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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
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
75%
got it right
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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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

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.
Statement 2
In democratic theory, does democracy call into activity methods for strengthening executive leadership?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS > Political and Political and Permanent Executive > p. 64
Presence: 5/5
“Political and Permanent Executive In a democratic country, two categories make up the executive. One that is elected by the people for a specific period, is called the political executive. Political leaders who take the big decisions fall in this category. In the second category, people are appointed on a long-term basis. This is called the permanent executive or civil services. Persons working in civil services are called civil servants. They remain in office even when the ruling party changes. executive in the case of the Office Memorandum? You might ask: Why does the political executive have more power than the non-political executive?”
Why this source?
  • Identifies two executive categories: an elected political executive (short-term) and a permanent executive/civil service (long-term continuity).
  • The permanent executive is an institutional mechanism that preserves administrative continuity and supports executive decision-making despite changes in political leadership.
  • This describes a concrete democratic method for sustaining executive capacity and leadership effectiveness.
Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: Power-sharing > Overview > p. 1
Presence: 4/5
“With this chapter, we resume the tour of democracy that we started last year. We noted last year that in a democracy all power does not rest with any one organ of the government. An intelligent sharing of power among legislature, executive and judiciary is very important to the design of a democracy. In this and the next two chapters, we carry this idea of power-sharing forward. We start with two stories from Belgium and Sri Lanka. Both these stories are about how democracies handle demands for power-sharing. The stories yield some general conclusions about the need for power-sharing in democracy.”
Why this source?
  • States that intelligent sharing of power among legislature, executive and judiciary is central to democratic design.
  • Power-sharing arrangements are institutional methods that shape and can strengthen the role and functioning of the executive within a democracy.
Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > Arguments against democracy > p. 10
Presence: 3/5
“It is also true that democracy leads to frequent changes in leadership. Sometimes this can set back big decisions and affect the government's efficiency. These arguments show that democracy of the kind we see may not be the ideal form of government. But that is not a question we face in real life. The real question we face is different: is democracy better than other forms of government that are there for us to choose from?”
Why this source?
  • Notes that democracy causes frequent leadership changes which can set back big decisions and affect government efficiency.
  • By highlighting this problem, the snippet implies the need for methods (institutional arrangements) to bolster executive effectiveness in democracies.
Statement 3
In democratic theory, does democracy call into activity a superior individual with dynamism and vision?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > One person, one person, one person, one vote, one value one value one value. > p. 6
Strength: 5/5
“Democracy is based on a fundamental principle of political equality. That gives us the third feature of democracy: in a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value. We shall read more about it in Chapter 3.”
Why relevant

States the fundamental principle of political equality: one person, one vote and one value, which is a rule limiting rule by a single 'superior' individual.

How to extend

A student could use this plus basic facts about voting to argue democracies structurally distribute power rather than formally elevating one superior person.

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
Strength: 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 relevant

Says the fate of the country depends not just on rulers but mainly on what citizens do, highlighting dispersed responsibility rather than reliance on a single dynamic leader.

How to extend

Combine with knowledge of mass electorates to infer democratic systems encourage broad civic activity over hero-leadership.

Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Outcomes of Democracy > Accountable, responsive and legitimate government > p. 65
Strength: 4/5
“Some people think that democracy produces less effective government. It is, of course, true that non-democratic rulers do not have to bother about deliberation in assemblies or worry about majorities and public opinion. So, they can be very quick and efficient in decision making and implementation. Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. So, some delay is bound to take place. Does that make democratic government inefficient? Let us think in terms of costs. Imagine a government that may take decisions very fast. But it may take decisions that are not accepted by the people and may therefore face problems.”
Why relevant

Describes democracy as based on deliberation and negotiation, producing delays compared with quick decisions by non-democratic rulers; this points to collective decision processes instead of singular decisive leadership.

How to extend

Use this pattern to argue that democratic decision-making values collective input, making the idea of a single superior visionary less central.

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. 13
Strength: 4/5
“In this chapter we have considered the meaning of democracy in a limited and descriptive sense. We have understood democracy as a form of government. This way of defining democracy helps us to identify a clear set of minimal features that a democracy must have. The most common form that democracy takes in our times is that of a representative democracy. You have already read about this in the previous classes. In the countries we call democracy, all the people do not rule. through their elected representatives. This become necessary because: • Modern democracies involve such a large number of people that it is physically impossible for them to sit together and take a collective decision. • Even if they could, the citizen does not have the time, the desire or the skills to take part in all the decisions.”
Why relevant

Defines democracy as a form of government frequently taking representative form because large populations cannot all decide directly, implying leadership is exercised through institutions and representatives, not a sole exceptional individual.

How to extend

Combine with basic facts on representative institutions to suggest that leadership roles are institutionalized and accountable rather than personalised to one superior figure.

Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Outcomes of Democracy > Dignity and freedom of the citizens > p. 71
Strength: 3/5
“Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual. Every individual wants to receive respect from fellow beings. Often conflicts arise among individuals because some feel that they are not treated with due respect. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy. Democracies throughout the world have recognised this, at least in principle. This has been achieved in various degrees in various democracies. For societies which have been built for long on the basis of subordination and domination, it is not a simple matter to recognise that all individuals are equal.”
Why relevant

Emphasises democracy's promotion of dignity and equal respect for individuals, a normative pattern that undercuts hierarchical notions of one superior individual commanding recognition by virtue of status.

How to extend

A student could extend this by noting democracies morally prioritise equal standing, making the rhetoric of a 'superior' leader inconsistent with democratic ideals.

Statement 4
In democratic theory, does democracy call into activity a band of dedicated party workers?
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? > 1.4 BROADER MEANINGS OF DEMOCRACY > p. 15
Presence: 5/5
“Other forms of government like monarchy, dictatorship or one-party rule do not require all citizens to take part in politics. In fact most non-democratic governments would like citizens not to take part in politics. But democracy depends on active political participation by all the citizens. That is why a study of democracy must focus on democratic politics.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states democracy depends on active political participation by all citizens, implying the need for organised, active actors (e.g., party workers).
  • Frames active participation as a fundamental feature of democracy rather than optional, supporting the claim that democracy mobilises dedicated participants.
Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Political Parties > Why do we need political parties? > p. 47
Presence: 4/5
“Political parties are easily one of the most visible institutions in a democracy. For most ordinary citizens, democracy is equal to political parties. If you travel to remote parts of our country and speak to the less educated citizens, you could come across people who may not know anything about our Constitution or about the nature of our government. But chances are that they would know something about our political parties. At the same time, this visibility does not mean popularity. Most people tend to be very critical of political parties. They tend to blame parties for all that is wrong with our democracy and our political life.”
Why this source?
  • Describes political parties as one of the most visible institutions in a democracy, equating ordinary citizens' view of democracy with parties — which presupposes organised workers/activists to make parties visible.
  • Notes parties perform central functions in democracy, implying the operational role of committed party personnel.
Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Political Parties > How many parties should we have? > p. 50
Presence: 3/5
“In a democracy any group of citizens is free to form a political party. In this formal sense, there are a large number of political parties in each country. More than 750 parties are registered with the Election Commission of India. But not all these parties are serious contenders in the elections. Usually only a handful of parties are effectively in the race to win elections and form the government. So the question is: how many major or effective parties are good for a democracy? In some countries, only one party is allowed to control and run the government. These are called one-party systems.”
Why this source?
  • Explains that any group of citizens is free to form a political party and that only a few parties are effective contenders — suggesting that effective parties rely on organised, dedicated members/workers.
  • The distinction between many registered parties and a handful of effective ones implies mobilisation and dedicated activity differentiate serious parties.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC consistently tests the 'moral justification' of political systems. If a question asks for the 'virtue', 'essence', or 'primary objective', look for the option that empowers the individual citizen rather than the state machinery or a specific leader.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct conceptual lift from NCERT Class IX, Political Science, Chapter 1 ('What is Democracy? Why Democracy?').
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The normative justification of Democracy (Substantive vs. Procedural Democracy).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 5 NCERT arguments for Democracy: 1. Accountable government, 2. Improves decision-making quality (deliberation), 3. Method to deal with differences/conflicts, 4. Enhances dignity of citizens (the correct answer here), 5. Allows correction of mistakes.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Stop reading Polity only as a rulebook of Articles. UPSC asks 1-2 questions annually on Political Theory (e.g., 'What is Liberty?', 'Essence of Rights'). Read the introductory and concluding paragraphs of NCERT chapters to grasp the 'Spirit' of the concepts.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Citizen participation and agency
💡 The insight

References emphasise that democracy makes people take their own decisions and that national outcomes depend on citizens' actions.

High-yield for polity answers: explains why participatory mechanisms matter and links to governance outcomes. Useful for questions on democratic legitimacy, decentralisation, and citizen responsibility. Prepare by mapping examples where citizen agency changes policy and noting limits.

📚 Reading List :
  • Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > Arguments against democracy > p. 10
  • 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
🔗 Anchor: "In democratic theory, does democracy call into activity the intelligence and cha..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Democracy and civic dignity/character
💡 The insight

Evidence frames democracy's core benefit as affecting citizens' dignity and what it 'does to the citizens', tying democratic practice to moral development.

Important for normative questions on democracy (advantages beyond efficiency). Helps answer essays and mains questions on democratic values, rights, and social integration. Link to discussions on citizenship, rights, and social cohesion.

📚 Reading List :
  • Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > Arguments for democracy > p. 11
  • Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Outcomes of Democracy > Dignity and freedom of the citizens > p. 72
🔗 Anchor: "In democratic theory, does democracy call into activity the intelligence and cha..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Limits of mass decision-making (skills, time, errors)
💡 The insight

References explicitly note citizens may lack time, desire, or skills and can make mistakes even when involved — a caution to the ideal.

Crucial for balanced answers: allows candidates to discuss strengths and weaknesses of democracy. Connects to topics like representative democracy, deliberative quality, and institutional checks. Use to craft balanced arguments in mains and interviews.

📚 Reading List :
  • 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. 13
  • Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > Arguments against democracy > p. 10
🔗 Anchor: "In democratic theory, does democracy call into activity the intelligence and cha..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Political vs Permanent Executive (Civil Services)
💡 The insight

Directly describes democratic institutional design where permanent civil services provide continuity and support to the elected political executive, a method for sustaining executive leadership.

High-yield for governance and public administration topics: explains bureaucracy's role in continuity, links to questions on administrative reforms, accountability and stability. Master by mapping functions, advantages and tensions between political executives and civil services.

📚 Reading List :
  • Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS > Political and Political and Permanent Executive > p. 64
🔗 Anchor: "In democratic theory, does democracy call into activity methods for strengthenin..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Power-sharing among branches
💡 The insight

Power-sharing is flagged as an essential democratic design principle that shapes the executive's authority and functioning.

Crucial for constitutional design and public policy questions: helps answer items on separation of powers, checks and balances, and institutional reforms. Learn by comparing how different arrangements affect executive strength and legitimacy.

📚 Reading List :
  • Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: Power-sharing > Overview > p. 1
🔗 Anchor: "In democratic theory, does democracy call into activity methods for strengthenin..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Deliberation versus Efficiency trade-off in democracy
💡 The insight

References highlight that democratic deliberation can slow decision-making and affect efficiency, indicating why democracies adopt methods to support executive effectiveness.

Useful for essays and governance questions debating democratic outcomes and reform needs: connects to accountability, decision-making quality, and institutional fixes. Practice by framing pros/cons and institutional responses to the trade-off.

📚 Reading List :
  • Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Outcomes of Democracy > Accountable, responsive and legitimate government > p. 65
  • Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > Arguments against democracy > p. 10
🔗 Anchor: "In democratic theory, does democracy call into activity methods for strengthenin..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Political equality — 'one person, one vote'
💡 The insight

The references emphasise political equality as a core democratic principle, which contradicts the idea that democracy's operation depends on a single superior individual.

High-yield for UPSC: often tested in questions comparing democratic principles with alternatives (elitism, authoritarianism). Links to franchise, representation, and legitimacy; useful for answering value-based and comparative polity questions. Master by relating constitutional provisions, representative mechanisms, and normative implications.

📚 Reading List :
  • Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > One person, one person, one person, one vote, one value one value one value. > p. 6
  • 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
🔗 Anchor: "In democratic theory, does democracy call into activity a superior individual wi..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Correction of Mistakes' argument. On the same NCERT page, it states democracy is superior not because it avoids mistakes, but because it allows for public discussion and correction of them. Expect a statement-based question: 'Democracy guarantees error-free governance' (False) vs 'Democracy provides room for correction' (True).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Humanistic vs. Systemic' Filter. In Political Theory questions, the 'Virtue' is almost always about the *Individual* (Human Agency). Option B (Executive) and D (Parties) are *machinery*. Option C (Superior Individual) is *Authoritarian/Fascist*. Only Option A focuses on the *human element* (the ordinary citizen), which is the core of Democratic theory.

🔗 Mains Connection

Connects to GS IV (Ethics): The 'character of ordinary men' is the foundation of 'Probity in Governance'. A democratic system relies on the ethical competence of the voter. Also links to GS II: 'Salient features of the Representation of People's Act' (Universal Adult Suffrage).

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

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The core of political democracy lies in the basic axiom of electoral democracy which is based on

NDA-II · 2011 · Q2 Relevance score: -5.34

Statement I : A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy indicates the succcss of the democratic project : it transforms people from the status of a subject into that of a citizen. Statement II : The fact that people are complaining is itself an affirmation of the success of democracy: it shows that people have developed awareness and the ability to look critically at the government.

NDA-II · 2011 · Q79 Relevance score: -6.33

In a democracy, individual differences are encouraged because

IAS · 1994 · Q88 Relevance score: -6.68

The pitch of the voice of women is in general

CDS-I · 2012 · Q37 Relevance score: -6.69

Take the case of dignity and equal rights for women. How do democracies help ?