Solutions-NCERT-Class-8-Social Science-Chapter-6-The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive-CBSE

• India follows a Parliamentary System of Government according to the Constitution of India.
• This system is based on democracy and federalism, meaning power is shared between the Union and the States.

Structure of the Indian Parliament :

India’s parliamentary system is a bicameral structure consisting of the President, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha.

It ensures democratic representation of the people and protects the interests of the states while maintaining national unity.

The Parliament of India (Sansad) is the highest law-making body of the country.
It consists of three main parts:

(1) The President

• The President of India is the nominal head of the State.
• Gives assent to bills.
• Summons and prorogues Parliament.
• Is an essential part of Parliament.

(2) Lok Sabha (House of the People)

• The Lok Sabha is the Lower House of Parliament.
• Members are directly elected by the people.
• Elections are held through Universal Adult Franchise (every citizen above 18 years can vote).
• Term of members is 5 years.
• Maximum strength is 550 members.
• It is the more powerful House, especially in financial matters.

(3) Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

• The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of Parliament.
• Represents the States and Union Territories.
• Members are indirectly elected by the State Legislative Assemblies.
• Members have a 6-year term.
• It is a permanent House (it is not dissolved).

The Parliament of India is the supreme law-making body of the country. It consists of the President of India, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha.

The main functions of Parliament are as follows:

In India’s parliamentary democracy under the Constitution of India, the Legislature and the Executive have different but equally important roles.

Role of the Legislature : (Parliament of India and State Legislatures)

• Makes Laws – It makes new laws for the country or state.
• Removes Old Laws – It repeals outdated or unnecessary laws to keep the legal system updated.
• Controls the Executive – Through debates, discussions, and Question Hour, it questions and holds the Executive accountable.
• Represents the People – Members are elected by citizens and represent their interests.
• Controls Finances – During the Budget Session, it discusses and approves the government’s income and expenditure.

Role of the Executive : (Headed by the Prime Minister of India at the Union level and Chief Minister at the State level)

• Implements Laws and Policies – It carries out the laws made by Parliament or the State Legislature.
• Manages Administration – Handles the day-to-day affairs of the country or state.
• Responsible to Legislature – At the Union level, the Executive is responsible to the Lok Sabha.

Conclusion : The Legislature makes and reviews laws and keeps the Executive accountable, while the Executive implements laws and manages administration. Both work together to ensure smooth functioning of India’s parliamentary democracy.

India follows a federal system under the Constitution of India, where powers are divided between the Union and the States.

At the Union Level

(1) Legislature (Union Legislature) : The Parliament of India is the law-making body at the Union level. It consists of:

• President of India
• Lok Sabha (Lower House)
• Rajya Sabha (Upper House)

Function:

• Makes laws on Union and Concurrent List subjects.
• Controls the Executive.
• Approves the Union Budget.

(2) Executive (Union Executive) : The Union Executive consists of:

• The President (nominal head)
• Prime Minister of India (real executive head)
• Council of Ministers

Function:

• Implements laws made by Parliament.
• Manages day-to-day administration of the country.
• Is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.

At the State Level :

(1) Legislature (State Legislature) : Each state has its own Legislature, which may be:

• Unicameral (only Legislative Assembly – Vidhan Sabha), or
• Bicameral (Legislative Assembly + Legislative Council – Vidhan Parishad)

Function:

• Makes laws on State and Concurrent List subjects.
• Controls the State Executive.
• Approves the State Budget.

(2) Executive (State Executive) : The State Executive consists of:

• Governor (nominal head)
• Chief Minister (real executive head)
• Council of Ministers

Function:

• Implements state laws.
• Manages state administration.
• Is responsible to the Legislative Assembly.

At both Union and State levels, the Legislature makes laws and controls the Executive, while the Executive implements laws and manages administration.

This structure ensures cooperation, accountability, and proper functioning of India’s federal parliamentary system.

(Suggestive Answer)

Every state in India has representatives in both Houses of Parliament. Following is the details of my Maharashtra state:

Maharashtra has representation in both Houses of the Parliament of India:

Lok Sabha (House of the People) :

• 48 Members
• These members are directly elected by the people of Maharashtra.

Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

• 19 Members
• These members are elected by the elected members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

So, Maharashtra has 48 representatives in the Lok Sabha and 19 representatives in the Rajya Sabha.

(a) The Parliament of India is called the “voice of the people” because,

• Its members represent citizens from all parts of the country.
• The Lok Sabha members are directly elected by the people, while the Rajya Sabha represents the states.
• Parliament makes laws based on public needs and interests.

(b) It ensures different opinions are heard through,

• Debates and discussions on bills and policies.
• Members from both ruling and opposition parties express their views freely.
• Question Hour and committees help hold the government accountable and allow diverse viewpoints to be considered.

The Constitution made the Executive responsible to the Legislature to ensure accountability in a democracy.

• Since the Legislature represents the people, the government must answer to it.
• In India’s parliamentary system, the Executive is formed from the majority in the Lok Sabha and remains in power only as long as it has the support of the House. This prevents misuse of power and ensures transparency.
• Through Question Hour, debates, and no-confidence motions, the Legislature can question and control the Executive.

Thus, this system maintains a balance of power and protects the interests of the people.

• India adopted a bicameral legislature at the Union level to ensure better representation and balanced law-making.
• The Lok Sabha represents the people directly, while the Rajya Sabha represents the states and their interests. This system suits India’s federal structure by giving states a voice in national laws.
• It also allows bills to be discussed and reviewed twice, reducing the chances of hasty decisions.
• The second House acts as a revising chamber, improving the quality of legislation.

Thus, a bicameral system ensures wider representation and careful law-making.

Here’s a recent example that shows how a bill travels through the Indian Parliament before becoming law:

Case Study: The Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026

• Introduced in: Lok Sabha on 11 February 2026
• Passed in Lok Sabha: 12 February 2026
• Passed in Rajya Sabha: 12 February 2026
• Time Taken: Just 2 days from introduction to passage in both Houses.

Debates and Disagreements :

• The bill aimed to amend provisions related to labor and employment, particularly simplifying compliance and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Major debates: Opposition parties raised concerns about whether the amendments diluted workers’ rights and protections.
• Government’s stance: It argued that the changes would modernize labor laws, reduce red tape, and encourage investment while still safeguarding workers.
• While there were disagreements, the majority in both Houses ensured quick passage.

Journey Summary

1. Drafting & Introduction: Brought forward by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. Lok Sabha Debate: Concerns voiced by opposition, but majority supported.
3. Rajya Sabha Debate: Similar concerns raised, but bill passed without delay.
4. Final Step: After passage in both Houses, the bill was sent for Presidential assent, after which it became law.

Key Points :

• Some bills, especially those linked to finance or labor reforms, move very quickly through Parliament if the government has strong support.
• Others, particularly socially sensitive bills, may take weeks or months due to extended debates and committee reviews
• The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 : From introduction (August 2024) to becoming law (April 2025), the entire process took about 8 months.

This shows a typical law-making journey: introduction in one House, debate and disagreements in both, passage by both Houses, and presidential assent before it becomes a law.

Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 :

(Women’s Reservation Act, 2023)

Model Parliament Skit :

Topic: How a Bill Becomes a Law

Characters :

• Speaker of Lok Sabha
• Minister for Law
• Ruling Party MP
• Opposition MP
• Rajya Sabha Chairperson
• President of India

Scene 1: Lok Sabha :

• Speaker: The House will now take up the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023.
• Law Minister: I rise to introduce this Bill to reserve 33% seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. This will empower women and strengthen democracy.
• Ruling Party MP: This is a historic step for gender equality. Women deserve equal representation.
• Opposition MP: We support the Bill, but we request clarity on implementation and reservation for OBC women.
• Speaker: The House will now vote. Those in favor say ‘Aye’…
  (Members say “Aye”)
• Speaker: The Bill is passed in Lok Sabha.

Scene 2: Rajya Sabha

• Chairperson: The Women’s Reservation Bill, passed by Lok Sabha, is taken up for discussion.
• MPs Debate: Members discuss benefits and concerns.
• Chairperson: The House will now vote. Those in favor say ‘Aye’…
  (Majority supports)
• Chairperson: The Bill is passed in Rajya Sabha.

Scene 3: President’s Assent

• Narrator: The Bill is sent to the President.
• President: After careful consideration, I give my assent to this Bill.
• Narrator: The Bill now becomes a Law!

Scene 4: Celebration :

• All MPs together: “This is a victory for democracy and women’s empowerment. The Parliament has truly become the voice of the people!”

Conclusion (Narrator) : This is how a Bill is introduced, debated, passed in both Houses of Parliament, and finally becomes a law after the President’s assent.

You can perform this in class by dividing into teams and acting out the roles.

The Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023 — officially the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 — took over 25 years to pass because of several political and practical challenges.

• Political Disagreements : There were political disagreements among parties about how the reservation should be implemented. Some parties demanded a separate quota within the 33% for women from Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
• Issue of Seat Rotation : There were concerns about seat rotation, as reserving constituencies for women on a rotating basis could affect sitting MPs’ political careers.
• Lack of Consensus : Lack of consistent political consensus and shifting government priorities delayed the bill multiple times since it was first introduced in 1996.
• Finally, the 2023 Act linked implementation to a future census and delimitation process, which helped build broader agreement and led to its eventual passage with wide support.

• When the Parliament of India is frequently disrupted, the quality of law-making can suffer.
• Bills may be passed without proper debate and detailed discussion.
• This reduces the chance to correct mistakes or improve the laws.
• Disruptions also limit Question Hour and debates, weakening government accountability.
• People expect their representatives to work seriously on national issues.
• If Parliament does not function properly, public trust in elected members may decrease.

Therefore, smooth functioning of Parliament is essential for strong democracy.

As students, we care about policies that affect our education, future careers, and the

environment. To explore these issues, I divided the class into two groups: Group A and Group B.

Group A focused on national issues and prepared questions to ask our MP (Member

of Parliament):

• Education: What is the central government doing to make higher education more accessible and affordable for students across the country?
• Jobs: What steps are being taken to create better job opportunities for young people in various sectors?
• Environment: What national-level actions are being taken to reduce
• pollution and protect the environment?

Group B focused on local and state issues and prepared questions to ask our MLA

(Member of Legislative Assembly):

• Education: What is being done to improve the quality of education in government schools and colleges in our area?
• Jobs: How is the state government helping to create more jobs for young people in our locality?
• Environment: What local steps are being taken to reduce pollution and make our surroundings more eco-friendly?

The questions we ask our MP and MLA are different because they handle different

responsibilities. MPs work on national issues that affect the whole country, while MLAs focus on local and state-level problems in our area. By asking the right questions, we can make sure our leaders listen to the concerns of students like us.

Role of the Judiciary in Indian Democracy :

The Judiciary, led by the Supreme Court of India, plays a very important role in protecting democracy.

• Protects the Constitution : It ensures that all laws and actions of the government follow the Constitution.
• Safeguards Fundamental Rights : If citizens’ rights are violated, courts can give justice and protect those rights.
• Checks the Legislature and Executive : The Judiciary can declare a law invalid if it is unconstitutional. This keeps a balance of power.
• Ensures Justice : It settles disputes between individuals, states, and the government in a fair and impartial manner.

What if There Was No Independent Judiciary?

• The government could misuse its power without fear of being challenged.
• Citizens’ rights might not be properly protected.
• Unfair or unconstitutional laws could continue without review.
• Democracy would become weak, and people might lose trust in the system.