AHLCON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

MAYUR VIHAR, PHASE-I , DELHI-110091

SOCIAL SCIENCE
CLASS X

TOP 100 QUESTIONS

Q.NO. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MARK
S
SECTION A- HISTORY
Q1. Mention three proposals suggested by Mahatma Gandhi 3
with reference to Non-cooperation Movement.

Answer:

Proposals suggested by Mahatma Gandhi with reference

to Non-cooperation Movement

1. According to Gandhiji, Non-cooperation could

become a movement by unfolding in stages.
2. It would begin with the surrender of titles that
the government awarded and a boycott of civil
services, army, police, courts and legislative
councils, schools and foreign goods.
3. Then if the government used repression, a full
civil disobedience campaign would be
launched.
4. Throughout 1920, Gandhiji and Shaukat Ali
toured extensively mobilizing popular support
for the movement.

Q2. How could non-cooperation become a movement? 3

 Explain with examples.

Answer:

Mahatma Gandhi felt that British rule was established in

India with the cooperation of the Indian people. If the
Indians would refuse to cooperate, British rule would
collapse.

1. According to Gandhiji, non-cooperation could

become a movement by unfolding in stages.
2. It would begin with the surrender of titles that
the government awarded, and a boycott of
civil services, army, police, courts and
legislative councils, schools and foreign
goods. Then if the Government used
repression, a full civil disobedience campaign
would be launched.
3. Throughout 1920, Gandhiji and Shaukat Ali
toured extensively mobilizing popular support
for the movement.
4. In the cities, the movement started with
middle class participation. Thousands of
students left government controlled schools
and colleges. Headmasters and teachers
resigned and lawyers gave up their legal
practices.
5. The Council elections were boycotted, foreign
goods and foreign cloth was boycotted.
Traders and merchants also refused to trade in
foreign goods.

Q3. Explain any three causes of conflict in the ‘Balkan area’ 3

after 1871.
Answer:

The nationalist tensions emerged in the Balkans due to the

following reasons:

(i) Balkans was a region of geographical and ethnic

variation comprising modern-day Romania, Bulgaria,
Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro
whose inhabitants were known as the Slavs. A large part
of the Balkans was under the control of the Ottoman
empire.

(ii) After the decline of the Ottoman empire and the

growth of romantic nationalism in the Balkans, the region
became very explosive. Its European subject nationalities
broke away from its control and declared independence.

(iii) As the different nationalities struggled to define their

identity and independence, the Balkan area became an
area of intense conflict. The Balkan states were fiercely
jealous of each other and each hoped to gain more
territory at the expense of others.
Q4. Describe any three steps taken by the French 3
revolutionaries to create a sense of collective identity
amongst the French people.

Answer:

● The first clear-cut expression of nationalism came with

the French Revolution in 1789. In 1789, France was
under the rule of an absolute monarch.
● When the revolutionaries came to power in France, they
were determined to create a new sense of unity and
nationhood For this, they emphasized the concept of
France being the father land (La Patrie) for all French
people, who were from now on addressed as citizens
(citoyen). They were given the tri-colour flag, the three
colours representing liberty, equality and fraternity.

French revolutionaries introduced various other measures

such as:

1. The Estate General was elected by the body of active

citizens and renamed the National Assembly.
2. New hymns were composed, oaths taken and martyrs
commemorated all in the name of the nation.
3. A centralized administrative system was put in place
and it formulated uniform laws for all citizens within
its territory.
4. Internal customs, duties and dues were abolished and
a uniform system of weights and measures was
adopted.
5. Regional dialects were discouraged and French, as it
was spoken and written in Paris, became the common
language of the nation.
6. They further declared that it was the mission and the
destiny of the French nation to liberate the people of
Europe from despotism and help them to become
 nations.

Q5. Describe the process of unification of Germany. 5

Answer:
Unification of Germany:
In the 18th century, Germany was divided into a number
of states. Some of these states ceased to exist during the
Napoleonic wars. At the end of the war, there were still 39
independent states in Germany. Prussia was most
powerful, dominated by big landlords known as Junkers.
(i) Nationalist feelings were widespread among middle
class Germans who had tried to unite the different regions
of the German federation into a nation-state governed by
an elected Parliament.

ii) In May 1848, a large number of political associations

came together to vote for an All German National
Assembly. Their representatives met at Frankfurt and the
Frankfurt Assembly proposed the unification of Germany
as a constitutional monarchy under the King of Prussia as
emperor.

(iii) The King of Prussia rejected the offer and the liberal
initiative of nation building was repressed by combined
forces of the monarchy, the military and the ‘Junkers’.

(iv) Then on, Prussia under its Chief Minister Otto von
Bismarck led the movement for unification of Germany.
Bismarck carried out this process with the help of the
Prussian army and the bureaucracy. He fought three wars
over seven years with Denmark, Austria and France.
Prussia was victorious in all these wars and the process of
unification was completed as a result of Prussia’s victory
over France.

(v) Consequently, on 18th January 1871, an assembly

comprising of princes of German states, representatives of
the army, important Prussian ministers and Bismarck
gathered in the Palace of Versailles and proclaimed the
Prussian King, Kaiser William, the new German Emperor.
Q6. How did different social groups conceive the idea of 5
‘Non-Cooperation’? Explain with examples.

Answer:

Various social groups participated in the Non-Cooperation

Movement, each with its own specific aspiration. All of
them responded to the call of ‘Swaraj’ but the term meant
different things to different people.

Movement in the cities:

1. Thousands of students from government

controlled schools, headmasters, teachers
resigned and left the school.
2. Lawyers gave up their legal practices. The
Council elections were also boycotted in most
provinces.

Movement spread to the countryside:

(i) In Awadh, the peasants’ movement led by Baba

Ramchandra was against talukdars and landlords who
demanded extremely high rents and a variety of other
cesses from the peasants. Peasants were forced to work in
landlords’ farms without any payment (begar). Peasants
had no security of tenure, they were regularly evicted so
that they could acquire no right over the leased land. The
demands of the peasants were: reduction of revenue,
abolition of begar and social boycott of oppressive
landlords.

(ii) In the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh a militant

guerrilla movement spread in the early 1920s against

the closure of forest areas by the colonial government,

 preventing people from entering the forests to graze their
cattle, or to collect fuelwood and fruits. They felt that
their traditional rights were being denied.

(iii) For plantation workers in Assam, freedom meant the

right to move freely in and out of the confined space in
which they were enclosed. Under the Inland Emigration
Act of 1859, plantation workers

were not permitted to leave tea gardens without

permission which was hardly granted. When they heard of
the Non-Cooperation Movement, thousands of workers
defied the authorities and left for their homes.

Q7. How did the Civil Disobedience Movement come into 5

force in various parts of the country? Explain with
examples.

Answer:

Civil Disobedience Movement came into force in various

parts of the country:

(i) Gandhiji led the salt march from Sabarmati Ashram to

Dandi with his followers starting the Civil Disobedience
Movement.

(ii) Thousands in different parts of the country broke the

salt law, manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of
government salt factories.

(iii) In the countryside, the rich Patidars of Gujarat and

Jats of Uttar Pradesh were active in the movement. As
rich communities were very hard hit by the trade
depression and falling prices, they became enthusiastic
 supporters of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

(iv) As the depression continued and the cash invoice

dwindled, the small tenants found it difficult to pay the
rent. They wanted the unpaid rent to the landlords to be
remitted and thus they joined the movement.

(v) Merchants and industrialists supported the movement

by giving financial assistance and also by refusing to buy
and sell the imported goods.

(vi) The industrial working class of Nagpur region also

participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Railway workers, dock workers, mineral of Chota Nagpur
etc. participated in protest rallies and boycott campaigns

Q8. Describe the role of culture in shaping the feelings of 5

nationalism in Europe from 1830 to the end of the 19th
century.

Answer:

Culture, music, dance and religion played an important

role in the growth of nationalism.

(i) Culture. Role of culture was important in creating the

idea of the nation. Art, poetry, music etc. helped in
developing and expressing nationalist feelings.
Romanticism was a cultural movement that led to the
development of nationalist sentiment. Romantic artists
and poets criticized the glorification of reason and science
and instead focussed on emotions and intuition.

(ii) Language. Language too played an important role in

developing nationalist sentiments. After the Russian
 occupation, the Polish language was forced out of schools
and the Russian language was imposed everywhere. In
1831, an armed rebellion against Russian rule took place
which was ultimately crushed. Following this, many
members of the clergy in Poland began to use language as
a weapon of national resistance.

(iii) Music and Dance. Romantics such as the German

philosopher Herder claimed that true German culture was
to be discovered among the common people —das volk. It
was through folk songs, folk poetry and folk dances that
the true spirit of the nation was popularised.
Q9. Explain the process of unification of Italy. 5

Answer:

Italy too had a long history of political fragmentation.

Italians were scattered over dynastic states and the
multinationals of the Habsburg Empire. Italy was divided
into seven states. Italian language did not have one
common form.

Guiseppe Mazzini had played an important role in the

unification of Italy. He formed a secret society called
‘Young Italy’ in Marseilles, to spread his goals. He
believed Italy could not continue to be a patchwork of
small states and had to be forged into a single unified
republic. During the 1830s, Mazzini sought to put
together a coherent programme for a unitary Italian
Republic. As uprisings in 1831 and 1848 had failed, the
mantle now fell on Sardinia-Piedmont under its ruler
Emmanuel II to unify Italy.

Under Chief Minister Cavour, Sardinia-Piedmont

succeeded in defeating the Austrian forces in 1859. He
was the chief minister, who led the movement to unify
Italy. He formed a tactful diplomatic alliance with France
 and defeated the Austrian forces. Even Guiseppe
Garibaldi joined the fray. In 1860, they marched towards
South Italy and the Kingdom of the two Sicilies, and with
the help of the local peasants, drove out the Spanish
rulers. In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed as
King of United Italy.

Q10. How did cultural processes help in creating a sense of 5

collective belongingness in India? Explain.

Answer:

Though nationalism spread through the experience of

united struggle but a variety of cultural processes captured
the imagination of Indians and promoted a sense of
collective belongingness:

(i) Use of figures or images. The identity of India came to

be visually associated with the image of Bharat Mata.
Devotion to the mother figure came to be seen as evidence
of one’s nationalism.

(ii) Indian folklore. Nationalists started recording and

using folklores and tales, which they believed, gave a true
picture of traditional culture that had been corrupted and
damaged by outside forces. So preservation of these
became a way to discover one’s national identity and
restore a sense of price in one’s past.

(iii) Use of icons and symbols in the form of flags.

Carrying the tricolour flag and holding it aloft during
marches became a symbol of defiance and promoted a
sense of collective belonging.

(iv) Reinterpretation of history. Indians began looking into

the past to rediscover the glorious developments in
ancient times in the field of art, science, mathematics,
religion and culture, etc. This glorious time was followed
by a history of decline when India got colonized, as Indian
history was miserably written by the colonisers.
Q11. Describe the process of Unification of Britain. 5

OR

How has Britain come into existence? Explain.

Answer:

Nationalism in Britain was different from the rest of

Europe.

(i) Nationalism in Britain was not the result of a sudden

uprising or revolution. It was the result of a long drawn
out process.

(ii) There was no British nation prior to 18th century. The

inhabitants of British Isles were ethnic ones — English,
Welsh, Scot or Irish. Though each had their own culture
and political traditions, the English nation steadily grew in
wealth, importance and power and expanded its influence
over other nations, such as Scotland.

(iii) The British Parliament was dominated by its English

members. They tried to suppress Scotland’s distinct
culture and political institutions. They could neither speak
their language nor could they wear their national dress. A
large number of them were driven out of their homeland.

iv) In 1688, through a bloodless revolution the English

Parliament seized power from the monarchy and became
the instrument to set up a nation-state at its centre.

(v) By the Act of Union in 1707, Scotland was

incorporated in the United Kingdom. Though the Irish
Catholics were against a union with England, Ireland was
forcibly incorporated in United Kingdom in 1801.
 (vi) Thus it was parliamentary action and not revolution or
war that was the instrument through which the British
nation was formed.

(vii) A new ‘British Nation’ was formed through

propagation of English culture. The symbols of the New
Britain—”the British Flag (Union Jack), National Anthem
(God save our noble King) and the English language”
were promoted, and the older nations became the
subordinate partners in the Union.

Q12. Describe any five strategies developed by the printers and 5

publishers in the 19th century to sell their products.

Answer:

Printers and publishers continuously developed new

strategies to sell their products:

1. Serialisation of important novels in nineteenth

century periodicals. This gave birth to a
particular way of writing.
2. In the 1920s in England, popular works were
sold in cheap series, called the ‘Shilling
Series’.
3. Publishers feared a decline in book purchases
during the Great Depression in 1930s. They
brought out cheap paperback editions of
novels to sustain buying.
4. Printers published new books.
5. In the 20th century, the dust cover or the book
jacket was also introduced.
Q13. How far is it right to say that the print culture was
responsible for the French Revolution? Explain.

OR

“Many historians argued that the conditions within which

French Revolution occurred were created by the print
culture”. Support this statement with three suitable
arguments.

Answer:

Following are the arguments which were given in support

of the above statement:

1. Print popularised the ideas of enlightened

thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau, and those
who read these books, started questioning
everything and developed critical and rational
thinking. These thinkers attacked the sacred
authority of the Church and despotic power of
the State.
2. All existing values, norms and institutions,
which were never questioned earlier, were
revalued through debates and discussions by
the public in print.
3. By 1780s, there was an outpour of literature
that mocked royalty and criticized their
morality. The existing social order was
criticized. Through cartoons and caricatures,
they made people aware that while common
people were going through tremendous
hardships, the monarchy remained absorbed in
merry-making and did not care about
sufferings of common people. This ultimately
led to the growth of a hostile feeling against
the monarchy.
In spite of these strong arguments, no one can
claim that these were the only reasons for the
outbreak of the French Revolution.
Q14. What did the spread of print culture mean to the women in 5
19th century India?

Answer:

Women: The spread of print culture opened a new world

of education and books for many Indian women who had
remained confined to their households and families due to
the traditional Indian social set-up.

● Women’s reading increased enormously in

middle-class homes. Liberal husbands and fathers
began educating their womenfolk at home and sent
them to schools when women’s schools were set up
in the cities and towns after the mid-nineteenth
century.
● Even girls and women took initiative to get liberated
and educated. One such example is of a girl in a
conservative Muslim family of North India who had
learnt to read and write Urdu. Her family wanted her
to read only the Arabic Quran which she did not
understand. So she insisted on learning to read a
language that was her own.
● Another such example was: Rashsundari Debi, a
young married girl in a very orthodox household
who learnt to read in the secrecy of her kitchen.
Later she wrote her autobiography Amur Jiban
which was published in 1876.
● From 1860, a few Bengali women like
Kailashbashini Debi wrote books highlighting the
experiences of women about how they were
illtreated on the domestic front.
● Tarabai Shinde and Pandita Ramabai wrote with
passionate anger about the miserable lives of upper
caste Hindu women, especially widows. A woman
in a Tamil novel expressed what reading meant to
women: ‘For various reasons, my world is small.
More than half my life’s happiness has come from
 books.’
● In the early twentieth century, journals, written for
and sometimes edited by women, became
extremely popular and discussed issues like
women’s education, widowhood, widow remarriage
and the national movement.
● Pedlars took the Battala publications (Central
Calcutta) to homes, enabling women to read them
in their leisure time.
Q15. “Print not only stimulated the publication of conflicting
opinions amongst communities, but it also connected
communities and people in different parts of India.”
Examine the statement.

Answer:

● By the close of the eighteenth century, a

number of newspapers and journals appeared
in print. The first newspaper to come out was
the weekly Bengal Gazette, brought out by
Gangadhar Bhattacharya.
● Printed tracts and newspapers not only spread
new ideas, but they also shaped the nature of
debate. A wider public could now participate
in public discussions and express their views.
● There were intense controversies between the
social and religious reformers and Hindu
orthodoxy over matters like widow
immolation, monotheism, Brahmanical
priesthood and idolatry. So that these ideas
and thoughts could reach a wider audience,
newspapers were printed in the spoken
language of ordinary people.
● Rammohan Roy published the Sambad
Kaumudi from 1821 and the Hindu orthodoxy
commissioned the Samachar Chandrika to
oppose his opinions. Two Persian newspapers,
Jam-i-Jahan Nama and Shamsul Akhbar were
also published.
● After the collapse of Muslim dynasties Ulama
feared that colonial rulers would change the
Muslim personal laws. To counter this they
published Persian and Urdu translations of
holy scriptures and printed religious
newspapers and tracts.
● Newspapers and journals not only helped the
publication of conflicting opinions but also
 connected people and communities in
different parts of India. Newspapers conveyed
news from one place to another, creating
Pan-Indian identities.

Q16. Highlight any three innovations which have improved the 3

printing technology from the nineteenth century onwards.

Answer:

Three innovations which have improved the printing

technology from nineteenth century onwards:

1. Methods of feeding paper improved.

2. The quality of printing plates became better.
3. Automatic paper reels and photoelectric
controls of the colour register were
introduced.
4. The accumulation of several individual
mechanical improvements transformed the
appearance of printed texts.
Q17. What role did the ‘Silk route’ play in linking distant parts 3
of the world?

OR

“The silk routes are a good example of vibrant

pre-modern trade and cultural links between distant parts
of the world.” Explain how.

Answer:
The routes on which cargoes carried Chinese silk to the
west were known as ‘Silk routes’.
(i) Historians have discovered several silk routes over
land and by sea, covering vast regions of Asia and
connecting Asia with Europe and North Africa. Even
pottery from China, textile and spices from India and
South Asia also traveled the same route.

(ii) In return, precious metals like gold and silver flowed

from Europe to Asia. The traders along with trading items
carried knowledge, ideas, values, skills, inventions,
lifestyles, food habits, religious beliefs, etc.

(iii) Culturally, Buddhism emerged from Eastern India and

spread in several directions through the silk routes. Thus,
silk route not only played a major role in linking distant
parts of the world, but also promoted pre-modern trade
and cultural links.
Q18. “The new crops could make the difference between life 3
and death”. Explain the above statement in context of
Irish Potato Famine.

● Sometimes the new crops could make the difference

between life and death.
Europe’s poor began to eat better and live longer
with the introduction of the humble potato.
● Ireland’s poorest peasants became so dependent on
the potatoes that when disease destroyed the potato
crop in the mid-1840s, hundreds of thousands died
of starvation.
● Hungry children dug for potatoes in a field that had
already been harvested, hoping to discover some
leftovers.
● During the Great Irish Potato Famine around ten
lakh people died of starvation in Ireland and double
the number emigrated in search of work.
Q19. Illustrate with examples that food offers many 3
opportunities for long-distance cultural exchange.

Or

“Traders and travelers introduced new crops to lands

they traveled.“ Substantiate this statement with
illustrations.

ANSWER:

● Traders and travelers introduced new crops to

the lands they traveled.
● Even ‘ready’ foodstuff in distant parts of the
world might share common origins like
spaghetti and noodles or, perhaps, Arab
traders took pasta to 5th century Sicily, an
island now in Italy.
● Similar foods were also known in India and
Japan, so the truth about their origins may
never be known. Yet such guesswork suggests
the possibilities of long-distance cultural
contact even in the pre-modern world.
● Many of our common foods such as potatoes,
soya, groundnuts, maize, tomatoes, chilies,
sweet potatoes, and so on were not known to
our ancestors until about five centuries ago.
● These foods were only introduced in Europe
and Asia after Christopher Columbus
accidentally discovered the vast continent that
would later become known as the Americas.
Q20. The Spanish conquest and colonization of America 5
were decisively underway by the mid-sixteenth
century. Explain with examples.

OR

How did the global transfer of disease in the

pre-modern world help in the colonization of the
Americas?

OR

“The most powerful weapon of the Spanish conqueror

was not a conventional military weapon at all”. Justify
the above statement by giving two reasons.

Ans. The Spanish conqueror’s most powerful weapon was

not a conventional military weapon because

● they used germs like smallpox which spread

deep into the continent before any European
could reach there.
● America's original inhabitants had no
immunity against these diseases that came
from Europe. This disease erased the whole
community, leading to conquest. This
biological warfare in the mid-sixteenth
century made it easy for the Spanish to
overpower the Americans.
Q21. How did the print bring the reading public and the 5
hearing public closer?

Ans. Earlier society was divided into the reading public

and the hearing public. The common people had the oral
culture while the rich people had the reading culture. The
common people heard sacred texts read out, ballads
recited and folk tales narrated.

The reading culture was only limited to the elites and they
only read books individually and silently. The reasons
behind this culture were:

● The books were expensive

● The books were produced in fewer numbers
● The literacy rate was low in most European
countries.

To bridge the gap between these two public, printers

began publishing popular ballads and folk tales, and such
books were illustrated with pictures. These were then sung
and recited at gatherings in villages and in towns. Oral
culture thus entered print and printed material was orally
transmitted.
Q22. What was the importance of the printing press in the 5
spread of the Protestant Reformation?

Or,

Martin Luther remarked, "Printing is the ultimate gift

of God and the greatest one." Explain his remarks in
light of religious reforms that took place in Europe.

Ans. Importance of the printing press in the spread of the

Protestant Reformation:

● In 1517, the religious reformer Martin Luther

wrote Ninety-Five Theses criticizing many of
the practices of the Catholic Church.
● A printed copy of this was posted on a church
door in Wittenberg.
● His writings were read and reproduced in vast
numbers using the printing press.
● This print brought about a new intellectual
atmosphere, which helped in the spread of
new ideas. This also paved the way for the
reformation of the practices of the church.
● This led to a division within the Church and
to the beginning of the Protestant
Reformation.
● Print encouraged people to think reasonably
and question the customs followed in the
Church, which enraged the Roman Catholics.
Q23. Give any three reasons favouring shift from hand printing 5
to mechanical printing in China?
Answer:

1. By the 17th century, urban culture bloomed in

China and the use of print diversified. It was
important for a shift from hand printing to
mechanical printing in China to take place.
Print was no longer used just by
scholar-officials. Merchants used print in their
everyday life to collect trade information.
2. Reading increasingly became a leisure
activity. Rich women began to read and many
women began publishing their poetry and
plays.
3. In the late 19th century as Western powers
established their outposts in China, western
printing techniques and mechanical presses
were imported. Shanghai became the hub of
the new print culture catering to Western-style
schools.
Q24. The pre-modem world changed with the discovery of new 5
sea routes to America. Give any three suitable examples
to explain the statement.

Answer:
Christopher Columbus discovered the vast continent that
later came to be known as America. With the discovery of
America, started the cultural exchange with the original
inhabitants of a vast continent.

1. Foods like potatoes, maize, tomatoes, chillies,

sweet potatoes, which were not known to
people of other continents, were introduced
there and became a part of their daily diet.
2. Precious metals, particularly silver from mines
located in present-day Peru and Mexico, also
enhanced Europe’s wealth and financed its
trade with Asia.
3. Slave trade started. European traders captured
slaves in Africa and took them to America,
where they worked on plantations. Europe
became the centre of World trade.
4. Religious dissenters were persecuted in
Europe. Thousands, therefore fled Europe for
America.
5. From the sixteenth century, America’s vast
lands and abundant crops and minerals began
to transform trade and lives everywhere.
Q25. “Print not only stimulated the publication of conflicting 3
opinions amongst communities, but it also connected
communities and people in different parts of India.”
Examine the statement. (2014)
Answer:

● By the close of the eighteenth century, a

number of newspapers and journals appeared
in print. The first newspaper to come out was
the weekly Bengal Gazette, brought out by
Gangadhar Bhattacharya.
● Printed tracts and newspapers not only spread
new ideas, but they also shaped the nature of
debate. A wider public could now participate
in public discussions and express their views.
● There were intense controversies between the
social and religious reformers and Hindu
orthodoxy over matters like widow
immolation, monotheism, Brahmanical
priesthood and idolatry. So that these ideas
and thoughts could reach a wider audience,
newspapers were printed in the spoken
language of ordinary people.
● Rammohan Roy published the Sambad
Kaumudi from 1821 and the Hindu orthodoxy
commissioned the Samachar Chandrika to
oppose his opinions. Two Persian newspapers,
Jam-i-Jahan Nama and Shamsul Akhbar were
also published.
● After the collapse of Muslim dynasties Ulama
feared that colonial rulers would change the
Muslim personal laws. To counter this they
published Persian and Urdu translations of
holy scriptures and printed religious
newspapers and tracts.
● Newspapers and journals not only helped the
publication of conflicting opinions but also
connected people and communities in
different parts of India. Newspapers conveyed
 news from one place to another, creating
Pan-Indian identities.

SECTION -B (GEOGRAPHY)
Q1. Why is ‘Resource Planning’ necessary? Give reasons 3

Answer:

Planning is necessary for proper and judicious utilisation

of resources.

Reasons for resource planning:

Resource availability is not the same in all parts of the

country.

· Resources, especially non-renewable resources,

need extra care as they can not be renewed.

· There is acute shortage or deficiency of some

resources.

· Resource planning helps in proper utilisation of

resources by reducing wastage. It takes care of future
needs and may sustain the environment.

Q2. 3
“India has land under a variety of relief features.”
Justify. OR

What are the main advantages of India’s land under a

variety of relief features?

India has land under a variety of relief features, namely:

 mountains, plateaus, plains and islands. About 43 per cent
of the land area is plain, which provides facilities for
agriculture and industry.

Mountains account for 30 per cent of the total surface

area. They ensure perennial flow of some rivers, provide
facilities for tourism and ecological aspects.

About 27 per cent of the land area is plateau. It possesses

reserves of minerals, fossil fuels and forests

Q3. “The earth has enough resources to meet the need of all 3
but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one person.”
How is this statement relevant to the discussion of
development? Discuss

Resources are vital for any developmental activity.

· The irrational consumption and over utilization of

resources may lead to socio economic and environmental
problems.

· Indiscriminate exploitation of resources led to

global ecological crises such as global warming,
environmental pollution, etc

· The greedy and selfish individuals and exploitative

nature of modem technology is the root cause for resource
depletion at the global level.

· If the present trend of resource depletion by a few

individuals and countries continues, the future of our
planet is in danger.

· There is need for sustainable development. It means

development should take place without damaging the
environment and development in the present shout not
compromise with the need of future generations’
 (any 3)

Q4. 3
Suggest and explain any three ways to protect land from
degradation in various states of India.

(i) Afforestation.

(ii) Proper management of grazing.

(iii) Planting of shelter belts of plants.

(iv) Stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.

(v) Control of mining activities

Q5 3
The destruction of forests and wildlife is not just a
biological issue. The biological loss is strongly correlated
with the loss of cultural diversity Loss of cultural
diversity

● Many indigenous communities depend on forests

for various components of forest and wildlife will
be increasingly marginalized and impoverished
● Social Impact – Women have to walk long distance
to collect basic necessities, increased hours of
work, this causes health problems.
● Outcome of environment degradation- Severe
drought, deforestation induced floods. Poverty – If
forests are destroyed poor people will be deprived
of the basic necessities.

Q6. 5
Describe how communities have conserved and protected
forests and wildlife in India.

In India many traditional communities still live in the

forests and depend on their livelihood for forest produce.
These communities are working hand in hand with the
 government :

● In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers

fought against mining activities. In Alwar district of
Rajasthan, local communities belonging to five
villages have set their own rules and regulations in
1,200 hectares of forest land. They have named it as
the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’. Hunting is not
allowed in these lands and outside encroachments
are prohibit
● The famous Chipko movement was started in the
Himalayan region to stop deforestation. People
belonging to the local community took to
afforestation in a big way. Indigenous species were
cultivated and protected.
● Involving local communities in protecting the
environment, and stopping degradation of forests
has reaped many benefits.

Q7. Enumerate the features of Joint Forest Management 3

Programme.

The following are the features of Joint Forest

Management Programme, which came into existence in
1988.

· Formation of local or village institutions that

undertake activities on degraded forest land, managed by
the forest department.

· Local communities involved in the management

and restoration of degraded forests.

· Intermediary benefits like non-timber forest

produce and the share in the timber harvested given to the
 members of the communities in return.

Q8. 5
Mention any four major threats to the population of
tiger? Explain the efforts made by the government to
protect them.

(i) Poaching for trade

(ii) Shrinking habitat

(iii) Depletion of prey base species

(iv) Growing human population

(v) The trade of tiger skins and the use of their bones in
transitional medicines, especially in the Asian countries
left the tiger population on the verge of extinction.

Efforts made by the government to protect them are as

under:

(i) Project Tiger, one of the well-publicised wildlife

campaigns in the world, was launched in 1973.

(ii) There are 42 tiger reserves in India covering an area of

37,761 sq km.

(iii) Tiger conservation had been viewed not only as an

effort to save an endangered species, but with equal
importance as a means of preserving bio types of sizeable
magnitude.

(iv) Some of the tiger reserves of India are Corbett

National Park in Uttarakhand, Sunderbans National Park
in West Bengal etc.
 Q9. 3
Why are multipurpose river valley projects called ‘The
Temples of Modern India’? Who first made this
statement?

Or

Jawahar Lai Nehru proudly proclaimed the ‘dams as the

temples of modern India’. Analyze this statement

Answer:

Jawahar Lai Nehru proclaimed that multipurpose projects

are ‘The Temples of Modern India’, because they were
thought of as the vehicle that would lead the nation to
development and progress. He believed that these projects
with their integrated water resource management
approach would integrate development of agriculture and
the village economy with rapid industrialisation and
growth of the urban economy.

Q10. 3
Write a note on the traditional method of rainwater
harvesting in western Himalayas, Bengal and Rajasthan?

I. In hill and mountainous regions, people-built

diversion channels like the ‘guls’ or ‘

II. Western Himalayas for agriculture. In the flood

plains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to
irrigate their fields.

III. In Rajasthan - The tankas were part of the

well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system and
were built inside the main house of the courtyard. They
were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through
a pipe
Q.11 5
In recent years, multi-purpose projects and large dams
have come under great scrutiny and opposition – Why?

a) Excessive sedimentation,

b) Difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate,

c) large scale displacement of local communities,

d) Unsuccessful in control of floods at the time of

excessive rain fall,

e) Induced earth quakes, caused water borne diseases and

pests pollution.

f) Release of water from dams during heavy rains.

Q.12 3
The need of the hour is to conserve and manage our water
resources’. Justify the statement.

There is an urgent need to conserve and manage our water

resources to

• Safeguard ourselves from health hazards

• Ensure food security. Continuation of our livelihoods

and productive activities.

• Prevent degradation of our natural ecosystems.

• Over-exploitation and mismanagement of water

resources will impoverish this resource and cause
ecological crisis that may have serious impact on our
lives.

Q. 13.
“India is heading towards water scarcity.” Trace the
 possible solutions to tackle this problem.

Possible Solutions to tackle water scarcity are :

i. Rain water harvesting

ii. Bamboo drip irrigation system

v. iii. Avoiding wastage of water in day to day life

activities.

Q.14
Establish the difference between Commercial farming and
Subsistence farming with the help of a suitable example.

Commercial Farming

i. Use of higher doses of modern inputs like HYV seeds,

fertilizers, etc.

ii. Commercialization of agriculture varies from region to

another

iii. Plantation is also a type of commercial farming

iv. Use of well-developed network of transport and

communication

v. High productivity for commercial purpose

Subsistence Farming

i. Is practiced on small patches of land

ii. Labour intensive farming

iii. Use of primitive tools

iv. Dependent on Monsoons

v. Called as ‘Slash and burn’ agriculture.

 vi. Low productivity

Example: Rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and

Punjab but in Odisha it is a subsistence crop

Q.15
Mention the government of India’s efforts to modernize
agriculture.

(1) Establishment of Indian council of Agricultural

Research (ICAR), agricultural universities veterinary
services and animal breeding centers.

(2) Horticulture development research and development in

the field of metrology and weather forecast etc – have
been given priority for improving India’s agriculture.

(3) Improvement in the rural infrastructure, the basic

system the country needs in order to work properly (i.e)
transport, communication and banking system.

(4) Encouragement to the care of machines and chemical

fertilizers, development of high yielding varieties of
seeds.

(5) The government has launched various schemes to

protect and save plants from pests and diseases.

(6) Development of various kinds of tools and implements

like factors, harvesters, thrashers etc. have led to increased
population and time, minimize chances of wastage, fire
and rain destroying the grains lying in the few fields.

16.
Mohan owns a farm in Uttar Pradesh; he wishes to
cultivate either Jute or Sugarcane. He shall cultivate
which crop out of these two keeping in mind the
 conditions required for their growth? Explain.

a) He should cultivate Sugarcane as the geographical

conditions it requires are available in Uttar Pradesh.

b. Sugarcane grows well in hot and humid climate

c. Requires a temperature of 21°C to 27°C

d. Needs annual rainfall between 75cm. and 100cm.

e. Irrigation is required in the regions of low rainfall.

f. It can be grown on a variety of soils and needs manual

labour from sowing to harvesting. All these conditions are
available in Uttar Pradesh

“Energy saved is energy produced”. Support the

statement with suitable examples.

“i. Promotion of energy conservation and increased use of 5

Q.17 renewable energy sources are the twin planks of
sustainable energy.

ii. India is presently one of the least energy efficient

countries in the world.

iii. We have to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious

use of our limited energy resources.

iv. Using public transport systems instead of individual

vehicles.

v. Switching off electricity when not in use.

vi. Using power-saving devices and using

non-conventional sources of energy

Energy saved is energy produced”.

Q.18. 3
“India has fairly rich and varied mineral resources across
different regions”. Support the statement with examples.

i. Peninsular rocks contain most of the reserves of coal,

metallic minerals, mica and many other non-metallic
minerals.

ii. Sedimentary rocks on the western and eastern flanks of

the peninsula, in Gujarat and Assam have most of the
petroleum deposits.

iii. Rajasthan with the rock systems of the peninsula, has

reserves of many non-ferrous minerals. The vast alluvial
plains of North India are almost devoid of economic
minerals.

Q-19 Discuss the hazards of mining on the life of miners and on

environment.

(i) The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners make

them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.

(ii) The risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation and fires

in coalmines are a constant threat to miners.

(iii) The water sources in the region get contaminated due

to mining. Dumping of waste and slurry leads to
degradation of land, soil and increase in stream and river
pollution.
 Q20. 5
Suggest any three ways to improve the usage of Solar
energy.

i)Reducing the cost of solar panels

ii. Use of efficient solar panel models.

iii. Rising awareness about the importance of renewable

energy

v. Buy panels with High Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV)

Cells.

vi. Avoid installing solar panels in shaded areas.

iv. Easy installation process

Q.21 ‘Manufacturing sector is considered as the backbone of 5

general and economic development.’ Examine the
statement in the context of India.

. Manufacturing industries help in modernising

agriculture.

ii. It helps in reducing the heavy dependence of people on

agricultural income by providing

them jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors.

iii. It helps in eradication of unemployment and poverty

from our country.

iv. It helps in reducing regional disparities by establishing

industries in tribal and backward areas.

v. Export of manufactured goods expands trade and

commerce.
 vi. It helps in bringing foreign exchange.

22. 5
Why are maximum Jute textile mills located in the Hugli
Basin?

Location of Jute industries in Hugli basin:

i. Proximity of jute producing areas.

ii. Inexpensive water transport.

iii. Good network of roadways, railways and waterways

iv. Abundant water for processing raw jute

v. Cheap labour from West Bengal and adjoining states

vi. Good banking, insurance and poor facilities in Kolkata.

23. 5
Describe the significance of Textile Industry in India with
specific reference to Cotton industry.

a. The Textile Industry occupies unique position in the

Indian economy, because it contributes significantly to
industrial production (14 percent), employment generation
(35 million persons directly – the second largest after
agriculture) and foreign exchange earnings (about 24.6
per cent).

b. It contributes 4 per cent towards GDP. It is the only

industry in the country, which is self-reliant and complete
in the value chain i.e., from raw material to the highest
value added products.

c. In the early years, the Cotton Textile Industry was

concentrated in the cotton growing belt of Maharashtra
and Gujarat. Availability of raw cotton, market, transport
 including accessible port facilities, labour, moist climate,
etc. contributed towards its localisation.

d. This industry has close links with agriculture and

provides a living to farmers, cotton boll pluckers and
workers engaged in ginning, spinning, weaving,

dyeing, designing, packaging, tailoring and sewing.

e. The industry by creating demands supports many other

industries, such as, chemicals and dyes, mill stores,
packaging materials and engineering works.

24.
The challenge of sustainable development requires control 5
over industrial pollution.’ Substantiate the statement with
examples.

i. On one hand Industries lead to extensive industrial

growth and expansion, on the other hand these are also the
cause of environmental degradation which prompt the
different types of air, water pollution.

ii. There is an increasing requirement to use a further

sustainable m iii. Industries must produce eco-friendly
products and dump wastes responsibly .

iv. Use of the latest technology can help industries to

control pollution and lead towards a sustainable mode of
operation.

v. Industries use- Reuse-Recycle-Refuse approach

vi If necessary, dump waste in specified places, away

from the land and water sources, for example- before
dumping treat well and make it useful for other than
drinking purpose, stop using thermal plants in some of the
 locations.

25. 3
Why is production and consumption of steel considered as
an index of a country’s development?

i) Steel products are used as a raw material in different

industries.

(ii) It is required for export.

(iii) It provides machinery for ensuring the country's

growth.

26. 5
Examine the multi-pronged aspects of Information
Technology and Electronics Industry

i. The electronics industry covers a wide range of products

from transistor sets to television,telephones, cellular
telecom, pagers, telephone exchange, radars, computers
and many other equipment required by the
telecommunication industry.

ii. Bangalore has emerged as the electronic capital of

India. Other important centres for electronic goods are
Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata,
Lucknow and Coimbatore.

iii. 18 software technology parks provide single window

service. A major impact of this industry has been on
employment generation.

v. It is encouraging to know that 30 percent of the people

employed in this sector are women.

vi. This industry has been a major foreign exchange

earner in the last two or three years because of its fast
 growing Business Processes Outsourcing (BPO) sector.

vii. The continuing growth in the hardware and software

is the key to the success of the IT industry in India.

‘Energy saved is energy produced.’ Assess the statement.

Q. 27. 5

Answer:
Energy saved is energy produced. We cannot keep on
producing non-renewable resources like petrol, diesel and
electricity. So the need of the hour is the better utilization
of existing resources. Energy depletion has become a
global phenomenon at present time. The biggest problem
that man has to face in the near future is the energy crisis.

The demand of energy is growing manyfold in the form of

coal, oil, gas or electricity but the energy sources are
becoming scarce and costlier. Nearly 97% of the world’s
consumed energy is coming from fossil fuels, coal,
petroleum and natural gas. Among the various strategies
for meeting energy demand, the efficient use of energy
and its conservation is the best solution .
Following are some measures to conserve energy
resources:

1. We should try and use more and more public

transport system instead of private vehicles.
2. Electronic devices must be switched off when
not in use.
3. Reducing the consumption of non-renewable
sources of energy.
4. Solar Power should be used to the maximum
to generate electricity.
5. Recycling of goods and commodities can also
 help to conserve energy.

28. Why is it necessary to conserve mineral resources?

Suggest any four ways to conserve mineral resources.
OR
Explain the importance of conversation of minerals.
Highlight any three measures to conserve them.
Answer:
Conservation of minerals is necessary because of the
following reasons:

1. The formation of minerals takes a long

geological period of millions of years.
2. They are finite, i.e., limited in nature.
3. Many of them are non-renewable and
exhaustible.
4. The rate of replenishment of minerals is
infinitely small in comparison to the rate of
consumption.
5. They have to be preserved for our future
generations because they are very important
for the industrial development of the nation.

Ways to mineral conservation:

1. We should use minerals in a planned and

sustainable manner.
2. Improved technologies need to be evolved to
allow use of low grade ores at low cost.
3. Recycling of metals should be done.
4. Using scrap metals and other substitutes
should be promoted.
5. Wastages in mining, processing and
distribution should be minimized.
6. Controlled export of minerals should be
 undertaken.

5
Q.29 Which is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in
India? Explain its four major forms.

Answer:

In India, coal is the most abundantly available fossil fuel.

Coal is found in a variety of forms:

1. Peat decaying plants in swamps produce peat.

○ It has low carbon and high moisture
contents.
○ It has low heating capacity.
2. Lignite is a low grade brown coal.
○ It is soft with high moisture content.
○ The principal lignite reserves are in
Neyveli and they are used for generation
of electricity.
3. Bituminous is the most popular coal in
commercial use.
○ Metallurgical coal is high grade
bituminous coal.
○ It has special value for smelting iron in
blast furnaces.
4. Anthracite is the highest quality hard coal.
○ It contains more than 80% carbon content.
○ It gives less smoke.

SECTION C- DEMOCRATIC POLITICS

Q1. 3
How did the government in Sri Lanka establish
majoritarianism?
 OR

How did the government in Sri Lanka establish Sinhala

supremacy?

Ans. : In the year 1956, Sinhalese was established as the

official language to be used in Sri Lanka disregarding the
minority group of Tamils.

· The government formulated government policies

that favoured the Sinhala people in government jobs and
for university positions.

· The Sri Lankan Government further proclaimed

that they shall foster and protect only Buddhism as their
State religion and refused to cater to any other religion
disregarding the religion of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Q2. 3
Assess in what ways Belgium accommodated its
differences.

· Equal number of ministers: The Government of

Belgium has an equal number of Dutch- and
French-speaking ministers. This has been done to give
equal power to the majority and the minority language
speaking groups.

· Setting up of Community Government: A third

kind of government, named the community
government, is introduced in addition to the Central
and the State Government. This government has the
power regarding cultural, educational and lingual
issues. This government comprises members from all
the three communities—Dutch-speaking,
 French-speaking and German-speaking.

· Fair share of power: Many powers of the Central

government have been given to the state governments
of the two regions of the country. The state
governments are not subordinate to the Central
government but are independent.

· Equal representation: In the State Government

of Brussels—the capital city—both the French- and
Dutch-speaking communities have equal
representation.

Q3. 3
Why is power sharing desirable?

OR

State prudential and moral reasons for power sharing.

Prudential Reasons:

· Power sharing helps to reduce the possibility of

conflict between social groups.

· It is a good way to ensure the stability of

political order as social conflict often leads to violence
and political instability.

Moral Reasons:

· Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.

The concept of democracy is a system of government of
the people, by the people and for the people, which
emphasizes on distribution of power among people.

· It involves sharing powers with those affected by

 its exercise and who have to live with its effects, so that
the people would be consulted on how they are to be
governed.

Q4. 5
What are the various forms of power sharing?

· Horizontal Division of Power-

§ It is the sharing of power among the different

organs of government, for example, power
sharing by the executive, the Legislature and the
Judiciary.

§ These organs of government, placed at the

same level, exercised different powers.

§ Such a separation ensures that none of the

organs can exercise unlimited power, thereby
putting a check on each other.

· Vertical Division of Power-

§ It is a system of power sharing among

governments at different levels.

§ For example, Central Government and State

Government.

· Division of Power among different Social

Groups-

§ Power is shared among social groups based

on religion and language, caste groups.

§ Example ‘Community Government’ in

Belgium. The system of reserved constituencies
 in India is another example.

· Division of Power among Political Parties,

Pressure Groups, and Movements-

§ In democracies division takes form of

competition among different parties, which in
turn ensures that power does not remain in one
hand and is shared among different political
parties representing different ideologies and
social groups

Q5. 5
Describe five features of federalism.

· There are two or more levels of the

government.

· Different tiers of the government govern

same citizens but each has its own area of
jurisdiction in matters of legislation, taxation
and administration.

· The jurisdictions of the respective levels

or tiers of government are specified in the
constitution. So the existence and authority of
each tier of government is constitutionally
guaranteed.

· The fundamental provisions of the

constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by
one level of the government. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of
government.

· Courts have the power to interpret the

constitution and powers of different levels of the
government. The highest court has power to
settle disputes that arise between different levels
 of the government.

· Sources of revenue for each level of the

government are clearly specified to ensure its
financial autonomy.

Q6. 3
1. Differentiate between coming together and
holding together federations.

‘COMING TOGETHER’ ‘HOLDING TOGETHER’

FEDERATIONS FEDERATIONS

In such federations In such federations bigger

independent states come unit decides its power
together on their own to between constituent states.
form a bigger unit.

State governments tend to Central government tends to

share independent and equal be more powerful than the
powers. state governments.

Example: USA, Switzerland Example: India, Spain and

and Australia Belgium

Q7. 3
Describe three- fold legislative distribution of powers
among Union and State government.

· The Union List: Union List includes

subjects like defence, foreign affairs, banking,
currency and communications. The Union
Government alone can make laws relating to
 these subjects.

· The State List: State list contains subjects

like police, trade, commerce, agriculture and
irrigation, which come under the jurisdiction of
the State Governments. Only the State
Legislatures can make laws on these subjects.

· The Concurrent list: The Concurrent list

contains items like education, forest, trade
unions, marriage, adoption and succession,
which are of common interest to both the Union
government and the State Governments. Both
can make laws on these subjects. However, in
case of any conflict, the law made by the Union
Government will prevail.

Q8. 5
Explain five changes towards decentralization brought in
the Constitution after the amendments made in 1992.

· It was made constitutionally mandatory

to hold regular elections to local government
bodies.

· Seats were reserved for Scheduled Castes

(SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other
Backward communities (OBCs) in the elected
bodies.

· Women were given one-third

representation.

· An independent institution, called state

election commission, was created to conduct
 local body elections.

· State governments were required to share

this power and revenue with local bodies.

CHAPTER: GENDER, RELIGION AND CASTE

Q9. 5
In what ways women witness discrimination in India.

· Literacy rate: The first and foremost

discrimination is in the field of education where the
literacy rate among women is only 66 per cent when
compared to a high 82 per cent in males. Even
otherwise, parents prefer educating spending their
resources of education of a male child rather than a
female child.

· Sex ratio: The sex ratio in India is as low as 940

females per 1000 males. The proportion of women as
compared to men is very low. A major reason behind
this is that parents prefer having a male child over a
female child keeping in view the future perspective.

· Unpaid work: The proportion of highly-paid

women is very less when compared to highly-paid
men. Though on an average, Indian women work one
hour more than men every day but they are not equally
paid and thus their work is also not often valued as
much as that of men.

· Domestic violence: Women every day in Indian

society are harassed, exploited, and subjected to all
sorts of violence behind the closed doors. Both in
urban and rural areas, domestic violence is one of the
 most prominent form of discrimination faced by
women. Many cases of domestic violence and dowry
deaths are reported in the media every day.

· Female foeticide: In India, a male child is

considered a blessing and a female child is considered
a bane. This has come to an extent where the female
child is killed in the womb of the mother. This killing
of foetus is known as foeticide. Female foeticide is
prevalent in both urban and rural areas.

Q10. 3
Mention any three constitutional provisions that make
India a secular state.

· The Constitution of India does not give special

recognition to any religion and there is no state religion
in India, unlike, Christianity in America, and
Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

· All individuals and communities have been

given freedom to pradtise, profess and propagate any
religion.

· The Constitution of India has put a ban on any

discrimination on the grounds of religion.

· According to the constitution, the state cannot

intervene in the matters of religion to promote
religious equality.

Q11 5
How does communalism take various forms in politics?

· Communalism in everyday beliefs: It is the

most common form of communalism and can be in the
 form of religious prejudices, stereotypes of religious
communities and belief that one religion is superior to
other religions.

· Communalism as Majoritarian Dominance and

Political Dominance: A communal mind often leads to
quest for political dominance of one’s own religious
community. For people belonging to the majority
community this comes out as ‘Majoritarian
dominance’ for those belonging to the minority
community, it can take form of a desire to form a
separate political unit.

· Communalism as political mobalisation:

Political mobalisation on religious lines is another
frequent form of communalism. This involves the use
of sacred symbols, emotional appeals and plain fear in
order to bring the followers of one religion together in
political arena.

· Communalism in the form of communal

violence: Sometimes, communalism takes its most
ugly form of communal violence, riots and massacre.

Q12 5
Explain any five reasons for the declining caste system in
India.

· Growth of literacy and education: After

industrialization the literacy rate has increased.

· Occupational mobility: Due to occupational

mobility, the new generation takes up occupations
other than those practiced by their ancestors.

· Large-scale urbanization: Shift of people from

 rural areas to urban areas in search of jobs and better
living conditions.

· Efforts made by leaders and reformers: The

political leaders and social reformers worked to
establish a society in which caste inequalities are
absent.

· Economic development: Adoption of never

technologies from agriculture-based to industry-based
economy and general improvement in living standards.

Q13 3
Explain three components of political parties.

· The leaders: The leaders contest elections and, if

they win, perform the administrative jobs.

· The active members: The active members attend

party meetings and are close to the party leaders. They
can be called the assistants of the leaders.

· The followers: The followers are the dedicated

workers of the party. They work under the able
guidance of the active members.

Q14 Describe five functions of political parties. 5

· Contest elections: Parties contest elections. In

countries like India, top party leaders choose
candidates for contesting elections.

· Put Forward policies and programmes: Parties

put forward different policies and programmes and
voters choose from them. Political parties
accommodate different views and opinions.
 · Play an important role in making laws: Political
parties play a decisive role in making laws for a
country. Formally, laws are debated and passed in the
legislature, but since most of the members belong to a
party, they go by the direction of the party leadership,
irrespective of their personal opinions.

· Form and run government: To run the

government, political parties prepare a council of
ministers by recruiting and training the leaders.

· Provide access to government machinery and

welfare schemes: Political parties provide people
access to government machinery and welfare schemes
implemented by governments. For an ordinary citizen,
it is easy to approach a local party leader than a
government officer.

· Play the role of position: The party which loses

election plays the role of opposition. Opposition party
tries to put checks on the ruling party by constantly
criticizing its policies.

· Shape public opinion: One of the most important

functions of political parties is that they shape public
opinion on relevant issues for the proper functioning of
the government and to deepen the concept of
democracy

Q15 2
State the conditions laid down by the Election
Commission to recognise a state party and a national
party.

· A party that secures at least six per cent of the

total votes in an election to the legislative assembly of
 a state and wins at least two seats is recognised as a
state party.

· A party that secures at least six per cent of the

total votes in Lok Sabha elections or assembly
elections in four states and wins at least four seats in
the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national party.

Q16 5
Describe challenges faced by political parties.

a. Lack of internal democracy:

§ Political parties tend to have concentration of

power into one or few leaders at top.

§ Parties do not keep membership registers, do

not hold organisational meetings and do not
conduct internal elections.

§ Ordinary members do not have sufficient

information. Such members have less or no say
in party decisions.

§ More than loyalty to party principles, personal

loyalty to leaders becomes important.

b. Dynastic succession:

§ Political parties do not practice open and

transparent procedures for their functioning.

§ Those who happen to be the leaders are in

position of unfair advantage to favour people
close to them or even their family members.

§ In many parties, the top position are always

 controlled by members of one family.

c. Use of money and muscle power:

§ Since parties focus on winning elections, they

tend to use short- cuts to win which includes use
of money and muscle power.

§ They tend to nominate those candidates who

have or can raise money.

§ Rich companies tend to fund parties during

election for their personal gains.

d. Lack of meaningful choice:

§ In recent years political parties have failed to

provide meaningful choices to voters.

§ There has been a decline in ideological

differences among the parties in most parts of
the world.

Q17 5
Suggest and explain any five measures to reform political
parties.

· Regulation of party’s internal affairs: A law

should be made to regulate the internal affairs of
political parties. It should be made compulsory for
political parties to maintain a register of their members,
to follow their own constitution, to have an independent
authority, etc.

· State funding: There should be state funding of

elections. The government should give money to parties
 to support their election expenses to avoid corruption.

· Pressure of public opinion: Political parties can

be reformed if people put pressure on them. This can be
done through petitions, propaganda and agitations.
Pressure groups and media play an important role in
this.

· Ban on political parties based on religion and

caste: The Election Commission should ban the political
parties which are formed on the basis of religion and
caste.

· Ensure women participation: It should be made

mandatory for all political parties to allot one-third of
the tickets to women to ensure their decisive voice in
decision making.

Q18 3
Examine three steps taken to reform political parties and
their leaders in India.

· Anti-defection law: The anti-defection law was

passed to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from
changing their parties.

· Affidavit: To reduce the influence of money and

muscle power (criminals), an order has been passed by
the Supreme Court making it mandatory for every
candidate contesting election to file an affidavit giving
details of his/her property and criminal records.

· Mandatory organizational meeting and filing of

ITR: An order has been passed by the Election
Commission making it mandatory for political parties
to hold their organizational elections and file their
 income tax returns.

Q19 5
How are democratic governments better than the other
forms of governments?

· Democracy promotes equality among citizens:

In democracy, each citizen is given equal rights and
freedoms. There is no discrimination on the basis of
religion, caste, colour, etc. Democracy aims at
equitable distribution of incomes and products among
citizens.

· Democracy enhances dignity of individuals:

Democracy permits political equality for all its
citizens. In democracy, there is absence of any
domination and conflicts Thus, it implies every citizen
enjoys dignity and freedom in democracy.

· Democracy improves the quality of

decision-making. As democracy is based on
deliberation and negotiations, it improves the quality
of decision-making. In a democracy, every citizen
takes part in the decision-making process, either
directly or indirectly through the elected
representatives.

· Democracy evolves mechanisms to negotiate:

No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts
among different groups, but we can certainly learn to
respect these differences and also evolve mechanisms
to negotiate the differences. Democracies are best
suited to produce this outcome.

· Democracy provides an accountable, responsive

and legitimate government: The most basic feature of
 democracy is that it produces a government which is
accountable to the citizens, responsive to the needs and
expectations of the citizens and its legitimate.

Q20 5
Democracy stands much superior in promoting dignity
and freedom of the citizens.’ Justify the statement.

• Democracy promotes equality. It gives equal

treatment to every person.

• It involves every person in the decision-making

process. Every citizen has a right to information.

• The passion for respect and freedom are the bases

of democracy. It accepts the dignity of women as a
necessary ingredient of society. Democracy recognises the
principle of equal treatment to women unlike
non-democratic governments.

• The same is true of caste inequalities. Democracy

in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged
and discriminated cases for equal status and opportunity.

• Also, democracy has to meet the expectations of

citizens and people have the right to complain about the
functioning of democracy.

Q21 5
How is democracy accountable and responsive to the
needs and expectations of the citizens? Analyse.

· A democratic government ensures that people

are able to choose their leaders and keep a check on
them.

· In an accountable government, people have the

 right to elect the leaders to form government and if
possible they participate in the decision-making
process.

· Citizens also have the right to evaluate the

decision-making process. Democracy produces a
responsive government in the following ways.

· Democracy produces a responsible government

which is responsible for satisfying the needs and
aspirations of people.

· It promotes the formation of public opinion,

needs and expectations of the citizens.

· There are proper deliberations and negotiations

before arriving at any decision.

Q22 5
How do democratic governments ensure transparency?

· They make sure that decision-making will be

based on norms and procedures.

· They allow every citizen to participate in

decision-making, directly or indirectly, through
representatives.

· Citizens can examine and find out about the

correctness of the procedure of decision-making using
their right to information.

· They are accountable to the people. If people are

not satisfied with the way the government works, they
have the right to change the government in the next
general elections.
 · They provide people with power to demand
answers from their representatives and reduce the
chances of corruption.

Q23 3
‘Democracy accommodates social diversities.’ Support
the statement with examples.

· Democracy develops accommodative attitude:

Democracy develops a procedure to conduct
accommodation among social classes. This reduces the
possibility of conflicts and social tensions.

· Democracy evolves mechanisms to negotiate:

No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts
among different groups, but we can certainly learn to
respect these difference and can also evolve
mechanisms to negotiate the differences. Democracies
are best suited to produce this outcome.

· Democracy represents the general view:

Democracy ensures that the government should not be
made by the majority but it should have the
representation of minority as well.

SECTION D- ECONOMICS
Q1. In what respect is the criterion used by the UNDP for 3
measuring development different from the one used by the
World Bank?

Solution :

The criterion used by the UNDP for measuring

development is different from the one used by the World
 Bank in following ways:
i) UNDP measures development on the parameters of
education, health and per capita income whereas World
Bank measures the same only on the basis of per capita
income.

ii) UNDP ranks the countries on the basis of development

whereas the World Bank classifies them into three
categories: rich countries, middle income countries and
poor countries.

iii) UNDP has a broader framework to measure

development whereas World Bank has a narrow
framework to measure the same

Q2. What is the issue of sustainability important for 3

development?

Solution:

Without sacrificing the quality of the environment for

future generations, sustainable development can be

described as an approach to the economic development of

a nation. The Sustainable Development Goals are

● To encourage the kind of growth that minimizes

environmental issues.
● Without sacrificing the quality of the atmosphere
 for future generations, to address the needs of the
current generation.
For growth, the problem of sustainability is relevant

because It demands that resource reserves, including

exhaustible natural and environmental resources, be

maintained. Recent studies suggest that because of

overuse, groundwater in India is exhausted. Its

groundwater supplies are overused by 1/3 of the

population.

Q3. Compare the employment conditions prevailing in the 3

organised and unorganised sectors.

Solution:

Following are the employment conditions in the

Organised sector:

● The organized sector is the one that covers the

places of work where all the terms of employment
are essentially regular. Therefore, people get
assured work.
● Institutions under this sector are registered under
the government. Hence, they have to follow the
government’s rules and regulations. These rules and
regulations are given through various laws such as
the Minimum Wages Act, the Factories Act, the
Payment of Gratuity Act, and the Shops and
Establishments Act, etc.
● It is called the organized sector since it has formal
processes and procedures.
● Some of the people may work on their own but they
 also have to register themselves under the
government along with following the rules and
regulations.

Following are the employment conditions in the

Unorganised sector:

● This sector is characterized by the small and

scattered units which are majorly not under the
control of the government.
● They have rules and regulations but these may or
may not be followed.
● The jobs in this sector are low-paid and even often
not regular.
● There are no provisions for overtime, paid leaves,
paid holidays, sick leaves, etc.
● Here, employment is not secure.
● People can even be asked to leave without stating
any reason.
● This may also happen when there is less work, such
as during various seasons.

Q4. What is the basic idea behind the SHGs for the poor? 3

Solution:

The basic idea behind the SHGs for the poor is to provide
them with a vista for self-help in financial areas.

● A self-help group is a small group comprising

people in the rural areas who collect their savings
and loan these out to members on an interest rate
lower than that charged by the informal sector.
● If the SHG functions well for over a year then it
becomes eligible for loans from banks. Such loans
are then used for creating self-employment
opportunities for the poor.
 ● Thus they become economically upgraded and are
not dependent on moneylenders anymore.

Q5. Give three ways in which MNCs set up, control or 3

produce in other countries?

Solution:

An MNC is a company that owns or controls production

in more than one nation. Following are various ways in
which MNCs set up or control production in other
countries:
a) MNCs set up offices and factories for production in
regions where they can get cheap labour and other
resources
b) MNC is selling its finished products globally across
various countries and the goods and services are also
being produced globally across various countries. The
production process is divided into small parts and spread
out across the globe.
c) MNCs set up production jointly with the local
companies
d) The most common route for MNC investments is to
buy these local companies and then to expand production.
For example- Cargill Foods, a large American MNC, has
bought over smaller Indian companies such as Parakh
Foods.
 e) Large MNCs in developed countries place orders for
production with small producers.

Q6. ‘Tertiary sector is different from other sectors.’ Justify the 3

statement with suitable arguments.

Solution:

i. Tertiary sector is basic service sector whereas primary

and secondary are the sectors that produce goods
ii. Tertiary sector support and help in the development of
the primary and secondary sectors
iii. Tertiary activities are an assistance for the production
process.
iv. Tertiary s sector provides services like transport,
banking, communication, etc
v. It generates more employment then other sectors.

Q7. Why do we need to expand formal sources of credit in 3

India? Explain.

Solution:

Expand formal sources:

i. To save people from the exploitation of Informal sector
ii. Formal charge a low interest on loans.
iii. To save from debt trap.
iv. It provides cheap and affordable credit.
v. RBI also supervises the formal sector credit through
various rules and regulations
which ensures that banks give loans to small cultivators,
small borrowers, etc. and not
just to profit making business and traders.

Q8. Why do banks and cooperative societies need to lend 3

more? Explain.
 Solution:
Banks and cooperative societies need to lend more.
i. This would lead to higher incomes
ii. People could borrow cheaply for a variety of needs.
iii. They could grow crops and set up small-scale
industries etc.
iv. Cheap and affordable credit is crucial for the country’s
development
v. To save and reduce the dependence on informal sources
of credit
vi. It is important that the formal credit is distributed more
equally so that the poor can
benefit from the cheaper loans.

Q9. Money cannot buy all the goods and services that one 3
needs to live well.’ Explain.

Solution:

(i) Money or material things that one can buy with it, is
one factor on which our life depends. But the quality of
life also depends on non-material things like equal
treatment, freedom, security and respect for others.

(ii) Money cannot buy a pollution-free environment,

unadulterated medicines, peace, harmony etc. This can be
possible only when we shift to a community that already
has all these non-material things.

(iii) There are many public facilities such as schools,

colleges, parks, hospitals, etc. which an individual cannot
afford. All these are to be provided by the government or
society for the common people.
Q 10. “The Earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all 3
but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one person”.
How is this statement relevant to the discussion of
development? Discuss.

Solution:

The statement, “The Earth has enough resources to meet

the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the greed of even
one person” is completely relevant in terms of the
development of a country because both resources and
development go hand in hand. For the sustainability of
development, the maintenance of resources is very crucial.
All the natural resources are non-renewable and will
exhaust if not used cautiously. Therefore, it is the
responsibility of the people to use them only to meet their
needs and not to satisfy their greed. If natural resources
are not used wisely now, the future generations may not
be able to use them to meet their needs that will ultimately
result in the downfall of the development of a country.

Q 11. How does the service sector help in the development of 3

primary and secondary sectors? Explain with examples.

Solution:
After primary and secondary sectors, there is a third sector
called the service sector also known as tertiary sector.
Activities that fall under the service sector help in the
development of the primary and secondary sectors by not
directly producing a good but helping these sectors by
activities that are an aid or a support for the production
process.
For example, goods that are produced in the primary or
secondary sector would need to be transported by trucks
or trains and then sold in wholesale and retail shops. At
times, it may be necessary to store these goods in
godowns. We may also need to talk to others over
telephone or send letters (communication) or borrow
 money from banks (banking) to help production and trade.
Transport, storage, communication, banking and trade are
some examples of service or tertiary sector.
Since these activities generate services rather than goods,
they promote primary and secondary sectors by providing
expertise, fiance, transportation, advertisement, etc.
Q 12. What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in 5
classifying different countries? What are the limitations of
this criterion, if any?

Solution
the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying
different countries are as follows:
● Countries with per capita income of US$ 1035 or less
are called low-income countries.
● As per 2012, rich countries are the countries with per
capita income of US$ 12616 per annum and above.
● In 2012 per capita income of India was just US$ 1530
per annum, hence it was classified in the category of
low middle income countries.
● Generally developed countries are the rich countries,
excluding some small countries and countries of the
Middle East.
● Per capita income is nothing but the average income.
● Average income is the total income of the country
divided by its total population. Hence, the right measure
used in comparing different nations is comparison of
average incomes of nations.
Limitations

●Better income is the only goal for people. They have

many other goals in life such as freedom, equal
treatment, respect for other people, security etc. There
are a whole gamut of things which are not included in
the criterion used by the World Bank for comparing
countries.
●For example, one cannot say everything is fine and
developed by merely checking the per capita income,
 there are other factors like infant mortality rate which
needs to be measured.
●Health, Nutrition, Education levels are other important
metrics which are not measured through the
development report given out by the World Bank.
●Unless the whole of your community takes preventive
steps, money may not be able to protect a person from
infectious diseases
●Money cannot ensure that you get unadulterated
medicines.
●Money alone cannot buy you a pollution-free
environment.
●Income by itself is not a completely adequate indicator
of material services and goods that citizens are able to
use.

Q13 . Explain the objectives of implementing the NREGA 2005. 5

Solution:

Main features of MGNREGA:

● Gives legal guarantee of wage employment to the
adult members of rural households who are willing
to do unskilled manual labour subject to a
maximum of 100 days per household
● It is applicable to all villages in the District. Every
rural household has the right to register under
MGNREGA
● Job cards are issued to every household registered
under MGNREGA within 15 days from the date of
receipt of the application for the job card
registration.
● The registered job cardholders can seek
employment by giving a group / individual
application. A minimum of 10 job seekers shall
apply to sanction a new work under MGNREGA
● The work shall be provided within 5 km jurisdiction
 from the village
● If the work provided is beyond 5 Kms, the job
seekers shall be given 10% of the minimum wages
as the additional amount
● State Govt. to pay 25% of minimum wage for the
1st 30 days as compensatory daily unemployment
allowance on failure to provide employment for the
families demanding the works under MGNREG
Act, and half of the wage for the remaining period
of the year
● Wages are paid according to the State Minimum
Wage rate notified under the Minimum Wages Act
1948. The current wage rate is Rs.117/- for all
unskilled work and Rs. 120/- for skilled labour.
● Equal payment for men and women
● Wages to be paid within a fortnight
● 1/3 beneficiaries should be women
● Worksite facilities such as creche, drinking water
and shade have to be provided

Q14. Analyse the role of credit for development. 5

Solution

For the Development of a nation, affordable and cheap

credit is absolutely essential. To make sure that the poor
can benefit from the cheaper loans, it is important that the
formal credit is distributed more equally.
● Informal sources are the source of loans for 85 per
cent of the loans taken by poor households in the
urban areas.
● In urban areas, only 10% of the rich households
depend on informal sources of credit. 90% of the
rich households in urban areas take the loans from
formal sources.
● As poor households majorly get the loans from
informal sources they have to pay large amounts for
 borrowing, whereas the rich people get cheap loans
from formal credit sources.
● All these points point out that formal sources of
credit only meet the credit needs of some people in
rural areas.
● When loans are taken from informal sources of
credit, a larger part of the earnings of the borrowers
is used to repay the loan, due to higher cost of
borrowing
● In certain cases, the amount to be repaid is greater
than the income of the borrower due to the high
interest rate for borrowing.
● Therefore many poor people may not be willing to
take loans, to avoid falling into debt traps, thereby
reducing the opportunities for expansion of the
economy.

Q15. How has liberation of trade and investment policies 5

helped the globalisation process?

Solution:

Removing barriers or restrictions set by the government is

known as liberalisation.
● With liberalisation of trade, businesses are allowed
to make decisions freely about what they wish to
import or export.
● The government imposes less restrictions than
earlier.
● Companies are able to set up plants in developing
countries where policies in favour of liberalisation
of trade and investment are undertaken which led to
rise in the process of globalisation.
● liberalisation of trade and investment policies
facilitated free market i.e. free movement of labour
- capital - goods.
 ● It enables integration of global economics i.e.
helped the process of globalisation
Q16. Why had the Indian government put barriers to foreign 5
trade and foreign investment after independence? Explain.
OR
Why had the Indian government put barriers to foreign
trade and foreign investments after independence?
Analyze the reasons.

Answer:

1. The Indian government after independence

had put barriers to foreign trade and
investment. This was done to protect the
producers within the country from foreign
competition. Industries were just coming up in
the 1950s and 1960s and competition from
imports at that stage would not have allowed
these industries to develop and grow. Imports
of only essential items such as machinery,
fertilizers, petroleum etc. were allowed.
2. Another reason was to protect the Indian
economy from foreign infiltration in industries
affecting the economic growth of the country
as planned. India wanted to move faster to
catch up with the main industries in the world
market and therefore had to keep an extra
watch on its progress in international trade and
give incentives to the more rapidly growing
industries through fiscal tariff and other
means.

Q17. ‘Tertiary sector is playing a significant role in the 5

development of the Indian Economy’. Justify the
 statement.

Solution:

(i) Basic services: Services such as hospitals, educational

institutions, post and telegraph services, transport, banks,
insurance companies, are in this group.

(ii) Development of primary and secondary sector: The

development of agriculture and industry leads to the
development of services such as transport, trade and
storage.

(iii) Rise in income levels: As income levels rise, certain

sections of people start demanding many more services
like eating out, tourism, shopping, private hospitals,
private schools and professional training centres.

(iv) Rise in information technology: Over the past decade

or so, certain new services, such as those based on
information and communication technology have become
important and
essential.

(v) Globalization: Due to globalization, people have

become aware of new services and activities, and
communication because of which the tertiary sector has
gained importance.

Q18. ‘Public sector contributes to the economic development of 5

India.’ Justify the statement.

Solution:

(i) It promotes rapid economic development through

creation and expansion of infrastructure.
 (ii) It creates employment opportunities.
(iii) It generates financial resources for development.
(iv) It is ensuring equality of income, wealth and thus, a
balanced regional development.
(v) It encourages development of small, medium and
cottage industries.
(vi) It ensures easy availability of goods at moderate rates.
(vii)Contributes to community development, Human
Development Index i.e. health and
educational services.

Q 19. Explain the role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in rural 5

society.

Solution:

i. The idea is to organize rural poor, in particular women,

into small Self Help Groups (SHGs) and pool (collect)
their savings.
ii. A typical SHG has 15-20 members, usually belonging
to one neighbourhood, who meet and save regularly.
Saving per member varies from Rs 25 to Rs 100 or more,
depending on the ability of the people to save.
iii. Members can take small loans from the group itself to
meet their needs.
iv. The group charges interest on these loans but this is
still less than what the moneylender charges.
v. After a year or two, if the group is regular in savings, it
becomes eligible for availing loan from the bank.
vi. Loan is sanctioned in the name of the group and is
meant to create self-employment opportunities for the
members.
vii. Small loans are provided to the members for releasing
mortgaged land, for meeting working capital needs
viii. Most of the important decisions regarding the savings
and loan activities are taken by the group members.
ix. The group decides as regards the loans to be granted
 — the purpose, amount, interest to be charged, repayment
schedule etc. Also, it is the group which is responsible for
the repayment of the loan.
x. Any case of non-repayment of loan by any one member
is followed up seriously by other members in the group.
Q20. Explain the significance of The Reserve Bank of India in 5
the Indian economy.

Solution:

i. It supervises the functioning of formal sources of loans.

ii. The banks maintain a minimum cash balance out of the
deposits they receive.
iii. The RBI monitors that the banks actually maintain the
cash balance.
iv. The RBI sees that the banks give loans not just to
profit-making businesses and traders but also to small
cultivators, small scale industries, to small borrowers etc.
v. Periodically, banks have to submit information to the
RBI on how much they are lending,to whom, at what
interest rate, etc.

Q 21. Why is it necessary for banks and cooperatives to extend 5

their lending activities in rural areas? Explain.

Solution:

Banks and cooperatives should extend their lending

activities in rural areas because:

● Rural poor and farmers have to borrow money

from moneylenders at a very high rate of
interest. Therefore, the cost of borrowing is
very high.
● A large part of the earnings of the borrower is
used to repay the loans. Hence, they have less
income.
 ● Sometimes, a higher rate of lending means
that the amount to be repaid is more than the
earnings of the borrower.
● To save the people from the clutches and
exploitation by the moneylenders, it is
necessary for the banks and co-operatives to
extend their lending activies.
● It would lead to higher incomes and improve
the condition of the rural poor.
● People can also start a business or set up a
small scale industry

Q22. What are the two categories of sources of credit? Mention 5

four features of each.

Answer:

The two categories of sources of credit are:

● Formal sources of credit

● Informal sources of credit

The features of formal sources of credit are:

● They charge low rate of interest and the mode

of repayment is easy.
● They keep a collateral from the borrowers for
granting loans.
● Reserve Bank of India supervises the
functioning of formal sources of credit, (id)
Urban households largely depend on formal
sources of credit.
 ● They include banks and cooperatives.

The features of informal sources of credit are:

● They charge a higher rate of interest and the

mode of repayment is very harsh.
● There is no need to keep a collateral in
informal sources of credit.
● There is no organisation to supervise the
functioning of informal sources of credit.
● Poor households largely depend on informal
sources of credit.
● They include moneylenders, relatives, friends
etc.

Q23. Examine the role of Information Technology in 5

stimulating the process of globalization.

Solution:

1. Rapid improvement in technology has stimulated the

globalisation process. This has made much faster delivery
of goods across long distances possible at lower costs.
2. Even more remarkable have been the developments

in information and communication technology.

3. Technology in the areas of telecommunications,

computers, Internet has been changing rapidly.

4. Telecommunication facilities (telegraph, telephone

 including mobile phones, fax) are used to contact

one another around the world, to access information

instantly, and to communicate from remote areas.

5. This has been facilitated by satellite communication

devices.