Class 9 Civics Chapter 4 Question Answers - Working of Institutions

Q1: Who is the supreme commander of the defence forces in India?
Ans: The President is the supreme commander of the defence forces in India. He holds the highest constitutional position in the armed forces and performs this role on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Q2: Name the three institutions that play a key role in major decisions of the country.
Ans: Legislature, executive, and judiciary. The legislature makes laws, the executive implements them, and the judiciary interprets the laws.

Q3: What is the national level government called?
Ans: The national level government is called the Central Government, Union Government, or simply the Government of India. It is responsible for matters that affect the whole country.

Q4: What is the full form of SEBC?
Ans: SEBC stands for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes. This category is considered for certain reservation benefits in education and government jobs.

Q5: Who headed the Second Backward Classes Commission in 1979? What was it popularly called?
Ans: B. P. Mandal headed the Second Backward Classes Commission in 1979. It was popularly called the Mandal Commission.

Q6: Mention one of the major recommendations made by the Mandal Commission.
Ans: It recommended that 27 per cent of government jobs be reserved for the socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC) to improve their representation in public employment.

Q7: What modification did the Supreme Court make in the Mandal Commission’s recommendations?
Ans: The Supreme Court ruled that affluent persons among the backward classes should be excluded from reservation benefits. This led to the concept of the “creamy layer”, meaning the better-off within backward classes are not eligible for reservation.

Q8: What is called Parliament?
Ans: A national assembly of elected representatives is called Parliament. It represents the people, makes laws, and exercises supreme political authority on their behalf.

Q9: Which institution plays a central role in Modern democracies?
Ans: The Parliament plays a central role in modern democracies. It makes laws, debates national issues, and holds the executive accountable.

Q10: In our country, the Parliament consists of two houses. Name them.
Ans: The Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha).

Q11: Who are called civil servants?
Ans: Persons working in government administrative services are called civil servants. They are permanent employees who help run the administration and deliver public services.

Q12: What is the function of the civil servants?
Ans: The civil servants work under the political executive and assist in carrying out day-to-day administration. They implement government policies, prepare files and reports, and provide advice to ministers.

Q13: Whom does the President appoint as the Prime Minister of India?
Ans: The President appoints the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha as the Prime Minister. If no single party has a clear majority, the President may appoint the person most likely to command majority support.

Q14: In which matter does the Lok Sabha exercise more powers?
Ans: The Lok Sabha exercises more powers in money matters. It controls the budget, taxation and financial bills; only the Lok Sabha can pass money bills and decide government expenditure.

Q15: Who are Cabinet Ministers?
Ans: Cabinet Ministers are senior ministers from the ruling party or parties who head major ministries. They meet as a group (the Cabinet) to take important decisions and are collectively responsible for government policy.

Q16: Why is parliamentary democracy in most countries often known as the Cabinet form of government?
Ans: In practice, it is not possible for all ministers to meet and decide every issue. A small group of senior ministers called the Cabinet meets regularly and makes major decisions. All ministers accept these decisions because of the principle of collective responsibility.

Q17: Every ministry has secretaries. What functions do these secretaries perform?
Ans: Secretaries are senior civil servants who provide background information, prepare notes and proposals, and offer technical and administrative advice to ministers. They help draft policies and ensure implementation.

Q18: Who is the most powerful within the Cabinet?
Ans: Within the Cabinet, the Prime Minister is the most powerful. The Prime Minister chairs Cabinet meetings, coordinates government work, and provides overall leadership to the executive.

Q19: Who is the head of the State?
Ans: The President is the head of the State. The President is the constitutional head and performs ceremonial and constitutional duties on behalf of the nation.

Q20: Who elects the President of India?
Ans: The President of India is elected indirectly by an electoral college consisting of the elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and the elected Members of the Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) of the states and union territories.

Q21: What do you mean by the Presidential form of government?
Ans: In the presidential system, the President is both the head of state and the head of government. The President is usually directly elected and holds executive powers separate from the legislature.

Q22: What is called the judiciary?
Ans: All the courts at different levels in a country taken together are called the judiciary. The judiciary interprets the law and settles disputes between individuals, and between individuals and the state.

Q23: What does the Indian judiciary consist of?
Ans: The Indian judiciary consists of the Supreme Court at the national level, High Courts in the states, District Courts, and various courts at the local level. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority.

Q24: What is meant by an integrated judiciary?
Ans: An integrated judiciary means that the Supreme Court supervises the judicial administration of the country and its decisions are binding on all lower courts. This ensures uniform interpretation and application of law across the nation.

Q25: What do you mean by ‘independence of the judiciary’?
Ans: Independence of the judiciary means that the judiciary is free from control by the legislature or the executive. Judges decide cases according to law and conscience, without acting on the directions of the government or the wishes of the party in power; this protects the rule of law and ensures fair justice.