Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Decentralisation refers to the transfer of power from the Central and State governments to local governments, so that people at the grassroots level can participate in decision-making.

Importance in India: India is a vast and diverse country — states like Uttar Pradesh are larger in population than many independent nations. A large number of problems are best understood and solved at the local level, as people have better knowledge of their local needs. Decentralisation allows direct participation of citizens in governance, making administration more efficient and truly democratic.

Source: Democratic Politics – II, Chapter 2 (Federalism – Decentralisation in India)

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• The definition must mention the transfer of power to local government — this is the key phrase examiners look for.
• For the reason, you can choose any one valid point: size/diversity of India, local knowledge, efficient resource use, or direct participation. Briefly justify it — one sentence is enough.
• Avoid copying the train analogy or the Brazil example; they are not needed for this question.
• This is a 3-mark question: 1 mark for definition, 2 marks for the reason (with explanation). Keep it around 70–80 words total.