-
Is every office memorandum a major political decision? If not, what made this one different?
View Answer play_arrow
-
(i) Which points, other than the ones mentioned above, do you recall about these institutions from the previous class? Discuss in class.
(ii) 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?
View Answer play_arrow
-
Reservation debate was such an important issue during 1990-91 that advertisers used this theme to sell their products. Can you spot some references to political events and debates in these Amul Butter hoardings?
View Answer play_arrow
-
Now I can see clearly. That is why they talk of M and allocation of politics. Don't they?
View Answer play_arrow
-
Who did what in this case of reservations for backward classes?
Supreme Court
Cabinet
President
Government officials
|
Made formal announcement about this decision
Implemented the decision by issuing an order
Took the decision to give 27% job reservations
Upheld reservations as valid
|
View Answer play_arrow
-
Which institutions are at work in the running of your school? Would it be better of one person alone took all the decisions regarding management of your school?
View Answer play_arrow
-
What is the point of having so much debate and discussion in the Parliament when we know that the view of the ruling party is going to prevail?
View Answer play_arrow
-
When the Parliament is in session, there is a special programme everyday on Doordarshan about the proceedings in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Watch the proceedings or read about them in the newspapers and note the following:
(a) Powers of the two Houses of Parliament.
(b) Role of the Speaker.
(c) Role of the Opposition
View Answer play_arrow
-
The race to become 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?
View Answer play_arrow
-
(a) List the names of five Cabinet Ministers and their ministries each at the Union level and in your state.
(b) Meet the Mayor or Municipal Chairperson of your town or the President of Zila Parishad of your district and ask him or her about how the city, town or district is administered.
View Answer play_arrow
-
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?
View Answer play_arrow
-
Why does the book refer to the President as ‘she’? Have we ever had a woman President in our country?
View Answer play_arrow
-
Did you protest when the book referred to the Prime Minister as 'he'? Have we not had a woman Prime Minister? Why should we assume that all the important positions are held by men?
View Answer play_arrow
-
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?
View Answer play_arrow
-
Eliamma, Annakutti and Marymol read the section on the President. Each of them had a question. Can you help them in answering these questions?
(a) Eliamma What happens if the President and the Prime Minister disagree about some policy? Does the view of the Prime Minister always prevail?
(b) Annakutti I find it funny that the President is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. I doubt if the President can even lift a heavy gun. What is the point in making the President the Commander?
(c) Marymol I would say, what is the point in having a President at all if all the real powers are with the Prime Minister?
View Answer play_arrow
-
It is quite common in the USA for judges to be nominated on the basis of well-known political opinions and affiliations. This fictitious advertisement appeared in the USA in 2005 when President Bush was considering various candidates for nomination to the Supreme Court.
(a) What does cartoon say about the independence of the judiciary?
(b) Why do such cartoons not appear in our country?
(c) Does this demonstrate the independence of our judiciary?
View Answer play_arrow
-
Why are people allowed to go to courts against the government's decisions?
View Answer play_arrow
-
Give one reason each to argue that Indian judiciary is independent with respect to
(a) Appointment of judges.
(b) Removal of judges.
(c) Powers of the judiciary.
View Answer play_arrow
-
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 take on your own
(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
View Answer play_arrow
-
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
View Answer play_arrow
-
Which of 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
View Answer play_arrow
-
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
View Answer play_arrow
-
Match the ministry with the news that the ministry may have released
(a)
|
A new policy is being made to increase the jute exports from the country.
|
(i)
|
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
|
(b)
|
Telephone services will be made more accessible to rural areas.
|
(ii)
|
Ministry of Communications and Information and Technology
|
(c)
|
The price of rice and wheat sold under the Public Distribution System will go down.
|
(iii)
|
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Public Distribution
|
(d)
|
A pulse polio campaign will be launched.
|
(iv)
|
Ministry of Health
|
(e)
|
The allowances of the soldiers posted on high altitudes will be increases
|
(v)
|
Ministry of Defence
|
View Answer play_arrow
-
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.
View Answer play_arrow
-
Why is the Prime Minister in India not directly elected by the people?
(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.
View Answer play_arrow
-
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 institution is dangerous. Shankar said all this is a fantasy. No ministers can anything in one day. What would be your reaction to such a film?
View Answer play_arrow
-
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 he mock Rajya Sabha. If this choice was given to you, which one would you choose and why?
View Answer play_arrow
-
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.
View Answer play_arrow