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Grassroots Democracy — Part 1: Governance – Class 6 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 6 Social Science, chapter 10. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Governance is the way a society is managed and decisions are made. India is a democracy in which people choose their representatives. The government has three organs—the legislature, the executive and the judiciary—and works at three levels: union, state and local. Local government is grassroots democracy.

Need for government and democracy

A government makes laws, maintains order, protects people's rights and provides services such as schools, hospitals and roads.
In a democracy, people elect their representatives through regular elections in which every adult citizen can vote.
Democracy allows people to participate, express their views and hold the government accountable.

Organs and separation of powers

The legislature makes laws; the executive implements laws and runs the administration; the judiciary interprets laws and settles disputes.
Separation of powers means that each organ has its own work, so that no single organ becomes too powerful.

Levels of government

The union (central) government deals with matters of the whole country, such as defence and currency.
State governments look after matters such as police and agriculture within a state.
Local governments—panchayats in villages and municipalities in towns—handle local needs; this is grassroots democracy.

Key terms

Governance: the process of managing a society and making and carrying out decisions
Democracy: a form of government in which people rule through their elected representatives
Legislature: the organ of government that makes laws
Judiciary: the system of courts that interprets laws and settles disputes

Important questions with answers

Why do we need a government?2 marks

A government makes laws and maintains peace and order, protects the rights and safety of people, and provides services such as education, health care, roads, water and electricity. It also settles disputes and takes decisions for the welfare of all.

What are the three organs of government? What does each do?3 marks

The legislature makes laws; examples are Parliament and state legislative assemblies. The executive implements laws and runs the administration; it includes ministers and government officials. The judiciary, made up of courts, interprets laws, settles disputes and protects people's rights.

Explain the levels of government in India and why local government is important.5 marks

India has government at three levels. The union government in New Delhi deals with matters that concern the whole country, such as defence, foreign affairs, railways and currency. State governments deal with matters within each state, such as police, agriculture and health. Local governments work in villages (panchayats) and towns and cities (municipalities and municipal corporations) and look after water supply, sanitation, street lights, local roads and records. Local government is important because problems are best understood and solved by people close to them, people can participate directly in decisions, it makes government responsive and accountable at the grassroots, and it trains citizens in democracy. That is why it is called grassroots democracy.

Quick revision

Government: laws, order, rights, services.
Democracy = rule by elected representatives.
Three organs with separation of powers.
Three levels; local = grassroots democracy.

Exam tips

Remember the three organs with one word each: legislature (makes), executive (implements), judiciary (interprets).
Remember the three levels: union, state, local.

Practice MCQs

The organ of government that makes laws is the
1. executive
2. judiciary
3. legislature
4. police
Show answer
Answer: (c) legislature. Parliament and state assemblies are legislatures.
In a democracy, representatives are chosen through
1. inheritance
2. lottery
3. elections
4. force
Show answer
Answer: (c) elections. Adult citizens vote in elections.
Courts form the
1. legislature
2. judiciary
3. executive
4. panchayat
Show answer
Answer: (b) judiciary. The judiciary interprets laws.
Dividing work among the three organs so that no one becomes too powerful is called
1. decentralisation
2. separation of powers
3. federalism only
4. monarchy
Show answer
Answer: (b) separation of powers. Each organ checks the others.
Defence and currency are handled by the
1. local government
2. state government
3. gram sabha
4. union government
Show answer
Answer: (d) union government. They concern the whole country.
Panchayats and municipalities are examples of
1. union government
2. judiciary
3. local government
4. legislature only
Show answer
Answer: (c) local government. They handle local needs.
Why is local government called grassroots democracy
1. it brings decision-making closest to the people
2. it deals with grass and farms
3. it has no elections
4. it is run by courts
Show answer
Answer: (a) it brings decision-making closest to the people. People participate directly in local decisions.
Which organ carries out laws and runs day-to-day administration
1. legislature
2. executive
3. judiciary
4. election commission only
Show answer
Answer: (b) executive. Ministers and officials form the executive.

All chapters of Class 6 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.