What is Government? NCERT Solutions - Indian Polity for UPSC CSE

Exercise 

1. The decision of the Government of India to maintain peaceful relations with Russia.
2. The decision of the Government of West Bengal on whether to have Board exam in Class 8 for all government schools.
3. Introduction of two new trains between Dibrugarh and Kanyakumari.
4. The decision to locate a common well in a particular area of the village.
5. The decision to construct a big children’s park in Patna.
6. The decision of the Government of Haryana to provide free electricity for all farmers.
7. Introduction of new 1000 rupee note.

Ans:

1. The decision of the Government of India to maintain peaceful relations with Russia – Central
2. The decision of the Government of West Bengal on whether to have Board exam in Class 8 for all government schools – State
3. Introduction of two new trains between Dibrugarh and Kanyakumari- Central
4. The decision to locate a common well in a particular area of the village- Local
5. The decision to construct a big children’s park in Patna – Local
6. The decision of the Government of Haryana to provide free electricity for all farmers – State
7. Introduction of new 1000 rupee note – Central

Questions

Q1. What do you understand by the word ‘government’? List five ways in which you think the government affects your daily life. 
Ans: Government is the mechanism or groups which governs and implements decisions in an organized manner formed under certain written rules.

Five ways in which government affects your daily life:

• It protects the boundaries of the country and maintains peaceful relations with other countries.
• It takes action on many social issues.
• It ensures the welfare of its citizens and provides health facilities.
• It ensures the supply of food and drinking water to its people.
• It helps in running of the postal and railways services.

Q2. Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws?
Ans: Some rules have to be made that apply to everyone. The government needs to these make rules for everyone in the form of laws because:

• It helps in preventing the authority from the misuse of their powers.
• It helps in the functioning of the government.
• It helps the people in leading their normal and peaceful life.
• It ensures the security of the nation and its people.

Q3. Name two essential features of a democratic government.
Ans:

Two essential features of a democratic government:

• The Government is answerable to the people.
• People elect their leaders to govern the nation through the process of elections.

Q4. What was the suffrage movement? What did it accomplish?
Ans:

• Suffrage means right to vote. 
• Women and the poor have had to fight for participation in government all over Europe and  USA. During the first world war, it got strengthened and known as the suffrage movement.
• It gave a right to vote to the America women in 1920 and women in the UK got to vote on the same terms as men in 1928.

Q5. Gandhiji strongly believed that every adult in India should be given the right to vote. However, a few people don’t share his views. They feel that illiterate people, who are mainly poor, should not be given the right to vote. What do you think? Do you think this would be a form of discrimination? Give five points to support your view and share these with the class.
Ans: Yes, it would be a form of discrimination on the basis of education. Five points to support my view:

• These people will not able to participate in the Government and hence feel neglected from the society.
• People from all classes fought for independence and these rights thus everyone should be treated equally.
• People are not illiterate or poor by their choice.
  
• Every adult should be given the right to vote according to the Universal Adult Franchise.
• It will conflict the idea of the right to equality of Democracy.