Class 6 · Social Science · Exploring Society
Chapter 10 🏛️
Chapter 10 🏛️
Grassroots Democracy – Part 1: Governance
Detailed, colourful revision notes — everything you need before your test!
Chapter Contents
1. Why We Need Rules
Governance — the process of taking decisions, organising society through rules, and ensuring they're followed.
Government — the group/system that makes and enforces those rules.
Laws — the more important, formal rules.
Government — the group/system that makes and enforces those rules.
Laws — the more important, formal rules.
Rules exist at home, school, on the road, and at work. Without them, society could not function smoothly — but rules aren't fixed forever; citizens have a say in shaping them too.
2. Three Organs of Government
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Fig 1: The three organs of government and their roles
These three organs must stay separate but work together — called the "separation of powers". This creates checks and balances: each organ can check the others if one oversteps its role.
Cybercrime laws are made by the legislature, enforced by cyber police (executive), and offenders are tried and punished by courts (judiciary).
3. Three Levels of Government
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Fig 2: India's three levels of government
A small local flood → handled by local authorities. A flood across several towns → the State Government sends help. A massive flood → the Central Government sends the army and relief supplies.
Government of India's motto: "Satyameva Jayate" ("Truth alone triumphs"). Supreme Court's motto: "Yato Dharmastato Jayah" ("Where there is dharma, there is victory").
4. What is Democracy?
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Fig 3: Where the word "democracy" comes from
India is a representative democracy — and the world's largest, with about 970 million voters in 2024! All citizens above 18 years can vote.
5. Direct vs Representative Democracy
Choosing between picnic spots A and B by a show of hands, where every student votes directly, is direct democracy.
At the State/national level, it's not practical for everyone to vote on every issue — so citizens elect representatives: MLAs (Members of Legislative Assembly, State level) and MPs (Members of Parliament, national level), who debate and decide on their behalf.
6. Grassroots Democracy
Grassroots democracy refers to a system that enables and encourages ordinary citizens to participate — at the base of the government pyramid — giving them a say in decisions that affect their own lives.
India's 11th President (2002–2007), the "Missile Man of India", remained deeply connected to ordinary people despite his high position — showing that even a largely ceremonial role can inspire millions.
🎯 Quick Summary
- No country can function without governance and government.
- Government has 3 organs: Legislature (makes laws), Executive (implements), Judiciary (interprets/justice) — kept separate for checks and balances.
- India's government works at 3 levels: Central, State, and Local.
- Democracy = "rule of the people" (Greek: dēmos + kratos); India is a representative democracy — the world's largest.
- Direct democracy (everyone votes directly) vs representative democracy (elected MLAs/MPs decide).
- Grassroots democracy = enabling ordinary citizens' participation at the base level.
✏️ Notes by @edugrown — happy revising! 🍌