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Universal Franchise and India's Electoral System – Class 8 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 8 Social Science, chapter 5. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Universal adult franchise means that every adult citizen has the right to vote, regardless of religion, caste, gender, wealth or education. India adopted it from the start in 1950. An independent Election Commission conducts free and fair elections using voter lists, electronic voting machines and a model code of conduct.

Universal adult franchise

Every citizen aged 18 or above can vote; the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 by the 61st Amendment (1988).
India gave the vote to all adults, including women, from the very first general elections of 1951–52, when many older democracies had extended it only gradually.
One person, one vote, one value: every vote has equal weight.

The Election Commission

The Election Commission of India (Article 324) is an independent constitutional body that conducts elections to Parliament, state legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President.
Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commissioner; National Voters' Day is observed on 25 January, the Commission's foundation day.
Elections are held in constituencies, each electing one representative; seats are reserved for SC and ST.

How elections work

Electoral rolls list voters; voters show an identity card such as the voter ID (EPIC).
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with VVPAT slips are used; NOTA ('None of the Above') has been available since 2013.
The model code of conduct guides parties and candidates during campaigns; candidates must declare assets and criminal cases.

Key terms

Universal adult franchise: the right of all adult citizens to vote without discrimination
Constituency: an area whose voters elect one representative
EVM: Electronic Voting Machine used to record votes
NOTA: 'None of the Above', an option to reject all candidates

Important questions with answers

What is universal adult franchise?2 marks

Universal adult franchise means that every adult citizen, aged 18 years or above, has the right to vote without discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, gender, wealth or education. Each vote has equal value.

What are the functions of the Election Commission?3 marks

The Election Commission prepares and updates voter lists, announces election schedules, conducts elections to Parliament, state legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President, enforces the model code of conduct, supervises polling and counting, and declares results. It is independent so that elections are free and fair.

Explain how India ensures free and fair elections.5 marks

India's Constitution gives every adult citizen the right to vote through universal adult franchise, so no one can be excluded. An independent Election Commission, set up under Article 324, conducts elections; it is not controlled by the government in power. Voter lists are prepared and updated, and voters use identity cards to prevent impersonation. Constituencies are drawn by a separate delimitation process, with seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. During campaigns, the model code of conduct stops misuse of government power and unfair practices, and candidates must declare their assets and any criminal cases. Polling is secret; electronic voting machines with VVPAT slips record votes accurately, and NOTA allows voters to reject all candidates. Counting is done under observation, and results are declared openly. Courts can hear election disputes. These measures make Indian elections credible and allow peaceful changes of government.

Quick revision

Every adult 18+ can vote; one vote, one value.
Election Commission is independent (Article 324).
EVMs with VVPAT; NOTA since 2013.
Model code of conduct during elections.

Exam tips

Remember: Article 324 (Election Commission), 61st Amendment (voting age 18), 25 January (National Voters' Day).
List the steps of an election: delimitation, voter list, nomination, campaign, polling, counting, result.

Practice MCQs

The minimum voting age in India is
1. 16
2. 18
3. 21
4. 25
Show answer
Answer: (b) 18. It was lowered from 21 in 1988.
Elections in India are conducted by the
1. Supreme Court
2. Parliament
3. President
4. Election Commission
Show answer
Answer: (d) Election Commission. It is an independent body.
The option to reject all candidates is called
1. VVPAT
2. NOTA
3. EVM
4. EPIC
Show answer
Answer: (b) NOTA. It was introduced in 2013.
The first Chief Election Commissioner of India was
1. T.N. Seshan
2. B.R. Ambedkar
3. Sukumar Sen
4. Rajendra Prasad
Show answer
Answer: (c) Sukumar Sen. He conducted the first general elections.
National Voters' Day is observed on
1. 26 January
2. 2 October
3. 15 August
4. 25 January
Show answer
Answer: (d) 25 January. It marks the Election Commission's foundation day.
The Election Commission is provided for in
1. Article 324
2. Article 21
3. Article 14
4. Article 370
Show answer
Answer: (a) Article 324. It is a constitutional body.
Which statement shows universal adult franchise
1. only taxpayers can vote
2. only men can vote
3. every adult citizen can vote regardless of caste, gender or wealth
4. only graduates can vote
Show answer
Answer: (c) every adult citizen can vote regardless of caste, gender or wealth. Voting is not restricted by property, education or gender.
The voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 by the
1. 42nd Amendment
2. 61st Amendment
3. 73rd Amendment
4. 86th Amendment
Show answer
Answer: (b) 61st Amendment. It was passed in 1988.

All chapters of Class 8 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.