Teachers guide students to use Exploring Society India and Beyond Class 7 Solutions and Class 7 SST Part 2 Chapter 6 The State, the Government, and You Question Answer NCERT Solutions for quick learning.
The State, the Government, and You Questions and Answers Class 7 SST Chapter 6
The State, the Government, and You Class 7 Question Answer (In-Text)
The Big Questions? (Page 143)
Question 1.
What is the difference between a state and a government?
Answer:
A state is a permanent political organisation that includes four elements: people, territory, government, and sovereignty – the full power to make decisions without external control. The government, on the other hand, is only one part of the state. It is a group of elected or appointed people who run the state by making and implementing laws.
The state continues permanently, but governments change after elections. Thus, the state is a broader, permanent structure, while the government is a temporary authority that manages the state’s daily work.
Question 2.
What is the difference between a democracy and a republic? What makes India a democratic republic?
Answer:
A democracy means rule by the people—citizens choose their government through free and fair elections.
A republic means the head of state is elected (directly or indirectly) rather than hereditary, and the Constitution limits government power.
India is a democratic republic because:
- People elect their representatives at all levels of government (democracy).
- The President, India’s head of state, is elected indirectly and does not inherit the position (republic). Additionally, the Constitution protects Fundamental Rights and prevents majority domination, which is an essential feature of a republic.
Question 3.
How do citizens engage with the government in day-to-day life? How can one make government work for the people?
Answer:
Citizens engage with the government in day-to-day life in many ways. They interact with government departments for services like schools, hospitals, water supply, electricity, transport, police, and local municipal work. People can file complaints and grievances through government offices or online grievance redressal portals.
They can also seek information using the Right to Information (RTI) Act, write to officials, use print and social media to raise issues, join civil society organisations (NGOs), and participate in elections by voting for their representatives.
People can make the government work for them by being aware of their rights and duties, actively raising issues, demanding transparency and accountability, questioning unfair actions, participating in public discussions, and choosing responsible leaders through elections. When citizens remain informed, involved, and responsible, the government becomes more responsive and works for the welfare of the people.
Let’s Explore
Question 1.
Make lists of different government departments you are familiar with, or whose names you may have seen on boards around your home or on your way to school. What functions do you think they perform? (Page 148)
Answer:
List of government departments and their functions are as follows.
- Public Works Department (PWD): Builds and maintains roads, bridges, government buildings, and drainage systems. Ensures safe and usable public infrastructure.
- Education Department/Department of School Education: Runs government schools, hires teachers, and manages textbooks, exams, and scholarships. Ensures that every child gets the right to education.
- Health Department: Manages government hospitals, primary health centres, vaccination drives, and public health campaigns. Works to control diseases and improve healthcare access.
- Police Department: Maintains law and order and investigates crimes. Ensures safety of citizens and works with the judiciary.
- Transport Department: Issues driving licences, vehicle registrations, and manages public buses. Ensures safe traffic rules and transportation services.
- Municipal Corporation/ Municipality/Panchayat Office: Handles waste collection, water supply, streetlights, parks, and sanitation. Fixes local problems like potholes, drainage, or broken streetlamps.
- Electricity Board: Provides and maintains household electricity supply. Repairs faults and manages billing.
- Water Supply Department: Ensures clean drinking water reaches homes and public taps. Repairs pipelines and monitors water quality.
- Revenue Department: Maintains land records, property tax information, and issues certificates like income, caste, or domicile. Supports administrative work needed for citizens.
- Agriculture Department: Provides training, seeds, soil testing, fertiliser information, and crop support to farmers. Helps improve agricultural productivity.
Question 2.
Collect editorials from a few newspapers. Read them in small groups. Identify the topics on which they have opinions. How many are about government policies? (Page 160)
Answer:
Sample Answer: Editorial Review After collecting and reading a few editorials from different newspapers, our group identified the following topics on which the writers expressed their opinions:
- Education Reforms: Articles discussed improving government schools, teacher training, and implementation of mid-day meal schemes. These relate directly to government education policies.
- Public Health and Hospitals: Several editorials focused on government hospitals, vaccination drives, and the need for better medical facilities. These involve state government and central health policies.
- Environment and Development Projects: Some editorials raised concerns about deforestation, pollution, and large construction projects. Similar to how the chapter mentions public debate about Silent Valley.
- Economic Policies: Discussions about inflation, GST, job schemes, and economic growth. These are related to Union Government policies.
- Law and Order Issues: Editorials about policing, justice delays, and crime rates. These are linked to state government functioning and judicial responsibilities. Out of the editorials we reviewed, most were related to government policies, because newspapers often discuss decisions made by:
– The Union Government (national policies)
– State Governments (health, education, policing)
– Local Governments (roads, sanitation, water supply)
Question 3.
What might be the reasons that decisions regarding local concerns should be taken locally to the extent possible? (Page 162)
Answer:
Decisions regarding local concerns should be taken locally because local people understand their problems better than distant authorities. Local leaders are closer to the people, so they can respond more quickly and effectively. It also encourages public participation, making democracy stronger at the grassroots level. Local decision-making ensures greater accountability, as people can easily question and monitor their representatives. Thus, solving local issues locally leads to faster, more suitable, and more democratic solutions.
Question 4.
It has been more than 75 years since India became a republic. During this time, we have had many governments at the national, state and local levels. Many policies and programs have been designed and implemented. We have come a long way by increasing literacy of our people, improving roads, trains, and airports, and strengthening communication systems such as the telephone and the internet. But we still have a long way to go in addressing India’s challenges. (Page 165)
Have a class discussion on the following:
(i) List five major achievements of our country in improving the lives of ordinary people in your village, town or city. Which level of government made this possible and how?
Answer:
Five major achievements in improving people’s lives and the level of government responsible are:
- Improvement in school education through government schools, mid-day meals, and scholarships – made possible mainly by the central and state governments through education policies and schemes.
- Better road connectivity within cities and villages carried out mostly by local governments and state governments through municipal corporations, panchayats, and state public works departments.
- Expansion of railways, metros, and airports – developed by the central government to improve long-distance travel and economic growth.
- Increased access to healthcare such as government hospitals, vaccination drives, and health schemes – implemented by both central and state governments with support from local health workers.
- Improved communication systems like mobile networks and internet services – supported by central government policies and implemented with help from state governments and local bodies.
(ii) List five problems that ordinary people face frequently. At which level of government should these be addressed and how?
Answer:
Five common problems faced by ordinary people and the level of government that should address them are:
- Poor sanitation and waste management – should be addressed by local governments such as municipalities and panchayats.
- Unemployment and lack of job opportunitiesshould be addressed mainly by central and state governments through skill development and employment schemes.
- Poor quality of government schools or hospitals – should be handled by state governments with support from local authorities.
- Water shortage or irregular water supply – should be solved by local governments with assistance from state governments.
- Traffic congestion and road safety issues – should be addressed by local and state governments through better planning and enforcement.
Think About It
Question 1.
If a streetlamp in your neighbourhood is broken, who would you contact to fix it? If a village road needs to be repaired, would the local people reach out to the Central Government? (Page 162)
Answer:
If a streetlamp in the neighbourhood is broken, the correct authority to contact is the local government such as the municipal corporation, municipality, or panchayat.
Local governments handle everyday issues like streetlights, water supply, parks, and drainage because they are closest to the people and can fix such problems quickly.
If a village road needs to be repaired, the local people would not reach out to the Central Government. Instead, they would contact the panchayat or the local public works officials under the state or local government, because local matters should be addressed locally.
The State, the Government, and You Class 7 Solutions (Exercise)
Question 1.
“Every democracy is a republic.” Is this statement true or false? Explain.
Answer:
The statement is false. The chapter explains that while many democracies are republics, not all are — for example, the UK, Canada, and Sweden are democracies but not republics because they have a hereditary monarch as head of state. A republic requires the head of state to be elected, whereas a democracy simply requires people to choose their government.
Question 2.
Give two reasons why decentralisation is important in India.
Answer:
Decentralisation is important in India because:
- India is a vast and diverse country, so local issues can be solved better by local governments who understand the needs of their communities.
- Decentralisation increases accountability and participation because leaders are closer to the people, making it easier for citizens to question them and get faster responses.
Question 3.
Imagine you are part of your school’s student council. The council works like a mini-parliament— it has members elected by students, debates issues and makes decisions. In this context, do you think it would be better if only the council president makes all the decisions or if power is to be shared among all members?
(i) Should the student council have the power to make rules about the food you eat, or the language you use to speak?
Answer:
It would be better if power is shared among all members of the student council rather than only the president making all decisions. Sharing power allows different opinions to be heard, encourages discussion and debate, and leads to fairer and more balanced decisions.
It also prevents misuse of power and makes the council more democratic.
The student council should not have the power to make rules about the food students eat or the language they speak, because these are personal choices and part of individual freedom. Such rules could be unfair and may violate students’ rights.
(ii) What can go wrong if the student council is the most powerful body in your school and no one questions its decisions?
Answer:
If the student council becomes the most powerful body in the school and no one questions its decisions, it can misuse its power, make unfair or biased rules, and ignore the needs of some students. This can lead to injustice, dissatisfaction, and a loss of trust, showing why checks and balances are important.
Question 4.
Think about these real-life situations in relation to India’s democracy:
(i) Should the Parliament be the most powerful institution in the country? Why or why not?
Answer:
In India’s democracy, Parliament should not be the most powerful institution. While Parliament represents the will of the people and makes laws, its powers must be limited by the Constitution. This is important to prevent misuse of power and to protect citizens’ rights.
(ii) Should the Parliament have the power to make any law it wants, even if it affects your rights?
Answer:
Parliament should not have the power to make any law it wants if such laws violate fundamental rights. The Constitution places limits on Parliament so that the rights to equality, freedom, and justice are not taken away, even by a majority decision.
(iii) What could go wrong if lawmaking has no limits? Can it lead to unfair or unjust laws?
Answer:
If lawmaking has no limits, it could lead to unfair or unjust laws, discrimination against minorities, abuse of power, and suppression of freedoms. This would weaken democracy and harm the rule of law.
(iv) Who is more powerful in India, the Parliament or the Supreme Court? Give your reasons.
Answer:
In India, neither Parliament nor the Supreme Court is more powerful than the other. Parliament makes laws, while the Supreme Court interprets the Constitution and checks whether laws are constitutional. The Supreme Court can strike down laws that violate the Constitution, ensuring balance and protecting democracy.
Question 5.
Ask your parents/guardians how they engaged with the government over the past year. Make a list and classify the items based on the level of government they had to work with. What challenges did they face?
Answer:
Do it yourself.