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Kerala Plus One History Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 1 From the Beginning of Time

Question 1.
As people began to produce food, there were great changes in their lives. What were these changes?
Answer:
During the long history of mankind, until people learned to produce food, they found their food by collecting the flesh of dead animals, hunting animals and collecting roots or fruits from plants. They had learned to make stone weapons and communicate with one another. Later man began to get food by means of agriculture, and domesticating and growing animals. But they continued hunting and gathering food. Even today we find hunter-gatherer communities in some parts of the world.

Question 2.
“The fossils of man, stone weapons and cave drawings or pictures help us to understand the history of man. On the basis of this statement, find out the sources that throw light on the history of early men.
Answer:
The fossils of man, stone weapons and cave drawings or pictures help us to understand the history of man. But in the beginning, many scholars were not willing . to understand or acknowledge the importance of these discoveries. They even refused to acknowledge that they were the fossils of early people. They were doubtful about the capacity of the early people to make stone weapons and to draw pictures, it was after a long time that the scholars recognized the importance of the discoveries.

It is from the fossils that we get the evidence for the evolution of man. The time of the fossil can be determined through chemical testing. Otherwise by examining the remnants of the stone in which the. fossils are found their time can be established. Once the time of the fossils is determined, the order of the human evolution can be found out.

Question 3.
“There are different categories in the Homo Genus Explain.
Answer:
Homo Erectus:
The origin of this species was 1.8 million years ago. Homo Erectus, which means upright man, is the direct predecessor of modem man. It was Homo Erectus that discovered the use of fire and started using clothes. This human race, which appeared in Africa, was interested in migration. From Africa they spread to Europe and Asia.

Homo Sapiens:
This humankind appeared on earth after the homo erectus. Their origin was in Africa some 8 lakh years ago. Just like the homo erectus, the homo sapiens also moved to Europe and Asia. They were known as “Wise or Thinking Man”.

Question 4.
Hominids originated in Africa. Do you agree with this opinion? Explain with examples.
Answer:
Hominids originated in Africa. There are two evidences for this.

1. The apes in Africa are very close to Hominids.
2. Early hominid fossils were discovered from East Africa. The fossils discovered outside Africa are not as old as the ones found in East Africa.

Question 5.
In a classroom discussion, Sheeba opined that there are differences between hominoids and hominids. Do you agree with her opinion? If yes, describe them.
Answer:
Hominoids are apes. All apes which include Gorillas, chimps, humans, orangs gibbons, etc. are hominoids. But Hominids are great apes and exclude gibbons (lesser apes). All hominids are hominoids, but not all hominoids are hominids. Hominids belong to the family called Hominidae. All people come in this group. There are 4 features that make hominids different from others:

1. Bigger brain
2. Upright posture
3. Walkirig.on two legs
4. Special ability in the use of hands.

Question 6.
Hominids are divided into different genus (branches). Mention two important genus.
Answer:
Hominids are divided into different genus (branches) and the ‘two most important of them are Australopithecus and Homo.

Question 7.
Arrange chronologically (in the order of time):

1. homo habilis
2. homo erectus
3. homo sapiens
4. homo sapiens sapiens

Answer:

1. homo sapiens
2. homo erectus
3. homo sapiens sapiens
4. homo habilis

Question 8.
Match the items in column A & B.

Answer:

Question 9.
Babu: “Modern man originated in different places.”
Reena: “No. Modern man originated in one place.”
This is a part of a classroom discussion. With which opinion do you agree? Why?
Answer:
The place of origin of the modem man has been a much-discussed topic. Scholars have put forward two contradictory views on this issue. They are Regional Continuity Model and Replacement Model. Regional Continuity Modeh This model says that modem people originated in different places.

The early homo sapiens in many places slowly evolved as modem people and that is why the modem people in various parts of the world look different from one another at first sight. The regional differences in the features of people are the basis for such a view.

Replacement Model:
This model says that modem man originated in Africa. The spokesmen of this model say that modem people appeared in place of (the old species of people everywhere. As evidence to their claim, they put forward the hereditary and anatomical similarity of modem people.

This model points out that modem people are quite similar everywhere because they originated in the same place – Africa. The first fossils of modem people were discovered from Omo in Ethiopia. This evidence substantiates the Replacement Model.

Question 10.
For procuring food, the early people had used different ways. Explain.
Answer:
The early people got their food by gathering.huriting, taking the flesh from dead animals and fishing. They gathered vegetarian products like seeds, kernel of nuts, fruits arid roots. Some people believe that they stored food but for this, there is ho dear proof.

Although there are many fossils of bones, the fossils of vegetarian stuff have been rare. Remnants of plants and trees that have been burned down by sudden fire last for quite a long time, but archaeologists have not yet found such fossils.

It is natural that the early people collected the flesh of dead animals or the remnants of animals killed by carnivorous beasts. Early hominids ate mammals like rats and squirrels, birds and their eggs, crawling creatures and even insects like termites.

Question 11.
Fire was useful to the early man in many ways. Discuss how they used fire.
Answer:
It gave heat and light in the caves. It was used for cooking. It was used to harden timber. It was helpful in the making of tools. It was also used to drive away dangerous beasts.

Question 12.
“Early man used to make working tools.” Examine the relevance in this statement.
Answer:
The first proofs of man’s making and using working stone tools were got from Ethiopia and Kenya. We don’t know if these tools were made by man, woman or both. Most likely both men and women made such tools. Women must have made these tools to earn their food and also food their children after they had stopped breastfeeding them.

Question 13.
“Among all creatures only man has language.” On the basis of this statement write about the various views regarding the development of language.
Answer:
There are many views regarding the development of language.

1. Scholars say that hominids use first used gestures.
2. Another group argues that sounds (words) of emotional interjections preceded language.
3. There are others who believe that language developed from the calls (sounds) that primates made to one another. In the beginning, there were different sounds. Slowly they developed into a language.

Question 14.
What is anthropology?
Answer:
It is a branch of knowledge that studies human culture and the evolutionary levels of humans/ Anthropos in Greek means man and logos means study. Anthropology is the study of various aspects of humans within past and present societies.

Question 15.
What is the Glacial Age?
Answer:
Once the earth surface was covered with thick ice sheets. This phenomenon is known as the Glacial Age. In the history of the earth there were 4 Such glacial ages. The last glacial age ended some 13,000 years ago. The period between two Glacial Ages is called Inter Glacial Period.

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Kerala Plus One History Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 5 Nomadic Empires

Question 1.
“The term ‘Nomadic Empires’ might look paradoxical.” Examine the validity of this statement.
Answer:
Nomads are wanderers. They are organized as family groups. There is hardly any difference in their; economic life. Their political system is very ancient and uncivilized. But Empires have physical territories . and boundaries. Politically they are stable. The stability of an empire comes from its complex social and economic structures. It rules a vast region. Naturally, an empire should have an administrative system.

Question 2.
The History of Mongols is written by foreign scholars. Explain.
Answer:
It was Russian scholars who made the most valuable researches about Mongols in the 18th arid 19th centuries. The history of Mongols comes in the form of extensive notes prepared by travelers, merchants, warriors, and collectors of antiquity.

Question 3.
The goal of Genghis Khan was not merely a fellowship of the Mongol tribes. What were his other aims?
Answer:
Genghis. Khan unified the Mongol people. He reorganized them into a disciplined military power. It helped him in future conquests. His primary aim was to attack China.

Question 4.
The Mongols did not do any agriculture. On the basis of this statement explain what the means of livelihood of the Mongols were.
Answer:
Many Mongols were shepherds whereas others were hunters and gatherers of food. Shepherds had. domesticated horses and sheep. They also tamed cattle, goats, and camels. In the grassy plains of Central Asia (the modem Mongolia), they lived a nomadic life. It was a beautiful region with snow-capped mountains, plains, rivers and a desert (Gobi). The hunters and the gatherers of food lived in the Northern Siberian forests. Compared to the shepherds they were very humble. During the summer they lived by selling animal hides. The climate in their region was harsh. They had (Orig winter and brief, dry summer.

The Mongols did not do any farming. Their economic system was not capable of maintaining places with high or dense population. Therefore they did not have r any cities.

The Mongols lived in tents. They went on roaming the grassy plains with their flocks and herds both in the winter and also summer.

Question 5.
There were some links that kept the various sections and tribes of the Mongols together. Explain.
Answer:
The Mongols included various sections and tribes. There were Tatars, Khitans, Manchus, and Turkish tribes among them. The main link among them was their common language.

Question 6.
The Great Wall of China was built to protect the agricultural communities of North China from the attacks of the nomads, Based on this statement, describe the relations between the Mongolian nomads and the Chinese agricultural communities.
Answer:
China experienced a lot of problems because of the constant attacks by the nomads and therefore China built fortresses to protect her citizens from these attacks. Connecting these fortresses, China made defensive wall-chain. This is the famous Great Wall of China. This is one of the wonders of the world.

Question 7.
The life of Genghis Khan was full of misery and backlashes. Comment.
Answer:
The real name of Genghis khan is Temujin. He was born in 1162, in a region of the bank of River On on in the Northern side of the present Mongolia. When he was 12, his father was killed. Then it was his mother Hoelun who brought him and brothers up taking a lot of trouble. Temujin faced a lot of problems during the next 12 years. He was caught and was made a slave. Soon after his marriage his wife Borte was kidnapped by some people. Temujin had to fight hard to get his wife back.

By 1209 Genghis Khan defeated the Xi Xia people, in 1213 he crossed the Great Wall and defeated the Chin dynasty. He looted Peking. His fights with the Chin dynasty continued until 1234, Genghis Khan also attacked places like Amu Darya, Transoxiana, and Khwaresmia.

Question 8.
The major part of Genghis Khan’s life was spent on the battlefront. Do you agree with this view? Explain.
Answer:
It is true that the major part of Genghis Khan’s life was spent on the battlefront. His military successes are quite wonderful.
He used new strategies. He also changed traditional strategies that were used in the warfare in the grassy plains. The expertise of the Mongols and Turks in horse-riding gave his army speed and dynamism. These warriors could shoot even as they were riding their horses.

The cavalry in the plains was ready to move with great speed and face any type of weather. The rivers that were frozen during the winter were like highways for the warriors of Genghis Khan and they could easily enter the cities and camps of the enemies.

For the nomads, the fortressed camps of the enemies were hard to conquer. There they suffered huge losses. But Genghis Khan did not mind these obstacles. His engineers made machines to capture the fortresses. They also made firebombs which could be easily carried and used when needed. By using these technically advanced things Genghis Khan was able to defeat his enemies.

Question 9.
Under the successors of Genghis Khan, the Mongol lost their Western world. Give reasons for this.
Answer:
In the decades after 1203, the Mongolian army faced many defeats. In the 1260s, the Mongols lost their desire to maintain their Western regions. Vienna, Western Europe, and Egypt were once with the Mongols. But their withdrawal from the Hungariari Steppes and their defeat from the Egyptian army caused some new political ideas to emerge in their minds. The internal strife among the Mongols themselves and their over-enthusiasm in conquering China made them lose their Western world.

Question 10.
Prepare a seminar paper on the social-political and military arrangements of the Mongols.
Areas to be considered: Military structure, Courier system, Mongols and the Permanent Settlers, Formation of special hereditary system, Yassa.
Answer:
All the healthy males among the Mongols carried arms. In times of need, they served as an army. In short, the Mongolian army was small and uni-tribal. But with the unification of the different Mongolian tribes and with the wars with different peoples, there were changes in the nature and structure of Genghis Khan’s army. The army became big and multi-tribal. In the army, there were soldiers who accepted the authority of Genghis Khan willingly, like the Turkic Uyghurs and defeated the people like the Keraits. Genghis Khan unified the different tribes of Mongols and made them into a confederacy. He tried to destroy the earlier tribal identities of these tribes.

Genghis Khan organized his army on a decimal basis. The units were in multiples of 10. (10,100, 1000,10000, etc.)

The greatest contribution of Genghis Khan was the courier system called Yam he introduced. This Yam system was a relay system that linked different administrative units of his vast empire. At fixed distances, there were horsemen and messengers for carrying messages. To maintain this communication system, the nomadic Mongols had to give one-tenth of their animals (horses or other animals) to the authorities. This was known as Qubkar (kar means tax-likeour’karam’inMalayalam).

After the death of Genghis Khan, the courier system became more efficient. Its speed and reliance had surprised visitors. The great Khans used this relay system to effectively control their far-flung regions. The defeated people were not happy with the new nomadic rulers. After the attacks that took place in the first half of the 13th century, cities were destroyed, farms were left uncultivated and trade and handloom industries were reduced.

Thousands of people were. killed and many more were made prisoners. Right from the top to the bottom, people suffered different kinds of misery and pain. Since the canals in the internal region of the Iranian plateau were not repaired, the desert expanded. This caused environmental min. A good portion of the Khurasan Region never. recovered from this damage.

Once the attacks were over Europe and China were regionally connected. The trade relations between the two were also better. The trade and travel through the silk route reached their height under the Mongols, But the trade routes did not end with China. They extended to Mongolia, the heart of the Empire and Karakoram. Travel and communication were essential for the stability of the Mongol rule. The travelers were given a pass for their easy travel. Merchants had to give a tax (called Baj tax) for this.
In the 13^th century, the contradictions that existed between the nomads and the permanent settlers began to lessen.

The memories of Genghis Khan were cherished by his successors. It was his Yassa (Law) that helped him to be remembered by posterity. In the Assembly of Chiefs (Quriltai) in 1206 Genghis Khan declared his Yassa. It contained administrative controls and laws regarding the organization of hunting, army and postal system. By the middle of the 13^th century, the Mongols began to use the word Yassa to mean the “Laws of Genghis Khan”. Thus the Yassa of Genghis Khan helped him in keeping memory alive.

Question 11.
Sagi: Genghis Khan was an uncivilized attacker.
Usha: He was a great leader.
With whose opinion do you agree? Why?
Answer:
When we think of Genghis khan now, in our imagination, we imagine him to be a violent destroyer of cities and a brute who caused the death of thousands of people. In the 13th century, the city dwellers of China, Iran, and Eastern Europe looked at the Mongols with anger and hatred. But for the Mongols Genghis Khan was their greatest leader. He unified them.

He liberated them from the constant Tribal wars and the exploitation of the Chinese. To the Mongols, he was a great man who brought them prosperity, who formed an intercontinental empire, who recovered the trade routes and markets and who attracted travelers like Marco Polo.

Question 12.
The Mongols have given valuable contributions to world culture. Critically evaluate this statement.
Answer:
The Mongol Khans belonged to different. religious faiths. There were Believers of Shamanism, Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims among them. They did not impose their personal beliefs on others. The Mongol rulers employed members of all races and faiths in their administration and army. Theirs was a multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-religious rule. Such a rule was quite unusual in those days. The Mongols followed an administrative system that could be imitated by the rulers like the Mughals in India

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Kerala Plus One Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 10 Philosophy of The Indian Constitution

Philosophy of The Indian Constitution Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is the political philosophy of the Indian Constitution?
Answer:
The political philosophy is contained in Preamble. The most important and precious part of the Constitution is the Preamble. It is the key to the Constitution and the yardstick to measure it. The philosophical and fundamental features of the Constitution are uncovered in the Preamble. The social and economic goals are also seen here. The Indian Constitution is not a mere book of rules. It contains moral values and viewpoints. It has a political philosophy of its own. The ideas in the Constitution should be in the background of the discussions that took place in the Constitutional Assembly.

Question 2.
The following chart shows the aspects related to the political philosophy of the Indian Constitution. Observe the chart and prepare a seminar paper.

Answer:
The +1 students of Ernakulam HSS organized a seminar on the topic “The Political philosophy of the Indian Constitution.” The class was divided into 7 groups and the points were discussed. After that, the leaders presented the views of each group.
a) Individual freedom: Our Constitution is very much concerned with Individual freedom. For example, we have the Fundamental Rights.
b) Social Justice: The mission of the nation is ensuring Social Justice. The different articles of the Constitution are the means for this. For example Article 16.
c) Respect for Diversity and Minority Rights: The Constitution guarantees the educational and cultural rights of the minorities in India.
d) Secularism: This is the cornerstone of the Indian Constitution. It treats all religions equally.
e) Universal Franchise: The Constitution ensures that all adults of 18 and above have their voting rights without any discrimination.
f) federalism : India is a Federation. The Centre-State relations are defined clearly.
g) National Identity: Our Constitution nurtures both national identity as well as a regional identify simultaneously.

Question 3.
India adopted a secularist pattern as different from the western model. Give the reasons.
Answer:
The political and social conditions in India are quite different from those of the West. Here we see unity in diversity. The Western Secularist view is that to ensure individual freedom and rights of the citizens, the nation and religion should be kept separate. In India, we treat all religions equally.

Question 4.
Elaborate on the political philosophy of the Indian Constitution.
Answer:
Constitution is the basic document of a nation. The government of any country works according to certain rules. Constitution is the basic document which describes the structure of the Nation, the rights of the government, the rights of the citizens and their responsibilities. In different countries of the world, there are different types of constitutions.

The most important and precious part of the Constitution is the Preamble. It is the key to the Constitution and the yardstick to measure it. The philosophical and fundamental features of the Constitution are uncovered in the Preamble. The social and economic goals are also seen here. The Indian Constitution is not a mere book of rules. It contains moral values and viewpoints. It has a political philosophy of its own. The ideas in the Constitution should be in the background of the discussions that took place in the Constitutional Assembly. The main points of the philosophy of the Indian Constitution are Individual freedom, Social Justice, Respect for Diversity and Minority Rights, Secularism, Universal Franchise, Federalism and National Identity.

Question 5.
Which among the following principles did India adopt for its secularism?
a) The nation has nothing to do with religion.
b) The nation has close ties with religion.
c) The Nation can use its discretionary powers in religion.
d) To abolish certain evil practices in the religion, the nation takes initiatives.
e) The nation recognizes the rights of different religious groups.
f) The nation has only limited powers in interfering in religious matters.
Answer:
c) The Nation can use its discretionary powers in religion.
d) To abolish certain evil practices in the religion, the nation takes initiatives.
e) The nation recognizes the rights of different religious groups.

Question 6.
The Indian Constitution has made some procedural achievements. Explain.
Answer:
The Indian Constitution has made some procedural achievements. There are 5 features which can be considered quite basic. They are:

• Rights of the religious minorities
• The right of the nation to intervene
• Universal adult franchise
• Federalism
• National identity.

Apart from these, the Constitution has achieved some practical gains.
They are mainly two;

1. The faith in discussions and consideration,
2. the attitude for reconciliation and inclusion.

Question 7.
Match the following:

Answer:

Question 8.
Prepare a short description on the criticisms against the Constitution of India.
Answer:
The Indian Constitution is not beyond criticism. There have been many criticisms, but the most important of them are the following 3.
a) Unwieldy: The basis of this criticism is the feeling a constitution must be brief and precise. But since the Indian circumstances are quite different from others, this criticism does not have any validity.
b) It is not representative enough: The members of the Constituent Assembly were chosen with limited franchise. Universal franchise could not be used there. The Indian Constitutional Assembly was formed according to the recommendation of the Cabinet Mission and therefore we could not make it completely democratically representational. It was because in the Assembly there were representations from the Princely States and Territories directly under British control.
c) A Document with a foreign citizenship or Not Fully Indian: Figuratively it means the ideas and provisions of the Constitution were borrowed extensively from different constitutes of the world.

Question 9.
Who wrote the book “In Defence of Liberation’?
Answer:
K.M. Panicker

Question 10.
Nations that consider religion as a private or personal subject are called
Answer:
Secular Nations (States)

Question 11.
The Indian Constitutional Bill of ……….. was an important step in the history of universal adult franchise.
Answer:
1895

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Kerala Plus One Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 9 Constitution as a Living Document

Constitution as a Living Document Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Are Constitutions static?
Answer:
No, they aren’t. Constitutions develop through amendments. The Constitution is the basic document of any nation. There is a need to bring in timely changes in it because of the social, political, economic and cultural changes that take place with the passage of time. The architects of the Constitution have made provisions to make amendments in the Constitution.

Question 2.
Explain the procedure for the amendment of the Constitution.
Answer:
Amendments to the Constitution:
Article 368 describes the right of the Parliament to amend the Constitution and the procedure for the amendment. Some sections of the Constitution can be easily amended but some sections are not o easy to amend. On the basis of amendment, the sections of the Constitution can be divided into 3. Some sections of the Constitution can be easily amended with a simple majority in the Parliament. But to amend some sections, 2/3 majority is needed.

To amend fundamental rights and Directive principles, 2/3 majority is needed. For amending some very important sections, the majority of the total number of the Parliamentarians and 2/3 majority of those present and voting is needed. Apart from this, recognition of the States is also necessary. At least half of the State Assemblies must favor the amendment. Subjects like election of the President, the executive rights of the Union and the States, Supreme Court, High Courts, relations between the Union and the States, the lists in the 7th schedule, the representation of the States in the Parliament, etc. come in the third group.

The Amendment Bills should be submitted to the President for his approval. Only when he signs them, they come into effect. A Bill for amendment can originate in any House. The Assemblies in the States can’t bring Bills of Amendments.

Question 3.
“At the same time, the Constitution must be flexible and rigid.” Do you agree?
Answer:
Yes, I do. If changes are to be brought in according to the social, political, economic and cultural changes that take place with the passage of time, the Constitution has to be flexible. But at the same time, it should be rigid so as to protect the rights of citizens, the basic structure of the nation, division of powers between the Centre and State, etc. It is not easy to amend a rigid Constitution.

Question 4.
“The Indian Constitution is a living document.” Comment.
Answer:
The Indian Constitution is a living document. Since it has both flexible and rigid features, timely changes can be brought into it because of the changing social, political, economic and cultural circumstances. Through the various interpretations of the Constitution by the Supreme Court also the Constitution grows. So far some 100 amendments have been made and this clearly shows that the Constitution is living and growing.

Question 5.
There are three types of Constitutional amendments. Explain them.
Answer:
Amendments to the Indian Constitution can be made in three ways:
a) Some sections of the Constitution can be easily amended with a simple majority in the Parliament. Adding new States, formation of new States, formation of State Legislative Councils, Dissolution of the Councils, etc. come in this category.
b) To amend some sections, 2/3 majority is needed.
c) To amend fundamental rights and Directive principles, 2/3 majority is needed. For amending some very important sections, the majority of the total number of the Parliamentarians and 2/3 majority of those present and voting is needed. Apart from this, recognition of the States is also necessary. At least half of the State Assemblies must favor the amendment.
d) To prepare amendments, the Constitution has not made any special condition.
e) The procedure for amendment is included in article 368.

Question 6.
Clarify the concept of “Special Majority” and “Simple Majority”.
Answer:
Some amendments can be made by a simple majority in the Parliament. Adding new States, formation of new States, formation of State Legislative Councils, Dissolution of the Councils, etc. come in this category.

To amend some sections, 2/3 majority is needed.
To amend fundamental rights and Directive principles, 2/3 majority is needed. For amending some very important sections, the majority of the total number of the Parliamentarians and 2/3 majority of those present and voting is needed. Apart from this, recognition of the States is also necessary.

Question 7.
State whether the following are true or false.
Answer:
a) The President can’t return an Amendment Bill for the reconsideration of the Parliament.
b) Only elected members have the right to amend the Constitution.
c) The Judiciary can only interpret the Constitution in a different way and bring some changes, but it can’t take the initiative to amend it.
d) The Parliament can amend any section of the Constitution.
e) The Indian Constitution is a living document.
f) Secularism does not come in the basic structure of the Constitution.
Answer:
a) True
b) True
c) True
d) True
e) False
f) False

Question 8.
The Indian Constitution was amended 94 times during the last 60 years. Why have been there so many amendments?
Answer:
The Indian Constitution is flexible enough to adapt to changes. During the period 1970-1990, Congress had the upper hand. The actions plans of the Congress were presented as Constitutional Changes. The later period was that of Coalition Governments. Even then many amendments were made. All this shows that our Constitution is a living one.

Question 9.
Prepare a note on the contents of Constitutional amendments made so far.
Answer:
We can classify the Constitutional amendments made so far into 3:

1. Technical or Administrative amendments.
2. Different interpretations.
3. Amendments through political adjustment and cooperation.

Apart from these, there have also been amendments of controversial nature.

Question 10.
The 42^nd Amendment was of the most controversial amendments so far. Explain.
Answer:
The 42^nd amendment passed by the Indian Parliament in 1976 is called ‘the little Constitution’. Many articles of the Constitution were amended. These changes were brought to overcome the Supreme Court order in the Kesavananda case. Some controls were brought in the powers of the Judiciary. Fundamental duties were added. In the Preamble, the words Secularism and Socialism were added. The life of the Parliament was raised from 6 years from 5 years. In short 42^nd amendment was made for the Emergency declared in 1975.

Question 11.
Who or what among the following are included in the constitutional amendment of India? In what way they are included?
a) Voters
b) State Assemblies
c) President
d) Governors
e) Parliament
f) Judiciary
Answer:
State Assemblies, President, Parliament

Question 12.
Which among the following were the controversial subjects of the 42^nd constitutional amendment?
a) It was done at the time of the declaration of Emergency. The declaration of Emergency itself was controversial
b) It did not have the special majority required.
c) It did not get the approval from the State Assemblies.
d) It contained many controversial issues.
e) It did not have the approval of the Supreme Court.
Answer:
a) It was done at the time of the declaration of Emergency. The declaration of Emergency itself was controversial.
c) It did not get the approval from the State Assemblies.
d) It contained many controversial issues.

Question 13.
Point out the main subjects included in the basic structure of the Indian Constitution.
Answer:
Basic structure of the Indian Constitution: These are the important subjects included in the Indian Constitution:

• Supremacy of the Constitution
• Federal system
• Secularism
• Democratic Republic nature
• Rule of Law, Judicial Review
• Fundamental Rights
• Social-Economic justice
• Parliamentary Government
• Independent Judiciary

The Supreme Court made a verdict that the Parliament has no authority to change the basic structure of the Constitution.

Question 14.
Open Constitutions which welcome changes are called …………
Answer:
Flexible constitutions

Question 15.
When was the Indian Constitution approved?
Answer:
26 November 1949

Question 16.
It was the …………. Amendment that included Fundamental Duties in the Constitution.
Answer:
42^nd

Question 17.
Who was the Chairman of the Commission appointed for the review of the Constitution?
Answer:
Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah

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Kerala Plus One Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 8 Local Governments

Local Governments Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is the necessity of local governments?
Answer:
Apart from the Central Government and State Governments, it is the local self-governments that manage the developmental activities of district, urban centers, and rural areas. According to Gandhiji, the Father of our Nation, India’s soul lives in the villages. His dream was self-sufficient villages. The Makers of the Constitution included this idea in the Constitution. Later through the 73^rd and 74^th Amendments the Local Self-Government Institutions acquired their present shape and status.
The necessity for local governments:

• Local governments are close to people and they are able to solve the problems of the people quickly and cheaply.
• They can protect local interests.
• They are necessary to make use of local knowledge and the energy of the local community.
• They are the pillars of democracy. They ensure the participation of the people in the administration.
• It is through them decentralization and decentralized planning are done.

Question 2.
Examine the growth of local governments in India.
Answer:
There have been references to local governments in India also in the past. The father of the Indian local governments is Lord Rippon. But in 1687, the first local government in India, the Madras Corporation, was founded. Apart from the Central Government and State Governments, it is the local self-governments that manage the developmental activities of district, urban centers, and rural areas. According to Gandhiji, the Father of our Nation, India’s soul lives in the villages. His dream was self-sufficient villages. The Makers of the Constitution included this idea in the Constitution. Later through the 73^rd and 74^th Amendments, the Local Self-Government Institutions acquired their present shape and status.

Question 3.
Who laid the foundation of India’s modern local governments?
Answer:
Lord Rippon

Question 4.
Prepare a seminar paper on Panchayat Raj in India.
Answer:
The +1 Political Science students in Kannur Government HSS organized a seminar on the topic “Panchayat Raj in India”. The students were divided into groups, and the leaders of the groups presented the views of their groups.
Panchayat Raj in India/Three-tier administrative decentralization:

• In 1957 the Indian Government appointed a Committee with Balwant Rai Mehta as its chairman to study the rural development schemes.
• Panchayat Raj came into existence as per this Committee’s report.
• The Committee recommended a 3-tier system for decentralization of powers.
• In the village, there was Village Panchayat, at the block level there was Panchayat Samiti and at the district level there was Zila Parishad.

a) Village Panchayat:

• Panchayat is at the bottom of the village administration. Panchayat is a committee the members of which are elected directly by the people of the Panchayat.
• There are reservations for women and also Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe members.
• The main responsibilities of the Panchayat are sanitation, drinking water distribution, street lamps, land use, keeping cattle register, relief work, maintenance of roads, culverts, bridges, sewers and ponds, supervision of primary education, welfare of the backward classes and revenue collection.
• The Panchayat also has to maintain the birth-death register and propagate family planning.
• Apart from all these, the Panchayat can work as the agents of the Samiti for implementing developmental plans.
• Village panchayats are recommended to be agents for revenue collection.

b) Panchayat Samiti:

• This is the mid-level or Block level administrative setup.
• The members are indirectly elected. The members of the Samiti are: The chiefs of the village Panchayats in the block’s jurisdiction, nominated women members, Representatives of Cooperative Societies, the local MLA and the M.P.
• All the development projects in the Block are its responsibility.
• Their responsibility includes agriculture, animal husbandry, Cooperation, small scale irrigation, rural industries, primary education, local communication, sanitation, health, and medical help. It is the duty of the State Government to delegate powers to the Samiti.

c) Zila Parishad:

• This is the topmost part of the local government set up. The members of the Zila Parishad are Representatives of the Panchayat Samiti, Representatives of the SC’s and ST’s, Women Representatives, MLAs of the District and MP’s.
• The Presidents of the Panchayat Samiti will be ex-officio members.
• District level officers from spheres like medical, health, agriculture, veterinary, engineering education, welfare of Back Ward Classes, Public Works, etc.
• It is the Zila Parishad that examines and passes the budgets of Panchayat Samitis.
• It gets funds from the Government and distributes it among the Panchayat Samitis.
• It collects the various schemes of the Blocks of the district and coordinates them.
• It collects the various applications from Panchayat Samitis and forwards them to the State Government.
• It has the duty of supervising the working of the Panchayat Samitis.
• The Chairman of the Zila Parishad is the Collector. Otherwise, he can function as the Secretary of the Parishad.
• The recommendations of Balwant Rai Mehta were approved by the Development Council in 1959.

Question 5.
Kochi is a Municipal Corporation in Kerala. Which are the other Municipal Corporations?
Answer:
Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram.

Question 6.
The 73^rd Amendment Act is a milestone on constitutional amendments. What were the changes brought by this Amendment?
Answer:
The 73^rd Amendment Act made the Panchayat Raj a Constitutional system.
It brought a 3-tier system by having Village-Block- District level Panchayats in all the States.
The block-level can be avoided if the State has less than 20 lakh population.
The Grama Sabha Concept is also included in the Amendment,
The Chairmen of the Block Panchayat and Zila Parishad will be elected by the concerned Panchayat members.
The local MLAs and MPs will be ex-officio members of the Block Panchayat.

The Chairman of the Grama Sabha will be elected as per the law approved by the State Government. Based on the population of the place, in all the 3 levels there will be proportionate representation for SC’s and ST’s.

One-third of the seats are reserved for ladies. Proportionate to the population, some Chairmen should be SCs and STs. One-third of the chairmen will be ladies.
Reservations are by rotation.

The duration for all Panchayat Raj Institutions is 5 years. After dissolution, elections must be done within 6 months and new committees are to be formed. The Act makes provision for the appointment of an independent State Election Commission.

It is the Governor who appoints the State Election Commission. The Act also makes provision for the appointment of a Financial Commission once in 5 years to look into the financial status of the Panchayats and give the Government suggestions.

Question 7.
Complete the Chart.

Answer:

Question 8.
What are the main differences between the local governments before the 73rd Amendment and after it?
Answer:
Local Governments before the 73^rd Amendment:
Before the 73^rd Amendment, local government was in the State list. The State Governments had full authority to makes laws in this.
Before the 73^rd Amendment, there was no condition that elections should be done immediately after the local government have been dissolved by the State Government.
Before the 73^rd Amendment, there was no reservation for women and SC’s and ST’s.
Before the 73^rd Amendment, it was the responsibility of the State Government to conduct elections for the local committees.
Before the 73^rd Amendment, in the local committees, dominant castes and feudal lords had the upper hand.

Local Governments after the 73^rd Amendment:
After the 73^rd Amendment, the power of the State governments to enact laws on local government was restricted. The States were now forced to make laws in conformity with the Amendment.
After the 73^rd Amendment, direct election came into effect.
After the 73^rd Amendment, the condition came that if the local governments are dissolved, within 6 months fresh elections must be conducted.
After the 73^rd Amendment, there was reservation for women and SC’s and ST’s.
After the 73^rd Amendment, the duty of conducting elections to the local governments was vested in a State Election Commission.
After the 73^rd Amendment, in the local committees, dominance of the dominant castes and feudal lords came to an end to a certain limit.

Question 9.
What were the changes brought about by the 73^rd and 74^th Amendments in the local administration?
Answer:
The 73^rd Amendment Act made the Panchayat Raj a Constitutional system.

• It brought a 3-tier system by having Village-Block- District level Panchayats in all the States.
• The block-level can be avoided if the State has less than 20 lakh population.
• The Grama Sabha Concept is also included in the Amendment.
• The Chairmen of the Block Panchayat and Zila Parishad will be elected by the concerned Panchayat members.
• The local MLAs and MPs will be ex-officio members of the Block Panchayat.
• The Chairman of the Grama Sabha will be elected as per the law approved by the State Government.
• Based on the population of the place, in all the 3 levels there will be proportionate representation for SCs and STs.
• One-third of the seats are reserved for ladies.
• Proportionate to the population, some Chairmen should be SCs and STs. One-third of the chairpersons will be ladies.
• Reservations are by rotation.
• The duration for all Panchayat Raj Institutions is 5 years. After dissolution, elections must be done within 6 months and new committees are to be formed.
• The Act makes provision for the appointment of an independent State Election Commission.
• It is the Governor who appoints the State Election Commission.
• The Act also makes provision for the appointment of Financial Commission once in 5 years to look into the financial status of the Panchayats and give the Government suggestions.

Urban Local Government and the 74^rd Amendment Act:
The formation of the urban local government and determining its powers have been made according to the Constitution.
The 74^th Amendment Act of 1992 came into effect in April 1993. It defines the rules, structure, and powers of the Municipal Administration.
According to the Act, the urban local governments have Municipal Corporations, Municipalities Urban Panchayats.

• For all the seats, there should be direct election.
• Councilors are elected from the Wards (Constituencies in the Town).
• There are reservations for SCs and STs.
• The duration of the Municipality is 5 years.
• The Government has the authority to dissolve the Municipality before the completion of its time.
• The Council established after the dissolution will continue in power for the remaining duration.
• To contest in Municipal election, one should be at least 25 years of age.
• Each State appoints a State Election Commission.
• The State Election Commission will prepare the voters’ list and make arrangements for the elections and it has full control over them.
• The State Governor appoints the Commissioner of the State Election Commission.
• Each State has to form State Finance Commission, District Planning Committee and Urban Development Committee. The Act which specifies the responsibilities of the Urban local self-government is included in the XII schedule of the Constitution. It has 18 matters.

Question 10.
How many Grama Panchayats are there in Kerala?
Answer:
999

Question 11.
Imagine your class as the Grama Sabha. Discuss the agenda of the meeting and suggest some steps to realize the goal.
Answer:
Grama Sabha is at the bottom of the 3-tier Panchayat Raj System. It is an integral part of the Grama Panchayat. In the Grama Sabha, all the voters of the village are members. It presents development plans, discusses them and takes decisions. The Ward Member will lead the meeting of the Grama Sabha. Under the Chairmen of various Standing Committees, the discussions are codified and decisions made.

Question 12.
“There are certain limitations in the functioning of the Local Governments.” Do you agree? Explain
Answer:
There are many obstacles on the way of the smooth functioning of the local governments.
Problems of Panchayat Rai:
The main problem is that the people’s civic responsibility is not good enough, maybe because of poverty and illiteracy. They don’t show much alertness or imagination.

Another problem is the indifference that the officials show in Panchayat Raj activities. Another problem is lack of money. Many workers in the local governments are not competent enough to do things properly. They are paid less. Many local governments are plagued with corruption and nepotism. There are also factionalism and political interferences.

The problems faced by the local governments can be solved only through making the people aware of them. They should know the essence of decentralization of power. They should know that decentralization is the means and people’s participation is the goal.

Question 13.
Match the following:

Answer:

Question 14.
The administrative reforms made by ………… in 1882, were the starting point of the local self-governments of modem India.
Answer:
Lord Ripon

Question 15.
The Constitutional Amendments Acts ……… helped in the growth of the local self-government.
Answer:
73, 74

Question 16.
…….. is the basic level of the Panchayat Raj System.
Answer:
Grama Panchayat

Question 17.
The 74^th Constitutional Amendment regarding the local governments in the urban centres is known by the name ………..
Answer:
Nagar Palika System

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Kerala Plus one Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 7 Federalism

Federalism Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is Federalism?
Answer:
Federalism is the system by which powers of the nation are divided between the Centre and the States. If all the powers of the nation are concentrated in the Central government, such a system will be called unitary government. America is a Federal system But China is a unitary system.

Question 2.
Complete the following chart:

Answer:

Question 3.
Indian Federalism and American Federalism are different. Do you agree?
Answer:
The Indian Constitution follows the federal system. This is what article 1 states: “India that is Bharat shall be a Union of States.” When India became free on 15 August 1947, the integration of the Princely, States became necessary. Our Federation did not come into existence through an agreement among existing States. It is a creation of the self-identity of the Indian people through the Constitution. The American Federal system came into existence as the result of an agreement among 13 colonies. Today America is Federation of 50 States.

Question 4.
Explain how powers are divided among the States and the Centre in the Indian Federalism.
Answer:
In the 11th Section of the Constitution, Articles 245 to 263 deal with the relations between the States and the Centre. Article 246 talks about the 3 lists for legislation. The content of the 7th schedule is the three lists – Union List, State List, and the Concurrent List. On subjects mentioned in the Union List, the Parliament makes the Laws. It has 97 subjects. The most important subjects of the nation are in this list. The State List has subjects over which the States can make Laws. It has 66 subjects.

Over the subjects mentioned in the Concurrent List, both the Parliament and the State Assembly can make laws. It has 47 subjects. If any subject is not mentioned in the State List or Concurrent list, the Parliament will have the power to makes laws on that subject.

The main subjects in the Union List are: Defence, Armed Forces, Military Camps, the Fortresses of armed forces, arms and ammunition, nuclear energy, defence industry, Central Intelligence, Preventive Detention, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Treaties and Agreements, Possessions abroad, Exchange of criminals, Passport, Visa, Migration, Pilgrimage outside the country, crimes against international laws, Railway, National Highways, National waterways, Shipping and Navigation, Light Houses, Big ports, Naval hospitals, air traffic, movement of goods, Post, Telephone, Broadcasting, Public Debt, Currency and Coin making, Foreign loans, Reserve Bank, Post Office and so on.

Main items in the State List: Law and Order, Police, Jail, Local government, public health.
Main items in the Concurrent list: Criminal Law, Criminal procedure, Marriage, divorce, etc.

Question 5.
Categorize the following and put in the appropriate columns: Police, education, defense, Foreign trade Banking, Jail, Forest, agriculture, adulteration.

Answer:

Question 6.
Critically examine the Indian Federalism.
Answer:
India is a Federation. All the features of a federation are found in the Indian Constitution.

• Written and Rigid Constitution
• Division of Authority
• Independent Federal Judiciary

The Indian Constitution stands for a strong federal system. It created a strong federal system. The following show strong Central control:

• All the most important subjects are in the Union list.
• Governors are appointed by the Centre.
• The Centre has the right to declare emergency.
• The Centre has Residuary Powers.

Question 7.
Name the Commission that was appointed to study the Centre-State relations
Answer:
Sarkaria Commission

Question 8.
Evaluate the Centre-State relations in India.
Answer:
The Constitution is merely framework of Federalism. It is the political processes that supply the flesh and blood to it. Therefore the changing political processes are the most important factor that influences Indian federalism.

Demand for administrative autonomy: Many States of India are clamoring for greater autonomy. Often this causes rifts between the Centre and the states. The role of Governors and President’s rule: The role of Governors has caused many rifts between the Centre and the states. Often the Governors have to work as yes-men to the Central Government. Presidential rule in case of Constitutional Emergency is also a matter of conflict.

Demand for New States: This is another headache for the Federalism. For example, the demand for Telangana State.
Inter-State Conflicts: Sometimes these conflicts grow to such levels that federalism itself is threatened.

Question 9.
There are States in India that demand autonomy. What are the major demands of such States?
Answer:
Many States and Political Parties demand more autonomy for States. But autonomy means different things to different States and Parties. By Division of authority what some States want is more powers to be given to them. Many States and Political Parties demand more self-rule for their States.

Another demand is that States must have their own sources of income and they should have greater control over their natural resources. Some States wanted autonomy so that they can control their resources.

A third demand is that Centre should not interfere with the State administration. The States can’t tolerate the intervention by the Centre. The fourth reason for self-rule is linked to cultural and language matters. The opposition to Hindi in Tamil Nadu and the imposition of Punjabi in Punjab are causes of protest. The domination of the Hindi speaking States over the other States often causes rifts. Some States protested saying that Hindi was being forcefully imposed on them.

Question 10.
Inter-State Conflicts are common in India. Explain with examples.
Answer:

• River-Water Conflict
• Boundary Conflict

River-water conflicts often become serious as they affect the drinking water and water for irrigation.
Examples are Kaveri Water conflict, Mullaperiyar problem.

Boundary problems also exist in many States. Although the States were formed on linguistic basis, there are many linguistic minorities living in the boundary areas. Example, the conflict between Maharashtra and Karnataka regarding Belgaum.

Question 11.
Which Indian State has got special status according to the Constitution?
Answer:
Jammu-Kashmir (Article 370).

Question 12.
Write down the years in which the following States were formed:
Kerala, Punjab, Sikkim, Goa, Uttaranchal, Nagaland, Jharkhand
Answer:
Kerala — 1956
Punjab — 1966
Sikkim — 1975
Goa — 1987
Uttaranchal — 2000
Nagaland — 1963
Jharkhand — 2000

Question 13.
There is an opinion Governors are responsible for aggravating the Centre-State Conflicts. Do you agree? Explain.
Answer:
I don’t fully agree. A Governor is appointed by the Central Government. Governor is the head of the State Executive. Governors being Central Government appointees often clash with the State Governments. In the matter of imposing President’s rule and the dissolution of the State Government, there often develop rifts between the Governors and State Governments. But it would be unfair to put the blame of bringing problems to Indian Federalism on the Governors alone. There are some other reasons too for the Centre-State Conflicts.

Question 14.
Match the following:

Answer:

Question 15.
What is the relevance of Article 356?
Answer:
Article 356, which empowers the President to dissolve the democratically elected State government, has been often criticized. The first time it was used in Punjab in 1951. Before the election of 1967, the Article 356 was used 8 times. Three times it was in Kerala. By 1998, this article was used nearly a hundred times.

Question 16.
Point out the major topics of inter-state conflicts in India.
Answer:

1. River Water Conflict
2. Boundary Disputes

Since water is need for drinking and also for irrigation in the States, the overwater conflicts between States become highly complex. Examples are the Kaveri River water conflicts and the Mullaperiyar River Water conflicts.

There are also boundary conflicts between States. Although the States were formed on the basis of language, there are linguistic minorities staying in the border villages. For example, there is the conflict between Maharashtra and Karnataka about Belgaum.

Question 17.
An Administrative System in which two kinds of ……….. governments work is called
Answer:
Federalism

Question 18.
From the following, find out which one is included in the Concurrent List.
a) Banking
b) Agriculture
d) Education
d) Police
Answer:
Education

Question 19.
Cyber laws are examples for ………….
Answer:
Residual Powers

Question 20.
……..is a State which has a special status as per Article 370 of the Constitution.
Answer:
Jammu-Kashmir

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Kerala Plus one Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 6 Judiciary

Judiciary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is judiciary? Why do we need an independent judiciary?
Answer:
The Judiciary in a nation makes sure that there is law and order in the nation and justice prevails there. Although it is considered the 3rd branch of the government, it has equal importance with the other two. The yardstick of a nation’s competence is its judiciary. The Constitution of India has made the Judiciary a free Institution. Judiciary protects the rights of the citizens and it is the guardian of the Constitution.

The laws enacted by the Legislatures are interpreted by the Judiciary. By interpreting the laws, the Judiciary brings in new laws. It is the Judiciary that decides if the laws are vague or anti-Constitutional. It is the duty of the Judiciary to ensure rule of law in the country.

Question 2.
What do you mean by the independence of judiciary?
Answer:
By the independence of judiciary we mean the following:
a) The Executive and the Legislature should not interfere in the affairs of the judiciary. The judiciary is independent of the Executive and the Legislature.
b) The decisions of the Judiciary are not to be interfered with.
c) The Judiciary needs independence to pronounce judgments impartially, without fear or favor.
d) Judges should have an atmosphere in which they can deliver impartial judgments.
By independence of judiciary what is meant is not irresponsible or unilateral actions on the part of the Judiciary. Independent Judiciary is part of the democratic structure of the nation. Democratic values are to be protected. Therefore Judiciary should be loyal to the Constitution, to the democratic traditions and the people.
How can the independence of the Judiciary be ensured and maintained?
The independence of the Judiciary can be ensured and maintained by the following means:

• Mode of appointment
• Fixed period of tenure of office
• Financially independent
• Freedom from personal criticism
• Separation of the Executive and the Judiciary
• Handsome salary for the Judges
• Job Security

Question 3.
Who appoints the Supreme Court Judges?
Answer:
It is the President that appoints the Supreme Court and High Court Judges. After consulting the Chief Justice, the President appoints the other judges of the Supreme Court.

Question 4.
Removal of the Supreme and High Court Judges is a very difficult task. Why?
Answer:
The removal of the Supreme and High Court Judges is done through impeachment. Supreme Court Judges can continue in office until the age of 65. Any judge can resign by giving a letter to the President. The President has the authority to remove Judges on the basis of proven corruption of incompetence. But this can be done only if 2/3 majority of both the Houses with full membership passes a resolution to such an effect and requests the President for the removal of the Judge. Supreme Court Judges get allowances and free accommodation, apart from their salaries.

It is from the Consolidated Fund of India the Judges are given their salaries. The salary and other benefits of a Judge can’t be altered in a way that adversely affects him. The decisions and activities of the Judges done in their official capacity are not subject to any criticism. The Supreme Court has its own secretariat. It is the Chief Justice that appoints officials for the Secretariat. All this is done to keep the Judiciary as an independent and impartial organization.

Question 5.
Complete the following pyramid showing the structure of the Judiciary.

Answer:

Question 6.
……….. have Writ jurisdiction.
Answer:
The Supreme Court and High Courts that are Constitutional Courts.

Question 7.
Prepare a table showing the powers and duties of the Supreme Court, High Courts and District Courts.
Answer:

Question 8.
The Supreme Court is the highest Court in India. In that respect, evaluate the powers of the Supreme Court.
Answer:
Original Jurisdiction: In the following cases the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction.

• Conflicts between the Centre and one or more States.
• In conflicts where the Centre and a State or States are on one side and a State or States on the opposite side.
• Conflicts between States.
• In issues connected with the election of the President and Vice President.
• To implement Fundamental Rights as per Article 32.

Appellate Jurisdiction: The Supreme Court is the highest Appellate Court in India. Its Appellate Jurisdiction can be divided into 3 – Constitutional, Civil and Criminal.

Constitutional Cases: If the High Court testifies that the problem has some serious element of interpreting the Constitution, appeal can be given to the Supreme Court. Even if the High Court refuses to certify such a thing, if the Supreme Court feels that the case has some serious element of interpreting the Constitution, the SC can issue Special Leave of Appeal.

The Supreme Court can, on its own initiative, or on the request of the Attorney General, can ask the High Courts to move matters of public interest to the SC.

Civil Cases: If the high Court that testifies to the effect that the matter needs the decision of the SC, the case can be transferred to the SC.

Criminal Cases: In the following circumstances appeals against High Court Judgements can be made in the SC:
If an accused is left unpunished, a person or organization can file an appeal if it is felt that leaving the accused unpunished will cause some difficulty to the public. Here the Court is approached for protecting public interest. Since the Court is approached for public interest, such cases are called ‘Public Interest litigation’. Such cases usually come up in situation where there is a lack of drinking water, problems of the poor, pollution, etc. Today this has become the most energetic weapon in the hands of the Judiciary.

Public Interest Litigation:
a) Anybody who is interested in public interest, to defend the rights of others; to solve public problems, can approach the Court.
b) Since litigation is very costly in India, for defending people’s rights, this helps. In the Constitution, is stated that only the persons whose fundamental rights are violated can approach the court. But this condition has been made loose by the Supreme Court by letting Public Interest Litigation. Through this anybody can approach the court to defend the fundamental rights of others.

Question 9.
Name the Chief justice of India.
Answer:
Justice T.S. Thakur.

Question 10.
Binu: Judicial activism has highly influenced our political system.
Meena: But it has led to conflict between the Executive and the Judiciary.
On the basis of this conversation, explain the merits and demerits of judicial activism.
Answer:
Judicial activism has caused some bitter feuds and confrontations among the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary in India. When the Executive and legislature become weak, the Judiciary openly intervenes for the protection of the rights of the people. It is good for democracy but it has its weaknesses. Here are the merits and demerits of judicial activism.
Merits

• Through public interest litigation, the powers of the Courts increased and the people’s faith in them also increased.
• Judicial activism helped to reduce expenses for litigation.
• Judicial activism forced the Executive to carry out its responsibilities.

Demerits

• Increased workload for the Courts.
• It caused open clash between the Executive and Judiciary.

Question 11.
Prepare a note on Judiciary and rights.
Answer:
Judiciary and rights: In jurisprudence, rights and their remedies go hand in hand.

• Right without remedy is useless.
• The Constitution has given the rights and the remedies for their violation.
• Articles 32 and 226 of the Indian Constitution authorizes the Supreme Court and the High Courts to issue orders for the implementation of the rights.
• The fundament rights given in the 3rd part of the Constitution are to be implemented and the remedies for violation are given in Article 32.
• Article 32 empowers the citizens to approach the Court to get their fundamental rights implemented.
• Article 226 empowers the High Courts in the States to issue orders for the implementation of citizens’ rights.

Question 12.
Public interest litigation enables the courts to interfere in social issues. Comment.
Answer:
Article 226 talks about Public interest litigation. This is to ensure the citizens that they get their rights. In Kerala, there was a strike by government doctors. The Court then asked the government to solve the problem through negotiations. This court interference in the issue was because of Public interest litigation.

Question 13.
Identify examples where the Court/Judiciary acts as custodian of public interests.
Answer:

• Banning meetings in public places.
• Banning the use of loudspeakers on streets.

These are examples where Judiciary has acted as custodian of public interests.

Question 14.
Find the odd one out:
a) When other Judges are appointed to the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice is consulted.
b) Judges are not usually removed before their retirement.
c) A High Court Judge can’t be transferred to another High Court. .
d) The Parliament has no role in the appointment of Judges.
Answer:
A High Court Judge can’t be transferred to another High Court.

Question 15.
Prepare a note on Judiciary and Parliament.
Answer:
According to the principle of decentralization of powers, each component of the government has to carry out separate functions. Judiciary has the responsibility of looking at the laws passed by the Parliament and see if they are in keeping with the Constitutional principles. In the modern times, through judicial activism, Judiciary is interfering with the Legislature. But the Parliament has the power to impeach the Judges if they found incompetent or corrupt. In fact, for the Constitution to function smoothly, cooperation between these two organs is essential.

Question 16.
What is the importance of judicial review?
Answer:
lf the laws passed by the Legislature and implemented by the Executive are found to be contrary to the Constitution, the Judiciary has the right to declare such laws null and void. Using this right the Judiciary protects the rights of the citizens and thus it does a praiseworthy job.

Question 17.
Match the following:

Answer:

Question 18.
How can the independence of the Judiciary be protected?
Answer:
The Constitution has made provisions for keeping the Judiciary independent and impartial. They are as follows:
a) Mode of Appointment of Judges: The Constitution has made provisions to make the appointment of Judges above politics. The Legislature does not have much role in the appointment of Judges. For a person to be appointed as a Judge he should have experience as an advocate. He should be well-versed in law. A person’s politics does not have any role in his appointment as a Judge.
b) Fixed Tenure: The fixed tenure ensures that the Judges can work independently as they can’t be easily removed from their posts. Only in very rare circumstances can a judge be removed. This stability in the job makes them fearless and act judiciously without fear or favor.
c) Financial independence: The Judiciary does not have to depend on the Executive or the Legislature for their financial needs. The Constitution has made the salaries and allowances of the Judges beyond the jurisdiction of the Legislature. It makes the Judiciary independent. Handsome salaries and allowances will help the Judges to be independent and they will be free from the temptation of accepting bribes or such financial benefits.
d) Freedom from personal criticism: The decisions and activities of the Judge should be from criticism. Judiciary has the power to punish people for contempt of court. It is believed that this provision will protect Judges from unjust criticism. Even the Parliament can’t discuss the behavior of a Judge except as part of his impeachment process. The Judiciary can thus take impartial decisions without being afraid of criticism.
e) Separating the Executive from the Judiciary: This is another way of protecting the freedom of the Judiciary. If his fundamental rights are violated, any person can approach the SC for redress. In the form of Writ, the SC can issue special orders. For defending Fundamental Rights, the SC can issue Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Quo Warranto and Certiorari. Through these Writs, the Judiciary can give orders to the Executive to take action.

Question 19.
What do you mean by writ Jurisdiction?

Question 20.
Who appoints the Judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts?
Answer:
The President

Question 21.
Which of the following are the jurisdictions of the Supreme Court?
a) Original jurisdiction
b) Appellate jurisdiction
c) Advisory jurisdiction
d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

Question 22.
By issuing …….. the Supreme Court can reestablish Fundamental Rights.
Answer:
Writs

Question 23.
The first Woman Judge of the Supreme Court was………
Answer:
Justice Fatima Biwi

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Kerala Plus one Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 5 Legislature

Legislature Questions and Answers

Question 1.
A Parliament is necessary for the existence of democracy. Do you agree? Explain.
Answer:
Legislature is the Committee that makes laws for the day-to-day administration of the country and for the protection of the freedom and rights of its citizens. The laws that are carried out by the Executive are made by the Legislature. The people in a country through their right to’ vote choose their representatives. The Legislature thus established democratically is responsible to the people. In different countries, different types of Legislature can be found. It is based on the relations between the Executive and Legislature that governments are divided into Parliamentary and Presidential systems.

Question 2.
Name the two Houses of Parliament.
Answer:
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

Question 3.
Who is the present Lok Sabha Speaker?
Answer:
Sumatra Mahakam

Question 4.
What are the powers and functions of Lok Sabha?
Answer:

• Legislation (law-making)
• Controlling the Executive
• Financial responsibilities
• Representation
• Discussions
• Administrative responsibilities
• Election responsibilities
• Judicial responsibilities

Question 5.
Prepare a table showing the powers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Answer:

Question 6.
A bill when passed in the Indian Parliament becomes a law. What do you understand by a bill?
Answer:
A bill is the draft of the proposed law. If the Parliament approves the draft, it becomes a law. The law is to be approved by the President.

Question 7.
There are several procedures fora bill presented in the Parliament to become a law. Explain the procedure.
Answer:
Legislative Procedure in India: The procedure for passing the bills in the Parliament is explained in articles 107 to 122. According to that, each bill has to pass through 5 phases including 3 readings in the Houses.
a) First Reading: This is the presentation of the bill. After getting the permission of the House, a member presents the bill with a statement.
If the bill faces opposition, the one who presented the bill and the one objecting it is given opportunity to explain their stands. If the majority votes in favor of the Bill, it is published in the Government Gazette. If the bill is not very controversial, there is a precedent that there is no discussion in the first reading.
b) Second Reading: This is the 2nd phase. At this stage, all the important points of the bill are discussed. The presenter will ask the House to consider it urgently. Or he may request the bill to be sent to a Select Committee ora Joint Committee of both the Houses for consideration. He may also ask the bill to be circulated forgetting public opinion. Normally the bill is sent to a Select Committee.
c) The Committee Stage: This is the 3rd stage. The members to this Committee are appointed by the House. The Committee Chairman decides the time, date and venue of the meeting. The Select Committee will have members from the Opposition. The Members study the bill clause by clause and prepares a report to be presented in the House.
d) Report Stage: This is the 4th stage. The presenter asks the House to discuss the bill on the day it is scheduled for discussion. The Report may be unanimous or with differences in opinion. In the light of the Report, the House discusses each condition in the bill. This discussion may take quite some time. Each item in the bill is discussed extensively and then it is put to vote. During this time serious changes may happen in the bill and therefore this is the most crucial stage.
e) Third Reading: This is the last stage. On the appointed day the bill is presented in the House for final approval. No serious change is brought at this stage. Changes may be orally presented and quickly resolved. At the end of the discussion, the bill is put to vote. If the bill receives favourable vote from the majority of members present and voting, the bill is deemed to have passed. Then the bill is sent to the second House.

Question 8.
Complete the following flow chart

Answer:

Question 9.
Lok Sabha is more powerful than the Rajya Sabha. Comment.
Answer:
The Rights and Responsibilities of the Lok Sabha: The Lok Sabha has Legislative, Financial, Administrative and Election responsibilities. In the matter of ordinary law-making, Lok Sabha has greater power. If a bill passed by the Lok Sabha is rejected by the Rajya Sabha, the President can call a joint meeting of both the Houses. Since Lok Sabha has greater number of members, the Rajya Sabha will have to go with the Lok Sabha verdict. The Rajya can only delay things a bit. A bill may originate in any House, normally important bills are presented first in the Lok Sabha. Financial Bills can originate only in the Lok Sabha. Since the Lok Sabha has the freedom to reject any suggestions on Financial Bills, it has the monopoly over them.

Lok Sabha controls the Executive in the day-to-day administration. The Central Ministry is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Ministry will have to resign the moment it loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha. It can also bring a Non-Confidence motion. By asking questions, through resolutions and discussions, the Lok Sabha maintains control over the government. When the Appropriation bills are brought, the members get a chance to discuss the successes and failures of each department. Members of the Lok Sabha have voting right in the election of the President and Vice President. It has equal authority with the Rajya Sabha to bring any amendment. It has equal rights with the Rajya Sabha in impeaching the President, in removing Supreme Court and High Court Judges, in approving Resolutions for Emergency and Ordinances.

Question 10.
What do you mean by Money Bill?
Answer:
Money bills are those that deal with economic matters. They can originate only in the Lok Sabha. The process of Money Bill is different. After passing it, the Lok Sabha passes it on to the Rajya Sabha for suggestions. But Rajya Sabha has no power to change it or reject it. In 14 days’ time after the receipt of the bill by the Rajya Sabha, it should send it back to the Lok Sabha with suggestions. The suggestions can be accepted or rejected by the Lok Sabha. If the bill is not returned within 14 days, it will be considered to have been passed by both Houses. The Rajya Sabha has virtually no important role to play in the Money Bills.

Question 11.
How any members are there in the Lok Sabha?
Answer:
It has 545 members – 543 elected and 2 nominated.

Question 12.
Suggest the instruments of Parliamentary control.
Answer:

• Discussions and debates.
• Approving of rejecting the laws.
• Control through finances
• Motion of No-Confidence

Question 13.
The first item in the time-table of the Parliament is Question-Answer session. Then comes the Zero hour. What do you know about the Zero hour?
Answer:
When the Question-Answer session finishes, the Zero hour starts. It starts at 12 Noon and that is why it is called the Zero hour. During the Zero hour, urgent matters can be raised without giving prior notice.

Question 14.
Point out the importance of the law of anti-defection.
Answer:
Defection is when an elected member of a party refuses to obey party-whip and joins with other parties. Law of anti-defection makes such defections unlawful. The law envisages that the membership of the defected member should be canceled. This law ensures the stability of the government.

Question 15.
How many members are there in the Indian Parliament from Kerala?
Answer:
20 in the Lok Sabha and 9 in the Rajya Sabha.

Question 16.
Prepare a note on Parliamentary supremacy.
Answer:
Although both Britain and India have Parliamentary (Cabinet) System, the Parliaments in both countries do not have the same status. Since Britain has no written constitution, its Parliament has unlimited powers. It can pass or reject any law. Courts can’t question the Parliament there. The Parliament can even ignore Court decisions. In short, there is nothing the Parliament can’t do there.

Question 17.
Match the following:

Answer:

Question 18.
What do you mean by Select Committee? How is it formed and operated?
Answer:
When the House wants a bill to be sent to the Select Committee, a Select Committee is formed. A Select Committee is formed to study a bill in detail and make its report. The chairman of the Committee is nominated by the Speaker. After studying the bill carefully, the committee presents its report to the House. When the work is over the Select Committee is disbanded.

Question 19.
Explain (a) Question Hour,
(b) Zero Hour and
(c) Adjournment Motion.
Answer:
Parliament meetings start at 11 a.m. Up to 12 Noon, it will be Question-Answer time. This is the time set apart for the members to ask questions to the Ministers on a particular topic.

When the Question Hour finishes, the Zero Hour starts. Since it starts at 12 Noon it is called the Zero hour. During the Zero hour, urgent matters can be raised without giving prior notice. 5 to 10 minutes are given for each matter. The agenda of the Parliament is pre-determined. But with the permission of the speaker, this can be changed. Keeping the pre-determined agenda away, the Speaker at times allows members to present matters of urgent importance. Adjournment Motion is for that.

Question 20.
The Upper House of the Parliament is …………
Answer:
Rajya Sabha

Question 21.
From which year was Rajya Sabha known by that name?
a) 1950
b) 1951
c) 1954
d) 1956
Answer:
1954

Question 22.
Lok Sabha was formed on ……….
Answer:
17 April 1952

Question 23.
When does the Zero Hour of the Parliament start?
Answer:
At 12 Noon

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Kerala Plus one Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 4 The Executive

The Executive Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is Executive?
Answer:
The different departments of the government like law-making, administration and dispensing justice are vested, through decentralization in the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary respectively. It is the Executive that manages the day-to-day affairs of the nation as per the Constitution and the Laws. It is the Executive that carries out the laws passed by the Legislature.

Question 2.
What are the different types of Executives?
Answer:

• Nominal Executive and Real Executive
• Single Executive and Plural Executive
• Parliamentary System and Presidential System
• Political and Permanent Executives
• Hereditary, Elected and Nominated Executives.

Question 3.
According to the Indian Constitution, the President has got a lot of powers. Explain.
Answer:
The Powers of the President are divided into many categories.
a) Executive Powers: As the Head of the Nation, he appoints all the persons holding important posts. The PM, Union Ministers, Governors, Finance Commission, Union Public Service Commission, Election Commission, etc are appointed by him. He also appoints Diplomats, Comptroller, and the Auditor General. He also dismisses them when necessary.
b) Legislative Rights: The President is also part of the Legislature. He has the authority to summon the Parliament, to abrogate it, to address it and to dismiss the LokSabha (85* Article). He nominates Members to the Parliament, issues Ordinances. His prior permission is needed to introduce Bills regarding special subjects like formation of new States and Money Bills. The most important thing is that for any Bill to become Law, his signature is necessary.
c) Judicial Powers: According to Article 72, the President has the power to stop, reduce and even cancel sentences, including death sentence, given by courts, including military courts. He has the power to appoint Supreme Court and High Court judges.
d) Military Powers: The President is the Commander-in-Chief. The authority to appoint Heads of our Armed Forces is vested on him. All his powers as the Commander-in-Chief will be subject to the Laws passed by the Parliament.
e) Emergency Powers: He has Emergency Powers to overcome any Emergency. The Constitution has envisaged three kinds of Emergencies.
i) National Emergency (352): He can declare emergency if there is a war, foreign attack or armed revolution threatening the security of the country or any of its parts. Such emergency needs the ratification of the Parliament in a month and if it is to continue during every six months. When an emergency is in force, the Central Government will have complete control over the State Legislatures and Executives. Moreover, the fundamental rights of the citizens except those in articles 21 and 22 will be suspended. Three times such emergencies were declared (1962, 1971 and 1975).
ii) State Emergencies or President’s Rule (356): This means the President has the power to assume the administration of any State if he feels that the conditions there have become so bad that the State government can’t rule there as per the provision of the Constitution. For that, one of the following conditions must exist: As per article 356, the President gets a report from the State Governor or the State Government fails to carry out the instructions of the Central Government. The Ordinance imposing President’s Rule in any State must be approved by the Parliament in two months’ time. By getting approval from the Parliament after six months, the President’s rule can be extended up to a year.
iii) Economic Emergency: If the President feels that the economic stability of the country is threatened, he can declare an economic emergency. When such an emergency is in place, the entire economic matters will be under the Central Government’s control. Such an emergency has not been declared so far.

Question 4.

Answer:

Question 5.
What is meant by the Discretionary Powers of the President?
Answer:
Discretionary Powers:

• The power to send back suggestions to the Cabinet for reconsideration.
• President’s Veto power: Except the Finance Bill, the President can suspend of deny the Bills passed by the Parliament.
• In the circumstances when no Party has a clear majority, the President, using his Discretionary Powers, can invite the leader of any party to form the government.

Question 6.
Exhibit in a table the major differences between Parliamentary and Presidential forms of government
Answer:

Question 7.
“President is only a rubber stamp.” Do you agree with this opinion? Why?
Answer:
I do not fully agree with this opinion. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. All the decisions taken by the Cabinet are carried out in the name of the President.
The President has Discretionary Powers. The Discretionary Powers are:

• To send back suggestions to the Cabinet for reconsideration,
• President’s Veto power: Except the Finance Bill, the President can suspend of deny the Bills passed by the Parliament,
• In the circumstances when no Party has a clear majority, the President, using his Discretionary Powers, can invite the leader of any party to form the government.

Question 8.
Who were the first President and Vice President of India?
Answer:
Dr. Rajendra Prasad (President) & Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (Vice President).

Question 9.
Find the odd one out:
Answer:

• American President
• Indian President
• Swiss President
• British Queen

Question 10.
Pick out the one related to bureaucracy:
a) Nominal Executive
b) Permanent Executive
c) Political Executive
d) Multi-Member Executive
Answer:
Permanent Executive

Question 11.
Categorize the following into those related to the President & Vice president.
Answer:
a) Fixed period
b) Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
c) Elected by an Electoral College
d) Will continue in office till the successor joins the post.
e) Calls meetings of Jpoth Houses of the Parliament
f) Takes oath before the Chief Justice of India
g) Appoints the Prime Minister
h) Chosen by the MPs
i) Should be eligible to be a member of the Lok Sabha
Answer:
President:

• Fixed period
• Elected by an Electoral College
• Calls meetings of both Houses of the Parliament
• Takes oath before the Chief Justice of India
• Appoints the Prime Minister
• Should be eligible to be a member of the Lok Sabha

Vice President:

• Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
• Will continue in office till the successor joins the post.
• Chosen by the MP’s

Question 12.
Match the following:

Answer:

Question 13.
The success of a government largely depends on the efficiency of the bureaucracy. Critically examine this statement.
Answer:
The success of a government depends on the efficiency of its bureaucracy. The Civil Service has many duties to perform
Civil Service Functions:
These can be divided into 4:
a) In the matters of administration, Civil Services have a responsibility to the people. Ruling does not happen in a vacuum. Government officers have responsibility to the Legislature and the public. In fact, government officials are the servants of the public.
b) Civil Service makes its own policy for smooth working. In fact, policy formation takes place in the Cabinet. It will have the approval of the Assembly. But the details regarding their practical implementation are left in the hands of the Civil Service.
c) Theoretically, the power of delegated legislation given to the Executive comes to the Civil Service. Thus Civil Service gives flesh and blood to the laws passed by the Legislature. The Ministers and members of the legislature may not be experts in the laws. Therefore the Civil Service gives expert advice at every stage of lawmaking.
d) Civil Service has the entire responsibility of carrying out the laws. Once a policy is formed and the Legislature makes a Law and it is approved by the Executive, the Civil Service has the duty to carry it out in actual practice.

Question 14.
Complete the following chart on the basis of the classification of Indian Civil Service.

Answer:

Question 15.
Point out the importance and role of Bureaucracy.
Answer:
See the answer to Question Number 13.

Question 16.
Who were the members of the Central Ministry in the last Administration?
Answer:
A.K. Antony, Vayalar Ravi, E. Ahmed, JK.C. Venugopal, K.V. Thomas, and Mullappally Ramachandran.

Question 17.
Explain the functions and powers of the Vice President.
Answer:
Apart from a President, India has a Vice President. He is chosen by the elected members of both Houses of the Parliament. His qualifications and duration of office are like that of the President. If the President’s post falls vacant somehow until it is filled the Vice President carries out the functions of the President. But this can’t last for more than six months. If the President can’t carry out his responsibility because of illness, ill-health or absence, the Vice President carries out the responsibility of the President. Moreover the Vice President is the Chairman of the RajyaSabha.

Question 18.
Nation’s Important Person – the real executive – foundation of the cabinet arch – political executive – incomparable-forms the future of the nation. On the basis of the above indicators, examine the powers and roles of the Prime Minister. Also, evaluate his role in the country.
Answer:
Responsibilities of the Cabinet The Responsibilities of the Cabinet can be grouped into 5: Policy formation, full control over the executive bureaucracy, ensuring cooperation among the departments and deciding their limits, economic control and control in appointments.

The Cabinet decides the common administrative policy of the Indian Union. It discusses all national and international problems and takes decisions on them. Ministers give leadership to the working of different departments. When they carry out their responsibilities, they ensure that they follow the instructions of the cabinet. The Cabinet controls the working of the executive bureaucracy. It is the cabinet that brings unity among the departments and solves any conflict that might arise among them. The Cabinet also decides how much money is to be spent by the Nation and how to find that money through revenue collection. The Cabinet prepares and budget and presents it for the Parliament’s approval. Cabinet decides what the new projects are to be undertaken and what new taxes are to be levied. It is true that the Parliamentary approval is necessary for all this.

Cabinet makes the most important appointments of the Indian Union. It also decides how many times Parliament Meetings have to be called and what should their agenda! be. It takes the initiative in law-making. It presents Bills in both Houses of the Parliament and gets them passed. Without the support of the Cabinet, the Bills presented by private members will be rejected. Thus Cabinet has a big role to play in Parliamentary Democracy.

Prime Minister:
In the Cabinet administrative system, the PM has a big role. The Indian PM has the same status as the British PM. The PM is the first among equals. In Latin, they say ‘primus inter pares’. But the other Ministers are not his subordinates. According to Sir Ivor Jennings, the PM is like the solar system where all the other planets go round the sun. Morley says the PM is the foundation of the Cabinet Arch. Prof. Lasky says that the PM holds the arch up or makes it fall. The PM has many responsibilities. His area of jurisdiction is also great. Constitutionally, the President appoints the PM.. But the President has no choice here. It is simply a mechanical act. The President is obliged to appoint the leader of the Party which has the majority or highest number of seats in the Lok Sabha. But if no party has a clear majority, the President may invite the leader of any Party whom he thinks can form the Cabinet. The President appoints other Ministers on the recommendations of the PM.

Although the PM is free in the appointment of the Cabinet, he will have to take into consideration many things. He will have to give deserving representation to various States, religious communities, minorities, economic interests, political groups and so on. But he has also to consider competence and consensus. The PM can demand the resignation of any Minister at any time. If a Minister refuses to resign, the PM can ask the President to remove him. The precedent is that if a Minister does not agree with any Policy matter, he should resign. People like Shanmukham Shetty, Dr. John Mathai, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee and V.V. Giri, etc. had resigned their posts as ministers.

The PM can shuffle the departments of the Ministers. When a PM resigns, the entire Cabinet resigns with him. Differences among the ministers and departments are solved by the PM. He supervises all departments. He decides the agenda of the Cabinet. He presides over Cabinet meetings. He is the link between the President and the Cabinet. It is through the PM the President gets to know what the government is doing. The secretariat of the PM helps him in doing his work.

The PM has four different positions. He is the leader of his party in the Parliament. By that, he controls the members of his party. Secondly, he is the leader of the Lok Sabha. It is he who represents the Lok Sabha and talks for it. Thirdly, he is the head of the cabinet. That way he is the person with the highest powers in the country. Fourthly he is the link between the President and the Cabinet. He has responsibility towards his party, Parliament and the Nation. He coordinates the work of different departments. In fact, a national election is the election of a PM. As the leader of the nation, the PM is looked upon with respect. Sir Ivor Jennings feels that the status of the PM depends on the person who occupies the position, his competence and his efforts and the leverage the other Ministers allow him. Charismatic leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru might overshadow other Ministers. If the PM is not competent enough, the Cabinet will be under the control of his colleagues and the Party.

Question 19.
Distinguish between single-member and multi-member executive. Give an example for each.
Answer:
Depending on the number of people at the head of the administration of the nation, Executive can be of two kinds – single-member and multi-member executive.
When the executive administration is vested in one person, it is single-member executive. E.g. America. When the executive administration is vested in more than one person equally, it is a multi-member executive.
E.g. Switzerland.

Question 20.
Who is the Head of the Indian Republic?
Answer:
President

Question 21.
The right of the President to send back bills to the Parliament for reconsideration is known as ………..
Answer:
Veto

Question 22.
By which article of the Constitution is the post of the Vice-President established?
Answer:
a) 62nd
b) 63rd
c) 64th
d) 65th
Answer:
63rd

Question 23.
Who was the first Speaker in India?
Answer:
GV. Mavlankar

Question 24.
The …………. consists of the Governor, Chief Minister, and Ministers.
Answer:
State Executive

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Kerala Plus One Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 3 Election and Representation

Election and Representation Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Distinguish between direct democracy and indirect democracy.
Answer:
indirect democracy people directly involve themselves in law-making activities. But in indirect democracy, people elect their Representatives. The representatives carry out different things needed for the people by democracy.

Question 2.
Mention any two merits and demerits of direct democracy.
Answer:
Merits:

• People directly take part in the discussions and decisions.
• Since decisions are taken fast, no wasting of time.

Demerits:

• Not suitable for big nations.
• Common people won’t have the expertise to make policy decisions.

Question 3.
Mention any two merits and demerits of indirect democracy.
Answer:
Merits:

• Suitable for large nations.
• Elected representatives will be responsible to people.

Demerits:

• Election process is very expensive.
• The influence of money and power will be visible in the election.

Question 4.
Adult franchise should be regarded as the basis of representative government. Comment.
Answer:
Merits and demerits of Adult franchise :
The following are the merits pointed out by its supporters:
i) Adult franchise is essential for the success of democracy. Since democracy is the government of the people, forthe people and by the people, for its success Adult franchise is a must.
ii) It leads to national unity: Adult franchise is essential to maintain the unity of the nation. If a section of people is denied the right to vote, they will be reluctant to obey the government. It will ruin the unity of the country. With Adult franchise, all people will think the nation is their own.
iii) It nourishes self-respect: When all the people vote they feel that they are also participating in decision making and they are an integral part of the society. This will nourish their self-respect and will prompt them to be loyal and obedient citizens.
iv) Suitable for the Principle of Equality: Adult franchise holds fast to the principle of equality in political rights. It does not allow controlled franchise which brings inequality. Thus it is highly suitable for the Principle of Equality.
v) An instrument of political education: Adult franchise plays a big role in giving the people political education. Since all the people take part in the election they get an opportunity to think about the nation’s problems. Political parties explain to people their views regarding various issues. This helps in forming strong public opinion and consensus.
vi) It protects minority rights: Adult franchise helps the minorities to play their role in elections. In limited franchise, their rights are not given due respect.
vii) Reduces the chances for revolutions: Adult franchise represents all the people. If the government goes wrong, the people can change it. Thus it reduces the chances for violent revolutions.
viii) It distinguishes between citizens and foreigners: Adult franchise system is not applicable to foreigners. Only the citizens have political rights. Thus Adult franchise distinguishes between citizens and foreigners.

Question 5.
Construct a table showing the merits of Universal Adult Franchise.
Answer:
The merits of Universal Adult franchise:

• It is necessary for the success of democracy.
• It leads to national unity.
• It nourishes self-respect.
• Suitable for the Principle of Equality.
• An instrument of political education.
• It protects minority rights.
• Reduces the chances for revolutions.
• It distinguishes between citizens and foreigners.

Question 6.
What are the features of First Past the Post (FPTP) System and Proportional Representation?
Answer:
First Past the Post System: Its features :

• The entire country is divided into separate constituencies.
• For each constituency, one representative is elected.
• The candidate who gets the highest number of votes in the constituency is declared as the winner.
• In this system, a candidate who gets more votes than the other candidates wins.
• It is not necessary for a candidate to have a majority (50%+1) to win.
• This system is also known as plurality system,
• This is the system suggested by the Constitution.

Proportional Representations:

Its features:
a) A large area is considered as a constituency.
b) There are two different methods in this system:
i) In some countries, the entire country is considered a constituency. Depending on the votes received by each party in the national election, seats are distributed, (e.g. Israel, Netherlands).
ii) In the second method, the country is divided into multi-member constituencies, (e.g. Argentina, Portugal).
c) Each Party prepares a list of candidates for each constituency.
d) It is possible to elect more than one candidate from one constituency.
e) The Voters vote for the Party and not for the candidates.

Question 7.
Point out the salient features of the election system in India.
Answer:

• Adult franchise
• Direct election
• One member constituencies
• Secret ballot
• FPTP system
• Proportional Representation
• Reservation of constituencies

Question 8.
Why did India adopt the FPTP system?
Answer:
India adopted the FPTP system for the following reasons:

• It is a simple system without much complication.
• For a huge sub-continental country like India, it is the most suitable.
• Voters have the freedom to choose the candidate of their choice.
• Since in the FPTP system representatives are chosen from one particular area, they can’t run away from their responsibilities.
• It is excellent for the formation of stable governments.
• It unites different sections of people. It is a suitable system for serving national interests.
• Proportional Representation system has many shortcomings and thus FPTP is better.

Question 9.
Match the following:

Answer:

Question 10.
Differentiate between public voting and secret voting.
Answer:
There are two ways to vote: Public and Secret. People like Montesquieu and J.S. Mill supported public voting. They argued that voting is a public responsibility and so it should be done in public. Theoretically, public voting might be good, but it has practical problems. Noting by secret ballot is the most popular form today.

Question 11.
Who is the Chief Election Commissioner of India?
Answer:
Y.M. Qureshi

Question 12.
Illustrate how Proportional Representation works in the Rajya Sabha elections?
Answer:
Single Transferable Vote is the basic concept of Proportional Representation. We follow this system in the Rajya Sabha elections. Accordingly, each State is given a quota to the Rajya Sabha. For a candidate to win, he should get the proportional share of the votes. The equation tp decide the quota is as follows:

The number of total candidates to be elected +1 )
For example, for the election to the Rajya Sabha, the voters from Kerala are the 140 members of the Kerala Assembly. According to the equation for deciding the quota:

The number of total members from Kerala to the Rajya Sabha is 9. One-third of them (that is 3) complete their term every two years. So each time 3 members are elected.

Question 13.
Name the Constitutional institution authorized to conduct elections in India.
Answer:
The Election Commission

Question 14.
Examine the election procedure in India,
Answer:
Normally in India elections to the Lok Sabha take place every five years. For each election, there is a long procedure.
a) Preparing the Voters List – This is the first step. The names of adults living in a constituency for more than a certain period are included in the list.
b) Deciding the boundaries of the constituency: Normally, after each census the boundaries of the Constituencies are decided. This is because of the change in the number of the people.
c) Appointment of the Election Officials: The Election Commission appoints Chief Election Officers, Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, Polling Officers, and Polling Assistants.
d) Fixing polling stations and booths.
e) Notification and Nominations
f) After the notification, Political Parties publish their manifestos.
g) Election Propaganda – After the notification political parties start their Election Propaganda.
h) Voting -Two days before the voting, propaganda has to be stopped. On the voting day, voters go to the booths and vote.
i) Counting Votes
j) Taking the Pledge – The elected members have to take the. pledge before they become members of the House.
k) Presenting election accounts
l) Election-related complaints-Any candidate or voter can give complaints about the election. Such complaints are to be filed in the local High Court.

Question 15.
The electoral system in India faces a number of challenges like communalism, influence of caste, criminals, money and muscle power. The election rules are to be modified to deal with these negative forces. Suggest the reforms to be implemented to streamline the election process in India
Answer:
i) To prevent money and muscle power:

• The election expenses must be borne by the Nation.
• Candidates and parties must present audited accounts of their election expenses.
• Limit should be put to the election expenses. Those who exceed the limit should be disqualified.
• Criminals should not be allowed to contest.
• Strong actions against violent acts like booth-capturing.

ii) To control political parties:

• In the political parties, democratic and secular values should be stressed.
• Registration of the parties should be made compulsory.
• Party officers are to be elected from time to time.
• Accounts should be audited and published.

iii) To reform the election process and conduct of the
election:

• Election Commission should be broad-based. Its number should be increased.
• Identity cards with photos should be made compulsory for voting.
• Voters’ list must be up-to-date and complete.
• Make voting compulsory.

iv) For Women Representation:

• Make reservations in the Assembly and Parliament seats.
• Give women responsible positions in parties.
• Take steps to overcome the attitude of the society to keep women away from public and political activities.
• Political parties must let more women candidates contest.

Question 16.
What do you mean by political minority?
Answer:
The party that got less seats than the winning party is the political minority party

Question 17.
Indian election system is not free from limitations. Explain.
Answer:
Defects of the Indian election system:
a) Influence of money: According to the Company Law 1956, companies can give any amount of money as contributions to the candidate or the political parties. The influence of these rich people will be found in the elected candidates and naturally, they won’t be just or impartial in their decisions.
b) Violence in Politics: Politics becomes an arena where muscle power plays a role. There is impersonation and booth capturing. Agents of rival candidates are attacked. People are threatened and so some people prefer not to vote. With this kind of activities, even criminals and criminally minded people get elected.
c) Influence of Caste and Religion: According to law, no candidate can seek vote in the name of religion, caste, community or language. But many candidates somehow try to exploit these emotions in the voters. Recently the election of a candidate in Punjab was canceled by the Supreme Court as he canvassed votes in the name of religion.
d) Concessions given during Election Time: Governments often embark on people-friendly projects just before the election. There are loan-melas, mid-day meals, and distribution of grains at low prices. This is very unhealthy. Collecting votes by spending public money is very bad.
e) The paradox between votes and seats: In most elections, we see that a party may get more seats but their total votes will be less. In the 1984 election Congress party got only 49.1% of the polled vote and only 30% of the total vote. But in the Lok Sabha, it had % majority. The Assembly elections also give the same picture. This is against the principle of democracy where majority decides things.
f) Defects in the Election Procedure: Lakhs of Indian citizens are denied their voting rights as their names are left out of the voters’ list. Many parties resort to violence and booth capturing.

Question 18.
Limitations of the present election system in India point towards the necessity for electoral reforms. Give suggestions for electoral reforms.
Answer:
See the answer to Question Number 15.

Question 19.
List the major functions of the Election Commission of India.
Answer:
Major functions of the Election Commission of India:
a) Preparing the voters’ list correctly and scientifically. Giving appropriate instructions for its preparations and supervising its making.
b) Conducting the election of the President, Vice President, MPs, and MLAs.
c) Preparing time tables for elections.
d) The Commission has the right to cancel the polling of a particular booth or even the entire constituency if malpractices are detected. Threatening the voters, burning booths, taking away ballot boxes, etc. are very big crimes. If such things happen, the election in that constituency can be canceled. If such things happen only.in some booths, the polling there can be cancelled. On 23 November 1984, the Election Commission ordered re-polling in 78 booths all over the country.
e) The Commission appoints Returning Officers and Asstt. Returning Officers.
f) The Commission allots different political parties their symbols.
g) It is the Commission that approves political parties to contest in the election. It decides what kind of recognition is given to each political party, whether State Level or National Level. In the November 1989 Lok Sabha elections, the Commission recognized 9 parties as National level Parties.
h) The Commission ensures that only those who have voting rights vote. It also has to prevent impersonation during voting.
i) It is the duty of the Commission to establish booths at convenient places so that voters won’t have to
travel long distances.
j) The Commission has to make sure that ballot boxes are collected after the election and kept away securely. It also has to ensure that the counting of votes is done fairly and declare the results.
k) The Commission brings out the code of conduct for the political parties and independent candidates.
l) It also has to control and guide the Officers appointed by the Union Government and State Governments to conduct elections.
m) All election results are declared by the Election Commission.

Question 20.
Explain the features of Hare System.
Answer:
The system of Single Transferable Vote is known as Hare system. The person who invented this system was Thomas Hare, a British man. He mentioned this system in his book “Machinery of Representation” in 1851. Later in his book “The Election of Representatives” he elaborated this concept. Andrea, who was the Finance Minister of Denmark, used this system in his country. Then it was also known as the Andrea System. In giving his vote, the voter gives his preferences and therefore this system is also called Preferential System. In the Republic of Ireland, South Africa and Canada this system is followed.

Question 21.
List the category of people having no voting rights in India.
Answer:
The Indian Constitution gives equal and non- discriminatory voting rights to its citizens. But there are some conditions in which citizens are denied this right. The following groups have no voting rights:

• Those who have not reached the voting age.
• Those who do not stay in India.
• Mentally afflicted people.
• Criminals (who are punished for corruption and election malpractices).
• Those whose names do not appear in the voters’ list.

Question 22.
The Direct Representational System prevailing in India
Answer:
First Past the Post System

Question 23.
By what name is the FPTP known?
a) Simple Majority System
b) Relative Majority System
c) Plurality System
d) All of the above
Answer:
All of the above

Question 24.
In 1881, ………… suggested the method for finding the Quota.
Answer:
Henry Richmond Droop

Question 25.
The proponent of the Hare System is …………
Answer:
Thomas Hare

Question 26.
The first Election Commissioner in India is
Answer:
SukumarSen

You can Download Rights and Duties in the Indian Constitution Questions and Answers, Notes, Plus One Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Kerala Chapter 2 help you to revise complete Syllabus and score more marks in your examinations.

Kerala Plus one Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 2 Rights and Duties in the Indian Constitution

Rights and Duties in the Indian Constitution Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Which are the fundamental rights in the Indian Constitution?
Answer:

• Rights to Equality (14-18)
• Right to Freedom (19-22)
• Right against Exploitation (23-24)
• Right to Religious Freedom (25-28)
• Cultural and Educational Right (29-30)
• Right to Constitutional Remedies (32)

Question 2.
What is Bill of Rights?
Answer:
In the Constitution, there is a list of the rights of the citizens. The list of rights mentioned in, and protected by, the Constitution is called Bill of Rights. This Bill of Rights prohibits the government from doing things against the rights of the citizens. When people’s. rights are violated, the Bill of Rights gives them the remedies to seek redress.

Question 3.
Which among the following is not a fundamental right?
a) Right to Freedom
b) Right to Equality
c) Right to Property
d) Right against Exploitation
Answer:
Right to Property

Question 4.
What are the freedoms assured to citizens under Right to Freedom?
Answer:

• Right to talk freely and to express one’s opinion
• Right to call to attend meetings
• Right to organize
• Right to travel
• Right to have shelter
• Right to work, trade, commerce and industry

Question 5.
Prepare a seminar report on the topic ‘Fundamental Rights’.
Answer:
The +1 Political Science students of Kasargod Government HSS organized a seminar on the topic ‘Fundamental Rights’. Prior to the seminar, the students were divided into 6 groups and they discussed the topic. The leaders of each group presented the ideas of their group.

Contents:
a) Right to Equality: This is the basic tenet of the Indian Constitution. It has been made clear in the Preamble itself. In the past, there was no equality in the Indian society. So the Right to Equality is very important. About the Right to Equality, there are clear statements in the 3rd chapter, Articles between 14 and 18. The Right to Equality includes the following:

• Equality before Law, Equal Protection of Laws
• Protection from Discrimination
• Equality of Opportunity in employment
• Eradication of Untouchability Non-award of Titles

b) Right to Freedom

• Right to talk freely and to express one’s opinion
• Right to call to attend meetings
• Right to organize
• Right to travel,
• Right to have shelter
• Right to work, trade, commerce and industry
• Protection from undue punishment
• Individual freedom and freedom to live
• Protection against illegal arrests and imprisonment

c) Right against Exploitation:

• Articles 23 and 24 guarantees the Right against Exploitation.
• Article 23 bans immoral acts, slavery and bonded. labour.
• Child labour is prohibited.

d) Right to Freedom of Religion:
a) The Indian Constitution envisages the nation to be secular and democratic. So it gives religious freedom.
b) The Right to Religion is described in Articles 25-28.
Article 25 – The right to accept any religion and propagate it.
Article 26 – To make religious institutions and to acquire property.
Article 27 – The money used for religious purposes is tax exempted.
Article 28 – To conduct religious instructions in certain institutions.
e) Cultural and Educational Rights:

• All minorities can establish educational institutions and run them.
• Minorities are given protection in their language, script, & culture.

f) Right to Constitutional Remedies: It is not enough to list a number of rights in the Constitution. For citizens to practice them and protect them against their violations there should’provision. Right to Constitutional Remedies helps citizens to enjoy their rights. Dr Ambedkar called this Right as the “Heart and Soul” of the Constitution. This Right ensures that citizens are guaranteed of their fundamental rights. This gives Constitutional protection to the fundamental rights.
WRITS (Court Orders):
a) Habeas Corpus
b) Mandamus
c) Writ of Prohibition
d) Certiorari
e) Quo Warranto

Question 6.
What do you mean by Habeas Corpus?
Answer:
It is the Court Order to release somebody from illegal or unjust confinement

Question 7.
Indian Judiciary puts forward Writs in protecting fundamental rights. What are the various Writs?
Answer:
There are 5 Writs:

1. Habeas Corpus
2. Mandamus
3. Writ of Prohibition
4. Certiorari
5. Quo Warranto

Question 8.
Which among the following is a political right?
Answer:

• Right to Property
• Right to Vote
• Right to life
• Right to get wages

Question 9.
Examine the changes that happened in the status of Right to Property after the 44th Amendment to the Constitution.
Answer:
The 44th Amendment of 1978 removed the Right to Property from the list of Fundamental Rights and made it a legal right.

Question 10.
Point out the Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens.
Answer:
In the 4th Chapter, Article 51-A, we have the Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens. These were borrowed from the Russian Constitution. Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens:-

• Obey the Constitution and respect its principles and institutions, the national flag and the national anthem.
• Respect and obey the great principles that energized our independence struggle.
• Protect and maintain the sovereignty, unity and • indivisibility of India.
• Defend the nation. When needed, give national service.
• Over and above the differences of religion, language, and region, grow a sense of unity and fraternity among people. Don’t do things that will injure the dignity of women.
• Protect our diverse culture and rich heredity.
• Protect and improve our environment – its forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife. Be sympathetic to all creatures.
• Develop a sense of science and humanity and a zeal for research and renewal.
• Protect public property and avoid violence.
• Work hard to prove yourself in personal and social spheres. Thus make the nation reach greater heights.
• It is the duty of the father or the guardian to ensure

Question 11.
Which day is observed as the Human Rights Day?
Answer:
10 December.

Question 12.
Directive Principles are included in the …. part of the Indian Constitution
Answer:
Fourth (IVth).

Question 13.
Prepare a note on the Directive Principles of State Policy.
Answer:
The 4th section of the Indian Constitution deals with the DPSP. These were borrowed from the Irish Constitution. They do not have legal backing. The DP’s can be divided into 3 – Gandhian Ideas, Socialist Principles, and Liberal principles.
Gandhian Ideas:

• formation of grama panchayats
• Development of rural industries
• Prohibition (of alcohol)
• Modem methods of agriculture and animal husbandry
• Protecting the interests of the Backward classes especially Scheduled Castes and Tribes

Socialist Principles:

• A just social order
• Right to livelihood
• Equal pay for equal work
• Avoid inequality
• Fair distribution of wealth
• Freedom from exploitation
• Fair and humane conditions at workplaces
• Prevention of the accumulation of wealth in a few private hands.

Liberal Principles:

• Formation of a Common Civil Code for the nation.
• Compulsory free education to all children below 14.
• Protect the national monuments of historical importance.
• Separate the Executive from the Judiciary.
• Help in the growth of international peace and security.

Question 14.
Categorize the following into Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties.
1. Freedom to make organizations
2. Respect for the national flag and the national anthem
3. Protecting public property
4. Equal pay for equal work
5. Free legal help
6. Compulsory education for children
7. Common feeling of fraternity
8. No forced labour
9. Remedy by Courts
Answer:
Fundamental Rights

• Freedom to make organizations
• No forced labor
• Remedy by Courts

Directive Principles:

• Equal pay for equal work
• Free legal help
• Compulsory education for children

Fundamental Duties

• Respect for the national flag and the national anthem
• Protecting public property
• Common feeling of fraternity

Question 15.
Which of the Fundamental Rights is, in your opinion, the most important? Why?
Answer:
The Right to Constitutional Remedies. In the absence of this Right, the other five rights may be denied or violated. That is why the Right to Constitutional Remedies is qualified as the heart and soul of the Constitution. Therefore the most important right is the Right to Constitutional Remedies.

Question 16.
Which of the following is a violation of Fundamental Rights?
Answer:
a) Making children work
b) Banning a film
c) Banning a book
d) Banning the use of loudspeakers after 10 pm
e) Making a speech
Answer:
Make children work

Question 17.
Construct a table showing the differences between FR and DPSP.
Answer:

Question 18.
What is the relevance, of the National Human Rights Commission?
Answer:
The National Human Rights Commission stands for the protection of Human Rights. It has the power to prevent Human Rights violations and if there are violations to give ways to solve the problem and take legal action against the violators.

Question 19.
Who is the current Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission?
Answer:
Justice K.G. Balakrishnan

Question 20.
Match the following:

Answer:

Question 21.
In what circumstances was the Nehru Committee formed?
Answer:
In 1927, the British Government appointed the Simon Commission to make a report orrthe Constitutional reforms to be implemented in India. All the members of this Commission were British. Therefore all the parties, including Congress, boycotted the Commission. When the protest against the Commission became very strong, the British challenged Indian leaders to make a Constitution that will be acceptable to all. The leaders accepted this challenge and appointed a sub-committee to draft the Constitution. Motilal Nehru was its chairman. In 1928, the Nehru Committee submitted its report. This is called the Nehru Report.

Question 22.
Explain the different types of Writs.
Answer:
a) Habeas Corpus: It is a Latin phrase to mean ‘Produce the Body’. This is an order which is against keeping people in illegal custody or prison. This is an order by the High Court or Supreme Court to present an arrested or detained person in the court within a certain time. If the Court feels that the person was arrested or detained without valid reason, it may order his immediate release. Habeas Corpus Writ can be issued even to individuals and organizations who may keep people in unlawful custody.
b) Mandamus: This Latin word means “We order”. When a government official does not do his duty and by that if somebody’s rights have been violated the Court issues a Mandamus. By this Writ the Court is asking the official to carry out his responsibility.
c) Prohibition: When Lower Courts step beyond their jurisdiction or act against natural justice, the higher courts (High Court or Supreme Court) issue this Writ. For example, a higher court may prohibit a judge from hearing a case in which he has some personal interest.
d) Certiorari: It is a Latin word meaning “to give information about something”. This is a Writ by which a case is moved from a lower court to a higher court. There is a difference between Prohibition and Certiorari. Prohibition is issued to prevent a lower court from exceeding its jurisdiction. Burt Certiorari is when a lower court has exceeded its limits and the higher court intervenes.
e) Quo Warranto: This Lain phrase means “By what authority”. It is a Writ issued by the High Court or Supreme Court preventing a person from occupying a post without the necessary qualifications. Through this, the Court has the right to remove an undeserving person from his position. This Writ is applicable to Public (Government) offices or jobs. Private companies won’t be affected by Quo Warranto.

Question 23.
What do Directive Principles contain?
Answer:
There are mainly three things in them:

1. Suggestions regarding the goals of the nation.
2. Suggestions for the formulation of the national policies.
3. Rights that are not defendable in Courts.

Question 24.
Which Committee was the first one to put forward the demand for fundamental rights?
Answer:
Motilal Nehru Committee

Question 25.
In the Constitution, the articles dealing with the Right to Religion are:
a) 25 to 26
b) 25 to 27
c) 25 to 28
d) 25 to 29
Answer:
25 to 28

Question 26.
Who was the first Chairman of the first National Human Rights Commission?
Answer:
Ranganath Mishra

Question 27.
It was the ……. Amendment that removed the Right to Property from the Fundamental Rights.
Answer:
44^th

You can Download Chapter 1 Constitution: Why and How Questions and Answers, Notes Pdf, Plus One Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Kerala State Board Solutions help you to revise complete Syllabus and score more marks in your examinations.

Kerala Plus one Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 1 Constitution: Why and How

Constitution: Why and How Questions and Answers

Question 1.
State different definitions of Constitution.
Answer:
Woolsey: Constitution is the collection of principles according to which the powers of the government, the rights of the governed and the relations between the two are adjusted.
Mclver: Constitution is a collection of laws that administers the nation and represents a will that is above nation.
Prof. A.V. Dicey Constitution is the collection of laws that affect, directly or indirectly, the sovereignty and its use and distribution.

Question 2.
Why do we need a Constitution?
Answer:
Constitution is the basic document of a nation. The government of any country works according to certain rules. Constitution is the basic document which describes the structure of the Nation, the rights of the government, the rights of the citizens and their responsibilities. Lack of a Constitution will lead to anarchy.

Question 3.
Who among the following is known as the father of the Indian Constitution?
a) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
b) K.M. Munshi
c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
d) Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer:
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Question 4.
Constitution mainly performs 5 functions. Point out the functions.
Answer:

• Give basic laws to bring about unity among the members of the society. Ensure that the laws are obeyed by all.
• Decide who is the authority to take decisions in the society.
• Limit the powers of the government.
• Enable the government to realize the goals and desires of the society.
• Give a fundamental identity to the people.

Question 5.
Who was the chairman of the drafting committee of the Indian constitution?
Answer:
Dr. B.R: Ambedkar

Question 6.
Constitutions are mainly 4 types. On the basis of this, complete the following chart.

Answer:

Question 7.
Prepare a short note on the authority of a Constitution.
Answer:
Constitution is the basic document of a nation. The government of any country works according to certain rules. Constitution is the basic document which describes the structure of the Nation, the rights of the government, the rights of the citizens and their responsibilities. A Constitution lays the foundation for the working of* nation. In the absence of a Constitution, the smooth working of the government will be made uncertain and the rights of the citizens might be violated. The lack of a Constitution, which clearly defines the powers of the government and the rights of the citizens and their responsibilities, will lead to anarchy. A country then ceases to be a nation.

Question 8.
Match the following:

Answer:

Question 9.
Prepare a note on the making of the Indian Constitution.
Answer:
According to the recommendation of the Cabinet Mission in 1946, a Constitution Making Committee was formed in India. Its chairman was Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The making of the Constitution was done by the Drafting Committee. Dr. Ambedkar was the chairman of the Drafting Committee. The Group was divided into 8 important Committees and by the end of 1948, the draft was made ready. After many discussions and debates lasting for a whole year, the Indian Parliament approved the Constitution and it came into effect on 26 January 1950.

Question 10.
State the main points of the Objective Resolution
Answer:
a) India is an independent sovereign republic.
b) India will be a Union of the earlier British Indian territories, Princely States, and other regions that want to be in the Indian Union.
c) The regions in the Indian Union will have self-rule. Except in the subjects vested in the Union, the regions will have full powers over the government and administration.
d) All the powers of independent sovereign India and the Constitution come from the people of India.
e) All people of India are guaranteed social, economic and political justice.
t) Due protection will be given to minorities, backward tribal territories, Scheduled Castes and Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
g) In conformity with justice and laws of other nations, the unity of the Republic, and sovereignty over its land, sea, and air will be maintained.
h) The country will generously contribute to the maintenance of peace and security of the world and for the welfare of humanity.

Question 11.
How many Committees were formed as part of the making of the Indian Constitution?
Answer:
There were 8 Committees:

1. Rules Committee
2. Steering Committee
3. Advisory Committee
4. Drafting Committee
5. Union Subjects Committee
6. States Committee
7. Provincial Constitution Committee
8. Union Constitution Committee

Question 12.
Identify the factors required for the successful working of a Constitution.
Answer:

• A just and free law and order system.
• A Written Constitution.
• Clearly defined powers of the Parliament, Judiciary and Executive.
• Rule of Law

Question 13.
State whether the following statements are True or False.
Answer:

• A Constitution is a written document which specifies the formation and powers of the government.
• A Constitution is necessary only in democratic countries and only in such countries will constitutions work.
• A Constitution is a legal document. It does not talk about morals and values.
• A Constitution gives the citizens a new identity.
• The ruling government can change the Constitution as it pleases.

Question 14.
Various provisions of the Indian Constitution are borrowed from different world constitutions. Prepare a note showing this fact.
Answer:
Provisions taken from other constitutions:
From the British Constitution:

• First Past the Post System
• Parliamentary Democracy
• Rule of Law
• The Institution of the Speaker and his role
• Law-making procedure

From the US Constitution:

• Fundamental Rights
• Independent Judiciary and Judicial Review
• Preamble

From the Canadian Constitution:

• Semi-Federal Government
• Powerful Central Government
• Mobility Rights

Irish Constitution:

• Directive Principles of State Policy

French Constitution:

• Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity

Question 15.
Match the columns A and B.

Answer:

Question 16.
Prepare a note on the inheritance from the national movement. Bring out the relevance of the Objective Resolution
Answer:
The members of the various sections of the Constitution-Making Committee worked with great cooperation. The reason for this was they had a consensus about the main principles to be included in the Constitution. These principles were formulated during the long period of the independence struggle. The National Movement had discussed extensively about the relevant questions regarding the Constitution. The leaders had already formed an idea about the form of the government, the values it has to uphold and the inequalities it had to overcome.

The ideas received from the National Movement were incorporated in the Constitution. The Objective Resolution was the best principle that the Constitution Making Committee received from the National meeting of the Assembly in December 1946. The Objective Resolution defined the goals of the Assembly. It presented a summary of the values and aspirations which were the basis of the Constitution. These values that were in the Objective Resolution prompted the decision regarding the ultimate goal. It was based on this the Constitution made sure that the principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, sovereignty, and universal brotherhood are guaranteed in writing. The Objective Resolution later became a springboard of the Indian Constitution.

Question 17.
The Indian Constitution came into force on ………..
Answer:
26 January 1950

Question 18.
The ………. is a combined document that includes many articles about the nation.
Answer:
Constitution

Question 19.
Who was the Chairman of the Constitutional Assembly?
a) Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
b) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
c) Jawaharlal Nehru
d) Mahatma Gandhi
Answer:
Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Question 20.
How many Committees did the Constitution Assembly have?
Answer:
8

Question 21.
It was from the Constitution that we borrowed the concept of a Republic.
Answer:
French

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Kerala Plus One Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 10 Development

Development Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What do you understand by the term development? Would all sections of the society benefit from such a definition of development?
Answer:
Development and democracy are mutually related concepts. The basis of development is the fruitful democratic participation by different sections of the society in different spheres. The word development is used in two senses:
1) Make economic grow that a high rate, achieve certain goals, complete various projects.
2) Development brings prosperity to people and their standard of life gets better.
Development aims at gains. Only if there are gains, there can be development.

Question 2.
Development has two meanings-narrow and broad. What is the difference between them?
Answer:
Development has meanings at two levels – narrow and broad. In its narrow sense, it means increasing the rate of economic growth or modernizing the society. In its broad sense, it means bringing progress, welfare, prosperity and the desire fora better life.

Question 3.
Explain the challenges of development.
Answer:
The more important challenges of development are poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, illiteracy and lack of basic infrastructure. In India, there are Constitutional provisions and some other Agencies that work for the social and economic development of the country. The primary aims of the Constitution are justice, equality, freedom, and fraternity. Governments exist for the realizing the goals set by the Constitution and to bring progress in all spheres, especially social and economic development.

Question 4.
Point out the criticisms of development models.
Answer:
As developing nations take loans from the World Bank, they fall into the debt trap.

• The fruits of development reach only a small section of the people.
• People without resistance power are forcefully sent away from their habitat.
• Industrialization created environmental problems.
• Overuse of fertilizers and insecticides poisons the soil.

Question 5.
What are the social costs of development? Give examples.
Answer:
The social costs of development are quite high. Because of the construction of huge dams, industrial works, mining and such other things many people had to be sent away from their abodes and they had to be rehabilitated elsewhere. Because of the loss of their homes and land, the people lose their means of livelihood and poverty is the result. They lose their traditional job skills. They also lose their cultural moorings. For example, for the development of the Kannur airport, many families had to be evacuated.

Question 6.
Discuss some of the ecological costs of development pursued in most countries.
Answer:
The ecological costs of development are beyond calculation. Still, environmental destruction goes on. Here are some of the ill-effects of development:
a. Air and water pollution.
b. Increase in global warming (increase in the warmth of the atmosphere because of the emission of green gases).
c. Depletion of the Ozone layer (CFCs – Chlorofluorocarbons – used in air-conditioners, etc. cover the atmosphere and this results in the depletion.)
d. Overuse of fertilizers and insecticides poison the soil.
e. The ruin caused to the flora and fauna.
f. Overuse of non-renewable sources of energy and the resultant environmental damage.
g. Deforestation and its ill-effects.

Question 7.
Economic growth cannot be assessed by the number of cell-phones in the country. Do you agree with this statement? Explain.
Answer:
I agree with this statement. Because of the globalization policy and the progress in technology cell-phones have become very common and cheap. Even very poor people can afford to have cell-phones now. Therefore looking at the number of cell-phones in the country, its development cannot be assessed.

Question 8.
Prepare a note on Human Development Index (HDI).
Answer:
The HDI is used to measure the welfare of a country. It is the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) that prepares this. Three things are taken into consideration for making HDI. They are:
a) Life Span,
b) Education and
c) Standard of Living.
According to the 2010 HDI, India’s rank is 119.

Question 9.
Identify the factors standing in the way of India’s development.
Answer:
Some of the factors standing in the way of India’s development are poverty, unemployment, feudalism, inequality, casteism, corruption, communalism, nepotism, lack of basic infrastructure, illiteracy, lack of capital, energy crisis, lack of latest technology and environmental challenges.

Question 10.
Joby: There are several limitations for the present development models.
Jornon : They can be overcome by a new development strategy.
On the basis on this conversation, prepare a note on the alternative concepts of development.
Answer:
There are certain shortcomings in the present development models. By solving those shortcomings and employing a new strategy we can bring progress in all spheres. Here are some suggestions:
a) Respect people’s rights: When development projects are implemented, it may be beneficial to some sections of the society but harmful to others. For example, when an airport’ is constructed it will help in increasing travel facilities but it will adversely affect many others who will have to be relocated to other places. Their rights for equality, freedom, justice, and democracy are also to be respected in the alternative concept of development.
b) Another problem that is stressed in the alternative concept of development is about the ownership of natural resources. Whose are they? Are they of the local people, of the nation or of the entire humanity? If the natural resources are owned by mankind, even the future generation has some claim on them. It is the duty of the government to solve all these problems.
c) Ensure people participation in the development models.
d) Development and environmental protection should go hand in hand.

Question 11.
Narrate how development and lifestyle are related to each other.
Answer:
Development and lifestyle should conform to the environmental well-being. People should try to protect natural resources and use renewable energy sources. Rainwater harvesting, solar and biogas plants, small scale hydroelectric projects, manufacturing organic fertilizers, etc. are related to lifestyle.

Question 12.
What can be the role of democracy in development?
Answer:
Development and democracy are mutually related concepts. The basis of development is the fruitful democratic participation by different sections of the society in different spheres. Real development ensures the protection of the democratic rights of the society.

Question 13.
Name some of the organizations for environmental protection.
Answer:

• Narmada BachaoAndolan
• Chipko Movement
• Satra-Sahitya Parishad
• Go-Green

Question 14.
Match the following:

Answer:

Question 15.
What do you man Basic Needs Approach?
Answer:
Basic Needs Approach is a process that ensures man’s basic needs like food, education, health, shelter, etc. If the basic needs of a person are not satisfied, he can’t live a decent life or progress in life as he desires. According to this view starvation deaths and child labor are indicators of nondevelopment.

Question 16.
Prepare a note on world efforts to protect environment and sustainable development.
Answer:
It was in the 19th century that organizations for the protection of environment originated. They came as a protest against industrialization. But it was in the second half o the 20th century that environmental protection attracted world attention. This awakening was caused by the book “The Quiet Spring” written by the American scientist Rachel Carson. She warned the world against the overuse of fertilizers and insecticides which harm man and nature. It paved the away to establish a new discipline called Environmental Knowledge. Many environmental organizations are active now for the protection of the environment. There are Movements for the preservation of forests, against the construction of huge dams and for preserving rivers.

Green Peace, World Life Fund and Chipko Movement are famous environmental organizations. Chipko Movement was organized to protect the Himalayan forests. Environmentalists say that man must learn to co-exist with Nature in a mutually beneficial way. Man should not exploit nature for his greed and selfishness. Now people are overexploiting natural resources. If we go on like this we will be leaving only deserts, poisoned rivers and polluted atmosphere to the future generations. They ask the government to implement plans to make industries eco-friendly. The 1992 Rio (in Brazil) Earth Summit asked the government s to ensure that development is in conformity with the protection of nature and the environment. This development model is known as sustainable development.

Question 17.
It was …….. who developed the Human Development Index.
Answer:
Mehboob-UI-Haq

Question 18.
Who wrote the book ‘Silent Spring’?
Answer:
Rachel Carson

Question 19.
In which did the Earth Summit take place?
a) 1990
b) 1992
c) 1998
d) 2002
Answer:
1992

Question 20.
Development in which the environment is protected is called ……….
Answer:
Sustainable Development

You can Download Peace Questions and Answers, Notes, Plus One Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Kerala Chapter 9 help you to revise complete Syllabus and score more marks in your examinations.

Kerala Plus One Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 9 Peace

Peace Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Define Peace.
Answer:
Peace is the absence of war, revolt, mass murders, killings, and physical attacks. The satyagraha and non-violence preached by our Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was for peace.

Question 2.
“Peace is generally defined as the absence of war.” Do you agree with this statement?
Answer:
I don’t agree with it fully. It is not merely the absence of war, but also the absence of violent acts like revolt, mass murders, killings, and physical attacks.

Question 3.
There are several great personalities who tried to maintain world peace. Name some of them.
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King (Jr), Abraham Lincoln.

Question 4.
Point out some events that destroyed world peace.
Answer:
Attack on the World Trade Centre
Terrorist attacks by Al-Qaida terrorists
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.

Question 5.
There are different kinds of structural violence arising from several sources. What does structural violence mean? What are its different forms?
Answer:
Structural violence is the violence that originates from social institutions and practices. Casteism, Class distinction, male domination, colonialism, tribalism, racism, communalism, etc. can produce structural violence.

Question 6.
Complete the following chart:

Answer:

Question 7.
Which day is observed as the International Peace Day?
Answer:
27

Question 8.
Observe the picture. In our patriarchal society, discrimination against women is ever increasing day by day. Identify them.

Answer:

• Dowry-related violence
• Domestic violence
• Not giving women proper representation
• Not giving equality in religious matters
• Rapes and molestations
• Female foeticide

Question 9.
There are three different approaches in pursuit of peace. Explain those approaches.
Answer:
a) Give importance to nations.
b) Give stress to mutual dependence of nations.
c) Give stress to the growth of a global community.
The UNO, which was formed to maintain world peace and to prevent wars, has all these 3 approaches.

Question 10.
Name the organizations working for maintaining world peace.
Answer:

• World Red Cross Society
• Gandhi Peace Foundation
• United Nations Organization
• Non-Aligned Movement

Question 11.
Do you think that violence can ever promote peace?
Answer:
No, it can’t. Violence is not a means of peace. Non-violence is the way to lasting peace.

Question 12.
Evaluate Gandhiji’s approach to non-violence.
Answer:
The greatest pers5n who argued for peace and non-violence in the 20th century was Gandhiji. He argued for non-violent resistance. Gandhiji used to say: “The goal does not justify the means. Just like the goal, the means also must be pure.” There are people who consider non-violence as helplessness and cowardice. Some people argue that non-violence is the means of protest of the weak. But Gandhiji put forward a new kind of non-violence. According to Gandhiji, non-violence isn’t merely not harming a person physically or mentally, but also keeping away from thoughts of harming him.

Gandhiji gave non-violence a creative meaning. To him, non-violence should be an active power to do things for the welfare of others. Non-violent resistance can take the form of protects. Civil Disobedience Movement was such a protest. Another form was satyagraha. The Civil Disobedience Movement and the satyagraha Gandhiji organized put the British in a dilemma. People like Martin Luther King (Jr) and Nelson Mandela were influenced by Gandhiji.

Question 13.
“Often the State creates obstacles to peace.” Do you agree with this statement? Explain.
Answer:
I do agree with it. There are countries in the world which encourage and support terrorism.

Question 14.
Prepare a note on the contemporary challenges to peace in the world.
Answer:
The UNO and World Peace: The primary objective of the UNO is international peace and security. Although the UNO has been able to prevent wars and establish peace in many parts of the world, it is controlled by Western Powers and this is a threat to world peace. Terrorism: The attack on the World Trade Centre on II September 2001 was a big shock to the endeavors to peace in the world. Terrorists have chemical, biological and atomic weapons in their possession and this is a great threat to world peace. Ethnic Cleansing: Secessionist Movements, Racism, etc. are great threats to peace. The non-cooperation of many countries in Disarmament is also a challenge to world peace.

Question 15.
Match the following

Answer:

Question 16.
Suggest 3 approaches to maintain peace.
Answer:
a) Give importance to nations.
b) Give stress to mutual dependence of nations.
c) Give stress to the growth of a global community.

Question 17.
Point out non-violent efforts to promote peace.
Answer:
Lovers of peace recommend protests like Civil Disobedience when struggling against exploitative governments. Satyagraha used by Gandhiji during our independence struggle is an example for this. Through Satyagraha Gandhiji tried to awaken the sense of justice and fair play in the British. When he failed there, he organized Civil Disobedience Movement. This Movement breached some harsh laws and put moral and political pressure on the British government. Although non-violent, these things shook the foundations of the British Raj. Getting inspired by Gandhiji, Martin Luther King (Jr) started a similar movement in the US. He led protests against the discrimination against Blacks in the 1960s.

Question 18.
What is usually defined as ‘the absence of war’?
Answer:
Peace

Question 19.
Who is the spokesperson of Non-Violence?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi

Question 20.
From the following, find out the form of structural violence:
a) Caste hierarchy
b) Class difference
c) Colonialism
d) all of these
Answer:
all of these

Question 21.
Causing physical injury is usually called
Answer:
Violence

You can Download Secularism Questions and Answers, Notes, Plus One Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Kerala Chapter 8 help you to revise complete Syllabus and score more marks in your examinations.

Kerala Plus One Political Science Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 8 Secularism

Secularism Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What do you understand by secularism?
Answer:
When a country has no official religion and its Constitution grants the individuals and society religious freedom, it will be called a secular nation. The basic tenet secularism is prosperity to all. Some countries in the world have official religions. Such countries are called theocracies. India is a secular State whereas Pakistan is a theocracy.

Question 2.
Which among the following are compatible with the idea of secularism? Give reasons.
i) A religious group does not dominate other religious groups.
ii) Government recognizes one religion as official.
iii) All religions get equal support from the nation.
iv) Making prayers compulsory in schools.
v) Granting minority communities special educational institutions.
vi) Government appointing managing committees for temples.
vii) Interference by the government to let Dalits enter temples.
Answer:
i) A religious group does not dominate other religious groups.
ii) All religions get equal support from the nation.
iii) Granting minority communities special educational institutions.
iv) Interference by the government to let Dalits enter temples.
All the above 4 things encourage secularism.

Question 3.
Explain the right to freedom of religion.
Answer:
Freedom of Religion is the basic tenet of secularism. Through the Fundamental Rights, the Indian Constitution has given the right to its citizens to believe in the religion of their choice, to establish places of worship and worship there and to propagate their religion. Articles 25 to 30 deal with secularism. In the Preamble also there is a declaration that India is a secular State.

Question 4.
Give the meaning of a secular state.
Answer:
India is a secular State. India has no official religion. The Constitution promises freedom of religion to individuals and the society. The Nation does not insist on people following any particular religion and it does not discriminate against any religion. The basic tenet secularism is prosperity to all. Some countries in the world have official religions. Such countries are called theocracies.

In India, the Government is concerned with the social, economic and political wellbeing of the people. Spiritual matters are left to individuals. In its Preamble and the Fundamental Rights, the Constitution proves that India is a secular State. Indian citizens have the freedom to choose the religion of their liking. Article 25 of the Constitution grants religious freedom to people subject to peace and morality. People can follow any religion and also propagate it. The Nation has ensured the necessary conditions for secularism.

Question 5.
Suggest the ways in which communal harmony can be promoted.
Answer:
a) Encourage humanitarian ideas.
b) Limit religion to your personal life.
c) Encourage marriage between members of different religions.
d) Encourage religious tolerance.
e) Encourage the participation of the members of other religions in your religious celebrations.
f) Ostracise people who tend to spread religious animosity.
g) Include the basic ideas of secularism in the school curriculum.

Question 6.
Some of the characteristics of Western and Indian model of secularism have got mixed up in the following table. Separate them and make a new table.

Answer:

Question 7.
Do you think a secular state is necessary to establish secularism?
Answer:
Yes, I do. To establish secularism a secular state is necessary. In Theocracy which is the opposite of secular state, the State has an official religion. The State gives special consideration to develop that religion. Therefore the rights of other religious groups will be ignored. In a secular state, all religions are treated equally and so for having secularism a secular state is essential.

Question 8.
Religious domination is of two types. Identify them.
Answer:
a) Inter-Religious Domination
b) Intra-Religious Domination

Question 9.
Point out the activities against secularism in our society.
Answer:
a) Compulsory religious conversion.
b) Persecution of minorities
c) Pleasing the minorities (Minoritism)
d) Casteism and religious chauvinism
e) Vote Bank Politics
f) Demand for Secession.

Question 10.
Is religious freedom a fundamental right?
Answer:
Yes, it is.

Question 11.
Complete the following chart.
Answer:

Answer:

Question 12.
Do you think that vote bank politics is against secularism in India?
Answer:
Yes, I do. If political parties make promises to religious groups, when they come to power they have to do something for those groups as a matter of showing gratitude. Such actions will be anti¬secular and will be against the common good of the nation.

Question 13.
Secularism does not allow us to have religious identity. Do you agree?
Answer:
No, I don’t. In a secular state one can believe in the religion of his choice, worship the god he likes and can propagate his religion if he wants. Therefore the concept of secularism is not anti-religious. Secularism ensures equal rights and equal consideration,to all religions. It does not also distinguish between theists and atheists.

Question 15.
“Secularism is against inequality within a religious group or between different religious groups.” Give your opinion.
Answer:
I agree with the statement. The basic tenet of secularism is that all members of the same religious group must have equal rights. An example can be seen in the interference of the government against the social evils that were prevalent in Hinduism. There was the Temple Entry Declaration. Through that all Hindus were allowed entry into the temple. In the same way inequalities among different religious groups are not encouraged by the State.

Question 16.
Prepare a seminar paper on “Criticism of Indian Secularism”.
Answer:
The +1 students of HSS Irinjalakuda organized a seminar on the topic “Criticism of Indian Secularism”. The students were divided into 6 groups. Each group discussed the topic and,the group leaders presented the points in the class.
a) Anti-Religious: Some people argue that secularism is anti-religious. The reason for this belief is the fact that secularism is against the dominance of established powerful religions. But this and anti¬religion are quite different. Some people also argue that secularism is a threat to individual’s religion.
This also is wrong. Secularism nourishes religious freedom. It is not a threat to a person’s religion or his beliefs. But secularism is against certain questionable practices like propagating violence, intolerance and fanaticism. Secularism encourages the good things in religion but opposes the bad things.
b) Western Import: Another criticism is that Indian secularism is related to Christianity. It means secularism is something Western and it is inappropriate with Indian circumstances. This s a strange argument. Don’t we see thousands of things around us which are not Indian?
If people say that when a country is secular it should have its own goal it is good and relevant. Western secularism came as a challtenge to the religious leaders who tried to control the social and political matters of the nation. Then how can it be said that Western secularism is connected to Christianity? Moreover Western secularism asks religion and government to keep their hands off each other. For the idea of separating the state form religion, different societies give different interpretations. A secular government keeps a respectable distance from religion. It is done to maintain peace among different communities. At the same time the government will interfere for the protection of minority rights.
c) Minoritism: This is another criticism that is levelled against Indian secularism. It is true that Indian secularism stands for the rights of minorities. Let’s look at this example: 4 people are traveling in a train. One wants to smoke. Another person objects. The other two are smokers and so they keep quiet. So there is a problem. If a decision is to be taken democratically, and the matter put to vote, the person objecting to smoking will lose. It may look just. But is it just if we look from the angle of the person who objected to smoking? He may be allergic to smoke. Here the voting system does not work. Here the right of minority should be protected.
d) Vote Bank Politics: Another criticism is that Indian secularism encourages vote bank politics. From experience, this criticism is not fully unjustified. It has to be assessed correctly. It is natural that in a democracy politicians seek votes. It is part of their work. They might give some promises to get the votes of certain sections. There is no point in blaming them for that. The real question is why they seek the votes. It is for selfish interests? Is it for getting into power? Or is it because of their desire to do something for the welfare of certain sections? If the politicians win after getting the votes of some sections and if they fail to do something for them, they will accuse the politicians. In fact, if politicians seek the minority votes and win and if they do something for the welfare of the minorities, it should be seen as the success of secularism. One of the goals of secularism is protecting the rights of the minorities.
e) Interventionist: Critics argue that Indian secularism has a controlling nature and it interferes in the religious freedom of various communities. This is a wrong interpretation of Indian secularism. It is true that Indian secularism does not deny the idea that government should not interfere in religious matters. But it does not approve over-interference in religious affairs. Indian secularism keeps a principled-distance from religion. This means government may or may not interfere in religious affairs. This interference is not by the use of force.
f) Impossible Project: Critics say that it is difficult for people with so much of religious differences to live together in peace and therefore secularism is impractical and thus invalid. This is a wrong argument. The history of Indian civilization and that of the Ottoman Empire show that peaceful co¬existence is possible even with different religions. Indian secularism has become a model for other countries to emulate. The effects of globalization have helped here. With increased globalization, there has been an increased migration of people all over the world. From the ex-colonies, people migrated into the Western world. This made religious diversities become strong in Europe, America and some parts of West Asia.

Question 16.
Who used the term secularism for the first time?
Answer:
George Holyoake, a British writer used the term secularism for the first time, in 1851.

Question 17.
Prepare a note on Vote Bank Politics.
Answer:
It is natural that in, a democracy politicians seek votes. It is part of their work. They might give some promises to get the votes of certain sections. There is no point in blaming them for that. The real question is why they seek the votes. It is for selfish interests? Is it for getting into power? Or is it because of their desire to do something for the welfare of certain sections? If the politicians win after getting the votes of some sections and if they fail to do something for them, they will accuse the politicians. In fact, if politicians seek the minority votes and win and if they do something for the welfare of the minorities, it should be seen as the success of secularism. One of the goals of secularism is protecting the rights of the minorities.

It is true that if the interests of the majority are sacrificed for the interest of the minorities, there will be another kind of injustice. But in India, we have no proof that such a thing has ever happened. In short, there is nothing wrong in Vote Bank Politics. Only unjust vote bank politics should be criticized.

Question 18.
It was …………. who used the term ‘secularism’ for the first time.
Answer:
George Holyoake

Question 19.
Which among the following can be considered as criticisms against Indian secularism?
a) Anti-religious
b) Minoritism
c) Western import
d) All of these
Answer:
d) All of these

Question 20.
………… is opposed to any kind of religious dominance.
Answer:
Secularism

Question 21.
Two models of secularism are……….. and ……………
Answer:
Western and Indian