Class 7 Civics: How the State Government Works- Ncert topic wise Q & A

Class 7 Civics: How the State Government Works

Patalpuram Case Study

What is happening in Patalpuram?

In Patalpuram, there is a serious water problem. Many people are drinking dirty water because the streams and tanks have dried up. There is a shortage of clean water, and many people are falling sick with diseases like diarrhoea. Even the District Hospital is full of patients, especially children.

[Short Answer] There is a water shortage in Patalpuram. People are drinking dirty water and getting sick. Many children have diarrhoea, and the hospital is full of patients.

Why is this problem serious?

This problem is serious because:

People are drinking unclean water and getting very sick.
Some people have even died from diarrhoea.
The hospital is full and cannot treat everyone properly.
Villagers have to travel far to get water, which is very difficult.
Health and clean water are basic needs, and without them, life becomes dangerous.

[Short Answer] It is serious because people are falling sick and some have even died. Clean water is not available, and many have to walk long distances to get it.

What action do you think can be taken in the above situation and who do you think should take this action? Discuss.

Action that can be taken:

Clean drinking water should be supplied to all villages and towns quickly.
The government should send health workers and medicines to help sick people.
Tankers can be sent to supply water in areas with no water.
Steps should be taken to clean and refill the streams and tanks.

Who should take action:

The MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) should take responsibility and raise the issue in the State Assembly.
The state government should act immediately to solve the water and health problem.
The Health Department and Water Department should work together to fix the issue.
Even people and community leaders can raise their voices to demand quick help.

[Short Answer] Clean water should be supplied quickly, and doctors should treat the sick. The MLA and state government should take steps to fix the water and health problem.

Key Concepts and Definitions

Who is an MLA?

An MLA or Member of the Legislative Assembly is a person elected by the people of a particular area (called a constituency) to represent them in the state government and help in making laws for the state.

What are the functions of an MLA?

They speak for the people, raise their problems in the Assembly, and help in making laws for the state.

How is an MLA elected?

1. A state is divided into many areas called constituencies.
2. People who are 18 years or older and have the right to vote are called voters.
3. Voters choose a candidate by casting their vote.
4. The candidate who gets the most votes in that constituency wins the election.
5. The winning candidate becomes the MLA of that area.

How does a person become an MLA?

In every area called a constituency, people vote in elections. The person who gets the most votes becomes the MLA.

How did some MLAs become ministers?

1. The party that wins the majority in the Legislative Assembly forms the government.
2. This party chooses its leader, who becomes the Chief Minister.
3. The Chief Minister, with the Governor’s approval, selects some MLAs to become ministers.
4. These ministers together form the cabinet of the state government.
5. Each minister is given a specific portfolio (like health, education, etc.).
6. These MLAs-turned-ministers are responsible and accountable for their departments across the whole state.

What is the difference between the work that MLAs do in the Assembly and the work done by government departments?

Ans:

MLAs discuss problems of the people and important issues in the Legislative Assembly.
They ask questions, give suggestions, and check if the government is doing its work properly.
Government departments (like health, education, etc.) do the actual work to solve these problems.
Each department is led by a minister, who is also an MLA.
The minister approves the work and makes sure the department is doing its job well.

[Short Answer]
MLAs discuss people’s problems and important issues in the Assembly. They ask questions and check the government’s work. Government departments like health and education do the actual work. Each department is led by a minister (an MLA) who approves and oversees the work.

What is a constituency?

A constituency is a part or area of a state from where people elect one MLA.

On what basis is a constituency formed?

A constituency is formed generally on the basis of population.

Do all MLAs belong to the same political party?

No, MLAs belong to different political parties, depending on which party they stood for in the election.

How do MLAs represent people?

MLAs raise local problems in the Legislative Assembly and help make decisions and laws for the people.

What is a majority?

When one political party wins more than half of the total seats in the Assembly, it is called a majority.

What is the ruling party?

The political party that wins the majority becomes the ruling party and forms the government.

What is the opposition?

All other MLAs or parties that do not form the government are called the opposition. They keep a check on the ruling party.

What is a minority party?

A minority party is one that has less than half the number of seats and is not in power.

What is a public meeting?

A public meeting is when people come together in an open place to discuss problems and demand solutions.

What is the total number of MLAs in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly?

There are 68 MLAs in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

How many MLAs are needed for a majority in Himachal Pradesh?

To get a majority, a party needs more than 34 MLAs out of 68.

Which political party became the ruling party in Himachal Pradesh in 2017?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) became the ruling party because it had 44 MLAs.

Which party was the main opposition party in Himachal Pradesh in 2017?

The Indian National Congress (INC) was the main opposition party as it had the second highest number of MLAs.

What is an independent candidate?

An independent candidate is a person who contests and wins an election without belonging to any political party.

Who is the head of a state? Who appoints them?

The Governor is the head of the state. The Central Government appoints the Governor to make sure the state government follows the Constitution.

Who became the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh in 2017?

Shri Jairam Thakur was chosen by BJP MLAs and became the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

How is the Chief Minister selected after elections?

After elections, the MLAs of the ruling party choose their leader. That person is then appointed as the Chief Minister by the Governor.

What is a coalition?

A coalition is when two or more parties join together to form the government, usually when no single party gets the majority.

What is the responsibility of the Chief Minister and other ministers?

The Chief Minister and other ministers run different government departments, like health, education, water, etc. They also have separate offices and take decisions for the welfare of the people.

What is the Legislative Assembly?

The Legislative Assembly is the place where all MLAs (from ruling and opposition parties) meet, discuss, and make decisions on state issues.

Do some MLAs have more than one responsibility?

Yes. Some MLAs are also chosen as ministers, so they have two duties: one as an MLA and one as a minister.

What is the total number of MLAs in Jharkhand Legislative assembly?

The total number of MLAs in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly is 81.

In the working of the government, explain the difference between being an MLA and an MLA who is also a minister.

An MLA is a person elected by the people to represent their area in the Legislative Assembly. They take part in debates, discussions, and decision-making.

An MLA who is also a minister has extra responsibility. They are in charge of a government department like health, education, or transport. They have to take action and make decisions for the state.

What is the role of the Legislative Assembly?

It is the place where MLAs meet to discuss problems, ask questions, debate government actions, and make decisions for the state.

Who is the head of the executive part of the government?

The Chief Minister is the head of the executive. The ministers work under the Chief Minister.

What is the difference between Legislature and Executive?

Legislature: All the MLAs together are called the Legislature. They make laws and supervise the government's work.

Executive: The Chief Minister and ministers form the Executive. They run the government and take decisions.

Why do MLAs ask questions in the Assembly?

MLAs ask questions to:

Raise problems of the people
Check what the government is doing
Suggest better solutions

Why should decisions taken by the Chief Minister and other ministers be debated in the Legislative Assembly?

Ans: 1. So that all MLAs know about the decisions.
2. Some decisions may not be good for everyone, so they need to be discussed.
3. Other MLAs can give suggestions to improve the decision.
4. After discussion, the decision becomes fair and helpful for all people in the state.

How does this debate in legislative assembly help democracy?

It helps because:

It lets MLAs speak for the people
It holds ministers accountable
It helps solve problems faster
It keeps the government open and answerable

Write two measures that the government undertook for controlling diarrhoea.

1. The government sent water tankers to supply clean drinking water to villages.

2. The government started a campaign to inform people about how to prevent diarrhoea and also distributed ORS packets.

What is the purpose of a press conference?

A press conference is a meeting where government officials or ministers talk to the media (reporters) to explain what actions they are taking on important issues.

What is a press conference?

A gathering of journalists from the media who are invited to hear about and ask questions on a particular issue and are then expected to report on this to the larger public.

How does a press conference help people?

Through news channels and newspapers, the public gets information about what the government is doing, what steps are being taken, and what plans are made to solve problems.

What did the Chief Minister do in Patalpuram after the diarrhoea outbreak?

The Chief Minister:

Visited families of those who died and also visited hospitals.
Promised funds for water tankers and sanitation work.
Said a high-level enquiry would be done.
Requested the Public Works Department to improve water supply.

Name two departments of the state government mentioned in the text.

1. Health Department

2. Public Works Department (PWD)

What can the government do to improve sanitation and health facilities?

The government can:

Make new laws for better sanitation.
Ensure toilets are built in urban areas.
Appoint health workers in villages.

Who has the main authority in a democracy?

In a democracy, the people have the main authority because they elect MLAs, who form the government.

Who makes laws for a state?

Laws for a state are made in the Legislative Assembly by the MLAs and ministers.

Who implements (carries out) the laws made by the government?

The government departments, like the Health Department or PWD, implement the laws made in the Legislative Assembly.

Where are laws made for the entire country?

Laws for the entire country are made in the Parliament of India.

What happens if people or MLAs raise an issue many times?

If people and MLAs raise an issue many times, the government has to listen, take action, and sometimes hold press conferences to explain their steps.

Intext Questions

Q1. What were the main arguments put forward by different MLAs who thought that the government was not taking the situation in a serious manner?

Several MLAs raised serious concerns:

MLA 1 said that 15 people had died in his area due to diarrhoea and blamed the government for not taking the issue seriously.
MLA 2 asked why government hospitals had no proper doctors or medical staff and called the situation an epidemic.
MLA 3 talked about water shortage in her area and asked how many tankers and wells had been arranged.
MLA 5 said many hospitals have no doctors and questioned how the government would ensure that ORS packets reach everyone.

They all felt that the government was not doing enough and wanted urgent action.

Q2. If you were the Health Minister, how would you respond to the above discussion?

(as Health Minister):

I would say:

"Thank you to all MLAs for raising important points. I understand your concerns. We are already sending water tankers and distributing ORS packets in affected areas. We have started hiring more doctors and medical staff. I will personally visit the worst-hit areas and ensure that hospitals are ready. I promise that the health department will take strong and quick action to control this situation."

Q3. Do you think the above debate would have been useful in some ways? How? Discuss.

Yes, this debate is useful because:

It helps the government know the real problems faced by people in different areas.
It puts pressure on ministers to act quickly.
It shows that in a democracy, people's representatives can question and guide the government.
It brings transparency and helps people understand what the government is doing.

Note: This content is based on Class 7 Civics curriculum covering the functioning of state governments through the Patalpuram case study.