NCERT Class 8 Social Science Chapter 5
Universal Franchise and India's Electoral System
Chapter 5 of NCERT Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society explains the concept of universal adult franchise and how India's electoral system functions as the world's largest democracy. This CBSE Class 8 civics chapter covers the Election Commission of India, the electoral process, the role of voters, and key concepts like the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elections. It is fundamental to understanding democratic participation in India.
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Key Terms
- Universal Adult Franchise
- The right of all adult citizens to vote, regardless of their gender, religion, caste, or economic status.
- Election Commission of India
- An autonomous constitutional body responsible for administering election processes in India, ensuring free and fair elections.
- Constituency
- A defined area whose residents elect a representative to a legislative body such as the Lok Sabha or a state assembly.
- Electoral Roll
- The official list of all eligible voters in a constituency; also called the voter list.
- Model Code of Conduct
- Guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate the behaviour of political parties and candidates during elections.
- Lok Sabha
- The lower house of India's Parliament, whose members are directly elected by the people through universal adult franchise.
- EVM
- Electronic Voting Machine — the device used in Indian elections to cast and record votes electronically, replacing paper ballots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is universal adult franchise Class 8 NCERT Social Science?▾
Universal adult franchise means every adult citizen of India who is 18 years or older has the right to vote, regardless of their caste, religion, gender, or economic status. It is the foundation of India's democracy.
What is the role of the Election Commission of India Class 8?▾
The Election Commission of India is an independent body that oversees all elections in the country. It prepares voter rolls, announces election schedules, enforces the Model Code of Conduct, and ensures free and fair elections.
How are Lok Sabha elections conducted in India Class 8?▾
Lok Sabha elections are held every five years. Voters in each constituency elect one Member of Parliament. The party that wins the majority of seats forms the government, and its leader becomes the Prime Minister.
What is the importance of voting in a democracy Class 8?▾
Voting is the most basic right of every citizen in a democracy. It allows people to choose their representatives and hold the government accountable. Universal adult franchise ensures that every voice counts equally.
What is the Model Code of Conduct in Indian elections Class 8?▾
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission that all political parties and candidates must follow during elections to ensure a level playing field and prevent the misuse of power.
What is the difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Class 8?▾
The Lok Sabha is the lower house of Parliament with members directly elected by the people, while the Rajya Sabha is the upper house with members elected by state legislatures. The Lok Sabha has more legislative powers.
Why is India called the world's largest democracy Class 8?▾
India is called the world's largest democracy because it has the highest number of eligible voters in the world (over 900 million) and conducts regular, free, and fair elections based on universal adult franchise since 1952.
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