Intext and Activity Questions
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Q1: Is every Office Memorandum a major political decision? If not, what made this one different?
Answer: No, not every Office Memorandum is a major political decision. Most are routine orders issued by the government every day. This specific one was different because it announced a major policy decision to reserve 27% per cent of government jobs for the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC). It affected thousands of job opportunities and led to widespread protests and debates across the country.
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Q2: Which points, other than the ones mentioned above, do you recall about these institutions from the previous class? Discuss in class.
Answer:
- Legislature (Parliament): It is the law-making body of the country.
- Executive: It is responsible for implementing the laws and running the administration.
- Judiciary: It settles disputes and ensures that laws are followed.
Q3: Can you think of a major decision made by your state government? How were the Governor, the Council of Ministers, the state assembly and the courts involved in that decision?
Answer: Example: A decision to build a new dam.
- Council of Ministers: They would propose the plan and approve the budget.
- State Assembly: The decision and budget would be discussed and passed here.
- Governor: The final order would be issued in the name of the Governor.
- Courts: If farmers lose land and protest, they might go to court to get fair compensation or stop the construction.
Q4: Now I can see clearly! That is why they talk of Mandalisation of politics. Don’t they?
Answer: Yes. The implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations was a very significant event. It shaped politics because political parties and parliamentarians demanded its implementation for years. The Janata Dal party even promised it in their election manifesto to win votes.
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Q5: Can you spot some references to political events and debates in these Amul Butter hoardings?
Answer: Yes, the hoardings refer to the Mandal Commission controversy.
- One hoarding says, “No reservation for this quota,” referring to the protests against the 27% job reservation quota.
- The phrase “Amul The riot taste” refers to the violent protests and riots that happened after the decision.
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Q6: Who did what in this case of reservations for backward classes?
Answer:
| Who | What did they do? |
| Supreme Court | Upheld reservations as valid. |
| Cabinet | Took the decision to give 27% job reservations. |
| President | Made formal announcement about this decision. |
| Government Officials | Implemented the decision by issuing an order. |
Q7: Can you think of some other institutions in this example? What is their role?
Answer:
- The Parliament: The recommendations were discussed here, and the Prime Minister informed the Parliament about the decision.
- Political Parties: Parties like Janata Dal promised to implement the report in their manifesto.
Q8: 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?
Answer:
- Institutions in school: The Principal, the School Board or Management Committee, the Teachers’ Staff Council, and the Student Council.
- One person decision: No, it would not be better. Having institutions allows a wider set of people to be consulted. While one person taking decisions might be faster, institutions help avoid bad decisions and ensure rules are followed.
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Q9: 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?
Answer: Even if the ruling party has a majority, discussions are important. They force the government to justify its decisions and listen to the concerns of the opposition. Debates influence and shape the decisions of the government. If Parliament is not in favour, the government cannot go ahead easily.
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Q10: Answer the following for the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha:
Answer:
| Feature | Lok Sabha (House of the People) | Rajya Sabha (Council of States) |
| Total number of members | 543 elected members (General knowledge). It has a larger number of members. | 245 members (General knowledge). It has fewer members than Lok Sabha. |
| Who elects the members? | Directly elected by the people. | Indirectly elected (by MLAs). |
| Length of the term | 5 years. | 6 years (Permanent House). |
| Can the House be dissolved? | Yes, it can be dissolved. | No, it is a permanent body. |
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Q11: Identify the role and powers of the parliament on the basis of the proceedings for the day as given below.
Answer:
- 11:00 (Questions asked): Parliament seeks information and exercises control over the government.
- 12:00 (Documents/Reports): Parliament reviews the work of different departments and commissions (like IIT or Railways).
- 12:14 (Members highlight issues): It acts as a forum for public discussion on national issues like language or farmers’ problems.
- 2:26 (Bills passed): Parliament is the final authority for making laws.
- 4:00 (Foreign policy discussion): Parliament debates national policies and issues like foreign relations.
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Q12: Can you recall the role of political and non-political executive in the case of the Office Memorandum?
Answer:
- Political Executive: The Prime Minister and the Cabinet Ministers took the major decision to implement the Mandal Commission recommendation.
- Non-political Executive (Civil Servants): The senior officers drafted the order and signed it. They handled the day-to-day implementation of the ministers’ decision.
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Q13: Why do you think political leaders are so keen to become ministers?
Answer:
Political leaders want to become ministers because ministers exercise the will of the people and have the power to take major decisions. The minister decides the overall framework and objectives of policy. Being a minister gives them the authority to lead the country’s administration.
Q14: List the names of five Cabinet Ministers and their ministries each at the Union level and in your state.
Answer: Union Level (Central Government)
- Minister of Home Affairs: Amit Shah
- Minister of Defence: Rajnath Singh
- Minister of Finance: Nirmala Sitharaman
- Minister of External Affairs: Dr. S. Jaishankar
- Minister of Education: Dharmendra Pradhan
Maharashtra State Level (Note: Defence and External Affairs are exclusively Union subjects. Important state-level ministries have been listed to complete the set of five.)
- Minister of Home Affairs: Devendra Fadnavis (Chief Minister)
- Minister of Finance & Planning: Ajit Pawar (Deputy Chief Minister)
- Minister of School Education: Dadaji Bhuse
- Minister of Industries: Uday Samant
- Minister of Revenue: Chandrashekhar Bawankule
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Q15: Do you think similar cartoons could be drawn about other prime ministers who followed her?
Answer: The cartoon shows the Prime Minister dominating the Cabinet meeting. This depends on the personality of the Prime Minister and the political situation.
- Yes: For powerful Prime Ministers who lead with a strong majority, similar cartoons can be drawn.
- No: In the era of coalition governments (where no single party has a majority), Prime Ministers have to listen to different groups and cannot be as dominant as shown in the cartoon.
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Q16: Why does this book refer to the President as ‘she’? Have we ever had a woman President in our country?
Answer: The book uses ‘she’ to show gender equality and challenge the assumption that important positions are only for men. Yes, India has had women Presidents (e.g., Pratibha Patil, Droupadi Murmu).
Q17: 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?
Answer: A Prime Minister who needs to consult others is better. In a democracy, concentration of too much power in one person can be dangerous. Consulting others ensures that different views are heard and decisions are balanced. Coalition politics forces this consultation and prevents dictatorship-like behavior.
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Q18: What does this cartoon say about the independence of the judiciary? Why do such cartoons not appear in our country?
Answer:
- The cartoon suggests that in the US, judges are often appointed based on their political views and loyalty to the President (like saying the President is brilliant). This implies the judiciary there might not be fully politically neutral.
- Such cartoons do not appear in India because our judiciary is very independent. Judges are not appointed just to favour the ruling party, and it is very difficult for the government to interfere with them.
Q19: Give one reason each to argue that Indian judiciary is independent with respect to:
Answer:
- Appointment of judges: The political executive (government) has very little say; senior judges of the Supreme Court select new judges.
- Removal of judges: It is extremely difficult to remove a judge. It requires an impeachment motion passed by two-thirds of the Parliament, which has never happened in India.
- Powers of the judiciary: The judiciary can declare any law of the legislature or action of the executive invalid if it goes against the Constitution.
Exercises
Q1) 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.
Answer: (c) Ask for reconsideration of a bill passed by both the Houses.
Reason: The President can delay a bill and send it back for reconsideration, but if it is passed again, she has to sign it. The President cannot select the PM or Ministers freely; she must appoint the leader of the majority party.
Q2) 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
Answer: (c) Home Minister
Reason: The Home Minister is elected by the people and appointed for a specific period to take big decisions. The others are civil servants (permanent executive).
Q3) 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
Answer:
(a) Every law passed by the Parliament needs approval of the Supreme Court
Reason: The Supreme Court acts only when a law is challenged. It does not automatically approve every law passed by Parliament. The other statements are true.
Q4) 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
Answer: (d) The Parliament
Reason: Parliament acts as the legislature and has the power to change existing laws, abolish them, or make new ones.
Q5) Match the ministry with the news that the ministry may have released:
| News released | Ministry |
| (a) A new policy is being made to increase the jute exports from the country. | Ministry of Commerce and Industry (iv) |
| (b) Telephone services will be made more accessible to rural areas. | Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (v) |
| (c) The price of rice and wheat sold under the Public Distribution System will go down. | Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Public Distribution (ii) |
| (d) A pulse polio campaign will be launched. | Ministry of Health (iii) |
| (e) The allowances of the soldiers posted on high altitudes will be increased. | Ministry of Defence (i) |
Q6) 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.
Answer: The Parliament (specifically Lok Sabha).
Reason: Parliament controls all the money that governments have. Public money can only be spent when Parliament sanctions it.
(b) Considers the recommendation of a Committee on a law to regulate the stock exchange.
Answer: The Parliament.
Reason: Parliament is the final authority for making laws.
(c) Decides on a legal dispute between two state governments.
Answer: The Supreme Court (The Judiciary).
Reason: The Supreme Court takes up disputes between two or more state governments.
(d) Implements the decision to provide relief for the victims of an earthquake.
Answer: The Executive.
Reason: The executive is responsible for the ‘execution’ (implementation) of the policies and decisions of the government.
Q7) 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 Ministers even before the expiry of their term.
(c) Since the Prime Minister is appointed by the President there is no need for it.
(d) Direct election of the Prime Minister will involve lot of expenditure on election.
Answer: (a) In a Parliamentary democracy only the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha can become the Prime Minister.
Reason: India follows the parliamentary system where the Prime Minister must have the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha to pass laws and run the government. If he were directly elected, he might not have a majority in the legislature, making it difficult to govern.
Q8) 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?
Answer: I would agree with Rizwan. While the film might be exciting, in a real democracy, personal rule without institutions is dangerous. Democracy works through institutions like the legislature and executive, not just one person’s will. As Shankar said, it is also a fantasy because institutions involve rules and procedures that take time; major changes cannot happen in just one day.
Q9) 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?
Answer: I would choose to have a majority in the Lok Sabha.
Reason:
- Money Matters: The Lok Sabha has more power over money. Once it passes the budget, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject it.
- Control over Executive: The Lok Sabha controls the Council of Ministers. If the Lok Sabha passes a ‘no confidence’ motion, the Prime Minister and all ministers must quit. The Rajya Sabha does not have this power.
- Joint Sessions: In case of a difference between the two houses, the view of the Lok Sabha is likely to prevail because it has more members.
Q10) 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 between those who supported and those who opposed the order.
Answer: The correct view is (b) Anjaiah’s view.
Reason: The judiciary is independent because it has the power to judge actions of the government and is not under the government’s control. In this case, the Supreme Court declared the order valid but also independently directed the government to modify the order to exclude “well-to-do” persons from the benefits, showing it wasn’t just blindly agreeing.