Exercise Questions (Pages 161–162)
Question 1: Find out how many representatives from your state are in each House of the Parliament.
Answer: The number of parliamentary representatives differs from state to state. For instance, Uttar Pradesh is allocated 80 seats in the Lok Sabha and 31 seats in the Rajya Sabha, whereas smaller states such as Sikkim have just 1 seat in each house. To find the precise number of seats for your state, refer to the Election Commission of India’s website or consult the official records for the 18th Lok Sabha (2024) and current Rajya Sabha allocations.
Question 2: What makes the Indian Parliament the “voice of the people”? How does it ensure that different opinions are heard?
Answer: The Indian Parliament is the “voice of the people” because it comprises elected representatives chosen through universal adult franchise, reflecting diverse societal interests. It ensures different opinions are heard through:
- Debates and Discussions: MPs debate bills, as seen with the RTE Act, allowing diverse perspectives.
- Question Hour: MPs question ministers, raising public concerns.
- Linguistic Accessibility: Translation in 18 languages ensures inclusivity.
- Federal Representation: The Rajya Sabha represents state interests, balancing regional voices.
Question 3: Why do you think the Constitution made the Executive responsible to the Legislature?
Answer: The Constitution makes the Executive (Prime Minister and Council of Ministers) responsible to the Legislature (Lok Sabha) to ensure accountability and democratic governance. Since MPs are elected by the people, their oversight through mechanisms like Question Hour ensures the Executive implements laws and policies in the public’s interest, preventing misuse of power.
Question 4: Why do you think we have chosen the system of bicameral legislature at the Union level?
Answer: India adopted a bicameral legislature to:
- Promote Federalism: The Rajya Sabha represents state interests, balancing national unity with regional diversity.
- Ensure Deliberation: The upper house reviews and refines bills passed by the Lok Sabha, enhancing legislative quality.
- Balance Power: It prevents hasty legislation and provides stability, as Rajya Sabha members are elected indirectly and serve longer terms.
Question 5: Try to track the journey of a recent bill passed by the Parliament. Identify in which House it was introduced. Were there any major debates or disagreements? How long did it take for the bill to become a law? Use newspaper archives, government websites, and Lok Sabha debates, or ask your teacher for help.
Answer:
Example: Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023
- Introduction: Presented in the Lok Sabha as the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill on September 19, 2023.
- Journey: Reserved 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Passed Lok Sabha (454–2) on September 20, Rajya Sabha unanimously on September 21, and received Presidential assent on September 28, 2023.
- Duration: 10 days from introduction to assent; earlier versions debated for 25+ years.
- Source: Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha websites, news archives (e.g., The Hindu, Sept 2023).
Question 6: Choose a recent law passed by the Parliament. Divide into teams to role-play different parts of the process – MPs debating in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, ministers answering questions, and the President giving assent. Present a short skit showing how a bill becomes a law; enact a ‘model Parliament’.
Answer:
Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam)recent law passed by the Parliament is the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam).Reserves 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Model Parliament Skit: MPs debate the bill, with some supporting and some raising concerns.Ministers explain its purpose and implementation.Bill is voted on and passed in the Lok Sabha.Rajya Sabha discusses and passes the bill.Sent to the President, who gives assent.Becomes law and is published in the Gazette of India.
Question 7: The Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, was passed with wide support. Why might it have taken over 25 years for this bill to be passed, despite being discussed for so long?
Answer:-
The bill faced political disagreements for many years.Parties differed on the reservation percentage and its impact.Some leaders worried it could limit opportunities for men or affect caste-based representation.After prolonged debates and growing demand for women’s political participation, a consensus was reached in 2023.
Question 8: Sometimes the Parliament is disrupted and does not function for the number of days it is supposed to. What impact do you think this has on the quality of laws and the trust people place in their representatives?
Answer:
Impact on Quality of Laws:
- Delayed Legislation: Disruptions, as noted with low productivity (e.g., Rajya Sabha’s 35.75% in 2018), delay bills, leading to rushed or poorly debated laws.
- Reduced Scrutiny: Limited discussion time weakens the quality of laws, as seen with prolonged debates on bills like RTE.
Impact on Public Trust:
- Erosion of Confidence: Frequent disruptions and absenteeism signal inefficiency, reducing trust in MPs.
- Perception of Neglect: Angry or biased debates, as highlighted in media cartoons, make citizens feel their concerns are ignored, undermining democratic faith.
Question 9: Can you create ‘interest’ groups among students and list questions related to any policy that you may want to ask your MP and/or your MLA? How would these questions be different if it is to the MP instead of the MLA, and vice versa?
Answer:
Interest Group:
- Education Policy (NEP 2020)MP (Union Level) Questions:
How is NEP 2020 being implemented uniformly across states?What funds are allocated for teacher training in 2025–26?How will vocational education under NEP support national job creation?
- MLA (State Level) Questions:
How is the state integrating NEP’s multilingual education in schools?Are there plans to upgrade school infrastructure to NEP standards?How is the state addressing teacher shortages in rural areas?
- Key Difference: MPs focus on national policy, funding, and coordination; MLAs address state-level implementation, infrastructure, and local challenges.
Question 10: What is the role that the Judiciary plays in Indian democracy? What could happen if we didn’t have an independent Judiciary?
Answer:
Role of Judiciary
- Interpreting Laws: Resolves disputes and ensures legal clarity.
- Constitutional Guardian: Ensures laws and actions comply with the Constitution.
- Protecting Rights: Safeguards fundamental rights and democratic values.
- Checks and Balances: Prevents legislative or executive overreach.
Without an Independent Judiciary:
- Unchecked Power: Risk of unconstitutional laws and authoritarianism.
- Rights Violations: Citizens’ rights may be ignored.
- Erosion of Democracy: Weakens accountability and public trust.