Hi. This NCERT (2026) Solutions Class 9 Social Science Chapter 7 Elections comprehensive guide provides detailed, text-backed solutions for all the Questions and activities for Chapter 7: Elections of the Class 9 Social Science (Civics) NCERT textbook. These answers are compiled directly from the lines of the textbook to help you write precise answers and prepare for your school examinations.
Questions and activities
1. What reforms have been introduced by the ECI to make voting more inclusive for the following groups?
a. People with Disabilities (PwDs)
Answer:
According to the textbook (Page 9, 10):
1. EVMs with Braille: Electronic Voting Machines are equipped with Braille features (Fig. 7.7) to enable visually impaired voters to cast their vote independently.
2. Saksham App: A dedicated mobile application that offers customized services for PwDs, including voter registration, finding the polling station, and requesting wheelchair or transport assistance.
3. Voting from Home: Introduced for the first time across India during the 2024 General Elections, allowing PwDs with a benchmark disability of 40% or more to vote from home using postal ballots.
b. Service Voters
Answer:
According to the textbook (Page 8, 10):
ETPBS (Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System): ECI developed this system specifically for ‘Service Voters’ (members of the armed forces, police forces serving outside, or government employees posted abroad). It allows them to receive and cast their postal ballots electronically from preferred locations outside their originally assigned voting constituencies.
c. Senior Citizens—60 years and above; and 80 years and above
Answer:
According to the textbook (Page 9):
1. Voting from Home: ECI extended the voting from home facility using postal ballots for senior citizens above 85 years of age (reduced to 80+ in some states) to make the voting process accessible and comfortable.
2. Infrastructure Support: Providing volunteers, ramps, and separate queues at polling stations for senior citizens (60 years and above) to avoid long waiting times.
d. Prisoners
Answer:
According to Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a person confined in a prison (whether under sentence of imprisonment or transportation or otherwise, or in the lawful custody of the police) is not entitled to vote in any election. Thus, the ECI does not provide voting reforms or facilities for active prisoners serving sentences or under trial.
e. Persons in preventive detention
Answer:
Under Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the restriction on voting does not apply to a person subjected to preventive detention under any law. The ECI allows these individuals to exercise their franchise through postal ballots, ensuring they are not disenfranchised during their detention.
2. What are the various functions of the Election Commission of India? Which of these functions is most important for the conduct of free and fair elections? Explain.
Answer:
Functions of the Election Commission of India (ECI):
According to the textbook (Pages 7, 8, 9):
1. Creation of Electoral Roll: Compiling, updating, and correcting list of eligible voters through initiatives like Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to ensure no eligible voter is left out.
2. Deciding the Election Schedule: Determining the dates and phases of elections while considering local factors like weather, exams, agricultural cycles, and festivals.
3. Registration of Political Parties: Registering and classifying political parties as national, state/regional, or registered-unrecognised parties.
4. Allotment of Symbols: Allocating election symbols to candidates and registered political parties, acting as a quasi-judicial body to resolve disputes regarding symbols and recognition.
5. Implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC): Regulating election campaigns, monitoring candidate expenses, and checking violations using digital tools like cVIGIL.
6. Electoral Supervision: Directing, controlling, and managing security arrangements, counting of votes, and declaring results.
Most Important Function:
The most important function is **superintendence, direction, and control to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections**. Without this overarching power, even if electoral rolls are updated or dates are fixed, candidates could use corruption, intimidation, or government machinery to manipulate outcomes. By enforcing the **Model Code of Conduct** and acting as an autonomous, independent body, the ECI safeguards the integrity of the ballot, protecting public confidence in democracy.
3. Elections are the soul of a democracy. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Answer:
Yes, I agree that elections are the soul of a democracy. The reasons are:
1. Popular Sovereignty: Elections are the direct mechanism through which the ultimate power of the state is derived from the people. It gives every citizen, regardless of status, an equal voice in the formation of a government.
2. Accountability: Periodic elections hold representatives accountable. If a government fails to perform, citizens have the opportunity to change their representatives in the next election.
3. Peaceful Change of Power: Elections allow citizens to express their collective will and choose their leadership through the ballot, ensuring a peaceful transition of power without violence.
4. Inclusive Dialogue: Elections encourage political parties to present diverse viewpoints and manifestos, enabling voters to make informed decisions on policies that affect their daily lives.
4. Explain at least three differences between the national and state/regional political parties.
Answer:
| Parameters | National Political Party | State/Regional Political Party |
|---|---|---|
| Influence and Scope | Has a broad presence and influences politics across multiple states throughout the country. | Its influence and activity are concentrated primarily within a specific state or region. |
| Recognition Criteria | Must fulfill any of the following: 1. Secure at least 6% of valid votes in 4 or more states in Lok Sabha/Assembly elections and win 4 Lok Sabha seats. 2. Win at least 2% of Lok Sabha seats with candidates from at least 3 states. 3. Be recognized as a State Party in at least 4 states. | Must fulfill any of the following: 1. Secure at least 6% of valid votes in Assembly elections and win at least 2 seats. 2. Secure at least 6% of valid votes in Lok Sabha elections from that state and win at least 1 seat. 3. Win at least 3% of seats or 3 seats in the State Assembly (whichever is more). |
| Symbol Allotment | Allotted a reserved symbol that remains identical and exclusive to that party across all states in India. | Allotted a reserved symbol exclusive to that party within that specific state only. The same symbol may be allocated to a different state party in another state. |
5. Why should you vote? Arrange the following in the descending order of your choice. Discuss the reasons for your choice.
- a. Opportunity to choose my representative
- b. Makes me a responsible person
- c. Opportunity to change the non-performing representative
- d. Strengthens democracy
Answer (Sample Ordering and Rationale):
Descending Order: (d) → (a) → (c) → (b)
Reasons for the choice:
1. Strengthens democracy (d): This is the primary collective goal. High voter participation is what keeps a democratic framework alive and responsive.
2. Opportunity to choose my representative (a): By voting, I actively decide who will make laws and represent my constituency in the legislature.
3. Opportunity to change the non-performing representative (c): Voting serves as a mechanism of accountability, allowing citizens to reject leaders who have not fulfilled their promises.
4. Makes me a responsible person (b): Voting is an individual civic duty that instills a personal sense of responsibility towards my nation’s progress.
6. What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative of the ECI? Explain the objectives and the necessity of conducting SIR.
Answer:
What it is:
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a periodic program conducted by the ECI that involves physically updating, verifying, and correcting the electoral rolls of all constituencies.
Objectives of SIR:
1. To ensure that every eligible citizen (who has turned 18) is registered as a voter.
2. To remove the names of ineligible persons, including deceased voters, voters who have changed their residence, and duplicate registrations.
3. To rectify errors in voters’ names, addresses, or photos, ensuring the accuracy of the database.
Necessity of conducting SIR:
India’s population is dynamic, with constant changes due to births, deaths, and migrations. Without regular SIR, electoral rolls would become outdated, leading to the exclusion of young first-time voters and creating opportunities for electoral fraud (such as casting votes using duplicate or deceased voters’ names). It is necessary to maintain public trust in the transparency and fairness of elections.
7. Match the political party name with its symbol.
Answer:
| Political Party Name | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) | Broom |
| Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | Lotus |
| Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) | Elephant (except in Assam) |
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] | Hammer, Sickle and Star |
| Indian National Congress (INC) | Hand |
| National People’s Party (NPP) | Book |
8. Read the case study below and answer the following questions.
(Refer to the Ishani market and election day case study text in Chapter 7)
a. What initiatives were taken by the ECI to enable the voters to cast their vote?
Answer:
1. Online Voter Registration: Provided a web portal for easy registration for first-time voters like Ishani.
2. Accessibility at Polling Stations: Provided wheelchairs and guides/volunteers for disabled voters (like Ishani’s brother).
3. Security: Polling stations were well-guarded by police personnel to ensure safety and prevent intimidation.
4. VVPAT System: Allowed voters to verify their vote visually through the VVPAT slip.
5. Voting from Home: Extended to senior citizens (like Ishani’s 89-year-old grandmother) through postal ballots.
b. If Ishani was allowed to vote even without carrying her Voter ID card or Aadhaar card, which other document might she be carrying that is valid for voting?
Answer:
ECI allows several alternate photo identity cards for voting, including: Passport, Driving License, PAN Card, Service ID card issued by government/PSUs, MNREGA Job Card, Pension document with photograph, or Passbook issued by Bank/Post Office with photograph.
c. Cite the examples of violations of the Model Code of Conduct.
Answer:
1. Wall writings and campaign posters: Pasted in the local market area just before election day.
2. Active Campaigning: Large groups distributing pamphlets and raising slogans in the market the day before elections. Under MCC, all active campaigns and sloganeering must stop 48 hours before the conclusion of the poll.
d. Give a suitable title to the passage.
Answer:
“Inclusive Elections: Empowering Every Voter” or “A First-Time Voter’s Journey to the Polling Booth”.
e. Find out how the police and army personnel cast their votes.
Answer:
1. Army Personnel (Service Voters): They use the ETPBS (Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System) to download ballot papers electronically, mark their preferences, and send them back to the Returning Officer by post.
2. Police Personnel on Duty: Police officers deployed for election duty away from their home booths can apply for an Election Duty Certificate (EDC) to vote in person at the booth where they are posted, or vote via postal ballots.
9. A comparative chart of three countries is given below. Based on the information given in the chart, answer the questions.
a. What is the difference between having a voting right in a country with a multi-party system and another with a single-party system?
Answer:
In a multi-party system (Country A), voting rights offer citizens a meaningful choice among different candidates representing diverse policies and ideologies. In a single-party system (Country B), voting rights are restricted to choosing candidates from only one ruling party, meaning citizens have no real choice or opportunity to change the governing ideology.
b. In which of the above countries would you like to stay and why?
Answer:
I would prefer to stay in Country A.
Reason: Although Country C has a high standard of living and Country B has an above-average standard, only Country A guarantees political freedom through a multi-party system, periodic elections, and voting rights under a written constitution. True democracy allows citizens to express dissent, participate in decision-making, and enjoy fundamental liberties, which are essential for human dignity and long-term societal growth.
10. What are the challenges to conducting free and fair elections?
Answer:
According to the textbook (Page 17, 18), the major challenges include:
1. Misinformation and Fake News: Spread of false news on social media that manipulates public opinions.
2. Voter Intimidation: Coercion or threats by powerful candidates to prevent voters from casting their votes freely.
3. Money and Muscle Power: The influence of illegal funds and muscle power to buy votes or disrupt polling booths.
4. Accessibility Barriers: Difficulties faced by marginalized communities, PwDs, or voters in remote geographical terrains.
5. Lack of Awareness: Young or disadvantaged voters remaining unregistered due to a lack of awareness about electoral rolls.
11. On the Stage (School Election Roles).
Answer (Guidance for School Election Simulation):
* Election Commissioner: Supervises the entire process, draws the election schedule, and ensures the code of conduct is followed.
* Returning Officer: Manages nominations of candidates, verifies forms, and oversees the counting of votes.
* Candidate: Prepares a school manifesto proposing solutions for clean drinking water, sports equipment, etc.
* Polling Officer: Verifies student names from the class registry (electoral roll) and marks their fingers with ink.
* Journalist: Interviews voters and candidates, reporting on the transparency of the school elections.
NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Related Chapters
- NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Chapter 1: Understanding Social Science
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- NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Chapter 3: Atmosphere and Climate
- NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Chapter 4: Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation
- NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Chapter 5: State and Society up to 1000 CE
- NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Chapter 6: Democracy