Grassroots Democracy – Part 1 Governance | Class 6 Social Science Notes

Functions of the Three Organs of Government at National and State Levels

The three organs of government—legislature, executive, and judiciary—perform distinct but complementary functions at both the national and state levels in India. At the national level, the legislature consists of two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). They formulate laws that apply across the country. At the state level, most states have a single legislative assembly called the Vidhan Sabha, while a few have two houses. The executive at the national level is led by the President of India (nominal head) and the Prime Minister (executive head). At the state level, the Governor is the nominal head, and the Chief Minister is the executive head. The judiciary at the national level is headed by the Supreme Court of India, while each state has its own High Court. The executive handles various responsibilities such as defense, foreign affairs, atomic energy, communications, currency, interstate commerce, education, and national policy formulation at the central level. At the state level, the executive manages police and law and order, public health, education, agriculture, irrigation, and local government. This division ensures that governance is tailored to the needs of different regions while maintaining national unity and coherence.

📊 Diagram: Fig. 10.5 is a table summarizing the functions and responsibilities of the three organs of government at the national and state levels, including the names of legislative bodies, executive heads, and judiciary institutions.

🧪 Activity: Students are asked to observe the table and highlight functions affecting their lives most, and to interview adults about their interactions with government at various levels.

🔗 Connection: Prepares for understanding democracy as the framework within which these organs and levels function.