RBSE Solutions Class 8 Social Science Chapter 14 Union Government

Union Government Text Book Question Solved

Question 1. Choose the correct option:
1. Characteristics of Union system is:
(A) Division of Powers
(B) Centralisation of Powers
(C) Absence of Independence of Judiciary
(D) Totalitarian government
Answer: (A) Division of Powers
In simple words: A union system means that power is split up among different levels of government. This helps to prevent any one part from becoming too strong.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that "Division of Powers" is a key feature of federal systems, where authority is shared between a central government and state governments.

Question 2. Which is not the part of the Parliament:
(A) Rajya Sabha
(B) Lok Sabha
(C) President
(D) Governor
Answer: (D) Governor
In simple words: The Parliament in India includes the President, the Rajya Sabha (Upper House), and the Lok Sabha (Lower House). A Governor is a part of state government, not the central Parliament.

🎯 Exam Tip: Know the three main parts of the Indian Parliament to correctly identify who is or isn't a part of it.

Question 2. How many States and Union Territories are there in India?
Answer: India has 29 States and 7 Union Territories. Each state has its own elected government, while Union Territories are directly governed by the central government.
In simple words: India has 29 big parts called States and 7 smaller parts called Union Territories.

🎯 Exam Tip: Keep up-to-date with changes in the number of states and union territories, as these can sometimes change due to government decisions.

Question 3. How many members are nominated by the President in the Lok Sabha?
Answer: The President can nominate two members to the Lok Sabha. These members usually represent the Anglo-Indian community if they are not adequately represented through elections.
In simple words: The President can pick two members for the Lok Sabha.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the difference between elected and nominated members, and which communities or groups they typically represent.

Question 4. To whom union of council of minister are collectively responsible?
Answer: The Union Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. This means they must work together and share responsibility for the government's decisions to the lower house of Parliament.
In simple words: The group of ministers must answer to the Lok Sabha as a team.

🎯 Exam Tip: "Collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha" is a crucial concept in India's parliamentary democracy; remember what it signifies.

Question 6. Explain the composition of Lok Sabha?
Answer: The Lok Sabha is known as the House of People's Representatives or the lower house of Parliament. Its members are chosen directly by the people through elections based on universal adult franchise. The Lok Sabha can have a maximum of 552 members. Currently, it has 545 members: 530 from the states, 13 from union territories, and 2 members nominated by the President from the Anglo-Indian community. The normal term for the Lok Sabha is five years, but it can be dissolved earlier by the President if the Council of Ministers advises it, which is why it is also called a temporary house.
In simple words: The Lok Sabha is the lower house of Parliament. People vote to choose its members. It can have up to 552 members, but right now it has 545. Most members are from states and union territories, with two chosen by the President. Its term is usually five years, but it can end early.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the maximum strength, current strength, and the election method for Lok Sabha members, as well as its "temporary" nature.

Question 7. Write two reasons for accepting Parliamentary system in India.
Answer: Two main reasons for India adopting the Parliamentary system are:

• It is an accountable system of administration, which means the government is answerable to the people through Parliament. This feature makes it more effective than other forms of government.
• There is constant coordination between the Executive (the government) and the Legislature (Parliament). The Executive is formed from members of the Legislature, ensuring they work together and the Executive remains responsible to the Legislature. This teamwork helps in smooth governance.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining why the parliamentary system was chosen, emphasize "accountability" and "coordination between executive and legislature."

Question 8. What are the Powers of the President?
Answer: The President of India has several important powers, known as General Powers:

• The President calls the sessions of Parliament and addresses its very first session.
• All bills passed by Parliament must be signed by the President to become law.
• When Parliament is not meeting, the President can issue special orders called ordinances.
• The President appoints key officials like the Prime Minister, members of the Council of Ministers, governors, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and other important high officials of the country.
• All agreements and treaties with other countries are signed under the President's name and official seal.
• The President can declare a National Emergency due to war, armed rebellion, or external attack (under Article 352).
• The President can declare a constitutional emergency in a state if its constitutional system fails (under Article 356).
• The President can declare a Financial Emergency if the country's financial stability is threatened (under Article 360).

🎯 Exam Tip: Categorize the President's powers into legislative, executive, and emergency powers to help remember them better.

Question 9. Describe the powers of Prime Minister.
Answer: The Prime Minister holds significant powers and plays a central role in the government:

• The Prime Minister advises the President on who to appoint as ministers.
• The Prime Minister distributes and reassigns work (portfolios) among the ministers.
• The Prime Minister leads cabinet meetings and guides, directs, and coordinates the work of various government departments.
• As the leader of the majority party, the Prime Minister effectively serves as the leader of the house.
• The Prime Minister acts as the main link between the President and the Council of Ministers, keeping the President informed on important constitutional matters and executive decisions.
• The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers, and if the Prime Minister resigns, the entire Council of Ministers also resigns.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize the Prime Minister's role as the "head of government" and the link between the President and the Cabinet.

Union Government Additional Questions Solved

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1. Chose the correct option:
1. The law making body of country is known as .........
(A) Parliament
(B) Constituent Assembly
(C) Upper house
(D) Government
Answer: (A) Parliament
In simple words: The Parliament is the main group that creates laws for the country.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that Parliament consists of both houses (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and the President, working together to make laws.

Question 3. ................ selects the members of the council of ministers.
(A) President
(B) Governor
(C) Prime Minister
(D) Chief Minister
Answer: (C) Prime Minister
In simple words: The Prime Minister chooses the other ministers who will work in the government.

🎯 Exam Tip: The Prime Minister is responsible for forming the Council of Ministers, though their appointments are formally made by the President.

Question 4. If ................. signs the bill it becomes law.
(A) Governor
(B) President
(C) Chief Minister
(D) Parliament
Answer: (B) President
In simple words: A bill passed by Parliament only becomes a law after the President approves and signs it.

🎯 Exam Tip: The President's assent is the final step for a bill to transform into an Act (law).

Question 5. ............... summons both the houses of the Parliament.
(A) Prime Minister
(B) President
(C) Chief Minister
(D) Vice President
Answer: (B) President
In simple words: The President is the one who officially calls for the meetings of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

🎯 Exam Tip: The President has the power to summon, prorogue, and dissolve Parliament sessions.

Question 2. Match the following
Answer:

🎯 Exam Tip: For matching questions, understand the core function or definition of each term to ensure accurate pairing.

Question 3. Fill in the Blanks
1. To become a member of Lok Sabha, a person should not be less than ............... years of age
2. ............... allocates portfolios among the ministers.
3. The governor of the state is appointed by the ...............
4. ............... can dissolve the Lok Sabha.
5. In the case of vacancy created for the president's post due to death, resignation, removal etc. The.............. discharges his duties.
Answer:
1. To become a member of Lok Sabha, a person should not be less than 25 years of age.
2. Prime Minister allocates portfolios among the ministers.
3. The governor of the state is appointed by the President.
4. President can dissolve the Lok Sabha.
5. In the case of vacancy created for the president's post due to death, resignation, removal etc. The Vice President discharges his duties.
In simple words: For Lok Sabha, you need to be 25. The Prime Minister gives jobs to ministers. The President appoints state governors and can also close down the Lok Sabha. If the President cannot do their job, the Vice President takes over.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember specific age requirements and the roles of key government figures like the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister for these types of questions.

Question 2. What is the strength of Rajya Sabha?
Answer: The total strength of the Rajya Sabha, also known as the Council of States, is 250 members. This number includes both elected and nominated members. The Rajya Sabha ensures representation for the states in the central legislature.
In simple words: The Rajya Sabha has 250 members in total.

🎯 Exam Tip: Distinguish between the maximum strength of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; they are different.

Question 3. How many members are nominated in Rajya Sabha?
Answer: In the Rajya Sabha, 12 members are nominated by the President. These members are usually chosen for their special knowledge or practical experience in fields like art, literature, science, or social service, bringing diverse expertise to the Parliament.
In simple words: The President chooses 12 members for the Rajya Sabha based on their special skills.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the number of nominated members and the specific fields from which they are typically selected.

Question 4. Which house of the parliament is called house of the people?
Answer: The Lok Sabha is called the House of the People. This is because its members are directly elected by the citizens of India through general elections, making it truly representative of the public's will.
In simple words: The Lok Sabha is called the house of the people because people vote for its members.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand that "House of the People" directly refers to the Lok Sabha due to direct elections.

Question 5. What is the total strength of Lok Sabha?
Answer: The total strength of the Lok Sabha can be up to 545 members at present, which includes elected representatives from states and union territories, and two nominated members. While the maximum possible strength is 552, the current functional strength is 545, reflecting the active representatives in the lower house.
In simple words: The Lok Sabha currently has a total of 545 members.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to whether the question asks for the *maximum* possible strength or the *current* strength of the Lok Sabha.

Question 6. Who appoints the Prime Minister?
Answer: The President appoints the Prime Minister. This appointment is made after a general election, where the leader of the party or coalition that secures a majority in the Lok Sabha is usually invited to form the government.
In simple words: The President chooses the Prime Minister.

🎯 Exam Tip: While the President appoints, the choice is largely dictated by the majority party in the Lok Sabha.

Question 7. Who is the chairperson of Rajya Sabha?
Answer: The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. This means that whoever holds the office of Vice President automatically becomes the presiding officer of the Upper House. This role ensures impartiality in parliamentary proceedings.
In simple words: The Vice President of India is also the leader of the Rajya Sabha.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the term "ex-officio" which means "by virtue of office" for the Vice President's role in the Rajya Sabha.

Question 2. Name the three categories of the ministers.
Answer: The three categories of ministers in India are:
1. Cabinet Minister
2. State Minister
3. Deputy Minister
Each category has different levels of responsibility and authority within the government structure.
In simple words: There are three types of ministers: Cabinet, State, and Deputy.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the hierarchy and roles within the Council of Ministers, from the most powerful Cabinet ministers to Deputy ministers.

Question 3. What is the process of election of President and Vice President?
Answer: The President and Vice President of India are elected through an indirect election process. This process uses a system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote. Instead of direct public voting, an Electoral College consisting of elected members of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies casts the votes.
In simple words: The President and Vice President are chosen by an indirect election. This means elected representatives, not the public directly, cast votes using a special system.

🎯 Exam Tip: Keywords here are "indirect election," "proportional representation," and "single transferable vote" for both President and Vice President.

Question 4. What are the features of the Union Administrative System?
Answer: The Union Administrative System in India has several important features:

• Supremacy of Constitution: The Constitution is the highest law of the land, guiding all administrative actions.
• Bicameral Legislature: The Parliament has two houses – the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha – ensuring thorough debate and review of laws.
• Written Constitution: India has a detailed written constitution that outlines the structure and powers of the government.
• Division of Administrative powers between the Centre and States: Powers are clearly divided between the central government and state governments, maintaining a federal structure.
• Dual administrative set-up: Both central and state governments have their own administrative machinery.
• Independent and impartial judiciary: The judiciary is separate from the executive and legislature, ensuring fair justice and upholding the Constitution.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing the features of the Union Administrative System, highlighting the federal structure, constitutional supremacy, and independent judiciary is key.

Question 5. What is parliament?
Answer: Parliament is the highest law-making body in a parliamentary democracy. In India, it is the supreme legislative organ of the government, comprising the President, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha. It plays a crucial role in making, amending, and repealing laws for the country.
In simple words: Parliament is the most important group that makes laws for the country. It includes the President and two houses of elected people.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that Parliament is not just the two houses, but also includes the President for its complete function.

Question 7. Name the components of the Parliament?
Answer: The Parliament of India is made up of three main components:

• The President of the Union.
• The Rajya Sabha, which is also known as the upper house or the Council of States.
• The Lok Sabha, which is known as the lower house or the house of the people.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always list all three components (President, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha) when asked about the composition of Parliament for a complete answer.