VASISHTHA GENESIS SCHOOL, BARDOLI.

Academic Session: 2020-21

SOCIAL SCIENCE
Geography Chapter-2 Forest and Wildlife Resources
GRADE: 10 NCERT SOLUTIONS
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Geography Chapter 1
Resources and Development

Question 1: Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which one of the following type of resource is iron ore?
(a) Renewable (b) Biotic (c) Flow (d) Non-renewable

(ii) Under which of the following type of resource can tidal energy be put?
(a) Replenishable (b) Human-made (c) Abiotic (d) Non-recyclable

(iii) Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?
(a) Intensive cultivation (b) Deforestation (c) Over irrigation (d) Overgrazing

(iv) In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practised?

(a) Punjab (b) Plains of Uttar Pradesh (c) Haryana (d) Uttarakhand

(v) In which of the following states is black soil found?

(a) Jammu and Kashmir (b) Gujarat (c) Rajasthan (d) Jharkhand

Answer: (i) (d) non–renewable

Explanation: Once they have been used up, there will be no more. Most non-
renewable resources are minerals, which are mined, for example, gold, iron ore,
titanium. Coal and oil are known as fossil fuels and are also non-renewable.

(ii) (a) Replenishable

Explanation: Tidal energy is a replenishable resource since tides keep coming over
and over again due to the moon's force.

(iii) (c) over irrigation

Explanation: In Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, over irrigation is responsible
for land degradation due to waterlogging leading to increase in salinity and alkalinity in
the soil.

(iv) (d) Uttarakhand

Explanation: Terrace farming is done on hill slopes and Uttarakhand is the region
having hill slopes and here terrace farming is practiced.

(v) (b) Gujrat

Explanation: It is mostly found in areas such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra. It is formed by weathering of deccan basalt from last 60 million years and
paleo organic carbon resource.
Question 2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

i. Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly grown in it.
ii. What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give three main
features of this type of soil.
iii. What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?
iv. What are the biotic and abiotic resources? Give some examples.

Answer:

i. Maharashtra, Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are states having black
soil. Cotton is mainly grown in black soil. Other crops which can be grown in
black soil are rice ,sugarcane,wheat ,Jawar,linseed etc
ii. Alluvial Soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast.
Three features of alluvial soil:
 Alluvial soils are very fertile.
 It contains varied amounts of sand, silt and clay.
 These soils contain ample amount of phosphoric acid, potash and lime so
they are ideal for growing sugarcane, wheat and paddy.
 The regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely
populated.
iii. In hilly areas, soil erosion can be controlled by contour which refers ploughing
across contour-lines, making use of terrace farming techniques and using strips
of grasses to check soil erosion by wind and water.
iv. Biotic Resources: The resources which are obtained from the biosphere, from
forest and the materials derived from them and have life are called Biotic
Resources. For example, animals and plants including human beings.
Abiotic Resources: The resources which are composed of non-living things are
called Abiotic Resources. For example rocks ,water, minerals, metals, wind, solar
energy etc.

Question 3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

i. Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased
much since 1960-61?
ii. How has technical and economic development led to more consumption of
resources?

Answer: (i) The use of land is determined by both physical factors such as topography,
climate, soil types as well as human factors such as population density, technological
capability and culture and traditions. Land resources in India are primarily divided into
agricultural land, forest land, land meant for pasture and grazing, and waste land.
Wasteland includes rocky, arid and desert areas and land used for other non-
agricultural purposes such as housing, roads and industry. According to the recent
data, about 54% of the total land area is cultivable or fallow, 22.5% is covered by
forests and 3.45% is used for grazing. The rest is wasteland, with traces of
miscellaneous cultivation.
The land under forest has not increased since 1960–61 because in the post-
independence era demand for more land to expand agriculture, mainly after Green
Revolution, developmental works and infrastructural facilities, led to clearance of
forests areas. Industrialisation and urbanisation also decreased the forest area. Thus,
land under forest has increased by only about 4% since 1960-61.
(ii) Technical and economic development has led to more consumption of resources on
account of various factors such as:

 Technological development provides sophisticated equipment. As a result,

production increases ultimately leading to consumption of more resources.
Technological advancement leads to the conversion of more natural resources
into useful resources thus the consumption also increases.
 Technological development also leads to economic development. When the
economic condition of a country rises, the needs of people also rise. It again
results in more consumption of resources.
 Economic development provides favourable environment for the development of
latest technologies. It helps to make or convert various materials found around us
into resources. Finally, it results in the consumption of newly available resources
too.

NCERT Solutions
Chapter - 2
Geography - Forest and Wildlife Resources

Question 1. Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which of these statements is not a valid reason for the depletion of flora and fauna?

(a) Agricultural expansion.

(b) Large scale developmental projects.
(c) Grazing and fuelwood collection.
(d) Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation.

(ii) Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community
participation?

(a) Joint forest management

(b) Beej Bachao Andolan
(c) Chipko Movement
(d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries

Answer: (i) (c) Grazing and fuelwood collection

Explanation: A substantial part of the fuel fodder is met by lopping rather than by felling
entire trees.
(ii) (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries

Explanation: The State Government may, by notification, declare its intention to

constitute any area other than area comprised with any reserve forest or the territorial
waters as a sanctuary if it considers that such area is of adequate ecological, faunal,
floral, geomorphological, natural. or zoological significance, for the purpose of
protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.

Question 2. Match the following animals with their category of existence.

Animals/Plants Category of existence

Blackbuck Extinct
Asiatic elephant Rare
Andaman wild pig Endangered
Himalayan brown bear Vulnerable
Pink head duck Endemic

Answer:

Animals/Plants Category of existence

Blackbuck Endangered
Asiatic elephant Vulnerable
Andaman wild pig Endemic
Himalayan brown bear Rare
Pink head duck Extinct

Question 3. Match the following.

Reserved other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private
forests individuals and communities.
Protected forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest
forests and wildlife resources.
Unclassed
forest lands are protected from any further depletion.
forests

Answer :

Reserved forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest
forest and wildlife resources.
Protected
forest lands are protected from any further depletion.
forests
Unclassed other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private
forest individuals and communities.
Question 4. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?

(ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain.

Answer: (i) Biodiversity is immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated species, diverse in
form and function, but closely integrated into a system through multiple networks of
inter-dependencies.
It is important for human lives because the human beings, along with the biodiversity,
form a complete web of ecological system in which we are only a part and are very
much dependent on this system for our own existence. Plants, animals and human
beings are interdependent. For example, the plants, animals and micro-organisms re-
create the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil that produces
our food without which we cannot survive. The importance of biodiversity reflects the
many different values that we bestow up it, including economic, ecological, cultural,
scientific and recreational.

(ii) Several human activities have affected the depletion of flora and fauna and have led
to a decline in India‟s biodiversity. The main factors responsible for this damage are:

1. The greatest damage inflicted on Indian forests was during the colonial period
due to the expansion of railways, agriculture, commercial and scientific forestry
and mining activities.
2. Even after independence, agricultural expansion continues to be one of the major
causes of depletion of forest resources.
3. Habitat destruction: Mainly due to overpopulation leading to expansion of
agriculture, mining, industrialisation and urbanisation and consequent wiping out
of large forest areas.
4. Hunting and poaching: Illegal trade of animal skin, tusk, bones, teeth, horns, etc
have led many species to the verge of extinction.
5. Environmental pollution: Poisoning of water bodies and atmosphere due to
the discharge of industrial effluents, chemicals, wastes, etc. leading to animal
deaths.
6. Forest fires: It often induced by shifting cultivation wiping out valuable forests and
wildlife.
7. Large scale development projects and the destruction of forests.
8. Grazing and fuelwood collection.
9. Over-exploitation of forest products

Other important causes of environmental destruction are unequal access, inequitable

consumption of forest resources and differential sharing of responsibility for
environmental well-being.

Question 5. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife
in India?
(ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife
Answer: (i) Indian forests are home to different communities. These communities have
a complex relationship with their environment. Contribution by these communities
towards the protection of forest and wildlife can be explained as given below:

1. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chhota Nagpur region worship Mahua and
Kadamba trees; the tribals of Orissa and Bihar worship the tamarind and mango
trees.
2. The Bishnois of Rajasthan hold the antelopes in high reverence. For these
communities, particular flora and fauna are integral to their identity, so they take a
number of steps to protect the same. Villagers around the Sariska Reserve have
opposed mining activities in the region as these activities endanger wildlife.
Villagers in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have banned hunting and lumbering
activities in a 1200 hectare area they have marked as Bhairodev Dakav
'Sonchuri'. Such activities have helped preserve patches of virgin forest land.
3. The 'Chipko Movement' in Uttaranchal has successfully resisted cutting of trees
as forest are the home to different communities and hilly people.
4. To many of us, peepal and banyan trees are considered sacred.

(ii) Good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife are plenty.

1. Nowadays, many non-governmental organisations are working towards creating

public awareness for conserving depleting forest cover and vanishing wildlife.
2. Central and state governments in India have set up national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries to protect forests and endangered species in wildlife.
3. In India, joint forest management programme furnishes a good example for
involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded
forests.
4. A recently developing practice towards conservation is the search for different
conservation measures. Biodiversity is the new by-word of good practices
towards conserving forest and wildlife.
5. The Indian Wildlife(Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various
provisions for protecting habitats. An all-India list of protected species was also
published.
6. India is one of the few countries which has a forest policy since 1894. It was
revised in 1952 and again in 1988. The main plank of the forest policy is
protection, conservation and development of forests.
7. Various communities, especially in tribal areas, who are dependent on forests for
their living are now taking an active role in this form of conservation.
8. Involving mass media to highlight the problems associated with environmental
degradation.
9. Running community awareness programmes like Vanmahotav from time to time.
 NCERT Solutions
Geography Chapter 3
Water Resources

Question 1. Multiple choice questions.

(i) Based on the information given below classify each of the situations as
‘suffering from water scarcity’ or ‘not suffering from water scarcity’.
(a) Region with high annual rainfall.
(b) Region having high annual rainfall and large population.
(c) Region having high annual rainfall but water is highly polluted.
(d) Region having low rainfall and low population.

(ii) Which one of the following statements is not an argument in favour of

multipurpose river projects?
(a) Multi-purpose projects bring water to those areas which suffer from water scarcity.
(b) Multi-purpose projects by regulating water flow helps to control floods.
(c) Multi-purpose projects lead to large scale displacements and loss of livelihood.
(d) Multi-purpose projects generate electricity for our industries and our homes.

(iii) Here are some false statements. Identify the mistakes and rewrite them
correctly.
(a) Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles
have helped in proper utilisation of water resources.
(b) Regulating and damming of rivers does not affect the river‟s natural flow and its
sediment flow.
(c) In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers were not agitated when higher priority was
given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts.
(d) Today in Rajasthan, the practice of rooftop rainwater water harvesting has gained
popularity despite high water availability due to the Rajasthan Canal.

Answer: (i) Not suffering from water scarcity

Explanation: Regions with high annual rainfall cannot face scarcity of water because
the water table is replenished, water bodies do not dry up so no water scarcity.

(ii) c) Multi-purpose projects lead to large scale displacements and loss of livelihood.
Explanation: Multipurpose projects and large dams have also been the cause of many
environmental movements like the Narmada Bachao Andolan and Tehri Bachao
Andolan etc. Resistance to these projects has primarily been due to the large scale
displacement of local communities. Local people often had to give up their land,
livelihood and their meagre access and control over resources for the greater good of
the nation.

(iii) (a) Multiplying urban centers with large and dense populations with urban lifestyles
have added to the water and energy requirment and thus, caused the over exploitation
of water resources.
(b) Regulating and damming of rivers affect their natural flow and causes the sediment
to settle at the bottom of the dam.
(c) In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers agitated over the higher priority given of
water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts
(d) Today in Rajasthan, the practice of rooftop rainwater harvesting is on the decline as
plenty of water is available due to perennial Rajasthan canal.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) Explain how water becomes a renewable resource.
(ii) What is water scarcity and what are its main causes?
(iii) Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects.

Answer: (i) Water is a renewable resource as it is renewed by water cycle itself, where
three processes take place as evaporation, condensation and precipitation. This
process of water cycle is never ending and hence, water is a renewable resource. The
water then runs into rivers and dams where it is used and the waste is partially cleaned
before it makes its route to the sea, where the cycle begins again. Freshwater is mainly
obtained from surface runoff and groundwater that is continually being renewed and
recharged through the hydrological cycle.

(ii) Water scarcity or water stress occurs when water availability is not enough to match
the demand for water. It is caused by an increase in population, growing demand for
water, urbanisation, industrialisation, wastage injudicious use and unequal access to it.
A large population requires more water not only for domestic use but also to produce
more food. The ever increasing number of industries has made matters worse by
exerting pressure on existing fresh water resources. Fragile water resources are being
over-exploited and have been depleted in cities. Water scarcity may also be due to the
bad quality of water. Lately there has been a growing concern that even if there is
ample water to meet the needs of the people, much of it may be polluted by domestic
and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture, thus,
making it hazardous for human use.

(iii) Multipurpose river projects help in irrigation, electricity production, flood control, the
supply of water for domestic and industrial use, recreation, inland navigation and fish
breeding. It integrates development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid
industrialization and growth of the urban economy. However, the reservoirs destroy
local flora and fauna. Dams fragment the river thus making it difficult for aquatic fauna
to migrate and for spawning. Many native villages are submerged, and people lose their
livelihood, with little or no hope of rehabilitation. The dams that were constructed to
control floods have triggered floods due to sedimentation in the reservoir. It was also
observed that the multi-purpose projects induced earthquakes, caused waterborne
diseases and pests and pollution resulting from excessive use of water.

Question 3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Discuss how rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan is carried
out.
(ii) Describe how modern adaptations of traditional rainwater harvesting methods
are being carried out to conserve and store water.
Answer: (i) Houses in the semi arid regions of Rajasthan have traditionally constructed
tanks for storing drinking water. The tanks could be as large as a big room. They are
big and are a part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system. The tanks
are constructed inside the main house or the courtyard and are connected to the
sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe. The rain falling on the rooftop travels down
and is stored in the underground tanks. The first spell of rain is not collected as this
water cleans the roof and the pipes. The rainwater from the subsequent spells is
collected. This water is used untill the next rainy season and is a reliable source of
water even after other sources have dried up. The tanks also help in cooling the houses
as rooms built around them have generally low temperatures due to conduction.

(ii) Traditional methods of rainwater harvesting like 'the rooftop method' are becoming
popular in India. In Gendathur village, Mysore, about 200 households have adopted the
rooftop rainwater harvesting method, thereby making the village rich in rainwater. The
state of Tamil Nadu has made it compulsory for all the houses to have rooftop rainwater
harvesting structures There are legal provisions to punish the defaulters. Rooftop
rainwater harvesting is the most common practice in Shillong, Meghalaya. Rooftop
harvesting is common across the towns and villages of the Thar. In Meghalaya, a 200
year old system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipes is
prevalent. About 18 to 20 litres of water enters the bamboo pipe system and gets
transported over hundreds of metres.

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NCERT Solutions
Political Science Chapter 1
Power Sharing

Question 1. What are the different forms of power sharing in modern

democracies? Give an example of each of these.
Answer: The different forms of power sharing in modern democracies are:

 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. In this type of power sharing arrangement, different
organs of government, placed at the same level, exercised different powers.
Such a separation ensure that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power,
thereby putting a check on each other. For example, judges are appointed by the
executive, they can check the functioning of executive or laws made by the
legislatures.
 Vertical Division of Power: It is a system of power sharing among governments
at different levels. A general government for the entire country usually known as
federal government and governments at provincial or regional levels also known
as State Government in India. In India, we refer to it as the Central Government,
State Governments, Municipality, Gram Panchayat etc. The Constitution lays
down the powers of different levels of government.
 Division of Power among different Social Groups: Power can also be shared
among different groups which differ socially like different religious and linguistic
groups. „Community Government‟ in Belgium is a good example of this type of
power sharing. The system of reserved constituencies in India is another
 example. Such an arrangement is used to give minority communities space in the
government and administration and a fair share in power, who otherwise would
feel alienated from the government.
 Division of Power among Political Parties, Pressure Groups and
Movements: In contemporary democracies such a division takes the form of
competition among different parties, which in turn ensure that power does not
remain in one hand and is shared among different political parties representing
different ideologies and social groups. Sometimes this kind of sharing is direct
when two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections.

Question 2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing
with an example from the Indian context.
Answer :

 Prudential Reason: Power sharing helps in reducing the conflict between

various social groups. Hence, power sharing is necessary for maintaining social
harmony and peace. In India, seats are reserved for the weaker sections of
society. Example: reservation of seats for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes
in jobs and government. This allows the weaker sections also to participate in the
running of the Government and upliftment in the society.
 Moral Reason: It upholds the spirit of democracy. In a truly democratic setup, the
citizens too have a stake in governance. In India, the citizens can come together
to debate and criticise the policies and decisions of the government. This, in turn,
puts pressure on the government to rethink its policies and reconsider its
decisions. People have a say in the government and government is answerable
to the people.

Question 3. After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions.
Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50
words.
Thomman - Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious,
linguistic or ethnic divisions.
Mathayi – Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions.
Ouseph – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does
not have social divisions.
Answer: Ouseph's statement is the most logical, and thus, should be agreed on. Every
society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social
divisions. A democratic society is one where its members or citizens through
participation acquire a stake in the system. Power sharing not only prevents conflict
between various groups in the society but it also generates a sense of belongingness
among them to the society.No single community can take a decision unilaterally. It is
realized that unity of the country is only possible by respecting feelings and interest of
different communities. Power sharing helps to maintain a balance of power among
various institutions and also keep a check on how it is exercised. It reduces conflicts
between different social groups. Irrespective of the size of a country or the type of
society, people will be more satisfied where they have a say in the functioning and
decision making processes of the system. Power sharing is the spirit of democracy.
People have the right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.

Question 4. The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has

defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban
would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate into this Flemish town. Do you think
that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing
arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Answer: No, This measure is not in keeping with Belgium's power sharing
arrangements. The arrangements seek to maintain peace between the French and
Dutch-speaking communities. By banning French, the mayor will cause civil unrest.
Both the languages should be made acceptable in the town's schools. The unity of a
country is possible only by respecting the feelings and interests of different
communities and regions. Thus bilingual education system will be a better way to
integrate the people of the town. Such a realisation would result in a mutually
acceptable arrangement for sharing power.

Question 5. Read the following passage and pick out any one of the prudential
reasons for power sharing offered in this.
“We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the dream of Mahatma
Gandhi and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. Panchayati Raj establishes
true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a
democracy – in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to
reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the
planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise
greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus,
Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy.”
Answer: The prudential reason for power sharing offered in this passage is giving
power to panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative
efficiency. Panchayats are at the local level hence deepen democracy in our country.
Local people have better ideas and knowledge about local problems. They can better
understand the problems of the people, thus performing better. Introduction of
panchayats has made the country more united and stronger. It has also made the
administration easier.

Question 6. Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against
power sharing. Identify those which are in favour of power sharing and select the
answer using the codes given below? Power sharing:
A. reduces conflict among different communities
B. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
C. delays decision making process
D. accommodates diversities
E. increases instability and divisiveness
F. promotes people‟s participation in government
G. undermines the unity of a country

(a) A B D F
(b) A C E F
(c) A B D G
(d) B C D G

Answer : (a)

A B D F

Explanation: In a democracy political power should be distributed among as many

citizens as possible.

Question 7. Consider the following statements about power sharing

arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.
A. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on
the minority French-speaking community.
B. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the
Sinhala- speaking majority.
C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to
protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
D. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a
possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) A, B, C and D
(b) A, B and D
(c) C and D
(d) B, C and D
Answer: (d) B, C and D
Explanation: The democratically elected government adopted a series of majoritarian
measures to establish Sinhala supremacy. Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major
political parties led by Buddhist Sinhala leaders was sensitive to their language and
culture.
In Belgium, the leaders have realized that the unity of the country is possible only by
respecting the feelings and interests of different communities and regions.

Question 8. Match List I (forms of power sharing) with List II (forms of

government) and select the correct answer using the codes given below in the
lists:

List I List II
1 Power shared among different organs of government Α. Community government
2 Power shared among governments at different levels Β. Separation of powers
3 Power shared by different social groups C. Coalition government
4 Power shared by two or more political parties D. Federal government
1 2 3 4
(a) D A B C
(b) B C D A
(c) B D A C
(d) C D A B

Answer :

1 2 3 4
(c) B D A C

Question 9. Consider the following two statements on power sharing and select
the answer using the codes given below:
A. Power sharing is good for democracy.
B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Which of these statements are true and false?
(a)A is true but B is false
(b) Both A and B are true
(c) Both A and B are false
(d) A is false but B is true
Answer: (b) Both A and B are true.
Explanation: There are constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially weaker
sections and women are represented in legislatures and administration.

NCERT Solutions
Political Science Chapter 2
Federalism

Question 3. Point out one feature in the practice of federalism in India that is
similar to and one feature that is different from that of Belgium.
Answer: In India, just like in Belgium, the central government has to share its powers
with the State governments. However, unlike Belgium, India does not have a
communist government in addition to the central and the state government. India has
rural local government popularly known as Panchayati Raj.

Question 4. What is the main difference between a federal form of government

and a unitary one? Explain with an example.
Answer: In a federal form of government, the central government shares its powers
with the various constituent units of the country. Both types of governments are
separately answerable to the people. For example, in India, power is divided between
the Central Government and the various State governments.
In a unitary form of government, all the power is exercised by only one government. In
this, the Central government can pass orders to the provincial or the regional
government. Under the unitary system, either there is only one level of government or
sub-units are subordinate to the central government. For example, in Sri Lanka, the
national government has all the powers.

Question 5. State any two differences between the local government before and
after the Constitutional amendment in 1992.
Answer: A major step towards decentralization was taken in 1992. The Constitution
was amended to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful and effective.

Local governments Before 1992 Local governments After 1992

Elections were controlled by the state An independent State Election Commission is
and not held regularly. Seats were not responsible to conduct panchayat and municipal
reserved in the elected bodies for elections. At least one-third of all the positions
women. are reserved for women.
Local governments did not have any The State governments are required to share
powers or resources of their own. These some powers and revenue with local
were directly under the control of state government bodies. The nature of sharing
governments. varies from state to state.

Question 6. Fill in the blanks:

Since the United States is a ___________________ type of federation, all the
constituent States have equal powers and States are ______________vis-à-vis the
federal government. But India is a _____________________ type of federation and
some States have more power than others. In India, the ____________ government
has more powers.
Answer: The United States is a coming together type of federation, all the constituent
States have equal powers and States are strong vis-à-vis the federal government.
India, on the other hand, is a holding together type of federation and some of the
states have more power than others. The Central government in India has more
powers.

Question 7. Here are three reactions to the language policy followed in India.
Give an argument and an example to support any of these positions.
Sangeeta: The policy of accommodation has strengthened national unity.
Arman: Language-based States have divided us by making everyone conscious of their
language.
Harish: This policy has only helped to consolidate the dominance of English over all
other languages.
Answer: I fully agree with Sangeeta's reaction to this. If the policy of accommodation
was not followed and states were not created on linguistic basis, then there would have
been a further partition of India. The formation of linguistic states has actually made the
country more united and has also made the administration much easier for example
imposition of Hindi as the national language would have led the South to break away
from North and south in Tamil Nadu would have become an independent nation. So
parliament enacted the Official Language Act of 1963 which provided for the continued use of
English for official purposes along with Hindi, even after 1965.
Question 8. The distinguishing feature of a federal government is:
(a) National government gives some powers to the provincial governments.
(b) Power is distributed among the legislature, executive and judiciary.
(c) Elected officials exercise supreme power in the government.
(d) Governmental power is divided between different levels of government.
Answer: (d) Governmental power is divided between the different levels of
government.
Explanation: The levels are the Central Government, the State Government and the
Panchayati Raj.

Question 9: A few subjects in various Lists of the Indian Constitution are given
here. Group them under the Union, State and Concurrent Lists as provided in the
table below.
A.Defence; B. Police; C. Agriculture; D. Education; E. Banking; F. Forests; G. Commun
ications; H. Trade; I. Marriages

Union List
State List
Concurrent List

Answer :

Union List Defence, Banking, Communications

State List Police, Agriculture, Trade
Concurrent List Education, Forests, Marriages

Explanation: Union list includes the subjects of national importance.

State list contains the subjects of state and local importance.
Concurrent list includes the subjects of common interests to both the Union
Government as well as the State Governments.

Question 10. Examine the following pairs that give the level of government in India and
the powers of the government at that level to make laws on the subjects mentioned
against each. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

(a) State government State List

(b) Central government Union List
(c) Central and State government Concurrent List
(d) Local Governments Residuary powers

Answer :

(d) Local Governments Residuary powers

Explanation: Matters which are not included in any of the three lists are known as
residuary subjects and the right to make laws on these subjects is called residuary
power. The central government (the Parliament) has been given rights to legislate on
these subjects.

Question 11. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the
codes given below the lists:

List I List II
1. Union of India A. Prime Minister
2. State Β. Sarpanch
3. Municipal C. Governor
4. Gram Panchayat D. Mayor
1 2 3 4
(a) D A B C
(b) B C D A
(c) A C D B
(d) C D A B

Answer :

1 2 3 4
(c) A C D B

Question 12. Consider the following two statements.

a. In a federation, the powers of the federal and provincial governments are clearly
demarcated.
b. India is a federation because the powers of the Union and State Governments
are specified in the Constitution and they have exclusive jurisdiction on their
respective subjects.
c. Sri Lanka is a federation because the country is divided into provinces.
d. India is no longer a federation because some powers of the States have been
devolved to the local government bodies.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) A, B and C
(b) A, C and D
(c) A and B only
(d) B and C only
Ans : (c) A and B only
Explanation: All levels of governance will govern the same citizens, but their
jurisdiction will be different. This means that each level of government will have a
specific power to form laws, legislate and execute these laws. Both of the governments
will have clearly marked jurisdiction.