Grassroots Democracy Part 1 Governance Class 6 Question Answer Social Science Chapter 10
NCERT Class 6 Social Science SST Chapter 10 Grassroots Democracy Part 1 Governance Questions and Answers Solutions
Grassroots Democracy Part 1 Governance Class 6 Questions and Answers (In-Text)
The Big Questions (Page-149)
Question 1.
What is the meaning of ‘governance’?
Answer:
Governance is the process of making decisions, organising society with rules, and ensuring everyone follows them. It involves managing and running societal functions smoothly.
Question 2.
Why do we need a government?
Answer:
Government is the most important institution in maintaining a peaceful society. Here are some of key functions:
- Maintaining law and order: The primary task of government is to make laws for proper social order and avoid conflict in society.
- Providing public services: It has another important role in providing basic and essential services like hospitals (AIIMS), education (government schools, IITs, IIMs), etc.
- Taking care of people by providing foodgrains, Medical services, education at an affordable price etc.
Protecting environmental, forest, animals, birds and other species. - Providing security to country from foreign enemy attacks and against terrorism.
Question 3.
What is the meaning of ‘democracy’? Why is it important?
Answer:
The word ‘democracy’ comes from two Greek words — demos meaning ‘people’, and kratos meaning ‘rule’ or ‘power’; so ‘democracy’ literally means the ‘rule of the people’. Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or through elected representatives. It is important because it ensures participation, accountability, and protection of individual rights and freedoms, allowing citizens to have a say in how they are governed.
Page – 150
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Question 4.
Describe the two pictures given in Fig. 10.1 on page 151 — what differences do you see between them? (Page 150)
Answer:
The two pictures in Fig 10.1 on page 151 describes the Traffic scene on a busy road in urban place (City). However both the pictures are contrasting in nature in which Picture 1 depicts smooth flow of vehicles and 2 reflects complete breakdown, chaos, with no rules and regulations.
Let us see the differences in Picture 1 and Picture 2.
| Picture 1 | Picture 2 | |
| Vehicles | Cars, cycle and bikes (Limited number) | Cars, cycles, bikes, (Large numbers). |
| Rules and Regulations | Proper rules and regulations are followed | Chaos, disorder and violation of all traffic rules. |
| Comfort in driving | Provides better experience of driving | May lead to stress and frequent accidents. |
Question 5.
How do you connect this with our discussion on rules?
Answer:
The two pictures show the need for the rules and regulations required at every walk of life whether we are on the road or in home or school. The school where we study has rules too. Drivers on the road’ are expected to obey traffic rules. People working somewhere need to follow the rules set by the organization. Society would not be able to function without rules or laws.
Question 6.
What are some of the rules in your school? Who made them?
Answer:
Some common school rules might include wearing a uniform, completing homework on time, and maintaining silence in the library. These rules are usually made by the school administration.
Page 153
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Question 7.
Can you identify the categories of public service or other activities that are represented in the 10 pictures in Fig. 10.2 on page 152?
Answer:
The 10 pictures likely represent various public services such as education, healthcare, transportation, sanitation, law enforcement, emergency services, postal services, and public infrastructure. These activities are essential for maintaining public welfare and are typically managed by different levels of government.
Question 8.
What role do you think the government plays in each of these activities? (Page 153)
Answer:
The government plays a crucial role in the provision and regulation of various public services to ensure their accessibility, efficiency, and security. In all these areas, the government’s role is critical to ensure that public services are effectively delivered, meet safety and quality standards, and are accessible to all citizens.
Question 9.
Can you think of other aspects of your daily life where the government plays an important role?
Answer:
The other aspects of our daily life where the government plays an important role are as follows
- By collecting garbage daily from our home
- By installing streetlights
- By running public buses
- By constructing public toilets
- By constructing and maintaining public parks, etc.
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Question 10.
Explain how the three government organs are at work in the case of the cyber criminals described above. How do they intervene? (Page 154)
Answer:
Digital technologies have eased the life of people and at the same time created a new class of criminals who, finds digital ways of stealing people’s money.
To prevent cybercrime government (legislative) has pass new laws in order to fight such criminal activities. Many criminals, who have been involved in robbing innocent people of their hard-earned money, have been arrested (executive) and convicted in court (judiciary). They are usually fined as well as jailed for some years.
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Question 11.
As a class activity, can you imagine the sort of disorder we might witness if all three organs were under the control of the same group of people? Can you describe any such real-life situation you may have heard of?
Answer:
Let’s imagine a scenario where one person or group is in charge of making laws, enforcing laws and judging laws. It would be like having one person as the teacher, principal and parent all at once!
If this happened, the following could happen
- Unfair rules that benefit only the person incharge
- No one to stop the person incharge from doing something wrong
- People being treated unfairly or bullied
Hence, if all three organs were under the control of the same group of people a sort of disorder might be created.
A real-life example is a country called North Korea. Their leader, Kim Jong-un, has complete control over the government, military and courts. This means he can make laws, enforce them and judge people all by himself. Here, a single person has all the authority, making it difficult for people to speak up or disagree. The people in the country can do nothing against his will and they have no freedom and rights. Separate branches of government helps keep everyone in check and ensures fair treatment for all.
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Question 12.
Observe the table (Fig. 10.5). Highlight the functions and responsibilities that affect your life the most.
Answer:
The functions and responsibilities that affect our life most are:
- Central Government: Communications, Currency, Interstate Commerce, Education
- State Government: Police, law and order, Public health, Education, Agriculture
Question 13.
Ask two or three adults about their connection or interaction with the government-at what levels does it take place and for what purpose?
Answer:
You can approach adults in your family, community, or school and ask them about their interactions with different levels of government. Here’s how you can structure the conversation:
1. Local Level Interaction: Ask if they have interacted with local authorities, such as for getting a driving license, registering a complaint about local amenities, or voting in local elections.
2. State Level Interaction: Inquire if they have engaged with state government services, like applying for state scholarships, accessing state healthcare services, or dealing with state taxation.
3. Central/National Level Interaction: Finally, ask if they have had any dealings with the Central Government, such as filing income tax returns, participating in national elections, or applying for a passport. Through these interactions, you can gather insights into how different levels of government play a role in people’s lives and how they contribute to governance.
Class 6 SST Grassroots Democracy Part 1 Governance Question Answer (Exercise)
Question 1.
Test yourself-What is the meaning of democrocy? What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy?
Answer:
Democracy means ‘rule of the people’. It’s a system where people choose their representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Difference between direct democracy and representative democracy are as follows
| Direct democracy | Representative democracy |
| Every person’s opinion is heard and counted to make a decision. | People vote for representatives who make decisions on their behalf. |
| Example Voting for a picnic spot in schools | Example Voting for MLAs or MPs in India. |
Question 2.
Recall the three organs of government. What are their different roles?
Answer:
The three parts of government are the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. The Legislature creates and updates laws, the Executive implements and enforces these laws through various agencies, and the Judiciary interprets the laws and ensures they are applied fairly. Each branch has distinct roles but works together to maintain order and justice in society.
Question 3.
Why do we need three tiers of government?
Answer:
We need three tiers of government to ensure effective governance and administration by distributing powers and responsibilities across different levels:
- Central Government: Manages national affairs and policies.
- State Government: Handles regional issues and implements state-specific policies.
- Local Government: Addresses local needs and ensures grassroots participation in governance. This structure promotes efficiency, accountability, and responsiveness to the diverse needs of different regions and communities.
- Many of you will remember the lockdown that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Make a list of all the actions that were taken at that time. Which tiers of government were involved in managing the situation? What was the role of each of the organs of government?
Question 4.
Project: Many of you will remember the lockdown that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Make a list of all the actions that were taken at that time? Which tiers of government were involved in managing the situation? What was the role of each of the organs of government?
Answer:
During the COVID-19 lockdown, key actions included closing schools, enforcing curfews, providing medical care, distributing essentials, and running awareness campaigns.
Tiers of Government Involved:
- Local: Managed food distribution and local enforcement of lockdown measures.
- State: Oversaw large hospitals, coordinated state-wide lockdown, and implemented regional strategies.
- National: Formulated nationwide policies, such as vaccine distribution and travel restrictions.
Role of Each Organ:
- Legislature: Passed safety and emergency laws to address the pandemic.
- Executive: Enforced these laws, managed resources, and coordinated responses.
- Judiciary: Ensured legal compliance and addressed disputes arising from lockdown measures. These coordinated efforts across different levels and branches of government were crucial in managing and mitigating the impact of the pandemic.