A. NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
Questions within the Lesson
Page No. 80
Q.1. Is every Office Memorandum a major political decision?
If not, what made this one different?
Ans. No. Every Memorandum is not a major political decision.
This was important because it made the announcement of 27% reservation for SEBC class, in
addition to the reservations already there for SCs and STs.
Page No. 81
Q.2. Cartoons
Ans. Cartoon. It certainly has political overtones. The
first one is referring to the 27% reservation for the SEBC.
The second one refers to the same.
Page No. 82
Q.3. Who did what in this case of reservations for backward
classes?
Supreme Court 1. Made formal announcement about this
decision
Cabinet 2. Implemented the decision by issuing an order
President 3. Took the decision to give 27% job reservations
Government Officials 4. Upheld reservations as valid
Ans. Supreme Court 4, Cabinet 3, President 1, Government Officials 2.
Page No. 82
Q.4. Which institutions are at work in the running of your
school? Would it be better if one person alone took all the decisions regarding management of
your school?
Ans. No, it would not be better. Decisions arrived with
consensus and advice of more than one person are not rash or dictatorial. They are rational and considered
the majority opinion. Institutions in a school are the Managing Committee, the
parents-teachers association, the Principal and the staff.
Page No. 84
Q.5. What is the point in having so much debate and
discussion in the Parliament when we know that the view of the ruling party is going to prevail?
Ans. The ruling party, after a debate and discussion, learns
about the weak points in its views. It can modify them in the light of what it learns. If no debate
is held it will not come to know the views of the opposition or of the people, and take
arbitrary decision.
Page No. 87
Q.6. The race to become a minister is not new. Here is a
cartoon depicting ministerial aspirants waiting to get a berth in Nehru’s Cabinet after
the 1962 elections. Why do you think political leaders are so keen to become ministers?
Ans. Political leaders are keen to become ministers because
of the power, prestige and financial gains they get. Minister have many privileges, power is
desired by many. If your intentions are honourable, you can serve the nation in many ways. If not,
you can misuse them for personal gain.
Page No. 88
Q.7. This cartoon depicts a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi in the early 1970s, at the peak of her popularity. Do you think
similar cartoons could be drawn about other prime ministers who followed her?
Ans. No. None of the Prime Ministers who followed her had
the same status or power as Indira Gandhi had in the early 1970s.
Page No. 90
Q.8. What is better for a democracy-a Prime Minister who can
do whatever he wishes or a Prime Minister who needs to consult other leaders and
parties?
Ans. The second option is indeed better in a democracy,
otherwise we would end up with a dictator.
Page No. 91
Q.9. It is quite common in the US for judges to be nominated on
the basis of well-known political opinions and affiliations. This fictitious
advertisement appeared in the US
in 2005 when President Bush was considering various candidates
for nomination to the US Supreme Court. What does this cartoon say about the
independence of the judiciary?
Why do such cartoons not appear in our country? Does this
demonstrate the independence of our judiciary?
Ans. The cartoon is definitely making fun of President Bush!
It clearly states that judiciary is not independent in USA and judges will be chosen if
they support Bush and his policies!
No such cartoon has ever appeared against the Indian
judiciary which speaks a lot about the independence of judicial system in India. They are
free from dominance of the Executive.
Page No. 92
Q.10. Why are people allowed to go to courts against the
government’s decisions?
Ans. People are allowed to go against the government to
courts, because of the fundamental right given to them by the Constitution — Right to Constitutional
Remedies. If any of the people’s fundamental rights is violated we can challenge the decision
in court and ask for justice.
Questions in the
Exercise
Q.1. If you are elected as the President of India which of
the following decision can you take on your own?
(a) Select the person you like as Prime Minister.
(b) Dismiss a Prime Minister who has a majority in Lok
Sabha.
(c) Ask for reconsideration of a bill passed by both the
Houses.
(d) Nominate the leaders of your choice to the Council of
Ministers.
Ans. (c) Ask for reconsideration of a Bill passed by both
the Houses.
Q.2. Who among the following is a part of the political
executive?
(a) District Collector (b) Secretary of the Ministry of Home
Affairs
(c) Home Minister (d) Director General of Police
Ans. (c) Home Minister
Q.3. Which of the following statements about the judiciary
is false?
(a) Every law passed by the Parliament needs approval of the
Supreme Court.
(b) Judiciary can strike down a law if it goes against the
spirit of the Constitution.
(c) Judiciary is independent of the Executive.
(d) Any citizen can approach the courts if her rights are
violated.
Ans. (a) Every law passed by the Parliament needs approval
of the Supreme Court.
Q.4. Which of the following institutions can make changes to
an existing law of the country?
(a) The Supreme Court
(b) The President
(c) The Prime Minister
(d) The Parliament
Ans. (d) The Parliament
Q.5. Match the ministry with the news that the ministry may
have released:
(a) A new policy is being made to increase (1) Ministry of
Defence
the jute exports from the country.
(b) Telephone services will be made more (2) Ministry of
Health
accessible to rural areas.
(c) The price of rice and wheat sold under the (3) Ministry
of Agriculture, Food and Public Distribution Public Distribution System will go down.
(d) A Pulse Polio campaign will be launched. (4) Ministry of
Commerce and Industry
(e) The allowances of the soldiers posted on (5) Ministry of
Communications and
high altitudes will be increased. Information Technology
Ans. (a) — (4); (b) —
(5); (c) — (3); (d) — (2);
(e) — (1)
Q.6. Of all the institutions that we have studied in this
chapter, name the one that exercises the powers on each of the following matters.
(a) Decision on allocation of money for developing
infrastructure like roads, irrigation, etc., and different welfare activities for the citizens
(b) Considers the recommendation of a Committee on a law to
regulate the stock exchange
(c) Decides on a legal dispute between two state governments
(d) Implements the decision to provide relief for the
victims of an earthquake.
Ans. (a) The Executive (political), the government
(b) The Parliament (The Lok Sabha)
(c) The Supreme Court, judiciary
(d) The Executive (Permanent), Civil Servants
Q.7. Why is the Prime Minister in India not directly elected by the
people? Choose the most appropriate answer and give reasons for your choice.
(a) In a parliamentary democracy only the leader of the
majority party in the Lok Sabha can become the Prime Minister.
(b) Lok Sabha can remove the Prime Minister and the Council
of Minister even before the expiry of their term.
(c) Since the Prime Minister in appointed by the President,
there is no need for it.
(d) Direct election of the Prime Minister will involve a lot
of expenditure on election.
Ans. (a) Elections are not fought for the post of the Prime
Minister. Only parties fight elections and the winning party’s leader becomes the Prime Minister.
Q.8. Three friends went to watch a film that showed the hero
becoming Chief Minister for a day and making big changes in the state.
Imran said this is
what the country needs.
Rizwan said this kind of a personal rule without
institutions is dangerous.
Shankar said all this is a fantasy. No minister can do anything in one
day.
What would be your reaction to such a film?
Ans. Rizwan said this kind of a personal rule without
institutions is dangerous.
Q.9. A teacher was making preparations for a mock
parliament. She called two students to act as leaders of two political parties. She gave them an
option: Each one could choose to have a majority either in the mock Lok Sabha or in the mock
Rajya Sabha. If this choice was given to you, which one would you choose and why?
Ans. Lok Sabha - Power with Responsibility, elected directly by the people. If people are aware will support good representatives.
Q.10. After reading the example of the reservation order, three students had different reactions about the role of the judiciary. Which view, according to you, is a correct reading of the role of judiciary?
(a) Srinivas argues that since the Supreme Court agreed with
the government, it is not independent.
(b) Anjaiah says that judiciary is independent because it
could have given a verdict against the government order. The Supreme Court did direct the
government to modify it.
(c) Vijaya thinks that the judiciary is neither independent
nor conformist, but acts as a mediator between opposing parties. The court struck a good
balance those who supported and those who opposed the order.
Ans. (b) Anjaiah says that judiciary is independent because
it could have given a verdict against
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