Class 7 (Social and Political Life-II) Civics Role of the Government in Health - FREE PDF Download
FAQs on NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Civics Chapter 2 Role of The Government In Health
1. How does the Indian Constitution define the government's duty towards 'living standard' and 'public health' as per NCERT Class 7 Chapter 2?
According to the NCERT textbook, the Indian Constitution states it is the “duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health.” Here’s what these terms mean:
- Living Standard: This refers to the level of comfort, material goods, and necessities available to people in a country. It includes factors like housing, clean water, food, and sanitation.
- Public Health: This is a wider concept that refers to the overall health and well-being of the entire population. It includes the government’s efforts to prevent diseases, provide healthcare facilities, and ensure a healthy environment for everyone.
2. What are the different steps the government can take to provide healthcare for all citizens, as explained in the NCERT solutions?
As per the solutions for Chapter 2, the government can take several steps to provide universal healthcare. The correct method to answer this involves listing these actions:
- Establishing a network of hospitals, health centres, and clinics, especially in rural areas.
- Organising free or low-cost health check-up camps.
- Running public health campaigns to spread awareness about diseases like malaria, dengue, and cholera.
- Ensuring a clean supply of drinking water and proper sanitation facilities to prevent water-borne diseases.
- Implementing vaccination programs to protect citizens from serious illnesses.
- Regulating the cost of essential medicines and medical services.
3. Explain with examples how improving water and sanitation can control many diseases.
Improvement in water and sanitation is crucial for disease control because many illnesses are communicable and spread through contaminated sources. For example, diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery are directly caused by consuming unsafe water or food. Without proper sanitation and waste disposal systems, disease-carrying agents can thrive and spread quickly. By ensuring access to clean drinking water and building proper sewage systems, the government can break the chain of infection and drastically reduce the number of people falling sick from these preventable diseases.
4. How do public and private healthcare services in India differ? Compare their cost, accessibility, and quality.
Public and private healthcare services differ significantly. Public healthcare services are run by the government and are designed to be affordable or free for all citizens. They are generally more accessible in rural areas through Primary Health Centres (PHCs) but can sometimes face challenges with funding, staffing, and infrastructure. In contrast, private healthcare services are owned by individuals or companies and operate for profit. They often offer high-quality facilities and shorter wait times but are significantly more expensive, making them inaccessible for a large part of the population.
5. What are the major challenges the Indian government faces in providing adequate healthcare for all?
The government faces several significant challenges in its goal to provide universal healthcare. These include:
- A vast and diverse population, which makes it difficult to reach everyone.
- A significant urban-rural divide, where healthcare facilities are concentrated in cities while rural areas remain underserved.
- Inadequate budget allocation for health, leading to a shortage of hospitals, equipment, and medicines.
- A shortage of qualified doctors and medical staff, especially in government-run rural hospitals.
- Low public awareness about health, hygiene, and preventative care in some regions.
6. How do the 'Kerala experience' and the 'Costa Rican approach' show different ways a government can prioritise public health?
The chapter highlights two successful but different models for improving public health. The Kerala experience shows the power of decentralisation. In 1996, the Kerala government gave 40% of its entire state budget to panchayats, allowing them to plan and provide for their local needs, including water, food, and health centres. The Costa Rican approach involved a major constitutional change. Costa Rica abolished its army and invested the money saved into health, education, and other basic needs, making it one of the healthiest countries in its region. These examples show that prioritising health can be achieved through both decentralised planning and strategic national-level budget allocation.
7. Why is it important that adequate healthcare be available to all, not just a few?
Ensuring adequate healthcare for all is a cornerstone of equality, a fundamental right discussed in this chapter. When healthcare is not accessible to everyone, it creates a divide where only those who can afford it can get quality treatment. This goes against the democratic principle that every citizen has a right to life and well-being. Widespread disease among any part of the population can also affect the entire country's productivity and economic health. Therefore, providing equitable healthcare is not just a moral duty but also essential for the nation's overall progress.
8. How can using these NCERT Solutions for Chapter 2 help me write better answers in my Social Science exam?
These NCERT Solutions for 'Role of The Government In Health' are designed to help you score better by showing you the correct way to structure your answers as per the CBSE 2025-26 guidelines. They provide clear, step-by-step explanations for each question, helping you understand key concepts like 'public health' and the difference between public and private services. By studying these solutions, you learn how to include important keywords, use examples effectively, and frame arguments that precisely answer what the question is asking, which is crucial for achieving high marks in exams.

















