Social Science — CBSE Class 10 board question

Democracy is considered a better form of government than dictatorship for the following reasons:

1. Promotes equality and dignity: Democracy promotes equality among citizens and enhances the dignity of every individual.

1. Accountable government: Democracy produces a government accountable to citizens. Citizens can participate in decision-making and hold rulers responsible through free and fair elections.

1. Transparency: Democratic decisions follow set norms and procedures, allowing citizens to examine the process. This transparency is mostly absent in dictatorships.

1. Resolves conflicts and corrects mistakes: Democracy provides methods to resolve conflicts and allows room to correct mistakes.

1. Legitimate government: A democratic government is people's own government. It enjoys legitimacy because rulers are elected by the people — something dictatorship cannot claim.

1. Economic development: Though dictatorships show slightly higher economic growth, the difference with democracies is negligible. Democracy's other advantages make it preferable.

Thus, democracy may not be perfect, but it is far better than dictatorship.

Source: Chapter 5 — Democratic Politics II

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• The examiner expects 5 clear points (one per mark), each grounded in the textbook.
• Mention accountability, legitimacy, transparency, dignity/equality, and conflict resolution — these are the core textbook outcomes.
• Avoid writing lengthy paragraphs; crisp labelled points score better in board exams.
• The economic growth comparison (dictatorships slightly higher, but difference is negligible) is a common exam trap — always conclude that democracy is still preferable due to its other outcomes.