NCERT Solutions for Exploring Society: India and Beyond Chapter 5 Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System
Updated on 2026-09-05
About this chapter
Universal adult franchise means one adult, one vote, and every vote of equal value. Every Indian citizen aged 18 and above may vote — irrespective of caste, creed, race, religion, gender, education or income. That is what the word ‘universal’ carries. It rests on Article 326 of the Constitution and applies to the Lok Sabha, to every state and union territory assembly, and to all local elections in villages and cities. No one may vote on another’s behalf, and a person convicted of certain serious crimes is barred from voting. The Constitution makers took this decision at the outset, and it was a bold one. In 1947 India’s literacy rate was about 14 per cent — only about 8 per cent among women — and some argued the vote should go only to literate people. Before Independence roughly 13 per cen
- Chapter opening
- Universal Adult Franchise
- Fig. 5.4
- Bridging Barriers, Enabling Participation
- Election for class representative
- Managing the electoral process
- Model Code of Conduct
- After the DON’T MISS OUT box on T.N. Seshan
- Election to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies
- Election of the President of India
Exercises
- Chapter opening — The Big Questions Page 117
- Universal Adult Franchise — LET’S EXPLORE Page 118
- Universal Adult Franchise — In-text Questions Page 118
- Universal Adult Franchise — LET’S EXPLORE Page 120
- Fig. 5.4 — In-text Questions Page 120
- Bridging Barriers, Enabling Participation: Ensuring Universal Franchise — LET’S EXPLORE Page 121
- Bridging Barriers, Enabling Participation — LET’S EXPLORE Page 123
- Election for class representative — LET’S EXPLORE Page 125
- Managing the electoral process — LET’S EXPLORE Page 128
- Model Code of Conduct — LET’S EXPLORE Page 131
- After the DON’T MISS OUT box on T.N. Seshan — LET’S EXPLORE Page 132
- Election to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies — DON’T MISS OUT Page 133
- Election to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies — LET’S EXPLORE Page 134
- Election of the President of India — THINK ABOUT IT Page 136
- End of chapter — Questions and activities Page 138