People As Resource- class 9 (economics)

CHAPTER-2

                     PEOPLE AS RESOURCE

Q1. Define the following:

(i) Human capital- Human capital is the stock of skill and productive knowledge embedded in them.

(ii) Human capital formation- When the existing ‘human resource’ is further developed by becoming more educated and healthy, we call it ‘human capital formation’.

Q2. What do you understand by ‘people as a resource’?

Ans. ‘People as resource’ is a way of referring to a country’s working people terms of their existing productive skills and abilities.

Q3. How do we make investments in human capital? What is its use?

Ans. Investment in human capital (through education, training, medical care) yields a return just like investment in physical capital. This can be seen directly in the form of higher incomes earned because of higher productivity of the move educated or the better trained persons, as well as higher productivity of healthier people.

Q4. How is human capital superior than other resources?

Ans. Human capital is in one way superior to other resources like land and physical capital. Haman resource can use of land and capital. Land and capital cannot become useful on its own.

Q5. Explain how can population in a country can be converted from our liability to an asset?

Ans. Liability can be turned into a productive asset by investment in human capital (for example, by spending resources on education and health for all, training of industrial and agricultural workers in the use of modern technology, useful scientific researches and so on.

Q6. How is the child of an educated parent different from that of an uneducated parents? Or

Why do educated parents invest more heavily on the education and medical care of their children?

Ans. 1) Educated parents are found to invest more heavily on the education of their child.

2) This is because they have realised the importance of education for themselves.

3) They are also conscious of proper nutrition and hygiene.

4) They accordingly look after their children’s needs for education at school and good health.

5) A virtuous cycle is thus created in this case. In contrast, the vicious cycle may be disadvantaged parents who, themselves uneducated and locking in hygiene.

 Keep their children in the similarly disadvantaged state.  

Q7. Justify with the example of Japan the importance of investment in human resource?

Ans. 1) Countries like Japan have invested in human resource. They did not have any natural resource.

2) These countries are developed/rich countries. They import the natural resource needed in their country.

3) They have invested on people especially in the field of education and health.

4) These people have made efficient use of other resource like land and capital.

5) Efficiency and the technology evolved by people have made these countries rich/developed.

Q8. Name the 3 factors into which all the activities are classified. Write examples of each. Or

Mention the 3 types of economic activities with 2-2 examples of each.

Ans. The various activities have been classified into 3 main sectors:

1) Primary

2) Secondary

3) Tertiary

2 examples of each:

1) Primary sector includes agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishing, poultry farming, mining and quarrying.

2) Manufacturing is included in the secondary sector.

3) Trade, transport, communication, banking, education, health, tourism, services, insurance etc. are included in the tertiary services.

Q9. Explain the historical division of labour between men and women.

Ans. 1) Due to historical and cultural reasons there is a division of labour between men and women in the family.

2) Women generally look after domestic chores and men work in the fields.

3) Women are not paid for their service delivered in the family whereas men are paid for their work.

Q10. How is the condition of women working in an unorganised sector different from those working in organised sector?

Ans. Women working in an unorganised sector

Women are paid low compared to men. Most women work where job security is not there. Various activities relating to legal protection is meagre. Employment in this sector is characterised by irregular and low income. In this sector there is an absence of basic facilities like maternity leave, childcare and other social security systems.

Women working in an organised sector

Women with high education and skill formation are paid at par with the men. Among the organised sector, teaching and medicine attract them the most. Some women have entered administrative and other services including job, that need high levels of scientific and technological competence.

Q11. What are the 3 factors on which the quality of population depends? What is the main importance of finding the quality of population?

Ans. 1) The quality of population depends upon the literacy rate, health of a person indicated by life expectancy and skill formation acquired by the people of the country.

2) Illiterate and unhealthy population are the liability for the economy. Literate and healthy people population are an asset.

Q12. What steps have been taken by the government to improve the education status of our country?

Ans. 1) There is a provision made for providing universal access, retention and quality in elementary education with a special emphasis on girls.

2) There is also an establishment of pace setting of schools like Navodaya Vidalia in each district.

3) Vocational streams have been developed to equip large number of high school students with occupations related to knowledge and skills.

4) The plan outlay on education has increased from Rs151 crore in the first plan to Rs3766.90 in the eleventh plan.

Q13. What are the results of the measures taken by the government to improve the level of people of India?

Ans. 1) The literacy rates have increased from 18% in 1951 to 74% in 2010-11.

2) Literacy among males in nearly 16.6% higher than females and it is about 16.1% higher in urban areas as compared to the rural areas.

3) Literacy rates vary from 93.9% in Kerala to 63% in Bihar.

4) The Primary school system has expanded to over 7.68 lakhs in 2004-05.

Q14. Write the short note on Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

Ans. 1) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is a significant step towards providing elementary education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years by 2010.

2) It is the time bound initiator of the central government, in partnership with the states, the local government and the community for achieving the goal of universalisation of elementary education.

3) Along with it, bridge courses and back-to-school camps have been initiated to increase the enrolment in elementary education.

4) Mid-day meal scheme has been implemented to encourage attendance and retention of children and improve their nutritional status.

Q15. State the main features of eleventh year plan. Or

What provisions are given in the 11^th year plan for increasing the literacy rates of our country?

Ans. 1) The 11^th plan endeawared to increase the enrolment in higher education of 18-23 years age group to 15% by 2011-12.

2) The strategy focuses on increasing access, quality, adoption of states-specific curriculum modification and vocationalisation and networking on the use of information technology.

3) The plan also focuses distant education, convergence of formal, non-formal distant and IT education institutions.

Q16. Write a short note on national policy 2002.

Ans. 1) Our national policy, too aims at improving the accessibility of health care, family welfare and nutritional services with the special focus or the under privileged segment of population.

2) Over the last 5 decades India has built up a last health infrastructure and has developed man power required at primary, secondary and tertiary sector in government as well as in the private sector.

Q17. Examine the result of the measures taken by the government to improve the health status of the country?

Ans. 1) These measures adopted have increased the life expectancy to over 65 years in 2011.

2) Infant mortality rate (IMR) has come down from 147 in 1951 to 47 in 2010.

3) Crude birth rates have dropped to 22.1 and death rates to 7 within the same duration of time.

4) Increase in life expectancy and improvement in child care are useful in assessing the future progress of the country.

Q18. Define the following:

i) Infant Mortality rate- Infant mortality rate is the death of the child under 1 year of age.

ii) Birth rate- Birth rate is the no. of babies born there for every 1000 people during a particular period of time.

iii) Death rate- Death rate is the number of people per 1000 who die during a particular period of time.

Q19. Define unemployment.

Ans. Unemployment is said to exists when people who are willing to work at the going wages cannot find jobs.

Q20. Explain 2 types of employment in rural areas.

Ans. In cases of rural areas, there are 2 types of unemployment:

i) Seasonal unemployment

ii) Disguised unemployment

SEASONAL UNEMPLOYMENT

1) Seasonal unemployment happens when people are not able to find jobs during some months of the year.

2) People dependent upon agriculture usually face such kind of problem.

Disguised Unemployment

1) In case of disguised unemployment people appear to be employed.

2) They have agricultural plot where they find work.

3) This usually happens among family members engaged in agricultural society.

4) The work requires the service of 5 people but engages 8 people. 3 people are extra.

Q21. Write a note on educated unemployed in India. Or

What type of unemployment can be seen in urban areas in India?

Ans. 1) In case of urban areas educated unemployment has become a common phenomenon.

Many youth with matriculation, graduation and post-graduation degrees are not able to find job.

2) A paradoxical manpower situation is witnessed as surplus of manpower in certain categories coexist with shortage of manpower in others.

3) There is unemployment among technically qualified person on one hand, while there is a dearth of technical skills required for economic growth.

Q22. What are the ill-effects of unemployment on the individual as well as on the country as the whole? Or

What are the consequences of unemployment? Or

‘Hence unemployment has detrimental impact on the overall growth of an economy.’ Explain. Or

‘Increase in unemployment is an indicator of the depressed economy.’ Explain.

Ans. 1) Unemployment leads to wastage of manpower resource.

2) People who are an asset for the economy turn into the liability.

3) There is the feeling of hopelessness and despair among the youth.

4) People do not have enough money to support their family.

5) Unemployment tends to increase economic overload.

6) The dependence of the unemployed on the working population increase.

7) The quality of life of an individual as well as of society is adversely affected.

8) Hence, unemployment has detrimental impact on the overall growth of an economy.

9) Increase in unemployment is an indicator of a depressed economy.

Q23. Explain, ‘In case of India, the unemployment rate is low.’

Ans. 1) A large number of people represented with low income and productivity are counted as employed.

2) They appear to work throughout the year but in terms of their potential and income, it is not adequate for them.

3) The work that they are pursuing seems forced upon them.

4) They may therefore want other work of their choice.

Q24. What types of employment can be seen in primary sector in India and why?

Ans. 1) The employment structure is characterised by self-employment in the primary sector.

2) The whole family contributes in the field even though not everybody is really needed.

3) So, there is disguised unemployment in the agriculture sector.

4) This concept of sharing of work in the field and the produce raised reduces the hardship of unemployment in the rural sector.

5) But this does not reduce the poverty of the family.

Q25. Discuss the unemployment scenario in 3 sectors of Indian economy.

Ans. 1) Agriculture is the most labour absorbing sector of the economy. In recent years, there has been a decline in the dependence of population on agriculture partly because of disguised unemployment.

2) Some of the surplus labour in agriculture has moved to either the secondary or the tertiary sector.

3) In the secondary sector, small scale manufacturing is the most labour absorbing.

4) In case of the tertiary sector, various new services are now appearing like biotechnology, information technology and so on.

Q26. What is the role of health in human capital formation?

Ans. 1) Healthier people have higher productivity because the health of the person helps in to realise his potential and the ability to fight illness.

2) An unhealthy person becomes a liability for an organisation.

3) Health improves the quality of life. A healthy person can do his work properly and efficiently.

4) Good health helps the individual to earn more because he can work regularly without any break or leave.

5) Healthy people are productive asset. Their productivity adds to the growth of the economy.

Q27. What is the role of education in human capital formation?

Ans. 1) Educated people earn more than the educated.

2) Literate population is an asset. It leads to higher productivity.

3) It opens new horizon for the person.

4) It provides new aspirations and develop values of life.

5) Education contributes towards the growth of society. It enhances the national income, cultural richness and increased the efficiency of governance.

    

        

Federalism - Class 10th - pol.science

                                                            Chapter-2

Federalism

Q1. Explain the meaning of federalism.

Ans. a) Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between central authority and various constituent units of the country.

b) A federation 2 levels of government.

c) One is the government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few common subjects of common national interest.

d) The others are government at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day to day administering of their state.

e) Both these levels of governments enjoy their power independent of the other.

Q2. Distinguish between a unitary and federal government.

Ans. a) Unitary government-  i. Under the unitary system, either there is only 1 level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central government.

ii. The central government can pass orders to the provincial or the local government.

b) Federal government-  i. In a federal government, the central govt. cannot order the state govt. to do something.

ii. State govt. has powers of its own for which it is not answerable to the central govt.

Q3. State the main features of federalism.

Ans. 1. There are 2 or more tiers of government.

2. Each tier has its own jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.

3. The existence and authority of each tier of government is constitutionally guaranteed.

4. The fundamental provisions of the constitution require the consent of both the levels of govt.

5. Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers to settle the disputes among different levels of govt.

6. Sources of revenue for each level of govt. are clearly specified to ensure its financial autonomy.

Q4. What are the dual objectives of the Federal system? What are their importances?

1.    The federal system has dual objectives: to safeguard and promote unity of the country while at the same time accommodates regional diversity. Therefore, two aspects are crucial for the institutions and practice of federalism.

2.    Governments at different levels should agree to some rules of power sharing. They should also trust that each would abide by its part of the agreement.

3.    An ideal federal system has both aspects: mutual trust and agreement to live together.

Q5.  Explain the two types of federal system?    or

Distinguish between holding together and coming together federations? or

“The exact balance of power between the central and state government varies from one federation to another “Explain?

                                                Or

Explain the 2 kinds of routes (or basis) through which federations have been formed, with examples.

Ans.  Holding Together – 1) In a holding together federations a large country decides to divide its power between the constituent states and the national government.

2. For example India, Spain and Belgium.

3. In this federation, the central government tends to be more powerful vis a vis the states.

4. Some units are granted special powers.

Coming Together – 1) In a coming together federations it involves independent states come together on their own to form a bigger unit.

2) By pooling sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.

3) This type of coming together federations include the USA,SWITZERLAND, and AUSTRALIA.

4) In this first category of federations, all the constituent states usually have equal powers.

Q6. Explain the 3-fold distribution of legislature power between the Union and the State government as prescribed in the Constitution of India?

Ans. Union List – Union list includes subjects of national importance.

2. It includes defence of the country, foreign affairs,banking, communications and currency.

3. The Union Government alone can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the Union list.

2. State List –1) State list contains subjects of state and local importance.

2). It includes police,trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation.

3) The state government alone make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the state list.

3. Concurrent List – 1) Concurrent list includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as the State Government.

2) Example are education, forest, trade, unions,marriage,adoption, and succession.

3) Both the union as well as the state Government can make laws on the subjects mentioned in this list.

4). If their laws conflict with each other, the law made by the Union Government will prevail.

Q7. What are Residuary Subjects. Who has the powers to make laws on the residuary subjects?

Ans. All those subjects that came up after the constitution was made are called Residuary Subjects. For ex – Computer software. The Union Government has the power to make laws on this Residuary subjects.

Q8. What special provisions are given to states of Jammu and Kashmir in India? Or

Justify with example that all states in India don’t have identical powers?

Ans. Jammu and Kashmir has its own constitution.

2. Many provisions of the Indian constitution are not applicable to this state without the approval of the State Assembly.

3). Indian who are not permanent residents of this state cannot buy land and house there.

Q9. Why were Union territories created in India after Independence? Which government has the power to run these areas?

Ans. 1) There are some units of the Indian Union which enjoy very little power.

2) These are areas which are too small to become an independent state but which could not have merged with any of the existing states.

3) Foe ex. Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Pondicherry, and the capital city of Delhi etc.

4) The central government has special powers in running these areas.

Q10. How can we make changes in the power sharing arrangement between the union and states government in India?

 Ans. It is not easy to make changes to the power sharing arrangement between the Union and state government.

2) The parliament alone cannot make changes in this arrangement.

3)  Any changes to it has to be first passed by both the Houses of Parliament with at least two-third majority.

4) Then it has to be rectified by the legislatures of

Q11. Describe the role played by Judiciary in India?

Ans. 1. The judiciary plays an important role in overseeing the implementation of constitutional provisions and procedures.

2) In case of any dispute about the division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court make a decision.

Q12. What factors make India a federal country?  or

State the main features of Indian federalism?   or

Justify that India has a holding together federations?

Ans. 1. India is a federal country because in India government operates at three levels, a central government for the entire country a state government for each state and a local government for each region in a state.

2. The powers and functions of each level are clearly prescribed in the constitution of India under Union state and concurrent list.

3. India has a holding together federation where by the central government has more powers than the state government and some states in India enjoy privileges which other states do not have.

4. Any change in the power sharing arrangement between the central and the state government in India can only be made by the consent of 2/3rd majority in parliament and by the rectification of at least 50 percent states of India.

5. Any dispute in the power sharing arrangement between the central and the state government is settled by the supreme court, the highest court in India.

6. Sources of intervene of each level of government is clearly mentioned in the constitution of India.

Q13. “Constitutional provisions are necessary for the success of federation but are not sufficient “Justify?

Ans. 1. If the federal experiment has succeeded in India, it is not merely because of the clearly laid out constitutional provisions.

         2. The real success of federalism in India can be attributed to the nature of emocratic policies in our country.

         3. This ensured that the spirit of federalism, respect for diversity and desire for living together became shared ideals in our country.

Q14. What was the first and the major test for democratic politics that Indian federalism has to face? What was the result of this test?

Ans.1. The creation of linguistic states was the first and a major test for democratic politics in our country.

         2. When the demand for the formation of states on the basis of language was raised some national leaders eared that it would lead to the disintegration of the country. 

         3. The central govt. resisted linguistics states for some time. But the experience has shown that the formation of linguistic states has actually made the country, more united. It has also made administration easier.

Q15. What was the main criteria followed by the leaders for the formation of sates in India and why? Name 3 states which were not formed by using this criteria?

Ans. 1. The main criteria was language.

2. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the same state.

         3.  some states were created not on the basis of language but to recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.

         4. These include states like Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.

Q16. State the main features of the language policy of India.

Ans. 1. Our constitution did not give the status of national language to any 1 language.

        2. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the constitution.

       3. A candidate in an examination conducted for the central gov. positions may opt to take the examination in any of these languages.

      4. States too have their own official languages.

      5. Much of the govt. work takes place in the official language of the concerned state.

Q17. Example with example how the flexibility show by Indian leaders helped India to avoid civil war like Sri Lanka ?

Ans. Unlike Sri Lanka , the leaders of our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi .

2) According to the constitution, the use of English for official purpose was to stop in 1965.

3) Many non-Hindi speaking states demanded that the use of English must be continued .

4) In Tamil Nadu , this movement took a violent form.

5) The central government responded by arguing to continue the use of English along with Hindi for official purposes.

6) Thus the flexibility shown by Indian political leaders helped our country avoid civil wars as it happened in Sri Lanka.

 Q18. Explain why India undermine the spirit of federalism before 1991?

Ans. 1) For a long time after India’s independence the same party ruled both at the centre and in most of the states.

2) This meant that the state government did not exercise their rights as autonomous federal units.

3) As and when the same ruling party at the state level was different, the parties that ruled at the centre tried to undermine the power of the states.

4) The central government would often misuse the constitution to dismiss the state governments that were controlled by rival parties.

5) This undermined the spirit of federalism.

Q19. What changes came in Indian Federation after 1991?  or

“Federal power sharing in India is more effective today then it was in the early years after the constitution came into force”.Explain.

Ans. 1) The period after 1991 saw the rise of regional political parties in many states of the country.

2) This was also the beginning of the era of centre.

3) This led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the autonomy of state government.

4) This trend was supported by a major judgement of the supreme court that made it difficult to the central government to dismiss the government in an arbitrary  manner.

5) Thus, federal power sharing is more effective today then it was in the early years after the constitution came into forces.

Q20. What was the rationale need for decentralisation of powers in India?

Ans. 1) A vast country like India cannot be run only through the two-tires.

2) States in India are as large as independent countries of Europe.

3) In terms of populations, Uttar Pradesh is bigger than Russia, Maharashtra is about as big as Germany.

4) Many of these states are internally very diverse.

5) There is thus a need for power sharing within these states.

6) This is the rationale for decentralisation of power in India.

 Q21. What is decentralisation?

Ans. When power is taken away from central and state government and given to local government, it is called decentralisation.

Q22. Examine the need for local government in a country? Or

“Local government is the best way to realise the important principle of democracy namely local self government”. Explain

Ans. 1) The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a large number of problems and issues which are best settled at the local level.

2)People have better knowledge of problems in their localities.

3) They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage things more efficiently.

4) At the local level it is possible for the people to directly participate in decisions making which helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation.

Q23. Justify with 3 points that there was little decentralisation in India before 1992?

Ans. 1)During the early year of decentralisation, although Panchayats in villages and municipalities in urban areas were set up in all the states but these were directly under the control of state governments.

  2) Elections to these local governments were not held regularly.

3) Local governments did not have many powers or resources of their own.

4) Thus, there was very little decentralisation in effective terms.

Q24. How did the constitutional amendment of 1992 made the third tier (local government) more powerful and effective in India?

Ans. In 1992, the constitution was amended to make the third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.

2) Now it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.

3) Seats are reserved in the elected bodies and the executive heads of these institutions for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

4) At least one third of all positions are reserved for women.

5) An independent institution called the state election commission has been created in each state to conduct panchayat and municipal elections.

6) The state government are required to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies.

Q25. State the main features of local government bodies in rural areas. Or

Define the following OR 

Write a short note on:-

Ans. 1)GRAM PANCHAYAT – 1) Each village or a group of villages has a gram panchayat.

2) This is a council consisting of several wards members, often called panch, and a president or sarpanch.

3) They are directly elected by all the adult population living in that ward or village.

4) It is the direction making body for the entire village.

2) GRAM SABHA – 1) . It is the village parliament (legislature).

2) All the voters in the village are the members of Gram Sabha.

3) It has to meet at least twice or thrice in a year to approve the annual budget of the gram panchayat to review the performance of the gram panchayat.

3) PANCHAYAT SAMITI – 1) A few gram panchayats are grouped together to form a panchayat samiti or block or mandal.

2) The members of this representative body are elected by all the panchayat members in that area.

4) ZILA PARISHAD – 1) All the panchayat samitis or mandals in a district together constitute the zilla (district) parishad.

2) Members of the theLok Sabha and MLA’s of that district and some other officials of other district level bodies are also its members.

3) Zilla parishad chairperson is the political head of the Zilla parishad.

Q26. State the main features of local government bodies in urban areas in India’s? or

Distinguish between Municipal Corporation and municipality?

Ans. MUNICIPALITY

1)The local government government of small towns is called municipality.

2) The head of the municipality is called the chairperson.

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

1)                  The local government of big cities is called municipal corporation.

2)                  The head of municipal corporation is called mayor.

Both municipalities and municipal corporations are controlled by elected bodies consisting of people’s representation.

Q27.  Flexible language policy of government of India and Indian constitution has minimized conflicts among states and centre in India. Justify.

1.    Our constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language. Hindi was identified as the official language. But Hindi is the mother tongue of only about 40 per cent of Indians. Therefore, there were many safeguards to protect other languages.

2.    Besides Hindi there are 21 other languages recognized as Scheduled languages by the constitution.

3.    States too have their own official languages. Much of the government work takes place in the official language of the concerned states.

4.    According to the constitution, the use of English for official purposes was stopped in 1965. However, many non-Hindi speaking states demanded that the use of English continues. In Tamil Nadu this movement took violent form. The central government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English along with Hindi for official purposes.

5.    Promotion of Hindi continues to be the official policy of the Government of India. Promotion does not mean that the central government can impose Hindi on states where people speak a different language.   

Q28. How has federal power sharing became more effective in India after 1990(or Today)?

1.    Things changed significantly after 1990. This period saw the rise of regional political parties in many states of the country.

2.    This was also the beginning of the era of coalition governments at the centre.

3.    Since no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the major national parties had to enter into an alliance with many parties including several regional parties to form a government at the centre. This led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the autonomy of state government.

4.    This trend was supported by a major judgment of the Supreme Court that made it difficult for the central government to dismiss state governments in an arbitrary manner.

5.    Thus, federal power sharing is more effective today then it was in the early years after the constitution came into force.

Q29. State any difference between the local government before and after 73^rd Amendment Act 1992.

A29.  A major step towards decentralization was taken in 1992.The constitution was amended to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful and effective.

1.    Now it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.

2.    Seats are reserved in the elected bodies and the executive heads of these institutions for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

3.    At least 50% of all positions are reserved for women.

4.    An independent institution called the state election commission has been created in each state to conduct panchayat and municipal elections.

5.    The state governments are required to share some powers and revenue with local governments bodies. The nature of sharing varies state to state.

Q30. Briefly explain the levels of rural local government in India.

OR

 How has Panchayat Raj system been organized?

 Rural local government is popularly known by the name of Panchayati Raj

A.   VILLAGE LEVEL

1.    Each village or a group of villagers in some states has a gram panchayat. This is a council consisting of several ward members, often called panch and a president or sarpanch. All the adult population living in that ward or village directly elects them.

2.    The Panchayat work under the overall supervision of the gram sabha. All the voters in the village are its members. It has to meet at least twice or thrice in a year to approve the annual budget of the gram panchayat and to review the performance of the gram panchayat.

B.   BLOCK LEVEL

A few gram panchayats are grouped together to form what is usually called a panchayat samiti or block or mandal. All the panchayat members in that area elect the members of this representative body.

C.   DISTRICT LEVEL

All the panchayat samitis or mandals in a district together constitute the Zilla (district) parishad. Most members of the Zilla parishad are elected. Members of the Lok Sabha and MLA’s of that district and some other officials of other district level bodies are also its members. Zilla parishad chairperson is the political head of the Zilla parishad.

Q31. How are local bodies organized in urban areas?

A31. Local government bodies exist for urban areas as well

1.    Municipalities are set up towns

2.    Big cities are constituted into Municipal Corporation.

3.    Elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives control both municipalities and municipal corporations.

4.    Municipal chairperson is the political head of the Municipality.

5.    In a municipal corporation such as officer is called the mayor.

POWER SHARING ( CH-1 , CLASS - X) POL.SC.

Chapter-1

Power Sharing

Q1. Explain the ethnic composition of Belgium and Sri Lanka.

Ans. Belgium - Of the country’s total population 59% lives in the Flemish region and speak Dutch language. Another 40% people live in the Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining 1% of the Belgians speak German.  In the capital city Brussels, 80% people speak French while 20% are Dutch-speaking.

Sri Lanka - The major social groups are the Sinhala- speakers (74%) and the Tamil speakers (18%). Among Tamils there are 2 subgroups. The natives of the country are called ‘Sri-Lankan Tamils’ (13%). The rest, whose forefathers came from India as plantation workers during colonial period, are called ‘Indian Tamils’ (5%).

Q2. What is majoritarianism? State the main features of the Act 1956 taken  by the Sri Lankan government.

Or

What majoritarian measures were taken by the Sri Lankan government to establish the dominance  of Sinhalas in the country?

Ans. A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority is called Majoritarianism. The main features of the Act 1956   taken by the Sri Lankan government were-

a)                   Sinhala as the only official language.

b)                  The govt. followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and govt. jobs.

c)                  Buddhism was declared as state religion.

Q3. What were the main demands of Sri Lankan Tamils?

Ans. i. For the recognition of Tamil as an official language.

ii. Regional autonomy

iii. Equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs.

Q4. What were the main causes of tension between French and Dutch in Belgium?

Ans. He minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. This was resented by the Dutch speaking community who got the benefit of economic development and education much later. This led to tensions b/w the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities.

Q5. What was the result of the majoritarian measures taken by Sinhala govt. on Sri Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka?

Ans  i. All the govt. measures gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri       Lankan Tamils.

        ii. They felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders was sensitive to their language and culture.

       iii. They felt that the constitution and govt. policies denied them equal political rights and discriminated against them.

      iv. As a result, the relations b/w the Sinhala and Tamil communities strained over time.

Q6. State the main features of the Belgium model of power sharing.

Ans. 1. Constitution of Belgium prescribes that the no. of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in the central govt.

         2. Some special laws require the support of majority of members from each linguistic   group.

         3. Many powers of the central govt. have been given to the state govt. and the state govts. are not subordinate to the central govt.

         4. Brussels has a separate govt. in which both the communities have equal representation.

Q7. What factors led to the emergence of civil war in Sri Lanka?

Ans. 1. The majoritarian measures taken by the Sri Lankan govt. lead to a feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.

         2. They put up their demands of regional autonomy or equality in front of the Sri Lankan govt.

         3. However, when the Sri Lankan govt. did not accept these demands, the Sri Lankan Tamils demanded a separate state as independent Tamil eelum.

         4. The distrust b/w the Sinhala community and Sri Lankan Tamils lead to a wide spread conflict which soon turned into a civil war.

Q8. Write a note on community government in Belgium?

Ans.  The local government in Belgium was called the community government which is elected by the people belonging to one language community- Dutch French or German. This community government had power to make laws on cultural, educational and language related issues.

Q9. How was the power sharing arrangement in Belgium different from that of Sri Lanka? What was its result?

Ans. In Belgium, leaders have realised that the unity of the country is possible only by respecting the feelings and interests of different communities and regions. Sri Lanka shows that if a majority community wants to force its dominance over others and refuses to share power, it can undermine the unity of the country as the Sinhala govt. did. As a result, Belgium has peace and democracy till date and in Sri Lanka people started the feeling of alienation which caused the civil war.

Q10. What are the prudential and moral reasons for power sharing?

Or

Why is power sharing necessary in a democracy? Explain.

Ans. Prudential- Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of social conflict b/w social groups. It is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.

Moral- Power sharing is he very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its effects.

While prudential reasons stress that power sharing will bring out better outcomes, moral reasoning emphasize the very act of power sharing as valuable.

Q11. Define power sharing .

Ans. Power sharing implies sharing of political power among all ethanic groups in a country where by every group gets a chance to be the part of the govt. in one way or the other.

Q12. Why was some countries of the world was not in favour of power sharing ?

Ans. For a long time it was believed that all power of a government must reside in one person or group of persons located at one place. It was felt that if the power to decide  is dispersed, it would not be possible to take quick decisions and to enforce them.

Q13. Justify that in a democracy political power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible?

Ans. 1. One basic principle of democracy is that people are the source of all political power.

2. In a democracy, people rule themselves through institutions of self – govt.

3. In a good democratic govt. , due respect is given to diverse group and views that exist in a society.

4. Everyone has a voice in the shaping of public policies.

5. Therefore, in a democracy political power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible.

Q14. State the main features of horizontal power sharing ? or

How is power sharing done among different organs of the government ? or

Why is horizontal power sharing also called a system of checks and balance?

Ans. 1. In this system power is shared among different organs of government.

2. It allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.

3. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power.

4. Each organ checks the other. This results in a balance of power among various institutions.

5. Hence, this arrangement is also called a system of checks and balance.

Q15.  State the main features of Vertical ower sharing ? or

Write the main features of federal power sharing.

Ans. In this system power can be shared among governments at different levels.

2. There is a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level.

3. The constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of govt. This is called federal division of power.

4. This division of power involves higher and lower levels of govt. Hence it is called vertical division of power.

Q16. Give 2 examples of power sharing among social groups ? Why is such kind of power sharing important?

Ans. Community government in Belgium.

2. ‘Reserved Constituencies’ in assemblies and the parliament in India.

This type of arrangement is meant to give space in the govt. and administration to diverse social  groups who otherwise would feel alienated from the govt. This method is used to give minority communities a fair share in power.

Q17. How is power sharing done among political parties and interest groups ?

Ans. Political Parties –

1.                  In a democracy, the citizens have freedom to choose among various contenders for power.

2.                  This takes the form of competition among different parties.

3.                  Such competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand.

4.                  In the long run, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.

Interest Groups-

1.                  In a democracy there are interest groups such as those of traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers.

2.                  They also will have a share in governmental power, either through participation in governmental committee or bringing influence on the decision making process.

Q18. Explain the various forms of power sharing in modern democracies ?

Ans. In horizontal power sharing, power is shared among different groups of government, placed at the same level to exercise different power.This is also called the system of checks and balances

3.                  In the system where power is shared among govt. at different levels is called vertical power sharing. This division of powers involves higher and lower levels of govt. ( central govt., state govt., local govt.).

4.                  Power may also be shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups. This method is used to give minority community a fair share in power.

5.                  In a democracy, power is also shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and among different interest groups such as traders, businessmen, farmers etc.