The correct option is (a).
Explanation
Democracy is broadly classified into two types:
Direct Democracy and
Indirect (Representative) Democracy. The Indian Constitution, through its Preamble, envisages a democratic polity which is primarily a representative democracy, where the supreme power is exercised by representatives elected by the people.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Representative democracy is the most common form of democracy in the modern world. Due to the vast size of territories and large populations of modern nation-states, it is physically impossible for all citizens to sit together and make decisions directly.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Direct democracy is the form designed for small communities (such as ancient Greek city-states or village Gram Sabhas) where direct interaction among all citizens is possible. Representative democracy is specifically designed to manage large, complex societies where direct interaction is unfeasible.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: This statement describes Direct Democracy, where citizens directly participate in the decision-making process and law-making (using tools like Referendum, Initiative, Recall, and Plebiscite). In a Representative Democracy, citizens participate indirectly by electing officials who then make decisions on their behalf.
Key Takeaway
Representative Democracy (Indirect Democracy) relies on elected officials to govern, making it suitable for large nations, whereas
Direct Democracy involves the direct participation of citizens in legislation and is suitable only for small communities.