Democratic responsiveness to an empowered citizenry
Explanation
Universal Adult Franchise is a foundational principle of the Indian Constitution, enshrined in Article 326. It grants the right to vote to all adult citizens (originally 21 years, reduced to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988) without discrimination based on caste, race, religion, sex, literacy, or wealth. This principle was adopted to establish political equality and popular sovereignty.
Option Analysis
- Governance by an educated and capable elite is incorrect: Limiting governance to an educated and capable elite contradicts the principle of democratic equality. The Constituent Assembly explicitly rejected literacy and property qualifications, trusting the political wisdom of the common man.
- Voting rights limited to freedom movement participants is incorrect: Voting rights were not restricted to participants of the freedom movement. The objective was to create an inclusive democracy for all citizens, regardless of their past political involvement.
- Democratic responsiveness to an empowered citizenry is correct: The adoption of Universal Adult Franchise empowers the citizenry by giving every adult a voice in the electoral process. This compels the government to be responsive to the needs and aspirations of the masses, as political power is derived directly from the people. It ensures that democracy functions based on the collective will of the population.
- Unrestricted governmental authority between elections is incorrect: Periodic elections based on adult franchise serve as a check on governmental authority, ensuring accountability rather than granting unrestricted power between elections.
Key Takeaway
Universal Adult Franchise ensures political equality by adhering to the principle of "one person, one vote," thereby making the government accountable to the entire citizenry rather than a privileged few.