Grassroots Democracy - Governance - 1 Class 6 SST Free MCQ Test with solutions

The Legislature is the branch of government responsible for making laws. Similar to how rules are established in a school, the legislature creates laws for the entire country or state. In India, it consists of two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). These representatives engage in discussions and make decisions on new laws or modifications to existing ones.

The primary role of the legislature is to ensure that laws are created that everyone in the country must adhere to.

• Creates laws for governance
• Involves representatives from various regions
• Discusses and decides on legal changes

Topic in NCERT: Three Organs of Government

Line in NCERT: "The legislature is the organ that makes new laws (or 'legislates')."

In India, the government operates at three levels:

• Local Government: This level is closest to the community, addressing local issues such as garbage collection, street cleaning, and park maintenance in towns or villages.
• State Government: This level manages broader issues affecting the state, including health, education, and transport.
• Central Government: The highest level, responsible for national matters such as defence, foreign affairs, and large infrastructure projects.

These three levels of government collaborate to address various problems according to their scale and impact.

Topic in NCERT: Democracy

Line in NCERT: "The Indian government functions at three levels — Centre or national, State and local."

Grassroots democracy is a system that enables and encourages ordinary citizens to participate in decision-making processes. This approach ensures that the voices of the people are heard and considered in matters that affect their lives. It promotes greater involvement and engagement at the local level.

Key features include:

• Encouragement of citizen participation in political processes.
• Increased accountability of leaders to the community.
• Empowerment of individuals to influence decisions that impact them.

Grassroots movements have played a crucial role in various social and political changes throughout history, such as the civil rights movement in the United States.

Topic in NCERT: Democracy

Line in NCERT: "The term grassroots democracy refers to a system that enables and encourages the participation of ordinary citizens."

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is often called "The Missile Man of India" due to his vital contributions to India's missile development programme. His significant work in enhancing the country's space and nuclear capabilities helped him earn this title. Despite his numerous achievements, he remained humble and passionate about education.

He served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.

• Known for his role in India's missile programme.
• Contributed to the space programme and nuclear capabilities.
• Renowned for his humility and dedication to education.

Topic in NCERT: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Line in NCERT: "nicknamed the 'Missile Man of India' for his crucial role in the development of India's space programme, missile programme and nuclear capabilities."

The word "democracy" comes from two Greek words: "demos", meaning "people", and "kratos", meaning "rule" or "power". So, democracy literally means "rule of the people". In a democracy, the people have the power to make decisions, often by voting for their representatives who make laws and policies on their behalf.