)
c. Why are periodic elections considered essential? (1 mark)
d. Which constitutional right of citizens is highlighted in the source? (1 mark)

Source 2

“The Representation of the People Act, 1950 deals mainly with the allocation of seats and delimitation of constituencies, the preparation and revision of electoral rolls, and ensuring that every citizen above 18 years of age has the right to vote without discrimination. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 deals with all the other aspects of the conduct of elections and post-election disputes.”

Sub-questions:
a. Which Act deals with the preparation of electoral rolls? (1 mark)
b. What is the minimum age for voting mentioned in the source? (1 mark)
c. Which Act handles post-election disputes? (1 mark)
d. How do the two Acts together contribute to the electoral process? (1 mark)

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Section A

  1. (b)
  2. (b)
  3. (a) — Both true; Articles 324–329 establish ECI’s autonomy (1 mark)
  4. (b)
  5. (a) — Both true; 52nd Amendment prevents defection for stability (1 mark)
  6. (d)
  7. (b)
  8. (a)
  9. (b)
  10. (b)

Section B (any two points, 1 mark each)
1. Direct: citizens vote directly (Lok Sabha); Indirect: representatives elect (Rajya Sabha/President).
2. RPA 1950: seats, delimitation, rolls; RPA 1951: conduct, disputes, offences.
3. Determines number of seats; fixes constituency boundaries.
4. Defection = switching parties after election; Anti-Defection Law disqualifies members who voluntarily leave party or defy whip.
5. Braille on EVMs; Saksham App; voting from home for PwDs.
6. Established under Constitution; independent of government control; permanent body.

Section C (any three points, 1 mark each)
1. Prepares electoral rolls, decides election schedule, registers parties & allocates symbols, ensures model code of conduct.
2. FPTP: one candidate per constituency, highest votes win; PR: seats in proportion to votes, party-list system.
3. Organise public opinion, campaign on issues, offer choices, form government, ensure accountability.
4. Updates rolls, adds new 18-year-olds, removes deceased/duplicates, ensures no eligible voter is left out.
5. Large electorate, diverse terrain, misinformation, fake news, money power, accessibility issues.

Section D (any five points, 1 mark each)
1. Equality (universal adult franchise), representation (direct election), accountability (periodic elections), legitimacy (people’s mandate).
2. Creates electoral rolls, fixes schedule, registers parties, enforces Model Code, uses EVM-VVPAT, inclusive measures for PwDs/senior citizens.
3. RPA 1950 & 1951, Delimitation Commission, ECI’s constitutional powers, digital initiatives (cVIGIL, ERONET), VVPAT, voters’ awareness.

Section E

Source 1: a. Regular and periodic elections; b. Through periodic elections and right to vote; c. They make representatives accountable; d. Right to vote.
Source 2: a. RPA 1950; b. 18 years; c. RPA 1951; d. Ensure integrity, transparency and accountability of the electoral process.

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All questions are answerable from the NCERT chapter text. Reviewed by GFIS faculty.