Working of Institutions
NCERT Solution
Question 1: If you are elected as the President of India which of the following decision can you take on your own?
- Select the person you like as Prime Minister.
- Dismiss a Prime Minister who has a majority in Lok Sabha.
- Ask for reconsideration of a bill passed by both the Houses.
- Nominate the leaders of your choice to the Council of Ministers.
Answer:(c) Ask for reconsideration of a bill passed by both the Houses.
Question 2: Who among the following is a part of the political executive?
- District Collector
- Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs
- Home Minister
- Director General of Police
Answer:(c) Home Minister
Question 3: Which of the following statements about the judiciary is false?
- Every law passed by the Parliament needs approval of the Supreme Court
- Judiciary can strike down a law if it goes against the spirit of the Constitution
- Judiciary is independent of the Executive
- 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
Question 4: Which of the following institutions can make changes to an existing law of the country?
- The Supreme Court
- The President
- The Prime Minister
- The Parliament
Answer:(d) The Parliament
Question 5: Match the ministry with the news that the ministry may have released:
Column I | Column II |
(a) A new policy is being made to increase 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 |
Answer: 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.
- Decision on allocation of money for developing infrastructure like roads, irrigation etc. and different welfare activities for the citizens
Answer:Cabinet
- Considers the recommendation of a Committee on a law to regulate the stock exchange
Answer:Parliament
- Decides on a legal dispute between two state governments
Answer:Supreme Court
- Implements the decision to provide relief for the victims of an earthquake.
Answer: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.
- In a Parliamentary democracy only the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha can become the Prime Minister.
- Lok Sabha can remove the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers even before the expiry of their term.
- Since the Prime Minister is appointed by the President there is no need for it.
- 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.
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: 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: 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?
- Srinivas argues that since the Supreme Court agreed with the government, it is not independent.
- 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.
- 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(c) Judiciary is independent because it could have given a verdict against the government order. The Supreme Court did direct the government to modify it.