4.1    Role of Government in

.  Role of Government in Development Policies . Defence: This is an essential security function to protect our nation from our enemies. The Union Government is responsible for creating and maintaining defence forces. . Foreign policy: In today’s world, we need to maintain friendly relationships with all the other countries in the world. We should also maintain cordial economic relationships through exports and imports, sending and receiving investments and labour. This service is also provided by the Union government. . Conduct of periodic elections: India is a democratic country. We elect our representatives to the Parliament and state assemblies. Similarly the state governments conduct elections to local bodies within the state. . Law and order: Both the Union and State Governments enact numerous laws to protect our rights, properties and to regulate our economy and society. To settle disputes, the Union government has a vibrant judicial system. State governments take the responsibility for administering the police force in respective states. . Public administration and provision of public goods: The government generally administers the economy and society through various departments, for example, revenue department, schools, hospitals, rural development and urban development. The local governments provide civic facilities like local roads, drainage, drinking water and waste collection and disposal.