Resource and Development

‘Resource’:
Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, is called a
resource. It should be technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally
acceptable. Only then, it can be termed as a ‘Resource’. Examples: minerals, forests, fossil
fuels etc.
Classification of Resources:
(a) On the basis of origin: Biotic and Abiotic.
(b) On the basis of exhaustibility: Renewable and Non-renewable.
(c) On the basis of ownership: Individual (Personal), Community, National and
International.
(d) On the basis of status and development: Potential, Developed, Reserve and Stock.
● Biotic Resources are obtained from the biosphere. They have life or are living
resources, e.g., human beings, fisheries, forests, etc.
● Abiotic Resources include all non-living things, e.g., rocks and minerals.
Renewable Resources:
The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical and mechanical
processes are known as renewable or replenishable resources, e.g., water, wildlife, forests,
solar energy, wind energy, etc.
Non-renewable Resources:
The resources which once get exhausted, cannot be remade. They take a long geological
period of time, i.e., millions of years in their formation, e.g., minerals, fossil’ fuels, etc.
1. Individual resources: Owned by individuals, e.g., own land, house;
2. Community Owned Resources: Resources which are accessible to all the members
of the community, e.g., parks, playground;
3. National Resources: Resources which belong to the nation, e.g., roads, railways;
and
4. International resources: Resources which no individual country can utilize, e.g.,
oceanic waters beyond 200 km.
1. Potential resources: Resources found in a region but not in use, e.g., solar energy in
Rajasthan,
wind in Gujarat;
2. Stock: Resources available but do not have appropriate technology to access, e.g.,
lack of technical know how to use hydrogen and oxygen as source of energy; and
3. Reserve: Subset of stock. Can be used for future needs, e.g., water in the dams,
forest resources.
Sustainable development:
Sustainable economic development means that ‘development should take place without
damaging the environment and development in the present should not compromise with the
needs of future generation’.
Land under important relief features in India:
Plains-43%, Mountains-30%, Plateaus-27%
Land Degradation:
Continuous use of land over a long period of time without taking appropriate measures to
conserve and manage it.
Measures to solve problem of land degradation:
Afforestation, proper management of grazing to control overgrazing planting of shelter belts
of plants, stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes, control of mining activities,
avoid over-irrigation and overuse of fertilizers and pesticides;
Soil erosion:
The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is soil erosion. Reasons for
soil erosion include—
(a) Human activities like deforestation, over grazing construction, mining defective method
of fanning etc.;
(b) Natural forces like wind, glacier and water flow.
Types of erosion:
(a) Gully erosion. The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels
known as gullies. This makes the land bad land and in the Chambal basin such land is
known as ravines;
(b) Sheet erosion. When top soil over large area is washed away it is known as sheet
erosion.
Methods to prevent soil erosion in hilly area:
Ploughing along the contour lines-contour ploughing; terrace cultivation; strip farming and
shelter belts.
Soils and its types:
● Alluvial soils: Entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil. Also found in the
eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the
Krishna and the Kaveri rivers. Fertile soil therefore, fit for agriculture purpose.
Regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely populated. Rich in
potash, phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy,
wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.
● Black soil: Black in colour and are also known as regur soils. Ideal for growing
cotton and is also known as black cotton soil. Found in the plateaus of Maharashtra,
Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also along the Godavari and
the Krishna valleys. Made up of extremely fine, i.e., clayey material. Well-known for
their capacity to hold moisture. Rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and
lime.
● Red and yellow soils: Found in the areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern
parts of the Deccan plateau. Also found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern
parts of the middle Ganga plain and along the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
Develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic
rocks.
● Laterite soils: Develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall. Found in
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Odisha and
Assam. Suitable for cultivation with adequate doses of manures and fertilizers. Low
Humus content because decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed due to high
temperature.
● Arid soils: Found in the western parts of Rajasthan. After proper irrigation these
soils become cultivable. Lacks humus and moisture because dry climate, high
temperature make evaporation faster. Salt content is very high and common salt is
obtained by evaporating the water.
● Forest soils: Found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests
are available. Feature differs based on location. Loamy and silty in valley sides and
coarse grained in the upper slopes. Sil in the lower parts of the valleys particularly on
the river terraces and alluvial fans are fertile.
1. Examine the major problems created as a result of the indiscriminate utilization of natural
resources. How can this situation be averted?
Ans. The problems created as a result of indiscriminate utilization of natural resources are:
● Depletion of resources at a faster rate for satisfying the greed of a few individuals.
● Accumulation of resources in few hands, as a result, dividing the society into two
segments i.e., haves and have-nots or rich and poor.
● Increase in global ecological crises such as global warming, ozone layer depletion,
environmental pollution, and land degradation.
Ways to avoid this situation:
 ● Judicious use of resources should be done keeping in mind the need of the present
and future.
● There should be equal distribution and sharing of resources so that everyone gets
desired benefits.
● Resource planning should be done.
● We should divert ourselves to the use of non-conventional sources.
2.) What is Agenda 21? List its two principles.
Ans. Agenda 21 is the declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which took place in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil. It aims at achieving global sustainable development.
The two principles are:
● To combat environmental damage, poverty, and disease through global cooperation
on common interests, mutual needs, and shared responsibilities.
● Every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21.
3.) Why is resource planning essential?
Or,
What is the need of doing resource planning in a country like India?
Ans. Resource planning is essential because:
● Resource planning is a widely accepted strategy for the judicious use of resources.
● Resources in India are not evenly distributed. Some parts of the country are rich in
one resource but deficient in other important resources. For example – Rajasthan is
rich in solar and wind energy but lacks water resources. Jharkhand is rich in minerals
and coal deposits but lacks industrialization.
● Most of the resources present in our environment are limited. Therefore, if these
resources are not preserved or not used rationally we will be in great trouble.
● To reduce regional disparity.
● To save for future generations and to avoid wastage or overutilization of resources.
4.) What are the three stages of resource planning?
Ans. The three stages of resource planning are:
● Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This
involves surveying, mapping, and qualitative and quantitative estimation and
measurement of the resources.
● Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill, and
institutional setup for implementing resource development plans.
● Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.
5.) Write any three human activities which are responsible for land degradation in India.
Ans. Three human activities responsible for land degradation in India are:
● Mining: Expansion of mining and quarrying have contributed significantly to land
degradation. In Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Orissa deforestation
due to mining have caused severe land degradation.
● Over-grazing: In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra
overgrazing is one of the main reasons for land degradation
● Over-irrigation: In the states of Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, over-
irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to water logging leading to an
increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil.
● Mineral processing like the grinding of limestone for the cement industry and calcite
and soapstone for the ceramic industry generates huge quantities of dust in the
atmosphere. It retards the process of infiltration of water into the soil after it settles
down on the land.
6.) Suggest and explain ways to protect the land from degradation in various states of India.
Or,
Describe any three measures of controlling land degradation.
Ans. Measures to control land degradation:
● Afforestation and proper management of grazing should be done.
● Planting of shelter belts of plants and control over grazing should be done.
● Stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
● Control of mining activities and proper management of waste lands should be done.
● Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment.
7.) Explain the various purpose of land use.
Ans. Land resources are used for the following purposes:
i. Forests
ii. Land not available for cultivation
1. Barren and wasteland
2. Land put to non-agricultural uses, e.g. buildings, roads, factories, etc.
iii. Other uncultivated lands (excluding fallow land)
1. Permanent pastures and grazing land
2. Land under miscellaneous tree crops groves (not included in the net sown area)
3. Culturable wasteland (left uncultivated for more than 5 agricultural years)
iv. Fallow lands
1. Current fallow (left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year)
2. Other than the current fallow (left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5 agricultural years)
v. Gross cropped area
Area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus the net sown area is known as gross
cropped area.
8.) What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give four main
features of this type of soil.
Ans. Alluvial soil is found in the entire northern plain. It is the most widely spread soil in
India.
The main features of alluvial soil are:
● It is formed by the sediments deposited by river water.
● It consists of various proportions of sand, silt, and clay.
● It is very fertile. It contains an adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid, and
lime.
● It is ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat, and other cereals.
● Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and
densely populated.
9.) Classify alluvial soil on the basis of age and differentiate between them.
Or,
Distinguish between Khadar and Bangar soil.
Ans. According to age, alluvial soils can be classified as old alluvial (Bangar) and new
alluvial (Khadar).
Khadar Bangar
i. It is a new alluvial soil. i. It is an old alluvial soil.
ii. Lower concentration of kankar ii. Higher concentration of kankar
nodules. nodules.
iii. It has more fine particles. iii. It has less fine particles.
iv. It is more fertile. iv. It is less fertile.
10.) Write the features of ‘regur’ soil.
Ans. The following are the characteristics of regur soil (also known as black soil):
● It is made up of extremely fine clayey material. They are well-known for their
capacity to hold moisture.
 ● It is rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime.
● These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents.
● They develop deep cracks during hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration of
the soil.
● It is ideal for growing cotton, so it is also known as ‘black cotton soil’.
10.) Distinguish between red and laterite soils.
Ans.
Red soil Laterite soil
i. Formed due to the weathering of igneous and
i. Formed by the leaching process.
metamorphic rocks.
ii. Develop in areas of low rainfall. ii. Develop in areas of high rainfall.
iii. Red in color due to the presence of iron in iii. Red in color due to little clay and
them. much gravel of red sandstones
iv. These are less crystalline. iv. These are crystalline.
v. These are highly porous and less fertile, but v. These are less fertile, only grass
where these are deep, these are fertile. grows in abundance.
11) Define soil erosion. Explain the two types of soil erosion mostly observed in India.
What are the causes of soil erosion in India?
Ans. Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, caused by various agents
such as water, wind, and human activities. This can lead to loss of fertile land, reduced crop
yields, and increased risk of landslides and flooding.
Types of soil erosion:
● Gullies: The running water cuts through the clayey soil and makes deep
channels/gullies. The unfit land caused by gullies is called bad land or ravines.
● Sheet erosion: Water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope. The topsoil is
washed away. This process is known as sheet erosion.
Causes of soil erosion:
● Human activities like deforestation, over-grazing, construction, mining, etc. are
responsible for soil erosion.
● Natural forces like wind, glaciers, and water also lead to soil erosion. Running water
cuts through the clayey soil and makes deep channels known as gullies, which makes
the land unfit for cultivation. The wind blows loose soil off flat or sloping land
known as wind erosion.
● Soil erosion is also caused due to defective methods of farming. Ploughing in the
wrong way i.e., up and down the slope forms channels for the quick flow of water
leading to soil erosion.
12) What are the factors that have contributed to the development of various types of soils
in India? Suggest any three methods through which soil erosion can be prevented.
Or,
Suggest any three methods of soil conservation suitable to Indian conditions.
Or,
What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in hilly areas?
Ans. India has varied relief features, landforms, climatic reals, and vegetation types which
have contributed to the development of various types of soils.
Measures to prevent soil erosion:
● Contour ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines can decrease the speed of
water flow down the slopes and soil erosion can be prevented.
● Terrace cultivation: Step or terrace cultivation on slopes restricts erosion. Western
and Central Himalayas have well-developed terrace farming.
● Strip cropping: Large fields can be divided into strips and strips of grass are left to
grow between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind and prevents soil
erosion.
 ● Shelter belts: Rows of trees called shelter belts have led to the stabilization of sand
dunes in the desert in western India.

Power Sharing
ETHINIC COMPOSITION Belgium
Belgium is a small country in Europe with a population of over 1 crore, about half the
population of Haryana. Of the country’s total population, 59% speak the Dutch language,
40% of people speak French, and the remaining 1% speak German. Look at the map below
to know the language variation of Belgium. The minority French-speaking community was
rich and powerful, so they got the benefit of economic development and education. This
created tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities during the
1950s and 1960s.

Accommodation in Belgium
In Belgium, the government handled the community difference very well. Between 1970
and 1993, Belgian leaders amended their constitution four times and came up with a new
model to run the government.
Here are some of the elements of the Belgian model.
1. The Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers
shall be equal in the Central Government. Some special laws require the support of
the majority of members from each linguistic group. Thus, no single community can
make decisions unilaterally.
2. The state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
3. Brussels has a separate government in which both communities have equal
representation.
4. Apart from the Central and the State Governments, there is a third kind of
government. This ‘community government’ is elected by people belonging to one
language community – Dutch, French and German-speaking – no matter where they
live. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-
related issues.
The Belgium model was very complicated, but it helped to avoid civic strife between the
two major communities.
ETHINIC COMPOSITION of Sri Lanka
Now, let’s take the situation of another country, Sri Lanka. It is an island nation having a
population of 2 crores, about the same as Haryana. Sri Lanka has a diverse population. The
major social groups are the Sinhala speakers (74%) and the Tamil speakers (18%). Among
Tamils, there are two subgroups, “Sri Lankan Tamils” and “Indian Tamils”. You can see the
map below to know the population distribution of different communities in Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, the Sinhala community enjoyed the bigger majority and imposed its will on
the entire country.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The Sinhala community was in the
majority, so they formed the government. They also followed preferential policies that
favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. These measures
taken by the government gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan
Tamils. Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the Constitution and government policies denied them
equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and
ignored their interests. Due to this, the relationship between the Sinhala and Tamil
communities become poor. Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggled for the
recognition of Tamil as an official language, for regional autonomy and for equality of
opportunity in securing education and jobs. But their demand was repeatedly denied by the
government. The distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict and
turned into a civil war. As a result, thousands of people from both communities have been
killed. Many families were forced to leave the country as refugees, and many more lost their
livelihoods. The civil war ended in 2009 and caused a terrible setback to the social, cultural
and economic life of the country.
What have you learned from the stories of Belgium and Sri Lanka?
● Both countries are democracies, but they deal differently with the concept of power-
sharing.
● In Belgium, the leaders have realised that the unity of the country is possible only by
respecting the feelings and interests of different communities and regions. This
resulted in mutually acceptable arrangements for sharing power.
 ● Sri Lanka shows that if a majority community wants to force its dominance over
others and refuses to share power, it can undermine the unity of the country.
Why is power sharing desirable?
You will find the answer to this question in the points below.
1. Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between
social groups.
2. The second reason is that a democratic rule involves sharing power with those
affected by its exercise and who have to live with its effects. People have a right to
be consulted on how they are to be governed.
Let us call the first set of reasons Prudential and the second moral. The prudential reasons
stress that power-sharing will bring out better outcomes, whereas the moral reasons
emphasise the act of power-sharing as valuable.
Form of Power Sharing
Most of you must think that sharing power = dividing power = weakening the country. A
similar thing was believed in the past. It was assumed that all the power of a government
must reside in one person or group of persons located in one place. Otherwise, it would be
very difficult to make quick decisions and to enforce them. But these notions have changed
with the emergence of democracy. In a democracy, people rule themselves through
institutions of self-government. Everyone has a voice in the shaping of public policies.
Therefore, in a democratic country, political power should be distributed among citizens.
In modern democracies, power sharing can take many forms, as mentioned below:
1. Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature,
executive and judiciary. This is called horizontal distribution of power because it
allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different
powers. Such separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited
power. Each organ checks the others. This arrangement is called a system of checks
and balances.
2. Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general
government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional
level, which is called the federal government.
3. Power may also be shared among different social groups, such as religious and
linguistic groups. ‘Community government’ in Belgium is a good example of this
arrangement. This method is used to give minority communities a fair share of
power.
4. Power sharing arrangements can also be seen in the way political parties,
pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power. When two or
more parties form an alliance to contest elections, and if they get elected, they form a
coalition government and thus share power.
1. Compare the different ways in which the Belgians and the Sri Lankans have dealt
with the problem of cultural diversity. (2012)
Answer:
Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies, yet they have dealt with the problem of
cultural diversity very differently.
Belgium:
1. Leaders realised that for the unity of the country it is important to respect the feelings
and interests of different communities. The Constitution prescribes that the number
of Dutch and French speaking people shall be equal in the Central Government.
2. Both Dutch and French communities share power on an equal basis at the Centre.
Along with the State Government, both communities have a third kind of
Government called ‘Community Government’ which decides on cultural, education
and language related issues.
 3. Between, 1970 and 1993, the Constitution was amended four times to enable all
linguistic groups to live together within the same country.
Sri Lanka:
1. In Sri Lanka, there are two major communities, the Sinhalese speaking (74%) and
Tamil speaking (18%). The majority community, the Sinhalese have forced their
domination over Tamils, refusing to share power.
2. Both communities have lived in tension as the Sinhalese have denied political,
educational, religious, employment and economic rights to the Tamils leading to
Civil War.
3. In 1956, the Government passed an Act to recognise Sinhala as the only official
language, thus disregarding Tamil.
Question 1.
How far do you agree with the statement that power sharing is keeping with the spirit
of democracy? (2012)
Answer:
Power sharing is desirable in democracy because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict
between social groups. Conflict between social groups leads to violence and political
instability. Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.
Imposing the will of majority community over others, in the long run may undermine the
unity of the nation. Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority, it often
brings ruin to the majority as well.
A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise and who have
to live with its effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.
A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the
system. Prudential reasons stress that power sharing brings out better outcomes whereas
moral reasons emphasize the act of power sharing as valuable.
Question 2.
Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by the Sri
Lankan government. (2013)
Answer:
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically elected
government adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala Supremacy.
Consequences of these majoritarian policies:
1. The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the
Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their language and culture and the
government policies denied them equal political rights which led to increased feeling
of alienation among them.
2. The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the constitution denied them equal rights in politics,
in getting jobs and ignored their interests. The relation between the Tamil and
Sinhala communities became extremely strained as a result.
3. The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil,
for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in every field.
4. Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy
led to distrust between the two communities which turned the widespread conflict
into a Civil War. As a result, thousands of people of both communities were killed
and many families were forced to leave the country as refugees and lost their
livelihoods.
Question 3.
Why is the ethnic composition of Belgium complex?
Answer:
Belgium is a small country in Europe, having a population of a little over one crore.
 ● 59 per cent of the country’s total population lives in the Flemish region and speak
Dutch language.
● Another 40 per cent people live in Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining one
per cent of the Belgians speak German.
● Whereas in the Belgian capital, Brussels, 80 per cent of the population is French-
speaking and 20 per cent is Dutch-speaking.
Question 4.
How is Belgium’s power-sharing path different from any other country?
Or, Explain the four elements in the Belgian power-sharing model.
Or, Why do we find the Belgian model very complicated? How has it helped to prevent
conflict and division of the country on linguistic lines?
Answer:
The power-sharing arrangements made by the Belgian leaders were different and more
innovative than any other country. To recognise the existence of regional differences and
cultural diversities, they amended their Constitution four times between 1970 and 1993.
The major elements of the Belgian Model are:
1. Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall
be equal in the Central Government. No single community can take decisions
unilaterally.
2. The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
3. Brussels, the capital, has a separate government where both the communities have
equal representation.
4. A third kind of government, ‘Community Government’, is elected by people
belonging to one language community — Dutch, French and German speaking —no
matter where they live. This government can decide on cultural, educational and
language related issues.
Question 5.
What is majoritarianism? Is it wrong if a majority community in a country rules?
Give reasons to justify your answer.
Answer:
A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it
wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority is majoritarianism.
Yes, it is wrong if a majority community in a country rules.
● The very idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of
undivided political power.
● A positive attitude towards diversity and willingness to accommodate it, is good for
democracy.
● Power in the hands of one community will make the other community feel
marginalised, deprived and discriminated.
● The struggle against such inequalities sometimes takes the path of conflict and
defiance of State power as in Sri Lanka.
Long Answer Questions (LA) 5 Marks
Question 6.
Analyse how majoritarianism has increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri
Lankan Tamils? (2014, 2015)
Or
Mention the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy.
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically elected
government adopted a series of measures to establish Sinhala supremacy:
1. In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official language.
2. The government followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala applicants for
University positions and government jobs.
 3. The Constitution provided for State protection and fostering of Buddhism.
The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist
Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their language and culture and the government policies
denied them equal political rights which led to increased feeling of alienation among them.
The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil, for
regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in every field.
Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy led to
distrust between the two communities which turned the widespread conflict into a Civil
War.
Question 7.
“Power Sharing is the very spirit of democracy”. Justify the statement. (2015)
Answer:
1. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise. Power
sharing ensures that people have the right to be consulted and have equal
participation in the government.
2. In a democracy, each individual has a say in governance through their elected
representatives. This is the essence of power sharing that grants equal rights to each
citizen.
3. Sharing of power ensures that respect for diversity and desire for living together
becomes a shared ideal amongst different communities in a country. It actually
makes the country united and the administration easier.
4. Prudential reasons stress that power sharing would bring out better outcomes by
helping to reduce the possibility of any conflict between the social groups.
5. Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order through unity of
the nation.
Question 8.
Describe the vertical and horizontal forms of power sharing exercised in India.
Answer:
Vertical distribution of power. Power can be shared among governments at different levels
—a general government for the entire country and governments at provincial or regional
level. This is the federal form of government.
When power is shared among governments at different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central
Government, the State Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level.
This division of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the
vertical division of power.
The Constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government. This
federal division of power involving higher and lower levels of government is also called the
vertical division of power. Example: A key change in the Constitution of Belgium in 1993
was that the regional governments were given constitutional powers that were no longer
dependent on the Central Government. Thus, Belgium shifted from a unitary to a federal
form of government.
Horizontal distribution of power. Power is shared among different organs of government,
such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. This is horizontal distribution of power. It
ensures that power is shared among different organs of government—the legislature,
executive and judiciary. It allows different organs of government placed at the same level to
exercise different powers.
In a democracy, ministers and government officials exercise power. They are responsible to
the Parliament or State Assemblies. The judges appointed by the executive can check the
functioning of executive or laws made by the legislature.
The horizontal distribution of power is also called a system of checks and balances.
This system ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ
checks the other. This results in a balance of power among various institutions.
Example: In India the judiciary has an independent status. The Supreme Court is the apex
court of justice. The Parliament is the legislative body where the laws governing the country
are made and the Executive is the implementing body.