SHARDA GLOBAL SCHOOL
CLASS- IX
SUBJECT- CIVICS
CHAPTER- WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS
REVISION QUESTION AND ANSWERS
1. On August 13, 1990, the Government of India issued an Order. What was it called?
Ans. On August 13, 1990, the Government of India issued an Order. It was called an Office
Memorandum.
2. What is the full form of SEBC? What is it?
Ans. Full form of SEBC- Socially and Educationally Backward Classes. SEBC is another name for
all those people who belong to castes that are considered backward by the government.
3. Who is the head of the State and is also the highest formal authority in the country?
Ans. President of India.
4. Who is the head of the Government and actually exercises all the governmental powers
and also takes most of the decisions in cabinet meetings?
Ans. Prime Minister of India.
5. Parliament consists of the President and two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The
Prime Minister must have the support of a majority of Lok Sabha members. State weather
true or false.
Ans. True.
6. The Prime Minister must have the support of majority of members of which house of the
Parliament?
Ans. Lok Sabha.
7. Give a detailed description of the Mandal Commission.
Ans.
The Mandal Commission was also known as the Second Backward Classes Commission.
The Government of India had appointed the Second Backward Classes Commission in 1979.
It was headed by Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal. Hence it was popularly called the Mandal
Commission.
The task given to the Mandal Commission was to determine the criteria to identify the
socially and educationally backward classes in India and recommend steps to be taken for
their advancement.
The Mandal Commission gave its report in 1980.
An important recommendation made in the report was that 27 per cent of government jobs
be reserved for the socially and educationally backward classes.
8. In the Lok Sabha Election of 1989 which political party had promised that if voted to power
it would implement the Mandal Commission Report?
Ans. Janata Dal.
9. Who became the Prime Minister after the 1989 Lok Sabha Elections?
Ans. Vishwanath Pratap Singh.
10. When did the Union Cabinet take a formal decision to implement the recommendation of
the Mandal Commision?
Ans. 6th August, 1990.
11. Write a short note on ‘Indira Sawhney and others Vs Union of India’ case.
Ans.
Eleven judges of the Supreme Court heard arguments of both sides.
By a majority, the Supreme Court judges in 1992 declared that this order of the
Government of India was valid.
At the same time the Supreme Court asked the government to modify its original order.
It said that well-todo persons among the backward classes should be excluded from getting
the benefit of reservation.
Accordingly, the Department of Personnel and Training issued another Office Memorandum
on 8 September 1993. The dispute thus came to an end and this policy has been followed since
then.
12. Define ‘Parliament’ and ‘Legislative Assembly’.
Ans. In all democracies, an assembly of elected representatives exercises supreme political
authority on behalf of the people. In India such a national assembly of elected representatives
is called Parliament. At the state level this is called Legislature or Legislative Assembly.
13. ‘The Parliament exercises political authority on behalf of the people in many ways.’
Explain the statement.
Ans.
Parliament is the final authority for making laws in any country.
Parliaments all over the world exercise some control over those who run the government.
Parliaments control all the money that governments have. In most countries the public
money can be spent only when Parliament sanctions it.
Parliament is the highest forum of discussion and debate on public issues and national
policy in any country.
14. Highlight the differences between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Ans.
LOK SABHA RAJYA SABHA
Lower house of the Indian Parliament. Upper house of the Indian Parliament.
Also known as House of People. Also known as Council of States.
Its current membership strength is 543. Its current membership strength is 245.
The President does not make any nomination 12 members are are nominated by the
as he/she does in the Rajya Sabha. President for six-years term for their
contributions towards arts, literature,
sciences, and social services.
The Lok Sabha should consist of not more The Rajya Sabha should consist of not more
than 550 members according to the Indian than 250 members according to the Indian
Constitution. Constitution.
It is not a permanent house and it can be It is a permanent house and can never be
dissolved. dissolved.
The tenure of a member of Lok Sabha is 5 The tenure of a member of Rajya Sabha is 6
years (but if the Lok Sabha is dissolved before years.
the expiration of 5 year term then the
member will have to quit).
Its members are elected directly. Its members are elected indirectly.
Its member must be at least 25 years old. Its member must be at least 30 years old.
No confidence motion against the No confidence motion cannot be passed in
government can be passed only in Lok Saha. the Rajya Sabha.
Money bill can be introduced only in Lok Money bill cannot be introduced in Rajya
Sabha. Sabha.
The Council of Ministers is collectively The Council of Ministers is not responsible to
responsible to Lok Sabha. the Rajya Sabha.
The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok The Vice President of India is the ex-
Sabha. officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who
presides over its sessions. The Deputy
Chairman, who is elected from amongst the
house's members, takes care of the day-to-
day matters of the house in the absence of
the Chairman.
15. ‘On most matters the Lok Sabha exercises supreme power over the Rajya Sabha’. Explain.
Ans.
16. For how long can the Rajya Sabha delay the money bill.
Ans. 14 days.
17. Difference between ‘Political Executive’ and ‘Permanent Executive’.
Ans.
18. Which house of the Indian Parliament has the power to issue ‘No-confidence Motion’?
Ans. Lok Sabha.
19. Discuss the structure of ‘Council of Ministers’.
Ans.
20. Why parliamentary democracy in most countries is often known as the Cabinet form of
government?
Ans. Since it is not practical for all ministers to meet regularly and discuss everything, the
decisions are taken in Cabinet meetings. That is why parliamentary democracy in most
countries is often known as the Cabinet form of government.
21. Briefly explain the functioning of a Ministry.
Ans. Every ministry has secretaries, who are civil servants. The secretaries provide the
necessary background information to the ministers to take decisions. The Cabinet as a team is
assisted by the Cabinet Secretariat. This includes many senior civil servants who try to
coordinate the working of different ministries.
22. Discuss the powers of the Prime Minister.
Ans. As head of the government, the Prime Minister has wide ranging powers-
She/he chairs Cabinet meetings.
She/he coordinates the work of different Departments.
His/her decisions are final in case disagreements arise between Departments.
She/he exercises general supervision of different ministries.
All ministers work under his/her leadership.
The Prime Minister distributes and redistributes work to the ministers.
She/he also has the power to dismiss ministers.
When the Prime Minister quits, the entire ministry quits.
23. Name the first Prime Minister of India.
Ans. Jawaharlal Nehru
24. Full form MLA and MP.
Ans.
MLA- Member of Legislative Assembly.
MP- Member of Parliament
25. Briefly discuss about the election of the ‘President of India’.
OR
What ensures that the President of India remains only a nominal executive?
Ans. The President is not elected directly by the people. The elected Members of Parliament
(MPs) and the elected Members of the Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) elect her. A candidate
standing for President’s post has to get a majority of votes to win the election. This ensures
that the President can be seen to represent the entire nation. At the same time the President
can never claim the kind of direct popular mandate that the Prime Minister can. This ensures
that she remains only a nominal executive.
26. Give few examples of the major appointments made by the President of India.
Ans.
Chief Justice of India,
Judges of the Supreme Court,
Judges of the High Courts,
Governors of the states,
Election Commissioners,
Ambassadors to other countries
27. Who is the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces of India?
Ans. President of India.
28. ‘The President has limited powers in the decision making’. Explain.
Ans.
This proves that the President has limited powers in decision making.
29. When can the President exercise his/her discretion?
OR
Discuss the ‘discretionary powers of the President’.
Ans. When no party or coalition gets a majority in the Lok Sabha, the President exercises her
discretion. The President appoints a leader who in her opinion can muster majority support in
the Lok Sabha. In such a case, the President can ask the newly appointed Prime Minister to
prove majority support in the Lok Sabha within a specified time.
30. Who appoints the ‘Prime Minister of India’?
Ans. President of India. (The President, has to appoint the leader of the majority party or the
coalition that enjoys majority support in the Lok Sabha.)
31. Define ‘Judiciary’.
Ans. All the courts at different levels in a country put together are called the judiciary.
32. Discuss the structure of ‘Indian Judiciary’.
Ans. The Indian judiciary consists of a Supreme Court for the entire nation, High Courts in the
states, District Courts and the courts at local level.
33. ‘India has an integrated judiciary.’ Explain.
Ans.
34. What are the different types of disputes that the Judiciary can take up?
Ans.
35. Which is the highest court of appeal in civil and criminal cases?
Ans. Supreme Court.
36. Which Court can hear appeals against the decisions of the High Courts?
Ans. Supreme Court.
37. What is meant by ‘Independence of Judiciary’?
Ans.
38. Who appoints the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts? What happens in
practice?
Ans. The judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts are appointed by the President on
the advice of the Prime Minister and in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court. In practice it now means that the senior judges of the Supreme Court select the new
judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts. The senior most judge of the Supreme Court
is usually appointed the Chief Justice.
39. Who is usually appointed the Chief Justice of India?
Ans. The senior most judge of the Supreme Court is usually appointed the Chief Justice.
40. What is the process for the removal of the Judge of the Supreme Court and the High
Courts? Has it ever happened?
Ans. A judge can be removed only by an impeachment motion passed separately by two-thirds
members of the two Houses of the Parliament. It has never happened in the history of Indian
democracy.
41. Who has the power to interpret the Constitution of the country?
Ans. The Supreme Court and the High Courts have the power to interpret the Constitution of
the country.
42. Write in detail about ‘Judicial Review’. (for 5 marks question)
Ans.
43. Define ‘Judicial Review’. (for 1 mark question)
Ans. Judicial review is a process under which executive or legislative actions are subject to
review by the judiciary.
44. Write a note on ‘Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
Ans. In recent years the Courts have given several judgments and directives to protect public
interest and human rights. Any one can approach the courts if public interest is hurt by the
actions of government. This is called ‘Public Interest Litigation (PIL)’.
45. ‘Judiciary enjoys a high level of confidence among the people in India.’ Give reasons.
Ans.
The powers and the independence of the Indian Judiciary allow it to act as the guardian of
the Fundamental Rights of the citizens.
The Judiciary intervene to prevent the misuse of the government’s power to make
decisions.
The Judiciary checks the malpractices on the part of public officials.
