The State, the Government, and You Class 7 Questions and Answers Social Science Part 2 Chapter 6

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The State, the Government, and You Questions and Answers Class 7 SST Part 2 Chapter 6

The State, the Government, and You Class 7 Question Answer (In-Text)

The Big Questions (Page 143)

Question 1.
What is the difference between a state and a government?
Answer:
The difference between a state and a government is as following:

State	Government
1. It is a permanent body that continues even when governments change. Example: India remains the same state regardless of which party rules.	1. It is a temporary body that changes through elections or political shifts. Example: Government changed in 2014 when a new party came to power.
2. It is a broader concept that includes government itself, population, territory, sovereignty, and all institutions. Example: The Indian state includes all people, territory, Constitution, and institutions	2. It is a narrower concept like the group of people who run the administration. Example: The Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, and officials form the government.
3. It holds sovereign power to make and enforce laws for the whole country. Example: Only the Indian state has the authority under the Constitution to create national laws.	3. It exercises power on behalf of the state by making policies and implementing laws. Example: Government implements schemes like, NEP 2020 or Swachh Bharat.

Question 2.
What is the difference between a democracy and a republic? What makes India a democratic republic?
Answer:
The difference between a democracy and a republic is as follows:

Democracy	Republic
1. People elect the government and participate in decision-making.	1. The head of State is elected, not hereditary (no king/queen).
2. Majority rule exists and leaders act according to the will of the people. Example: India, Britain	2. Rule of law and Constitution limit power and protect citizens’ rights. Example: India

The following points make India a democratic republic:

• People elect their leaders, from local bodies to the Parliament – this makes India a democracy.
• The President is an indirectly elected head of state, not a hereditary monarch.
• The Constitution is supreme, guaranteeing rights, equality, and justice for all citizens, and ensuring that leaders rule according to law.

Question 3.
How do citizens engage with the government in day-to-day life? How can one make government work for the people?
Answer:
Citizens engage with the government in day-to-day life in various ways:

• Using public services like schools, hospitals, transport, water supply, and electricity.
• Contacting local authorities such as ward councillors, panchayat leaders, or government offices to solve issues.
• Using print, electronic and social media to express concerns, report problems, and highlight public issues that need government attention.

People can make the government work for them in the following ways:

(a) At the central government level, mechanisms like CPGRAMS (Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System) allow citizens to report corruption and service-related issues through a digital platform, ensuring quicker government action.

(b) The Right to Information Act (RTI): This Act allows citizens to ask the government for details about its policies, decisions, and actions of public interest. People can request information such as money spent on local projects, beneficiary lists of schemes, or the progress of public works like roads or metro lines. Government officials are legally required to provide this information.

(c) Print, electronic, and social media are powerful tools to raise issues that need government action, often resulting in quicker responses as many officials actively monitor platforms like YouTube, X, Facebook, and Instagram.

(d) Civil society groups and NGOs working on issues like education, health, environment, or women’s empowerment allow citizens to participate actively and collectively push the government to address important public concerns.

(e) Citizens can write to local representatives, MLAs, MPs, or ministers to urge them to take action on important issues.

(f) Through voting, people can elect good candidates and reject those who do not work in the public interest.

Let’s Explore

Question 1.
We learned about democratic, monarchic, theocratic, dictatorial, and oligarchic forms of government, and how they function differently. Can you recount some of the differences? (Page 144)
Answer:
There are different types of government in different parts of the world. Each system differs in how leaders are chosen, how decisions are made, and how much freedom people enjoy.
Forms of Government
(a) Democratic Government

• People elect their leaders through free and fair elections.
• Citizens enjoy rights, participation, and accountability.
  Example: India (also USA, Germany).

(b) Monarchic Government

• A king or queen is the head of state.
• Power is usually hereditary, passed within a royal family.
  Example: Saudi Arabia.

(c) Theocratic Government

• Religious leaders hold political authority.
• Laws are based on religious scriptures and doctrines.
  Example: Iran (Islamic theocracy).

(d) Dictatorial Government

• Power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler.
• No political freedoms; opposition is suppressed.
  Example: North Korea.

(e) Oligarchic Government

• A small group of wealthy or powerful people control the state.
• Decisions serve the interests of this small ruling group.
  Example: Russia is often described as having oligarchic tendencies.

Question 2.
(a) Do you remember this image from Grade 6, Chapter 10? It represents the three tiers of Government in India.
(b) Why do we have these levels of Government in India?
(c) Can’t we have just one level to do fulfil all the functions? Let us explore this further. (Page 161)

Answer:
(a) Yes, I remember this image. India has three levels of government: Central, State, and Local.
(b) India has a system of multiple levels of government to ensure that power is shared, governance is effective, and the needs of citizens at both, local and national levels are addressed:

• One level of government may lead to over-concentration of power, fail to do justice to all regions, and could even become dictatorial in nature.
• Local problems need local solutions, so issues like water, sanitation, and roads must be handled by local and state governments-not only by the central government.
• India is too large and diverse for a single government to manage the needs of all states, regions, languages, and communities.
• Sharing power prevents misuse and strengthens democracy, ensuring that all levels work together and no single authority becomes too powerful.

(c) No, we cannot have just one level of government to fulfil all the functions because the country is geographically very large, consisting of more than 140 crore people, thousands of towns and villages, one single government cannot understand or manage the needs of every region.
Sharing power among different levels of government makes administration efficient and strengthens democracy.

Let’s Explore

Question 1.
Make lists of different government departments you are familiar with, or whose names you may have seen on boards around your home or on your way to school. What functions do you think they perform? (Page 148)
Answer:

Question 2.
Collect editorials from a few newspapers. Read them in small groups. Identify the topics on which they have opinions. How many are about government policies? (Page 160)
Answer:


All these images are of cuttings from newspapers regarding government policies:

• Image 1 of The Hindustan Times is regarding Foreign Policy.
• Image 2 of The Hindustan Times is regarding Economic Policy.
• Image 3 of The Times of India is regarding Nuclear Power Policy.

Question 3.
What might be the reasons that decisions regarding local concerns should be taken locally to the extent possible? (Page 162)
Answer:
The decisions regarding local concerns should be taken locally to the extent possible because people in nearby areas are more aware of the needs, problems, and issues. Local matters can be solved better with the involvement of common people since they understand the problems, possible solutions, and available resources.

People know about issues like water shortage, broken roads, or cleanliness better than officials far away, so their decisions are more suitable. Local governments can act faster because they are nearby, which helps solve problems quickly without waiting for higher authorities. This also strengthens democracy as it allows greater participation of people in decision making.

Question 4.
It has been more than 75 years since India became a republic. During this time, we have had many governments at the national, state and local levels. Many policies and programs have been designed and implemented. We have come a long way by increasing literacy of our people, improving roads, trains, and airports, and strengthening communication systems such as the telephone and the internet. But we still have a long way to go in addressing India’s challenges. Have a class discussion on the following: (Page 165)

(a) List five major achievements of our country in improving the lives of ordinary people in your village, town or city. Which level of government made this possible and how?
Answer:
Five major achievements of our country in improving the lives of ordinary people in villages, towns or cities are:

• Better roads and transport: Local and state governments built and maintained roads, improving daily travel.
• Clean drinking water: Municipal bodies set up water supply systems and pipelines.
• Electricity for all: Central and state governments expanded power networks to every home.
• Improved healthcare: Government hospitals and health centres were strengthened by state and central schemes.
• Schools and scholarships: State and central governments opened schools and provided support to make education accessible. Each achievement became possible through coordinated work between local, state, and central governments, depending on the service.

(b) List five problems that ordinary people face frequently. At which level of government should these be addressed and how?
Answer:
Five Problems that ordinary people face frequently and the way they can be addressed are:
(a) Drinking Water Problem
Level of Government: Local Government (Municipality)
How: Promote rainwater harvesting, ensure proper pipelines, install Water ATMs in markets, repair leaking pipes, and maintain regular water supply.

(b) Issue of Garbage
Level of Government: Local Government (Municipality)
How: Raise public awareness, employ more sanitation workers, improve waste collection vehicles, and impose strict penalties for littering.

(c) Traffic Jams
Level of Government: Local Government and State Traffic Police
How: Raise awareness about road safety, improve traffic signals, upgrade and expand public transport, introduce measures like odd-even, build flyovers, and deploy traffic police at busy junctions.

(d) Women’s Safety
Level of Government: State Government (Police Department)
How: Increase police patrolling, install CCTV cameras, set up women helplines, and ensure quick emergency response.

(e) High Pollution Levels (Air & Noise Pollution)
Level of Government: State Government and Central Government
How: Enforce pollution control laws, check industries and vehicles, monitor air quality, and plant more trees to improve the environment.

Think About It

Question 1.
(a) If a streetlamp in your neighbourhood is broken, who would you contact to fix it?
Answer:
If a streetlamp is broken in our neighbourhood, we should contact the local officials or elected representatives of the Municipal Corporation/Municipality, such as the local ward councillor. In cities and towns, services like street lighting, drainage, garbage collection, and park maintenance are handled by the Urban Local Government and in villages it is handled by the Gram Panchayat.

(b) If a village road needs to be repaired, would the local people reach out to the Central Government? (Page 162)
Answer:
If a village road needs to be repaired, the villagers should approach the Mukhiya/ Pradhan or other leaders of the Gram Panchayat, Block or Zila Parishad, depending on which level is responsible for that road. Village roads fall under the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), which make up the local rural government.

If the villagers feel that their grievance is not being heard, by the village panchayat, then they can approach higher authorities like Block or Zila Parishad or the state government.

If the grievance is not heard, even after approaching higher authorities, the villagers can approach the MP of their area or the concerned central government ministry.

The State, the Government, and You Class 7 Solutions (Exercise)

Question 1.
“Every democracy is a republic.” Is this statement true or false? Explain.
Answer:
The statement “Every democracy is a republic” is false. A democracy is a system of government where people elect their leaders and participate in decision-making. However, a republic is a type of government where the head of state is elected (directly or indirectly) and not a hereditary monarch.

In a republic, constitutional limits on the powers of rulers to prevent misuse of authority. This means that while a country can be both a democracy and a republic, not all democracies are republics. For example, India and the U.S.A. are both democracies and republics because their heads of state are elected. But countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Sweden are democracies but are not republics, as they still have a king or queen as the head of state. Therefore while every republic is a democracy, not every democracy is necessarily a republic.

Question 2.
Give two reasons why decentralisation is important in India.
Answer:
Decentralisation is important in India for the following reasons:
(a) India is extremely large and diverse country. There are 28 states, 8 Union Territories, 140+ crore people, and hundreds of languages and cultures, one single government cannot handle all needs. Local governments understand local issues better and can provide faster, more suitable solutions.

(b) Decentralisation increases people’s participation in democracy through Panchayats and Municipalities, more than 30 lakh local representatives participate in governance. This allows people to directly influence decisions that affect their daily lives.

Question 3.
Imagine you are part of your school’s student council. The council works like a mini-parliament – it has members elected by students, debates issues and makes decisions.
(a) In this context, do you think it would be better if only the council president makes all the decisions or if power is to be shared among all members?
Answer:
If only the president decides everything, it may lead to unfair or one-sided decisions. It is better if power is shared among all members of the student council. When everyone participates, decisions become more fairer and represent the ideas of all students.

(b) Should the student council have the power to make rules about the food you eat, or the language you speak?
Answer:
No, the student council should not make rules about the food students eat or the language they speak. These are personal choices and should be respected. Such matters should be left to individual students because food habits are influenced by culture and the diversity of the population. Democracy gives everyone the freedom to choose, and respecting these choices is an important part of a democratic structure. Even linguistic diversity is the spirit of our country, and everyone should have the freedom to speak the language they are comfortable with.

(c) What can go wrong if the student council is the most powerful body in your school and no one questions its decisions?
Answer:
A school is an example of minidemocracy and diversity, where students from different backgrounds, cutting across caste, religion, and region-come together. If the student council becomes too powerful and no one questions it, several things can go wrong.

It may make unfair rules that favour only a few students, ignore the needs and opinions of others. Without checks and balances, such decisions can become harmful or biased. Therefore, it is important that power is shared and the decisions of the council are questioned and balanced to protect fairness and equality for all students.

Question 4.
Think about these real-life situations in relation to India’s democracy:
(a) Should the Parliament be the most powerful institution in the country? Why or why not?
Answer:
Parliament represents the will of the people through elected representatives, so it should hold significant power in making laws that address public needs. However, it cannot be all-powerful. Its authority must operate within the limits set by the Constitution. The judiciary acts as a check to ensure that Parliament does not misuse its powers. Therefore, maintaining a balance of power among institutions is essential for a healthy democracy.

(b) Should the Parliament have the power to make any law it wants, even if it affects your rights?
Answer:
No, Parliament should not have unlimited power to make any law it wants. It is one of the organs of the government and must function under the guidance of the Constitution and the principle of separation of powers. At the same time, Parliament has been given the authority to work for the welfare of the people, so any law it makes should aim at the overall benefit and wellbeing of society.

(c) What could go wrong if lawmaking has no limits? Can it lead to unfair or unjust laws?
Answer:
If lawmakers have no limits, several serious problems can arise. They may make laws that favour one group while ignoring or harming others. Such unrestricted power can also lead to laws that take away important freedoms, like the right to speech or equality. Leaders may misuse their authority and create a dictatorship-like situation, causing citizens to lose trust in the government.

The same group may continue to hold power, preventing others from participating in the decision-making process. In addition, corruption and malpractices may increase, creating instability in society.

(d) Who is more powerful in India, the Parliament or the Supreme Court? Give your reasons.
Answer:
Neither the Parliament nor the Supreme Court is absolutely more powerful. They are important parts of the government and function according to the principle of separation of powers. Each institution has a distinct role and acts as a check on the other wings of the government.

• Parliament has been given the power to make laws for the country.
• The Supreme Court can review those laws and strike them down if they violate the Constitution.
• The Constitution is the highest authority, and both Parliament and the Supreme Court must follow it.

Question 5.
Ask your parents/guardians how they engaged with the government over the past year. Make a list and classify the items based on the level of government they had to work with. What challenges did they face?
Answer:
In a democracy like India, citizens interact with different levels of government for various everyday needs and services. Some works are done efficiently but most of the times people have to face many challenges.

Central Government: My parents interacted with the central government for services such as updating Aadhaar details, applying for a passport, using the banking system, and other related tasks. While some processes were convenient, they also faced challenges such as technical issues on online portals, long waiting times at Aadhaar centres, slow and inefficient banking procedures, and confusion about the required documents.

State Government: With the state government, my parents engaged in tasks such as making and renewing a driving licence at the RTO, getting a new electricity connection for our new house, school admissions, and other related services. The difficulties they encountered included long queues, repeated visits due to incomplete paperwork, and delays in receiving approvals or corrections.

Local Government: At the local level, my parents dealt with responsibilities such as paying property tax, obtaining a birth certificate, managing garbage collection, and requesting sanitation services. Challenges at this level included slow responses from municipal departments, lack of clear information, and delays in resolving complaints.

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