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.
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
Match the ministry
with the news that the ministry
may have released:
exercises
|
Column I |
Column II |
|
(a) A new policy is being made to increase the jute exports
from the country. |
1. Ministry of Defence |
|
(b) Telephone services will
be made more
accessible to rural
areas. |
2. Ministry of Agriculture, Food
and Public Distribution |
|
(c) The price
of rice and wheat sold
under the Public Distribution System will go down |
3. Ministry of Health |
|
(d) A pulse polio
campaign will be launched. |
4. Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
|
(e) The allowances of the soldiers posted on high altitudes will be increased. |
5. Ministry of Communications and Information Technology |
(a) - 4, (b) - 5, (c) - 2, (d) - 3, (e) - 1
QUESTION 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.
ANSWER 6:
(A) Lok Sabha (Ministry of Finance)
(B) Parliament
(C) Supreme Court
(D) Permanent Executive
QUESTION 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 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 7:
(a) In a Parliamentary democracy only the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha can become the Prime Minister.
QUESTION 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?
ANSWER 8:
While it may look quite appealing in a movie; the real life is strikingly different. Governance in a democracy is all about taking everyone along with you. Moreover, in a large and diverse country like India, it is not possible to take decision on the whims of an individual. Implementation of a decision needs to coordination among various organs of the government and a minister is just a part of that system.
QUESTION 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?
ANSWER 9:
I would choose to have a majority in the Lok Sabha.
The leader of the Lok Sabha is directly answerable to the public and hence it
can be quite challenging for him.
QUESTION 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 between those who supported and those who opposed the order.
ANSWER 10:
Judiciary is independent because it could have given a verdict against the government order. The Supreme Court did direct the government to modify it.