NCERT Class 6 Political Science — Chapter 2: Key Elements of a Democratic Government

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In a democracy, which of the following mechanisms primarily ensures that the government's power is not absolute?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

AThe requirement of regular elections
BThe presence of international oversight committees
CThe existence of an independent judiciary
DThe separation of powers between state and center

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is

The existence of an independent judiciary

Explanation

The core principle involved is Constitutionalism or Limited Government. In a democracy, the government's authority is not unlimited; it is restricted by the supreme law (the Constitution) to prevent the exercise of arbitrary or absolute power. Institutional checks and balances are required to enforce these limits.

The existence of an independent judiciary is Correct: An Independent Judiciary serves as the guardian of the Constitution. Through the power of Judicial Review, the judiciary can declare laws passed by the legislature or actions taken by the executive as unconstitutional if they violate the Constitution or Fundamental Rights. This continuous monitoring is the primary mechanism that prevents any organ of the state from exercising absolute power.
The requirement of regular elections is Incorrect: While Regular Elections are fundamental to democracy and ensure political accountability, they occur periodically. A government elected with a large majority could still act in an authoritarian manner (majoritarianism) between elections. Without an independent body to check its daily actions, elections alone do not guarantee that power remains non-absolute.
The presence of international oversight committees is Incorrect: International oversight committees are not a primary internal mechanism for sovereign democracies. Reliance on external oversight contradicts the principle of national sovereignty.
The separation of powers between state and center is Incorrect: The separation of powers between state and center refers to the Federal System (vertical division of power). While this distributes power, it does not necessarily prevent a specific government (whether central or state) from becoming absolute within its own jurisdiction. The judiciary is the arbiter that enforces this division.

Key Takeaway:
Constitutionalism (Limited Government) is primarily upheld by an Independent Judiciary, which acts as a bulwark against the tyranny of the executive and the legislature by enforcing the Rule of Law.

Your note

More from Chapter 2: Key Elements of a Democratic Government

Which of the following best describes the policy of 'Apartheid' as practiced in earlier South Africa?

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Under the Apartheid laws in South Africa, which of the following restrictions were imposed on non-white populations? 1. Prohibition from living in white-designated areas. 2. Denial of voting rights. 3. Restriction from using the same trains and buses as white people. 4. Complete ban on speaking local African languages in private homes.

hard

Consider the following statements regarding the 1976 Soweto uprising: 1. It was led primarily by mine workers demanding better wages. 2. The protesters were opposing the imposition of the Afrikaans language in schools. 3. Hector Pieterson was the government official who negotiated the peace treaty. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below: List I | List II A. Afrikaans | 1. The group that led the struggle against apartheid B. Zulu | 2. A black township in South Africa C. ANC | 3. The language spoken by the white population D. Soweto | 4. The language non-white students wanted to learn

easy

In the context of the South African struggle for democracy, the year 1994 is significant because:

easy

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The correct option is

The existence of an independent judiciary

Explanation

The existence of an independent judiciary is Correct: An Independent Judiciary serves as the guardian of the Constitution. Through the power of Judicial Review, the judiciary can declare laws passed by the legislature or actions taken by the executive as unconstitutional if they violate the Constitution or Fundamental Rights. This continuous monitoring is the primary mechanism that prevents any organ of the state from exercising absolute power.
The requirement of regular elections is Incorrect: While Regular Elections are fundamental to democracy and ensure political accountability, they occur periodically. A government elected with a large majority could still act in an authoritarian manner (majoritarianism) between elections. Without an independent body to check its daily actions, elections alone do not guarantee that power remains non-absolute.
The presence of international oversight committees is Incorrect: International oversight committees are not a primary internal mechanism for sovereign democracies. Reliance on external oversight contradicts the principle of national sovereignty.
The separation of powers between state and center is Incorrect: The separation of powers between state and center refers to the Federal System (vertical division of power). While this distributes power, it does not necessarily prevent a specific government (whether central or state) from becoming absolute within its own jurisdiction. The judiciary is the arbiter that enforces this division.