Notes Civics Chapter 5 Class 8 Maharashtra Board

Notes For All Chapters – Civics Class 8

The State Government

Introduction

• India follows a federal system of government.
• Government exists at two levels:
  • Federal Government (Central Government) – operates at the national level.
  • State Government – operates at the state or regional level.

Background

• India is a large and diverse country with variations in:
  • Language
  • Religion
  • Lifestyle
  • Regional characteristics
• To manage this diversity effectively, India adopted a federal setup.
• States were formed on the basis of language through linguistic reorganisation.
• The government structure in all Indian states is similar, except for Jammu and Kashmir.

Number of States and Legislatures

• India has 28 states but 31 Vidhan Sabhas (Legislative Assemblies) because:
  • Union Territories of Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir also have Vidhan Sabhas.

State Legislature

• Like the Parliament at the central level, each state has its own Legislature.
• Bicameral Legislature – Only 7 states in India, including Maharashtra, have two Houses:
  • Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) – Lower House
  • Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council) – Upper House

Legislature of Maharashtra

• Maharashtra has a bicameral legislature consisting of:
  • Vidhan Sabha – 288 members
  • Vidhan Parishad – 78 members

1. Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly)

• Number of members – 288 members
• Tenure – 5 years (unless dissolved earlier)
• Representation:
  • Governor can nominate 1 Anglo-Indian member.
  • Seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
• Eligibility to contest elections:
  • Must be a citizen of India.
  • Must be at least 25 years old.

Speaker of Vidhan Sabha

• Elected by the members of Vidhan Sabha.
• Responsible for:
  • Conducting House proceedings.
  • Maintaining order and discipline.
  • Suspending members for misconduct.
• Deputy Speaker takes over in the absence of the Speaker.

Sessions

• Maharashtra Legislature conducts three sessions annually:
  • Budget Session – in Mumbai
  • Monsoon Session – in Mumbai
  • Winter Session – in Nagpur

2. Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council)

• Number of members – 78 members
• Members are elected from:
  • Vidhan Sabha members
  • Local government institutions
  • Teacher constituencies
  • Graduate constituencies
  • Distinguished personalities (nominated by Governor)
• Tenure – Not fully dissolved; 1/3rd of members retire every 2 years.
• Chairman – Conducts the House proceedings.
• Deputy Chairman – Takes over in the Chairman’s absence.

State Executive

The Executive of Maharashtra consists of:

1. Governor – Nominal Head
2. Chief Minister – Real Executive Head
3. Council of Ministers – Assists the Chief Minister

1. Governor

• Appointed by – The President of India.
• Holds office during the pleasure of the President.
• Powers and Functions:
  • Assent to Bills – Converts Bills into laws.
  • Can summon and prorogue the Legislature.
  • Can issue Ordinances when the Legislature is not in session.

2. Chief Minister and Council of Ministers

• Chief Minister is the leader of the majority party in the Vidhan Sabha.
• The CM forms a Council of Ministers from trusted party members.
• Tenure – 5 years (or until the Assembly is dissolved).

Functions of the Chief Minister:

1. Creation of the State Executive:

• Forms the Council of Ministers by including different regions and social groups.
• Handles coalition government challenges (if no single party gets a majority).

2. Distribution of Portfolios:

• Assigns departments (e.g., Home, Finance, Education) based on:
  • Political experience
  • Administrative skills
  • Public opinion

3. Coordination between Ministries:

• Ensures smooth cooperation between departments.
• Resolves conflicts between ministries.

4. Leader of the State:

• Represents the state.
• Addresses issues affecting the public.
• Creates and implements state policies.

Challenges in Maharashtra

• Terror attacks – Threat to security.
• Naxalite movements – Left-wing extremism in some areas.

Functions of the State Government