Directions (Q. 1-15): Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/ phrases are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Choosing not to make a choice has been accepted as a democratic right. The Supreme Court decision to introduce a “None of the Above” (NOTA) option enables people to vote in a way that will have no effect on the outcome. But will it have a fundamental effect on the accountability and representativeness of the electoral system?
The SC decision is an extension of a technical clause in the Representation of People Act which allows for the recording of spoilt or unused ballot papers. The use of Electronic Voting Machines has not previously allowed for any choice other than a valid vote, and so the provision of the NOTA button re-institutes what was recognised as a legitimate option. As such, it provides a recognition that people might want to take part in the electoral process, but not necessarily cast a vote for any of the candidates on offer.
Dramatic claims about the advantages of a NOTA option have been made. In his judgment, Chief Justice P Sathasivam said that “in a vibrant democracy, the voter must be given an opportunity to choose none of the above (NOTA) button, which will indeed compel the political parties to nominate a sound candidate.” He stated that the significance of such a provision was “massive”, and would “foster the purity of the electoral process”.
There is something surreal about debating the right to cast a vote for no candidate. Representative democracy is based on the principle that the electorate make a collective decision, and that the public choose wisely amongst the available options. The idea that the provision of a neutral option will significantly enhance the democratic process seems unlikely. The claim that NOTA will purify the political process seems based on an assumption that it will threaten a corrupt cartel of political parties, who can put up criminal and corrupt candidates in the knowledge that their rivals are bound to do the same. The Aam Aadmi Party’s right-to- reject proposal is based on the view that voters are forced to “waste our vote on someone we know is unfit for the job”. However, most elections have many candidates, and the common complaint has been that it was too easy to stand for election, with voters overwhelmed with choice.
The right-to-reject option provides for a more powerful negative option. In cases where NOTA is a more popular option than any candidate in that constituency, the election would have to be contested again. This “vote of no confidence” in the candidates on offer is a radical proposal, but raises the prospect of political deadlock and a vacuum in the representative process. Far more constructive is the decision of Arvind Kejriwal to join the democratic fray, and through AAP seek to provide a substantive alternative to voters. Rather than a neutral protest, this is an opportunity to broaden the choices available to the electorate, and test the strength of discontent with established parties in the arena of electoral competition.
A broader consideration is that NOTA will act as an indicator of democratic legitimacy. In the past, in one-party states such as Poland and the Soviet Union, the NOTA option provided a signal that there was widespread dissatisfaction with the political options on offer. In states where an election boycott has been a recourse, the NOTA button provides a way to actively cast a protest against the political process. Yet it is unlikely that this will be a common response — the advantages of campaigning for a NOTA vote can’t really be expected to be much more effective than a simple boycott.
1. What is the basic principle on which representative democracy is based? Give your answer in light of the facts mentioned in the given passage.
1) That the electorate would make a collective decision on the basis of their religion
2) That the electorate would vote collectively to choose the candidate of their caste, creed and race
3) That the electorate would make a collective decision and that they will choose the candidate of their choice amongst the available options
4) That the electorate will make a collective decision a n d ch oos e wi s el y am on g st t h e a va i l abl e candidates who have assured of better services, if elected
5) None of these
2. Find the correct statement on the basis of the given passage.
1) Aam Aadmi Party’s right-to-reject proposal is based on the view that it is better not to vote than to vote for an unfit candidate
2) The decision to introduce NOTA option is based on the assumption that it will threaten a corrupt cartel of political parties.
3) These days politics has become a dirty game of money and muscle power.
4) Right-to-reject option will create a trouble to the Election Commission in conducting election on scheduled dates because the existing EVMs do not have NOTA option.
5) All the above
3. Which of the following is/are true about the NOTA option?
(A) The NOTA option provides a recognition that people might want to take part in the electoral process and necessarily cast a vote for any of the candidates on offer.
(B) The EVM has not previously allowed for any choice other than a valid vote, and the NOTA button is a legitimate option to that.
(C) The implementation of NOTA option, an extension of a clause of RP Act, will debar convicted candidates.
1) Only (A)
2) Only (B)
3) Only (C)
4) Both (A) and (B)
5) All (A), (B) and (C)
4. What will be the effect of ‘None of the above’ (NOTA) option on the results of the election?
(A) It will have no effect on the results of the election. (B) If the number of NOTA exceeds fifty per cent of the total votes polled, the Election Commission
will ask for a fresh poll.
(C) It will have effect on the accountability and representativeness of the electoral system.
1) Only (A)
2) Only (A) and (B)
3) Only (C)
4) Only (B)
5) All (A), (B) and (C)
5. In what way are claims being made that the NOTA option will affect the electoral process?
1) It will encourage voters to cast their votes even if they are not willing to do so.
2) It will compel the political parties to nominate a clean candidate.
3) It will foster the purity of the electoral process.
4) Only 2) and 3)
5) All 1), 2) and 3)
6. How does the author see the decision of Arvind Kejriwal to form AAP and contest election?
1) It is a serious mistake on his part.
2) The formation of AAP will provide a substantive alternative to voters who are not satisfied with other candidates in fray.
3) It is an attempt to befool the innocent voters.
4) There was a need to form a party like AAP as people of Delhi are not very much satisfied with Sheila Dixit govt.
5) The formation of AAP will provide a respite to Anna
Hazare.
7. Which of the following is not in accordance with the facts mentioned in the given passage?
1) The vote of no confidence raises the prospect of political deadlock in the representative process.
2) The right-to-reject option provides for a more powerful negative option.
3) In cases where NOTA is a more popular option than any other candidate, the election would have to be contested again in that constituency.
4) Th e decision of Ar vind Kejriwal to join the democratic fray is not a wise step.
5) None of these
8. How will NOTA option prove useful in a democratic country?
1) It will make voting compulsory for all.
2) It will help change the character of our leaders.
3) It will act as an indicator of democratic legitimacy.
4) It will be used to highlight democratic satisfaction with the choice on offer.
5) None of these
9. Why did the Supreme Court introduce ‘None of the Above’ button in EVMs?
(A) To enhance the accountability of the voters
(B) To put a check on large-scale rigging
(C) To purify the electoral process
1) Only (A)
2) Only (B)
3) Only (C)
4) Only (A) and (B)
5) Only (B) and (C)
Directions (Q. 10-12): Choose the word/group of words which is MOST SIMILAR in meaning to the word/ group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.
10. Arena
1) territory
2) field
3) theatre
4) playground
5) battle
11. Cartel
1) shell
2) stronghold
3) meeting
4) syndicate
5) carcass
12. Recourse
1) resort
2) reply
3) virtue
4) referendum
5) reaction
Directions (Q. 13-15): Choose the word/group of words which is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning to the word/ group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.
13. Foster
1) support
2) strengthen
3) uphold
4) concoct
5) discourage
14. Overwhelmed
1) exceeded
2) devoid
3) overpowered
4) overburdened
5) confuted
15. Broaden
1) scatter
2) disperse
3) shrink
4) sprout
5) stroke
Answer:-
Q. 1 (3) | Q. 2 (2) | Q. 3 (1) | Q. 4 (1) | Q. 5 (5) |
Q. 6 (2) | Q. 7 (4) | Q. 8 (3) | Q. 9 (3) | Q. 10 (2) |
Q. 11 (4) | Q. 12 (1) | Q. 13 (5) | Q. 14 (2) | Q. 15 (3) |
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