NCERT Solutions · Class 10 SST · NCERT Social Science Political Science: Democratic Politics II · Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Outcomes of Democracy (Political Science)
Answers to all exercise questions of Political Science Chapter 5, Outcomes of Democracy (NCERT Class 10 Social Science, Democratic Politics II, 2026-27): accountable, responsive and legitimate government, accommodation of social diversity, arguments on democracy and development, challenges to democracy, and Nannu's use of the Right to Information. All 8 questions are answered, with the key answer highlighted.
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Democracy is better than other forms of government because it promotes equality among citizens, enhances the dignity of the individual, improves the quality of decision-making, provides a method to resolve conflicts and allows room to correct mistakes. Its outcomes are judged by: accountable, responsive and legitimate government; economic growth and development; reduction of inequality and poverty; accommodation of social diversity; and dignity and freedom of citizens.
How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government?
Solution
Accountable: democracy ensures that decisions are taken according to procedures. Citizens have the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making: this is called transparency. Regular, free and fair elections let people change the government; there is open public debate on major policies and legislation, and citizens have a right to information about the government and its functioning (e.g. the Right to Information Act).
Responsive: a democratic government is expected to attend to the needs and expectations of the people, because it depends on them for votes. A free media, opposition parties and the right to protest keep it alert. (Democracies often frustrate people's needs and ignore some demands, but they do better than non-democratic governments.)
Legitimate: a democratic government is the people's own government, chosen by them. It may be slow, less efficient and not always very responsive or clean, but people prefer it. There is overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world, as surveys in South Asia show. Its ability to generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be ignored.
Through set procedures, transparency, regular free elections and the right to information it becomes accountable; dependence on votes makes it responsive; and being chosen by the people gives it legitimacy.
What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities?
Solution
Majority rule does not mean the rule of a majority community. The majority always needs to work with the minority, so that governments function to represent the general view. Majority and minority opinions are not permanent.
Rule by majority should not become rule by a majority based on religion, race or language. Democracy remains democracy only as long as every citizen has a chance of being in the majority at some point of time. If someone is barred from being in the majority on the basis of birth, democratic rule ceases to be accommodative for that person or group.
There should be respect for minorities, and the various social groups should have a voice and a share in power (e.g. power sharing in Belgium).
When majority rule works together with minorities, when the majority is not fixed on the basis of religion, race or language, and when every citizen has a chance of being in the majority.
Give arguments to support or oppose these assertions: (a) Industrialised countries can afford democracy but the poor need dictatorship to become rich. (b) Democracy can't reduce inequality of incomes between different citizens. (c) Governments in poor countries should spend less on poverty reduction, health and education, and more on industries and infrastructure. (d) In democracy all citizens have one vote, which means there is an absence of any domination and conflict.
Solution
(a) Oppose. Economic development depends on many factors: the size of population, the global situation, cooperation from other countries and the economic priorities of the country. Studies show that the difference in the rates of growth between dictatorships and democracies in poor countries is negligible. Even if democracy grows a little slower, it has many other positive outcomes: dignity, freedom, equality and legitimacy. Poor countries like India have progressed under democracy.
(b) Partly support. Democracies have not been very successful in reducing economic inequality: in many democratic countries a small number of ultra-rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and income, while the poor have little to depend on. But democracy gives the poor a vote and a voice, so governments are under pressure to adopt measures that reduce inequality (e.g. welfare schemes, reservations, minimum wages); over time it can reduce inequality, which is not true of dictatorships.
(c) Oppose. Industries and infrastructure are important, but a healthy and educated population is the basis of development. Spending on health, education and poverty reduction builds human capital, increases productivity and reduces inequality. A democratic government is expected to look after the welfare of all citizens, especially the poor, who form a large part of the voters.
(d) Oppose. Political equality (one person, one vote) does not end economic and social inequalities. The rich and powerful still dominate in many ways, and conflicts between groups, castes, religions and regions continue in democracies. Democracy does not eliminate conflict; it provides a peaceful way to manage and resolve conflicts.
(a) Oppose: growth rates of dictatorships and democracies differ little, and democracy has other benefits. (b) Partly true, but democracy gives the poor a voice to reduce inequality. (c) Oppose: health and education are the base of development. (d) Oppose: equal votes do not remove economic and social domination or conflict.
Identify the challenges to democracy in these descriptions, and suggest a policy or institutional mechanism to deepen democracy: (a) Following a High Court directive, a temple in Orissa that had separate entry doors for dalits and non-dalits allowed entry for all from the same door. (b) A large number of farmers are committing suicide in different states of India. (c) Following an allegation of the killing of three civilians in Gandwara in a fake encounter by the Jammu and Kashmir police, an enquiry has been ordered.
Solution
Case
Challenge
Mechanism to deepen democracy
(a) Separate temple doors for dalits
Caste discrimination and untouchability; ensuring equality and dignity of all citizens
Strict enforcement of laws against untouchability; awareness campaigns; an active judiciary (as here, the High Court) and social reform movements
(b) Farmers' suicides
Economic inequality and the failure to meet the basic needs of the poor (debt, crop failure, low prices)
Easy and cheap credit, crop insurance, fair minimum support prices, irrigation and loan waivers; strong farmers' organisations to voice their needs
(c) Fake encounter
Protecting civil liberties and human rights against misuse of power by the police; ensuring accountability
Independent enquiries, human rights commissions, police reforms, a free media and an independent judiciary to punish the guilty
(a) Caste discrimination: enforce laws and an active judiciary. (b) Economic distress of farmers: credit, insurance and fair prices. (c) Violation of civil rights by police: independent enquiries, human rights commissions and police reforms.
In the context of democracies, which idea is correct? Democracies have successfully eliminated: A. conflicts among people B. economic inequalities among people C. differences of opinion about how marginalised sections are to be treated D. the idea of political inequality
Solution
Democracy gives every adult an equal vote, ending political inequality in principle; conflicts, economic inequality and differences of opinion remain.
In assessing democracy, which is the 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
Solution
Majority rule alone does not make a democracy; the other three are essential features that democracy must guarantee to every citizen.
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
Read the passage about Nannu, who got his duplicate ration card within a week of filing an application under the Right to Information Act. What does his example show? What impact did his action have on officials? Ask your parents about their experiences with government officials.
Solution
What it shows: Nannu's example shows the power of the Right to Information Act in a democracy. Even a poor daily-wage earner can make the government transparent and accountable. The Act gives citizens the right to know how decisions are taken and what action is taken on their applications.
Impact on officials: officials who had ignored him for three months suddenly became active and polite. Within a week an inspector visited him, the card was ready, and the Food and Supply Officer even offered him tea and requested him to withdraw his RTI application. This shows that officials feared being held responsible for their inaction.
Parents' experiences: students should ask their parents and record whether they faced delays, corruption or rude behaviour in government offices, and whether tools like the RTI, online services or complaints helped them.
It shows that the RTI Act makes the government accountable even to a poor citizen; the officials, fearing action for their delay, quickly did his work and tried to get the application withdrawn.
