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Q42 (IAS/2017) Polity & Governance › Governance, Policies & Social Justice › Democratic political theory Official Key

Democracy’s superior virtue lies in the fact that it calls into activity

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is option A because democracy's fundamental virtue lies in activating the intelligence and character of ordinary citizens. Democracy depends on active political participation by all the citizens[1], which is a distinguishing feature from other forms of government. The strongest argument for democracy is not about what democracy does to the government, but about what democracy does to the citizens[2]. Furthermore, the fate of the country depends not just on what the rulers do, but mainly on what we, as citizens, do[3], emphasizing that democracy's strength comes from engaging ordinary people rather than relying solely on leaders or party workers. Democracy as a form of government only ensures that people take their own decisions[4], highlighting its core principle of citizen empowerment. Options B, C, and D focus on leadership, individuals, or party structures, which are not the superior virtue that defines democracy's unique character.

Sources
  1. [1] Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > 1.4 BROADER MEANINGS OF DEMOCRACY > p. 15
  2. [2] Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > Arguments for democracy > p. 11
  3. [3] Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > 1.4 BROADER MEANINGS OF DEMOCRACY > p. 15
  4. [4] Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > Arguments against democracy > p. 10
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Q. Democracy’s superior virtue lies in the fact that it calls into activity [A] the intelligence and character of ordinary men and women. …
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 0/10
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This is a classic 'Philosophy of NCERT' question. It moves beyond the mechanics of polity (articles, amendments) to the normative core (why democracy matters). The answer is a direct paraphrase of J.S. Mill's argument found in NCERT Class IX, Chapter 1, under 'Arguments for Democracy'.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In democratic theory, does democracy call into activity the intelligence and character of ordinary men and women?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > Arguments against democracy > p. 10
Presence: 5/5
“Are there some other arguments against democracy that you can think of? Which of these arguments applies mainly to democracy? Which of these can apply to misuse of any form of government? Which of these do you agree with? Clearly, democracy is not a magical solution for all the problems. It has not ended poverty in our country and in other parts of the world. Democracy as a form of government only ensures that People take their own decisions. This does not guarantee that their decisions will be good. People can make mistakes. Involving the people in these decisions does lead to delays in decision making.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states democracy 'ensures that people take their own decisions' — showing citizens are activated into decision-making.
  • Notes citizens can make mistakes and lack skills, which implies democracy engages (and tests) ordinary people's judgment and character.
Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > 1.4 BROADER MEANINGS OF DEMOCRACY > p. 15
Presence: 4/5
“This also means that no country is a perfect democracy. The features of democracy that we discussed in this chapter provide only the minimum conditions of a democracy. That does not make it an ideal democracy. Every democracy has to try to realize the ideals of democratic decision-making. This cannot be achieved once and for all. This requires a constant effort to save and strengthen democratic forms of decision-making. the weakness of democracy: the fate of the country depends not just on what the rulers do, but mainly on what we, as citizens, do. This is what distinguished democracy from other governments.”
Why this source?
  • States the fate of the country depends mainly on what citizens do, emphasizing that democracy places responsibility and action on ordinary people.
  • Frames this as a distinctive feature of democracy versus other governments — implying democracy calls citizens into active moral and intellectual roles.
Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > Arguments for democracy > p. 11
Presence: 4/5
“But the strongest argument for democracy is not about what democracy does to the government. It is about what democracy does to the citizens. Even if democracy does not bring about better decisions and accountable government, it is still better than other forms of government. Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens. What would have happened if India was not a democracy? Could we have stayed together as a single nation?”
Why this source?
  • Argues the strongest case for democracy is what it does to citizens, e.g., enhancing their dignity — linking democratic practice to citizens' character.
  • This locates value in citizens' development rather than only in government performance, supporting the idea that democracy engages ordinary people.
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