The Class 8 is an important year in a student’s life and Maharashtra State Board Social Science Civics is one of the subjects that require dedication, hard work, and practice. It’s a subject where you can score well if you are well-versed with the concepts, remember the important formulas and solving methods, and have done an ample amount of practice. Worry not! Home Revise is here to make your Class 8 journey even easier. It’s essential for students to have the right study material and notes to prepare for their board examinations, and through Home Revise, you can cover all the fundamental topics in the subject and the complete Maharashtra State Board Class 8 Social Science Civics Book syllabus.
Q1. Identify if the following statements are correct or wrong and rewrite the wrong sentences in their correct form.
(1) In a parliamentary democracy, representatives elected by people and ministers bear the administrative responsibility.
(2) Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recruits candidates for civil services in Maharashtra.
Answer 1: The statement “In a parliamentary democracy, representatives elected by people and ministers bear the administrative responsibility” is correct.
Answer 2: The statement “Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recruits candidates for civil services in Maharashtra” is wrong. The correct statement is “UPSC recruits candidates for all India Services and Central Services. Maharashtra Public Service Commission recruits candidates for civil services in Maharashtra”.
Q2. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(1) Reservation policy is followed even in civil services.
(2) It is necessary for civil servants to be politically neutral.
Answer 1: In order to provide opportunities to all sections of society to enter in bureaucracy and civil services, there is a provision for reservations for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women, Other Backward Castes and specially-abled. This provision ensures that weaker sections of the society are not left out of civil services due to social inequality.
Answer 2: The bureaucracy is politically neutral. This means that regardless of the political party in power, the bureaucracy is supposed to carry out the implementation of their policy decisions with the same efficiency and commitment. In this regard, the civil servants should abstain from taking a political stand or act according to their political views. If a political party fails to win elections, it has to leave the government and another party that wins elections comes to power. The new government may change some policies of the earlier government. Even in such case, the bureaucracy is expected to remain neutral while discharging its duties.
Q3. Answer the following in 25-30 words.
(1) Explain the role of the ministers and civil servants in the efficient administration of the department.
(2) Explain how the bureaucracy provides stability to the political system.
Answer 1: In Parliamentary democracy, representatives elected by the people and the ministers have the responsibility of administration. The functions of government are discharged by various departments. Every department has a minister who is the political head of that department. As a representative of people the minister has to carry out the work of the department by giving priority to public welfare. The minister may not be an expert in a particular subject, but he/she is conscious of broad public interest. The Secretary of the department gives expert advice to the ministers. The secretaries are appointed from the civil service. The aspirations of the people and administrative expertise are thus put in harmony in the parliamentary system.
Answer 2: The structure of the Indian bureaucracy is extensive and complex. Several important reforms that were introduced during the post-independence period have been effectively implemented by the bureaucratic structure. Today we see many positive social changes reaching to a common people. These changes have been brought by the Indian Bureaucracy by implementing the policies made by the Government. Bureaucracy gives stability to the political system.
Q4. Complete the Concept picture.
Answer:
| Types of Civil Services | ||
| All India Services
Examples: Indian Administrative service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) | Union Services
Examples: Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service, etc. | State Civil Services
Example: Deputy District Collector, Block Development Officer, Tehsildar, etc. |
Q5. Discuss characteristics of bureaucracy.
Answer : The characteristics of bureaucracy are as follows:
Permanent mechanism: Tax collection, environment protection, maintenance of law and order, provisions regarding social security are certain important tasks that have to be consistently undertaken by the bureaucracy. This is possible because bureaucracy is a permanent mechanism. The Prime Minister and their Council of Ministers change after every election but the bureaucracy under their control remains constant. It is permanent in nature.
Political neutrality: The bureaucracy is politically neutral. This means that regardless of the political party in power, the bureaucracy is supposed to carry out the implementation of their policy decisions with the same efficiency and commitment. In this regard, the civil servants should abstain from taking a political stand or act according to their political views. If a political party fails to win elections, it has to leave the government and another party that wins elections comes to power. The new government may change some policies of the earlier government. Even in such case, the bureaucracy is expected to remain neutral while discharging its duties.
Anonymity: Anonymity means that a civil service should not be held directly responsible for any success or failure of policy. It is the Minister who is responsible for the efficient and smooth functioning of the concerned departments. It is the minister who, as the head of that department, is accountable for any inefficiency. Civil servants are never publicly criticised. The Parliament holds the Minister responsible for malpractices. In such cases the Minister bears the responsibility and protects the bureaucracy.
Q6. Explain types of Civil Services.
Answer: In India, there are three main types of civil services