NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science (Exploring Society) Chapter 9: From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments (NCERT 2026–27)

Q: What is Chapter 9 of Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society about?

Chapter 9, From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments, explains the three functions of government (legislative, executive and judicial), the principles and forms of democracy (direct, representative, parliamentary and presidential), and other forms of government such as monarchy, theocracy, dictatorship and oligarchy, along with why democracy matters and its challenges.

Q: What is the exercise heading for Chapter 9 of Exploring Society?

The end-of-chapter exercise in Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1) Chapter 9 is headed Questions and activities and contains 8 numbered questions, all answered step by step on this page.

These Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 9 solutions cover From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments from Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), the new NCF-2023 textbook for the 2026–27 session. The chapter belongs to the theme Governance and Democracy and explains the functions of government (legislative, executive and judicial), what makes one government different from another, the principles and forms of democracy (direct, representative, parliamentary and presidential), and other forms such as monarchy, theocracy, dictatorship and oligarchy — and why democracy matters. Below you get step-by-step answers to all the Questions and activities, clear notes on key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.

Class: 7 Subject: Social Science Book: Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1) Chapter: 9 Theme: Governance and Democracy Session: 2026–27

On this page

Chapter overview
Key concepts & terms
“Questions and activities” — full solutions
Extra practice questions
MCQs & Assertion–Reason
Exam tips & common mistakes
FAQs

Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 9 – Overview

Chapter 9, From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments, explores how countries are governed. It begins with the functions of government — making rules (the legislative function), implementing and administering them (the executive function) and ensuring they are followed (the judicial function) — illustrated by a school’s Student Committee story. It explains democracy as the ‘rule of the people’ and its fundamental principles: equality, freedom, representative participation, universal adult franchise, fundamental rights and an independent judiciary. The chapter distinguishes direct and representative democracy, and the two forms of representative democracy — parliamentary (India) and presidential (USA). It then surveys other forms of government — monarchy (absolute and constitutional), theocracy, dictatorship and oligarchy — touches on India’s early republics (Vajji, the Uttaramerur inscriptions of the Cholas), and closes with why democracy matters and what its challenges are.

Key Concepts & Terms

Government: the body that maintains law and order, ensures peace and security, manages defence and the economy, delivers essential goods and services (education, healthcare, infrastructure), and works for people’s welfare.

Three functions of government: the legislative function (making rules/laws), the executive function (implementing rules and administering the country) and the judicial function (ensuring the rules are followed).

Democracy: ‘rule of the people’, where the source of power and authority is the people of the country. Abraham Lincoln called it ‘government of the people, by the people, for the people’.

Fundamental principles of democracy: equality, freedom, representative participation, universal adult franchise, fundamental rights of citizens, and an independent judiciary.

Direct democracy: all citizens are directly responsible for the rules and decisions and participate in them directly (some forms are seen in Switzerland). Hard to run in large countries.

Representative democracy: people elect their representatives through universal adult franchise (as in India); the government does not govern directly but is always accountable to the people through regular elections.

Parliamentary democracy: members of the executive (prime minister and council of ministers) are also members of the legislature and remain in office as long as they have its confidence (e.g., the Lok Sabha in India).

Presidential democracy: the executive works independently of the legislature; the president is elected by the people and does not need the legislature’s confidence (e.g., the USA).

Monarchy: rule by a monarch (king/queen), usually hereditary. An absolute monarchy (e.g., Saudi Arabia) gives the monarch complete power; a constitutional monarchy (e.g., the United Kingdom) leaves the monarch only nominal power, with real power exercised by an elected parliament and prime minister.

Theocracy: a government ruled by the rules of religion and religious leaders (e.g., Iran, Afghanistan, Vatican City).

Dictatorship: a form of government where one person or a small group holds absolute power with no limits from a constitution or law (e.g., Hitler’s Germany, Idi Amin’s Uganda).

Oligarchy: from Greek olígos (few) and árkhō (to rule) — a government where a small, powerful group (often wealthy families or influential people) makes the important decisions.

Republic: a form of government in which the head of state is elected and is not a hereditary monarch; India’s ancient Vajji mahajanapada and the Chola village sabha (Uttaramerur inscriptions) are early Indian examples.

Other key terms: representative (a person chosen to act for others), accountability (the government is answerable to the people), sovereign (power independent of external influence), and separation of powers (the legislature, executive and judiciary work independently).

“Questions and activities” — Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Questions and activities section. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.

1. Write names of the various types of government that you have learnt in the chapter.

ANSWER The various types of government discussed in the chapter are: 1. Democracy — including direct democracy and representative democracy; representative democracy is further of two kinds, parliamentary democracy and presidential democracy. 2. Monarchy — of two kinds, absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy. 3. Theocracy. 4. Dictatorship. 5. Oligarchy.

2. Which type of Government does India have? And why is that called that type?

ANSWER India has a representative parliamentary democracy. It is a democracy because the source of power and authority lies with the people — citizens above a certain age elect their representatives through universal adult franchise, and the government is always accountable to them. It is representative because the people do not govern directly; they choose representatives (through general elections held every five years) to govern on their behalf. It is parliamentary because the members of the executive — the prime minister and the council of ministers — are also members of the legislature (Parliament) and remain in office only as long as they enjoy the confidence of the Lok Sabha.

3. You read that an independent judiciary is present in all types of democracies. State any three reasons why you think it is important for the judiciary to be independent.

ANSWER An independent judiciary is important because: 1. It protects the fundamental rights of every citizen, such as the right to equality and freedom of speech, so that no one’s rights are taken away unfairly. 2. It ensures that the laws are followed by everyone — not only by ordinary citizens but also by all the parts of the government — so that no one is above the law. 3. It can deliver fair and unbiased justice, because it works without interference from the legislature or the executive (the principle of separation of powers), and can check the misuse of power by other organs of government.

4. Do you think democratic government is better than other forms of government? Why?

ANSWER Yes, in most respects a democratic government is better than other forms of government. In a democracy, the people choose their own government and can change it through regular elections if it does not perform well; this keeps a constant check on the government. People enjoy equality, freedom of speech and other fundamental rights, and can decide what to speak, wear, believe and how to express themselves, as long as they do not harm others’ rights. The government is accountable to the people, must protect their rights and provide for their basic needs, and the separation of powers and an independent judiciary prevent the misuse of power. In contrast, in a dictatorship, monarchy or oligarchy, power is held by one person or a small group, and the common people have little say or freedom. It is no wonder, then, that more than half of the countries in the world have adopted democracy. (Democracies do have problems such as corruption and inequality, so citizens must stay vigilant.)

5. These are some practices in a few different countries. Can you match the practice with the type of government?

ANSWER The correct matching is given below.

S. No	Practice in the country	Type of Government
I.	All citizens are treated equally before law	Democracy
II.	The government refers to the religious leader for each and every decision it takes.	Theocracy
III.	After the queen’s death, her son became the new king.	Monarchy
IV.	The ruler is not bound to follow any Constitution. He makes all the decisions as per his choice.	Dictatorship

So: I – Democracy, II – Theocracy, III – Monarchy, IV – Dictatorship.

6. Below is a list of countries. Find out the types of government these countries have:

ANSWER The present-day types of government of these countries are:

S. No	Country	Type of Government
1	Bhutan	Constitutional monarchy (parliamentary democracy with a king)
2	Nepal	Democracy (federal parliamentary republic)
3	Bangladesh	Democracy (parliamentary republic)
4	South Africa	Democracy (parliamentary republic)
5	Brazil	Democracy (presidential republic)

In short, Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy, while Nepal, Bangladesh, South Africa and Brazil are democracies.

This is a ‘find out’ activity; you should verify the latest position of each country from a reliable source, as a country’s form of government can change over time.

7. What are possible hurdles in a democracy in achieving its values and ideals? How can they be overcome?

ANSWER Possible hurdles: Even democracies face problems that prevent them from fully achieving their ideals. These include corruption; wide disparity in wealth; excessive control by a few people over democratic institutions; erosion of the judiciary’s independence; and the manipulation of information channels (spreading false or misleading information). How they can be overcome: Citizens must remain alert and vigilant, vote responsibly in every election, and hold their representatives accountable. Strengthening an independent judiciary, ensuring free and fair elections, promoting transparency and honest administration, reducing inequality through fair policies, and checking the spread of false information all help. As individuals and as a society, we must keep the ideals of equality, freedom and fairness in front of us and work to minimise these issues.

8. Democracy is different from monarchy and dictatorship. Explain.

ANSWER Democracy differs from monarchy and dictatorship mainly in who holds power and how the government is formed: Source of authority: In a democracy, power comes from the people, who are the source of authority. In a monarchy, power belongs to a hereditary monarch (king or queen). In a dictatorship, power is held by one person or a small group with no limits from any constitution or law. How the government is formed: In a democracy, the government is formed through regular elections and universal adult franchise. In a monarchy, the position usually passes within the royal family (typically to the eldest son). In a dictatorship, the dictator seizes and keeps power, often by eliminating opposition. Rights and accountability: A democracy guarantees equality, freedom of speech, fundamental rights and an independent judiciary, and the government is accountable to the people, who can change it through elections. In an absolute monarchy and a dictatorship, the people enjoy few rights and freedoms, and the ruler is not answerable to them. (However, a constitutional monarchy like the United Kingdom is really a parliamentary democracy, because the king or queen has only nominal power while elected representatives govern.)

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What are the three functions of government?

ANSWERThe three functions of government are the legislative function (making rules and laws), the executive function (implementing the rules and administering the country) and the judicial function (ensuring that the rules are followed). They are like a school committee making rules, implementing them and checking that they are obeyed.

Q2. What is meant by ‘universal adult franchise’?

ANSWERUniversal adult franchise means that every citizen above a certain age is given the right to vote to choose their representative, without discrimination. India provided universal adult franchise from the beginning of the republic in 1950, whereas in Switzerland women got the right to vote only in 1971.

Q3. Differentiate between direct democracy and representative democracy.

ANSWERIn a direct democracy, all citizens are directly responsible for the rules and decisions and participate in them directly (as in some matters in Switzerland), which is hard to manage in large countries. In a representative democracy, the people elect representatives through universal adult franchise (as in India) who govern on their behalf, while the government stays accountable to the people.

Q4. What is a republic? Give one ancient Indian example.

ANSWERA republic is a form of government in which the head of state is elected and is not a hereditary monarch. The Vajji (or Vriji) mahajanapada, where the Lichchhavi clan practised collective decision-making and chose leaders by merit through elections, is an ancient Indian example of an early republic.

Q5. How is an absolute monarchy different from a constitutional monarchy?

ANSWERIn an absolute monarchy (e.g., Saudi Arabia), the monarch has complete control over making laws, ensuring they are followed and judging disputes. In a constitutional monarchy (e.g., the United Kingdom), the monarch has only nominal power; real executive power lies with the prime minister and council of ministers, and laws are made by the elected parliament, so it functions as a parliamentary democracy.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Using the school Student Committee story, explain the three functions of government.

ANSWERIn the chapter, a Head Teacher wants to form a Student Committee so that many school tasks — timetables, sports, mid-day meals, morning assembly and ‘No Bag Days’ — can be managed. The students choose three options, and decide that the best, most democratic way is for each grade to elect one representative to the committee. This committee then has to do three things, just like a government. First, it must create the rules needed to get tasks done — this is like the legislative function of government. Second, it must implement those rules and organise the work — this is like the executive function. Third, it must ensure that the rules are followed — this is like the judicial function. The story shows that, just as the committee should be chosen by election and answer to the students, a government should be chosen by the people and remain accountable to them.

Q2. Describe the fundamental principles of a democracy.

ANSWERA democracy rests on several fundamental principles. Equality means every person has the right to be treated equally, with equal access to facilities like education and health, and equality before the law. Freedom means citizens have the right to make their own choices and express their opinions. Representative participation means every person has the right to choose and elect their representatives through elections, who then form the legislature. Universal adult franchise grants every citizen above a certain age the right to vote. Fundamental rights — such as the right to equality, freedom of speech and expression, and the right against exploitation — are provided and protected. Finally, an independent judiciary ensures that citizens’ rights are protected and that laws are followed by citizens and by all parts of the government. These are ideals that have evolved over time; not every democracy achieves them fully, but citizens must keep them in view.

Q3. Explain the four key aspects that make one form of government different from another.

ANSWERGovernments differ on four major aspects. First, who gets to decide ‘this is the government’? — that is, who gives the government its authority. In a democracy like India it is the people; in a theocracy it is religious beliefs and a religious head. Second, how is the government formed? In a democracy it is formed through elections, while in kingdoms someone from within the royal family continues to rule. Third, what are the different parts of the government and what do they do? The legislative, executive and judicial functions may be performed by independent bodies (as in most democracies, often guided by a written constitution) or decided by a king or queen (as in monarchies). Fourth, what is the government working for? Some governments, like India’s, work towards equality and prosperity for all, while others may work only for the prosperity of a few families or groups. These aspects help us understand why governments of different countries are different.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. The function of government that means making rules and laws is called the:

(a) executive function (b) judicial function (c) legislative function (d) electoral function

2. Democracy is best understood as:

(a) rule of the king (b) rule of the people (c) rule of religious leaders (d) rule of the army

3. Which country is given as an example of a presidential democracy?

(a) India (b) United Kingdom (c) USA (d) Saudi Arabia

4. In a parliamentary democracy like India, the prime minister and the council of ministers are:

(a) not part of the legislature (b) also members of the legislature (c) elected directly by the people (d) appointed for life

5. Saudi Arabia is given as an example of:

(a) a constitutional monarchy (b) an absolute monarchy (c) a republic (d) a direct democracy

6. A government ruled by the rules of religion and religious leaders is called a:

(a) monarchy (b) oligarchy (c) theocracy (d) democracy

7. The word ‘oligarchy’ comes from Greek words meaning:

(a) rule of one (b) rule of the few (c) rule of the people (d) rule of god

8. The Uttaramerur inscriptions, which describe the election of members to a village sabha, belong to which period?

(a) Mauryan (b) Gupta (c) Chola (d) Mughal

9. ‘Separation of powers’ means that the three organs of government:

(a) work under the king (b) work independently and do not interfere with each other (c) are controlled by the army (d) merge into one body

10. In India, general elections are held once every:

(a) three years (b) four years (c) five years (d) six years

Answer key: 1-(c), 2-(b), 3-(c), 4-(b), 5-(b), 6-(c), 7-(b), 8-(c), 9-(b), 10-(c).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: In a democracy, the source of power and authority is the people of the country.

Reason: Democracy is best understood as the ‘rule of the people’.

A-R 2. Assertion: In a parliamentary democracy, the executive is independent of the legislature.

Reason: In India, the council of ministers continues to work only while it has the confidence of the Lok Sabha.

A-R 3. Assertion: A constitutional monarchy is really a parliamentary democracy.

Reason: In a constitutional monarchy the monarch has only nominal power, while real power lies with the elected parliament and prime minister.

A-R 4. Assertion: An independent judiciary is important in a democracy.

Reason: It protects citizens’ fundamental rights and ensures that laws are followed by everyone, including the government.

A-R 5. Assertion: In a dictatorship, the ruler is bound by a constitution and the law.

Reason: In a dictatorship, one person or a small group possesses absolute power with no limits imposed on them.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(D), 3-(A), 4-(A), 5-(D).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Memorise the three functions of government (legislative, executive, judicial) and link them to the school Student Committee story for examples. Be able to name and classify every type of government — democracy (direct/representative; parliamentary/presidential), monarchy (absolute/constitutional), theocracy, dictatorship and oligarchy — with one country example each (India, USA, Saudi Arabia, UK, Iran, Germany under Hitler, Uganda under Idi Amin). For comparison questions, answer in a clear two- or three-sided structure (source of authority, how the government is formed, rights and accountability). Remember the fundamental principles of democracy and that India is a parliamentary democracy with general elections every five years.

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing parliamentary (executive is part of the legislature, e.g., India) with presidential (executive independent of the legislature, e.g., USA) democracy.
Mixing up absolute monarchy (monarch holds all power, e.g., Saudi Arabia) with constitutional monarchy (monarch only nominal, e.g., UK).
Thinking the UK is not a democracy because it has a king — it is a parliamentary democracy.
Confusing the three functions: legislative (make rules), executive (implement), judicial (ensure they are followed).
Forgetting that India gave universal adult franchise from the start (1950), while some countries gave it much later.
Leaving ‘find out’ activity questions (like Q6) blank — write and verify the type of government for each country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 9 of Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society about?

Chapter 9, From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments, explains the three functions of government (legislative, executive and judicial), the principles and forms of democracy (direct, representative, parliamentary and presidential), and other forms of government such as monarchy, theocracy, dictatorship and oligarchy, along with why democracy matters and its challenges.

What type of government does India have?

India has a representative parliamentary democracy. Power lies with the people, who elect their representatives through universal adult franchise; the prime minister and council of ministers are members of Parliament and stay in office only while they have the confidence of the Lok Sabha.

What is the exercise heading for Chapter 9 of Exploring Society?

The end-of-chapter exercise in Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1) Chapter 9 is headed Questions and activities and contains 8 numbered questions, all answered step by step on this page.

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