Universal Franchise and India's Electoral System — Mastery

Q1. The chapter explains that the word 'universal' before 'adult franchise' is significant because it tells us that the right to vote in India is

• A. Given equally to every citizen aged 18 and above, with no discrimination of any kind.
• B. Given only to those above 21 with property.
• C. Restricted to the heads of families.
• D. Granted only at the time of Lok Sabha elections.

Q2. A Class 8 teacher asks: 'In which of the following elections is universal adult franchise under Article 326 used in India?' I. Lok Sabha II. State Legislative Assembly III. Municipal Corporation IV. President of India Which is the correct answer?

• A. I and IV only
• B. All four
• C. II and III only
• D. I, II and III only

Q3. The approximate number of voters eligible to vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was

• A. 98 crore (about 980 million)
• B. 98 lakh (9.8 million)
• C. 9.8 crore (98 million)
• D. 543 crore

Q4. ('Did you know?') notes that Switzerland gave women the right to vote only in 1971, while India gave it from its very first election in 1951–52. The chapter uses this comparison mainly to

• A. Suggest that India's elections are run on the Swiss model.
• B. Prove that Indian women voted before men did.
• C. Argue that Switzerland is more developed than India.
• D. Show how exceptional and forward-looking India's choice of universal adult franchise was.

Q5. Who announces the dates of general elections to the Lok Sabha in India?

• A. The Prime Minister
• B. The President
• C. The Election Commission of India
• D. The Lok Sabha Speaker

Q6. In Fig. 5.11 which post heads the Election Commission's work at the level of a state or union territory?

• A. Chief Electoral Officer
• B. Returning Officer
• C. District Election Officer
• D. Electoral Registration Officer

Q7. A new political party 'Jan Vikas Manch' wishes to contest the next Lok Sabha election. Which body must register the party so that it can put up candidates on a common symbol?

• A. The Ministry of Home Affairs.
• B. The Lok Sabha Secretariat.
• C. The Election Commission of India.
• D. The State Election Commission of the home state.

Q8. In the Suryodaya class-rep election, Ms Usha explains that the voting must be by 'secret ballot'. Which sentence BEST captures why the chapter treats secret balloting as essential?

• A. It speeds up counting at the polling booth.
• B. It guarantees that the candidate with the most votes wins.
• C. It makes the result the same as a Rajya Sabha election.
• D. It allows voters to choose freely, without fear or pressure from others.

Q9. In the Suryodaya caselet, Ms Usha arranges a special Braille ballot so that Neha, a visually impaired student, can vote on her own. Which idea of the chapter is BEST realised by this small step?

• A. Inclusion — universal franchise must reach every citizen, regardless of ability.
• B. First-Past-the-Post — anyone with the most votes wins.
• C. Single transferable vote — votes can be transferred from one candidate to another.
• D. Indirect election — votes are cast through representatives.

Q10. Read the two statements about Lok Sabha members and choose the correct option. Statement I: Members of the Lok Sabha (MPs) are directly elected by the people of their constituency. Statement II: Members of the Lok Sabha are elected indirectly by an Electoral College of MLAs.

• A. Only Statement I is correct.
• B. Only Statement II is correct.
• C. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.
• D. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect.

Q11. After a Lok Sabha general election, the 'Lokpriya Dal' wins a clear majority of seats. According to the chapter, the Prime Minister will be

• A. The person nominated by the Election Commission of India.
• B. Directly elected by the people in a separate national vote.
• C. The senior-most member of the Rajya Sabha.
• D. The leader of the Lokpriya Dal in the Lok Sabha, appointed by the President.

Q12. Why does the chapter say the Rajya Sabha uses the 'single transferable vote' system instead of the First-Past-the-Post rule used in the Lok Sabha?

• A. Because Rajya Sabha members are elected by elected MLAs, and STV gives a fairer share to different parties in the state.
• B. Because the Rajya Sabha is directly elected by voters above 25.
• C. Because the Rajya Sabha is never dissolved.
• D. Because the President is a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Q13. A Class 8 teacher wants to show that India's elections do not begin with the Constitution but have ancient roots. According to the chapter, the BEST historical example to share is

• A. The 1860 British census of India.
• B. The Constituent Assembly debates of 1949.
• C. The Magna Carta signed in England in 1215.
• D. The Uttaramerur inscriptions from 10th-century Tamil Nadu, which describe elections in a sabha.

Q14. In a Class 8 SST worksheet, Aarti writes: 'In India, the Prime Minister and the President are both directly elected by the people through universal adult franchise.' Which BEST diagnoses her error?

• A. She has confused indirect election (PM and President are not directly elected) with direct election (Lok Sabha MPs and MLAs are).
• B. Both statements are right; she has understood the chapter.
• C. She is wrong because India does not have universal adult franchise.
• D. She is wrong only about the PM; the President is directly elected.

Q15. To introduce universal franchise to a Class 7 group for the first time, which is the BEST first classroom activity, going by the spirit of the Suryodaya caselet?

• A. Make students memorise Article 326 word for word.
• B. Ask students to draw the structure of the Rajya Sabha from memory.
• C. Show a long lecture-style video on the history of the Election Commission of India.
• D. Hold a mock class-representative election in which every student gets one secret vote of equal value.

Q16. According to the chapter, what is the minimum age fixed for a citizen to vote in Indian elections today?

• A. 18 years
• B. 16 years
• C. 21 years
• D. 25 years

Q17. How many polling stations were set up across India for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections?

• A. About 10,000
• B. About 1,00,000 (one lakh)
• C. About 10,00,000 (over one million)
• D. About 10,00,00,000 (ten crore)

Q18. Of the 3.1 million elected representatives in India's local bodies, about 1.3 million are women. Which conclusion BEST follows from this number for a CTET teacher?

• A. Women are barred from contesting in panchayats.
• B. These women are nominated by the President of India.
• C. Only women elected at the centre are counted in this figure.
• D. Universal franchise plus reservation has turned local government into a major training ground for women's political leadership.

Q19. During a Lok Sabha election, a candidate complains that her opponent is distributing free saris in the constituency the day before polling. Whose duty is it, under Fig. 5.9 to take action?

• A. The Election Commission of India, which oversees the entire electoral process.
• B. The District Court.
• C. The Lok Sabha Speaker.
• D. The Prime Minister's Office.

Q20. In Fig. 5.11 which post heads the Election Commission's work at the district level?

• A. Chief Electoral Officer
• B. Chief Election Commissioner
• C. Returning Officer
• D. District Election Officer

Q21. A polling officer posted on election duty in another district during the 2024 Lok Sabha election wants to cast her vote. According to, the option introduced for a specific category of voters like her in 2024 was

• A. Online voting through a mobile app.
• B. Postal voting.
• C. Proxy voting through a family member.
• D. Permission to skip the vote without penalty.

Q22. In the Suryodaya class election , a student leaves the ballot blank without ticking any name. What does the chapter say happens to such a ballot?

• A. It is counted in favour of the candidate listed first.
• B. It is counted as a NOTA vote automatically.
• C. It is treated as invalid and is set aside while counting.
• D. It cancels the entire election.

Q23. Of the 245 members of the Rajya Sabha, 12 are nominated by the President of India. According to, these 12 members are usually persons who have

• A. Won the largest number of votes in any Lok Sabha constituency.
• B. Distinguished themselves in fields such as literature, science, art and social service.
• C. Served as Chief Ministers of any state.
• D. Held the post of Chief Election Commissioner.

Q24. In a state legislative assembly election, the 'Rajya Pragati Party' wins more than half of all seats. According to the chapter, the Chief Minister of the state will be

• A. The senior-most MLA in the assembly, regardless of party.
• B. The leader of the Rajya Pragati Party in the state assembly, appointed by the Governor.
• C. The Chief Electoral Officer of the state.
• D. Directly elected by the people in a separate vote for CM.

Q25. The chapter says that the 12 Rajya Sabha members nominated by the President do NOT vote in the Presidential election. Which idea BEST explains this rule?

• A. Nominated members are not Indian citizens.
• B. Only members who themselves carry a popular mandate vote to choose the President.
• C. The President is directly elected by the people, so MPs do not vote.
• D. Nominated members vote only in Vice-Presidential elections.

Q26. T.N. Seshan's introduction of voter identity cards from the 1990s is presented in the chapter as a reform that addressed which specific problem?

• A. Slow counting of paper ballots.
• B. Citizens voting twice or in another person's name (proxy voting).
• C. Low literacy rates among adult voters.
• D. Shortage of polling stations in remote villages.

Q27. A teacher writes on the board: 'The growing influence of money in elections is a threat to universal franchise.' Using, which is the STRONGEST reason this claim is correct?

• A. Money makes campaigning more colourful for voters.
• B. If candidates need large sums to contest, citizens of modest means may be locked out, and votes can be swayed by gifts rather than free choice.
• C. The Election Commission of India runs entirely on private donations.
• D. Money is needed to pay polling officers their salaries.

Q28. Ends by saying that 'voter awareness' is one of the safeguards against the challenges Indian elections face. Which classroom strategy BEST puts this safeguard into practice for Class 8 students?

• A. Stop discussing elections in class to avoid politics.
• B. Run a regular news-corner where students track candidate affidavits, MCC violations, and ECI announcements during election season.
• C. Require students to memorise all 543 Lok Sabha constituency names.
• D. Limit civic education to the chapter test only.

Q29. In the Suryodaya caselet , Ms Usha acts as the school 'Election Officer' who announces dates, registers candidates, supervises the secret ballot, and announces the result. Which national-level role is she mirroring for her students?

• A. The President of India.
• B. The Election Commission of India.
• C. The Prime Minister.
• D. The Lok Sabha Speaker.

Q30. India has more than 250,000 local government bodies in which 3.1 million representatives are democratically elected. Read with, this fact BEST shows that

• A. Universal franchise in India ends at the level of the Lok Sabha.
• B. Article 326's universal franchise reaches village panchayats and city wards, making India the world's largest democracy at the grassroots.
• C. State Election Commissions are not needed in India.
• D. Local elections in India are conducted only once after Independence.