NCERT Textbook: Grassroots Democracy — Part 1: Governance | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

 Page 1


149
10 ? Grassroots Democracy – Part 1
Grassroots Democracy – Part 1 
Governance
CHAPTER
10
 
“rajanam dharmagoptaram dharmo rak?hati rak?hitah”
“The ruler protects dharma and dharma protects those  
who protect it.”
The Mahabharata
“There is no peace without justice; 
no justice without equality;
no equality without development; 
no democracy without respect to the identity  
and dignity of cultures and peoples.” 
     Rigoberta Menchú Tum 
1. What is the meaning of 
‘governance’? 
2. Why do we need a government? 
3. What is the meaning of 
‘democracy’? Why is it 
important?
The Big 
Questions
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Page 2


149
10 ? Grassroots Democracy – Part 1
Grassroots Democracy – Part 1 
Governance
CHAPTER
10
 
“rajanam dharmagoptaram dharmo rak?hati rak?hitah”
“The ruler protects dharma and dharma protects those  
who protect it.”
The Mahabharata
“There is no peace without justice; 
no justice without equality;
no equality without development; 
no democracy without respect to the identity  
and dignity of cultures and peoples.” 
     Rigoberta Menchú Tum 
1. What is the meaning of 
‘governance’? 
2. Why do we need a government? 
3. What is the meaning of 
‘democracy’? Why is it 
important?
The Big 
Questions
10-100724_v4.indd   149 10-100724_v4.indd   149 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM
150
Exploring Society: India and Beyond  
Governance and Democracy
Introduction 
Human beings have been living in communities for a long 
time. When a large number of people live together, there 
can be disagreements and disorder, and rules become 
necessary to maintain order and harmony in the society. 
There are probably some simple rules at home that you are 
expected to follow. The school where you study has rules too 
— some for students, others for teachers. In higher classes, 
students appearing for examinations must follow certain 
rules. Drivers on the road are expected to obey traffic rules. 
People employed in all kinds of jobs also need to follow the 
rules set by their employer, while the employers must also 
follow rules which they have committed to their employees.
What would happen if no one followed those rules? A 
simple answer is that society would not be able to function. 
LET’S EXPLORE
 Æ Describe the two pictures given in Fig. 10.1 on page 151 — 
what differences do you see between them?
 Æ How do you connect this with our discussion on rules?
 Æ What are some of the rules in your school? Who made 
them?
Who makes the rules and why? How are they made? These 
are some of the questions we will explore in this chapter. 
The process of taking decisions, organising the society’s 
life with different sets of rules, and ensuring that they are 
followed, is called governance. The group of individuals 
or the system that makes the rules and ensures that they 
are followed is called a government. Some of the more 
important rules are called laws.
This does not mean that rules and laws are set once and for 
all. Just as you might discuss a particular rule at home with 
your parents, or as a student body might ask the school or 
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Page 3


149
10 ? Grassroots Democracy – Part 1
Grassroots Democracy – Part 1 
Governance
CHAPTER
10
 
“rajanam dharmagoptaram dharmo rak?hati rak?hitah”
“The ruler protects dharma and dharma protects those  
who protect it.”
The Mahabharata
“There is no peace without justice; 
no justice without equality;
no equality without development; 
no democracy without respect to the identity  
and dignity of cultures and peoples.” 
     Rigoberta Menchú Tum 
1. What is the meaning of 
‘governance’? 
2. Why do we need a government? 
3. What is the meaning of 
‘democracy’? Why is it 
important?
The Big 
Questions
10-100724_v4.indd   149 10-100724_v4.indd   149 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM
150
Exploring Society: India and Beyond  
Governance and Democracy
Introduction 
Human beings have been living in communities for a long 
time. When a large number of people live together, there 
can be disagreements and disorder, and rules become 
necessary to maintain order and harmony in the society. 
There are probably some simple rules at home that you are 
expected to follow. The school where you study has rules too 
— some for students, others for teachers. In higher classes, 
students appearing for examinations must follow certain 
rules. Drivers on the road are expected to obey traffic rules. 
People employed in all kinds of jobs also need to follow the 
rules set by their employer, while the employers must also 
follow rules which they have committed to their employees.
What would happen if no one followed those rules? A 
simple answer is that society would not be able to function. 
LET’S EXPLORE
 Æ Describe the two pictures given in Fig. 10.1 on page 151 — 
what differences do you see between them?
 Æ How do you connect this with our discussion on rules?
 Æ What are some of the rules in your school? Who made 
them?
Who makes the rules and why? How are they made? These 
are some of the questions we will explore in this chapter. 
The process of taking decisions, organising the society’s 
life with different sets of rules, and ensuring that they are 
followed, is called governance. The group of individuals 
or the system that makes the rules and ensures that they 
are followed is called a government. Some of the more 
important rules are called laws.
This does not mean that rules and laws are set once and for 
all. Just as you might discuss a particular rule at home with 
your parents, or as a student body might ask the school or 
10-100724_v4.indd   150 10-100724_v4.indd   150 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM
151
10 ? Grassroots Democracy – Part 1
university management to change a rule, citizens also have 
a say in the laws and rules governing the society. We will 
see how this takes place. 
Fig. 10.1
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149
10 ? Grassroots Democracy – Part 1
Grassroots Democracy – Part 1 
Governance
CHAPTER
10
 
“rajanam dharmagoptaram dharmo rak?hati rak?hitah”
“The ruler protects dharma and dharma protects those  
who protect it.”
The Mahabharata
“There is no peace without justice; 
no justice without equality;
no equality without development; 
no democracy without respect to the identity  
and dignity of cultures and peoples.” 
     Rigoberta Menchú Tum 
1. What is the meaning of 
‘governance’? 
2. Why do we need a government? 
3. What is the meaning of 
‘democracy’? Why is it 
important?
The Big 
Questions
10-100724_v4.indd   149 10-100724_v4.indd   149 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM
150
Exploring Society: India and Beyond  
Governance and Democracy
Introduction 
Human beings have been living in communities for a long 
time. When a large number of people live together, there 
can be disagreements and disorder, and rules become 
necessary to maintain order and harmony in the society. 
There are probably some simple rules at home that you are 
expected to follow. The school where you study has rules too 
— some for students, others for teachers. In higher classes, 
students appearing for examinations must follow certain 
rules. Drivers on the road are expected to obey traffic rules. 
People employed in all kinds of jobs also need to follow the 
rules set by their employer, while the employers must also 
follow rules which they have committed to their employees.
What would happen if no one followed those rules? A 
simple answer is that society would not be able to function. 
LET’S EXPLORE
 Æ Describe the two pictures given in Fig. 10.1 on page 151 — 
what differences do you see between them?
 Æ How do you connect this with our discussion on rules?
 Æ What are some of the rules in your school? Who made 
them?
Who makes the rules and why? How are they made? These 
are some of the questions we will explore in this chapter. 
The process of taking decisions, organising the society’s 
life with different sets of rules, and ensuring that they are 
followed, is called governance. The group of individuals 
or the system that makes the rules and ensures that they 
are followed is called a government. Some of the more 
important rules are called laws.
This does not mean that rules and laws are set once and for 
all. Just as you might discuss a particular rule at home with 
your parents, or as a student body might ask the school or 
10-100724_v4.indd   150 10-100724_v4.indd   150 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM
151
10 ? Grassroots Democracy – Part 1
university management to change a rule, citizens also have 
a say in the laws and rules governing the society. We will 
see how this takes place. 
Fig. 10.1
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152
Exploring Society: India and Beyond  
Governance and Democracy
Fig. 10.2
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149
10 ? Grassroots Democracy – Part 1
Grassroots Democracy – Part 1 
Governance
CHAPTER
10
 
“rajanam dharmagoptaram dharmo rak?hati rak?hitah”
“The ruler protects dharma and dharma protects those  
who protect it.”
The Mahabharata
“There is no peace without justice; 
no justice without equality;
no equality without development; 
no democracy without respect to the identity  
and dignity of cultures and peoples.” 
     Rigoberta Menchú Tum 
1. What is the meaning of 
‘governance’? 
2. Why do we need a government? 
3. What is the meaning of 
‘democracy’? Why is it 
important?
The Big 
Questions
10-100724_v4.indd   149 10-100724_v4.indd   149 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM
150
Exploring Society: India and Beyond  
Governance and Democracy
Introduction 
Human beings have been living in communities for a long 
time. When a large number of people live together, there 
can be disagreements and disorder, and rules become 
necessary to maintain order and harmony in the society. 
There are probably some simple rules at home that you are 
expected to follow. The school where you study has rules too 
— some for students, others for teachers. In higher classes, 
students appearing for examinations must follow certain 
rules. Drivers on the road are expected to obey traffic rules. 
People employed in all kinds of jobs also need to follow the 
rules set by their employer, while the employers must also 
follow rules which they have committed to their employees.
What would happen if no one followed those rules? A 
simple answer is that society would not be able to function. 
LET’S EXPLORE
 Æ Describe the two pictures given in Fig. 10.1 on page 151 — 
what differences do you see between them?
 Æ How do you connect this with our discussion on rules?
 Æ What are some of the rules in your school? Who made 
them?
Who makes the rules and why? How are they made? These 
are some of the questions we will explore in this chapter. 
The process of taking decisions, organising the society’s 
life with different sets of rules, and ensuring that they are 
followed, is called governance. The group of individuals 
or the system that makes the rules and ensures that they 
are followed is called a government. Some of the more 
important rules are called laws.
This does not mean that rules and laws are set once and for 
all. Just as you might discuss a particular rule at home with 
your parents, or as a student body might ask the school or 
10-100724_v4.indd   150 10-100724_v4.indd   150 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM 11-Jul-24   3:58:50 PM
151
10 ? Grassroots Democracy – Part 1
university management to change a rule, citizens also have 
a say in the laws and rules governing the society. We will 
see how this takes place. 
Fig. 10.1
10-100724_v4.indd   151 10-100724_v4.indd   151 11-Jul-24   3:58:51 PM 11-Jul-24   3:58:51 PM
152
Exploring Society: India and Beyond  
Governance and Democracy
Fig. 10.2
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153
10 ? Grassroots Democracy – Part 1
LET’S EXPLORE
 Æ Can you identify the categories of public service or other 
activities that are represented in the ten pictures in Fig. 10.2 
on page 152?
 Æ What role do you think the government plays in each of 
these activities?
 Æ Can you think of other aspects of your daily life where the 
government plays an important role?
Three Organs of Government
All over the world, digital technologies have been 
transforming the way societies function. In India, till about 
30 years ago, people who wanted to transfer money to a 
distant relative would have to queue up at the Post Office to 
send a money order after filling up a form; or if they had to 
send a payment to some business, they would queue up at 
their bank to obtain a demand draft, which would then have 
to be sent by post. You have probably never heard these 
terms (‘money order’ or ‘demand draft’), because today we 
have digital means of sending across money instantly! 
However, this has also created a new class of criminals 
who, without even leaving their desks, find digital ways of 
stealing people’s money. This has led many governments 
to pass new laws in order to fight such criminal activities 
(called ‘cybercrime’). Some of those criminals, who believe 
in robbing innocent people of their hard-earned money 
instead of using their skills to contribute to the society, 
have been arrested and convicted in court. They are usually 
fined as well as jailed for some years.
Through this example, we can see how the three branches 
or ‘organs’ of a government work together:
 ? The legislature is the organ that makes new laws (or 
‘legislates’). Sometimes it also updates or removes  
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