Important Questions and Answers for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 3 Election and Representation 2025-26

1. Multiple choice questions.

Q1. In the First Past the Post (FPTP) system used in India, who is declared the winner in a constituency?

• (a) Candidate with more than 50% of total votes
• (b) Candidate with the highest number of votes
• (c) Candidate chosen by the party with the most seats nationwide
• (d) Candidate whose party forms the government

Answer: (b) Candidate with the highest number of votes

Q2. Which election method is used for the Lok Sabha elections in India?

• (a) Proportional Representation
• (b) Single Transferable Vote
• (c) First Past the Post
• (d) List System

Answer: (c) First Past the Post

Q3. Who has the authority to delimit and reserve parliamentary constituencies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India?

• (a) The President of India
• (b) The Parliament
• (c) The Delimitation Commission
• (d) The Election Commission

Answer: (c) The Delimitation Commission

Q4. Which voting system is followed for Rajya Sabha elections in India?

• (a) Plurality system
• (b) Proportional Representation by Single Transferable Vote
• (c) Two-round system
• (d) Block Vote system

Answer: (b) Proportional Representation by Single Transferable Vote

Q5. Universal adult franchise in India allows:

• (a) Only literate citizens above 21 years to vote
• (b) All adult citizens irrespective of social status
• (c) Only members of political parties to vote
• (d) Only males above 18 years

Answer: (b) All adult citizens irrespective of social status

2. Very Short Answer (VSA).

Q1. What is meant by 'representation' in a democracy?

Answer: Representation means electing individuals who make decisions on behalf of the people, as all citizens cannot participate directly in government in a large democracy.

Q2. What is the main role of the Election Commission of India?

Answer: The Election Commission of India supervises and conducts free and fair elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and certain constitutional offices.

Q3. What is Proportional Representation (PR)?

Answer: Proportional Representation is an election system where seats are allotted to parties based on the proportion of votes they receive.

Q4. What does Universal Adult Franchise mean?

Answer: Universal Adult Franchise means all adult citizens of a country have the right to vote without discrimination.

Q5. What is a reserved constituency?

Answer: A reserved constituency is one where only candidates from Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes can contest elections to ensure their adequate representation.

3. Short Answer Questions.

Q1. Explain any two reasons why the First Past the Post (FPTP) system was adopted for Lok Sabha elections in India.

Answer: The FPTP system is simple to understand and implement, making it suitable for a large population like India's. It creates a direct link between voters and their representatives, as each constituency elects one member.

Q2. List two functions of the Delimitation Commission in India.

Answer: The Delimitation Commission is responsible for redrawing boundaries of electoral constituencies based on population changes and allocating reserved seats for SCs and STs in Parliament and state assemblies.

Q3. Mention two major features of free and fair elections ensured in the Indian Constitution.

Answer: Indian elections are based on universal adult franchise, allowing every citizen to vote, and are overseen by an independent Election Commission to prevent manipulation and maintain fairness.

Q4. Differentiate between the FPTP and PR electoral systems in one major aspect.

Answer: In FPTP, the candidate with the highest votes in a constituency wins, while in PR, seats are distributed among parties in proportion to their votes, providing more accurate reflection of voter preferences.

Q5. What is the 'Model Code of Conduct' in the context of Indian elections?

Answer: The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission that political parties and candidates must follow to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections.

4. Long Answer Questions.

Q1. Why did the framers of the Indian Constitution choose not to introduce a separate electorate system? Discuss its implications on Indian democracy.

Answer: The framers rejected separate electorates because it divided citizens on communal and social lines, promoting disunity. Instead, they adopted reserved constituencies to ensure fair representation for SCs and STs without segregating the electorate. This approach helped foster national integration and social justice while upholding the principle of equality and unity in diversity.

1. Separate electorates deepen divisions among communities.
2. Reserved constituencies ensure representation for marginalized sections without dividing voters.
3. Unity and social harmony are promoted, strengthening democracy.

Q2. Analyse the main functions and powers of the Election Commission of India and how they contribute to free and fair elections.

Answer: The Election Commission of India supervises the preparation of electoral rolls, schedules elections, recognizes political parties, allots symbols, and enforces the model code of conduct. It can cancel or postpone elections in extraordinary cases. By acting impartially and independently, the Commission safeguards the fairness, transparency, and integrity of the entire electoral process.

1. Supervises voter list updates and election schedules.
2. Enforces electoral laws and model code of conduct strictly.
3. Acts independently from government influence.

Q3. Discuss the significance and challenges of reservation of constituencies for women in Indian legislatures.

Answer: Reservation for women aims to increase their participation and representation in legislative bodies, addressing historical gender imbalance. While it ensures inclusion and diverse perspectives in governance, challenges include implementing effective policies across states and ensuring that reservations do not become tokenistic but truly empower women leaders.

1. Promotes gender equality and participation.
2. Raises concerns about execution and genuine empowerment.
3. Recent act: Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023).

Q4. How do electoral reforms attempt to strengthen democracy in India? Give two examples of suggested reforms.

Answer: Electoral reforms try to improve transparency, inclusiveness, and fairness. For instance, proposals such as introducing stricter rules to curb money and muscle power, and reserving one-third of legislative seats for women, aim to make elections more representative and less influenced by malpractices or societal inequalities.

1. Control misuse of money in elections.
2. Increase representation for women.

5. Assertion–Reason type questions.

Assertion (A): Elections in India are conducted by an independent Election Commission.
Reason (R): An impartial body is essential to ensure free and fair elections.

• (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• (b) A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• (c) A is true, but R is false
• (d) A is false, but R is true

Answer: (a) Both statements are true, and the reason explains why elections are managed by an independent body.

Assertion (A): Under Proportional Representation, all parties get seats exactly equal to their vote share.
Reason (R): PR system gives seats in parliament strictly in proportion to votes polled by each party.

• (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• (b) A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• (c) A is true, but R is false
• (d) A is false, but R is true

Answer: (d) Assertion is false; in reality, seat distribution may not be exactly equal to vote share due to rounding etc. But Reason is true.

3. Fill in the Blanks Questions.

Q1. The system of election followed for Lok Sabha in India is called ________.

Answer: First Past the Post (FPTP)

Q2. An election system where parties get seats based on their percentage of votes is known as ________.

Answer: Proportional Representation

Q3. The body responsible for redrawing the boundaries of constituencies is called the ________.

Answer: Delimitation Commission

Q4. The minimum age to become a voter in India is ________ years.

Answer: 18

Q5. The recent Women’s Reservation Act is also called the ________.

Answer: Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam

Why understanding 'Election and Representation' matters in Political Science Class 11?

These Election and Representation Class 11 questions and answers improve your confidence for board preparation in a simple, step-by-step manner.

Students often search for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 3 Important Questions and easy explanations. Here, you'll find focused content that makes learning about Indian elections and representation systems accessible. Get key answers with real-life context as you revise.

Download the Election and Representation Class 11 Questions and Answers PDF to help you revise anywhere. Stay updated with all Important Questions of Political Science Class 11 Chapter 3 for a strong academic year.