Question Bank — The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive

NCERT Class 8 Social Science · Chapter 6 · CBSE Board Pattern

Class 8 Social Science Chapter 6 Question Bank CBSE Board Pattern

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

  1. The Indian Parliament is a bicameral legislature consisting of:
    (a) Only the Lok Sabha
    (b) The President, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
    (c) Only the Rajya Sabha and the Prime Minister
    (d) The President and the Council of Ministers

  2. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by:
    (a) Indirect election by state legislatures
    (b) Direct election based on universal adult suffrage
    (c) Nomination by the President
    (d) Election by the Rajya Sabha

  3. Which of the following is NOT a legislative function of Parliament?
    (a) Lawmaking
    (b) Constitutional amendments
    (c) Implementation of laws
    (d) Financial accountability

  4. The presiding officer of the Lok Sabha is the:
    (a) Vice President
    (b) Speaker
    (c) Prime Minister
    (d) President

  5. Money Bills can be introduced only in the:
    (a) Rajya Sabha
    (b) Lok Sabha
    (c) Both Houses simultaneously
    (d) Vidhan Parishad

  6. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the:
    (a) President
    (b) Rajya Sabha
    (c) Lok Sabha
    (d) Supreme Court

  7. Assertion (A): The Rajya Sabha is called the Council of States.
    Reason (R): Its members are elected indirectly by an electoral college consisting of elected members of state legislative assemblies.
    (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true but R is false.
    (d) A is false but R is true.

  8. Assertion (A): The Prime Minister is the de facto executive authority in India’s parliamentary system.
    Reason (R): The President is only the nominal head of the executive and acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
    (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true but R is false.
    (d) A is false but R is true.

  9. The maximum number of members in the Lok Sabha as envisaged by the Constitution is:
    (a) 500
    (b) 525
    (c) 550
    (d) 600

  10. Which body acts as the custodian of the Constitution by checking that laws passed by Parliament do not violate the constitutional framework?
    (a) The Executive
    (b) The Legislature
    (c) The Judiciary
    (d) The Election Commission

Section B — Very Short Answer (6 questions, 2 marks each)

  1. Define ‘bicameral’ legislature with reference to the Indian Parliament.
  2. State any two constitutional functions of the Parliament.
  3. Identify the two Houses of Parliament and name their presiding officers.
  4. What is the role of the Speaker in the Lok Sabha?
  5. Define ‘Question Hour’ and state its significance.
  6. State the difference between a Bill and an Act.

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

  1. Explain how the composition of the Rajya Sabha reflects the federal spirit of the Constitution.
  2. Compare the legislative and executive functions of Parliament with suitable examples from the chapter.
  3. Give reasons why the Constitution makers preferred a bicameral legislature at the Union level.
  4. Explain the process by which a Bill becomes an Act, highlighting the role of the Standing Committee.
  5. How does the Parliament ensure financial accountability of the Executive?

Section D — Long Answer (3 questions, 5 marks each)

  1. Analyse the causes and significance of the system of checks and balances among the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary as described in the chapter.
  2. Examine the key functions and challenges faced by the Indian Parliament in its effective functioning. How do disruptions affect its productivity?
  3. Discuss the parallel structure of the Union and State governments with reference to the Legislature and Executive. Why is this federal arrangement important?

Section E — Source-Based (2 questions, 4 marks each)

Source 1

“Most people call me RTE. I came into existence in August 2009… Six years later, I was tabled as a bill in the Rajya Sabha. A committee studied me thoroughly and suggested modifications… After the 2009 elections, the new government pursued the matter, and in August 2009, I was passed in the Lok Sabha and received the President’s assent, becoming an Act.”

(i) Identify the Bill mentioned in the source. (1)
(ii) In which House was the Bill first tabled? (1)
(iii) Which body studied the Bill and suggested modifications? (1)
(iv) What does the source tell us about the journey of a Bill becoming an Act? (1)

Source 2

“The Indian Parliament is composed of the President and two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People / Lower House) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States / Upper House). This structure with two houses is called a ‘bicameral’ system.”

(i) Name the three components of the Indian Parliament as given in the source. (1)
(ii) What does ‘bicameral’ mean? (1)
(iii) Which House is directly elected by the people? (1)
(iv) Why was a bicameral system preferred according to the chapter? (1)

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Section A

  1. (b)
  2. (b)
  3. (c)
  4. (b)
  5. (b)
  6. (c)
  7. (a)
  8. (a)
  9. (c)
  10. (c)

Section B (Any two relevant points, 1 mark each)
1. Legislature having two houses — Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
2. Election of President/Vice President; amendment of Constitution.
3. Lok Sabha – Speaker; Rajya Sabha – Vice President.
4. Conducts sessions, maintains discipline, ensures rules are followed.
5. First hour of session where MPs question ministers to ensure executive accountability.
6. Bill is draft of proposed law; Act is law after presidential assent.

Section C (Any three points, 1 mark each)
1. Indirect election by state legislatures; represents states; maintains federal balance.
2. Legislature makes laws; Executive implements them; Parliament holds Executive accountable via Question Hour.
3. Single House inadequate for challenges; need for federal representation through Rajya Sabha.
4. Introduction → readings → committee → clause discussion → both Houses → presidential assent.
5. Approves budget; monitors expenditure; examines distribution of funds to ministries.

Section D (Any five points, 1 mark each)
1. Separation of powers; Legislature makes laws; Executive implements; Judiciary reviews constitutionality; prevents concentration of power; protects rights.
2. Law-making, oversight, budget approval; challenges include disruptions, low productivity, absenteeism; reduces quality of debates and public trust.
3. Similar structure at both levels (President–Governor, PM–CM, Lok Sabha–Vidhan Sabha); ensures distribution of power; maintains national unity and regional interests.

Section E

Source 1

(i) Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE) — supported by opening line.
(ii) Rajya Sabha — directly stated in source.
(iii) Standing Committee — “A committee studied me thoroughly”.
(iv) Shows multi-stage process involving both Houses, committee scrutiny and presidential assent.

Source 2

(i) President, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — directly from first sentence.
(ii) Legislature with two houses.
(iii) Lok Sabha.
(iv) Felt that a single House would be inadequate; needed to represent states in federal system.

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All questions are answerable from the NCERT chapter text. Reviewed by GFIS faculty.