Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science Civics Chapter 3 — What is Government?
How to Use This Page
This page provides complete NCERT exercise solutions for CBSE Class 6 Social Science (Civics) Chapter 3 — What is Government? Each section is designed to help you learn, revise, and score well in your exams:
1. Key Concepts — Quickly review all important terms from the chapter. 2. Intext Questions — Questions that appear within the NCERT textbook pages, answered in detail. 3. Chapter-End Exercise Questions — Full solutions to the end-of-chapter exercises. 4. MCQ Practice — Test your understanding with multiple-choice questions. 5. Common Mistakes to Avoid — Sidestep errors that students frequently make. 6. Exam Checklist — Make sure you have covered everything before your exam.
Key Concepts
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Government | A system or group of people that governs an organized community, usually a state. It makes rules, enforces them, and ensures the welfare of citizens. |
| Democracy | A form of government in which the people choose their representatives through free and fair elections. The word comes from the Greek words "demos" (people) and "kratos" (rule). |
| Monarchy | A form of government where a king or queen (a monarch) is the head of state. The position is usually hereditary. Example: The United Kingdom. |
| Dictatorship | A form of government where one person or a small group holds absolute power. People have no say in choosing their leaders. |
| Universal Adult Franchise | The right of all adult citizens (usually 18 years and above) to vote, regardless of caste, religion, gender, or economic status. |
| Constitution | A document that lays down the fundamental rules and principles by which a country is governed. It defines the rights of citizens and the duties of the government. |
| Election | The process by which people choose their representatives by voting. Elections are a hallmark of democratic government. |
| Representative | A person elected by the people to make decisions and laws on their behalf in the government. |
| Law | A rule established by the government that all citizens must follow. Breaking a law can result in punishment. |
| Citizen | A person who is a legal member of a country and enjoys the rights and responsibilities granted by its constitution. |
| Suffrage | The right to vote in political elections. Universal suffrage means every adult citizen can vote. |
| Levels of Government | Government functions at three levels in India — Central (Union), State, and Local (Panchayat/Municipality). |
| Authority | The right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. In a democracy, authority comes from the people. |
Intext Questions
These questions appear within the pages of the NCERT textbook. Below are detailed answers.
Intext Question 1 (Page 27)
Look at the newspaper headlines above and list the different kinds of activities that the government is reported to be involved in.
The government is reported to be involved in a wide range of activities that affect people's daily lives, such as:
1. Providing education — The government runs schools and colleges and ensures that children have access to free and compulsory education. 2. Supplying water and electricity — The government manages the supply of clean drinking water and electricity to homes and industries. 3. Maintaining law and order — The government ensures that laws are followed and takes action against those who break them. 4. Running healthcare services — The government operates hospitals and health centres, especially for the poor. 5. Building roads and infrastructure — The government constructs roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure. 6. Protecting the borders — The government maintains the armed forces to protect the country from external threats.
These headlines show that the government plays a direct and significant role in almost every aspect of our lives.
Intext Question 2 (Page 28)
Why do you think it is important that people join rallies and protests, as shown in the pictures on this page?
It is important that people join rallies and protests because:
1. They draw attention to problems — When a large number of people gather to protest, the government and the media take notice of the issue. 2. They are a democratic right — In a democracy, citizens have the right to express their opinions and demand action from the government. Protests are a way of exercising this right. 3. They bring about change — Many important changes in history, such as the abolition of unfair practices or the granting of voting rights, have come about because people protested and demanded them. 4. They give voice to the marginalised — People who are poor, disadvantaged, or discriminated against may not be heard individually. A collective protest amplifies their voice.
However, protests must be peaceful and within the framework of the law. Violence and destruction of property are not acceptable forms of protest.
Intext Question 3 (Page 29)
Can you list three things that the government has not done well or failed to do?
There are many areas where governments may fail to perform adequately. Three examples are:
1. Failure to provide quality education to all — Many government schools, especially in rural areas, lack proper infrastructure, trained teachers, and learning materials. 2. Failure to provide healthcare for the poor — Many people, especially in villages, do not have access to good hospitals or doctors. Government health centres are often understaffed and lack medicines. 3. Failure to control pollution — In many cities, air and water pollution have reached dangerous levels. The government has not always enforced strict environmental regulations.
These failures show why it is important for citizens to be aware, ask questions, and hold the government accountable.
Intext Question 4 (Page 30)
Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws?
The government needs to make rules in the form of laws for the following reasons:
1. To maintain order — Without laws, there would be chaos. Laws tell people what they can and cannot do, which helps maintain peace and order in society. 2. To protect the weak — Laws ensure that stronger people or groups cannot exploit or harm those who are weaker. For example, laws against child labour protect children from exploitation. 3. To ensure fairness — Laws treat everyone equally. They prevent discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, gender, or economic status. 4. To provide public services — Laws give the government the authority to collect taxes and use that money to build schools, hospitals, roads, and other services that benefit everyone. 5. To resolve disputes — When people disagree, the law provides a framework for resolving disputes fairly through courts and legal processes.
Without laws, the powerful would dominate the weak, and there would be no mechanism to ensure justice or equality.
Intext Question 5 (Page 31)
Do you think it is significant that women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to vote? What does this tell you about the nature of government there?
Yes, it is highly significant that women in Saudi Arabia were not allowed to vote (until 2015, when they were granted the right). This tells us several things about the nature of government there:
1. It is not a full democracy — A true democracy gives all adult citizens the right to vote. Denying women the vote means the government does not represent all its people. 2. It is an authoritarian form of government — The rulers make decisions without the consent of the people. Political participation is limited or controlled. 3. It discriminates on the basis of gender — Denying voting rights to women is a form of gender discrimination, which goes against the principle of equality. 4. It restricts freedom — When a government does not allow a section of its population to participate in choosing their leaders, it restricts their fundamental freedom.
This example helps us understand why universal adult franchise is such an important democratic principle.
Chapter-End Exercise Questions
Exercise Question 1
What do you understand by the word 'government'? List five ways in which you think the government affects your daily life.
Meaning of government: A government is the system or group of people that governs an organised community, usually a state or country. It is responsible for making laws, enforcing them, resolving disputes, and providing various services to the people. The government acts on behalf of the citizens and works for their welfare.
Five ways the government affects our daily life:
1. Education — The government establishes and runs schools and colleges. It sets the curriculum, pays teachers' salaries, and ensures that every child has access to education. The Right to Education Act, passed by the government, guarantees free education to children aged 6-14.
2. Water and electricity supply — The government manages the supply of clean drinking water to our homes through municipal corporations. It also oversees the generation and distribution of electricity that we use every day.
3. Healthcare — The government runs public hospitals and health centres where people can get treatment at low cost. It also runs vaccination programmes and public health campaigns to prevent diseases.
4. Transport and roads — The government builds and maintains roads, flyovers, and public transport systems like buses and trains that we use daily to travel.
5. Law and order — The government maintains police forces and courts that ensure our safety and resolve disputes. Traffic rules, which we follow every day, are made and enforced by the government.
Exercise Question 2
Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws?
The government needs to make rules in the form of laws because:
1. To prevent chaos and conflict — If there were no laws, people could do whatever they wanted. This would lead to conflict, violence, and disorder. Laws provide a framework of acceptable behaviour. 2. To protect rights and freedoms — Laws protect the rights of every individual. For example, the Right to Equality ensures that no one is discriminated against on the basis of caste, religion, or gender. 3. To ensure justice and fairness — Laws ensure that all people are treated equally, regardless of whether they are rich or poor, powerful or weak. They prevent the strong from exploiting the weak. 4. To provide for the common good — Laws allow the government to collect taxes and use that money for public services like education, healthcare, roads, and sanitation — things that benefit everyone. 5. To settle disputes — When people or groups disagree, the law provides a fair mechanism through courts to resolve those disputes peacefully.
In short, laws are necessary for an orderly, just, and fair society.
Exercise Question 3
Name two essential features of a democratic government.
Two essential features of a democratic government are:
1. Free and fair elections — In a democracy, the people choose their representatives through elections. These elections must be free and fair, meaning every adult citizen has the right to vote, and the voting process must be transparent and impartial. No one should be forced to vote for a particular candidate.
2. People's participation — In a democracy, the people have the right to participate in the decision-making process. They can express their opinions, criticise the government, and hold it accountable. This participation is not limited to voting — people can also join public debates, write to newspapers, and hold peaceful protests.
Other important features of a democracy include the rule of law, protection of fundamental rights, and an independent judiciary.
Exercise Question 4
What was the suffrage movement? What did it accomplish?
What was the suffrage movement? The suffrage movement (also called the women's suffrage movement) was a long struggle by women around the world to win the right to vote. For centuries, women were not allowed to participate in elections or hold public office. Women organised rallies, wrote petitions, held protests, and campaigned tirelessly to demand equal voting rights.
What did it accomplish? The suffrage movement accomplished the following:
1. Women won the right to vote — In many countries, women were granted the right to vote as a result of this movement. For example, women in New Zealand got the right to vote in 1893, in the United Kingdom in 1918 (fully in 1928), and in the United States in 1920. 2. Greater political participation — After winning the right to vote, women could also stand for elections and hold public office, leading to greater representation in government. 3. Raised awareness about gender equality — The movement highlighted the injustice of denying women basic political rights and inspired future movements for gender equality. 4. Strengthened democracy — By extending voting rights to women, the movement made democracies more inclusive and representative.
In India, the Constitution granted universal adult franchise from the very beginning in 1950 — all adult men and women got the right to vote at the same time.
Exercise Question 5
Gandhiji strongly believed that every adult in India should be given the right to vote. However, a few people don't share his views. They feel that illiterate people, who are mainly poor, should not be given the right to vote. What do you think? Do you think this would be a democracy? Give reasons.
I disagree with the view that illiterate or poor people should not be given the right to vote. Here are the reasons:
1. Voting is a fundamental right — In a democracy, the right to vote belongs to every adult citizen. It is not a privilege that depends on education or wealth. Denying this right goes against the very principle of democracy.
2. Illiteracy does not mean lack of understanding — An illiterate person may not be able to read or write, but they still understand their problems and needs. They know which leaders work for their welfare and which ones do not.
3. Government decisions affect everyone — Laws, policies, and government programmes affect rich and poor, literate and illiterate alike. Since everyone is affected by government decisions, everyone should have a say in choosing the government.
4. Excluding people is undemocratic — If a government denies the right to vote to certain groups of people, it cannot be called a democracy. A democracy means "rule by the people" — all the people, not just a select few.
5. It would increase inequality — Denying voting rights to the poor and illiterate would give more power to the rich and educated. This would make the government serve only the interests of the powerful, increasing inequality.
6. Gandhiji's vision — Gandhiji believed that true democracy must include every adult citizen. He understood that the poor and illiterate are often the ones who need the government's help the most. If they cannot vote, their needs will be ignored.
Therefore, any system that denies the right to vote on the basis of literacy or wealth is not a true democracy.
Exercise Question 6
Differentiate between democratic and authoritarian forms of government.
| Feature | Democratic Government | Authoritarian Government |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds power? | The people hold power. They elect their representatives through free and fair elections. | A single leader or a small group holds all the power. People have no say in choosing their rulers. |
| Elections | Regular, free, and fair elections are held. | Elections are either not held or are not free and fair. |
| Rights and freedoms | Citizens enjoy fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, expression, and religion. | Citizens have limited or no rights. Dissent is often suppressed or punished. |
| Rule of law | Everyone, including the rulers, is subject to the law. | The ruler or ruling group is above the law and can make arbitrary decisions. |
| Accountability | The government is accountable to the people. Citizens can question and criticise the government. | The government is not accountable to the people. Criticism may lead to imprisonment. |
| Participation | People participate in decision-making through elections, debates, and protests. | People have little or no participation in governance. |
| Examples | India, the United States, the United Kingdom | Nazi Germany under Hitler, North Korea |
Exercise Question 7
What are the different levels of government in India?
In India, the government functions at three levels:
1. Central (Union) Government — This is the government at the national level. It is based in New Delhi and is responsible for matters that affect the entire country, such as defence, foreign affairs, currency, national highways, and railways. It consists of the President, the Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), and the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.
2. State Government — Each state in India has its own government. It is responsible for matters that concern the state, such as state police, education, health, agriculture, and state roads. It consists of the Governor, the State Legislature (Vidhan Sabha and Vidhan Parishad), and the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.
3. Local Government — This is the government at the district, town, or village level. It includes Panchayats in rural areas and Municipalities (Municipal Corporations and Municipal Councils) in urban areas. It handles local matters such as water supply, sanitation, street lights, and local roads.
All three levels work together to ensure that governance reaches every citizen, from the largest cities to the smallest villages.
MCQ Practice (Exam-Oriented)
Test your understanding of the chapter with these multiple-choice questions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Confusing "government" with "country" — A country is a territory with its own borders and people. The government is the group of people who make and enforce the rules for that country. A country can have different governments at different times.
2. Thinking only democratic governments are governments — Dictatorships and monarchies are also forms of government. The difference is in how leaders come to power and how much freedom citizens have, not in whether it is a "government."
3. Confusing "monarchy" and "dictatorship" — In a monarchy, the ruler inherits power (like a king or queen). In a dictatorship, the ruler seizes power, usually by force. Both limit people's freedoms, but the way the ruler comes to power is different.
4. Believing that illiterate people should not vote — This is an anti-democratic view. In a democracy, every adult citizen has the right to vote, regardless of literacy. Literacy does not determine a person's ability to understand their own needs or choose their leaders.
5. Confusing "universal adult franchise" with "universal suffrage" — They mean the same thing — the right of all adults to vote. Do not get confused by the different terms.
6. Forgetting the three levels of government — Many students remember only the Central Government. Remember that in India, there are three levels: Central (Union), State, and Local (Panchayat/Municipality).
7. Writing vague answers — When asked to list ways the government affects your life, do not write general statements like "the government does many things." Give specific examples — education, water supply, healthcare, roads, law and order.
8. Confusing "voting right" timelines — Women in India got the right to vote at the same time as men (from 1950, when the Constitution came into force). India did not have a separate women's suffrage movement like Western countries.
9. Omitting the "why" in answers — When a question asks "why," do not just state the fact. Explain the reason. For example, do not just say "the government makes laws." Say "the government makes laws to maintain order, protect the weak, and ensure fairness."
10. Not reading the question carefully — Pay attention to whether the question asks you to "list," "explain," "differentiate," or "give reasons." Each type of question requires a different style of answer.
Exam Checklist
Before your exam, make sure you can answer YES to each of these items:
- [ ] I can define "government" and explain why we need it.
- [ ] I can list at least five ways the government affects my daily life (education, water, electricity, healthcare, roads, law and order, etc.).
- [ ] I can explain why the government needs to make laws and what purposes laws serve.
- [ ] I can define democracy and list at least two essential features (free and fair elections, people's participation).
- [ ] I can differentiate between democracy, monarchy, and dictatorship with examples.
- [ ] I can explain what universal adult franchise means and why it is important.
- [ ] I can describe the suffrage movement and what it accomplished.
- [ ] I can explain Gandhiji's view on voting rights and why denying the vote to illiterate people is undemocratic.
- [ ] I can name and describe the three levels of government in India (Central, State, Local).
- [ ] I can give examples of what each level of government is responsible for.
- [ ] I can answer MCQ questions on all the key concepts covered in this chapter.
- [ ] I have read the chapter in the NCERT textbook at least twice and can recall the key examples and illustrations.
- [ ] I can write answers that include specific examples, not just general statements.