CHAPTER 4: GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC POLICY
50 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs)
1. What does governance primarily refer to?
(A) Only conducting elections
(B) The process of making, implementing, and monitoring decisions
(C) Only making laws
(D) Only collecting taxes
Answer: (B) The process of making, implementing, and monitoring decisions
2. Which of the following best describes government?
(A) The process of public consultation
(B) A private organisation
(C) Institutions that exercise political authority
(D) A group of citizens working voluntarily
Answer: (C) Institutions that exercise political authority
3. Which of the following is a key principle of democratic governance?
(A) Secrecy
(B) Accountability
(C) Discrimination
(D) Arbitrary power
Answer: (B) Accountability
4. Which three institutions are included in the government?
(A) Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary
(B) Media, schools, and hospitals
(C) NGOs, businesses, and citizens
(D) Banks, markets, and private companies
Answer: (A) Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary
5. What is the main difference between government and governance?
(A) Government focuses on citizens, while governance focuses only on elections
(B) Government refers to institutions, while governance refers to the process of governing
(C) Government and governance mean exactly the same thing
(D) Governance refers only to the Judiciary
Answer: (B) Government refers to institutions, while governance refers to the process of governing
6. Which motto was adopted as India’s national motto after Independence?
(A) Heaven’s Light, Our Guide
(B) Unity in Diversity
(C) Satyamev Jayate
(D) Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan
Answer: (C) Satyamev Jayate
7. The phrase ‘Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ’, used as the motto of the Supreme Court of India, is taken from which text?
(A) Arthashastra
(B) Mahabharata
(C) Rigveda
(D) Ramcharitmanas
Answer: (B) Mahabharata
8. What does Rajadharma refer to?
(A) The foremost duty of an ideal king to uphold righteous duty and protect the people
(B) The right of rulers to collect unlimited taxes
(C) The separation of citizens from public life
(D) The duty of citizens to avoid government institutions
Answer: (A) The foremost duty of an ideal king to uphold righteous duty and protect the people
9. According to the idea expressed in Kautilya’s Arthashastra, what is the relationship between the ruler’s happiness and the people’s happiness?
(A) The ruler’s happiness is unrelated to the people
(B) The ruler’s happiness depends only on wealth
(C) The people’s happiness is less important than the ruler’s
(D) The ruler’s happiness lies in the happiness and welfare of the people
Answer: (D) The ruler’s happiness lies in the happiness and welfare of the people
10. Which institutions are mentioned in the Rigveda as places where matters of governance and public welfare were discussed?
(A) Sabha and Samiti
(B) Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
(C) Panchayat and Municipality
(D) Legislature and Judiciary
Answer: (A) Sabha and Samiti
11. Which of the following is a feature of good governance?
(A) Misuse of public office
(B) Exclusion of weaker sections
(C) Transparency
(D) Unaccountable decision-making
Answer: (C) Transparency
12. What does the rule of law mean?
(A) Government officials are above the law
(B) Everyone is equal before the law
(C) Laws apply only to ordinary citizens
(D) Laws can be ignored by elected representatives
Answer: (B) Everyone is equal before the law
13. What does accountability mean in good governance?
(A) Public officials are responsible for their actions
(B) Citizens cannot question officials
(C) Government decisions must remain secret
(D) Public resources can be used without supervision
Answer: (A) Public officials are responsible for their actions
14. Which principle ensures that government decisions are open and accessible?
(A) Inclusiveness
(B) Effectiveness
(C) Responsiveness
(D) Transparency
Answer: (D) Transparency
15. Which feature of good governance means that government addresses people’s needs?
(A) Secrecy
(B) Responsiveness
(C) Centralisation
(D) Exclusiveness
Answer: (B) Responsiveness
16. What does inclusiveness in governance aim to ensure?
(A) Equal opportunities for every citizen
(B) Benefits only for wealthy citizens
(C) Participation only by government officials
(D) Exclusion of disadvantaged communities
Answer: (A) Equal opportunities for every citizen
17. Which of the following is a challenge to good governance?
(A) Effective coordination
(B) Responsible public officials
(C) Weak coordination between departments
(D) Active citizen participation
Answer: (C) Weak coordination between departments
18. Which of the following can prevent public benefits from reaching people?
(A) Transparent decision-making
(B) Community participation
(C) Effective monitoring
(D) Malpractices and misuse of public offices
Answer: (D) Malpractices and misuse of public offices
19. What is e-governance?
(A) The use of information and communication technology by governments to provide services and share information
(B) The replacement of all government institutions with private companies
(C) A system used only for conducting elections
(D) The use of technology exclusively by businesses
Answer: (A) The use of information and communication technology by governments to provide services and share information
20. Which of the following is an advantage of e-governance?
(A) It increases paperwork in every department
(B) It makes public services less accessible
(C) It can reduce paperwork and allow access to services without visiting government offices
(D) It prevents citizens from providing feedback
Answer: (C) It can reduce paperwork and allow access to services without visiting government offices
21. Which of the following is an e-governance initiative mentioned in the chapter?
(A) Khalsa
(B) UMANG
(C) Sabha
(D) Samiti
Answer: (B) UMANG
22. What is the primary purpose of DigiLocker?
(A) To organise national sports competitions
(B) To collect municipal waste
(C) To manage traffic signals
(D) To provide digital storage and access to documents
Answer: (D) To provide digital storage and access to documents
23. Which initiative is associated with the Government e-Marketplace?
(A) GeM
(B) APAAR
(C) CPGRAMS
(D) Aadhaar
Answer: (A) GeM
24. Why must e-governance services remain inclusive?
(A) Every citizen already has unlimited internet access
(B) Digital services should be available only in cities
(C) Some people may lack digital devices, reliable internet, or the skills to use them
(D) Technology eliminates the need for public institutions
Answer: (C) Some people may lack digital devices, reliable internet, or the skills to use them
25. What is public policy?
(A) A rule made only by a private company
(B) A course of action adopted by the government to solve public problems and promote welfare
(C) A personal decision made by an individual
(D) A rule applicable only to a housing society
Answer: (B) A course of action adopted by the government to solve public problems and promote welfare
26. Which of the following is an example of a public service supported by public policy?
(A) A family’s private shopping list
(B) A company’s internal meeting schedule
(C) A private club’s membership rules
(D) The supply of clean drinking water to households
Answer: (D) The supply of clean drinking water to households
27. What makes a policy a public policy?
(A) It addresses public needs, is implemented by public institutions, and often uses public resources
(B) It applies only to one private organisation
(C) It is created exclusively by a family
(D) It has no connection with public welfare
Answer: (A) It addresses public needs, is implemented by public institutions, and often uses public resources
28. Which of the following is an example of an organisational policy rather than a public policy?
(A) A government campaign for safe drinking water
(B) A municipal waste-management policy
(C) A company allowing employees to work from home twice a week
(D) A government vaccination programme for children
Answer: (C) A company allowing employees to work from home twice a week
29. In the chapter’s example, what was the main objective of the Plastic-Free Campus Policy?
(A) To increase the use of plastic bags
(B) To reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable practices
(C) To stop all school activities
(D) To eliminate the need for dustbins
Answer: (B) To reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable practices
30. What role do citizens play in shaping public policy?
(A) They can only follow policies without giving opinions
(B) They have no role after elections
(C) They are responsible for approving every policy individually
(D) They identify issues, express concerns, give suggestions, and provide feedback
Answer: (D) They identify issues, express concerns, give suggestions, and provide feedback
31. Which of the following is a responsibility of elected representatives?
(A) Representing people, raising public issues, and participating in law-making
(B) Replacing all government departments
(C) Conducting all scientific research independently
(D) Managing only private businesses
Answer: (A) Representing people, raising public issues, and participating in law-making
32. What is an important role of government officials and departments in policy implementation?
(A) Preventing coordination between departments
(B) Avoiding public services
(C) Implementing programmes, coordinating departments, and monitoring progress
(D) Making policies inaccessible to citizens
Answer: (C) Implementing programmes, coordinating departments, and monitoring progress
33. How can civil society organisations and NGOs contribute to public policy?
(A) By preventing public discussion
(B) By studying problems, suggesting solutions, raising awareness, and providing feedback
(C) By replacing every elected representative
(D) By stopping citizens from participating
Answer: (B) By studying problems, suggesting solutions, raising awareness, and providing feedback
34. What contribution can the private sector make to public policy implementation?
(A) It can only formulate constitutional laws
(B) It must avoid all cooperation with the government
(C) It is responsible for conducting all elections
(D) It can provide technical knowledge, innovation, resources, and expertise
Answer: (D) It can provide technical knowledge, innovation, resources, and expertise
35. What role can international organisations play in public policy?
(A) They can provide international experience, technical knowledge, and financial support
(B) They must independently govern every country
(C) They replace all local governments
(D) They prevent cooperation between countries
Answer: (A) They can provide international experience, technical knowledge, and financial support
36. What is generally the first step in the public policy process?
(A) Policy evaluation
(B) Policy implementation
(C) Identifying the problem or need
(D) Closing the feedback process
Answer: (C) Identifying the problem or need
37. What is the purpose of consultation during policy formulation?
(A) To prevent experts from expressing opinions
(B) To understand different viewpoints and possible solutions
(C) To avoid collecting information
(D) To make policies without considering public needs
Answer: (B) To understand different viewpoints and possible solutions
38. What does policy adoption involve?
(A) Ignoring the approved policy
(B) Collecting public feedback only
(C) Identifying a problem for the first time
(D) Framing the legislation, regulations, and rules governing the policy
Answer: (D) Framing the legislation, regulations, and rules governing the policy
39. What is the main purpose of policy monitoring?
(A) To measure progress, ensure accountability, and identify shortcomings
(B) To prevent officials from reviewing progress
(C) To stop the policy from being implemented
(D) To eliminate the need for public feedback
Answer: (A) To measure progress, ensure accountability, and identify shortcomings
40. What is policy evaluation concerned with?
(A) Selecting elected representatives
(B) Preparing private company rules
(C) Assessing the results and impact of a policy and generating feedback
(D) Avoiding any changes to a policy
Answer: (C) Assessing the results and impact of a policy and generating feedback
41. Which National Education Policy is discussed in the chapter as an example of consultation and public participation?
(A) National Education Policy 1986 only
(B) National Education Policy 2020
(C) National Education Policy 1976
(D) National Education Policy 2005
Answer: (B) National Education Policy 2020
42. Who chaired the expert committee set up in 2017 to draft the National Education Policy 2020?
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Kautilya
(D) Dr K. Kasturirangan
Answer: (D) Dr K. Kasturirangan
43. According to the chapter, when was the National Education Policy 2020 approved by the Union Cabinet?
(A) July 2020
(B) January 2017
(C) August 1947
(D) December 1986
Answer: (A) July 2020
44. What is the difference between a policy, a programme, and a scheme?
(A) All three terms mean exactly the same thing
(B) A scheme sets the broad goal, while a policy provides only funding
(C) A policy gives direction, a programme provides the plan, and a scheme puts the plan into action
(D) A programme is always a private activity
Answer: (C) A policy gives direction, a programme provides the plan, and a scheme puts the plan into action
45. Which policy is used in the chapter to explain the relationship between policies, programmes, and schemes?
(A) National Sports Policy 1986
(B) National Health Policy 2017
(C) National Education Policy 1986
(D) Plastic-Free Campus Policy only
Answer: (B) National Health Policy 2017
46. Which of the following is listed as a scheme in the chapter’s discussion of the National Health Policy 2017?
(A) Sabha
(B) Samiti
(C) Sengol
(D) Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
Answer: (D) Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
47. What is essential for successful implementation of a public policy in a country as diverse as India?
(A) Coordination among different levels of government and other stakeholders
(B) Complete isolation of state governments
(C) Exclusion of local bodies
(D) Avoiding public participation
Answer: (A) Coordination among different levels of government and other stakeholders
48. In the chapter’s discussion of Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, what is a major role of the Central Government?
(A) Organising every local sports camp itself
(B) Preventing state governments from supporting sports
(C) Providing the broader policy framework and funding
(D) Replacing schools and sports institutions
Answer: (C) Providing the broader policy framework and funding
49. How can citizens strengthen good governance?
(A) By spreading misinformation
(B) By voting, following laws, raising concerns, participating in public affairs, and giving feedback
(C) By avoiding all public issues
(D) By refusing to cooperate with community initiatives
Answer: (B) By voting, following laws, raising concerns, participating in public affairs, and giving feedback
50. Why is good governance important for a democratic country?
(A) It concentrates all power in one person
(B) It removes the need for public institutions
(C) It prevents citizens from influencing public decisions
(D) It strengthens democracy, promotes sustainable development, and supports public welfare
Answer: (D) It strengthens democracy, promotes sustainable development, and supports public welfare
CLASS 9 SOCIAL SCIENCE
CHAPTER 4: GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC POLICY
ASSERTION–REASON QUESTIONS (1–20)
Choose the correct option:
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
1. Assertion (A): Governance refers to the process of making, implementing, and monitoring decisions.
Reason (R): Government refers to institutions that exercise political authority.
Answer: (B)
2. Assertion (A): Good governance requires active participation by citizens.
Reason (R): Citizens can raise public concerns, participate in public affairs, and provide feedback.
Answer: (A)
3. Assertion (A): Transparency is an important feature of good governance.
Reason (R): Transparency makes government decisions open and accessible.
Answer: (A)
4. Assertion (A): The rule of law ensures that everyone is equal before the law.
Reason (R): Public officials are not responsible for their actions.
Answer: (C)
5. Assertion (A): E-governance can reduce paperwork and make public services more convenient.
Reason (R): E-governance uses information and communication technology to provide services and share information.
Answer: (A)
6. Assertion (A): E-governance is effective even when people lack access to digital devices and the internet.
Reason (R): Digital services require suitable devices, reliable internet access, and the skills to use them.
Answer: (D)
7. Assertion (A): Public policy aims to solve public problems and promote social welfare.
Reason (R): Public policy is a course of action adopted by the government to meet people’s needs.
Answer: (A)
8. Assertion (A): A company’s work-from-home rules are necessarily a public policy.
Reason (R): Public policies address issues affecting society on a larger scale and are formulated by governments.
Answer: (D)
9. Assertion (A): Citizens can help improve public policies.
Reason (R): Citizens can identify problems, express concerns, offer suggestions, and provide feedback.
Answer: (A)
10. Assertion (A): Government officials play an important role in implementing public policies.
Reason (R): Government officials coordinate departments, deliver services, and monitor progress.
Answer: (A)
11. Assertion (A): Civil society organisations can contribute to good governance.
Reason (R): They can raise awareness, suggest solutions, and monitor programmes.
Answer: (A)
12. Assertion (A): Policy monitoring and policy evaluation are identical processes.
Reason (R): Monitoring measures progress, while evaluation assesses results and the impact of a policy.
Answer: (D)
13. Assertion (A): Consultation is an important stage in policy formulation.
Reason (R): Consultation helps authorities understand different viewpoints and possible solutions.
Answer: (A)
14. Assertion (A): Policy adoption involves framing legislation, regulations, and rules governing a policy.
Reason (R): Policy evaluation assesses the results and impact of a policy.
Answer: (B)
15. Assertion (A): Policies, programmes, and schemes have different roles.
Reason (R): A policy gives direction, a programme provides the plan, and a scheme puts the plan into action.
Answer: (A)
16. Assertion (A): The National Education Policy 2020 was developed without public consultation.
Reason (R): NEP 2020 involved expert advice and large-scale public consultation.
Answer: (D)
17. Assertion (A): Coordination among different levels of government is essential for effective policy implementation.
Reason (R): Different levels of government and other stakeholders have complementary responsibilities.
Answer: (A)
18. Assertion (A): Weak coordination between departments can create challenges for good governance.
Reason (R): Poor coordination can affect the implementation of government programmes.
Answer: (A)
19. Assertion (A): Accountability means that public officials are responsible for their actions.
Reason (R): Accountability prevents citizens from questioning public officials.
Answer: (C)
20. Assertion (A): Good governance strengthens democracy and supports sustainable development.
Reason (R): Good governance depends on transparent institutions, accountable leadership, citizen participation, and the rule of law.
Answer: (A)
