1.

Chapter 3 The Making Of A Global World

utions For Class 10 History Social Scienter 3 : The Maf a Global

World1. Give two examples of different types of global exchanges which took place in the seventeenth century,
choosing one example from Asia and one from the Americas.

Solution: The following are examples of cross-cultural exchanges from Asia and the Americas:

a. The Silk Route (Asia): The Silk Route is a good example of cross-cultural trade and connectivity between distant parts of the
world. The name ‘Silk Route’ points to the importance of Westbound Chinese silk cargoes along this route.

Trade and cultural exchange always went hand in hand. Early Christian missionaries almost certainly travelled this route to Asia, as
did early Muslim preachers a few centuries later.

b. Food from the Americas: The food that is part of our staple diet today, like potatoes, soya, groundnuts, maize, tomatoes, chillies,
sweet potatoes etc., were not known to our ancestors until the accidental discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus.

These food items only made it to Europe and the rest of the world after the monumental discovery of the new continent.

2. Explain how the global transfer of disease in the pre-modern world helped in the colonisation of the Americas.

Solutions: The global transfer of disease in the pre-modern world helped in the colonisation of the Americas. The reason was that
the native Americans were not immune to the diseases that the European settlers brought with them. The Europeans were, to a
certain extent, immune to the effects of diseases like smallpox due to centuries of exposure. However, the native Americans had no
such defence against this disease, as they were isolated from diseases native to the old world.

At times, settlers deliberately practised biological warfare on the natives by giving items laced with smallpox germs as ‘gifts of
friendship’. The disease was far more effective in wiping out entire tribes and communities without having to resort to firearms.

3. Write a note to explain the effect of the following:

a. The British government’s decision to abolish the Corn Laws.

b. The coming of rinderpest to Africa.
c. The death of men of working age in Europe because of the World War.
d. The Great Depression on the Indian economy.
e. The decision of MNCs to relocate production to Asian countries.

Solution:

a. The British government’s decision to abolish the Corn Laws was due to pressure from the landed groups, who were
unhappy with the high price of food and the cheap inflow of agricultural products from Australia and America. As a result,
many English farmers left their profession and migrated to towns and cities. Some went overseas. This indirectly led to
global agriculture and rapid urbanisation, a prerequisite of industrial growth.
b. Rinderpest (a fast-spreading disease of cattle plague) arrived in Africa in the late 1880s. It had a terrifying impact on
people’s livelihoods and the local economy. It started in East Africa and soon spread to other parts of the continent. Within
five years, it reached the Cape of Good Hope (Africa’s Southernmost tip), by which it had killed 90 % of the cattle
 population in that part of Africa. It spread through infected cattle imported from British Asia to feed the Italian soldiers
invading Eritrea in East Africa. Using this situation to their advantage, colonising nations conquered and subdued Africa by
monopolising scarce cattle resources to force Africans into the labour market. The Africans were forced to work for a wage
due to the loss of their livelihood because of the effect of Rinderpest.
c. The First World War was the first modern industrial war. It saw the use of machine guns, tanks, aircraft, chemical weapons
etc., on a massive scale. To fight such a war, millions of soldiers had to be recruited from around the world and moved to
the frontlines on large ships and trains. The scale of death and destruction was unlike any other conflict in the modern era.
Most of the killed and maimed were men of working age; the deaths and injuries of these men drastically reduced the able-
bodied workforce in Europe. With fewer members within the family, household incomes declined after the war. Thus,
women stepped in to do the jobs that were earlier done by men. It increased the role of women and led to a demand for
equal status in society. It made the feminist movement even stronger.
d. In the nineteenth century, colonial India had become an exporter of agricultural goods and an importer of manufactures.
The impact of the Great Depression on India was felt, especially in the agricultural sector. It was evident that the Indian
economy was closely becoming integrated into the global economy. India was a British colony and exported agricultural
goods and imported manufactured goods. As international prices crashed, so did the prices in India. Wheat prices in India
fell by 50 % between 1928 and 1934.
e. Wages were relatively low in Asian countries like China. Thus, they became lucrative destinations for investment by
foreign MNCs competing to dominate world markets. The relocation of industry to low-wage countries stimulated world
trade and capital flow.

The impact of MNC’s decision to relocate production to Asian Countries was as follows:

a. It provided a cheap source of labour for MNCs.

b. It stimulated world trade and increased capital inflow in Asian countries.

c. The local population had a greater choice of goods and services along with prospects of greater employment opportunities for
them.

4. Give two examples from history to show the impact of technology on food availability.

Solution:

1. Improved transportation systems: Improved transportation systems helped the food items get delivered on time to the
markets without any harm. Faster railways, lighter wagons and larger ships helped move food cheaply and quickly from
faraway farms to final markets.
2. Refrigerated ships: The development of refrigerated ships enabled the transport of perishable foods over long distances.
Animals were slaughtered for food at the starting point – in America, Australia or New Zealand – and then transported to
Europe as frozen meat. This reduced shipping costs and lowered meat prices in Europe. The poor in Europe could add meat
to their diet, which was monotonous with only bread and potatoes.

5. What is meant by the Bretton Woods Agreement?

Solution: In order to preserve economic stability and full employment in the industrial world, the post-war international economic
system was established. To execute the same, the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference was held in July 1944 at
Bretton Woods in New Hampshire, USA. The Bretton Woods Conference established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to
deal with external surpluses and shortages in its member nations. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(popularly known as the World Bank) was set up for financial post-war reconstruction, and it started its financial operations in
1947.

Under the agreement, currencies were pegged to the price of gold, and the US dollar was seen as a reserve currency linked to the
price of gold. Decision-making authority was given to the Western industrial powers. The US was given the right to veto over key
IMF and World Bank decisions. The Bretton Woods System was based on fixed exchange rates. The Bretton Woods System
opened an era of unique growth of trade and income for the Western industrial nations and Japan.

6. Imagine that you are indentured Indian labour in the Caribbean. Drawing from the details in the chapter, write a letter
to your family describing your life and feelings

Solution: Dear Ma and Pa,

My work as an indentured labourer in Jamaica is far from a walk in the park. Through this letter, I want to tell you about my life
here.

When the contractor hired me, he was quite economical with the truth about the living and working conditions. To say nothing of
the kind of work and place of work.

We have very few rights, with the contractor living up to the behaviour standards expected of them in the Caribbean – extremely
harsh. He treats us like animals since we are a minority and thus easy targets for his wrath. Accidents are common in the sugar
plantations in Jamaica. One time, I saw a worker burnt alive when the liquid sugar we were boiling accidentally spilt on him. Since
he cannot work with his third-degree burns, the contractor saw it fit to throw him out without any due wages paid. We don’t have
any rights to speak or to express our dissatisfaction about the working conditions. And if we do, we will face the overseer’s whips.

Whenever I do not attend my work, I am liable to be in jail. There is a lot of work at the plantations with a heavy workload and less
time to finish it all.

In case of unsatisfactory work, my wages are cut. If there is hell on earth, it certainly is this. I know my writing will cause you
anguish but rest assured, there is talk of new laws underway to protect labourers like us. Thus, this situation will pass soon.

7. Explain the three types of movements or flows within the international economic exchange. Find one example of each
type of flow which involved India and Indians, and write a short account of it.

Solution: The three types of movements or flows within the international economic exchange are trade flows, human capital flows
and capital flows or investments. These can be explained as the trade in agricultural products, migration of labour, and financial
loans to and from other nations.

1. The flow of trade (trade in goods, e.g. cloth or wheat)

India was a hub of trade in the pre-modern world, and it exported textiles and spices in return for gold and silver from Europe.

Fine cotton was produced in India and was exported to Europe. With industrialisation, British cotton manufacturing began to
expand, and industrialists pressurised the government to restrict cotton imports and protect local industries. As a result of the tariffs
that were imposed on cloth imports, the inflow of fine Indian Cotton began to decline.

2. The flow of labour (the migration of people in search of employment)

In the field of labour, indentured labour was provided for mines, plantations and factories abroad, in huge numbers, in the
nineteenth century. This was an instrument of colonial domination by the British. Indentured labourers were hired under contacts
who promised return travel to India after they had worked five years on their employer’s plantation. The living conditions were
harsh, and the labourers had little protection from the law or from it as they had few rights.
 3. The movement of capital (investments)

Britain took generous loans from the USA to finance the World War. Since India was an English colony, the impact of these loan
debts was felt in India too. Food and other crops for the world market required capital. Large plantations could borrow it from
banks and markets.

8. Explain the causes of the Great Depression.

Solution: The Great Depression was a result of many factors. Some of them are

1. Agriculture overproduction was a major problem. As a result, agricultural prices fell. As prices fell, so did agricultural
incomes. This increased the volume of goods in the market. The situation got worsened in the market. Prices fell further.
Farm produce began to rot due to the lack of buyers.
2. Prosperity in the USA during the 1920s created a cycle of higher employment and incomes. It led to a rise in consumption
and demand. More investment and more employment created tendencies of speculation, which led to the Great Depression
of 1929 up to the mid-1930s. The stock market crashed in 1929. It created panic among investors and depositors, who
stopped investing and depositing. As a result, it created a cycle of depreciation.
3. The withdrawal of US loans affected the rest of the world in many different ways. In Europe, it led to the failure of the
major banks and the collapse of major currencies such as the British pound sterling. Some of the banks closed down when
people withdrew all their assets, leaving them unable to invest. Some banks called back loans taken from them at the same
dollar rate in spite of the falling value of the dollar.

9. Explain what is referred to as the G-77 countries. In what ways can G-77 be seen as a reaction to the activities of the
Bretton Woods twins?

Solution: After the Second World War, many parts of the world were still under European colonial rule, and it took over two
decades for the colonies in Asia and Africa to become free independent nations. When they became free, they faced many other
problems, such as poverty, lack of resources, etc. Economies and societies were handicapped for being under colonial rule for long
periods.

As colonies, many of the less developed regions of the world had been part of Western empires. The policy of the Bretton Woods
twins tilted more in favour of the developed nations of the Western world. Now, ironically, as newly independent countries facing
urgent pressures to lift their populations out of poverty, they came under the guidance of international agencies dominated by the
former colonial powers.

Therefore, these colonies organised themselves as a group – the Group of 77 (or G-77) – to demand a new international economic
order (NIEO). By the NIEO, they meant a system that would give them real control over their natural resources, more development
assistance, fairer prices for raw materials, and better access to their manufactured goods in developed countries’ markets.
Social science (Economics)

Class – 10

Chapter – 3 Money and Credit

Date – 22-05-24

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What is a ‘debt trap’?

Answer : Credit in some cases pushes the borrower into a situation from which recovery is very
painful.

Question 2. What is ‘credit’? What is ‘collateral’?

Answer : ‘Collateral’ is an asset that the borrower owns (such as land, building, vehicle, live stocks,
deposits with banks) and uses this as a guarantee to a lender until the loan is repaid.

Question 3. Who issues currency in India?

Answer: The Reserve Bank of India issues currency in India.

Question 4. What is barter system?

Answer : When goods are directly exchanged for goods and there is no use of money, it is called
barter system.

Question 5. What is Money Supply?

Answer: Money supply refers to total money in circulation in any country at a given point of time.

Question 6. What are informal sectors of loan?

Answer: Informal sectors include moneylenders, traders, employers, relatives and friends, etc.

Question 7. What is a commercial bank?

Answer : A commercial bank is a financial institution which deals with money and credit with a view to
earn profit.

Question 8. What are ‘demand deposits’?

Answer: People deposit their money in the bank as it earns interest. Since the deposits in the bank
accounts can be withdrawn on demand, these deposits are called demand deposits.

Question 9. What is called the medium of exchange?

Answer: Money as an intermediate in the exchange process is rightly called the medium of
exchange.
Question 10. How do banks act as a mediator?

Answer: Banks mediate between those who have surplus funds (depositors) and those who are in
need of these funds (the borrowers).

Question 11. What are the main ‘terms of credit’?

Answer: Interest rate, collateral and documentation requirement and the mode of repayment together
comprise what is called ‘terms of credit’.

Question 12. What report is submitted periodically by all the banks to RBI?

Answer: Periodically, banks have to submit information to the RBI on how much they are lending, to
whom and at what rate.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Give briefly the functions of money.

Answer : Money, in the form of cash or cheques, is a medium of exchange. Its functions, briefly, are:
1. It acts as a medium of exchange,
2. It acts as a measure of value;
3. It is source of store of value;
4. It helps us transfer value;
5. It acts as a standard for deferred payments.

Question 2. Why rupee is used, in India, as a medium of exchange?

Answer : As per law, it is only the Reserve Bank of India which issues paper notes. We find rupee as
a paper note. No individual has been authorised to issue rupees in the form of paper currency Law
recognises the use of rupees as a medium of making payment. It is used in settling transactions in
India. No individual in India can legally refuse a payment made in rupees.

Question 3. Give an example to show that double coincidence of wants is necessary in a barter
system.
Answer : A shoe manufacturer wants to sell shoes in the market and buy wheat. The shoe
manufacturer will first exchange shoes that he had produced for money, and then exchange the
money for wheat. Imagine how difficult it would be if the shoe manufacturer had to directly exchange
shoes for wheat without using money. He would have to look for a wheat growing farmer, who not
only wants to sell wheat but also wants to buy the shoes in exchange. That is, both parties have to
agree to sell and buy each other’s commodities. This is known as double coincidence of wants.

Question 4. State three disadvantages of the barter system.

Answer : Disadvantages of the barter system:

1. In a barter system, double coincidence of wants is required.

2. Here, the person is required to sell only what the other wishes to buy.
3. If both parties do not agree, the goods cannot be exchanged for goods.
Question 5. “Banks are efficient medium of exchange.” Support the statement with arguments.

Answer : Banks are efficient medium of exchange:

1. Demand deposits share the essential features of money.

2. The facility of cheque against demand deposit makes it possible to directly settle payment
without the use of cash.
3. Demand deposits are accepted widely as a means of payment.

Question 6. Why are terms of credit required for a loan or credit?

Answer: Terms of credit required for a loan or credit:

1. Terms of credit are required so that the borrower knows the conditions to take the loan.
2. The collateral, in the form of security or guarantee, is given to the lender until the loan is
repaid.
3. If the borrower fails to repay the loan, the lender has all the rights to sell the assets or collateral
to obtain the payment.
Question 7: How do farmers get into debt trap?
Answer: Farmers usually take crop loans at the beginning of the season and repay the loan after
harvest. Sometimes, the failure of the crop makes loan repayment impossible. So, the farmers have
to sell a part of their land to repay the loan. Credit in such a condition pushes the borrowers into a
situation from which recovery is painful and they get into the debt trap.

Question 8. Differentiate between demand deposits and fixed deposits

Answer: Demand deposits can be written down from the bank without any notice; fixed deposits are
withdrawn only at the time of maturity. Demand deposits are chequable; fixed deposits are not
chequable. Demand deposit constitute a part of money supply while the fixed deposits come under
the category of near money.

NCERT Questions Answers:

1. In situations with high risks, credit might create further problems for the borrower. Explain.

Answer: In situations with high risks, credit might create further problems for the borrower. Credit
involves a certain amount of loan that is taken by a borrower from a lender at a high-interest rate. In
case there is a failure, and the borrower faces loss, then they further fall into the trap of credit. This is
known as a debt trap. The borrower has to repay the credit along with interest applied by the lender,
and they further fall into the trap of credit, increasing the problems for the borrower. The borrower
also has to sell a part of their land to repay the loan.

2. How does money solve the problem of double coincidence of wants? Explain with an example
of your own.

Answer: ‘Double coincidence of wants’ is when whatever a person desires to sell is exactly what the
other wishes to buy. In a barter system, where goods are directly exchanged without the use of
money, double coincidence of wants is an essential feature. Money solved the problem of double
coincidence of wants because, after the introduction of money, people could use money as an
intermediate to buy or sell things, and no specific buyer or seller was required to exchange products.
For example, a trader wishes to sell 10 sacks full of rice and expects to get it in exchange for five
sacks of cereal. Finding a suitable buyer to sell the sacks of rice in exchange for cereals would be
very tough. However, the money will solve this problem, and the trader can sell the sacks of rice to
someone who needs it and, in return, buy cereals from the money they get from the buyer of rice.
3. How do banks mediate between those who have surplus money and those who need money?

Answer: Banks mediate between those who have surplus funds (the depositors) and those who are in
need of funds (the borrowers) by lending money to people who are in need. People can open
accounts in banks, and banks make use of that money to fulfil the loan requirements of the people. A
higher interest rate is charged for the borrower, and that profit is given to the depositor as interest for
offering deposits.

4. Look at a 10 rupee note. What is written on top? Can you explain this statement?

Answer: “Reserve Bank of India” and “Guaranteed by the Central Government” is written on the top of
a 10 rupee note. Currency in India is issued by the central bank of the country; in the case of India,
the Reserve Bank of India is the central bank of the country. The currency is issued on behalf of the
Central Government, and these two are the only authorities which are responsible for issuing
currency in India.
5. Why do we need to expand formal sources of credit in India?

Answer: Formal sources of credit are the Government authorised organisations that are eligible to
lend money to people. It is important to expand formal sources of credit in India because the informal
sources are not registered and lend money to people at very high-interest rates, which is unfair and
must not be practised. If formal sources of credit are increased, people will be able to borrow money
at lesser interest rates and will not be liable to do any extra work for the borrower. Especially in India,
if formal sources of credit are increased, people will be able to take loans and use them for the
development of the country.
6. What is the basic idea behind the SHGs for the poor? Explain in your own words.

Answer: The Self Help Groups (SHGs) have been set up in India with an aim to help the rural poor,
especially women. A typical Self Help Group comprises 15-20 people from the same neighbourhood
who save some money from their daily wages and collect them together. People can borrow money
from these groups during an emergency or when they are in need. They charge a minimum rate of
interest from the borrowers. Once the SHG has managed to save a defined amount of money, they
are also eligible to take loans from banks. The main purpose of introducing these Self Help Groups
was to increase small-scale employment opportunities for the rural people so that they could start
small businesses to earn a livelihood.

7. What are the reasons why banks might not be willing to lend to certain borrowers?
Answer: The reasons why banks might not be willing to lend money to certain borrowers are given
below:
Some people fail to provide the required set of documents to get a loan.

Irregular wages and no fixed job is also one reason because it increases the chances of non-
repayment of loans.
Certain borrowers are added to the list of NPAs.

There is a high risk in approving loans to entrepreneurs.

8. In what ways does the Reserve Bank of India supervise the functioning of banks? Why is this
necessary?

Answer: The Reserve Bank of India is the central bank of India, and all the other public sector banks
work under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India. It manages the functioning of the banks in
the following ways:

a. It monitors the bank in maintaining the cash balance.

b. Loans are not just given to profit-making organisations but also to small cultivators and
small-scale industries.
c. RBI maintains a periodic report of other banks regarding the amount loaned to people.
d. It also keeps a regular check on the interest rates set for loans in public sector banks.
9. Analyse the role of credit for development.

Answer: Credit is one of the major aspects of the development of a country. Affordable credit plays a
very important role in the country’s development. People need loans for different reasons, and to
meet this requirement, credit is very important. In India, a major part of the population is engaged in
agricultural activities; credit plays a very crucial role in agricultural activities. People can borrow
money and use modern farming methods to grow crops which are more reliable than the traditional
methods of growing crops. Apart from this, there are small-scale industries, businesses and various
other sectors where credit can help people and ultimately result in the development of the country.

10. Manav needs a loan to set up a small business. On what basis will Manav decide whether to
borrow from the bank or the moneylender? Discuss.

Answer: Manav wants to set up a small business. He needs to keep the below-mentioned things in
mind while deciding whether to borrow money from a bank or money lender:

He needs to compare the interest rate charged by both the bank and the moneylender. Whoever
charges less should be his option.

He needs to analyse whether he has all the eligible documents required by the banks to get his loan
approved.

11. In India, about 80 per cent of farmers are small farmers who need credit for cultivation.
a. Why might banks be unwilling to lend to small farmers?

Answer: Banks might be unwilling to lend money to small farmers because there are high risks. If the
harvest gets ruined, there is a possibility that they might not be able to receive the instalments on
time. Also, proper documentation is required to get a loan from the bank, which might not be available
to small-scale farmers.

b. What are the other sources from which the small farmers can borrow?
Answer: Small farmers can move to informal sources of credit if they are not borrowing money from a
bank. These informal sources of credit include moneylenders, agricultural traders, etc.
 c. Explain with an example of how the terms of credit can be unfavourable for the small
farmer.

Answer: When a small-scale farmer borrows money from a bank, they have to repay the amount at a
fixed rate of interest. For example, if a farmer borrows money from the bank and, during the harvest
season, their crops are ruined, then they shall not be able to repay the amount loaned to them by the
bank and will further fall into the debt trap.

d. Suggest some ways by which small farmers can get cheap credit.
Answer: Small farmers can get cheap credit from formal sources of credit like banks.

12. Choose the most appropriate answer.

1. In an SHG, most of the decisions regarding savings and loan activities are taken by
a. Bank
b. Members
c. Non-government organisation

Answer: b. Members

1. Formal sources of credit do not include

a. Banks
b. Cooperatives
c. Employers

Answer: c. Employers
 CH-3 GENDER, RELIGION AND CASTE
Question-1
Mention different aspects of life in which women are discriminated or disadvantaged in India.
Solution:
Family laws of all religions discriminate against women.
There are reports of various kinds of harassment, exploitation and violence against women. Urban areas have
become particularly unsafe for women.
In India, the proportion of women in legislature has been very low. For example, the percentage of elected women
members in Lok Sabha has never reached even 10 per cent of its total strength. Their share in the state assemblies
is less than 5 per cent. In this respect, India is among the bottom group of nations in the world.

Question-2
State different forms of communal politics with one example each.
Solution:
Different forms of communal politics are as given below:

1. Everyday beliefs: Religious prejudices, stereotypes of religious communities, and belief in the
superiority of one’s religion over other religions are so common that we often fail to notice them
even when we believe in it. For example even today the members of lower classes are not allowed to
enter the temples in many regions.
2. Majoritarian dominance: A majority community tries to dominate other communities in politics.
This may compel the minority community to form a separate political unit. For example, in Sri
Lanka, majoritarianism has been followed which has resulted in conflict in the country.
3. Political mobilization on religious lines: Religious appeals are made to voters to attract their votes.
Sometimes sacred symbols and religious leaders are used to bring the followers of one religion
together in the political arena. Religious leaders are asked to propagate in favour of a political party.
Emotional appeals are made on the basis of religion.
4. Communal violence: Sometimes communalism takes the ugliest form of communal violence, riots,
and massacre. India and Pakistan suffered some of the worst communal riots at the time of the
partition. Even after independence, riots on communal lines have taken place in India.

Question-3
State how caste inequalities are still continuing in India.
Solution:
Caste inequalities are still continuing in India in the following ways:

1. Most people still marry within their own caste or tribe. The upper caste people or sometimes other
caste people too do not allow inter-caste marriages.
2. Untouchability has been prohibited by the Constitution but in practice, it still exists in different parts
of the country, particularly in rural areas.
3. In the field of education too the position is far from satisfactory. The caste groups that had access to
education under the old system have done very well in acquiring modern I education as well. But
those groups who did not have access to education or were prohibited from acquiring it have
naturally lagged behind.
 4. Caste is still an important source of economic inequality because it regulates access to
resources of various kinds while the upper classes are best off, the Dalits and Adivasis are worst off,
and the backward classes are in between.
5. Although every caste has some poor members, the proportion of living in extreme poverty is much
higher for the lowest castes.
6. Lower caste people like rural landless labourers, are generally poor and are exploited even today.
Caste still continues to be closely linked to economic status. The percentage of the population living
below the poverty line between 1999-2000 was 45.8 (STs), 35.9% (SCs), and 27% (OBCs) in rural
areas.

Question-4
State two reasons to say that caste alone cannot determine election results in India.
Solution:
When parties choose candidates in elections, they keep in mind the caste composition of the electorate and
nominate candidates from different castes so as to muster necessary support to win elections. When governments
are formed, political parties usually take care that representatives of different castes and tribes find a place in it.

Universal adult franchise and the principle of one-person-one-vote compelled political leaders to gear up to the task
of mobilising and securing political support. It also brought new consciousness among the people of castes that
were hitherto treated as inferior and low.
Question-5
What is the status of women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies?
Solution:
The status of women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies is very less as mentioned
below :

1. In Lok Sabha, the percentage of elected women members has never reached even 10 percent of its
total strength.
2. Their share in the state assemblies is less than 5 percent. India is among the bottom group of nations
in the world in this respect. Women in national parliaments in different regions are as given below :
 Nordic Countries – 40%
 America – 20.2%
 Europe – 19.6%
 Asia – 16.3%
 India – 8.3%
 Arab States – 8.2% 1
Thus, India is ahead of Arab states only.
3. Cabinets are also male-dominated even when a woman becomes a Chief Minister or the Prime
Minister.
4. Thus the proportion of women in legislative bodies has been very low. Women’s organizations and
activists have been demanding reservation of at least one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and State
Assemblies for women. A bill with this proposal has been pending before the parliament for more
than a decade but due to lack of consensus among the political parties, it has not been passed.

Question-6
Mention any two constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.
Solution:
There is no official religion for the Indian state. Unlike the status of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, that of Islam in
Pakistan and that of Christianity in England, our Constitution does not give a special status to any religion.
The Constitution provides to all individuals and communities freedom to profess, practice and propagate any
religion, or not to follow any.