Grassroots Democracy — Part 1: Governance — Mastery

Q1. A society follows traffic rules, school rules and workplace rules. According to the chapter, what is the common purpose these serve?

• A. To raise revenue for the Centre
• B. To maintain order and harmony so society can function
• C. To choose representatives
• D. To separate the three organs

Q2. Besides deciding if a law was broken, what additional role can the judiciary play according to the chapter?

• A. It makes the national budget
• B. It commands the armed forces
• C. It can examine whether an executive decision is right or a law is fair
• D. It collects land tax

Q3. A flood spreads across several towns and many villages but not the whole country. Which tier mainly responds, sending rescue teams?

• A. Local authorities alone
• B. The Supreme Court
• C. The Central Government
• D. The State Government

Q4. Which phrase best translates the literal Greek meaning of 'democracy'?

• A. Rule of law
• B. Rule of the people
• C. Rule of the wise
• D. Rule of the elders

Q5. The chapter calls India the world's largest democracy. Roughly how many voters did it mention for 2024?

• A. About 97 lakh
• B. About 9.7 crore
• C. About 970 million (97 crore)
• D. About 1.4 lakh

Q6. According to Fig. 10.5, which court represents the judiciary at the State level?

• A. The Supreme Court of India
• B. The Vidhan Sabha
• C. The Lok Sabha
• D. The High Court

Q7. What name does the chapter give to the separation of the legislature, executive and judiciary?

• A. Separation of powers
• B. Federalism
• C. Universal suffrage
• D. Coalition rule

Q8. The chapter asks 'Who makes the rules and why?' Which answer fits its overall message?

• A. Rules are made randomly by no one
• B. Only foreign experts make Indian rules
• C. A government makes rules, and citizens too have a say, to keep society orderly
• D. Rules are made only by the judiciary

Q9. Where and in which year was Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam born, according to his profile?

• A. Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, in 1931
• B. Delhi, in 1947
• C. Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, in 1920
• D. Mumbai, Maharashtra, in 1935

Q10. In a grassroots-democracy system, what can ordinary citizens do, according to the chapter?

• A. Nothing, until the next election
• B. Have a say in decisions which affect them
• C. Only obey orders from the Centre
• D. Replace the judiciary

Q11. Apart from making new laws, what else can the legislature do, according to the chapter?

• A. Punish criminals directly
• B. Command the cyber police
• C. Update or remove existing laws
• D. Decide court cases

Q12. The chapter asks: 'What would happen if no one followed the rules?' What is its own answer?

• A. Society would become richer
• B. Society would not be able to function
• C. Everyone would become a representative
• D. Rules would write themselves

Q13. According to the Fig. 10.5 table, which statement about State legislatures is correct?

• A. Every State has two houses
• B. No State has any assembly
• C. Most States have a single assembly; a few have two
• D. States share the Lok Sabha

Q14. If a representative discusses and votes on laws in a State assembly, that person is most likely a/an

• A. Member of Parliament (MP)
• B. Judge
• C. Governor
• D. Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA)

Q15. India has three tiers of government. Which tier is closest to ordinary people in a town or village?

• A. Central government
• B. State government
• C. The legislature at the Centre
• D. Local government

Q16. When a class cannot agree on a picnic spot, the teacher uses voting. What does voting achieve here?

• A. It lets the option with more support be chosen, taking everyone's opinion
• B. It silences the minority forever
• C. It removes the need for discussion
• D. It transfers the decision to the principal

Q17. Under checks and balances, what happens if one organ of government acts beyond its expected role?

• A. Another organ can check it and restore balance
• B. It is permanently abolished
• C. The Central government takes it over
• D. Elections are cancelled

Q18. The chapter mentions home rules, school rules and exam rules. What point do these examples chiefly support?

• A. Only governments make any rules
• B. Rules are the same as laws everywhere
• C. Rules apply only to children
• D. Rules exist at many levels of life, and rule-following keeps things orderly

Q19. In Dr. Kalam's thoughts, what did he encourage people to read N.O. (the answer 'no') as?

• A. Never Obey
• B. Next Opportunity
• C. No Outcome
• D. Now Over

Q20. The chapter says the three organs 'work together'. Which example from the chapter best shows this cooperation?

• A. A class choosing a picnic spot
• B. The cybercrime case where law, police and courts act in sequence
• C. Dr. Kalam's quotes on success
• D. The Government of India's motto

Q21. In the bulb analogy, going to the Electricity Board after the home and electrician fail corresponds to which idea about governments?

• A. A problem may have to be taken to a higher level when lower levels cannot solve it
• B. Only one level of government is ever needed
• C. Electricity is a Central subject only
• D. The judiciary fixes electrical faults

Q22. Which pair best describes what rules aim to maintain in a society, per the chapter?

• A. Wealth and fame
• B. Order and harmony
• C. Speed and competition
• D. Secrecy and silence

Q23. A quiz asks which of these only the Central Government handles: defence, currency, agriculture, police. Using Fig. 10.5, the correct ones are

• A. Agriculture and police
• B. Agriculture and defence
• C. Police and currency
• D. Defence and currency

Q24. When elected members in assemblies have different opinions on a law, what does the chapter say they try to do?

• A. Fight physically until one wins
• B. Convince each other through dialogue and debate
• C. Hand the matter to the army
• D. Cancel the law immediately

Q25. Through which process do people in India choose the members of their State and national assemblies?

• A. By inheritance
• B. By a lottery draw
• C. Through elections by voting
• D. By appointment from abroad

Q26. Why is grassroots democracy specially linked to the base of the pyramid rather than its top?

• A. The base represents ordinary citizens whose direct participation is encouraged
• B. The top has no power
• C. The pyramid is upside down
• D. The base is the Central government

Q27. Fig. 10.3 shows three labels around the word 'Governance'. Which three are they?

• A. Local, State, Central
• B. President, PM, CM
• C. Legislature, Executive, Judiciary
• D. Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha

Q28. According to Dr. Kalam's thoughts in the chapter, E.N.D. should be read as

• A. Effort Never Dies
• B. End Never Done
• C. Every New Day
• D. Easy New Dream

Q29. Which sequence correctly orders these from broadest to most specific, per the chapter's definitions?

• A. Laws -> rules -> government
• B. Rules -> laws -> government
• C. Laws -> government -> rules
• D. Government (makes) -> rules -> laws (most important rules)

Q30. Which single statement most accurately sums up Indian democracy as described in the chapter?

• A. A representative democracy and the world's largest, where citizens elect MLAs and MPs
• B. A direct democracy where every citizen votes on every law
• C. A monarchy with elected kings
• D. A system without any elections