📘 Class
8 Social Science
🗳️
Chapter 5: Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System
📍 Page
117
🌟 The
Big Questions
1. What is universal adult franchise?
👉 Answer:
🧑🤝🧑 Universal
adult franchise means:
- Every
citizen 18 years and above can vote 🗳️
- No
discrimination ❌
(caste, religion, gender, income)
👉 ✔️ One person = One vote =
Equal value
2. What is an electoral system?
👉 Answer:
⚙️ An electoral
system is the method of conducting elections
👉 It
includes:
- 🏛️
Election Commission
- 🗳️
Voting process
- 📊
Counting votes
- 📅
Election rules
👉 ✔️ It helps choose
representatives
3. How does India’s electoral system work?
👉 Answer:
🇮🇳 India
follows a proper election system:
👉 Steps:
- 🧾
Voter registration
- 🗳️
Voting through EVM
- 🏆
Candidate with most votes wins (First Past the Post)
- 📊
Counting & results
👉 ✔️ Majority party forms
government
📍 Page
137
✏️
Questions and Activities
1. Why is universal adult franchise important
for a healthy democracy?
👉 Answer:
🗳️
Importance:
- 👥
Everyone gets equal right
- ⚖️ Promotes equality
- 🧑⚖️
Holds leaders accountable
👉 ✔️ Government represents all
people
2. What is the meaning of ‘secret ballot’? Why
is this important in a democracy?
👉 Answer:
🤫 Secret
ballot = Voting privately
👉
Importance:
- ❌ No pressure
- ❌ No fear
- ✔️ Free and fair
voting
👉 ✔️ Voters can choose honestly
3. Give examples of direct and indirect
elections.
👉 Answer:
👉 🗳️ Direct elections:
- Lok
Sabha
- State
Assembly
👉 🏛️ Indirect elections:
- Rajya
Sabha
- President
4. How is the election of members to the Lok
Sabha different from that to the Rajya Sabha?
👉 Answer:
📊
Difference:
👉 Lok
Sabha:
- 🗳️
Direct election
- ⏳ 5 years term
👉 Rajya
Sabha:
- 🏛️
Indirect election
- ⏳ 6 years term
- 🔄
Permanent house
👉 ✔️ Both have different systems
5. What, in your view, are the advantages of the
EVM over paper ballots?
👉 Answer:
💡
Advantages:
- ⚡ Fast results
- ✔️ Accurate
- 🌱
Saves paper
- 🔒
Secure
👉 ✔️ Easy for voters
6. Voter turnout has been declining in some
urban areas of India. What could be the reasons for this trend, and what steps
can be taken to encourage more people to vote?
👉 Answer:
❌
Reasons:
- 🕒
Busy life
- 😐
Lack of interest
- 🚚
Migration
👉 ✔️ Solutions:
- 📢
Awareness campaigns
- 🏫
Education programs
- 🏢
Voting holidays
👉 ✔️ Encourage participation
7. Why do you think a proportion of seats in the
Lok Sabha is reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes? Write a short
note.
👉 Answer:
⚖️
Reservation ensures:
- 🧑🤝🧑
Equal representation
- 🗣️
Voice of weaker sections
👉 Data:
- SC
→
84 seats
- ST
→
47 seats
👉 ✔️ Promotes social justice
8. Social media is changing the way we
experience elections — from catchy campaign reels and live speeches to
political debates on Instagram and Twitter. But is this strengthening democracy
or confusing it? Discuss in pairs: What are the benefits, what are the
challenges, and what might the future of elections be in a digital age?
👉 Answer:
📱 Benefits:
- 📢
Easy information
- 🧑💻
Youth participation
❌ Challenges:
- ⚠️ Fake news
- 😡
Hate speech
🔮 Future:
- 🌐
More digital elections
- 📊
Better technology
👉 ✔️ Need balance
⚡ Very
Short Answer Type Questions
1. What is universal adult franchise?
👉 🧑🤝🧑 Right
to vote for all adults (18+)
2. Who manages elections in India?
👉 🏛️ Election Commission of
India
3. What system does India follow for Lok Sabha
elections?
👉 🗳️ First Past the Post
4. Why is secret ballot important?
👉 🤫 Protects voters
5. Give an example of direct election.
👉 🗳️ Lok Sabha
6. Give an example of indirect election.
👉 🏛️ Rajya Sabha
7. How are Lok Sabha members elected?
👉 🧑🤝🧑 Direct
voting
8. How are Rajya Sabha members elected?
👉 🏛️ MLAs elect
9. What is the term of Lok Sabha members?
👉 ⏳ 5 years
10. What is the term of Rajya Sabha members?
👉 ⏳ 6 years
11. Name one advantage of EVMs over paper
ballots.
👉 ⚡ Faster
12. Why is urban voter turnout declining?
👉 🕒 Busy life
13. How many Lok Sabha seats are reserved for
SCs?
👉 84
14. How many Lok Sabha seats are reserved for
STs?
👉 47
15. What is a challenge of social media in
elections?
👉 ⚠️ Fake news
✏️ Short
Answer Type Questions
1. What is universal adult franchise?
👉 Answer:
🧑🤝🧑
Universal adult franchise means:
- All
citizens 18+ years can vote 🗳️
- No
discrimination ❌
(caste, religion, gender, income)
👉 ✔️ Everyone gets equal voting
rights
2. How does India’s electoral system work?
👉 Answer:
🇮🇳
India’s system works like this:
- 🏛️
Election Commission manages elections
- 🧾
Voter registration
- 🗳️
Voting through EVMs
- 🏆
Candidate with most votes wins (FPTP)
👉 ✔️ Simple and organized system
3. Why is secret ballot important in elections?
👉 Answer:
🤫 Secret
ballot means private voting
👉
Importance:
- ❌ No pressure
- ❌ No bribery fear
- ✔️ Free choice
👉 ✔️ Ensures fair elections
4. Differentiate between direct and indirect
elections.
👉 Answer:
📊 Direct
Elections:
- 🧑🤝🧑
People vote directly
- Example:
Lok Sabha, MLA
🏛️
Indirect Elections:
- Representatives
vote
- Example:
President, Rajya Sabha
👉 ✔️ Difference = Who votes
5. How are Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elections
different?
👉 Answer:
👉 Lok
Sabha:
- 🗳️
Direct election
- ⏳ 5 years
👉 Rajya
Sabha:
- 🏛️
Indirect election
- ⏳ 6 years
- 🔄
Not dissolved
👉 ✔️ Both have different systems
6. What are the advantages of EVMs over paper
ballots?
👉 Answer:
💡
Advantages:
- ⚡ Fast results
- ✔️ Accurate
- 🌱
Eco-friendly
- 🔒
Secure
👉 ✔️ Easy and reliable
7. Why is urban voter turnout declining in
India?
👉 Answer:
❌
Reasons:
- 🕒
Busy lifestyle
- 🚚
Migration
- 😐
Less awareness
👉 ✔️ People feel disconnected
8. Why are seats reserved for SCs and STs in Lok
Sabha?
👉 Answer:
⚖️
Reservation ensures:
- 🧑🤝🧑
Equal representation
- 🗣️
Voice for weaker sections
👉 ✔️ Promotes social justice
9. How does social media impact elections?
👉 Answer:
📱
Positive:
- 📢
Awareness
- 🧑💻
Youth engagement
❌
Negative:
- ⚠️ Fake news
- 😡
Polarization
👉 ✔️ Needs control and awareness
10. What steps can increase voter turnout in
urban areas?
👉 Answer:
✔️
Solutions:
- 📢
Awareness campaigns
- 🏢
Voting holidays
- 🏫
Education programs
- 🗳️
Better facilities
👉 ✔️ Encourage participation
📝 Long
Answer Type Questions
1. Explain the significance of universal adult
franchise in a democracy.
👉 Answer:
🌟
Importance:
- 🧑🤝🧑
Equal voting rights
- ⚖️ Promotes equality
- 🏛️
Strengthens democracy
- 🧑⚖️
Makes leaders accountable
- 📢
Empowers all citizens
👉 ✔️ Backbone of democracy
2. Describe the process of elections in India.
👉 Answer:
📊
Process:
- 🏛️
Managed by Election Commission
- 🧾
Voter registration
- 🗳️
Voting via EVM
- 🏆
Most votes wins (FPTP)
- 📊
Counting & results
👉 ✔️ Forms government
3. Compare direct and indirect elections with
examples.
👉 Answer:
🧑🤝🧑 Direct
Elections:
- People
vote directly
- Example:
Lok Sabha, MLA
🏛️
Indirect Elections:
- Representatives
vote
- Example:
President, Rajya Sabha
4. Discuss the advantages of EVMs over
traditional paper ballots.
👉 Answer:
💡
Benefits:
- ⚡ Faster results
- ✔️ Less error
- 🌱
Saves paper
- 🔒
Secure
- 👍
Easy to use
👉 ✔️ Modern voting system
5. Analyze the impact of social media on
elections.
👉 Answer:
📱
Positive:
- 📢
Information spread
- 🧑💻
Youth involvement
❌
Negative:
- ⚠️ Fake news
- 🧠
Bias (echo chambers)
🔮 Need:
- 📚
Digital awareness
- ⚖️ Proper rules
👉 ✔️ Balance is important
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