Class 10 Social Science Chapter 18 Outcomes of Democracy (Civics) PYQ

Class: X Subject: Social Science Session: 2025-26 Book: Political Science Type: PYQ (Board Exam) Board: CBSE Chapter 5 : Outcomes of Democracy

SECTION A : Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark Each)

Q1. Democracy is better than other forms of government because it: [CBSE 2023] [1]
(a) Promotes economic growth fastest
(b) Ensures dignity of citizens and resolves conflicts peacefully
(c) Eliminates poverty completely
(d) Has the strongest military Ans:
(b) Ensures dignity of citizens and resolves conflicts peacefully. Democracy may not always deliver the best economic results but it provides freedom, dignity, and peaceful conflict resolution. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q2. Which of the following is a valid criticism of democracy? [CBSE 2022] [1]
(a) Democracy is accountable
(b) Democracy leads to delays in decision-making
(c) Democracy promotes equality
(d) Democracy ensures freedom Ans:
(b) Democracy leads to delays in decision-making. Because democracy requires consultation and debate, decisions take longer than in authoritarian systems. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q3. Democracy produces an accountable government because: [CBSE 2024] [1]
(a) People have no say
(b) Citizens can question and participate through elections and media
(c) Only rich people participate
(d) Army controls the government Ans:
(b) Citizens can question through elections, media, protests, and RTI. Regular elections ensure that leaders who fail to deliver are voted out. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q4. Transparency in a democracy means: [CBSE 2021] [1]
(a) Government keeps secrets
(b) Citizens have the right to information about government working
(c) Only ministers know about government policies
(d) Media is banned Ans:
(b) Citizens have the right to information about government working. RTI Act (2005) empowers citizens to demand information from public authorities. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q5. Which of the following outcomes is expected from a democracy? [CBSE 2020] [1]
(a) Faster economic growth than dictatorships
(b) Accountable, responsive, and legitimate government
(c) Complete elimination of inequality
(d) No corruption at all Ans:
(b) Accountable, responsive, and legitimate government. Democracy promises dignity, equality, and peaceful conflict resolution rather than guaranteed economic outcomes. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q6. Democracy is said to provide a legitimate government because: [CBSE 2023] [1]
(a) It uses military force
(b) It is based on free and fair elections
(c) It is led by rich people
(d) It has hereditary rulers Ans:
(b) It is based on free and fair elections. The government formed through people's mandate has legitimate authority to govern and make decisions. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q7. Democracy is better at promoting dignity because: [CBSE 2024] [1]
(a) It makes everyone rich
(b) It respects individual rights and treats all citizens as equals
(c) It eliminates all social divisions
(d) It guarantees employment Ans:
(b) It respects individual rights and treats all citizens as equals before the law. Democracy upholds human dignity through fundamental rights. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q8. Which is NOT an expected outcome of democracy? [CBSE 2022] [1]
(a) Accountable government
(b) Equal distribution of all resources
(c) Responsive government
(d) Legitimate government Ans:
(b) Equal distribution of all resources. While democracy promotes equality of opportunity, it cannot guarantee equal distribution of all economic resources. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q9. Economic growth in dictatorships vs democracies shows: [CBSE 2021] [1]
(a) Dictatorships always grow faster
(b) Democracies always grow faster
(c) Difference in economic growth rates is negligible
(d) Neither grows economically Ans:
(c) The difference in economic growth rates is negligible. Some dictatorships have grown fast (China) but so have democracies (India). Democracy has other advantages beyond growth. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q10. Assertion
(a) : Democracy is a better form of government. Reason (R): It allows people to correct their mistakes through elections. [CBSE 2024] [1]
(a) Both true and (R) correctly explains
(a)
(b) Both true but (R) does not explain
(a)
(c)
(a) is true but (R) is false
(d)
(a) is false Ans:
(a) Both true and (R) correctly explains
(a) . Democracy allows people to change governments through elections if they are unhappy, which is a unique self-correcting mechanism. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SECTION B : Short Answer Questions (3 Marks Each)

Q11. "Democracy is a better form of government than any other." Justify. [CBSE 2023] [3] • Accountability: Democratic government is accountable to the people. Regular elections ensure representatives work for public welfare or face defeat. • Conflict Resolution: Democracy provides peaceful mechanisms to resolve disputes through discussion, debate, and negotiation rather than violence. • Dignity: It upholds individual dignity and freedom. Citizens have fundamental rights including freedom of speech, religion, and equality before law.

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Q12. How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive, and legitimate government? [CBSE 2024] [3] • Accountable: Regular elections, free media, RTI Act, and opposition parties keep the government answerable to citizens for its actions and decisions. • Responsive: Democratic government must respond to citizens' needs to win re-election. Public pressure through protests, media, and civil society shapes policy. • Legitimate: Government formed through people's mandate in free and fair elections has moral authority to govern.

Citizens accept its decisions willingly. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q13. What is the relationship between democracy and economic growth? [CBSE 2022] [3] • No Clear Advantage: Data shows dictatorships and democracies have similar economic growth rates. Some authoritarian countries like China grew very fast. • Democracy's Strength: While growth rates may be similar, democracies ensure more equitable distribution, reduce extreme poverty, and provide social safety nets. • Long-term View: Democracies are more stable in the long run. They avoid the extreme swings and human costs associated with authoritarian economic experiments.

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Q14. How does democracy accommodate social diversity? [CBSE 2021] [3] • Representation: Elections ensure diverse groups get political representation. Reserved seats for SCs, STs, and women guarantee voice for marginalised sections. • Peaceful Expression: Democracy provides channels - media, protests, petitions - for groups to express grievances peacefully instead of resorting to violence. • Majority Rule: Democracy follows majority rule but protects minority rights through constitutional safeguards.

Majority decisions must respect minority dignity. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q15. Explain how democracy promotes dignity and freedom of citizens. [CBSE 2020] [3] • Equal Treatment: Democracy treats all citizens as equals regardless of caste, religion, gender, or wealth. This promotes human dignity. • Women's Dignity: Democratic movements have strengthened women's fight for equal treatment. Legal reforms on property, domestic violence, and workplace equality reflect this. • Caste Equality: Democracy has enabled lower castes to demand equal status through political participation, reservation, and legal protection against discrimination.

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SECTION C : Long Answer Questions (5 Marks Each)

Q16. "Democracy is seen to be good in principle but felt to be not so good in practice." Justify. [CBSE 2024] [5] Ans: Democracy faces a gap between promise and practice: • In Principle: Democracy promises equality, freedom, accountability, and responsiveness. It is based on the idea that citizens should govern themselves. • Corruption: In practice, corruption, criminalization of politics, and money power undermine democratic ideals. Rich and powerful often influence outcomes. • Slow Progress: Democracy moves slowly due to debate and consultation. Citizens often feel frustrated when problems like poverty, unemployment persist.

• But Still Best: Despite flaws, democracy is better than alternatives. It allows self-correction - people can vote out bad governments, protest, and demand change. • Work in Progress: Democracy is not a destination but a journey. As citizens become more aware and active, democratic institutions improve over time. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q17. "Outcomes of democracy are evaluated on the basis of expected and actual outcomes." Explain with examples. [CBSE 2023] [5] Ans: Democracy must be evaluated fairly: • Accountable Government: Expected and largely delivered. Elections, media, and courts hold government accountable. RTI Act has strengthened transparency. • Economic Growth: Expected but not guaranteed. Democracies grow at rates comparable to dictatorships. However, democracies handle economic crises better. • Inequality: Expected to reduce but has not fully delivered. Economic inequality persists. However, democracy provides tools (votes, protests) to fight inequality.

• Dignity: Significantly achieved. Democracy has promoted women's rights, lower caste assertion, and protection of minorities - outcomes impossible in dictatorships. • Conflict Resolution: Largely successful. India, a deeply diverse country, has managed conflicts through democratic means rather than civil wars (unlike many other countries). ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q18. How does democracy ensure dignity and freedom for its citizens? Explain with examples. [CBSE 2022] [5] Ans: Dignity and freedom are democracy's greatest achievements: • Individual Freedom: Fundamental rights guarantee freedom of speech, religion, movement, and assembly. Citizens can criticise the government without fear. • Women's Dignity: Democratic movements have led to laws against dowry, domestic violence, and workplace harassment. Women increasingly participate in politics. • Caste Equality: Democracy enabled lower castes to assert their rights through reservation, political mobilisation, and legal protection against untouchability.

• Minority Protection: Constitutional safeguards protect religious and linguistic minorities. They have freedom to practice their culture and religion. • Self-Correction: When democracy fails to deliver dignity (as in cases of caste violence or communal riots), citizens can demand accountability through courts and elections. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q19. "Democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities." Comment. [CBSE 2021] [5] Ans: Economic inequality remains a challenge for democracies: • Persistent Gap: In most democracies, a small number of ultra-rich enjoy a disproportionate share of wealth and income. The gap between rich and poor has widened. • India's Reality: India is a democracy but has significant economic inequality. The top 10% own over 70% of wealth while millions live below the poverty line. • Reasons: Wealthy individuals influence political outcomes through funding parties. Government policies often favour the rich due to lobbying and political connections.

• Democratic Tools: However, democracy provides mechanisms to fight inequality - voting power of the poor, welfare schemes, MGNREGA, food security laws. • Comparison: Authoritarian regimes have not done better at reducing inequality. Democratic pressure has at least created safety nets and welfare programmes for the poor. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q20. Explain why democracy is considered the best form of government despite its limitations. [CBSE 2020] [5] Ans: Democracy, despite limitations, remains the best system: • Accountability: No other system holds leaders accountable through regular, free, and fair elections. Bad leaders can be peacefully removed. • Freedom: Citizens enjoy fundamental rights - speech, religion, movement, equality. These rights are not guaranteed under dictatorships or monarchies. • Conflict Resolution: Democracy resolves disputes through dialogue and negotiation, not through violence or suppression as in authoritarian systems.

• Self-Improvement: Democracy has built-in mechanisms for self-correction. If government fails, people can change it. If laws are unjust, courts can strike them down. • Dignity: By treating every citizen as equal and giving them a voice, democracy upholds human dignity in a way no other system can match. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ --- End of Chapter 5 PYQ ---