Social Science (087) — CBSE Class 10 board question

To assess the outcomes of democracy, we examine the following five bases:

1. Accountable Government: Democracy produces a government accountable to citizens through regular, free and fair elections, open public debate, and citizens' right to information (transparency).

1. Responsive Government: A democratic government is expected to be attentive to the needs and demands of the people and responsive to their expectations.

1. Legitimate Government: Democratic government is people's own government, chosen by elected representatives. This generates overwhelming public support, making it a legitimate form of governance.

1. Equality among Citizens: Democracy promotes political equality — every citizen has one vote, ensuring no political domination.

1. Dignity of the Individual: Democracy enhances the dignity of every individual and allows room to correct mistakes, making it morally and practically superior to alternatives.

Source: Chapter 5 — Outcomes of Democracy

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• The examiner expects five distinct points, each named and briefly explained — not a running essay.
• Key terms: accountable, responsive, legitimate, equality, dignity — these are directly from the textbook and must appear.
• Avoid confusing "accountable" with "responsive" — accountable = answerable for decisions; responsive = attentive to needs.
• Do not add unrelated points (e.g., economic growth) unless the question specifically asks for it.
• Each point should be 1–2 lines only for a 5-mark answer.