Q1. The Rajya Sabha was created to represent the states in Parliament. Which of the following best explains why this is important in India’s federal system?
(a) It allows the President to control state governments
(b) It ensures that states’ interests are considered in national lawmaking
(c) It reduces the power of the Lok Sabha
(d) It avoids conflicts between the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers
Ans: (b) It ensures that states’ interests are considered in national lawmaking
The Rajya Sabha represents states in India’s federal system, ensuring state interests are balanced with national priorities in lawmaking, supporting federalism.
Q2. Suppose the Parliament wants to pass a law on public health. Which list in the Constitution gives it the power?
(a) Union List
(b) State List
(c) Concurrent List
(d) Presidential List
Ans: (c) Concurrent List
Public health is on the Concurrent List, allowing both Parliament and state legislatures to make laws, with Union law prevailing in case of conflict.
Q3. Why are Money Bills allowed to be introduced only in the Lok Sabha?
(a) Because the Lok Sabha represents the people directly
(b) Because the Rajya Sabha has fewer members
(c) Because the Prime Minister sits only in the Lok Sabha
(d) Because the President does not approve Rajya Sabha bills
Ans: (a) Because the Lok Sabha represents the people directly
Money Bills, dealing with taxation and spending, are introduced only in the Lok Sabha, reflecting its direct representation of the people.
Q4. The Right to Education Act (2009) went through several stages before becoming law. What does this process show about Parliament?
(a) Laws are passed quickly in India
(b) Laws must balance discussion, consensus, and accountability
(c) The Rajya Sabha is more powerful than the Lok Sabha
(d) The President alone can create laws
Ans: (b) Laws must balance discussion, consensus, and accountability
The RTE Act’s legislative process, involving discussions, committee reviews, and votes, shows Parliament’s commitment to thorough, accountable lawmaking.
Q5. A state government wants to make its law on forests, but Parliament has already passed a law on the same subject. What will happen?
(a) The state law will always prevail
(b) The central law will always prevail
(c) Both laws will be applied equally
(d) The President will decide which law applies
Ans: (b) The central law will always prevail
For Concurrent List subjects like forests, if a conflict arises, the Union law prevails over the state law.
Q6. Why do you think the makers of the Constitution chose a bicameral system for India instead of a single house?
Ans: A bicameral system was chosen to balance India’s diverse national and state interests effectively.
- Federal Representation: The Rajya Sabha ensures states’ voices in national lawmaking, supporting federalism by representing state-specific concerns in Parliament.
- Balanced Lawmaking: Two houses allow thorough review of bills, preventing hasty decisions, as seen in the RTE Act’s process, drawing from global models like Britain.
- Diversity Management: India’s vast linguistic, cultural, and regional diversity required dual representation to address varied needs, unlike a single house that might overlook state concerns.
Q7. Parliament is often called the “heart of democracy.” Analyse this statement with reference to its legislative, executive, and financial functions.
Ans: Parliament’s multifaceted roles make it central to India’s democratic system.
- Legislative Function: It creates laws like the RTE Act through rigorous debate and consensus, ensuring rules reflect public needs across India’s diverse population.
- Executive Accountability: Through Question Hour and committees, it holds the Council of Ministers accountable, ensuring transparent governance and responsiveness to public issues.
- Financial Oversight: By approving budgets and scrutinizing spending, it ensures responsible use of public funds, reinforcing democratic fairness and equitable resource allocation.
Q8. If translation services were not provided in the Indian Parliament, how might it affect the working of democracy in a diverse country like India?
Ans: Lack of translation services would hinder inclusive participation in India’s diverse democracy.
- Language Barriers: MPs from non-Hindi/English regions (e.g., Tamil, Assamese) would struggle to participate, reducing representation of diverse linguistic groups in national lawmaking.
- Weakened Debates: Limited communication would stifle effective lawmaking discussions, undermining the quality of laws like the RTE Act, which required a broad consensus.
- Exclusion Risk: Marginalized linguistic communities would feel excluded, weakening democratic inclusivity and federalism, critical for India’s diverse governance structure.
Q9. Compare and evaluate the roles of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha in ensuring fairness during debates.
Ans: Both leaders maintain order, but their roles differ in scope and context.
- Speaker (Lok Sabha): Manages a larger, directly elected house, ensuring fair debates, discipline, and rule adherence, with authority to suspend disruptive MPs for orderly proceedings.
- Chairperson (Rajya Sabha): The Vice President oversees a smaller, state-representing house, maintaining fairness in debates on state issues, with less intense public pressure.
- Evaluation: The Speaker faces greater challenges due to the Lok Sabha’s size and direct accountability, but both ensure democratic fairness through impartial moderation.
Q10. Explain how the Question Hour helps strengthen executive accountability. Do you think disruptions in Question Hour weaken democracy? Why?
Ans: Question Hour ensures the executive answers the people’s representatives effectively.
- Accountability Mechanism: MPs question ministers on policies, ensuring transparency and responsiveness, as exemplified by Lal Bahadur Shastri’s accountability for railway issues in 1956.
- Disruptions’ Impact: Interruptions prevent scrutiny, delaying accountability and eroding public trust in governance, weakening democratic processes and effective policy oversight.
- Reason: Disruptions limit Parliament’s ability to address public concerns, reducing its role as the “heart of democracy” in holding the executive accountable.
Q11. The President usually acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers. Imagine a situation where the President refuses to follow this advice. What problems could arise?
Ans: Presidential refusal to follow ministerial advice could disrupt India’s democratic balance.
- Constitutional Crisis: Defying the Council could stall lawmaking (e.g., bill assent) or governance, creating political instability and confusion across government functions.
- Power Imbalance: It might undermine the elected government’s authority, weakening the Lok Sabha’s accountability to the people, central to parliamentary democracy principles.
- Public Trust: Such actions could erode confidence in institutions, escalating tensions, especially in hung Parliament scenarios where the President’s discretion is critical.
Q12. Using the Right to Education Act as an example, explain why the legislative process requires multiple discussions and reviews before passing a law.
Ans: Multiple reviews ensure laws are well-considered and effective, as seen with the RTE Act.
- Thorough Scrutiny: The RTE Act’s decade-long process involved debates and committee reviews to address funding and implementation, ensuring feasibility for millions of children.
- Consensus Building: Discussions reconciled diverse views, like state vs. Union roles, ensuring broad support for Article 21A’s mandate for free education.
- Accountability: Multiple stages, including Presidential assent, ensured the law was robust, benefiting millions with schools, books, and uniforms nationwide.
Q13. “Checks and balances stop any one part of government from becoming too powerful.” Apply this idea to the relationship between Parliament, the Executive, and the Judiciary.
Ans: Checks and balances maintain democratic equilibrium across India’s government branches.
- Parliament: Makes laws (e.g., RTE Act) but is checked by the Judiciary, which ensures constitutionality, maintaining legal integrity and fairness in lawmaking.
- Executive: Implements laws but is accountable to Parliament via Question Hour, ensuring transparency, while the President’s assent is required for bills.
- Judiciary: Reviews laws and executive actions, protecting Fundamental Rights, ensuring no branch oversteps, and maintaining fairness in India’s diverse democracy.
Q14. Some sessions of Parliament are criticised for heated arguments, walkouts, or a lack of serious debate. How does this affect the effectiveness of the legislature? Suggest ways to improve it.
Ans: Disruptions reduce Parliament’s effectiveness, hindering its democratic role.
- Impact: Walkouts and arguments delay lawmaking, disrupt Question Hour, and erode public trust, stalling critical policies like budgets and national development plans.
- Solutions: Enforce stricter rules for conduct, promote constructive dialogue via MP training, and use technology for virtual sessions to maintain productivity despite disruptions.
- Benefit: These measures would enhance lawmaking efficiency, ensure robust debates, and boost public confidence in Parliament’s role as a democratic institution.
Q15. Media and citizens play an important role in making Parliament effective. Imagine you are a young citizen. What three creative ways would you suggest to make people more engaged with Parliament’s work?
Ans: Engaging citizens creatively can strengthen Parliament’s democratic impact.
- Interactive Apps: Develop apps streaming live Parliament sessions with simplified explanations, encouraging youth participation and awareness of legislative processes.
- School Campaigns: Introduce Parliament-focused debates in schools, fostering understanding of lawmaking, like the RTE Act, among future voters to build civic responsibility.
- Social Media Challenges: Launch campaigns like “Know Your MP” to share MPs’ work, boosting public interest and accountability through accessible, engaging platforms.