SST Questions

Question 1.
What was the major change that occurred in the political and constitutional scenario due to the
French Revolution in Europe? (2015 D)
Answer:
It led to the transfer of sovereignty from the monarchy to a body of French citizens. The revolution
proclaimed that it was the people who would henceforth constitute the nation and shape its destiny.
Question 2.
What was the main aim of the French revolutionaries? (2015 OD)
Answer:
The main aim of the French revolutionaries was to create a sense of collective identity amongst the
French people. They proclaimed that it was the people who would constitute the nation and shape
its decisions.
Question 3.
What is the meaning of concentration camps? (2015 OD)
Answer:
Concentration camps are prisons where people are detained and tortured without due process of
law.
Question 4.
Name the Treaty of 1832 that recognised Greece as an independent nation. (2016 D)
Answer:
Treaty of 1832: Constantinople
Question 5.
Name the event that mobilised nationalist feelings among the educated elite across Europe in 1830-
1848? (2016 D)
Answer:
The Greek War of Independence in 1821.

Question 6.
What was the main aim of revolutionaries of Europe during the years following 1815? (2016 D)
Answer:
The main aim of revolutionaries of Europe was to oppose monarchial forms of government.
Question 7.
Who remarked “when France sneezes the rest of Europe catches cold”. (2016 OD)
Answer:
Duke Metternich
Question 8.
Who was proclaimed German Emperor in a ceremony held at Versailles in January 1871? (2016 OD)
Answer:
Kaiser William I of Prussia was proclaimed German Emperor in a ceremony held at Versailles in
January 1871.
Question 9.
Who was proclaimed the King of United Italy in 1861? (2016 OD)
Answer:
Victor Emmanuel-II
Short Answer Questions (SA) 3 Marks
Question 10.
Explain any three beliefs of the conservatism that emerged after 1815. (2011 D)
Answer:
Three beliefs of conservatism that emerged after 1815 were:

Established and traditional institutions of state and society like monarchy, the Church, property and
family should be preserved.
They believed in the modernization of the traditional institution to strengthen them, rather than
returning to the society of pre-revolutionary days.
Also they believed that abolition of feudalism and serfdom and replacing it with a modern army, an
efficient bureaucracy and a dynamic economy could strengthen autocratic monarchies of Europe.
Question 11.
Explain the contribution of Otto von Bismarck in German unification. (2011 D)
Answer:
Contribution of Otto von Bismarck in German unification. Nationalist feelings started spreading
amongst the middle class Germans, who in 1848, tried to unite different parts of German
confederation into a nation state to have an elected parliamentarian government. However, this
liberal movement was repressed by the combined forces of monarchy and military supported by
Prussian landowners.
Prussian Chief Minister, Otto von Bismarck, took the responsibility of national unification with the
help of Prussian army and bureaucracy. Under his leadership he fought three wars over seven years
with Austria, Denmark and France. Prussia was victorious in all these wars and the process of
unification of Germany was completed as a result of Prussia’s victory over France.
Question 12.
Explain any three ways in which nationalist feelings were kept alive in Poland in the 18th and 19th
centuries. (2011 OD)
Answer:
The three ways in which nationalist feelings were kept alive in 18th and 19th centuries in Poland:
(i) Emphasis on vernacular language. Language played an important role in developing nationalist
sentiments. The use of the Polish language came to be seen as a symbol of struggle against Russian
dominance. For example, In Poland, following armed rebellion against Russian rule, Polish was used
for church gatherings and religious instruction. As a result, a number of priests and bishops were put
in jails or sent to Siberia as punishment for their refusal to preach in Russian.
(ii) Emphasis on collection of local folklore. It was not just to recover an ancient national spirit, but
also to carry the modern nationalist message to the large audience who were mostly illiterate.
(iii) Use of music to keep the nationalist feeling alive. For example, Karol Kurpinski, celebrated the
national struggle through his operas and music, turning folk dances like the polonaise and mazurka
into nationalist symbols.
Question 13.
Explain the contribution of Giuseppe Mazzini in spreading revolutionary ideas in Europe. (2011 OD)
Answer:
The year following 1815, was the period of revolutionaries. Most of the revolutionaries were
committed to oppose monarchical forms and to fight for liberty and freedom
One such prominent revolutionary was “Giuseppe Mazzini”, an Italian revolutionary. Mazzini also
saw the creation of nation-states as a necessary part in the struggle for freedom. Ele strongly
believed in the unification of Italy as a single unified republic which could be the basis of Italian
liberty.
Mazzini’s relentless opposition to monarchy and his vision of a democratic republic frightened the
Conservatives. His ideas also influenced the revolutionaries of Germany, France, Switzerland and
Poland. Question 14. Describe any three reforms introduced by Napoleon in the territories he
conquered. (2011 D)
Answer:
Three reforms introduced by Napoleon in the territories he conquered were:
The Napoleonic Code —It finished all the privileges based on birth and established equality before
law and secured the right to property.
He simplified administrative divisions, abolished the feudal system and freed peasants from serfdom
and manorial dues.
He introduced uniform laws, standardized weights and measures and common national currency to
facilitate the movement and exchange of goods and capital from one place to another.
Question 15.
Explain any three causes of conflict in the ‘Balkan area’ after 1871. (2011 OD)
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 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.
(iv) Balkan also became the scene of big power rivalry. Russia, Germany, England, Austria, Hungry —
all big powers were keen in countering the hold of other powers. This ultimately turned Balkan into a
war region which eventually provided a minor cause for the First World War.
Question 16.
How did the local people in the areas conquered by Napoleon react to French rule? Explain. (2014 D)
Answer:
The reactions of the local population to the French rule were mixed.
Initially, in many places such as Holland and Switzerland, as well as in cities like Brussels, Mainz,
Milan and Warsaw, the French armies were welcomed as harbingers of liberty. As new
administrative arrangements did not go hand in hand with political freedom, enthusiasm turned into
hostility. Increased taxation, censorship, forced conscription into the French armies to conquer the
rest of Europe, outweighed the advantages of the administrative changes.
Question 17.
Explain the conditions that were viewed as obstacles to the economic exchange and growth by the
new commercial classes during the nineteenth century in Europe. (2014 OD)
Answer:
In the economic sphere, liberalism stood for the freedom of markets and the abolition of state-
imposed restrictions on movement of goods and capital.
But in the 19th century Napoleon’s administrative measures had created out of countless small
principalities a confederation of 39 states. Each possessed its own currency, and weights and
measures.
A merchant travelling from Hamburg to Nuremberg had to pass through 11 custom barriers and pay
5% duty at each one of them.
As each region had its own system of weights and measures this involved time-consuming
calculations.
Such conditions were viewed as obstacles to economic growth and exchange by the new commercial
classes who argued for the creation of a unified economic territory allowing free movement of
goods, people and capital.
Question 18.
Describe the events of French Revolution which had influenced the people belonging to other parts
of Europe. (2015 D)
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:
The Estate General was elected by the body of active citizens and renamed the National Assembly.
New hymns were composed, oaths taken and martyrs commemorated all in the name of the nation.
A centralised administrative system was put in place and it formulated uniform laws for all citizens
within its territory.
Internal customs, duties and dues were abolished and a uniform system of weights and measures
was adopted.
Regional dialects were discouraged and French, as it was spoken and written in Paris, became the
common language of the nation.
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.
Question 19.
How did nationalism develop through culture in Europe? Explain. (2015 OD, 2013 OD)
Or
Describe the role of culture in shaping the feelings of nationalism in Europe from 1830 to the end of
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
Russian occupation, the Polish language was forced out of schools and 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.
Question 20.
How had the female figures become an allegory of the nation during nineteenth century in Europe?
Analyse. (2016 D)
Answer:
Artists in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries portrayed nations as female figures. The female
form, that was chosen to personify the nation, did not stand for any particular woman in real life.
Rather it sought to give the abstract idea of the nation in concrete form. That is, the female figure
became the allegory of the nation.
In France, she was named Marianne —a popular Christian name and in Germany, Germania.
Germania wears a crown of oak leaves as the German oak stands for heroism. The characteristics of
Marianne were drawn from those of Liberty and Republic —the red cap, the tricolour and cockade.
Question 21.
Describe any three steps taken by the French revolutionaries to create a sense of collective identity
amongst the French people. (2017 D)
Answer:
unity and nationhood For this, they emphasized the concept of France being the father land (La
A centralized administrative system was put in place and it formulated uniform laws for all citizens
was adopted.
Question 22.
Describe any three economic hardships faced by Europe in the 1830s. 2017OD
Answer:
Following are the causes of economic hardships in Europe during 1830s:

Europe had come under the grip of large scale unemployment. In most of the countries there were
more seekers of jobs than employment. Cities had become overcrowded and slums had emerged as
population from the rural areas migrated to the cities.
Small producers in towns were often faced with stiff competition from imports of cheap machine-
made goods from England where industrialization was more advanced specially in the field of textile
production.
In those regions of Europe, where aristocracy still enjoyed power, peasants struggled under the
burden of feudal dues and obligations. The rise of food prices and bad harvests added to the
hardships of the peasants.
Long Answer Questions 5 Marks
Question 23.
What did Liberal Nationalism stand for? Explain any four ideas of Liberal Nationalists in the economic
sphere. (2011 OD)
Answer:
Liberalism or Liberal Nationalism stood for freedom for the individual and equality of all before the
law. Lour ideas of Liberal Nationalists in the economic sphere are:
Liberalism stood for freedom of markets and abolition of state imposed restriction. For example,
Napoleon’s administration was a confederation of 29 states, each of these possessed its own
currencies, weight and measures. Such conditions were viewed as obstacles to economic exchange.
Liberal Nationalists argued for the creation of a unified economic territory allowing the unhindered
movement of goods, people and capital.
In 1834, a customs union or ” zollverein” was formed. The union abolished tariff barriers and
reduced the number of currencies from 30 to 2.
The creation of a network of railways further stimulated mobility, harnessing economic interest to
national unification.
Question 24.
“Napoleon had, no doubt, destroyed democracy in France, but in the administrative field he had
incorporated revolutionary principles in order to make the whole system more rational and
efficient.” Support the statement. (2016 OD, 2014 OD, 2012 D)
Or
Explain any five social and administrative reforms introduced by Napolean in regions under his
control.
Answer:
Napoleon had brought revolutionary changes in the administrative field in order to make the whole
system rational and efficient. The Civil Code of 1804 is usually known as the Napoleonic Code.
The first major change was doing away with all privileges based on birth, establishing equality before
law and securing the right to property.
Administrative divisions were simplified.
Feudal system was abolished and peasants were freed from serfdom and manorial dues (abuse of
manorial lords).
In towns, guild restrictions were removed.
Transport and communication systems were improved.
Peasants, artisans, workers and new businessmen enjoyed a new found freedom.
Businessmen and small-scale producers of goods in particular began to realize that uniform laws,
standardised weights and measures and a common national currency would facilitate the movement
and exchange of goods and capital from one region to another.
Question 25.
How did culture play an important role in creating the idea of the ‘nation’ in Europe? Explain with
examples. (2013 D)
Answer:
Culture, music, dance and religion played an important role in the growth of nationalism.
(i) 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) Artists in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries portrayed nations as female figures. The
female form, that was chosen to personify the nation, did not stand for any particular woman in real
life. Rather it sought to give the abstract idea of the nation in concrete form. That is, the female
figure became the allegory of the nation.
In France, she was named Marianne—a popular Christian name and in Germany, Germania.
(iii) Language too played an important role in developing nationalist sentiments. After Russian
occupation, the Polish language was forced out of schools and 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.
(iv) 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 popularized.
Question 26.
Explain any five economic hardships that Europe faced in the 1830s. (2016 OD, 2013 OD, 2011 D)
Or
“The decode of 1830 has brought great economic hardship in Europe”. Support the statement with
arguments.
Following are the causes of economic hardships in Europe during 1830s:
Europe had come under the grip of large scale unemployment. In most of the countries there were
more seekers of jobs than employment.
Cities had become overcrowded and slums had emerged as population from the rural areas
migrated to the cities.
Small producers in towns were often faced with stiff competition from imports of cheap machine-
made goods from England where industrialization was more advanced specially in the field of textile
production.
In those regions of Europe, where aristocracy still enjoyed power, peasants struggled under the
burden of feudal dues and obligations.
The rise of food prices and bad harvests added to the hardships of the peasants.
Question 27.
Describe any five measures which were introduced by the French Revolutionaries to create a sense
of collective identity amongst the French people. (2016 D, 2015 OD, 2012 OD)
Answer:
unity and nationhood. For this, they emphasized the concept of France being the father land (La
A centralized administrative system was put in place and it formulated uniform laws for all citizens
was adopted.
Question 28.
How had revolutionaries spread their ideas in many European States after 1815? Explain with
examples. (2014 OD)
Answer:
Answer:
During the years following 1815, the fear of repression drove many liberal nationalists underground.
Secret societies sprang up in many European states to train revolutionaries and spread their ideas.
Revolutionary ideas were spread by opposing monarchical forms and to fight for liberty and
freedom.
Most of the revolutionaries also saw the creation of nation-states as a necessary part of this struggle
for freedom.
Giuseppe Mazzini was an Italian revolutionary bom in Geneva in 1807. He was a member of the
Secret Society of the Carbonari. He attempted a revolution in 1831 and was sent into exile.
He had set up two more underground societies, namely, Young Italy (1832) in Marseilles and then
Young Europe in Berne. The members were like-minded young men from Poland, France, Italy and
Germany.
He opposed monarchy and small states and kingdoms and dreamt of a Democratic Republic. He
believed the unification of Italy alone could be the basis of Italian liberty.
Question 29.
Describe the process of unification of Germany. (2015 D, 2013 D, 2012 D)
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
Versailes and proclaimed the Prussian King, Kaiser William, the new German Emperor.
Question 30.
Explain the process of unification of Italy. (2015 D, 2013 D, 2012 OD)
Answer:
Italy too had a long history of political fragmentation. Italians were scattered over dynastic states
and the multinationals Hamsburg 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 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.
Question 31.
Describe the process of Unification of Britain.
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.
Question 1.
What was the Rowlatt Act? (2011 OD)
Answer:
Rowlatt Act gave the government enormous powers to suppress political activities and allowed
detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. In other words, the Act proposed no
appeal, no vakil and no daleel.
Question 2.
Why was the Rowlatt Act imposed? (2011 D)
Answer:
The imposing of the Rowlatt Act authorized the government to imprison any person without trial
and conviction in a court of law.
Question 3.
In which session of the Indian National Congress was the demand for ‘Puma Swaraj’ formalized?
(2012 D)
Answer:
Lahore Session, December 1929.
Question 4.
Who composed ‘Vande Mataram’? (2012 D)
Answer:
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Question 5.
Who created the first image of Bharat Mata? (2012 D)
Answer:
Abanindranath Tagore
Question 6.
Why was the Khilafat movement started? (2012 OD)
Answer:
Khilafat movement was started by Mahatma Gandhi and the Ali Brothers, Muhammad Ali and
Shaukat Ali in response to the harsh treatment given to the Caliph of Ottoman empire and the
dismemberment of the Ottoman empire by the British.
Question 7.
What combination of colours was there in the ‘Swaraj flag’ designed by Gandhiji in 1921? (2012 OD)
Answer:
Red, Green and White.
Question 8.
What was the main reason to withdraw the Non-cooperation Movement? (2013 OD)
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi called off the Non-cooperation Movement as the movement had turned violent in
many places. The Chauri Chaura incident in 1922 turned into a violent dash and 22 policemen were
killed. Gandhiji felt satyagrahis were not ready for mass struggles.
Question 9.
Which Act did not permit plantation workers to leave the tea garden without permission?
Answer:
Inland Emigration Act of 1859.
Question 10.
Name two main ‘Satyagraha’ movements organized by Mahatma Gandhi successfully in favour of
peasants in 1916 and 1917. (2013 D)
Answer:
Indigo Planters Movement in Champaran, Bihar in 1916.
Peasants Satyagraha Movement was organized in Kheda district in Gujarat in 1917 to support
peasants in the demand for relaxation of revenue collection.
Question 11.
Who is the author of the famous book ‘Hind Swaraj’? (2014 D)
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi.
Question 12.
In which novel was the hymn ‘Vande Mataram’ included and who was the novel written by? (2014
OD)
Answer:
Novel—Aandamath
Author — Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Question 13.
In which year and place did Mahatma Gandhi organise Satyagraha for the first time in India? (2014
D)
Answer:
In 1916, in Champaran, Bihar.
Question 14.
Explain the idea of Satyagraha according to Gandhiji. (2014 D)
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915 from South Africa. Gandhiji’s novel method of mass
agitation is know as ‘Satyagraha’. Satyagraha emphasised truth. Gandhiji believed that if the cause is
true, if the struggle is against injustice, then physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.
A satyagrahi can win the battle through non-violence. People, including oppressors, had to be
persuaded to see the truth. Truth was bound to ultimately triumph. Gandhiji believed that dharma
of non-violence could unite all India.
Question 15.
Explain the effects of ‘worldwide economic depression’ on India, towards late 1920s. (2013 OD)
Answer:
In 19th century, colonial India had become an exporter of agricultural goods and an importer of
manufactures.
The worldwide economic depression immediately affected Indian trade. India’s exports and imports
nearly halved between 1928 and 1934. As international prices crashed, prices in India also plunged.
Peasants producing for the world market were worst hit. Though agricultural prices fell, the colonial
government refused to reduce revenue demands. Peasants indebtedness increased. For example,
Jute producers of Bengal.
In these depression years, India became an exporter of precious metals, notably gold.
Question 16.
Explain any three facts about the new economic situation created in India by the First World War.
(2011 D)
Answer:
The First World War created a dramatically new economic situation in India:
(i) Manchester imports into India declined as the British mills were busy with war production to
meet the needs of the army paving the way for the Indian mills to supply for the huge home market.
(ii) As the war prolonged, Indian factories were called upon to supply war needs. As a result new
factories were set up, new workers were employed and everyone was made to work longer hours.
(iii) Cotton production collapsed and exports of cotton cloth from Britain fell dramatically after the
war, as it was unable to modernize and compete with US, Germany, Japan. Hence within colonies
like India, local industrialists gradually consolidated their position capturing the home market.
Question 17.
How did the plantation workers understand the idea of ‘Swaraj’? Explain. (2011 OD)
Answer:
For the plantation workers of Assam, “Swaraj” meant freedom to move freely in and out of the
confined space in which they all were enclosed and also to be able to keep the link with their native
village intact. Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, plantation workers were not allowed to leave
their tea gardens without permission, which they were rarely given.
When they heard of the Non-cooperation Movement, thousands of workers defied authorities, left
the plantations and headed home.
Question 18.
Explain the circumstances under which Gandhiji decided to call off the Civil Disobedience Movement
in 1931. (2012 OD)
Answer:
Gandhiji decided to call off the Civil Disobedience movement in 1931 because:
Political leaders like Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan were arrested. More than one lakh people were
arrested.
Government responded with brutal repression and peaceful satyagrahis were arrested. Women and
children were beaten up.
It resulted in an uprising in Peshawar in 1930.
Industrial workers in Sholapur attacked police post. In Chittagong, the revolutionaries captured the
armoury and a pitched battle was fought between the government troops and the revolutionaries.
(any three)
In such a situation, Gandhiji called off the movement and the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed.
Question 19.
Explain the reaction of Indian people against the Rowlatt Act passed through the Imperial Legislative
Council in 1919. (2012 OD)
Answer:
Reaction of Indian people against the Rowlatt Act of 1919:

Rallies were organized against this Act.
Railways, workshops and shops closed down.
The procession in Amritsar provoked widespread attacks on buses, post offices, railway stations,
telegraphic lines, etc.
On 6th April Gandhiji held Hartal against this unjust law (Rowlatt Act).
The peaceful demonstration in Jallianwala Bagh led to a violent movement all across the country.
Question 20.
How had the First World War created a new economic situation in India? Explain with three
examples. (2013 D)
Answer:
The First World War created a dramatically new economic situation in India:
(i) Manchester imports into India declined as the British mills were busy with war production to
meet the needs of the army paving the way for the Indian mills to supply for the huge home market.
(ii) As the war prolonged, Indian factories were called upon to supply war needs. As a result new
factories were set up, new workers were employed and everyone was made to work longer hours.
(iii) Cotton production collapsed and exports of cotton cloth from Britain fell dramatically after the
war, as it was unable to modernize and compete with US, Germany, Japan. Hence within colonies
like India, local industrialists gradually consolidated their position capturing the home market.
Question 21.
How was Rowlatt Act opposed by the people in India? Explain with examples. (2013 D)
Answer:
Gandhiji, who had formed a Satyagraha Sabha earlier, called for a countrywide protest against the
proposed Rowlatt Act. Throughout the country, 6 April 1919 was observed as a National Humiliation
Day. Gandhiji wanted a non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws. Hartals (Strikes) and
rallies were organized in various cities. Workers went on strike in railway workshops. Shops closed
down. The movement was non-violent but proved to be effective.
Question 22.
Why did Gandhiji decide to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919?
How was it organised Explain. (2016 D, 2015 D, 2014 OD)
Answer:
The Rowlatt Act was passed despite the united opposition of the Indian members of Imperial
Legislative Council.
The Act gave the government enormous powers to oppress political agitations.
It had allowed the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. There was no provision
for appeal.
The passing of this Act aroused large scale indignation.
Gandhiji, who had formed a Satyagraha Sabha earlier, called for a countrywide protest against the
proposed Rowlatt Act. Throughout the country, 6 April 1919 was observed as a National Humiliation
Day. Gandhiji wanted a non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws. Hartals and rallies
were organized in various cities. Workers went on strike in railway workshops. Shops were closed
down. The movement was non-violent but proved to be effective.
Question 23.
Which were the two types of demands mentioned by Gandhiji in his letter to Viceroy Irwin on 31st
January 1930? Why was abolition of ‘salt tax’ most stirring demand? Explain. (2013 OD)
Answer:
Some of the demands were of general interest; others were specific demands of different classes
from industrialists to peasants.
On 31st January, 1930 Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands, one of which
was the demand to abolish Salt Tax.
Salt was one of the most essential food items consumed by the rich and poor alike and a tax on it
was considered an oppression on the people by the British Government.
Gandhiji’s letter was an ultimatum and if his demands were not fulfilled by March 11, he had
threatened to launch a civil disobedience campaign.
Question 24.
Explain any three problems faced by the peasants of Awadh. (2011 D)

Answer:
Three problems faced by the peasants of Awadh were:
Talukdars and landlords demanded exorbitantly high rents and a variety of other taxes from the
peasants.
Peasants had to do begar and work at the landlords’ farms without any payment.
As tenants they had no security of tenure and were being regularly evicted so that they could
acquire no right over the leased land.
Question 25.
Explain any three reasons for the lukewarm response of some Muslim organizations to the Civil
Disobedience Movement. (2011 D)
Answer:
Three reasons for lukeivarm response of some Muslim organizations to Civil Disobedience
Movement were:
After the decline of Non-cooperation-Khilafat movement, a large section of Muslims felt alienated
from the Indian National Congress.
The visible and open association of Congress with Hindu religious nationalist groups like the Hindu
Mahasabha in mid 1920s made the Muslims suspicious of Congress motives.
The frequent communal clashes not only deepened the distance between the two communities but
also there was an important difference over the question of representation in the future assemblies
that were to be elected.
Question 26.
Explain any three effects of the Non-cooperation Movement on the economy of India. (2011 OD)
Answer:
The economic sphere was affected by the Non-cooperation Movement:
Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops were picketed and foreign cloth was burnt. The import
of foreign cloth halved between 1921-1922. Its value dropped from ₹ 102 crore to ₹ 57 crore.
Many merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade.
People began discarding imported clothes and wearing Indian ones.

The production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up. Use of khadi was popularized.
Question 27.
How did the rich peasants and women take part in Civil Disobedience Movement? (2011 OD)
Answer:
Role of rich peasants:
Being producers of commercial crops, they were hard hit by trade-depression and falling prices.
As their cash income reduced, they found it impossible to pay the government’s revenue demand.
These rich peasants became ardent supporters of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
For them fight for Swaraj was a struggle against high revenues.
Role of women:
Women participated in protest marches, manufactured salt and picketed foreign cloth and liquor
shops. Many women went to jail.
Women who participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement, came from high-caste families in
urban areas and rich peasant households in rural areas.
Question 28.
Why did Non-cooperation Movement gradually slow down in cities? Explain any three reasons.
(2012 D, 2013 OD)
Answer:
The Non-cooperation Movement gradually slowed down in cities for a variety of reasons:
Khadi cloth was more expensive than mill cloth and poor people could not afford to buy it. As a
result they could not boycott mill cloth for too long.
Alternative Indian institutions were not there which could be used in place of the British ones. These
were slow to come up.
So students and teachers began trickling back to government schools and lawyers joined back work
in government courts.
Question 29.
Describe the role of the peasants in Awadh in the Non-cooperation Movement. (2012 D)
Answer:
Role of the peasants in Awadh in the Non-cooperation Movement:
In Awadh, the peasants’ movement was led by Baba Ramchandra—a Sanyasi who had earlier
worked in Fiji as indentured labour.
The movement was against taluqdars and landlords who demanded high rents from the peasants.
Peasants had to do ‘bega/ and work at landlords’ farms without any payment. As tenants, they had
no security of tenure and could be evicted without any notice.
The peasants’ movement demanded reduction of revenue, abolition of begar and social boycott of
these landlords.
In many places Nai-Dhobi bandits were organized to deprive landlords of the services of even
washermen and barbers.
In 1920, Jawahar Lai Nehru began talking to the villagers and formed ‘Oudh Kisan Sabha’. Within a
month 300 branches had been setup in the villages.
As the movement spread in 1921, the houses of taluqdars and merchants were attacked, bazaars
were looted and grain hoards were taken over.
Question 30.
Describe any three major problems faced by the peasants of Awadh in the days of Non-Cooperation
Movement. (2015 OD)
Answer:
The movement of Awadh peasants was led by:
The peasants’ movement 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, thus being 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.
Question 31.
Explain any three measures taken by the British administration to repress the movement started
against the ‘Rowlatt Act’. (2013 OD)
Answer:
British officials were alarmed by the popular upsurge:
The fear that the lines of communication, such as railways and telegraph, might get disrupted, the
British Government started even stronger repressive measures.
Local leaders were picked up. Gandhiji was barred from entering Delhi. On 10th April, 1919 the
police in Amritsar fired upon a peaceful procession.
This provoked widespread attacks on banks, post offices and railway stations. Martial law was
imposed and General Dyer took command.
Question 32.
Describe any three suppressive measures taken by the British administration to clampdown on
nationalists. (2014 D)
Answer:
Suppressive measures taken by the British administration were:
(i) The fear that the lines of communication, such as railways and telegraph, might get disrupted, the
British Government started even stronger repressive measures. Local leaders were picked up.
Gandhiji was barred from entering Delhi. On 10th April, 1919 the police in Amritsar fired upon a
peaceful procession.
(ii) This provoked widespread attacks on banks, post offices and railway stations. Martial law was
imposed and General Dyer took command. The government replied with further brutalities. The
people of Punjab were made to crawl on the streets and salute to all ‘Sahibs’. Some were put in
open cages and flogged.
(iii) Newspapers were banned and their editors were arrested. A reign of terror followed.
Intellectuals like Rabindranath Tagore renounced their knighthood.
Question 33.
Describe the main features of the ‘Salt March’. (2014 OD)
Or
How did the Salt March become an effective tool of resistance against colonialism? Explain. (2015
OD, 2016)
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation.
On 31st January, 1930 he sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands, one of which was
the demand to abolish Salt Tax.
Salt was one of the most essential food items consumed by the rich and poor alike and a tax on it
was considered an oppression on the people by the British Government.
Mahatma Gandhi’s letter was an ultimatum and if his demands were not fulfilled by March 11, he
had threatened to launch a civil disobedience campaign.
So, Mahatma Gandhi started his famous Salt March accompanied by 78 of his trusted volunteers.
The march was over 240 miles, from Gandhiji’s ashram in Sabarmati to the Gujarati coastal town of
Dandi.
The volunteers walked for 24 days, about 10 miles a day. Thousands came to hear Mahatma Gandhi
wherever he stopped, and he told them what he meant by Swaraj and urged them to peacefully defy
the British.
On 6th April, he reached Dandi, and ceremonially violated the law, manufacturing salt by boiling sea
water. This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Question 34.
“The Congress was reluctant to include the demands of industrial workers in its programme of
struggle.” Analyse the reasons. (2015 D)
Answer:
Some workers did participate in the civil disobedience movement, selectively adopting some of the
ideas of the Gandhian programme, like boycott of foreign goods as a part of their own movements
against low wages and poor working conditions.
There were strikes by railway workers in 1930 and dock workers in 1932. Thousands of workers in
Chotanagpur tin mines wore Gandhi caps and participated in protest rallies and boycott campaigns.
The Congress was reluctant to include the demands of workers as part of its programme of struggle.
It felt that this would alienate industrialists and divide the anti-imperial forces.
Question 35.
Why did the Non-Cooperation Movement gradually slow down in the cities? Explain (2015 D)
Answer:
Non-cooperation movement gradually slowed down in the cities for a variety of reasons:
Khadi cloth was often more expensive than mass produced mill cloth and poor people could not
afford to buy it.
Boycott of British institutions posed a problem for the movement to be successful. Alternative Indian
institutions had to be set up so that they could be used in place of the British ones.
The institutions were slow to come up. So teachers and students began trickling back to the
government schools and even lawyers joined back work in government courts.
Question 36.
Why did Mahatma Gandhiji decide to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922?
Explain the reasons. (2015 D)
Answer:
In February 1922, Gandhiji decided to launch a no tax movement. The police opened fire at the
people who were taking part in a demonstration, without any provocation. The people turned
violent in their anger and attacked the police station and set fire to it. The incident took place at
Chauri Chaura in Uttar Pradesh. When the news reached Gandhiji, he decided to call off the Non-
cooperation movement as he felt that it was turning violent and that the satyagrahis were not
properly trained for mass struggle.
Question 37.
Describe the main features of ‘Poona Pact’. (2015 OD)
Answer:
The Poona Pact:
(i) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who organised the dalits into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930
demanded separate electorates for dalits in the Second Round Table Conference organised in
London.
(ii) When British accepted this demand in the name of Communal Award, Gandhiji started a fast into
death. He believed that separate electorates for dalits would slow down the process of their
integration into the society.
(iii) Ambedkar and Gandhi came to an agreement with Ambedkar accepting Gandhis position and the
result was the Poona Pact of September, 1932.
It gave the depressed classes (later to be known as Schedule castes) reserved seats in provincial and
central legislative councils.
But, they were to be voted in by the general electorate.
Question 38.
Describe the spread of Non-Cooperation Movement in the countryside. (2015 OD)
Answer:
The Non-cooperation movement spread to the countryside also. It drew into the struggles of
peasants and tribals from different parts of India.
(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,
thus being 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. It meant retaining a link with the village from which
they had come. Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, plantation workers were not permitted to
leave tea gardens without permission. In fact the permission was hardly granted. When they heard
of the Non¬Cooperation Movement, thousands of workers defied the authorities and left for their
homes.
Question 39.
“The plantation workers in Assam had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion
of Swaraj”. Support the statement with arguments. (2016 OD)
Answer:
of Swaraj” —
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 the tea
gardens without permission.
Swaraj meant retaining a link with the village from which they had come.
When they heard of the Non-cooperation Movement, thousands of workers defied the authorities,
left the plantations and headed home.
They believed that Gandhi Raj was coming and everyone would be given land in their own village.
Question 40.
What type of flag was designed during the ‘Swadeshi Movement’ in Bengal? Explain its main
features. (2016 OD)
Answer:
During the ‘Swadeshi Movement’ in Bengal, a tricolour flag—red, green and yellow was designed. It
had eight lotuses representing the eight provinces of British India.
It had a crescent moon, representing Hindus and Muslims.
Question 41.
Who had designed the ‘swaraj flag’ by 1921? Explain the main features of this ‘swaraj flag’. (2016 D)
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi designed the ‘Swaraj Flag’ by 1921.
Main features of the ‘Swaraj Flag’:
It had tricolours — Red, Green and White.
It had a spinning wheel in the centre.
It represents the Gandhian idea of self-help.
Carrying the flag during marches had become a symbol of defiance and a sense of collective
belonging.
Question 42.
How did cultural processes help in creating a sense of collective belongingness in India? Explain.
(2011 D)
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 an 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.
All these techniques were used to bring the Indian people together against the common enemy, (any
three)
Question 43.
Evaluate the contribution of folklore, songs, popular prints etc., in shaping the nationalism during
freedom struggle. (2017 D)
Answer:
History and fiction, folklore and songs, popular prints and symbols—all played an important role in
creating a sense of collective belonging leading to the growth of nationalism.
1. Image of Bharat Mata:

With the growth of nationalism, the identity of the Indian nation came to be visually associated with
the image of Bharat Mata.
Moved by the Swadeshi Movement, Rabindranath Tagore painted the famous image of Bharat Mata.
The identity of the Indian nation came to be visually associated with this image. She was portrayed
as an ascetic figure—calm, composed, divine and spiritual.
Later this image was painted by many other artists which acquired different forms. This image was
circulated in popular prints and devotion to this mother figure was seen as a sign of nationalism.
2. Reinterpretation of History:
The glorification of developments in ancient India in the fields of art and architecture, Science and
Mathematics, religion and culture, law and philosophy, craft and trade had also helped in the growth
of nationalism.
These nationalist histories encouraged the readers to take pride in India’s great achievement in the
past and struggle to change the miserable conditions (cultural and economic decline) of life under
the British rule.
3. Indian Folklore:
Idea of nationalism also developed through a movement to revive Indian folklore.
Folk tales were sung by bards in the villages, to give a true picture of traditional culture, which had
been damaged by outside forces.
In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore himself began collecting ballads, nursery rhymes and myths to revive
folk culture.
In Madras, Natesa Sastri published a four volume collection of Tamil folk tales, “The Folklore of
Southern India”.
Question 44.
Why did Gandhiji decide to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement’ in February, 1922? Explain
any three reasons. (2017 OD)
Answer:
In February 1922, Gandhiji decided to launch a no tax movement. The police opened fire at the
people who were taking part in a demonstration, without any provocation. The people turned
violent in their anger and attacked the police station and set fire to it. The incident took place at
Chauri Chaura in Uttar Pradesh. When the news reached Gandhiji, he decided to call off the Non-
cooperation movement as he felt that it was turning violent and that the satyagrahis were not
properly trained for mass struggle.
Long Answer Questions (LA) 5 Marks
Question 45.
Explain any five major problems posed by the First World War in India. (2015 OD)
Answer:
The outbreak of the First World War had created a new economic and political situation in India:
The increased defence expenditure was financed by war loans and by raising tax rates, custom
duties, etc. There was tremendous price rise during the war years. Between 1913 and 1918, the
prices had almost doubled. People, particularly common people, were facing extreme hardships.
Forced recruitment in the army caused widespread anger in the villages.
The failure of crops in many parts of India had created food shortages, leading to the added misery
of the people.
In addition to this, there was the outbreak of the great influenza epidemic. Millions of people
perished due to influenza and starvation.
The nationalist movement grew stronger during the war years. A large number of Muslims were
drawn into the anti-British struggle during the war. The defence of the ‘Caliphate’ (Khilafat) became
an important question for Muslims. Peasant movements during war period also had helped the
nationalist movement to grow stronger.
Question 46.
Explain five points about Gandhiji’s idea of ‘satyagraha’. (2011 OD)
Answer:
Five points about Gandhiji’s idea of ‘satyagraha’:
According to Gandhiji, satyagraha is not physical force. In the use of satyagraha there should not be
any scope of ill-will.
Satyagraha is about soul-force and truth is the very substance of soul and the soul is informed with
knowledge.
According to Gandhiji, satyagraha is not the weapon of the weak, instead it can only be used by the
strongest of the strong as it totally depends upon mental strength but not on physical strength.
Gandhiji said “Satyagraha is passive resistance, which is about intense activity but in a non-violent
manner.” India cannot rival Britain in force of arms as the British worship the war-god and all of
them are bearers of arms. Indians can’t compete with them in arms but can only defeat them using
the weapon of “ahimsa” alone/ “that is by using mental strength Indians can defeat the British.
Tolerance and non¬violence can only become the pillar of strength for the IndiAnswer:”
Non-violence is the supreme dharma which could unite all Indians. Without seeking vengeance or
being aggressive, a satyagrahi can win the battle.
Question 47.
What was Gandhiji’s idea behind launching the Non-cooperation Movement? Mention four
proposals suggested by Mahatma Gandhi with reference to Non-cooperation Movement. (2011 D)
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi felt (in his book Hind Swaraj, 1909) that British rule was established in India with
the cooperation of IndiAnswer: It has survived because of their cooperation. If the Indians refuse to
cooperate, British rule in India will collapse and Swaraj would come.
Proposals suggested by Mahatma Gandhi with reference to Non-cooperation Movement
According to Gandhiji, Non-cooperation could become a movement by unfolding in stages.
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.
Throughout 1920, Gandhiji and Shaukat Ali toured extensively mobilizing popular support for the
movement.
Question 48.
How could non-cooperation become a movement? Explain with examples. (2014 D)
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.
According to Gandhiji, non-cooperation could become a movement by unfolding in stages.

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.
Throughout 1920, Gandhiji and Shaukat Ali toured extensively mobilising popular support for the
movement.
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.
The Council elections were boycotted, foreign goods and foreign cloth was boycotted. Traders and
merchants also refused to trade in foreign goods.
Question 49.
How did different social groups conceive the idea of ‘Non-Cooperation’? Explain with examples.
(2014 OD)
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:
Thousands of students from government controlled schools, headmasters, teachers resigned and left
the school.
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.
Question 50.
How did the Civil Disobedience Movement come into force in various parts of the country? Explain
with examples. (2016 OD)
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 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
Question 51.
How did people and the colonial government react to the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain.
(2012 D)
Answer:
Reactions of people to the Civil Disobedience Movement:
(i) Mahatma Gandhi’s famous ‘Dandi March’ from Gandhiji’s ashram in Sabarmati to the coastal
town of Dandi and violating the law by manufacturing salt marked the beginning of the Civil
(ii) As the movement spread, foreign cloth was boycotted, liquor shops were picketed and peasants
refused to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes. Village officers resigned and forest people ventured
into reserved forests to collect wood and graze cattle, thereby violate forest laws.
Reactions of colonial government to the Civil Disobedience Movement:
Worried by the reaction of the people the colonial government began arresting the Congress leaders
one by one.
Abdul Ghaffar Khan was arrested in Peshawar and later Mahatma Gandhi was arrested which led to
violent clashes in many places.
The Government followed a policy of brutal repression. Peaceful satyagrahis were attacked, women
and children were beaten and about 1,00,000 people were arrested.
Question 52.
Why did Gandhiji start the ‘Civil Disobedience Movement’? Explain any four features of Civil
Disobedience Movement. (2013 OD)
Answer:
Non-fulfillment of demands made by Gandhiji on behalf of all the members of the Congress led to
the launching of the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930.
Gandhiji’s ‘Dandi March’ marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. Gandhiji
started his march with 78 volunteers from his ashram at Sabarmati to the Gujarat coastal town of
Dandi. On 6th April, Gandhiji reached Dandi and ceremonially violated the law, manufacturing salt by
boiling sea water.
Features of Civil Disobedience Movement:
People were now asked not only to refuse cooperation with the British but also to break colonial
laws.
Foreign cloth was boycotted and people were asked to picket liquor shops.
Peasants were asked not to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes.
Students, lawyers and village officials were asked not to attend English medium schools, colleges,
courts and offices.
Question 53.
“Dalit participation was limited in the Civil Disobedience Movement”. Examine the statement. (2013
D)
Answer:
The abstract concept of ‘Swaraf did not move the nation’s ‘untouchables’, who from around the
1930s had begun to call themselves dalit or oppressed.
The Congress had ignored the dalits, for the fear of offending the Sanatanis, the conservative high
caste Hindus.
Gandhiji persuaded upper castes to change their heart. He himself cleaned toilets to dignify the work
of the bhangi. He called the untouchables, Harijans, organized satyagraha to secure them entry into
temples and access to public wells, tanks and schools.
The dalit leaders were keen on a different political solution. Political empowerment, they believed
would resolve the problems of their social disability. They began demanding reserved seats in
educational institutions and a separate electorate that would choose dalit members for the
Legislative Council.
Question 54.
“Some of the Muslim political organizations in India, were lukewarm in their response to the ‘Civil
Disobedient Movement’.” Examine the statement. (2013 D)
Answer:
Muslim response was lukewarm to the Civil Disobedience Movement as a large section of Muslims
felt alienated from the Congress.
The Congress members were seen as associates of Hindu religious nationalist groups like Hindu
Mahasabha.
After the Non-cooperation Movement, relations between Hindus and Muslims worsened as each
community organized religious processions, provoking Hindu-Muslim communal clashes and riots.
The important differences were over the question of representation in the future Assemblies that
were to be elected.
When Civil Disobedience Movement started, there was an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust
between communities. Muslims feared that they would be submerged under the domination of a
Hindu majority in Independent India.
Question 55.
How did different social groups participate in Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain with examples.
(2014 D)
Answer:
(i) Rich peasant communities, like the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar Pradesh, became
active in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Being producers of commercial crops, they were hard hit by trade-depression and falling prices.
For them fight for Swaraj was a struggle against high revenues.
(ii) Small tenants had been cultivating rented land of landlords. They were not interested in the
lowering of the revenue demand.
They wanted unpaid rent to be remitted.
They often joined the radical movements led by the socialists and communists.
(iii) Merchants reacted against colonial policies that restricted business activities. They wanted
protection against import of foreign goods and wanted a rupee-sterling foreign exchange ratio that
would discourage imports.
(iv) Industrialsits formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress in 1920.
They formed the Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) in 1927.
They refused to sell or buy imported goods. They gave financial assistance and supported the Civil
(v) Another important feature of the Civil Disobedience Movement was large-scale participation of
women.
They participated in protest marches, manufactured salt and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops.
Many women went to jail.
These women came from high-caste families in urban areas and rich peasant households in rural
areas.
Question 56.
Explain with examples the role of industrialists in the freedom struggle of India. (2014 D)
Or
Explain the attitude of the Indian merchants and industrialists towards the civil Disobedience
Movement. (2015 OD)
Answer:
Role of merchants and the industrialists in the Civil Disobedience Movement:
Merchants reacted against colonial policies that restricted business activities.
They wanted protection against import of foreign goods and wanted a rupee-sterling foreign
exchange ratio that would discourage imports.
Industrialists formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress in 1920.
They formed the Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) in 1927.
They refused to sell or buy imported goods. They gave financial assistance and supported the Civil
Industrialists like G.D.Birla and Purshottamdas Thakurdas attacked colonial control over the Indian
economy.
Question 57.
“The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement”. Support
the statement with examples. (2016 D)
Answer:
The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement in the
following ways:
Non-Cooperation Movement:
The people were asked not to cooperate with the government.
Foreign goods and foreign cloth were boycotted. In many places merchants and traders refused to
trade in foreign goods or finance foreign traders.
Students left the government owned schools and colleges and lawyers gave up legal practices.
Civil Disobedience Movement:
People were asked not only to refuse cooperation with the British but also to break colonial laws.
The countrymen broke the salt law by manufacturing salt by boiling sea water at Dandi.
Peasants refused to pay revenue and chaukidari tax.
Village officials resigned from their jobs. Forest people violated forest rules and laws.
Question 58.
Who was Alluri Sitaram Raju? Explain his role in inspiring the rebels with Gandhiji’s ideas. (2012 OD)
Answer:
Alluri Sitaram Raju was the tribal leader of the peasants in Andhra Pradesh. He claimed that he had a
variety of special powers.
He inspired the rebels with Gandhiji’s ideas in the following ways:
Raju inspired them by talking of the greatness of Mahatma Gandhi.
He said that he was inspired by the Non-cooperation Movement.
He persuaded people to wear khadi and to give up drinking.
He asserted that India could be liberated only with the use of force.
Question 59.
Describe the actions taken by the British administration against the nationalists who opposed the
Rowlatt Act. (2012 OD)
Answer:
Alarmed by the popular upsurge and scared that lines of communication would be disrupted, the
British administration decided to clamp down on nationalists as such.
Local leaders were picked up from Amritsar.
Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi.
On 10th April, the police at Amritsar fired upon a peaceful procession provoking the public.
Martial law was imposed.
General Dyer took command.
Question 60.
Explain the impact of Jallianwala Bagh incident on the people. (2014 OD)
(i) Jallianwala Bagh Incident. On 13th April 1919, a crowd of villagers who had come to attend a
Baisakhi fair, gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh. Being from outside the city, many
were not aware of the martial law that had been imposed as a repressive measure.
(ii) Some people had also gathered to protest against the government’s repressive measures.
(iii) General Dyer with his British troops entered the park and closed the only exit point without
giving any warning to the assembled people and ordered the troops to fire at the crowds, killing
hundreds. This brutal act of General Dyer provoked unparalleled indignation.
(iv) As the news of Jallianwala Bagh spread, crowds took to the streets in many North Indian towns.
There were hartals, clashes and attacks on government buildings.
(v) The government replied with further brutalities. The people of Punjab were made to crawl on the
streets and salute to all ‘Sahibs’. Some were put in open cages and flogged.
(vi) Newspapers were banned and their editors were arrested. A reign of terror followed.
Intellectuals like Rabindranath Tagore renounced their knighthood.
Question 61.
How did the ‘Non-Cooperation Movement’ spread in cities across the country? Explain its effects on
the economic front. (2015 OD, 2012 D)
Answer:
In the cities, the Non-Cooperation 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.
The Council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras. Where the Justice Party, the
party of the non-Brahmans, feet that entering the council was one way of gaining power.
Foreign goods and foreign cloth was boycotted. Traders and merchants also refused to trade in
foreign goods.
The economic sphere was affected by the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops were picketed and foreign cloth was burnt. The import
of foreign cloth halved between 1921-1922. Its value dropped from ₹ 102 crores to ₹ 57 crores.
Many merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade.
People began discarding imported clothes and wearing Indian ones.
The production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up. Use of khadi was popularised.
Question 62.
Why did Mahatma Gandhiji decide to call off the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain. (2016 OD)
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi decided to call off the Civil Disobedience Movement because:
Worried by the development of Civil Disobedience Movement the colonial government began
arresting the Congress leaders one by one.
This led to violent clashes in many places.
When Abdul Ghaffar khan, a devout disciple of Mahatma Gandhi was arrested in April 1930, angry
crowds demonstrated in the streets of Peshawar, facing armoured cars and police firing. Many were
killed.
A month later, when Mahatma Gandhi was arrested industrial workers in Sholapur attacked the
police force, municipal buildings, law courts, railway stations and all other structures that symbolized
British rule.
A frightened government responded with the policy of brutal repression. The peaceful satyagrahis
were attacked, women and children were beaten and about 1 lakh people were arrested.
Question 63.
Why did Mahatma Gandhi relaunch the Civil Disobedience Movement with great apprehension?
Explain. (2016 OD)
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi entered into a pact with Irwin on 5 March, 1931.
By this Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Gandhiji committed to participate in a Round Table Conference in London
and the government agreed to release the political prisoners.
In December 1931, Gandhiji went to London for the conference, but the negotiations broke down
and he returned disappointed.
Back in India, he discovered that the government had begun a new cycle of repressive measures.
Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Jawaharlal Nehru were both in jail and the Congress had been declared
illegal.
A series of measures had been imposed to prevent meetings, demonstrations and boycotts.
Thus, with great apprehension Gandhiji relaunched the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Question 64.
“Nationalism spreads when people begin to believe that they are all part of the same nation.” Justify
the statement. (2015 D, 2013 D)
How did people belonging to different communications, regions or languages develop a sense of
collective belonging? Explain with examples. (2014 OD)
Answer:
History and fiction, folklore and songs, popular prints and symbols—all played an important role in
creating a sense of collective belonging leading to the growth of nationalism.
Image of Bharat Mata:
(i) With the growth of nationalism, the identity of the Indian nation came to be visually associated
with the image of Bharat Mata (as it had happened in Germany and France: Germania in Germany
and Marianne in France).
(ii) This image was first created and popularized by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. In 1870, he
wrote Vande Mataram as a hymn to the motherland. This song was widely sung during the Swadeshi
Movement.
(iii) Moved by the Swadeshi Movement, Rabindranath Tagore painted the famous image of Bharat
Mata. The identity of the Indian nation came to be visually associated with this image. She was
portrayed as an ascetic figure—calm, composed, divine and spiritual.
(iv) Later this image was painted by many other artists which acquired different forms. This image
was circulated in popular prints and devotion to this mother figure was seen as a sign of nationalism.
Icons and Symbols (Flag):
During the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal, tricolour flag (red, green and yellow), with eight lotuses
(depicting eight provinces of British India), was designed.
Gandhiji had designed the Swaraj flag by 1921—a tricolour (red, green and white) with a spinning
wheel in the centre.
Carrying the flag during marches became a symbol of defiance and a sense of collective belonging.
Reinterpretation of History:
The glorification of developments in ancient India in the fields of art and architecture, Science and
Mathematics, religion and culture, law and philosophy, craft and trade had also helped in the growth
of nationalism.
These nationalist histories encouraged the readers to take pride in India’s great achievement in the
past and struggle to change the miserable conditions (cultural and economic decline) of life under
the British rule.
Indian Folklore:
Idea of nationalism also developed through a movement to revive Indian folklore.
Folk tales were sung by bards in the villages, to give a true picture of traditional culture, which had
been damaged by outside forces.
In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore himself began collecting ballads, nursery rhymes and myths to revive
folk culture.
In Madras, Natesa Sastri published a four volume collection of Tamil folk tales, “The Folklore of
Southern India”.
Question 65.
“Plantation workers had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas and the notion of
‘Swaraj.” Support the statement. (2017 D)
Answer:
of Swaraj” —
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 the tea
gardens without permission.
Swaraj meant retaining a link with the village from which they had come.
When they heard of the Non-cooperation Movement, thousands of workers defied the authorities,
left the plantations and headed home.
They believed that Gandhi Raj was coming and everyone would be given land in their own village.
Question 66.
How did the Colonial Government repress the ‘Civil Disobedience Movement’? Explain. (2017 OD)
Answer:
The British Government reacted very strongly to the movement of Indians against the passage of the
Rowlatt Act
British officials were alarmed by the popular upsurge. The fear that the lines of communication, such
as railways and telegraph, might get disrupted, the British Government started even stronger
repressive measures.
The colonial government began to arrest the Congress leaders. Gandhiji was barred from entering
Delhi. On 10th April, 1919 the police in Amritsar fired upon a peaceful procession.
This provoked widespread attacks and people began to attack the symbols of British rule. There were
attacks on banks, post offices and railway stations. Martial law was imposed and General Dyer took
command.
The government’s repression was quite brutal. Even women and children were beaten up. About
1,00,000 people were arrested.
Question 1.
Why did the industrial production increase in India during the First World War? (2014)
Answer:
The War had created a new opportunity for the industrial production in India:
The War situation had forced the British mills to produce things that were needed for the army. This
had led to the decline of Manchester imports into India. Suddenly, Indian mills had a vast home
market to supply to:
As the War prolonged, Indian factories were called upon to supply war needs: jute bags, cloth for
army uniforms, tents and leather boots, horse and mule saddles and a host of other items.
New factories were set up and old ones ran multiple shifts. Many new workers were employed and
everyone was made to work longer hours.
Over the war years, industrial production boomed, local industries consolidated their position,
substituting foreign manufactures and capturing home markets.
Question 2.
How did a series of inventions in the eighteenth century increased the efficiency of each step of the
production process in cotton textile industry? Explain. (2013)
Answer:
A series of inventions in the 18th century increased the efficiency in every step of the production
process, especially of cotton. The process of producing cotton involved carding, twisting, spinning
and milling.
The inventions enhanced the output per worker, enabling each worker to produce more, and they
made possible the production of stronger threads and yam.
Richard Arkwright then created the cotton mill. Cloth production was spread all over the countryside
and was carried out in village households.
Also now the costly new machines could be purchased, set up and maintained in the mill under one
roof and management. This allowed a more careful supervision over the production process, a watch
over the quality and the regulation of labour, all of which was difficult to do when production was in
the countryside.
Question 3.
What problems were faced by the Indian cotton weavers in the 19th century? Describe. (2012)
Answer:
The Indian cotton weavers faced many problems in the 19th century:
Their export collapsed.
The local market shrank being flooded by the Manchester imports. Produced by machines at lower
costs, the Manchester cotton goods were so cheap that they attracted the buyers and the Indian
textiles could not compete with them.
By 1860, Indian weavers faced a new problem. They could not get sufficient supply of raw cotton of
good quality. This happened because a Civil War had broken out in America and the cotton supplies
from the US to Britain were cut off and Britain turned to India. As raw cotton export from India
increased, the price of raw cotton shot up. Indian weavers were forced to buy raw cotton at a very
high price, so weaving did not remain profitable.
Factories in India also produced goods at a mass scale which flooded the Indian markets. Thus the
Indian weavers faced a tough time and it became difficult to survive.
Question 4.
Why did technological changes occur slowly in Britain in early 19th century? Explain any three
reasons. (2012)
Answer:
Technological changes occurred slowly in Britain due to the following reasons:
New technology was expensive and merchants and industrialists were cautious about using it. For
example, at the beginning of the 19th century, there were only 321 steam engines. There were no
buyers of steam engines for years.
The machines often broke down and repair was costly.
The machines were not as effective as their inventors and manufacturers claimed.
Machines were oriented to produce uniform, standardised goods for a mass market. But the
demand in the market was often for goods with intricate designs and specific shapes which required
human skill, not mechanical technology. At that time the upper classes preferred things produced by
hand.
Question 5.
Who were gomasthas? Why were they appointed? How did they treat the weavers? (2012)
Answer:
The paid servants appointed by the East India Company to supervise weavers are called gomasthas.
The East India Company appointed them to establish a more direct control over the weavers and to
eliminate traders and brokers connected with cloth trade.
The gomasthas acted arrogantly and punished weavers for delays in supply, often beating them. In
many weaving villages there were reports of clashes between weavers and gomasthas as they often
marched into villages with sepoys and peons.
Question 6.
Who were ‘gomasthas?’ How did they become good partners of the British management system?
(2014, 2015)
Answer:
The Gomasthas were paid servants whose job was to supervise weavers, collect supplies and
examine the quality of cloth. The aim of the East India Company behind appointing gomasthas was
to work out a system of management and control that would eliminate competition, control costs
and ensure regular supplies of cotton and silk.
Soon there were clashes between the weavers and the gomasthas who began ill-treating the
weavers.
It developed a system of management and control that would eliminate competition, control costs
and ensure regular supplies of cotton and silk from India. For this reason, gomasthas were appointed
to supervise, collect supplies and examine the quality of cloth.
They did not allow the company weavers to sell their produce to other buyers. Once an order was
placed, the weavers were given loans to purchase the raw material. Weavers who had accepted
loans from the company had to hand over the cloth they produced to the gomasthas only.
Question 7.
Describe the achievements of any three early industrialists in British India. (2013)
Answer:
Having earned enough from trade, some businessmen had visions of developing industrial
enterprises in India.
In Bengal, Dwarkanath Tagore made his fortune in the China trade. He turned to industrial
investment, setting up six joint stock companies in 1830s and 1840s.
In Bombay, Parsis like Dinshaw Petit and Jamsetjee Nusserwanjee Tata who built huge industrial
empires in India accumulated their initial wealth from exports to China and raw cotton shipments to
England. Seth Hukumchand, a Marwari businessman, who set up the first Indian jute mill in Calcutta
in 1971, also traded with China.
Question 8.
How did many Indian Entrepreneurs survive despite of tight economic controls imposed by the
British Government? (2013)
Answer:
Many Indians became junior players in the trade with China by providing finance, procuring supplies
and shipping consignments.
Some merchants from Madras traded with Burma, Middle East and East Africa and accumulated
capital.
Certain other commercial groups operated within India by carrying goods from one place to another,
banking money, transferring funds between cities and financing traders.
Question 9.
Explain any three factors responsible for the decline of the cotton textile industry in India in the mid-
nineteenth century. (2013)
Or
Describe any three main reasons for the decline of textile exports from India in the 19th century.
(2014)
Answer:
As cotton industries developed in England, industrial groups began to pressurize the Government to
impose import duties on cotton textiles so that Manchester goods could sell in Britain without facing
any competition from outside.
At the same time industrialists persuaded the East India Company to sell British manufactures in
Indian market as well. Exports of British cotton goods increased dramatically in the early 19th
century.
The export market for the Indian cotton weavers collapsed and the local market shrank, being
glutted with Manchester imports.
The imported cotton goods were cheap and our weavers could not compete with them.
When the American Civil War broke out the cotton supplies to Britain from the US were cut off. As
raw cotton export from India increased, the price of raw cotton shot up. Weavers in India were
starved of supplies and forced to buy raw cotton at exorbitant prices.
Question 10.
Advertisements played a part in expanding the markets for products and in shaping a new consumer
culture. Explain. (2014)
Or, Explain the role played by advertisements in creating new consumers for the British products.
(2014)
Or
In which ways did the British and the Indian manufacturers and traders advertise their products?
(2013)
Answer:
When Manchester industrialists began selling cloth in India, they put labels on the cloth bundles, to
make the place of manufacture and the name of the company familiar to the buyer.
When buyers saw ‘Made in Manchester’, written in bold on the label, they felt confident to buy the
cloth.
But labels did not carry words and texts. They carried images and were beautifully illustrated with
images of Indian gods and goddesses. The printed image of Krishna or Saraswati was also intended
to make the manufacture from a foreign land, appear familiar to Indians.
Manufacturers also printed calendars to popularise their products. These calendars were used even
by the illiterate. They were hung in tea shops and in the homes of the poor and even in offices and
middle class apartments.
When Indian manufacturers advertised, the nationalist message was clear and loud. If you care for
the nation, then buy only ‘Indian’ products. Advertisements became a vehicle of the nationalist
message of Swadeshi.
Question 11.
Why was it difficult to get jobs in Indian factories and mills even when so many of them had come up
in the 19th century? (2015)
Answer:
Even when the mills multiplied and demand for workers increased, it was difficult to get jobs. The
reason was that
The number seeking jobs always remained more than the jobs available.
During the same time agriculture was also not prosperous. Therefore, there was always a large influx
of unemployed youths from villages who came to cities and towns looking for jobs in the newly set
up mills and factories.
Entry into the mills was also restricted. Industrialists usually employed jobbers to get new recruits.
Very often, the jobber was an old and trusted worker. He got people from his own village, ensured
them jobs and helped them settle in the city. Gradually, they began to demand money and gifts for
this favour and began controlling the lives of workers.
Question 12.
How was foreign trade from India conducted before the age of machine industries? Explain. (2015)
Answer:
Before the age of machine industries, silk and cotton goods from India dominated the international
markets in textile. Coarse cottons were produced in many countries, but finer varieties came from
India. Armenian and Persian merchants took the goods from Punjab to Afghanistan, Eastern Persia
and Central Asia.
Bales of fine textiles were carried on camel back through the mountain passes of North-West
Frontier.
A vibrant sea trade operated through pre-colonial ports—Surat connected India to the Gulf,
Masulipatnam on the Coromandel coast and Hooghly in Bengal had trade links with South East Asian
ports.
Question 13.
Analyse the contribution of Dwarkanath Tagore in the field of industrial development. (2015)
Answer:
In Bengal, Dwarkanath Tagore made his fortune in the China trade before he turned to industrial
investment. He set up six joint-stock companies in 1830s and 1840s.
Tagore’s enterprises sank along with those of others in the wider business crises of the 1840s, but
later in the 19th century many of the China traders became successful industrialists.
Dwarkanath Tagore believed that India would develop through westernization and industrialisation.
He invested in shipping, mining, banking, plantation and insurance. He had visions of developing
industrial enterprises in India.
Question 14.
How did many Indian Entrepreneurs survive despite of tight economic controls imposed by the
British Government? (2017 OD)
Answer:
Many Indians became junior players in the trade with China by providing finance, procuring supplies
and shipping consignments.
Some merchants from Madras traded with Burma, Middle East and East Africa and accumulated
capital.
Certain other commercial groups operated within India by carrying goods from one place to another,
banking money, transferring funds between cities and financing traders.
Question 15.
Describe the achievements of any three early industrialists in British India. (2017 D)
Answer:
Having earned enough from trade, some businessmen had visions of developing industrial
enterprises in India.
In Bengal, Dwarkanath Tagore made his fortune in the China trade. He turned to industrial
investment, setting up six joint stock companies in 1830s and 1840s.
In Bombay, Parsis like Dinshaw Petit and Jamsetjee Nusserwanjee Tata who built huge industrial
empires in India accumulated their initial wealth from exports to China and raw cotton shipments to
England. Seth Hukumchand, a Marwari businessman, who set up the first Indian jute mill in Calcutta
in 1971, also traded with China.
Question 16.
Why were there frequent clashes between gomasthas and weavers in the villages? (2012)
Answer:
The ‘gomasthas’ were paid servants whose job was to supervise weavers, collect supplies and
examine the cloth. In many weaving villages there were clashes between the gomasthas and the
weavers who began ill-treating the villagers.
The earlier supply merchants had lived within the villages and had a close relationship with the
weavers, looking after their needs and helping them in times of crisis.
The new gomasthas were outsiders with no long-term social link with the village.
They acted arrogantly and punished weavers for delays in supplies, beating and flogging them with
the help of sepoys and peons.
The weavers lost their freedom to bargain for prices and sell to different buyers and received
miserably low prices from the company.
The loans they had accepted had tied them to the British Company.
Question 17.
Describe the process of gradual growth of factories in England in the light of problems it faced.
(2012)
Answer:
The earliest factories in England came up by the 1730s. Their number multiplied in the late 18th
century. A series of inventions in the 18th century increased the efficacy of each step of the
production process. They enhanced the output per worker, enabling each worker to produce more.
With the creation of cotton mill by Richard Arkwright, all the processes of cloth production were
brought together under one roof and management. This allowed a more careful supervision of the
production process, a watch over quality, and the regulation of labour, all of which had been difficult
to do when production was in the countryside.
Question 18.
Highlight Any five points which enabled the handloom sector score over machine made goods and
face the competition. (2013)
Answer:
The handloom sector scored over the machine made goods and was able to face competition
because:
This happened partly because of technological advancements. By the second decade of the 20th
century, weavers started using fly shuttle. This increased productivity of every worker, sped up
production and reduced labour demand. By 1941, over 35 per cent of handlooms in India were fitted
with fly shuttles. In regions like Travancore, Madras, Mysore, Cochin and Bengal, 70 to 80 per cent of
handlooms had fly shuttles.
There were many other small inventions that helped weavers improve productivity and compete
with mills.
Also, the demand for finer varieties of cloth bought by the rich, was very stable. Even famines did
not affect the sale of Banarsi or Baluchari sarees.
Mill production could not imitate and compete with specialized weaves such as the famous sarees
with woven borders and the famous lungis and handkerchiefs of Madras.
Question 19.
How did the First World War prove to be a boon to the Indian Industries? Explain. (2013)
Answer:
The First World War proved to be a boon to Indian Industries:
The war created a dramatically new situation with British Mills busy with war production to meet the
needs of the army, Manchester imports into India declined.
Suddenly, Indian mills had a vast home market to supply to.
As the war prolonged, Indian factories were called upon to supply war needs, jute bags, cloth for
army uniforms, tents and leather boots, horse and mile saddles and a host of other items.
New factories were set up and old ones ran multiple shifts.
Many new workers were employed and everyone was made to work longer hours. Over the war
years industrial production boomed, local industrialists consolidated their position, substituting
foreign manufactures and capturing home markets.
Question 20.
Explain the process of industrialization in Britain during the 19th century. (2014)
Answer:
The most dynamic industries in Britain were clearly cotton and metals. Growing at a rapid pace,
cotton was the leading sector in the first phase of industrialization up to the 1840s.
Later iron and steel industry led the way. With the expansion of railways in England from the 1840s
and in the colonies from 1860s, the demand for iron and steel increased.
The new industries could not displace traditional industries. At the end of the 19th century, less than
20 per cent of the total workforce was employed in technologically advanced industrial sectors. The
pace of change in the ‘traditional’ industries was not set by steam-powered cotton or metal
industries. Ordinary and small innovations were the basis of growth in many non-mechanized
sectors such as food processing, building, pottery, glass work, tanning, furniture making and
production of implements.
The technological changes occurred slowly. New technology was expensive and merchants and
industrialists were cautious about using it. The machine often broke down and repair was costly.
Question 21.
Explain any five ways by which new markets and consumers were created in India by British
manufacturers. (2014)
Or
Describe the techniques which were adopted by the Manchester industrialists to sell their goods in
India. (2015)
Answer:
When Manchester industrialists began selling cloth in India, they put labels on the cloth bundles, to
make the place of manufacture and the name of the company familiar to the buyer.
When buyers saw ‘Made in Manchester’, written in bold on the label, they felt confident to buy the
cloth.
But labels did not carry words and texts. They carried images and were beautifully illustrated with
images of Indian gods and goddesses. The printed image of Krishna or Saraswati was also intended
to make the manufacture from a foreign land, appear familiar to IndiAnswer:
Manufacturers also printed calendars to popularise their products. These calendars were used even
by the illiterate. They were hung in tea shops and in the homes of the poor and even in offices and
middle class apartments.
Figures of important personages, of emperors and nawabs adorned the advertisements and
calenders. The message often seemed to say that if you respect a royal figure, then respect this
product as it was being used by kings.
When Indian manufacturers advertised, the nationalist message was clear and loud. If you care for
the nation, then buy only ‘Indian’ products. Advertisements became a vehicle of the nationalist
message of Swadeshi.
Question 22.
How did cotton factories become an intimate part of the English landscape in the early nineteenth
century? Explain. (2015)
Answer:
A series of inventions in the eighteenth century increased the efficiency in every step of the
production process, especially of cotton. The process of producing cotton involved carding, twisting,
spinning and milling.
The inventions enhanced the output per worker, enabling each worker to produce more, and they
made possible the production of stronger threads and yam.
Richard Arkwright then created the cotton mill. Cloth production was spread all over the countryside
and was carried out in village households.
Also, now the costly new machines could be purchased, set up and maintained in the mill under one
roof and management. This made the process more centralised and integrated.
This allowed a more careful supervision over the production process, a watch over the quality and
the regulation of labour, all of which was difficult to do when production was in the countryside.
In the early nineteenth century new mills and factories with new technologies became extremely
visible.
Question 1.
What do you understand by a ‘Resource’? Give examples. (2015)
Answer:
Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, is called a resource.
It should be technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable. Only then, it
can be termed as a ‘Resource’. Examples are: minerals, forests, fossil fuels etc..
Question 2.
“Resources are a function of human activities.” Justify this statement.
Answer:
Mere presence of resources, as free gifts of nature, does not make them resources. Human beings
are essential components of resources because they transform material available in our
environment into resources. The utility of resources depends on the stage of cultural development
of man and the tools and technology used by him.
Question 3.
Write the classification of resources on four different bases. (2015)
Answer:
Resources can be classified in the following four ways:
(a) On the basis of Origin:
Biotic
Abiotic
(b) On the basis of exhaustibility:
Renewable
Non-renewable
(c) On the basis of ownership:

Individual (Personal)
Community
National
International
(d) On the basis of status and development:
Potential
Developed
Reserve
Stock
Question 4.
Explain the classification of resources on the basis of origin and give one example of each.
Answer:
On the basis of origin, resources can be classified as Biotic and Abiotic.
Biotic Resources are obtained from the biosphere. They have life or are living resources, e.g., human
beings, fisheries, forests, etc.
Abiotic Resources include all non-living things, e.g., rocks and minerals.
Question 5.
Classify the resources on the basis of exhaustibility and give two examples of each.
Answer:
On the basis of exhaustibility, resources can be classified as: Renewable and Non-renewable.
Renewable Resources. The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical and
mechanical processes are known as renewable or replenishable resources, e.g., water, wildlife,
forests, solar energy, wind energy etc.
Non-renewable Resources. The resources which once get exhausted, cannot be remade. They take a
long geological period of time, i.e., millions of years in their formation, e.g., minerals, fossil fuels etc.
Question 6.
Write two types of renewable resources and give one example of each type.
Answer:
Two types of renewable resources are as follows:
Continuous or Flow Resources, e.g., wind and water resources.
Biological Resources, e.g., natural vegetation (forests) and wildlife.
Question 7.
Write two characteristics of non-renewable resources and write their two broad categories with
examples.
Answer:
Two characteristics of non-renewable resources:
They cannot be recycled and get exhausted with their use.
They take millions of years in their formation.
Two broad categories of non-renewable resources:
Recyclable resources, e.g., metals.
Non-recyclable resources, e.g., fossil fuels.
Question 8.
Give any two examples of non-renewable resources. (2015)
Answer:
Non-renewable resources are resources which once get exhausted, cannot be remade. They take a
long geological period of time, i.e., millions of years, in their formation, e.g., minerals, fossil fuels,
etc.
Question 9.
Explain four types of resources based on ownership and give one example of each type. (2014)
Answer:
On the basis of ownership, there are four types of resources:
Individual Resources. Resources, which are owned privately by individuals, e.g., farmers own
pieces of land or houses. Plantation, pasture lands, water in wells are some resources owned by
individuals.
Community Owned Resources. These resources are accessible to all the members of the community,
e.g., village ponds, public parks, playgrounds in urban areas are accessible to all the residents of that
area.
National Resources. All the resources within the political boundary of a nation including the
territorial water (oceanic area upto 12 nautical miles from the coast) extending into the ocean and
resources therein belong to the nation, e.g., all minerals, forests, wildlife, water resources, land etc.
International Resources. There are international institutions which own and regulate some
resources, e.g., The oceanic resources beyond 200 km of the Exclusive Economic Zone belong to the
open ocean and no individual country can utilise these without the concurrence of international
institutions.
Question 10.
Distinguish between the following:
1. Potential and Developed Resources;
2. Stock and Reserves.
Answer:
1. Potential Resources. Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilised, e.g.r
Gujarat and Rajasthan have a lot of potential for the development of wind and solar energy, but so
far they have not been developed fully.
Developed Resources. Resources which are surveyed and their quality and quantity have been
determined for utilisation. The development of resources depends on technology and level of their
feasibility, e.g., water resources used for hydel power generation or irrigation purposes.
2. Stock. Materials in the environment, which have the potential to satisfy human needs but man
does not have the appropriate technology to access them are included among stock, e.g. water is a
compound of two inflammable gases: hydrogen and oxygen, which can be used as a rich Source of
energy. But we do not have the required technical know-how to use them for this purpose.
Reserves. Reserves are the subset of the stock, which can be put into use with the help of existing
technical ‘know-how’ but their full use has been postponed for meeting the future needs, e.g., forest
reserves, iron-ore reserves, water in the dams etc.
Question 11.
Name the categories under which natural resources can be grouped on the basis of state of
development.
Answer:
Potential Resources
Developed Resources
Stock
Reserves.
Question 12.
How are natural resources important for man? Give five points.
Answer:
Importance of resources for man:
Resources are vital for human survival.
They are important for maintaining the quality of life as man has been using the bio-physical
environment to satisfy his needs.
Natural resources form the backbone of the economy of a nation.
These are the bases for economic strength and prosperity of the people.
They provide material, energy and favourable conditions for development.
Question 13.
List the problems which resulted due to indiscriminate use of resources by man.
Answer:
It has resulted in depletion of many resources.

Accumulation of resources in few hands which, in turn, divided the society in two segments, i.e.,
haves and have-nots or rich and poor.
It has led to the global ecological crisis, e.g., global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental
pollution, land degradation, etc.
Question 14.
“Resource planning is essential for sustainable existence.” Discuss.
Answer:
Sustainable existence is a component of sustainable development which aims at development

without damaging the environment and at the same time conserving for future generation.
Therefore, resource planning is necessary for judicious, rational and equitable distribution and
proper utilisation of resources. It has become essential for a sustained quality of life and global
peace.
Question 15.
What do you understand by ‘sustainable economic development’?
Answer:
Sustainable economic development means that ‘development should take place without damaging
the environment and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of future
generation.’
Question 16.
Why is ‘Resource Planning’ necessary? Give reasons.
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 Cannot 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.
Question 17.
“India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources.” Name four varied regions to justify
this statement.
Answer:
There are regions which are rich or self-sufficient in certain types of resources and there are areas
that are deficient or have acute shortage of some vital resources.
For example:
The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal deposits.
Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural development.
Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in water resources.
The cold desert area of Ladakh has very rich cultural heritage. It is deficient in water, infrastructure
and some vital minerals.
Such cases call for balanced resource planning at different levels.
Question 18.
Explain three stages of ‘resource planning.’ (2015)
Answer:
Three stages of resource planning:
Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This involves surveying,
mapping and the qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of the resources.
Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional set up for
implementing resource development plAnswer:
Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plAnswer:
Question 19.
“Planning is the widely accepted strategy for judicious use of resources in a country like India”.
Justify this statement with two relevant points and an example. (2013)
Answer:
India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources. Through planning, regions which have
shortage of vital resources and those having adequate quantities, receive equal attention.
There are regions which are rich in certain types of resources but are deficient in some other
resources.
For example: Arunachal has abundance of water but lacks in infrastructural development.
There are some regions which can be considered self sufficient in terms of availability of resources.
For example: The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and
coal deposits.
There are some regions which have acute shortage of some vital resources.
For example: The state of Rajasthan is well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in water
resources.
Question 20.
Write four factors which determine resource development in a region.
Answer:
Four factors involved in the development of resources are:
Availability of resources
Level of technology
Quality of human resources
Historical experiences of the people
Question 21.
What do you understand by ‘conservation of resources’? Why is it necessary to conserve our

resources? Give three reasons.
Answer:
Conservation is judicious and planned use of natural resources for sustainable benefit to the present
generation. It also maintains a potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations.
Three reasons for conservation:
Our resources are limited in nature, therefore they have to be frugally used.
Many of the resources are non-renewable in nature, therefore extra care has to be taken.
Their conservation is necessary for our own sustenance and for the ongoing economic
developmental processes.
Question 22.
Explain the concept of resource conservation as voiced by Gandhiji. (2012)
Or
Whom did Gandhiji make responsible for the depletion of resources at the global level?
Answer:
Gandhiji voiced his concern about resource conservation in these Words: “There is enough far
everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed.” He placed the greedy and selfish individuals as the
root cause for resource depletion at the global level. He was against ‘mass production’ and wanted
to replace it with ‘production by the masses’.
Indiscriminate use of resources by human beings has led to the depletion of resources for satisfying
the greed of few individuals.
Irrational consumption and over-utilization of resources leads to socio-economic and environmental

problems.
Question 23.
Write four institutional efforts made at global level for ‘resource conservation’.
Answer:
At the international level, the Club of Rome advocated resource conservation for the first time in a
more systematic way in 1968.
In 1974, the Gandhian Philosophy was presented once again by Schumacher in his book “Small is
Beautiful”.
Brundtland Commission Report in 1987, introduced the concept of ‘sustainable development’ and
advocated it as a means for resource conservation. This was subsequently published in a book
entitled “Our Common Future”.
In June 1992, the first ‘International Earth Summit’ was held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, in which 100
heads of States met for addressing urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-
economic development at the global level.
Question 24.
Write the major features of Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992.

Answer:
In 1992,100 heads of States met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for the first ‘International Earth Summit’.
The summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of:
environmental protection and
socio-economic development at global level.
The assembled leaders signed the Declaration on Global Climatic Change and the Biological Diversity.
The Rio convention endorsed the global Forest Principles and adopted ‘Agenda 21’ for achieving
sustainable development in the 21st century. It is an agenda to combat environmental damage,
poverty and diseases through global co-operation on common interests, mutual needs and shared
responsibilities.
Question 25.
“The future generation may not have sufficient resources as compared to the present generation”.
Justify the statement by giving suitable examples. (2012)
Or
Why is the issue of sustainability relevant for development?
Answer:
Present sources of energy in India are coal, petroleum, natural gas, solar energy, wind energy, hydel
power, electricity, wood for fire, cow dung etc. Most of these are non-renewable sources of energy
which may get exhausted after some time. These are available in limited quantities. The present rate
of consumption is higher than the rate at which these resources are being replenished and should be
preserved for our future generations.
In fifty years’ time, India may depend largely on non-conventional sources of energy which are
available in abundance such as solar energy, hydel energy, wind energy etc. The total hydel power
potential in India is estimated at 1,50,000 MW of which only one-sixth has been developed so far.
Development of a country needs to be continuous. Every country would like to have the level of
development go up further.
Many scientists have warned that the present levels of development cannot be sustained for the
future as the present rate of consumption of both renewable and non-renewable resources is very
high. Rapid industrialisation has led to environment degradation.
Sustainability development aims at development without damaging the environment and at the
same time conserving for the future.
Sustainability of development is essential not only for the present generation but also for future
generations to ensure a good life.
Land Resources
Question 26.
Why is land as a resource important for us? Write four points.
Answer:
95% of our basic needs of food, clothing and shelter are derived from land.
We live on land and use it in different ways, e.g. for agriculture, for transport and communication
systems, etc.
We perform our economic activities on land.
It supports natural vegetation, wildlife and human life.
Question 27.
Why land-use should be done in a planned manner? Write two points.
Answer:
Land is a fixed asset.
As land is used for varied purposes and activities and for human sustenance, therefore it is
important to use the available land for various purposes with careful planning.
Question 28.
Look at the picture and name three major relief features of India and their respective share in the
total area.
Answer:
Three major relief features:
1. Plains — 43%
2. Mountains — 30%
3. Plateaus — 27%
Social Science Class 10 Important Questions Geography Chapter 1 Resources and Development 1
Question 29.
Name the relief feature occupying the largest area, along with its percentage share in the total area.
Answer:
Plains occupy the largest area having 43% share in the total area.
Question 30.
Name three main relief features of India and write the importance of each.
Answer:
Relief Features Their Importance /Uses
1. Plains (i) provide facilities for agriculture.
(ii) provide facilities for industrial development.
(iii) because of their level, nature and ease of construction, plains support huge population of the
country.
2. Mountains (i) ensure perennial flow of some rivers and many rivers rise from them.
(ii) provide facilities for tourism.
(iii) are important from ecological point of view, e.g. have lot of forest wealth and wildlife.
3. Plateaus (i) possess rich reserves of minerals.
(ii) contain lot of fossil fuels, especially coal.
(iii) possess rich forest cover.

Question 31.
Look at the picture and explain the land-use pattern in India. Why has land under forest not
increased much since 1960-61?
Social Science Class 10 Important Questions Geography Chapter 1 Resources and Development 2
Answer:
The major land-use categories and their percentage share is:
Net sown area, where regular agriculture is done — 43.41%.
Forests, 22.57% of the total land is covered by forests.
Barren and waste land — 6.29%.
Area under non-agricultural use — 7.92%.
Permanent pastures and grazing land — 3.45%.
Area under miscellaneous tree crops and groves — 1.1%.
Culturable waste land — 4.41 %
Fallows other than current fallows — 3.82%
Current fallow – 7.03%
The land under forests has increased marginally by about 4.46%. From 18.11% in 1960-61, it is still
only 22.57% which is far lower than the desired 33% as outlined by the National Forest Policy (1952).
Reasons for marginal increase in forest area:
increasing population
technological developments
expansion of agriculture
development of transport and communication facilities
overgrazing
felling of trees
All these exert great pressure on land thus causing further depletion of forests.
Question 32.
Distinguish between each of the following:
(a) Current fallow and other than current fallow land
(b) Waste-land and culturable waste-land
(c) Net sown area and gross cropped area.
Answer:
(a) Current fallow land. Land left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year.
Other than current fallow land. Land left uncultivated for the past one to five agricultural years.
(b) Waste land. It includes rocky, arid and desert areas which are lying waste at the moment.
Culturable waste land. Arable land which is left uncultivated for more than five agricultural years.
(c) Net Sown Area. It is the total area under cultivation.
Gross Cropped Area. Area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus net sown area.
Question 33.
What do you understand by ‘reported area’? What is the reported area of India and why? Give two
major reasons.
Answer:
The percentage of total area for which land-use statistics (data) are available, is termed as ‘reported
area’. India’s reported area is 93%.
Reasons:
Because the land-use reporting for most of the north-eastern states, except Assam, has not been
done.
Some areas of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have not been surveyed.
Question 34.
Write three physical and three human factors which determine the use of land.
Answer:
Physical Factors:
Topography
Climate
Soil types
Human Factors:
Population density
Technological capability
Culture and traditions
Question 35.
Why are the other than current fallow-lands cultivated once or twice in about two to three years?
Give two reasons.
Answer:
Two reasons are:
These lands may be of poor quality.
The cost of cultivation of such lands is very high.
Question 36.
“The pattern of net sown area varies greatly from one state to another.”
Or
Name two states having high net sown area and two states having low net sown area. Give two
reasons for each.
Answer:
Punjab and Haryana are two states, which have more than 80% of their total area as N.S.A. (Net
Sown Area) because:
They are agriculturally rich States because of favourable climatic conditions for the growth of crops
and levelled fertile nature of land.
Irrigation facilities are well-developed here.

States with low N.S.A. i.e., less than 10% are Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram because:
The nature of land is hilly and forested, therefore availability of arable land is less.
Economic backwardness and climatic conditions also do not encourage large scale agricultural
activities.
Question 37.
According to National Forest Policy, how much of the country’s area should be under forest cover
and why? Give two considerations for this norm. Have we been able to meet this norm?
Answer:
According to National Forest Policy, 33% of the country’s total area should be under forest cover.
Reasons:
It is considered essential for the maintenance of ecological balance.
The livelihood of millions of people who live on the fringe of these forests depends on these forests.
We have 22.57% area under forests which is far lower than the desired 33% of geographical area, as
outlined by National Forest Policy.
Question 38.
What is land degradation? What is the area of degraded land in India? Name four types of waste-
lands and their percentage share respectively.
Answer:
Damage to the land, bringing down its quality is called land degradation.
Continuous use of land over a long period of time without taking appropriate measures to conserve
and manage it, results in land degradation. India has 130 million hectares of degraded land.
Four categories of waste-lands:
Water eroded area .. 56%
Forest degraded area .. 28%
Wind eroded area .. 10%

Saline and Alkaline land .. 6%
Question 39.
Write six human activities which have caused land degradation.
Answer:
Deforestation
Overgrazing
Mining activities — mining sites are abandoned after excavation leaving deep scars and traces of
over-burdening.
Mineral processing produces large quantities of dust in the atmosphere, which on settling down on
land, retards the process of infiltration of water into the soil.
Over-irrigation leads to waterlogging which increases salinity and alkalinity in the soil.
Industrial effluents — such wastes cause land and water pollution.
Question 40.
Which factor is mainly responsible for maximum land degradation in India? (2015)
Answer:
Over-grazing is one of the main reasons for land degradation. States where over-grazing has resulted
in land degradation are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Question 41.
Distinguish between biotic and abiotic resources by stating four points.
Answer:
Difference between biotic and abiotic resources
Biotic resourcesAbiotic resources
(i) The resources which are obtained from biosphere are biotic resources. (i) All those things
which are composed of nonliving things are called abitoic resources.
(ii) They have life. (ii) They do not have life.

(iii) These include flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock, human beings, etc. (iii) These incoude
rocks, metals, land, air, mountains, rivers, etc.
(iv) Minerals such as coal and petroleum are included in this category because they were formed
from decayed organic matter. (iv) Minerals such as gold, iron, copper, silver, etc. come in this
category.
Question 42.
Name three states each in which land degradation is caused due to
over-irrigation
over-grazing
deforestation due to mining activities
Answer:
Three states where over-irrigation has resulted in land degradation are Punjab, Haryana and
Western Uttar Pradesh.
Due to over-grazing. Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Deforestation due to mining activities has led to land degradation in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh,
Madhya Pradesh.
Question 43.
Write some measures/ways to solve problems of land degradation. (2014)
Answer:
Measures to conserve land:
Afforestation.
Proper management of grazing to control over-grazing.
Planting of shelter belts of plants.
Stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
Control of mining activities.
Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment.
Proper management of waste-lands
Avoid over-irrigation, especially in dry areas.
Avoid overuse of fertilisers and pesticides.
Soil As A Resouce
Question 44.
What is soil? How is it an important resource for us?
Answer:
Soil is the uppermost layer of the earth’s crust which is loose, fragmented and fine. It is rich in both
organic (humus) and inorganic materials and supports plant growth.
Soil is a living system. It takes millions of years to form soil upto a few cm in depth.
It is an important resource because:
It is the medium of plant growth.
It supports different types of living organisms on earth.
Question 45.
Write the main factors responsible for soil formation.
Answer:
Soil is a living system. It takes millions of years to form soil up to a few centimeters in depth.
Factors responsible for soil formation are:
Parent rock or bed rock on which the soils are formed, disintegrate and decompose under the
process of weathering and erosion.
Climate: It determines the rate of weathering.
Relief, vegetation, other forms of life and time are other important factors in the formation of soils.
Various forces of nature such as change in temperature, actions of running water, wind and glaciers,
activities of decomposers etc. also contribute to the formation of soil.
Chemical and organic changes which take place in soil, also play a role in its formation.
Question 46.
Write four factors which are responsible for varied types of soils in India.
Answer:
Factors:
Varied relief features
Varied land forms
Varied climatic realms
Varied vegetation types.
Question 47.
On what basis are soils classified into different types?
Answer:
Basis of classification of soils:
Colour
Thickness
Texture
Age
Chemical and physical properties
Factors responsible for soil formation.
Question 48.
Name six types of soils found in India. Which is the most widely spread soil? Name one major region
where it is found.
Answer:
Alluvial soil
Red and yellow soil
Black soil
Laterite soil
Arid soil
Forest and mountainous soils
Alluvial soil is the most widely spread soil.
The entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil.
Question 49.
Write three regional/local names of areas where you find coarse alluvial soil and name one deltaic
area which has fine alluvial soil.
Answer:
Coarse alluvial soil is more common in piedmont plains such as Duars, Chos and Terai.
Fine alluvial soil is found in the eastern coastal plains in the deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna
and Kaveri rivers.
Question 50.
Classify alluvial soils on the basis of their age. Write two characteristics of each.
Answer:
According to their age, alluvial soils are of two types: Bangar and Khadar.
Bangar Khadar
(i) It is old alluvial soil. (i) It is new alluvial soil.
(ii) It has higher concentration of ‘kankar’ nodules. (ii) It has more fine particles.
(iii) It is coarser and is found in the old river terraces. (iii) It is more fertile than ‘Bangar’ and is
found in flood plains.
Question 51.
Write the main characteristics of alluvial soils.
Answer:
Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. They consist of various proportions of sand, silt and clay.
They contain adequate proportion of potash, lime and phosphoric acid. They are ideal for the growth
of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.
Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and are densely populated.
Soils in the drier areas are more alkaline and can be productive after proper treatment and
irrigation.
Question 52.
Give the distribution of alluvial soils in brief.
Answer:
The entire northern plains are made up of alluvial soils.
These have been deposited by three important Himalayan river systems
the Indus. Ganga and Brahmaputra.
These soils also extend into Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow corridor.
These are also found in the eastern coastal plains in the deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna
and Kaveri rivers.
Question 53.
Write two factors which are responsible for the formation of black soils. Name four States where
they are found. Name the crop mainly grown in it.
Answer:
Two factors are:
The climatic conditions
The parent rock material.
Four states in which black soils are found are: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh. Black soil is ideal for growing cotton and is also called black cotton soil.
Question 54.
Write six characteristics of regur soils (black soils). (2015)
Answer:
They are made up of extremely fine, i.e. clayey material.
They have capacity to hold moisture that makes them ideal for growing cotton.
They are rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents.
They develop deep cracks during dry hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration of soil.
These soils are sticky when wet and difficult to work unless tilled immediately after the first shower.
Question 55.
Give the distribution of black/regur Soil. (2015)
Answer:
This soil is typical of the Deccan Trap region.
It is spread over north west Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows.
This soil covers the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh
and extends along the Godavari and Krishna Valleys.
Question 56.
In what broad category do the soils of Maharashtra fall? (2014)
Answer:
Black soil region also known as regur soils.
Question 57.
What is regur soil? Write its two features. Mention any two regions where regur soil is found.
Answer:
Regur soil is soil which is made up of extremely fine, i.e., clayey material.
Features:
They have capacity to hold moisture that makes them ideal for growing cotton.
They are rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents.
They develop deep cracks during dry hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration of soil.
These soils are sticky when wet and difficult to work unless tilled immediately after the first shower.
Regions where regur soil is found:
This soil is typical of the Deccan Trap region.
It is spread over north west Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows.
This soil covers the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
and extends along the Godavari and Krishna Valleys.
Question 58.
Write the distribution of red and yellow soils. Give reasons for their colour.
Or
How does red soil develop and in which part of India? What makes it look red and yellow?
Answer:
In Eastern and Southern parts of Deccan plateau, red soils have developed on crystalline igneous
rocks in areas of low rainfall. They are also found in parts of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Southern parts of
the middle Ganga Plains and along the piedmont zone of Western Ghats.
These soils develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks. It
looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
Question 59.
Write four characteristics of laterite soils. Why are they called laterite?
Answer:
They are highly leached soils.
They develop in areas of heavy rainfall and high temperature.
They have low ‘humus’ content, because most of the micro-organisms particularly decomposers like
bacteria get destroyed due to high temperature.
These soils can be cultivated with adequate doses of manure and fertilisers.
The word laterite has been derived from the Latin word ‘late/ which means brick. Since their colour
is red and resembles brick colour, these soils are called laterite soils.
Question 60.
Write six states which have laterite soils and name the important crops which grow well in these
soils.
Answer:
Six states in which laterite soils are found: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and the
hilly areas of Orissa and Assam.
Crops which grow well in these soils are: tea, coffee and cashew-nuts.
Question 61.
Write the main characteristics of arid soils. (2014)
Answer:
Arid soils range from red to brown in colour.
They have a sandy texture.
They are saline in nature. In areas where salt content in high, common salt is obtained by
evaporation.
Arid soil lacks humus and is moisture deficient.
The lower horizons of the soil have kankars because of high calcium content which restrict
infiltration of water.
Proper irrigation helps make these soils cultivable, e.g., Western Rajasthan.
Question 62.
Write the main features of forest soils. What are the different types of soils found in the hilly
forested areas?
Answer:
Forest soils are mainly found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests are
available. The soil texture varies according to the mountain environment where they are formed. At
least four types of soils can be seen in the hilly forested areas:
They are loamy and silty in valley sides.
They are coarse grained in upper slopes.
They are highly denuded, acidic with low humus content in the snow covered areas.
They are very fine and fertile in lower parts of the valley and on river terraces.
Question 63.
What is soil erosion? Write the main causes of soil erosion.
Answer:
The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is described as soil erosion.
The process of soil formation and erosion goes on simultaneously and generally there is a balance
between the two. This balance is sometimes disturbed, leading to soil erosion. The main activities
like deforestation, over-grazing, construction and mining and also natural agents like wind, running
water and glacier are the main causes of soil erosion.
Question 64.
Explain three types of soil erosion mostly observed in India. Mention human activities that are
responsible for soil erosion. (2012)
Answer:
Gully erosion
The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels,
called gullies. They make the land unfit for cultivation. Such lands are called ‘Badlands’.
Sheet erosion
Sometimes water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope. In this case top layer of the soil is
washed away.
Wind erosion
Wind blows off loose and dry soil from flat and sloping land causing erosion.
Question 65.
Write the land area degraded by gully erosion and name five states where gully erosion is very
pronounced.
Answer:
Approximately 40 lakh hectares of land area has degraded due to gully erosion.
Five states where gully erosion is quite pronounced are: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar,
Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Question 66.
Write four methods of soil conservation.
Answer:
Methods of soil conservation:
Contour ploughing By ploughing along the contour lines, water will not run down the slopes.
Terrace cultivation Steps can be cut on the slopes to make terraces. This restricts erosion.
Strip cropping Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between the
crops. This breaks the force of the wind.
Planting of shelter belts The planting of trees in rows to create shelter also breaks the force of the
wind and restricts soil erosion.
Shelter belts have helped in the stabilisation of sand dunes and deserts.
Question 1.
Write four points to stress the importance of agriculture in India. (2013)
Or, Why is India called an agriculturally important country? Write four supportive arguments.
Or, ‘Agriculture has been the backbone of the Indian Economy’ Explain the statement by giving
reason. (2017 D)
Answer:
India is an agricultural country because of the following reasons:
Two-third of its population is engaged in agricultural activities which provide livelihood.
Agriculture is a primary activity and produces most of the food and foodgrains that we consume.
It produces raw materials for our various industries, e.g., cotton textile and sugar industry.
Some agricultural products, like tea, coffee and spices, are exported and earn foreign exchange.
The share of agriculture in providing employment and livelihood to the population continued to be
as high as 63% in 2001.
Question 2.
Why do farming practices vary in different regions? Give three major reasons.
Answer:
Three major reasons are:
Physical environment, i.e., relief, soil and climate.
Technological know-how.
Socio-cultural practices.
Question 3.
Name some industries based on agricultural raw material.
Answer:
Cotton Textile Industry and Sugar Industry.
Question 4.
What factors does primitive subsistence farming depend on?
Answer:
Factors:
Monsoons
Natural fertility of the soil
Suitability of other environmental conditions to the crops grown.
Question 5.
Write main characteristics of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.
Or, Write main characteristics of Primitive Subsistence Farming.
Answer:
This type of farming is practised in few pockets of India on small patches of land using primitive tools
and family/community labour.
Farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their families.
When the soil fertility decreases, the farmers shift and clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation. This
type of shifting allows nature to replenish the fertility of the soil through natural processes.
Land productivity is low as the farmer does not use fertilisers or other modem inputs.
Question 6.
Name some primitive tools used in ‘slash and bum’ agriculture.
Answer:
Tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks.
Question 7.
Compare ‘intensive subsistence farming’ with that of ‘commercial farming’ practiced in India.
Answer:
Intensive Subsistence Farming Commercial Farming

(i) In this type of farming, production is mainly for self consumption. (i) In this, crops are mainly
grown for commercial purposes.
(ii) It is practised in areas of high population pressure on land. (ii) It is practiced on large pieces of
land on scientific and commercial lines.
(iii) It is labour intensive farming. (iii) In this type of agriculture, machines and modem
technology are used.
(iv) In this, high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used for obtaining higher production.
(iv) There is higher use of modern agricultural inputs, for example, High Yielding Variety
(HYV) seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, etc. are used to obtain higher yields and production.
(v) Farmers take maximum output from the limited land by raising 2-3 crops in a year from the same
land, i.e., multiple cropping is practised. (v) The degree of commercialization varies from one region
to another. Rice is a commercial crop in Punjab, while in Orissa it is subsistence crop. For example,
Plantation agriculture.
Question 8.
Write the main characteristics of intensive subsistence farming.
Answer:
It is practised in areas of high population pressure on land.
It is labour intensive farming.
Yield per hectare is high because high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used.
The size of the land-holdings is small and uneconomical.
Farmers take maximum output from the limited land by raising 2-3 crops in a year from the same
land, i.e., multiple cropping is practised.
Question 9.
What are the major differences between primitive subsistence farming and commercial farming?
(2013)
Answer:
Primitive Subsistence Farming Commercial Farming
1. In this mainly cereals and other food crops are grown by farmers to sustain themselves. 1.
In this, crops are mainly grown for commercial purposes.
2. It is generally done on small land holdings which are economically not viable. 2. It is practiced on
large pieces of land on scientific and commercial lines.
3. Primitive tools and animals are used for carrying out agricultural activities. 3. In this type of
agriculture, machines and modern technology are used.
4. In this, modern agricultural inputs, e.g., fertilisers and irrigation are not widely used. 4. There is
higher use of modern agricultural inputs, e.g., HYV seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, etc. are used to
obtain higher yields and production.
5. Subsistence Agriculture is called Jhumming in Assam, Mizoram; Kuruwa in Jharkhand.
E.g., Slash and Burn.
5. The degree of commercialization varies from one region to another. Rice is a commercial crop in
Punjab, while in Orissa it is subsistence crop. E.g., Plantation agriculture.
Question 10.
What is the most important characteristic of commercial farming?
Answer:
The main characteristic of commercial farming is the use of higher doses of modern inputs, e.g., high
yielding varieties seeds (HYVs), chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase productivity.
The degree of commercialisation of agriculture varies from one region to another.
Question 11.
Give an example of a crop which is commercial in one region and provides subsistence in another.
(2012)
Answer:
Rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, while in Odisha it is a subsistence crop.
Question 12.
Name one type of agriculture which falls in the category of commercial agriculture. Write the main
characteristics of this type of agriculture. (2012)
Or
Write six characteristics of plantation agriculture.
Answer:
Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming.
Characteristics of plantation agriculture:
A single type of crop is grown on a large area.
Plantation is carried out on large estates using lot of capital intensive units.
Lot of migrant labourers work on these estates.
The plantation has an interface of agriculture and industry. All the produce is used as raw material in
the respective industries.
The production is mainly for the market, i.e., commercial agriculture.
A well developed network of transport and communication connecting the plantation areas,
processing industries and markets plays an important role in the development of plantations.
Question 13.
Name one horticultural plantation crop and two beverage plantation crops and two States each
which specialise in their production respectively.
Answer:
Horticultural plantation crop is apples, mainly grown in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
Beverage crops:
Tea which is mainly a plantation crop in Assam and North-West Bengal.
Coffee which is grown in Karnataka.
Question 14.
Name some important plantation crops.
Answer:
Tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane and banana are examples of some important plantation crops.
Question 15.
Name three cropping seasons of India. Write their sowing and harvesting time and major crops of
each season.
Answer:
Rabi, Kharif and Zaid are the three cropping seasons.
I. Rabi crops (Winter crops):
These are sown in winter from October to December.
Harvested in summer from April to June.
Important crops are wheat, barley, mustard, peas, gram etc.
II. Kharif crops (Crops of the rainy season):
These are sown with the onset of monsoon (June-July) and are harvested in September-October.
Important crops are rice, maize, millets, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute,
groundnut and soyabean.
III. Zaid season: It is a short cropping season during summer months (mainly between March-April
and June-July in different parts of the country).
Important crops are watermelon, musk melon, cucumber and fodder crops, etc.
Question 16.
Where are rabi crops mainly grown? Describe the climatic conditions required for their growth.
Answer:
Rabi crops such as wheat and other crops are grown mainly in states from the north and north-
western parts such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttaranchal and Uttar
Pradesh. Climatic conditions: Availability of precipitation during winter months due to western
temperate cyclones help in successful growth.
The green revolution has also been an important factor in the growth of rabi crops.
Question 17.
Name some important rice growing regions of India.
Answer:
Assam, West Bengal, Coastal regions of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra
etc.
Question 18.
Name three states which raise three paddy crops in a year. Name these crops also.
Answer:
Assam, West Bengal and Orissa grow three crops in a year. The crops are Aus, Aman and Boro.
Question 19.
(a) Which is the most important food crop of India? What is its position in world production?
Or, Name the food crop of Kharif season. What is India’s position in the world with regard to its
production?
(b) Write the rainfall and temperature requirements for the growth of this crop.
(c) Name four major regions of rice cultivation.
(d) Name four states which produce irrigated rice.
Answer:
(a) Rice is the most important food crop (Kharif crop) of India. India holds second position in rice
production after China.
(b) For rice cultivation, high temperature of 25°C and above and high humidity with annual rainfall of
100 cms is required.
(c) Four major regions of rice cultivation are:
Plains of North India
Plains of North-Eastern India
Coastal areas
Deltaic regions.
(d) Irrigated rice is produced in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Development of dense network of canals and tubewells has made it possible to grow rice in these
states which receive less rainfall.
Question 20.
(a) Which is the second most important cereal crop of India? Write the geographical conditions
required for its growth.
(b) Name two major zones of wheat growth and name six major states of wheat production.
Answer:
(a) Wheat is the second most important cereal crop of India. It is the main food crop.
Geographical conditions:
Cool and moist growing season.
Bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
Rainfall: 50 to 75 cm evenly distributed over the growing season.
Loamy soil is best for its growth.
(b) Two important wheat growing zones in India are:
The Ganga-Sutlej plains in the North-West and
Black soil region of the Deccan.
The major wheat producing states are: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and
Madhya Pradesh.
Question 21.
Which is the third most important food crop of India? Name the cropping season in which it is
grown. Name four leading states of its production.
Answer:
Jowar is the third most important food crop with respect to area and production. It is mainly the
crop of Kharif season. It is a rainfed crop grown in moist areas.
Leading states of production are: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Question 22.
What are coarse grains? Why are they important in India? Name the crops which are included in this
category and name three leading states producing each of these crops.
Answer:
Millets are called coarse grains. They are important because they have high nutritional value and
make an important part of the diet for poor people.
Most important millets are as follows:
Ragi —Leading producer is Karnataka, followed by Tamil Nadu. Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand,
Uttaranchal, Sikkim etc are other important regions.
Jowar—Maharashtra is the leading producer followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya

Pradesh.
Bajra—It grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soils. Rajasthan is the largest producer
followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.
Question 23.
Write two geographical conditions required for the growth of Ragi and write its nutritional value.
Answer:
Ragi grows well in dry regions.
It grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy and shallow black soils.
Nutritional value: Ragi is rich in iron, calcium, other micro-nutrients and roughage.
Question 24.
Mention two geographical conditions required for the growth of Maize crop in India. Describe three
factors which have contributed to increase maize production. Write four major maize producing
states. (2012)
Answer:
Geographical conditions required for the growth of maize crop in .India:
It is a kharif crop which requires temperature between 21° C to 27° C. It requires moderate rainfall
between 50-100 cm.
It grows well in old alluvial soils.
Maize is a crop which is used both as food and fodder. In some states like Bihar, maize is grown in
rabi season also. Maize production in India has increased due to factors like:
use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds;
use of fertilisers; and
use of irrigation facilities.
major maize producing state: Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Question 25.
(a) Name three pulses each of Rabi and Kharif season. Write their importance for human beings and
for agriculture.
(b) What is India’s position in the world with regard to the production of pulses? Name five leading
states producing pulses. (2015)
Answer:
(a) Pulses of Rabi season: Tur (arhar), urad, moong.
Pulses of Kharif season: Masur, peas, gram.
Importance of pulses:
For agriculture. Being leguminous crops, they help in restoring soil fertility by utilising nitrogen from
the air (nitrogen fixation). Therefore, these are mostly grown in rotation with other crops.
They need less moisture and survive even in dry conditions.
(b) India is the largest producer of pulses in the world.
Major pulse producing states are: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and
Karnataka.
Question 26.
(a) What is India’s position in the world regarding sugarcane production? Write the geographical
conditions required for its growth.
(b) Write the major states that produce sugarcane.
(c) Name four products obtained from sugarcane.
Answer:
(a) India is the second largest producer of sugarcane after Brazil.
Geographical conditions: It is a tropical as well as subtropical crop.
It grows well in hot and humid climate.
Temperature: 21°C to 27°C.
Annual rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cms. Irrigation is required in the regions of low rainfall.
It can be grown on a variety of soils.
It needs manual labour from sowing to harvesting.
(b) Six major states producing sugarcane are: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.
(c) Sugarcane is the main source of sugar, gur (jaggery), khandsari and molasses.
Question 27.
(a) What percentage of the total cropped area of India is under oilseed production? What is India’s
position in the world with regard to oilseed production?
(b) Name six oilseeds produced in India. What are their main uses?
(c) Which oilseed constitutes 50% of the oilseeds produced in the country? Name three major states
producing this oilseed.
(d) Name three oilseeds of Kharif season and three of Rabi season.
Answer:
(a) India is the largest producer of oilseeds in the world. 12% of the total cropped area is under
oilseed production
(b) Six major oilseeds produced in India are: Groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum (til), soyabean,
castor-seeds, linseed, sunflower and cotton-seeds.
Most of these oilseeds are edible and are used as cooking mediums.
Some are also used as raw material in the production of soap, cosmetics and ointments.
(c) Groundnut is a Kharif crop and constitutes 50% share in the total oilseed production. Andhra
Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra are important producers of groundnut.
(d)
Oilseeds of Kharif season Oilseeds of Rabi season
Groundnut Mustard
Sesamum in North IndiaLinseed
Castor-seed Sesamum in South India
Question 28.
Write the geographical and labour conditions required for the growth of tea.
Answer:
It grows well in tropical and subtropical climates.
It requires deep, fertile, well drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.
It requires warm and moist frost free climate round the year.
Frequent showers evenly distributed through the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves.
Tea is a labour intensive industry. It requires abundant, cheap and skilled labour.
It is processed within tea gardens to restore its freshness.
Question 29.
What is India’s position in the world regarding tea production? Name three states each which
produce tea in:
(i) North-Eastern India
(ii) Himalayan states/parts of the states
(iii) Peninsular States.
Answer:
India is the leading producer and exporter of tea in the world.

Three states producing tea in each of the following:
North-Eastern States Himalayan Regions/States Peninsular States
1. Assam 1. Hills of West Bengal 1. Tamil Nadu
2. Meghalaya (Darjeeling & Jalpaiguri Districts) 2. Kerala
3. Tripura 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Andhra Pradesh
3. Uttaranchal
Question 30.
Which is the most important beverage crop of Southern India and what is its percentage share in the
world? Where did its cultivation initially start in India? Name three major states of its production.
Answer:
Coffee is the most important beverage crop of Southern India. India produces about 4% of the
world’s coffee production.
Three major states which produce coffee are: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, mainly in Nilgiri
Hills. Initially its cultivation started in Baba Budan Hills.
Question 31.
Name a good variety of coffee which is produced in India and name the country from where it was
initially brought. Why Indian coffee has great international demand?
Answer:
Arabica, the good variety of coffee was originally brought from Yemen.
Indian coffee is in great demand because this coffee is of a very good quality.
Question 32.
What is horticulture? (2012)
Answer:
Cultivation of fruits, vegetables and flowers is called horticulture.
Question 33.
What is India’s position in the world in the production of fruits and vegetables? Name the different
Indian fruits which are in great demand world over and also name the states where each is
produced.
Answer:
India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world.
Mangoes grow in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Bananas grow well in Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Oranges grow well in Nagpur and Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya).
Lichi and Guavas grow in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Grapes grow well in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Pineapple grows well in Meghalaya.
Apples, Pears, Apricots and Walnuts grow well in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Question 34.
Name four temperate fruits which are produced in India and name the states which grow them in
abundance.
Answer:
Four temperate crops are: apples, pears, apricots and walnuts.
Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are the leading producers of these temperate fruits.
Question 35.
Describe India’s position in vegetable production.
Answer:
India produces about 13% of the world’s vegetables.
It stands first in the production of peas and cauliflower.
It stands second in the production of onions, cabbage, tomatoes and brinjal and stands fourth in the
production of potatoes.
Question 36.
Name three non-food crops and write three major states of their production respectively.
Answer:
The three non-food crops are: rubber, cotton and jute.
Rubber is produced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Garo
hills of Meghalaya.
Cotton is mainly produced in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Jute is mainly grown in West Bengal, Bihar and Assam.
Question 37.
Write the geographical conditions required for the growth of rubber. Name the item which
consumes maximum share of rubber for its manufacture.
Answer:
Conditions:
It requires hot and humid climate.
Rainfall – 200 cms.
Temperature – above 25°C.
Maximum rubber is consumed in the manufacture of auto tyres and tubes and cycle tyres and tubes.
They together consume about 57.8% of the total rubber production.
Question 38.
Name four major fibre crops grown in India. What is ‘sericulture’?
Answer:
Cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk are the four major fibre crops grown in India. The first three are
derived directly from the crops grown in the soil, but silk is obtained from the cocoons of silk worms
fed on mulberry leaves.
Sericulture: Rearing of silk worms for the production of silk fibre is known as sericulture.
Question 39.
Give an account of fibre crop which is mainly grown in Deccan Plateau region under the following
heads:
(i) Its position in the world production
(ii) geographical conditions and
(iii) major states of production.
Answer:
Cotton is the fibre crop which is mainly grown in the black soil of the Deccan Plateau region.
(i) Position. India is the 3rd largest producer of cotton in the world.
(ii) Geographical conditions. Cotton requires:
high temperature.
light rainfall or irrigation.
210 frost-free days.
bright sunshine for its growth.
black cotton soil which is very good for its growth.
It is a Kharif crop and requires 6-8 months to mature.
(iii) Major cotton producing states are. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra
Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Question 40.
Which fibre crop is called as the ‘Golden fibre’? Which is the most important region of its growth and
why? Give one major reason why it is losing the market now.
Answer:
Jute is known as the golden fibre.
Jute is mainly grown in West Bengal, especially in the Hooghly Basin because there the geographical
conditions favour its growth. These conditions are:
High temperature required during the time of growth.

Jute grows well on well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains where soils are renewed every year.
Due to its high cost, it is losing market to synthetic fibres and other packing materials particularly to
nylon.
Question 41.
Name the major jute producing states and list some items or products made out of jute.
Answer:
Jute producing states are: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa and Meghalaya.
Jute products are: gunny bags, ropes, mats, carpets, yarns and other ornamental artefacts.
Technological And Institutional Reforms
Question 42.
Give the main reasons which have necessitated agricultural reforms.
Answer:
Reforms in agriculture are necessary because of the following reasons:
Sustained uses of land without compatible techno-institutional changes have hindered the pace of
agricultural development.
Most of the farmers still depend on monsoons because large parts of the country still do not have
irrigation facilities.
Farmers still depend on natural fertility in order to carry on their agriculture, i.e., they lack material
resources, e.g., fertilizers, etc.
Ours is an agricultural economy and about 63% of people depend on agriculture for employment
and livelihood, therefore reforms have to be implemented.
For raising the agricultural production and productivity levels to produce sufficient food for the
growing population.
To overcome environmental, economic and social constraints, agricultural reforms have to be

seriously implemented.
The declining share in GDP is a matter of serious concern because decline and stagnation in
agriculture will lead to decline in other spheres of economy.
Question 43.
What are ‘Institutional Reforms’? Enlist various institutional reforms taken by the Indian
Government to bring about improvements in agriculture. (2015)
Answer:
Institutional reforms:
Steps taken by the government to bring about improvements in agriculture are termed as
‘Institutional Reforms’.
Some steps are:
Collectivisation and consolidation of land holdings to make them economically viable.
The green revolution based on the use of package technology and the White Revolution to increase
milk production are important strategies which were initiated to improve agriculture.
Cooperation with farmers and Abolition of Zamindari system.
Provision of crop insurance to protect the farmers against losses caused by natural calamities, i.e.
drought, flood, cyclone, fire and disease.
Establishment of ‘Grameen Banks’, Cooperative Societies and Banks for providing loan facilities to
the farmers at lower rates of interest.
Kissan Credit Card (KCC), Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS) are some other schemes
introduced by the government for the benefit of farmers.
Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers were introduced on the Radio
and TV.
Announcement of minimum support price, remunerative and procurement prices for crops to check
the exploitation of farmers by speculators and middlemen and removing the elements of
uncertainty.
Question 44.
Describe some concerted efforts made by the government to modernise Indian agriculture and
improve its share in the GDP.
Answer:
The following measures have been taken by the government to modernise agriculture and improve
its share in the GDP:
Establishment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Setting up of Agricultural Universities.

Development of advanced Veterinary Services and Animal Breeding Centres.
Development of horticulture.
Research and Development in the field of meteorology and weather forecasts, etc.
Improving the rural infrastructure is essential for the same.
Question 45.
“The contribution of agriculture to national economy is on the decline.” Write five facts to support
this statement.
Or, What is the contribution of agriculture to national economy, employment and output? Is it
declining or encouraging?
Answer:
Contribution of agriculture is showing a declining trend:
The share of agriculture in GDP has shown a declining trend since 1951.
Yet its share in providing employment and livelihood to the population continued to be as high as
63% in 2001.
Although GDP growth rate of the country is increasing, it is not generating sufficient employment
opportunities in the country, especially in the field of agriculture.
Farmers are dragging away their investment from agriculture because they have to face big
challenges from international competition. This has resulted in further downfall in employment in
agriculture.
The growth rate in agriculture is decelerating which is an alarming situation.
Question 46.
What are the challenges being faced by Indian farmers? What has this resulted in?
Answer:
Challenges faced by Indian farmers:
Reduction in public investment by government in the agricultural sector particularly in areas of

irrigation, power, rural roads, market and mechanisation.
Subsidy on fertilizers has decreased leading to increase in the cost of production.
Reduction in import duties on agricultural products has proved detrimental to agriculture in the
country.
All these factors have led to stiff international competition. Farmers are thus withdrawing their
investment from agriculture causing a downfall in agricultural employment.
Question 47.
Define each of the following:
(a) Green Revolution
(b) White Revolution
(c) Yellow Revolution
(d) Blue Revolution
(e) Gene Revolution.
Answer:
(a) Green Revolution. Agricultural Revolution which resulted in increased production of foodgrains
because of the use of HYV (High Yielding Varieties) seeds, fertilizers, proper irrigation and other
modem inputs.
(b) White Revolution. Revolutionary increase in the production of milk which was spearheaded by
Operation Flood.
(c) Yellow Revolution. Increase in the output of oilseeds is termed as Yellow Revolution.
(d) Blue Revolution refers to increased output of fish and fish products.
(e) Gene Revolution refers to the development of genetically modified seeds for increasing the yield
per hectare. These seeds are environmentally sustainable.
Question 48.
Write four drawbacks of green revolution.
Answer:
Due to overuse of chemicals land degradation has taken place.
Excessive irrigation caused drying of acquifers.
It became a cause for vanishing biodiversity.
It has widened the gap between poor and rich farmers because only agriculturally rich areas have
benefitted from it and not the small farmers.
Question 49.
(a) Give four reasons why Indian farmers should switch over from cereals to high value crops’
cultivation.
(b) What will be the implication of this change? Name three countries which have successfully done
this.
Answer:
(a) Indian farmers should switch from cereals to high value crops because of the following reasons:
It will improve their income.
It will reduce environmental degradation at the same time.
Fruits, medicinal herbs, bio-diesel crops, flowers and vegetables need much less irrigation than rice
or sugarcane.
India’s wide variety of climates can be harnessed to grow a wide range of high value crops.
(b) Its implications are:
India has to import food.
If we import food while exporting high value crops, our economy will grow.
Three countries which have such successful economies are: Chile, Israel and Italy, which export farm
products (fruits, wine, olives, speciality seeds) and import food.
Question 1.
What is manufacturing? To which sector of economy does it belong?
Or
“The economic strength of a country is measured by the development of manufacturing industries”.

Support the statement with arguments. (2016 D)
Answer:
Manufacturing. Production of goods in large quantities after processing from raw materials to more
valuable products is called manufacturing.
Manufacturing belongs to secondary sector in which the primary materials are processed and
converted into finished goods. The economic strength of a country is measured by the development
of manufacturing industries.
Question 2.
Write the importance of ‘manufacturing sector’ for our nation.
Or, “Manufacturing industry is considered the backbone of economic development of India.” Give
reasons. (2015 OD, 2011 D)
Answer:
Importance of manufacturing industries for India:
It helps in modernizing agriculture, which is the base of our economy.
It reduces heavy dependence on agricultural income by providing jobs in non-agricultural sectors.
Industrial development is necessary for eradication of poverty and unemployment because people
get jobs and generate more income.
Export of manufactured goods expands trade and brings in much needed foreign exchange.
Industries bring riches faster to a nation because manufacturing changes raw materials into finished
goods of a higher value, so industrial development brings prosperity to the country.
Question 3.
“Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other, but move hand in hand.” Give arguments
in favour of this statement. (2013 D)
Or, Explain with examples how industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture. (2015 D,
2012 OD)
Answer:
Agriculture and industry in India are inseparable or interdependent on each other:
Agro-industries in India have boosted agriculture by raising its productivity.
Industries depend on agriculture for their raw materials, e.g. cotton textile industry.
Industries provide many agricultural inputs like irrigation pumps, fertilisers, insecticides, PVC pipes,
machines and tools etc. to the farmers.
Manufacturing industries have assisted agriculturists to increase their production and also made the
production processes very efficient.
Development of different modes of transport by industrial sector has not only helped farmers to
obtain agricultural inputs but has also helped them trade their products.
Question 4.
Write the contribution and present growth rate of manufacturing sector in national economy.
Suggest measures to increase the industrial growth rate. (2011 OD)
Answer:
The share of manufacturing sector has stagnated at 17% of GDP. The trend of growth rate over the
last decade has been around 7% per annum. Since 2003, it has shown an increased growth rate of 9-
10% per annum. The desired growth rate over the next decade is 12%. To attain this target, following
steps can be taken:
Appropriate policy interventions by the government.
Renewed efforts by the industries to improve productivity.
Question 5.
List the major factors which affect the location of an industry at a place. What is the key to the
decision of ‘factory location’? (2011 D, 2011 OD, 2015 D)
Answer:
Raw material. Cheap and abundant availability of raw material. Industries which use heavy and
perishable raw material have to be located close to the source of raw material.
Labour. Availability of cheap labour is necessary for keeping the cost of production low.
Power. Cheap and continuous supply of power is extremely necessary for continuity in the
production process.
Capital. It is necessary for developing infrastructure, for the entire manufacturing process and for
meeting manufacturing expenditure.
Banking and insurance facilities, favourable government policies are other factors which affect
location of an industry.
The ‘key’ to the decision of a factory location is least cost so that the venture is profitable.
Question 6.
“Industrialisation and urbanisation go hand in hand.” Explain.
Answer:
After an industrial activity starts, urbanisation follows. Some industries are located in and around the
cities. Thus industrialisation and urbanisation go hand in hand. Cities provide markets, services such
as banking, insurance, transport, labour, consultants and financial advice, etc. to industries.
Question 7.
What are ‘agglomeration economies’ in the industrial context?
Answer:
Many industries tend to come together to make use of the advantages offered by the urban centres
known as ‘agglomeration economies’. Gradually, a large industrial agglomeration or clustering takes
place around an urban centre.
Question 8.
State any five basis on which industries are classified.
Answer:
On the basis of source of raw materials used — Agro-based and mineral-based.
According to their main role — Basic and Consumer industries.
On the basis of capital investment—Small-scale and large-scale industries.
On the basis of ownership — Public Sector, Private Sector, Cooperative Sector, Joint Sector.
Based on the bulk and weight of raw material and finished goods—Heavy industries, Light industries.
Question 9.
Classify industries on the basis of capital investment. How are they different from one another?
Explain with examples. (2016 D)
Answer:
On the basis of capital investment industries can be classified as:
Small-scale industry
Large-scale industry
Difference:
If the investment is more than one crore rupees in any industry, it is considered as a large scale
industry.
For example, Iron and Steel industry, Cement industry.
If the investment is less than one crore rupees in any industry, it is considered as a small scale
industry.
For example, Plastic industry, Toy industry.
Question 10.
Classify industries on the basis of source of raw material. How are they different from each other?
(2016 OD)
Answer:
On the basis of sources of raw material industries are classified as:
(i) Agro based industries;
(ii) Mineral based industries
Difference between Agro-based industries and Mineral-based industries
Agro-based industries Mineral-based industries
They obtain their raw materials from agricultural products.
Example: Textiles —cotton, jute, silk and woolen. Rubber, Sugar, Coffee, Tea and Edible Oil, etc.
They obtain their raw materials from minerals. Example: Iron and steel, cement, machine tools,
petro-chemicals, etc.
Question 11.
Explain the types of industries on the basis of ownership and give one example of each.
Answer:
Four types of industries based on ownership are:
Public Sector industries. They are owned and operated by government agencies, e.g. BHEL, SAIL, etc.
Private Sector industries are owned and operated by an individual or a group of individuals, e.g.
TISCO, Bajaj Auto Ltd., Dabur Industries.
Joint Sector industries are jointly run by the Public (government) and Private Sector (individuals), e.g.
Oil India Ltd.
Cooperative Sector industries are owned and operated by the producers or suppliers of raw
materials, workers, or both. They pool in the resources and share the profits or losses
proportionately, e.g. sugar industry in Maharashtra and coir industry in Kerala.
Question 12.
Name four agro-based and four mineral-based industries.
Answer:
Four Agro-based industries are cotton textile, jute textile, sugar industry and edible oils industry.
Four Mineral-based industries are iron and steel industry, aluminium industry, copper smelting
industry and cement industry.
Question 13.
Explain the role of agro-based industries in Indian economy.
Answer:
Role of agro-based industries in Indian economy:
The agro-based industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by raising its productivity
as they obtain their raw material from agriculture.
Development and competitiveness of industries has not only assisted agriculturists in increasing
their production but also made the production processes very efficient.
The farmers are heading for commercial farming to produce high value crops for industries. This may
in turn help improve the economic status of the farmers.
These agro-based industries, by creating demand, support the growth of many other industries e.g.,
packaging materials and engineering works etc.
Question 14.
Explain the significance of textile industry in India. (2011 D)
Or
The textile industry is the only industry which is self reliant and complete in the value-chain? Justify
this statement? (2016 D)
Or
“Textile industry occupies a unique position in the Indian economy”. Support the statement with
appropriate arguments. (2015 D)
The Textile industry occupies a unique position in the Indian Economy because:
It contributes significantly to industrial production (14%).
It employs largest number of people after agriculture, i.e. 35 million persons directly.
Its share in the foreign exchange earnings is significant at about 24.6%.
It contributes 4% 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.
Question 15.
Write the stages of the development of cotton textile industry in India from ancient to modern
times.
Answer:
Stages of development of Cotton Textile Industry in India:
In ancient India, cotton textiles were produced with hand spinning and handloom weaving
techniques.
After the 18th century, powerlooms came into use.
Our traditional industries suffered a setback during the colonial period because they could not
compete with the mill-made cloth from England.
Today, there are nearly 1600 cotton and human-made fibre textile mills working at various levels and
owned by varied sectors. It is a decentralised industry today.
Question 16.
List factors which favoured the location and concentration of cotton textile industry in Maharashtra
and Gujarat in early years. (2012 D, 2015 OD)
Answer:
Availability of raw cotton was abundant and cheap because these are the traditional cotton growing
States.
Moist climate in these coastal States also helped in the development of cotton textile industry
because humid conditions are required for weaving the cloth, else the yarn breaks.
Well developed transportation system and accessible port facilities in Maharashtra and Gujarat led
to their concentration there.
Proximity to the market is yet another factor as cotton clothes are ideal and comfortable to wear in
these warm and humid States.
Cheap labour was abundantly available.
Question 17.
Write two major differences between the weaving and spinning sectors of cotton textile industry.
Answer:
Spinning Sector Weaving Sector
1. Spinning is a centralised activity mainly done in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. 1. Weaving
is a highly decentralised activity. It provides scope for incorporating traditional skills with modernity.
So weaving is done at various levels, example, handlooms, powerlooms, etc.
2. India has world class production in spinning. 2. Weaving supplies low quality of fabric as it cannot
use much of the high quality yam.
Question 18.
Name the main countries to which India exports its cotton yarn and cotton goods.
Answer:
The major countries are: Japan, USA, UK, Russia and France.
Question 19.
What are the problems faced by the cotton textile industry?
Answer:
Problems faced by the cotton textile industry:
Power supply is erratic in our country.
Machinery needs to be upgraded, especially in weaving and processing sectors.
Low output of labour.
We still need to import cotton in spite of the fact that the production of cotton in the country has
increased.
Stiff competition from the synthetic fibre industry.
Question 20.
Explain the main factors which are responsible for the concentration of jute mills along the banks of
Hugli river. (2014 D, 2012 OD)
Answer:
Factors responsible for the concentration of jute industry on the banks of Hugli:
Proximity of the jute producing areas to the Hugli Basin.
Inexpensive water transport provided by the Hugli river.
It is well connected by a good network of railways, waterways and roadways to facilitate movement
of raw materials to the mills.
Abundant water for processing raw jute.
Availability of cheap labour from West Bengal and the adjoining States of Bihar, Orissa and Uttar
Pradesh.
Kolkata as a port and large urban centre, provides banking, insurance and port facilities for export of
jute goods.
Question 21.
Write down the major problems/challenges faced by the jute industry.
Answer:
The major challenges faced by the jute industry:
Stiff competition in the international market from synthetic substitutes.
Stiff competition from other competitors like Bangladesh, Brazil, Philippines, Egypt and Thailand.
The demand for jute products is declining both in international as well as domestic markets.
The cost of production is high and many jute mills still have obsolete machinery.
Question 22.
What are the objectives of formulating National Jute Policy. In which year was this policy
formulated?
Do you think that the demand for jute products will pick up at global level and why? (2013 OD)
Answer:
National Jute Policy was formulated in 2005 with the following objectives:
For increasing productivity
For improving quality
For ensuring good prices to the jute farmers
For enhancing the yield per hectare
Yes, the demand for jute products in the world market will grow. The growing global concern for
environment friendly, biodegradable material, also led to the government policy of mandatory use
of jute packing.
Question 23.
Name some countries which are the main buyers of Indian jute products.
Answer:
The main buyers of Indian jute products are:
USA
Canada
Russia
United Arab Republic
UK
Australia
Question 24.
Why are the sugar mills located close to the sugarcane fields?
Or
Why are sugar mills concentrated in sugarcane producing areas? (2016 D)
Answer:
Reasons for location of sugar mills close to the fields:
The raw material used, (i.e.,) sugarcane is bulky and perishable.
It cannot be transported to long distances because its sucrose content dries up fast, so it should be
processed within 24 hours of its harvest.
Question 25.
Write the distribution of sugar industry in India.
Answer:
There are over 460 sugar mills in the country. Out of these, 60% mills are in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Rest of the mills are spread over Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab.
Question 26.
Why are sugar mills shifting and concentrating in southern and western State of India? Give reasons.
(2012 D)
Answer:
Sugar Industry is shifting towards southern and western States, because:
Cane produced here has higher sucrose content.
The favourable climatic conditions (cooler climate) ensure a longer growing and crushing season.
The Cooperatives are more successful in these States and sugar industry being seasonal in nature, is
ideally suited to cooperative sector.
Yield per hectare is higher in southern States.
Question 27.
What are the major challenges faced by sugar industry? (2016 D)
Answer:
Challenges faced by the sugar industry:
Seasonal nature of the industry.
Old and inefficient methods of production.
Delays in transportation of cane to the factories.
The need to maximise the use of baggase.
Question 28.
Why is iron and steel industry called the basic or key industry? Explain. (2012 OD)
Answer:
Since all the other industries—heavy, medium and light, depend on it for their machinery.
Steel is needed to manufacture a variety of engineering goods.
Steel is needed for construction material, defence and medical equipments.
Steel is needed for telephonic, scientific equipment and a variety of consumer goods.
Production and consumption of steel is often regarded as the index of a country’s development.
Question 29.
(a) Why is iron and steel industry called a heavy industry? Give reasons. (2012 OD)
(b) Write four raw materials of iron and steel industry and the proportions in which they are
required.
Answer:
(a) Iron and steel industry is a heavy industry because:
All the raw materials used are heavy and bulky.
The finished goods are also very heavy and bulky entailing heavy transportation costs.
Iron-ore, coal, limestone are the major raw materials used in producing iron and steel and they are
heavy.
Transportation costs of raw materials and finished goods of iron and steel industry are heavy
(costly).
Efficient transport network is needed for its distribution.
(b) The raw materials of iron and steel industry are:
Iron ore, coking coal and limestone are required in the ratio of 4 : 2 : 1.
Manganese is required in some quantity to harden the steel.
Question 30.
Describe India’s position in the world regarding production of steel and its consumption.
Answer:
India produces 32.8 million tonnes of steel.
India ranks 9th among the world’s crude steel producers.
It is the largest producer of sponge iron.
However, its per capita consumption per annum is only 32 kg.
Question 31.
Name the marketing body through which all public sector undertakings market their steel.
Answer:
Steel Authority of India Limited. (SAIL)
Question 32.
What is the major difference between integrated steel plants and mini steel plants? (2011 D)
Answer:
An integrated steel plant is large and handles everything in one complex—from putting together raw
materials in the blast furnace to steel making, rolling and shaping. An integrated steel plant uses a
blast furnace and iron-ore as raw material.
Mini steel plants are smaller, have electric furnaces, use steel scrap and sponge iron. They have re-
rollers that use steel ingots also. They produce mild and alloy steel of given specifications.
Question 33.
Why are most of the iron and steel industries concentrated in and around Chotanagpur Plateau
Region? Give reasons. (2015 OD, 2014 D, 2012 OD)
Answer:
Reasons:
Low cost of iron-ore which is mined here.
High grade raw materials in close proximity.
Availability of cheap labour.
Vast growth potential in the home market.
Efficient transport network for their distribution to the markets and consumers.
Availability of power because this region has many thermal and hydel power plants.
Liberalisation and FDI have also given boost to the industry with efforts of private entrepreneurs.
Question 34.
What problems does the iron and steel industry in India face? (2011 OD, 2013 OD)
Or, Why is India not able to perform to her full potential in iron and steel production? Explain.
Answer:
Inspite of being an important producer of iron and steel, India has not been able to exploit her
complete potential, because of:
High cost of production and limited availability of coking coal.
Lower productivity of labour.
Irregular supply of energy.
Poor infrastructure.
Question 35.
What recent developments have led to a rise in the production capacity of the iron and steel
industry?
Answer:
In recent years, liberalisation policy of the government and increased Foreign Direct Investment in
the industry combined with the efforts of private entrepreneurs and firms have increased
production capacity.
Greater allocation of funds and resources for research and development in the production of steel
will provide a boost to the industry.
Question 36.
Write four characteristics and four major uses of aluminium.
Answer:
Four characteristics of aluminium:
It is a light metal.
It is resistant to corrosion.
It is a good conductor of heat.
It is malleable and becomes strong when mixed with other metals.
Four uses (importance) of aluminium.
It is used for manufacturing aircrafts.
It is used for making utensils and packing material.
It is used for making wires.
It has gained popularity as a substitute of steel, copper, zinc and lead in a number of industries.
Question 37.
How many aluminium smelting plants are set up in India? Write their distribution.
Answer:
There are eight aluminium smelting plants in the country. They are located in the states of Orissa
(Nalco and Balco), West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Together they produced 600 metric tonnes of aluminium in 2004.
Question 38.
(a) Name the mineral used for obtaining aluminium. Write its one important characteristic by which
it can be identified.
(b) List two prime factors required for the location of an aluminium smelting plant.
Answer:
(a) Bauxite is the raw material used in aluminium industry. It can be identified by its dark reddish
colour and bulky nature.
(b) Two prime factors required for the location of aluminium melting plant are:
Regular and cheap supply of electricity.
An assured source of raw material at a minimum cost.
Question 39.
Give reasons to highlight the importance of chemical industry in Indian economy.
Answer:
Importance of chemical industry:
It contributes approximately 3% of the GDP.
It is the 3rd largest in Asia and occupies 12th position in the world in terms of its size.
It comprises both large and small-scale manufacturing units producing a variety of items, ranging
from plastic, rubber, soaps, chemical fertilizers to pharmaceuticals.
The chemical industry is its own largest consumer. Basic chemicals undergo processing to further
produce other chemicals that are used for industrial application, agriculture or directly for consumer
markets.
The chemical industry in India is fast growing and diversifying in both organic and inorganic
chemicals, thereby generating lot of employment.
Question 40.
Name two groups into which the chemical industry is usually classified. What is the main difference
in their locations over space and why?
Answer:
The two groups are:
Inorganic chemical industry
Organic chemical industry.
Inorganic chemical industries are widely spread over the country because they use inorganic
chemicals like sulphuric acid, nitric acid, alkalies, soda ash and caustic soda which can be transported
anywhere.
Organic chemical plants are located near oil refineries or petrochemical plants so these are located
at specific locations.
Question 41.
List five products each of inorganic and organic chemical industry.
Answer:
Products of
Organic Chemical Industry Inorganic Chemical Industry
1. Synthetic fibres 1. Fertilisers
2. Synthetic rubber 2. Adhesives and paints
3. Plastics 3. Glass
4. Dye-stuffs 4. Soaps and detergents
5. Drugs and pharmaceuticals 5. Synthetic fibres and plastics
Question 42.
Name four major groups of fertilizers produced in India.
Answer:
Main groups of fertilizers produced in India are:
Nitrogenous fertilizers (mainly urea).
Phosphatic fertilizers.
Ammonium phosphate (DAP).

Complex fertilizers which have a combination of nitrogen, phosphate and potash.
Question 43.
Name the fertilizers which India needs to import and why?
Answer:
Potash is entirely imported as India does not have any reserves of commercially usable potash or
potassium compounds in any form.
Question 44.
What is India’s position in the world with regard to the production of nitrogenous fertilizers?
Answer:
India is the 3rd largest producer of nitrogenous fertilizers, because:
There are 57 fertilizer units manufacturing nitrogenous and complex nitrogenous fertilizers — 29 for
urea and 9 for producing ammonium sulphate as a by-product.
There are 68 other small units which produce single super-phosphate.
At present there are 10 Public Sector undertakings.
One unit is in the Cooperative Sector at Hazira in Gujarat under the Fertilizer Corporation of India
(FCI).
Question 45.
What is the main reason for the fertilizer industry to expand in several parts of the country? Name
the states which together produce about 50% of the country’s fertilizers.
Answer:
After the Green Revolution, the fertilizer industry expanded to several parts because natural gas
could be transported by pipelines to any desired location.
States which produce about 50% of the fertilizers are:
Gujarat
Tamil Nadu
Uttar Pradesh
Punjab and
Kerala.
Question 46.
Name the important raw materials used in the manufacturing of cement.
Answer:
Raw materials used in cement industry are:
limestone
silica
alumina
gypsum.
Question 47.
Write down the locational factors of cement industry.
Answer:
Factors which affect location of cement industry are:
Availability of raw materials which are heavy and bulky, e.g., limestone, silica, etc.
Availability of coal and electric power.
Rail transportation.
Question 48.
What factors led to the rapid expansion of cement industry in India?
Answer:
Factors that led to rapid expansion of cement industry are:
Decontrol of cement price since 1989.
Decontrol of distribution of cement since 1989.

Many other policy reforms led the cement industry to expand in capacity, process, technology and
production. Today, there are 128 large plants and 332 mini cement plants in the country, producing
variety of cement.
Question 49.
Why does Indian cement have a large demand in the international market and whom do we export
to?
Answer:
Because of the good quality cement being produced in India, it has found a readily available market
in South and East Asia, Middle East and Africa.
Question 50.
Why has the automobile industry of India witnessed fast growth? Give reasons.
Answer:
Reasons for fast growth in automobile industry:
After liberalisation, the coming in of new and contemporary models stimulated the demand for
vehicles in the market.
This led to the healthy growth of the industry including passenger cars, two and three-wheelers.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) brought in new technology and aligned the industry with global
developments.
Trucks, buses, cars, motorcycles, scooters, three-wheelers and multi-utility vehicles and commercial
vehicles are manufactured in India at various centres such as Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Jamshedpur
etc.
This industry has experienced a quantum jump in less than 15 years.
Question 51.
“Electronic industry has revolutionized the life of the masses and the country’s economy.” Justify the
statement with suitable arguments.
Answer:
Electronic industry has revolutionized the life of the people and the country’s economy because:
It produces a wide range of products from transistor sets to televisions and computers for the
masses.
It has helped us set up telephone exchanges, telephones, cellular telecom, radios and many other
equipments which have application in space technology, aviation, defence, meteorological
departments, etc.
It has generated employment for a large number of people. It employed over one million people by
March 2005, out of these 30% are women employees.
This industry has been a major foreign exchange earner because of its fast growing Business Process
Outsourcing (BPO) Sector.
India is one of the leading countries in software development. We have 18 software technology
parks which provide high data communication facility to software experts.
Question 52.
Write the distribution of the electronics industry.
Answer:
Bangalore has emerged as the electronic capital of India. Other important centres for electronic
goods are the four mega cities of Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow and Coimbatore.
Question 53.
What is a software technology park? How many such parks do we have? Name the technology park
which is closest to Delhi.
Answer:
Software technology parks provide single window service and high data communication facility to
software experts.
We have 18 software technology parks. Noida Software Technology Park is the closest to Delhi.
Question 54.
Explain how do industries cause air pollution.
Answer:
Air pollution is caused by the industries in the following ways:

The presence of high proportion of undesirable gases, such as sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide
in the smoke emitted from the industries causes air pollution.
Smoke is emitted by chemical and paper factories, brick kilns, refineries and smelting plants, and
burning of fossil fuels in factories that ignore pollution norms.
Air-borne particulate materials contain both solid and liquid particles like dust, sprays, mist and
smoke.
Toxic gas leaks can be very hazardous with long-term effects, e.g., Bhopal gas leak tragedy.
Question 55.
Write down the adverse effects of air pollution.
Answer:
Air pollution adversely affects:
human health,
animals and plants,
buildings and
atmosphere as a whole resulting in climate change.
Question 56.
Suggest measures to control air pollution caused by industries.
Answer:
Measures to control air pollution:
(i) Particulate matter in the air can be reduced by fitting smoke stacks to factories with fabric filters,
electrostatic precipitators etc.
(ii) Equipments to control aerosol emissions can be used in industries, e.g., electrostatic
precipitators, scrubbers and inertial separators.
(iii) Smoke can be reduced by using oil or gas instead of coal in factories.(a) How are water bodies
polluted by industries?
(b) Give examples of industries which cause a lot of water pollution. (2013 D)
(a)
Water pollution is caused by organic and inorganic industrial wastes and affluents discharged
into rivers.
Major water pollutants are dyes, detergents, acids and salts.
Heavy metals like lead and mercury, pesticides and fertilizers and synthetic chemicals with carbon,
plastics and rubber etc. discharged in the water bodies without treatment pollute these water
bodies.
Solid wastes, e.g., fly ash, phospo-gypsum and iron and steel slags, etc. and wastes from nuclear
power plants cause water pollution.
Dumping of harmful chemicals and industrial effluents etc. on the land causes rain-water to
percolate. As a result, these pollutants contaminate ground water.
(b) Major water polluting industries are:
Paper and pulp industries
Petroleum refineries
Chemical industry
Tanneries
Textile and dyeing industries
Electroplating industries.
Question 57.
Suggest measures to control water pollution caused by industries. (2013 D)
Answer:
Minimising the use of water for processing by reusing and recycling it in two or more successive
stages.
Harvesting of rain-water to meet water requirements of industries and other domestic purposes.
Treating hot water and effluents before releasing them in rivers and ponds in the following ways:
Primary treatment by mechanical means such as screening, grinding, flocculation and sedimentation.
Secondary treatment by biological process.
Tertiary treatment by biological, chemical and physical processes. This involves recycling of waste
water.
Question 58.
What is noise pollution? Write its effects on human health and suggest ways to reduce industrial
noise pollution.
Answer:
Noise pollution: Unwanted loud noise is an irritant and a source of stress.
Effects of noise pollution on human health:
Noise pollution results in irritation and anger.
It can cause hearing impairment.
It can increase heart rate.
It can raise blood pressure.
There can be physiological effects as well.
Ways to reduce industrial noise pollution:
Machinery and equipment can be fitted with silencers.
Almost all machinery can be redesigned to increase energy efficiency and reduce noise.
Noise absorbing material may be used apart from personal use of earplugs and earphones.
Question 59.
How do industries pollute environment? Explain with five examples. (2013 D)
Answer:
The five types of industrial pollution are:
Air pollution. Smoke is emitted by chemical and paper factories, brick kilns, refineries and smelting
plants, and burning of fossil fuels in factories that ignore pollution norms. Air-borne particulate
materials contain both solid and liquid particles like dust, sprays, mist and smoke.
Water pollution. Major water pollutants are dyes, detergents, acids and salts. Heavy metals like lead
and mercury, pesticides and fertilizers and synthetic chemicals with carbon, plastics and rubber etc.
discharged in the water bodies without treatment pollute these water bodies.
Noise pollution. The generators, compressors, machines, furnaces, looms, exhaust fans, etc. used by
industries create a lot of noise. Noise can raise blood pressure and can have physiological effects as
well.
Land pollution. Land and water pollution are closely related. Dumping of industrial wastes especially
glass, harmful chemicals, industrial effluents, packing, salts and garbage renders the soil useless.
Thermal pollution. Wastes from nuclear power plants, nuclear and weapon production facilities
cause cancer and birth defects.
Question 61.
Explain any five measures to control industrial pollution in India.
Answer:
Five measures to control industrial pollution:
Particulate matter in the air can be reduced by fitting smoke stacks to factories with fabric filters,
electrostatic precipitators, etc.
Equipments to control aerosol emissions can be used in industries, e.g., electrostatic precipitators,
scrubbers and inertial separators. Smoke can be reduced by using oil or gas instead of coal in
factories.
Harvesting of rainwater to meet water requirements of industries and other domestic purposes.
Treating hot water and effluents before releasing them in rivers and ponds.
Machinery and equipment can be fitted with silencers.
Noise absorbing material may be used apart from personal use of earplugs and earphones.
Question 62.
Explain the pro-active approach adopted by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for
preserving the natural environment and resources? (2011 OD, 2015 OD)
Answer:
NTPC is taking the following measures in places where it is setting up power plants:
Optimum utilisation of equipment by adopting latest techniques and upgrading existing equipment.
Minimising waste generation by maximising ash utilisation.
Providing green belts for nurturing ecological balance.

Reducing environmental pollution through ash pond management, ash water recycling system and
liquid waste management.
Ecological monitoring, reviews and online data base management for all its power stations.
Question 63.
Suggest any three steps to minimise the environmental degradation caused by the industrial
development in India. (2016 OD)
Answer:
Steps to minimize the environmental degradation caused by industrial development in India are:
Minimizing use of water for processing by reusing and recycling in two or more successive stages.
Harvesting of rain water to meet water requirements of industries and other domestic purposes.
Treating hot water and effluents before releasing them in rivers and ponds.
Particulate matter in the air can be reduced by fitting smoke to factories with electrostatic
precipitators, fabric filters, scrubbers and inertial separators. Smoke can be reduced by using oil or
gas instead of coal in factories.
Machinery and equipments can be fitted with silencers to prevent noise pollution.
Question 1.
Why is transportation necessary?
Answer:
Transportation is necessary:
for the movement of goods and services from their supply location to demand location, i.e. to link
production centres with consumption centres.
for the movement of people from one region to the other.
for carrying out trade at all levels.
to supply goods, resources, etc. from the surplus regions to deficient regions.
for supplying relief measures to the regions where some natural calamities strike.
for transporting raw materials from mining regions and farms to the industries, etc.
Efficient means of transport are the prerequisites for economic development of a nation.
Question 2.
What do you understand by means of transport? Write three important domains of the earth which
are covered by them.
Answer:
Means of transport include all kinds of vehicles, trains, aeroplanes and ships. Means of transport are
used for the movement of people, goods and services from one place to another. These are
developed on three important domains of the earth, i.e., land, water and air. Based on these,
transport can also be classified into land, water and air transport.
Question 3.
Today the world has become a “global village”. Justify this statement.
Answer:
Today the world has become a “large village” because of:
efficient and fast means of transport and
development of telecommunication and satellite communication systems.

These two functions, i.e. various means of transport and communication have reduced time and
distance, have brought the world closer and the physical distances have become meaningless. For
example, now trading from local levels has been extended to the international level and even
financial transactions can take place round the world in no time. All this has been made possible
because of efficient and quick means of transport and communication.
Question 4.
“Modern means of transport and communication serve as lifelines of our nation.” Justify this
statement by giving supportive arguments.
Or
“Efficient means of transport are prerequisites for the fast development of the country.” Express
your views in favour of this statement. (2016 D, 2014 OD)
Answer:
India is well linked with the rest of the world despite its vast size and diversities because of efficient
means of transport and communication. They are rightly called the lifelines or arteries of a nation
because:
Economic development of a country depends on the well developed and efficient means of transport
and communication.
They are indispensable for movement of people, goods and services from one place to another.
They have contributed to socio-economic progress in many ways by connecting far flung areas of the
country.
They have enriched all aspects of our lives — social, cultural, individual and economic.
They promote trade, tourism and business thus adding value to the economy.
Transport and communication have made possible international trade which is essential for every
economy as no country is self-sufficient in all resources.
They link areas of production with consumption, i.e. agricultural farms are linked to the markets and
industries.
They help in the balanced regional development of a country.
They play a very important role at the time of natural calamities, i.e., for providing relief measures.
Deficient areas can obtain resources from the regions of surplus, thereby making the
interdependence among the regions possible.
They have added substantially to growing amenities and facilities for the comforts of life.
Question 5.
Why do the movement of goods and services form one place to another require fast and efficient
means of transport? Explain with examples.
Answer:
Transport plays an important role in the economy. Because of transport raw materials reach the
factory and finished products reach to the consumer. The pace of development of a country depends
upon the production of goods and services as well as their movement over space. Today the world
has converted into a large village with the help of efficient and fast moving transport:
Good transport helps in quick carrying of raw materials from remote areas to the production centre
and allows distribution of goods efficiently.
Transport helps in the development of communication. Various means of communication help us in

interacting with other people in all the parts of the world. It has brought the world closer.
Transport like railways helps us in conducting various activities like business, sight seeing,
pilgrimages, etc.
Pipelines are used for transporting crude oil and natural gas to refineries and factories.
Water provides the cheapest means of transport and is useful for international trade.
Air transport provides the fastest, most comfortable mode of transport.
Thus, it is clear that there are many advantages of transportation and communication. These means
help in the development of the country. So they are rightly called the lifelines of a nation and its
economy.
Question 6.
How are means of transport and communication complementary to each other? Explain with three
examples. (2013 OD)
Answer:
Transport and communication establish links between producing centres and consuming centres.
Trade or the exchange of such commodities relies on transportation and communication. Transport
provides the network of links and carriers through which trade takes place.
Dense network of roads, railways and airways connect the remote areas of the country hence help in
production and distribution of goods and services.
Advancement in communication system has accelerated trade by carrying information all over the
world quickly.
Good transport helps in quick carrying of raw material from remote areas to the production centre
and allows distribution of goods efficiently.
With expansion of rail, ocean and air transport, better means of refrigeration and preservation, trade
has experienced spatial expansion.
Question 7.
Examine with examples the role of means of transport and communication in making our life
prosperous and comfortable.
Answer:
Transport and communication have a major role to play in making our lives prosperous and
comfortable:
Means of transport provide seamless movement of goods and people and thus facilitate various
economic activities.
Means of communication help in flow of information which is necessary for proper management of
supply chain and financial transactions. Today, we are living in the age of communication, using
telephone, television, films and Internet. Even books, magazines and newspapers are important
means of communication.
Various means of transport and communication have reduced distances, bringing the world closer.
Modern life is so complex that one has to depend on others. The same is true of the countries as
well. No country today can prosper without the co-operation and assistance of others. This requires
movement of goods and materials between countries. Trade provides us with our necessities and
also adds to the amenities and comfort of our life.
Transport like railways help us in conducting various activities like business, sight seeing, pilgrimage
and transportation of goods over longer distances.
Water provide the cheapest means of transport and is useful for international trade. Air transport
provides the fastest, most comfortable mode of transport. Pipelines are used for transporting crude
oil and natural gas to refineries and factories.
Thus, means of transport and communication put life into a nation and its economy. Hence, they are
called the lifelines of a nation and its economy.
Question 8.
Name three means of land transport and write one advantage of each.
Answer:
Three means of land transport:

Roadways. They can be laid in any type of terrain and provide door to door service.
Railways. They can carry huge loads to long distances, therefore they are of great significance in the
national economy.
Pipelines. These can be used for transporting liquid, gaseous and solid material to great distances at
low cost.
Roadways
Question 9.
Why is road transport more useful than rail transport in India. Give reasons. (2016 OD, 2013 D)
Or, “Roadways still have an edge over railways in India”. Give reasons.
Answer:
Roadways score over railways:
Construction of roads is easier and cheaper as compared to railways.
Roads provide door to door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower as
compared to railways which generally leave the people and goods at the destined railway stations.
Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slope and, as such, can traverse through mountainous
terrain. But railways cannot negotiate steep gradients.
Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of
goods over short distances.
Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport. They provide links between
railway stations, airports and sea ports.
They link agricultural farms with markets and industries, thus linking rural and urban areas.
Question 10.
Name six types of roads according to their capacity.
Answer:
Six types of roads:
Super Highways —Golden Quadrilateral, North-South Corridor and East-West Corridor.
National Highways
State Highways
District Roads
Other Rural Roads
Border Roads.
Question 11.
Write the characteristics of Super Highways, National Highways and State Highways.
Answer:
Super Highways:
These are 6-lane roads built by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) under the Road
Development Project launched by the government.
The major objective of these roads is to reduce time and distance between the mega cities of India,
especially the Golden Quadrilateral, which links Mumbai-Delhi-Kolkata-Chennai.
Other important roads developed by NHAI are:
North-South Corridor linking Srinagar in the North and Kanyakumari in the South and
East-West Corridor linking Porbander in Gujarat to Silcher in Assam.
National Highways:
These are the primary’ road systems which run in the North-South and East-West directions
connecting all the states and link extreme parts of the country.
These roads are laid and maintained by the Central Government, i.e., Central Public Works
Department (CPWD) as they are of national importance.
The historical Shershah Suri Marg, now called National Highway No. 1, links Delhi and Amritsar and
the longest highway in the country is National Highway No. 7 which links Varanasi and Kanyakumari.
State Highways:
Roads linking state capitals with different district headquarters are known as State Highways.
These roads are constructed and maintained by State Public Works Department (PWD) in states and
union territories.
The expenditure or cost and maintenance of these roads is the responsibility of the respective state
governments.
Question 12.
Differentiate between District Roads and Other Rural Roads?
Answer:
District Roads:
District Roads connect the district headquarters with other places of the district.
These roads are maintained by the Zila Parishad.
Other Rural Roads:
Rural roads which link rural areas and villages with towns come under this category.
These roads received special impetus under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna’. Under this
scheme, special provisions are made so that every village is linked to a major town in the country by
an all season motorable road.
Question 13.
What are ‘Border Roads’? What is their significance?
Answer:
Border roads run along the land frontiers of our country in the northern and north-eastern border
areas.
The Border Road Organisation (BRO) — a department of the Central Government was established in
1960 for the development of border roads.
Their construction and maintenance is the responsibility of the Central Government.
Importance of Border Roads:
These roads are of strategic importance.
They have increased the accessibility in areas of difficult terrain and have helped in the economic
development of these areas.
They are the supply lines for our jawans (soldiers) who guard our land frontiers.
Question 14.
Classify roads on the basis of the type of material used for their construction.
Answer:
Roads can be classified into two categories on the basis of material used:
Metalled roads may be made of cement, concrete or bitumen. These are all-weather roads.
Unmetalled roads are dusty and muddy tracks which go out of use in the rainy season.
Question 15.
Define ‘road density’. What is the average road density in India? Name the states having the highest
and lowest densities respectively. What is the main reason for this difference in their densities?
(2013 D)
Answer:
Road density is defined as the length of road per 100 sq km, of area.
Average road density of India is 75 kms / 100 sq kms of area (1996-97).
Highest road density is in Kerala — It is 375 km / 100 sq kms.
Least road density is in Jammu & Kashmir—It is 10 km / 100 sq kms.
In Jammu & Kashmir, road density is less because of mountainous terrain, whereas Kerala has
levelled nature of land coupled with agricultural development which supports a lot of population,
therefore road density is higher.
Question 16.
What are the problems faced by road transportation in India? (2013 D)
Answer:
Problems faced by road transportation:
The road network is inadequate in proportion to the volume of traffic and passengers.
About half of the roads are unmetalled which makes them useless during rainy season.
The National Highways are inadequate and lack roadside amenities.
The roadways are highly congested in cities.

Most of the bridges and culverts are old and narrow.
Question 17.
Why is the distribution of roads not uniform in India? Explain with examples. (2014 OD)
Answer:
Distribution of roads is not uniform in India due to different types of geographical features.
Moreover, the volume of traffic as well as passengers also affects road networking in India. Roads
are highly congested in cities. Most of the bridges and culverts have become narrow, old and
broken.
Some roads are metalled, that is well built with brick and cement and about half of the roads are
unmetalled specially in rural areas which makes them unaccessible during rainy seasons.
The regions with rugged terrain have steep roads with lots of hairpin bends.
Railways
Question 18.
Railways play an important role in Indian economy. Give supportive arguments.
Or
Explain the importance of railways as the principle mode of transportation for freight and
passengers in India. (2015 OD)
Answer:
Railways are the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India, as they link
different parts of the country.
They carry huge loads and bulky goods to long distances.
Railways make it possible to conduct multiple activities like business, tourism, pilgrimage along with
goods transportation over longer distances.
Railways have been a great integrating force for the nation, for more than 150 years now.
They have been helpful in binding the economic life of the country and also promoted cultural
fusion.
They have accelerated the development of the industry and agriculture.

Question 19.
Describe the distribution of railway network in India.
Answer:
The Indian railways have a network of 7,031 stations spread over the country.
The route length is 63,221 kms.
It has a fleet of 7,817 locomotives.
There are 5,321 passenger service vehicles.
The number of coach vehicles is 4904.
We have 2,28,170 wagons which run on the total rail track of 1,08,486 kms.
Question 21.
Which factors affect the distribution pattern of the railway network in the country?
Answer:
Factors that affect the distribution pattern of railway network in India:
Physical factors: The nature of terrain and the number of rivers running through the region will
determine the density of railway network in that region.
For example, mountains, marshy, sandy and forested areas have sparse network whereas plain areas
have dense network of the railways.
Economic factors: Regions which have rich resources and are economically more developed have
denser network of railways in comparison to the regions with low economic development.
Administrative factors: The administrative and political decisions also affect the distribution of
railway network in a region.
Question 22.
Analyse the physiographic and economic factors that have influenced the distribution pattern of the
railway network in our country. (2015 D)
Or, ‘The distribution pattern of Indian Railway network is influenced by the physiographic factors.
Examine the statement. (2013 OD)
Answer:
Factors that affect the distribution pattern of railway network in India:

(i) Physiographic factors. The Northern plains with vast level land, high population density and rich
agricultural resources provide most favourable conditions for railway network. The nature of terrain
and the number of rivers running through the region determine the density of railway network in
that region. Mountains, marshy, sandy and forested areas have sparse network whereas plain areas
have dense network of the railways. It was difficult to lay railway lines on the sandy plains of
Western Rajasthan, swamps of Gujarat and forested tracks of Madhya Pradesh.
(ii) Economic factors. Regions which have rich resources and are economically more developed have
denser network of railways in comparison to the regions with low economic development.
(iii) Administrative factors. The administrative and political decisions also affect the distribution of
railway network in a region.
Question 23.
List four factors which favoured the development of dense network of railways in the northern
plains. (2012 OD)
Answer:
Four reasons for dense network of railways in northern plains are:
The vast level land provided the most favourable conditions for their growth. It is cheaper and easier
to construct railway tracks here.
The agricultural and industrial development in this region necessitated the development of railway
lines.
High population density in this region further required the development of railway lines.
Resources such as iron and steel, fuels, etc., required for the development of railways are available
in abundance in the northern plains.
Question 24.
State reasons for the sparse railway network in Himalayan region.
Answer:
Reasons for sparse railway network in Himalayas:
High relief and rugged terrain pose difficulty in construction.

Sparse population.
Lack of economic opportunities because of low economic development.
These are also thickly forested areas.
Question 25.
Where is Konkan Railway Line developed in India and what problems are faced by it?
Answer:
Konkan Railway Line is developed along the western coast of India through the states of
Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. This railway line has facilitated the movement of passengers and
goods in this most important economic region of India.
Problems faced during its construction:
Sinking of track in some stretches.
Landslides were another hinderance.
Question 26.
What are the problems faced by Indian Railways?
Answer:
Problems faced by the Indian Railways:
Many passengers travel without tickets.
Thefts and damaging of railway property by miscreants.
People stop the trains and pull chains unnecessarily that causes heavy damage to the railways and
also causes delays.
Question 27.
Explain the improvements made by the Indian Railways in its functioning. (2012 OD)
Answer:
Railways make it possible to conduct multifarious activities like business, sight-seeing, pilgrimage,
transportation of goods and passengers.
It accelerated the deployment of industrial and agricultural sector.

Konkan Railways along the west coast has facilitated the movement of passengers and goods.
Metro Rail, Mono Rail and Rapid metro systems are helping lakhs of people to commute everyday.
These have helped in easing the traffic situation in cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Gurgaon.
The railways provide effective container service.
Pipelines
Question 28.
What are the advantages of pipeline transportation?
Answer:
Advantages of pipeline transportation:
Pipelines can transport liquids, gases and solids (in slurry form) to any distance.
Pipelines are used for transporting crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas from oil and
natural gas fields to refineries, fertilizer factories and big thermal power plants.
Initial cost of laying pipelines is high but subsequent running costs are minimal.
It reduces trans-shipment losses and delays.
They can be laid in any terrain and even through the water-bodies.
Question 29.
What made the location of inland oil refineries possible? Name any two inland oil refineries.
Answer:
Location of inland oil refineries was made possible because of pipeline transportation which links
them with oilfields.
Inland oil refineries are:
Barauni
Mathura
Panipat.
Question 30.
Write about three most important networks of pipeline transportation.

Answer:
Important networks are:
From oilfield in Upper Assam to Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) via Guwahati, Barauni and Allahabad.
From Salaya (Gujarat) to Jalandhar (Punjab) via Viramgam, Mathura, Delhi and Sonepat.
Gas pipeline from Hazira (Gujarat) via Bijaipur (Madhya Pradesh) to Jagdishpur (Uttar Pradesh),
called HBJ gas pipeline.
Waterways
Question 31.
Write four merits of waterways in India. (2014 D)
Answer:
Waterways are the cheapest means of transport.
Waterways are a fuel efficient and environment friendly mode of transport.
They are most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods.
India’s trade with foreign countries is carried from the ports located along the coast, and more than
95% of the country’s trade volume is moved by the sea.
Question 32.
Mention any two inland waterways of India. Write three characteristics of each. (2017 D, 2011 OD)
Answer:
Two inland water ways are:
(A) The Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia:
Characteristics:
The Inland Waterways Authority has declared this waterway as National Waterway No. 1.
Its total length is 1620 km.
It is one of the most important waterway of India which is navigable by mechanical boats upto
Patna.
(B) The Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri:
Characteristics:
The total length is 891 km.
It is declared as National Waterway No. 2.
It is navigable by steamers upto Dibrugarh.
Major Seaports
Question 33.
What are major seaports?
Answer:
Seaports which handle our foreign trade are called major seaports. These ports handle 95 per cent of
India’s foreign trade.
Question 34.
Name the northernmost and southernmost ports of eastern and western coast respectively.
Answer:
The northernmost port: of eastern coast — Kolkata
of western coast — Kandla
The southernmost port: of eastern coast — Tuticorin
of western coast — Kochi
Question 35.
Give an account of the major sea ports of India and their importance. (2011 D)
Answer:
Kandla port in Kuchchh.

It was developed after independence to reduce the load on the Mumbai port as the Karachi port had
gone to Pakistan after partition.
It is a tidal port and caters to exports and imports of the granary and industrial belts of Jammu &
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Kandla port is located in Kuchchh in Gujarat.
It caters to the convenient handling of exports and imports for northern and western states of India.
Mumbai port. It is the biggest port with a spacious natural and well-sheltered harbour.
Jawahar Lai Nehru port. Planned as a subordinate and hub-port of the Mumbai port.
Marmagao port (Goa).
It is a premium iron ore exporting port.
It accounts for about fifty per cent of India’s iron ore exports.
New Mangalore port (Karnataka). Caters to the export of iron-ore from Kudremukh mines.
Kochchi. Extreme south-western port located at the entrance of a lagoon with a natural harbour.
Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu).
It has a natural harbour and rich hinterland.
It engages in flourishing trade with neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives etc.
Chennai port.
Oldest artificial port in the country.
It is second only to Mumbai in terms of volume of trade and cargo.
Vishakhapatnam port. Deepest land locked and well protected port catering mainly to iron ore
exports.
Paradip (Orissa) specialises in iron ore export.
Kolkata port.
It is an inland riverine port.
It serves as a large and rich hinterland of Ganga-Brahmaputra basin.
It is a tidal port which requires constant dredging of the Hugli river.
Haldia port. It was developed to reduce pressure on Kolkata port.
Airways
Question 36.
Write four merits of air travel. Also mention any two demerits of air transport. (2012 OD, 2011 D)
Answer:
Merits of air travel.
Air travel is the fastest, most comfortable and prestigious mode of transport.
India is a vast country with wide variation in relief. Air transport can cover difficult terrains like high
mountains of the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, dreary deserts of Rajasthan, dense forests and long
coastlines with great ease.
Air travel has made access easier in the north-eastern part of the country, which is marked with the
presence of big rivers like Brahmaputra, dissected relief, dense forests, frequent floods and
international frontiers.
At the time of natural calamities, relief measure and relief operations can be carried out quickly with
the help of air transport.
High value perishable goods can easily be exported or imported by airways.
Demerits of air transport.
Air travel is very expensive and not within the reach of the common people. Air travel is very
luxurious.
It is adversely affected by bad weather conditions.
Question 37.
Why is air travel preferred in the north-eastern states? Give reasons. (2014 D, 2013 D)
Answer:
The north-eastern part of the country is marked with:
Dissected relief,
dense forests,
Frequent floods
Big rivers.
Under these difficult conditions, the road and rail transport is not well developed. Journey through
land transport is very tiresome and time-consuming. So, for all these reasons, air travel is preferred
in this part of the country, where special provisions are made to extend the services to common
people at cheaper rates.
Question 38.
Name four airline services which cater to the domestic air traffic.
Answer:
Domestic air services are:
Indian Airlines which extends its services to neighbouring countries also.
Alliance Air (Subsidiary of Indian Airlines).
Private scheduled airlines, e.g., Jet, Sahara, Kingfisher, Indigo, Go Air etc.
Private non-scheduled operators provide air-taxi service.
Question 39.
What are ‘Pawan Hans’ services? Write two purposes for which these services are used.
Answer:
The Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd., a public sector undertaking, provides helicopter services to:
Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) in its offshore operations.
Inaccessible areas and difficult terrains like the north-eastern states, the interior parts of Jammu &
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand.
They are also pressed into service at the time of emergencies and for providing relief measures at
the time of natural calamities.
Question 40.
Which is the ‘International Airline’ of India?
Answer:
‘Air India’ handles our international traffic. It is a public sector undertaking. Jet and Kingfisher are
examples of private airlines that fly to other countries as well.
Question 41.
Name four cities where international airports are located and name these airports.
Answer:
Cities where international airports are located:
Delhi — Indira Gandhi International Airport
Mumbai — Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport
Chennai — Meenambakkam Airport
Kolkata — Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport
Question 42.
Name the northernmost and southernmost international airport of India.
Answer:
Northern most international airport is Raja Sansi at Amritsar. Southern most international airport of
India is situated in Tiruvanantapuram and is called Nedimbacherry Airport.
Communication
Question 43.
What is the main difference between means of transport and means of communication?
Answer:
Means of transport: These are used for the movement of people, goods and services from one place
to another, e.g. roadways, airways, etc.
Means of communication: These are used for interchanging messages and ideas between people
without physical movement of the communicator or receiver, e.g. letters, telephone, television, etc.
Question 44.
Write two types of means of communication and give two examples of each.
Answer:
Two types of means of communication are:

(i) Personal communication
(ii) Mass communication.
(i) Personal communication includes sending and receiving of messages between two individuals at a
personal level. The important means in this category are telephone, post & telegraph services, fax,
etc.
(ii) Mass communication means communicating with several people (masses) at the same time.
These are of two types:
Print media. It includes printed material, e.g. newspapers and magazines.
Electronic media, e.g. Radio and T.V. This is an important media, especially for illiterate masses of
the country.
Question 45.
What are the functions performed by means of mass communication?
Answer:
Functions performed by means of mass communication:
It provides entertainment to masses.
It creates awareness among people about various national programmes and policies.
We come to know the world happenings, weather bulletins and important international phenomena,
developments and researches, etc. through the means of mass communication.
They help in creating public opinion.
Question 46.
Explain the importance of ‘Radio’ and ‘Television’ as an effective means of mass communication in
India.
Answer:
Because a large part of the population of our country is illiterate, the electronic media of mass
communication i.e., Radio and T.V. play a very crucial role in:
providing entertainment
increasing awareness among people about various national programmes and policies.
Radio. It broadcasts —
a variety of programmes in national, regional and local languages.
varied programmes for various categories of people in rural, urban and remote areas through a
number of radio
stations and transmitters.
T.V. It telecasts —
a variety of entertainment, educational and informative programmes.
T.V. is a better means of mass communication as it gives a visual report of world happenings; live
telecast of sports and literacy programmes etc., which become more entertaining and meaningful.
Question 47.
Name the mail channels which were introduced by the Indian postal network to facilitate quick
delivery of mails. What was the main purpose of this decision? (2014 D)
Answer:
Mail channels introduced by the Indian postal network are:
Rajdhani Channel
Business Channel
Metro Channel
Bulk Mail Channel
Green Channel
Periodical Channel
The main purpose is to facilitate quick delivery of mail to large towns and cities.
Question 48.
“India has one of the largest telecom networks in Asia.” Justify this statement.
Answer:
Most of the urban centres are connected by STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) telephone facility.
More than 2/3rd of the villages in India have already been covered with STD telephone facility,
through many telephone exchanges.
In order to strengthen the flow of information from the grass-root level to the higher level, the
government has made special provision to extend 24 hours STD service facility to every village in the
country.
There have been uniform rates of STD facilities all over India. Even ISD services are available in most
of the cities of the country.
All this has been made possible by integrating the developments in space technology with
communication technology and development of computers and internet. Recently a number of
private companies have also entered into telecommunication area.
Question 49.
Distinguish between first class mail and second class mail.
Answer:
Difference between Class mail and Second Class mail
Class mail Second Class mail
1. Cards and envelopes make first class mail. 1. This includes book packets, registered
newspapers and periodicals.
2. They are airlifted between stations covering both land and air. 2. They are carried by
surface mail, covering land and water transport.
Question 50.
Write in brief about A.I.R. and Doordarshan.
Answer:
All India Radio (A.I.R. or Akashwani):
It broadcasts a variety of programmes in national, regional and local languages.
It broadcasts programmes for various categories of people in rural, urban and remote areas.
It is spread over different parts of the country through a number of radio stations and transmitters.
Doordarshan:
It is the national television channel of India.
It is one of the largest terrestrial networks in the world.
It telecasts a variety of programmes ranging from educational, entertainment to sports, etc. for
people of different age groups.
Question 51.
Approximately in how many languages are newspapers published in India?
Answer:
Newspapers are published in about 100 languages and dialects. Largest number of newspapers
published in India are in Hindi followed by English and Urdu.
Question 52.
What is the status of feature film production in India?
Answer:
India is the largest producer of feature films in the world.
It produces short, video feature films and video short films.
The Central Board of Film Certification is the authority to certify both Indian and foreign films.
International Trade
Question 53.
What is meant by trade? What is the difference between Local and State level trade? (2014 D)
Answer:
The exchange of goods and services among people, states and countries, through market channels,
is referred to as trade.
Local trade is carried in cities, towns and villages.
State level trade is carried between two or more states.
Question 54.
What is ‘international trade’?
Answer:
Exchange of goods (buying and selling of goods) between two countries is called international trade.
It may take place through sea, air or land routes.
Two components of international trade are — export and import.
Question 55.
Why is international trade considered as an ‘economic barometer’ for a country?
Or
“Advancement of international trade of a country is an index to its prosperity.” Support the

statement with suitable examples. (2014 OD)
Answer:
Exchange of goods (buying and selling of goods) between two countries is called international trade.
It may take place through sea, air or land routes. It has two components—export and import.
Advancement of international trade of a country is an index to its economic prosperity.
As no country is self-sufficient in all resources, it cannot survive without international trade.
If the balance of international trade is favourable that is value of export is more than the value of
import, a country will be able to earn more foreign exchange.
International trade encourages a country to develop secondary and tertiary sectors for exporting
goods which can fetch more foreign exchange. In this day and age of globalization exchange of goods
and commodities has also been overtaken by the exchange of information and knowledge as well.
A country’s economic prosperity can be gauged by the health of its international trade.
Question 56.
What is ‘balance of trade’? Explain its two types.
Answer:
The balance of trade of a country is the difference between its export and import value. Balance of
trade is of two types:
Favourable balance of trade. When the value of export exceeds the value of imports, it is called
favourable balance of trade.
Unfavourable balance of trade. If the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, it is called
unfavourable balance of trade.
Question 57.
Write a note on the changing nature of international trade in India.
Answer:
International trade in India has undergone a substantial change in the last fifteen years.
Liberalisation policies of government and lifting of barriers on trade has made it truly global in
nature. India has trading relations with all major trading blocks and geographical regions of the
world. In this day and age of globalisation, exchange of goods and commodities has been overtaken
by the exchange of information and knowledge. India has proved to be a world leader in software
technology and is earning large amounts of foreign exchange through the export of software
technology.
Tourism As A Trade
Question 59.
Why is ‘tourism’ considered as a trade and industry in India? Give reasons in support of your answer.
(2015 OD, 2014 D)
Answer:
With increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting India, we earned foreign exchange worth Rs.
21,828 crore in 2004 which is further increasing year by year making tourism an important trade.
Over 2.6 million foreign tourists visit India every year for appreciating our heritage, our culture for
medical purposes or for business purposes, etc.
Over 15 million people are directly engaged in the tourism industry.
Tourism promotes national integration, provides support to local handicrafts and cultural pursuits.
Tourism also helps in the development of international understanding about our culture and
heritage.
Rajasthan, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir and temple towns of south India are the most popular tourist
destinations. These states earn huge sums of money from tourism trade.
Question 60.
Give reasons for which foreign tourists visit India. (2014 D)

Answer:
Foreigners visit India for various purposes. These are:
Heritage tourism
Eco-tourism
Adventure tourism
Cultural tourism
Medical tourism
Business tourism
Broadened cultural awareness of each others tradition.
It is economically viable. India is a great value destination as tourists can travel cheaply and lavishly.
Indian hospitality is famous worldwide — ‘Atithi devo bhava’.
India is an avenue to explore spirituality through yoga, meditation.
Indian cuisine predominantly, North Indian is world famous.
India has several historical and architectural attractions. Regional handicrafts and ethnic designs of
traditional products attract tourists.
Question 1.
Which language was recognized as the only official language of Sri Lanka in 1956? (2012)
Answer:
Sinhala
Question 2.
Apart from the Central and the State governments, which is the third type of government practised
in Belgium? (2012)
Answer:
Community government
Question 3.
Define majoritarianism. (2013)
Answer:
Majoritarianism is rule by majority community by disregarding the needs and wishes of the minority
community.
Question 4.
What measure was adopted by the democratically elected government of Sri Lanka to establish
Sinhala Supremacy? (2014)
Answer:
In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official language.
The government followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala applicants for University positions
and government jobs.
Question 5.
What is the language spoken by the people residing in the Wallonia region of Belgium? (2014)
Answer:
People residing in Wallonia region of Belgium speak French.

Question 6.
What is meant by the system of ‘checks and balances’? (2015)
Answer:
The horizontal distribution of power ensures that power is shared among different organs of
government—the legislature, executive and judiciary. It allows different organs of government
placed at the same level to exercise different powers. The horizontal distribution of power is also
called a system of checks and balances. This system ensures that none of these organs can exercise
unlimited power. Each organ checks the other.
Question 7.
After independence, Sri Lanka witnessed the supremacy of which community? (2015)
Answer:
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948 and the democratically elected government
adopted a series of measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.
Question 8.
Define the term ‘Ethnic’.
Answer:
Ethnic means a social division based on shared culture and common descent. People belonging to an
ethnic group need not have the same religion or nationality.
Question 9.
What is vertical division of power?
Answer:
When power is shared among governments at different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central
Government, the State Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This
division of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical division of
power.

Question 10.
Compare the different ways in which the Belgians and the Sri Lankans have dealt with the problem
of cultural diversity. (2012)
Answer:
Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies, yet they have dealt with the problem of cultural
diversity very differently.
Belgium:
Leaders realised that for the unity of the country it is important to respect the feelings and interests
of different communities. The Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking
people shall be equal in the Central Government.
Both Dutch and French communities share power on an equal basis at the Centre. Along with the
State Government, both communities have a third kind of Government called ‘Community
Government’ which decides on cultural, education and language related issues.
Between, 1970 and 1993, the Constitution was amended four times to enable all linguistic groups to
live together within the same country.
Sri Lanka:
In Sri Lanka, there are two major communities, the Sinhalese speaking (74%) and Tamil speaking
(18%). The majority community, the Sinhalese have forced their domination over Tamils, refusing to
share power.
Both communities have lived in tension as the Sinhalese have denied political, educational, religious,
employment and economic rights to the Tamils leading to Civil War.
In 1956, the Government passed an Act to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus
disregarding Tamil.
Question 11.
How far do you agree with the statement that power sharing is keeping with the spirit of
democracy? (2012)
Answer:
Power sharing is desirable in democracy because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict
between social groups. Conflict between social groups leads to violence and political instability.
Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.
Imposing the will of majority community over others, in the long run may undermine the unity of the
nation. Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority, it often brings ruin to the
majority as well.
A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise and who have to live
with its effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A legitimate
government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system. Prudential
reasons stress that power sharing brings out better outcomes whereas moral reasons emphasize the
act of power sharing as valuable.
Question 12.
Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by the Sri Lankan government.
(2013)
Answer:
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically elected government
adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala Supremacy. Consequences of these
majoritarian policies:
The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders
were sensitive to their language and culture and the government policies denied them equal political
rights which led to increased feeling of alienation among them.
The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the constitution denied them equal rights in politics, in getting jobs
and ignored their interests. The relation between the Tamil and Sinhala communities became
extremely strained as a result.
The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil, for regional
autonomy and equality of opportunity in every field.
Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy led to distrust
between the two communities which turned the widespread conflict into a Civil War. As a result,
thousands of people of both communities were killed and many families were forced to leave the
country as refugees and lost their livelihoods.
Question 13.
Why is the ethnic composition of Belgium complex?
Answer:
Belgium is a small country in Europe, having a population of a little over one crore.
59 per cent of the country’s total population lives in the Flemish region and speak Dutch language.
Another 40 per cent people live in Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining one per cent of the
Belgians speak German.
Whereas in the Belgian capital, Brussels, 80 per cent of the population is French-speaking and 20 per
cent is Dutch-speaking.
Question 14.
How is Belgium’s power-sharing path different from any other country?
Or, Explain the four elements in the Belgian power-sharing model.
Or, Why do we find the Belgian model very complicated? How has it helped to prevent conflict and
division of the country on linguistic lines?
Answer:
The power-sharing arrangements made by the Belgian leaders were different and more innovative
than any other country. To recognise the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities,
they amended their Constitution four times between 1970 and 1993.
The major elements of the Belgian Model are:
Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in
the Central Government. No single community can take decisions unilaterally.
The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
Brussels, the capital, has a separate government where both the communities have equal
representation.
A third kind of government, ‘Community Government’, is elected by people belonging to one

language community — Dutch, French and German speaking —no matter where they live. This
government can decide on cultural, educational and language related issues.
Question 15.
What is majoritarianism? Is it wrong if a majority community in a country rules? Give reasons to

justify your answer.
Answer:
A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by
disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority is majoritarianism.
Yes, it is wrong if a majority community in a country rules.
The very idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided political
power.
A positive attitude towards diversity and willingness to accommodate it, is good for democracy.
Power in the hands of one community will make the other community feel marginalised, deprived
and discriminated.
The struggle against such inequalities sometimes takes the path of conflict and defiance of State
power as in Sri Lanka.
Question 16.
Analyse how majoritarianism has increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils?
(2014, 2015)
Or
Mention the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy.
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically elected government
adopted a series of measures to establish Sinhala supremacy:
In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official language.
The government followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala applicants for University positions
and government jobs.
The Constitution provided for State protection and fostering of Buddhism.
The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders
were sensitive to their language and culture and the government policies denied them equal political
rights which led to increased feeling of alienation among them.
The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil, for regional
autonomy and equality of opportunity in every field.
Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy led to distrust
between the two communities which turned the widespread conflict into a Civil War.
Question 17.
“Power Sharing is the very spirit of democracy”. Justify the statement. (2015)
Answer:
A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise. Power sharing ensures
that people have the right to be consulted and have equal participation in the government.
In a democracy, each individual has a say in governance through their elected representatives. This is
the essence of power sharing that grants equal rights to each citizen.
Sharing of power ensures that respect for diversity and desire for living together becomes a shared
ideal amongst different communities in a country. It actually makes the country united and the
administration easier.
Prudential reasons stress that power sharing would bring out better outcomes by helping to reduce
the possibility of any conflict between the social groups.
Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order through unity of the nation.
Question 18.
Describe the vertical and horizontal forms of power sharing exercised in India.
Answer:
Vertical distribution of power. Power can be shared among governments at different levels —a
general government for the entire country and governments at provincial or regional level. This is
the federal form of government.
power.
The Constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government. This federal division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is also called the vertical division of
power. Example: A key change in the Constitution of Belgium in 1993 was that the regional
governments were given constitutional powers that were no longer dependent on the Central
Government. Thus, Belgium shifted from a unitary to a federal form of government.
Horizontal distribution of power. Power is shared among different organs of government, such as
the legislature, executive and judiciary. This is horizontal distribution of power. It ensures that power
is shared among different organs of government—the legislature, executive and judiciary. It allows
different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
In a democracy, ministers and government officials exercise power. They are responsible to the
Parliament or State Assemblies. The judges appointed by the executive can check the functioning of
executive or laws made by the legislature.
The horizontal distribution of power is also called a system of checks and balances.
This system ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the
other. This results in a balance of power among various institutions.
Example: In India the judiciary has an independent status. The Supreme Court is the apex court of
justice. The Parliament is the legislative body where the laws governing the country are made and
the Executive is the implementing body.
Question 1.
Which state in India has its own Constitution? (2012)
Answer:
Jammu and Kashmir
Question 2.
What is Rural local self government popularly known as? (2013)
Answer:
Panchayati Raj
Question 3.
Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its head? (2014)
Answer:
Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
Question 4.
What other factors besides politics keep the federations united? (2015)
Answer:
Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united are culture, ideology and history.
Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning
of nations.
Question 5.
What was the main objective of the Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer:
The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to strengthen the three-tier
system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj Institution and the urban local bodies more
powerful and effective.
Question 6.
What status has been given to the ‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India? (2013)
Answer:
Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the Constitution of India.
Question 7.
Much of the official work in Indian States is done in which language? (2014)
Answer:
Much of the official work in Indian States is done in the official language of the concerned state.
Question 8.
What is Federalism?
Answer:
Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and
various constituent units of the country. This vertical division of power among different levels of
governments is referred to as federalism. Federalism is one of the major forms of power-sharing in
modem democracies.
Question 9.
Name the subject list from which both the Union and the State governments can make laws? (2017
D)
Answer:
Concurrent List
Question 10.
Explain the vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer:
power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the
Indian Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally provided for a two-
tier system of government, the Union Government or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any
federation, these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides for a three-
fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union Government and State Government. It
contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47 Subjects)
Question 11.
Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy? Identify any two reasons. (2014)
Answer:
Five advantages of decentralisation of power:
When power is taken away from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it
is called decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a large number of
problems and issues which are best settled at the local level. People have better knowledge of
problems in their localities.
They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage things more efficiently.
Besides, at the local level, it is possible for the people to directly participate in decision making. This
helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation.
Local government is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self¬government.
The need for decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the third tier of
democracy more powerful and effective.
Question 12.
India comes under which type of federation and why? (2014)
Answer:
India comes under ‘a holding together’ type federation. In this type of federation, a large country
divides its power between the constituent States and the National government. There is one
government for the entire country and the others are governments at the State level. Both Central
and State Governments enjoy their power independent of the other.
The Central government tends to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different constituent
units of the federation have unequal powers. For example, special powers have been granted to
Jammu & Kashmir.
Question 13.
State two agreements through which federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer:
(i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent states coming together on
their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling sovereignty and retaining identity they can
increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have equal power and are
strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’ federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central Governments tend to be
more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different constituent units of the federation have unequal
powers. Some units are granted special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu
& Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
Long Answer Questions (LA)

Question 14.
Which five provisions of the constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer:
Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier taken in 1992 were:
Now it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
Seats are reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward
classes (OBCs).
Atleast one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
An independent institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat
and Municipal elections.
The State Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
Question 15.
Why has federalism succeeded in India? Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured
it? Explain. (2013, 2012)
Answer:
Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
Clearly laid out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in the three
lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union Government and State
Governments.
The nature of democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism, respect
for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
The creation of linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in order to
create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the
same state. Later some states were created to recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or
geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
Restricting Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For a long time, the
same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990 saw the rise of regional parties.
Since no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an
alliance which led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State
Governments.
Question 16.
Explain any five features of federalism. (2015)
Answer:
Features of federalism:
There are two or more levels of government.
Different levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own jurisdiction in
specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
Existence and authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
The fundamental provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
Courts have the power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between different levels of
governments.
Sources of revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial autonomy.
Federal system has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
Question 17.
Describe the three forms of power sharing among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer:
The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the principles of federalism. The
Constitution originally provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union or the Central
Government representing Union of India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in
the form of Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
Union List includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign affairs,
banking, communications and currency.
State List contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce, agriculture
and irrigation.
Concurrent List includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as the
State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages, adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
Residuary—Subjects which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc. Union
Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of ‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir. There are some states
too small to become independent like the Union Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the
structure of the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court make a decision.
Question 18.
Describe in brief the language policy of India?
Answer:
Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language.
The formation of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
The leaders of our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi. Hindi was
identified as official language.
The banning of use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu. The
Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English along with Hindi for
official purposes.
Promotion of Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose Hindi on
states where people speak a different language.
Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the Constitution.
This flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that Sri Lanka finds
itself in.
Question 19.
What were the major steps taken to make decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier of democracy
(Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer:
Major steps towards decentralisation taken in 1992 are:
Now it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
Seats are reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward
classes (OBCs).
Atleast one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
The State Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
The State Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
Question 20.
Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer:
Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/ Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is the
decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat
Samiti or Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the political head of the Parishad.

Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up in towns.
Big cities are constituted into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
Question 21.
How is federal power sharing more effective today than in the early years? Explain. (2017 OD)
Answer:
Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of democratic politics in India. It has
ensured that the spirit of federalism, respect for diversity and desire for living together have become
a shared ideal in our country.
Federal power sharing has helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power
sharing is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local self-
government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country
more united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the Central government and gives power to regional governments.
Question 1.
What is meant by a political party? (2015 D, 2015 OD)
Answer:
Political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and to hold power in the
government. They agree on some policies to promote collective good. They seek to implement those
policies by winning popular support through elections. Thus political parties tend to fill political
offices and exercise political power.
Question 2.
What are the three main components of a political party? (2011 OD)
Answer:
The leaders;
The active members; and
The followers
Question 3.
How many parties are needed in any democratic system to compete in elections and provide a fair
chance for the competing parties to come to power? (2012 D)
Answer:
At least two parties.
Question 4.
What is the source of inspiration of the ‘Bhartiya Janata Party’? (2012 OD)
Answer:
The source of inspiration of the Bhartiya Janata Party or the BJP is ancient Indian culture and values.
Question 5.
In which state does ‘Biju Janata Dal’ exist as a regional party? (2012 OD)
Answer:
Odisha (Orissa)
Question 6.
In which state does the ‘Rashtriya Lok Dal’ exist as a regional party? (2012 OD)
Answer:
Uttar Pradesh
Question 7.
What is a recognised political party? (2011 D)
Answer:
A recognised political party is a party, recognised by the ‘Election Commission’ with all the privileges
and facilities.
Question 8.
What does Universal Adult Suffrage stand for? (2013 OD)
Answer:
Universal Adult suffrage stands for the ‘Right to Vote’.
Question 9.
Given one point of difference between a pressure group and a political party. (2013 OD)
Answer:
A pressure group is an organized or unorganized body that seeks to promote its interests while a
political party is a body that seeks to attain political power by contesting elections.
Question 10.
Which special privilege is given to recognised political parties by the Election Commission? (2014 D)
Answer:
RPP are given a special election symbol. Only official candidates of that party can use the election
symbol.
Question 11.
Name the national political party which draws inspiration from the teachings of Sahu Maharaj,
Mahatma Phule, Naicker and Babasaheb Ambedkar. (2014 OD)
Answer:
Bahujan Samaj Party.
Question 13.
Name any two regional parties of West Bengal. (2015 D)
Answer:
Forward BLOCK (1940),
TRINAMOOL CONGRESS (1997).
Question 14.
What is the guiding philosophy of Bhartiya Janata Party? (2015 OD)
Answer:
The source of inspiration of Bharatiya Janata Party is the ancient Indian culture and values. Cultural
nationalism (Hindutva) is an important element in its conception of Indian nationhood and politics.
Question 15.
Name any one political party that has national level political organisation but not recognised as a
national political party. (2016 D)
Answer:
State parties like the Samajwadi Party, Samata Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have national level
political organisations with units in several states but are not recognised as national parties.
Question 16.
Why did India adopt multi-party system? Give reasons. (2016 OD, 2013 D)
Answer:
India adopted multi-party system because:
India is a large country and has social and geographical diversities.
It is easy to absorb different diversities in a multi-party system.
Question 17.
Why do political parties involve partisanship? (2016 OD)
Answer:
Partisanship is marked by a tendency to take a side and inability to take a balanced view on an issue.
Parties reflect fundamental political divisions in a society. Parties are a part of the society and they
involve partisanship.
Question 18.
Mention the ideology of Indian National Congress.
Answer:
Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian National Congress sought to build a modern
secular democratic republic in India. The party propagates secularism and welfare of the weaker
sections and minorities of society. It supports new economic reforms but with a human face.
Question 19.
Name any one political party of India which grew out of a movement. (2017 OD)
Answer:
Asom Gana Parishad.
Question 20.
Name the national political party which gets inspiration from India’s ancient culture and values.
Mention four features of that party. (2013 D)
Answer:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) founded in 1980 draws inspiration from India’s ancient culture and
values.
Features:
Cultural Nationalism (Hindutva) is an important element in its conception of Indian nationhood and
politics.
Wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India.
A uniform civil code for all people living in the country irrespective of religion and ban on religious
conversions.
Earlier limited to north and west and to urban areas, the party expanded support in the south, east,
the north-east and rural areas.
Question 21.
“No party system is ideal for all countries and in all situations.” Justify the statement with five
arguments. (2013 0D)
Answer:
Parties are a necessary condition for a democracy. The rise of political parties is directly linked to the
emergence of representative democracies. Party system is not something any country can choose. It
evolves depending on the nature of society, its social and regional divisions, its history of politics and
system of elections.
Each country develops a party system that is conditioned by its special circumstances.
For example, India has evolved a multi-party system, because of its social and geographical diversity
which cannot be easily absorbed by two or three parties.
Political parties make policies to promote collective good and there can be different views on what is
good for all. Therefore no system is ideal for all countries and situations.
Question 22.
Describe the three components of a political party. (2014 D, 2015 OD)
Answer:
Components of a political party are:

The leaders,
active members and
the followers.
The leaders are recruited and trained by parties. They are made ministers to run the government.
The big policy decisions are taken by the political executives that come from the political parties.
Parties have lakhs of members and activists spread over the country. Many of the pressure groups
are the extensions of political parties among different sections of society. But since most of the
members belong to a party, they go by the direction of the party leadership, irrespective of their
personal opinion.
The followers are the ordinary citizens, who believe in the policies of their respective party and give
popular support through elections. Often the opinion of the followers crystallise on the lines parties
take.
Question 23.
What is a multi-party system? Why has India adopted a multi-party system? Explain. (2015 D)
Or
How has multi-party system strengthened democracy in India? (2012 D)
Answer:
Multi-party system. In this system, the government is formed by various parties coming together in a
coalition. When several parties in a multi-party system join hands for the purpose of contesting
elections and winning power, it is called an alliance or a front.
For example, in India there were three major alliances in 2004 parliamentary elections—the National
Democratic Alliance (NDA), the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left Front. This system on
one hand leads to political instability but at the same time, allows for a variety of interests and
opinions to enjoy political representation.
Each country develops a party system that is suitable for its special circumstances. India has evolved
as a multi-party system because its social and geographical diversity cannot be absorbed by two or
three parties. Thus, such representation strengthens democracy. Multi-party system facilitates
representation of regional and geographical diversities. In India, several regional parties are in power
at the State level such as the DMK in Tamil Nadu, Akali Dal in Punjab the BSP in Uttar Pradesh.
Question 24.
“Lack of internal democracy within parties is the major challenge to political parties all over the
world”. Analyse the statement. (2015 D)
Answer:
Most political parties do not practise open and transparent procedures for their functioning like
maintaining membership registers, holding organisational meetings or conducting internal elections
regularly. Thus, ordinary members of the party do not get sufficient information on the happenings
in the party and have no means to influence the decisions.
Also, there are very few chances for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party. Since one or, at
the most, a few leaders exercise paramount power in the party, those who disagree with the
leadership, find it difficult to continue in the party.
Those who happen to be the leaders are in a position to take undue advantage and favour people
close to them or even their family members. And, in many parties, the top positions are invariably
controlled by members of one family which is bad for democracy.
Question 25.
“Dynastic succession is one of the most serious challenges before the political parties.” Analyse the
statement. (2015 OD)
Answer:
Most political parties do not practise open and transparent procedures for their functioning. So
there are very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party. Those who happen to be
the leaders are in a position of unfair advantage as they favour people close to them or even their
family members. In many parties in India, we see a trend of dynastic succession. The top positions
are always controlled by members of a particular family, which is unfair to other members of the
party, and bad for democracy. This is so because people who do not have adequate experience or
popular support come to occupy positions of power.
More than loyalty to party principles and policies, personal loyalty to the leader becomes more
important. This tendency is seen all over the world, even in older democracies.
Question 26.
What is meant by a ‘national political party’? State the conditions required to be a national political
party. (2016 D)
Answer:
National political parties have their units in various states. By and large all these units follow the
same policies, programmes and strategy that is decided at the national level.
Conditions required to be a national political party:
A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in general elections of Lok Sabha or assembly
elections in four states.
A party that wins at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha.
Question 27.
What is meant by regional political party? State the conditions required to be recognised as a
‘regional political party’. (2016 OD)
Answer:
A regional party is a party that is present in only some states. Regional parties or State parties need
not be regional in their ideology. They have state identity as they are present only in some states.
Some of these parties are all India parties that happen to have succeeded only in states. Example,
Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janta Dal.
Conditions required for a party to be recognized as a regional political party:
A party that secures atleast six percent of the total votes in an election to the legislative assembly of
a state.
Wins atleast two seats in the legislative assembly.
Question 28.
“Nearly every one of the state parties wants to get an opportunity to be a part of one or the other
national level coalition.” Support the statement with arguments. (2016 D)
Answer:
The state parties also referred to as regional parties are not necessarily regional in ideology. Some of
these parties are all India parties that happen to have succeeded only in some states. Over the last
three decades, the number and strength of these parties has expanded. Before the general elections
one national party was able to secure on its own a majority in the Lok Sabha.
As a result, the national parties were compelled to form alliances with state parties.
Since 1996, nearly every one of the state parties got an opportunity to be a part of one or the other
national level coalition government. This contributed to the strengthening of federalism and
democracy. Example of state parties having national level political organisation with units in several
states are Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samata Party.
Question 29.
Analyse the three components of a political party. (2016 OD)
Answer:
The three components of a political party are as follows:
The leaders. A political party consists of leaders, who contest elections and if they win the elections,
they perform the administrative jobs.
The active members. They are the ones who work actively for the party. They are the assistants of
the leaders and implement the plans and ideologies of the political party.
The followers. They are the ardent followers of the parties and their leaders and support them in the
elections.
Question 30.
Explain any five suggestions to reform political parties in India. (2011 D)
Or
Suggest and explain any five effective measures to reform political parties. (2016 OD, 2015 OD)
Answer:
Five suggestions made to reform the political parties:
Law to regulate the internal affairs of political parties like maintaining a register of its members, to
follow its own constitution, to have independent authority, to act as judge in case of party dispute,
to hold open elections to the highest post.
It should be mandatory for political parties to give one-third tickets to women candidates. Also there
should be quota for women on the decision-making bodies of the party.
There should be state funding of elections. The government should give money to parties to support
their election expenses in kind (petrol, paper, telephone, etc.) or in cash on the basis of votes
secured by the party in the previous election.
The candidate should be educated, so that he can solve and understand people’s problems. His
previous record should be cleared. He should be honest and there should be no criminal case against
him.
Citizens can reform politics if they take part directly and join political parties. People can put
pressure on political parties through petitions, publicity in media, agitations etc.
Question 31.
Explain the growing role of money and muscle power in political parties. (2011 OD)
Or
How do money and muscle power play an important role in elections? (2015 OD)
Answer:
Political parties need to face and overcome the growing challenge of Money and Muscle power
during elections in order to remain effective instruments of democracy.
Since parties are focussed only on winning elections, they tend to use shortcuts to win elections, for
example, like booth-rigging, distribution of food, money, alcohol, etc. to the poor voters to get their
votes. Political parties tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money. Rich
people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have influence on the policies and
decisions of the party. These days, parties are supporting criminals who can win elections. This is a
major cause of concern to the democrats all over the world who are worried about the increasing
role of rich people and big companies in democratic politics.
Question 32.
Why do we need political parties? Explain. (2014 D)
Or
Describe any five major functions performed by political parties. (2015 D)
Answer:
To fill political offices and exercise political power, political parties are needed to perform a series of
functions, which are the following:
Parties contest elections. Elections are fought mainly among candidates put up by political parties.
In India, top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.
Parties put forward different policies and programmes. Political parties in a democracy group
together similar opinions, to provide a direction in which government policies can be formulated,
Parties make laws for a country. Laws are debated and passed in the legislature.
Parties that lose elections play the role of the opposition. Opposition parties voice their views by
criticizing government for its failure or wrong policies.
Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues and resolve people’s problems. Many
pressure groups are the extensions of political parties.
Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes. For an ordinary
citizen it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer.
Question 33.
Examine the role of opposition parties in a Democracy. (2014 OD)
Answer:
Opposition parties play an important role in democracies. They play both positive and negative role.
Positive role,
They ensures political party in power does not misuse or abuse its power;
They expose the weaknesses of the ruling party;
They also keep a close vigil on the bills and expenditure of the government.
Negative role.
They target the government and aim at dislodging and discrediting the government for all the ills
and the troubles the people face;
Through stalling the proceedings of the parliament, dhamas and gheravs, it curtails the progress of
the country.
The opposition’s work is not to abstract the functioning of the administration but keep a close watch
on the working of the party in power so that democracy becomes meaningful.
Question 34.
“About hundred years ago there were few countries that had hardly any political party. Now there
are few countries that do not have political parties.” Examine this statement. (2014 OD)
Answer:
We can understand the necessity of political parties by imagining a situation without parties. Every
candidate in the election will be independent. Therefore, no major policy changes will be made.
Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituency but no one will be responsible for
the smooth running of the country. As societies become large and complex, they need an agency to
gather views on various issues and to present them to the government. There is a need to bring
various representatives together so that a responsible government can be formed.
A mechanism is needed to support or restrain the government to make policies, justify or oppose
them. Political parties fulfil the needs of a representative government and are thus a necessary
condition for a democracy.
Question 35.
“All over the world, people express their dissatisfaction with the failure of political parties to
perform their functions well.” Analyse the statement with arguments. (2016 D)
Or, Which three challenges do you feel are being faced by political parties in India? Give your
opinion. (2016 OD)
Or, Identify and explain challenges which political parties need to face and over come in order to
remain affective instruments of democracy. (2016 OD)
Answer:
Since parties are the most visible face in a democracy, people blame them for whatever is wrong
with the working of democracy.
There are four major areas where the working of political parties faces challenge:
(i) Lack of internal democracy. There is concentration of power in one or a few leaders at the top.
Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings and do not conduct
internal elections regularly. More than loyalty to party principles and policies, it is personal loyalty
which becomes more important. The leaders assume greater power to make decisions in the name
of the party. Since one or few leaders exercise paramount power in the party, those who disagree
with leadership find it difficult to continue in the party.
(ii) Dynastic succession. In many parties, top positions are always held by members of one family.
Most political parties do not practice transparent and open procedures for their functioning and it is
very difficult for an ordinary worker to rise to the top. This is bad for democracy, since people who
do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of power.
(iii) Money and muscle power. Since parties are focussed only on winning elections, they tend to use
short-cuts to win elections. They nominate candidates who have or can raise money and thus are
able to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party.
(iv) No meaningful choice. There has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties.
They agree more on fundamental aspects, but differ only in details, on how policies are to be framed
and implemented. Sometimes people cannot even elect different leaders as the same set of leaders
keep shifting from one party to another.
Question 36.
“Political parties are a necessary condition for a democracy”. Analyse the statement with examples.
Answer:
“Political parties are a necessary condition for a democracy” in the following ways:
Without political parties democracies cannot exist. If we do not have political parties, every
candidate in elections will be independent.
No one will be able to make any promises to the people about any major policy changes.
The government may be formed but its utility will remain uncertain.
Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituency, for what they do in their locality
but no one will be responsible for how the country will run.
As societies become large and complex they also needed some agencies to gather different views on
various issues and to present these to the government, that’s why political parties are needed.
Question 37.
Describe any five efforts made to reform political parties in India. (2017 D)
Answer:
Five efforts made to reform the political parties:
Law to regulate the internal affairs of political parties like maintaining a register of its members, to
follow its own constitution, to have independent authority, to act as judge in case of party dispute,
to hold open elections to the highest post.
It should be mandatory for political parties to give one-third tickets to women candidates. Also there
should be quota for women on the decision-making bodies of the party.
There should be state funding of elections. The government should give money to parties to support
their election expenses in kind (petrol, paper, telephone, etc.) or in cash on the basis of votes
secured by the party in the previous election.
The candidate should be educated, so that he can solve and understand people’s problems. His
previous record should be cleared. He should be honest and there should be no criminal case against
him.
Citizens can reform politics if they take part directly and join political parties. People can put
pressure on political parties through petitions, publicity in media, agitations etc.
Question 1.
How can you say that democracies are based on political equality? (2015 OD)
Answer:
Democracies are based on political equality as individuals have equal weight in electing
representatives.
Question 2.
What is ‘transparency’ in a democracy? (2014 OD, 2015 OD)
Answer:
Democracy ensures that decision making will be based on norms and procedure. Every citizen has
the right and means to examine the process of decision making. This is known as transparency.
Question 3.
How do democratic governments ensure transparency? Explain any three points. (2011 D)
Answer:
Democracy ensures that decision-making will be based on norms and procedures. So a citizen, who
wants to know if a decision was taken through the correct procedures, can find out as democracy
guarantees to the citizens the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making.
In a democracy people have the right to choose their rulers and people will have control over them.
Whenever possible and necessary, citizens should be able to participate in decision-making that
affects them all. Thus it ensures transparency by producing a government that is accountable to the
citizens and is responsive to their needs and expectations.
It is right to expect democracy to produce a government that follows procedures and is accountable
to people. To do so, the democratic government develops mechanisms for citizens—regular, free
and fair elections, open public debate on major policies and legislations and citizens’ right to
information about the government and its functioning.
Question 4.
What are the differences between democracy and dictatorship in the decision making process?
(2012 OD)
Answer:
Democracy Dictatorship
(i) Based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. Thus, the necessary delay in implementation.
(i) Do not have to bother about majorities and/or public opinion, thus can be quick and
efficient in decision-making.
(ii) Decisions are acceptable to people and are more effective. (ii) May take decisions not accepted
by the people.
(iii) A citizen has the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making. There is
transparency. (iii) Transparency is missing from a non-democratic form of government. There is no
accountability of the government to the people.
Question 5.
“An ideal government would not only keep itself away from corruption but also make fighting
corruption and black money a top priority”. Justify the statement. (2013 D)
Answer:
The values attached to the above statement signify the following practices and institutions:
Regular free and fair elections, open public debate on major policies and legislation and citizens’
right to information about the government and its functions.
An ideal government in a democracy follows procedures and is accountable to the people.
A citizen has the right and the means to examine the process of decision making. This is known as
transparency.
An ideal government is attentive and responsive to the needs and expectations of the people and is
largely free of corruption as it is a legitimate government. It is peoples own government.
Question 6.
Explain the role of democratic governments in reducing economic disparities. (2011 OD)
Or, “Democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities”. Examine
the statement with examples. (2013 OD)
Answer:
Over the years, careful evidence has been gathered to see what the relationship of democracy with
economic growth and economic inequalities is.
It is seen that on an average dictatorial regimes have had a slightly better record of economic
growth, i. e., 4.34%. But when we compare their record only in poor countries (4.28%), there is no
difference.
There is enough evidence to show that within democracies there can be very high degree of
inequalities. In countries like South Africa and Brazil, the top 20 per cent people take away more
than 60 per cent of the national income, leaving less than 3 per cent for the bottom 20 per cent
population.
Perhaps more than development, it is reasonable to expect democracies to reduce economic

disparities. Democracies are based on political equality, but despite equality in the political arena
there are growing economic inequalities. The poor constitute a large proportion of our voters and no
party would like to lose its votes. Yet democratically elected governments do not appear to be keen
to tackle the problem of poverty.
Democracies are expected to produce good government, but there is no guarantee that they would
also produce development. As evidence shows, the economic development depends on several
factors, such as country’s size, global situation, co-operation from other countries, economic
priorities adopted by the country etc.
Question 7.
‘Democracy is seen to be good in principle, but felt, to be not so good in practice.’ Justify the
statement with suitable arguments. (2014 D)
Answer:
If we look at some of the democratic policies being implemented in more than one hundred
countries of the world, democracy seems to be good. For example, having a formal Constitution,
holding regular elections, guaranteeing the citizens certain rights, working for the welfare of the
people, etc. make us advocate that democracy is good.
But if we look in terms of social situations, their economic achievements and varied cultures, we find
a very big difference in most of the democracies. The vast economic disparities, social injustice based
on discrimination, standard of life, sex discrimination, etc. create many doubts about the merits of
democracy. Whenever some of our expectations are not met, we start blaming the idea of
democracy. Since democracy is a form of government, it can only create conditions for achieving our
goals if they are reasonable.
Question 8.
How is democracy accountable and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens?
Analyse. (2015 OD)
Answer:
A democracy is concerned with ensuring that people have the right to choose their rulers and have
control over the rulers:
Whenever possible and necessary, citizens should be able to participate in decision-making in a

democracy.
Democracy ensures that decision-making is based on norms and procedures. A citizen has the right
and the means to examine the process of decision-making. Thus democracy entails transparency.
For a democracy to produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government, it must ensure
the following:
Regular, free and fair elections.
Open public debate on major policies and legislations.
Citizens’ right to be informed about government policies.
A government free from corruption.
Question 9.
“Democratic government is legitimate government?” Support the statement with arguments. (2016
D)
Answer:
Democratic government is a legitimate government. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very
responsive or clean. But a democratic government is peoples’ own government. That is why there is
an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world. People’s wish to be ruled by
representatives elected by them. As a democratic government is peoples’ own government, they
believe that democracy is suitable for their country as it is a legitimate government. Democracy’s
ability to generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be ignored.
Question 10.
“Democracy accommodates social diversities.” Support the statement with examples. (2016 OD)
Answer:
“Democracy accommodates social diversities” in the following ways:
Democracies develop a procedure to conduct their competition. This reduces the possibility of these
tensions becoming explosive or violent.
No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups. But we can certainly
learn to respect these differences and can evolve mechanism to negotiate these differences.
Example, Belgium has successfully negotiated differences among ethnic population. This reduces the
possibility of tensions.
Ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts is thus a definite plus point of democratic
regimes.
Question 11.
Analyse any three values that make democracy better. (2017 D)
Answer:
We feel that democracy is a better form of government than any other form of government because:
Democracy promotes equality among citizens.
It enhances dignity of individual. It promotes dignity of women and strengthens the claims of the
disadvantaged.
It improves the quality of decision making. There is transparency in a democracy.
It provides methods to resolve conflicts.
Democracy allows room to correct mistakes.
Question 12.
On the basis of which values will it be a fair expectation that democracy should produce a
harmonious social life? Explain. (2017 OD)
Answer:
learn to respect these differences and evolve a mechanism to negotiate the differences. Belgium is
an example of how successfully differences were negotiated among ethnic groups. Therefore,
democracy is best suited to accommodate various social divisions as it usually develops a procedure
to conduct their competition. But the example of Sri Lanka shows how distrust between two
communities turned into widespread conflict. Thus, a democracy must fulfil the following conditions
and be based on these values in order to achieve a harmonious social life—
Majority and minority opinions are not permanent. Democracy is not simply rule by majority
opinion. The majority needs to work with minority so that government may function to represent
the general view.
Rule by majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of religion or race or
linguistic groups, etc.
Democracy remains democracy so long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at some
point of time. No individual should be debarred from participating in a democracy on the basis of
religion, caste, community, creed and other such factors.
Question 13.
Why do we feel that democracy is a better form of government than any other form? Explain.
2015OD Answer: Democracy is a better form of government than any other form because:
It is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. Thus the necessary delay in implementation.
Decisions are acceptable to people and are more effective.
A citizen has the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making. There is
transparency in a democracy.
Democratic government is a legitimate government, people’s own government.
Ability to handle differences, decisions and conflicts is a positive point of democratic regimes.
Democracy has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal
status and equal opportunity.
Question 14.
Why do we feel that democracy is a better form of government than any other form of government?
Explain. (2012 OD)
Or
How do you feel that democracy is better than any other form of government? Explain. (2013 OD)
Or
“Democracy is more effective than its other alternatives.” Justify the statement. (2015 D)
Answer:
We feel that democracy is a better form of government than any other form of government because:
Democracy promotes equality among citizens.
It enhances dignity of individual. It promotes dignity of women and strengthens the claims of the
disadvantaged.
It improves the quality of decision making. There is transparency in a democracy.
It provides methods to resolve conflicts.
Democracy allows room to correct mistakes.
Question 15.
How do democracies accommodate social diversity? Explain with examples. (2011 OD, 2014 OD)
Or
Explain the conditions in which democracies are able to accommodate social diversities. (2012 D)
Or
“Democracies lead to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens”. Support the statement with
suitable examples. (2013 OD)
Answer:
learn to respect these differences and evolve a mechanism to negotiate the differences. Belgium is
an example of how successfully differences were negotiated among ethnic groups. Therefore,
democracy is best suited to accommodate various social divisions as it usually develops a procedure
to conduct their competition. But the example of Sri Lanka shows how distrust between two
communities turned into widespread conflict, and thus a democracy must fulfil the following two
conditions in order to achieve a harmonious social life:
Majority and minority opinions are not permanent. Democracy is not simply rule by majority
opinion. The majority needs to work with minority so that government may function to represent
the general view.
Rule by majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of religion or race or
linguistic groups, etc.
Democracy remains democracy so long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at some
point of time. No individual should be debarred from participating in a democracy on the basis of
religion, caste, community, creed and other such factors.
Question 16.
Explain the ways in which democracy has succeeded in maintaining dignity and freedom of citizens.
(2012 D)
Or, “Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and
freedom of the individual.” Support the statement with suitable examples. 20130D
Answer:
The passion of respect and freedom are the basis of democracy:
Economic disparity in society has been minimized to a great extent.
In many democracies women were deprived of their right to vote for a long period of time. After
long struggle they achieved their right, respect and equal treatment.
Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for
equal states and opportunities, for example, SCs and STs.
In democracy all adult citizens have the right to vote.
Democracy evolves a mechanism that takes into account the differences and intrinsic attributes of
various ethnic groups. In a democracy majority always needs to work taking into account the interest
of the minority so that the minority do not feel alienated.
Question 17.
How is democracy a better form of government in comparison with other forms of governments?
Explain. (2016 D, 2014 D)
Or, “There is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world.” Support the
Answer:
Over a hundred countries of the world today claim and practice some kind of democratic politics.
They have formal constitutions, hold elections, have parties and they guarantee rights of citizens.
Thus, in most countries, the democracy produces a government that is accountable to the citizens
and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.
No society can fully and permanently resolve conflict among different groups. But we can learn to
respect these differences and evolve mechanisms to negotiate them. Democracy is best suited as it
develops a procedure to conduct competitions. Belgium is a successful example of negotiating
difference among ethnic population.
Passion for respect and freedom is the basis of democracy and has been achieved in various degrees
in various democracies.
The support for democracy is overwhelming all over the world and is evident from South Asia, where
the support exists in countries with democratic as well as undemocratic regimes.
People wish to be ruled by representatives elected by them as a democratic government is people’s
own government and makes them believe that it is suitable for their country as it is a legitimate
government.
Question 18.
“Most destructive feature of democracy is that its examination never gets over.” Support the
statement with appropriate arguments. (2011 D)
Answer:
Suitable arguments:
As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more.
People always come up with more expectations from the democratic set up.
They also have complaints against democracy.
More and more suggestions and complaints by the people is also a testimony to the success of
democracy.
A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the democratic project.
Question 19.
“Democracy is seen to be good in principle but felt to be not so good in practice.” Justify the
statement. (2013 D)
Answer:
If we look at some of the democratic policies being implemented in more than one hundred
countries of the world, democracy seems to be good. For example, having a formal Constitution,
holding regular elections, guaranteeing the citizens certain rights, working for the welfare of the
people etc. make us advocate that democracy is good.
But if we look in terms of social situations, their economic achievements and varied cultures, we find
a very big difference in most of the democracies. The vast economic disparities, social injustice based
on discrimination, standard of life, sex discrimination, etc. create many doubts about the merits of
democracy. Whenever some of our expectations are not met, we start blaming the idea of
democracy. Since democracy is a form of government, it can only create conditions for achieving our
goals if they are reasonable.
Question 20.
“Democracy stands much superior in promoting dignity and freedom of the citizens”. Justify the
Answer:
Examples to illustrate that dignity and freedom of citizens are best guaranteed in a democracy:
(i) Dignity of women. Democracy recognizes dignity of women as a necessary ingredient of society.
The one way to ensure that women related problems get adequate attention is to have more
women as elected representatives. To achieve this, it is legally binding to have a fair proportion of
women in the elected bodies. Panchayati Raj in India has reserved one-third seats in local
government bodies for women. In March 2010, the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in the
Rajya Sabha ensuring 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State legislative bodies.
(ii) Democracy has strengthened the claims of disadvantaged and discriminated castes. When
governments are formed, political parties usually take care that representatives of different castes
and tribes find a place in it. Some political parties are known to favour some castes. Democracy
provides for equal status and opportunities for all castes.
(iii) Democracy transforms people from the status of a subject into that of a citizen. A democracy is
concerned with ensuring that people will have the right to choose their rulers and people will have
control over the rulers. Whenever possible and necessary, citizens should be able to participate in
decision-making that affects them all.
(iv) A citizen has the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making. There
is transparency in a democracy like India. In October 2005, the Right to Information (RTI)
law was passed which ensures all its citizens the right to get all the information about the
functions of the government departments. In a democracy, people also have the right to
complain about its functioni
Question 1.
Define the term National Income?
Answer:
National income is defined as the total value of all final goods and services produced
with a country plus net income from transactions like (export and import) with other
countries.
Question 2.
Define GDP. (2012)
Answer:
GDP or Gross Domestic Product is the total value of all final goods and services
produced during a particular year in a country.
Question 3.
What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different countries?
(2012)
Answer:
The World Bank uses average income or per capita income as a criterion for
classifying different countries.
Question 4.
Why is the total income of countries not used to make comparisons between them?
(2012)
Answer:
The total income of countries is not used to make comparisons between them,
because the population of different countries is different and does not give a clear
picture if comparisons are made on this basis.
Question 5.
Literacy rate measures the proportion of literate population in which age group?
(2012)
Answer:
The age group of 7 years and above.
Question 6.
Which state of India has the lowest infant mortality rate? (2013)
Answer:
Kerala
Question 7.
What is Human Development Index? (2013)
Answer:
Human Development Index is a composite index of achievements of a nation in
terms of three important variables, namely—longevity, knowledge and standard of
living, that determine the quality of life.
Question 8.
Name the report published by UNDP which compares countries based on the
educational levels of the people, their health status and per capita income. (2013)
Answer:
Human Development Report
Question 9.
What term is used to describe the ‘average number of years a person is expected to
live at birth’? (2013)
Answer:
Life Expectancy
Question 10.
What is the advantage of per capita income? Mention any one. (2014)
Answer:
It helps to compare the development of countries as per capita income tells us
whether people in one country are better off than others in a different country.
Question 11.
What do final goods and services mean? (2014)
Answer:
The various production activities in the primary, secondary and tertiary sector
produce large number of goods and services for consumption and investment are
final goods and services.
Question 12.
Why is sustainable development essential? Give one reason. (2015)
Answer:
Sustained development aims at economic development without damaging the
environment and at the same time conserving for the future. Resources are to be
used in such a way that they are not overexploited.
Question 13.
Why is per capita income of different countries calculated in dollars and not in their
own currencies by the World Bank? (Board Question)
Answer:
Per capita income of different countries is calculated in dollars and not in their own
currencies because the dollar has been the strongest and stablest currency since the
end of the 2nd World War and it becomes easy to compare the per capita incomes of
various countries when these are converted into a common currency, i.e., US dollar
($).
Question 14.
“What may be development for one may not be development for the other.” Explain
with a suitable example. (Board Question)
Answer:
Different persons have different notions of development because life situations of
persons are different. For example, Construction of dams leads to generation of
hydroelectricity, thus development. However many people have to be displaced from
their villages, hence it may not be development for them.
Question 15.
What is meant by sustainability of development? (Board Question)
Answer:
This signifies that the level of economic development of a country should be
maintained or sustained in all the years. Development in the present should not
compromise with the needs of the future generations.
Question 16.
Define:
1. Infant mortality rate

2. Literacy rate
3. Net attendance ratio
4. BMI
Answer:
1. Infant mortality rate. It indicates the number of children that die before the age
of 1 year as a proportion of 1000 live children bom in that particular year.
2. Literacy rate. It measures the proportion of literate population in the 7 and
above age group.
3. Net Attendance ratio. It is the total number of children of age group 6 to 10
attending school as a percentage of total number of children in the same age
group.
4. BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is calculated by dividing the weight of a
person in kilograms (kgs) by the square of his/her height in metres. It is an
indicator of the level of nourishment in adults.
Question 17.
Literacy rate measures the proportion of literate population in which age group?
(2017 D)
Answer:
The age group of 7 years and above.
Question 18.
Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with your
own examples related to development. (NCERT Question)
Answer:
1. Total income is not a useful measure for comparison between countries.

Since countries have different populations, comparing total income does not
tell what an average person is likely to earn. Hence, we use average income
which is total income of the country divided by total population.
2. The defect of average as a measure is that it does not show the distribution
(dispersion) of income between the rich and the poor.
3. Two countries may have the same average income but in one country almost
every family may enjoy more or less the same kind of income, whereas in the
other, some may be very rich and others very poor. The disparity between rich
and poor is an important feature that the average measure (per capita income)
does not consider.
Example: In terms of development, we can take the example of India, where
the metro towns are full of high-rise buildings and shopping malls while some
villages have not yet been provided with a basic necessity like electricity.
Question 19.
What is per capita income? Mention any two limitations of per capita income as an
indicator of development. (2012)
Answer:
The total income of a country divided by its total population gives the Per Capita
Income.
Money cannot buy all the goods and services that are needed to live well. So income
by itself is not a completely adequate indicator of material goods and services that
citizens are able to use. For example, money can not buy a pollution-free
environment or ensure that one gets unadulterated medicines, unless one can afford
to shift to a community that already has all these things.
Question 20.
Kerala, with lower per capita income, has a better human development ranking than
Punjab. Hence, per capita income is not a useful criterion at all and should not be
used to compare States. Do you agree? Discuss. NCERT Question
Answer:
Per capita income is not a useful criterion at all to measure the human development
ranking of a state. High per capita income is not the only attribute to a good quality
life. Money cannot buy all the essential things required for a good life. Pollution-free
atmosphere to ensure good health, protection from infectious diseases, lowering of
mortality rate, promotion of literacy, etc. are essential for a good standard of living. In
order to achieve these, joint efforts have to be made by all members of a community,
be it rich or poor.
Kerala ranks higher compared to Punjab even with a lower per capita income
because—
1. mortality rate is lower

2. literacy rate is higher and
3. total number of children attending school (Classes I-V) is higher.
Question 21.
On the basis of which three indicators of HDI 2004 Sri Lanka has better rank than
India? (2014)
Answer:
Three indicators of HDI 2004 in which Sri Lanka has better rank than India:
1. Per capita income—The per capita income of Sri Lanka in US dollars was
4,390 US dollars while that of India was 3,139 US dollars.
2. Life expectancy at birth—The life expectancy at birth for Sri Lanka was 74,
higher than that of India at 64.
3. Gross enrolment ratio for three levels—Sri Lanka had Gross Enrolment ratio
of 69 while that of India was 60.
Question 22.
‘Conflicting goals can also be developmental goals’. Elaborate with examples. (2014)
Answer:
All persons do not have the same notion of development or progress. Each one of
them seeks different things. The seek things that are most important for them, i.e.,
that which can fulfil their aspirations or desires. In fact at times two persons or
groups of persons may seek things which are conflicting.
A girl expects as much freedom and opportunity as her brother and that he also
shares in the household work. Her brother may not like this.
To get more electricity, industrialists may want more dams. But this may submerge
the land and disrupt the lives of people who are displaced, such as tribals. They
might resent this and may prefer small check dams or tanks to irrigate their land.
Question 23.
What are common developmental goals? Give any two suitable examples of
common developmental goals. (2015)
Answer:
There are certain goals which are the same or common for all. These are common
developmental goals. The developmental goals that people have are not only about
better income but also about other important things in life. More income or more
material goods do not always give us a good quality life.
There are other aspects such as equal treatment, freedom, security, opportunity to
learn, good working conditions, pollution-free atmosphere, job security and good
social life which are very important for a good quality life. Money or material things
that one can buy with it, is one factor on which our life depends. But quality of our life
also depends on non-material things, for example, the role of our friends in our life
which cannot be measured but mean a lot to us.
Question 24.
“Money cannot buy all the goods and services that one needs to live well” Do you
agree with this statement? Justify your answer with any three suitable arguments.
(2015)
Answer:
Yes, I agree with the statement because money income and material goods alone
are not an adequate indicator of a good quality of life. Money cannot buy all the
goods and services one needs to live well.
 Money cannot buy a pollution free and dean environment with fresh air.
 It cannot protect us from infectious diseases and guarantee good health for
us.
 Money cannot assure that medicines available in the market are not
adulterated.
To live well one needs non-material factors such as equal treatment, freedom,
security, equal opportunity to learn, a pollution free environment, good and safe
working conditions etc.
Question 25.
Apart from income, which other six things people look for as important aspects of our
lives? (2014, 2012)
Answer:
High per capita income is not the only attribute to a good quality life. Money cannot
buy all the essential things required for a good life. Pollution-free atmosphere to
ensure good health, protection from infectious diseases, lowering of mortality rate,
promotion of literacy, job security, good working conditions, etc. are essential for a
good standard of living.
Question 26.
One what basis the rich and low income countries have been categorized in the
world? What are the limitations of this approach? According to the World
Development Report, 2006, India comes in which category? Give reason for the
same. (2015, 2014)
Answer:
The World Bank uses average income or per capita income as a criterion for
classifying different countries. Countries with per capita income of ?4,53,000 per
annum and above (in the year 2004) are called rich countries and those with per
capita income of ?37,000 or less are called low income countries (India comes under
low income countries; the per capita income in India is ?28,000 per annum). Those
falling in between ₹37,000 – ₹4,53,000 are placed in the middle category.
Limitations of this criterion.
1. While averages are useful for comparison, they also hide disparities. Two
countries may have identical average income, but one country may have
equitable distribution where people are neither very rich nor very poor, while in
the other country most citizens are very poor and very few are extremely rich,
2. Better income cannot ensure a good quality life. Criterion set by the World
Bank has ignored certain attributes of a good life which do not depend on
income or cannot be . bought with money.
Example, freedom, equal treatment, equal opportunities, free atmosphere,
provision of unadulterated medicines, etc.
Question 27.
Why do people look at a mix of goals for development? Explain.
Answer:
Though income is one of the most important components of development, but there
are other important goals which people look at for development—
1. People also seek things like equal treatment, freedom, security and respect.
2. Women need a safe and secure environment to take up a variety of jobs or to
run businesses as entrepreneurs.
3. People seek a pollution free environment.
4. Students seek better education and equal opportunities to learn.
Question 28.
Why do different persons have different notions of development? Which of the
following explanations is more important and why?
(a) Because people are different.
(b) Because life situations of persons are different.
Answer:
The correct explanation is ‘Because life situations of persons are different.’
Developmental goals are different for different categories of people because of their
different aspirations. Aspirations are based on their needs. At times people may
have conflicting developmental goals also. What may be development for one may
not be development for another. It may even be destructive for the other.
Example, Industrialists may want construction of more dams for more electricity, but
this may lead to displacement of tribals who live in those areas and thereby disrupt
their lives.
Example, The inhabitants of Nandigram in West Bengal are mainly agriculturists and
their aspirations are to see development in the field of agriculture, whereas to some
it may appear that industrial advancement is more necessary for national
development.
Question 29.
What does HDI stand for? Explain the main criteria of measuring HDI according to
UNDP Report of 1990. (2015)
Answer:
HDI Stand for Human Development Index.
Main criteria of measuring HDI:
1. HDI published by UNDP compares countries based on the educational levels

of the people, their health status and per capita income.
2. HDI determines the rank of a country by its overall achievement in three
areas, i.e., life expectancy, educational level and per capita income.
3. Many improvements have been suggested in calculating HDI and many new
components have been added to Human Development Report.
4. Pre-fixing Human to Development, it has made it clear that what is important
in development is what is happening to citizens of a country, i.e., the health
and well being of the people is most important.
Question 30.
Explain with examples that there are other important development goals also
besides income. (2014)
Answer:
More income or more material goods do not always give us a good quality life. There
are other aspects such as equal treatment, freedom, security, opportunity to learn,
good working conditions, pollution-free atmosphere, job security and good social life
which are very important for a good quality life.
Money or material things that one can buy with it, is one factor on which our life
depends. But quality of our life also depends on non-material things, for example, the
role of our friends in our life which cannot be measured but mean a lot to us. Another
example, if we get a job in a far off place, before accepting it we would try consider
many factors apart from income such as facilities for our family, working atmosphere,
or opportunity to learn. Similarly, for development, people look at a mix of goals. It is
true that if women are engaged in paid work, their dignity increases. However, it is
also the case that if there is respect for women there would be more sharing of
house work and greater acceptance of women.
The developmental goals that people have are not only about better income but also
about other important things in life.
Question 31.
Explain any five fields other than income where development is needed. (2012)
Answer:
Fields other than income where development is needed:
1. Education. The government must provide adequate education facilities in all

rural and urban areas. The government must necessarily focus on education
for girls so that all girls are able to acquire atleast secondary level schooling.
Running proper schools and providing quality education, particularly
elementary education, is the duty of the Government.
2. Health. Basic health care facilities are a must for all. Establishment of
government hospitals, clinics and dispensaries, especially in rural areas, to
provide subsidized and unadulterated medicines to the poorer sections of
society.
3. Nutrition. An effective Public Distribution System—proper functioning of ration
shops and equitable distribution of foodgrains is very essential.
4. Transportation. A well developed public transport system to make it easy for
general public to commute.
5. Electricity. It is the duty of the government to provide electricity and water at
reasonable rates to the common man and prevent him from exploitation by
private companies.
Question 32.
Explain with reasons why state of Punjab with a very high per capita income has a
low literacy rate. (2016, 2017 D)
Answer:
Per capita income is not a useful criterion at all to measure the human development
ranking of a state. High per capita income is not the only attribute to a good quality
life. Money cannot buy all the essential things required for a good life.
This can be seen in the case of Punjab which has a very high per capita income but
a low literacy rate. Having money in one’s pocket cannot buy all the goods and
services that we need to live well. Money cannot ensure education and literacy.
Another reason for low literacy rate in Punjab could be the lack of free and
compulsory educational facilities. The government needs to open more schools and
provide other facilities so that all children have a chance to study.
Pollution-free atmosphere to ensure good health, protection from infectious

diseases, lowering of mortality rate, promotion of literacy, etc. are essential for a
good standard of living. In order to achieve these, joint efforts have to be made by all
members of a community, be it rich or poor.
Question 1.
Classify the economy on the basis of ownership of enterprises. (2012)
Answer:
Public Sector and Private Sector.
Question 2.
Classify the economy on the basis of the nature of the activity. (2015)
Answer:
The economy is classified on the basis of economic activities into three sectors namely Primary
sector, Secondary sector and Tertiary sector.
Question 3.
What is disguised unemployment? (2012)
Answer:
Disguised unemployment is a situation in which more people are employed on a job than the
required number.
Question 4.
Production of a commodity, mostly through the natural process is an activity of which sector? (2013)
Answer:
Primary Sector
Question 5.
Name the sector in which the government owns most of the assets and provides all the services.
(2013)
Answer:
Pubic Sector
Question 6.
Name the sector which continued to be the largest employer even in the year 2000. (2014)
Answer:
The primary sector continued to be the largest employer even in the year 2000.
Question 7.
How many days of guaranteed employment are provided under National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act, 2005? (2014)
Answer:
100 days of employment are guaranteed under NREGA, 2005.
Question 8.
ATM is an example of which sector? (2014)
Answer:
Tertiary sector
Question 9.
Suggest any one way to create employment opportunity in the rural areas. (2015)
Answer:
Setting up a dal mill, opening a cold storage, starting or promoting honey collection are some of the
ways of creating employment opportunities in rural areas.
Question 10.
Production of a commodity, mostly through the natural process is an activity of which sector? (2013)
Answer:
Primary Sector
Question 11.
Name the sector in which the government owns most of the assets and provides all the services.
(2017 OD)
Answer:
Public Sector
Question 12.
Explain how public sector contributes to the economic development of a nation. (2012)
Answer:
In the public sector, ownership of assets and delivery of services is under the government. The
government spends huge amounts of money in providing various services to the public at reasonable
costs.
The government thus contributes towards the economic development of the nation:
By development of infrastructure, i.e.,
Construction of roads, national highways, flyovers, metro-rails, railway lines, irrigation through
dams, etc.
The government provides an impetus to industrial growth by supplying electricity at affordable rates.
By running schools and providing good quality of education, the government is trying to remove
illiteracy and taking the nation forward.
Question 13.
Why is NREGA also called the Right to work? Explain the objectives of National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act 2005. (2015, 2014, 2013)
Answer:
Every state or region in India has potential for increasing the income and employment in that area.
Recognising this, the Central Government in India has passed an act called the National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act 2005,
Main objectives of the NREGA 2005 are:
to implement the Right to Work in 200 districts of India.

to guarantee 100 days of employment in a year by the Government. In case the Government fails, it
offers unemployment allowance.
to give preference to the type of work that will help increase the production from land.
Question 14.
With the example of sugarcane, explain the interdependence of all the three sectors of the
economy. (2012)
Answer:
The primary sector involves production at the most basic level, i.e., through exploitation of natural
resources. Cultivation of sugarcane is an agricultural activity which comes under the primary sector.
Raw materials from the primary sector are converted into processed goods through manufacturing
in the secondary sector. Using sugarcane as raw material, jaggery and sugar is made in the factories.
The tertiary or service sector provides support to the process of production. It includes
transportation, storage, marketing and sale of products. For instance, transportation of sugarcane
from the fields to the sugar mills. Further on, the transportation of jaggery and sugar from factories
and sugar mills to the markets.
The farmer (Primary sector) also needs fertilisers and seeds which are processed in some factory
(Secondary sector) and which will be delivered to his doorstep by some means of transportation
(Tertiary sector). In this way, for every little process there is interdependence of the three sectors of
the economy on each other.
Question 15.
“The problem of underemployment is not confined only to agriculture”. Support the statement with
examples. (2013)
Answer:
The problem of underemployment is not confined only to agriculture. It can also happen in other
sectors.
For example, there are thousands of casual workers in the service sector in urban areas who search
for daily employment. They are employed as painters, plumbers, repair persons and other odd jobs.
Many of them don’t find work everyday.
Similarly, we see other people of the service sector on the street pushing a cart or selling something
where they may spend the whole day but earn very little. They are doing such work only due to the
lack of better employment opportunities.
The unorganised sector includes small and scattered units outside the government control.
Employment is not secure. People can be asked to leave without any reason. When there is less
work, such as during some seasons, some people may be asked to leave.
Question 16.
What are final goods and intermediate goods? How do they help in calculating (GDP) Gross Domestic
Product? (2013)
Answer:
Final goods are goods that are ultimately consumed by the consumer rather than used in the
production of another good.
Intermediate goods are goods used as inputs in the production of final goods and services. For
example, a car sold to a consumer is a final good; components such as a tyre sold to the car
manufacturer is an intermediate good. The value of final goods already includes the value of all
intermediate goods that are used in making the final good.
The value of final goods and services produced in each sector during a particular year provides the
total production of the sector for that year. And the sum of production in the three sectors gives the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country. It is the value of all final goods and services produced
within a country during a particular year.
Question 17.
Explain any three ways to solve the problem of underemployment. (2013)
Answer:
There are people who are capable of better work and earning more than what they are getting. The
reason for this is that better jobs for which they are qualified are not available. Such people are
termed as underemployed, e.g., a graduate teacher driving a taxi. Underemployment is most
prevalent in the primary or agricultural sector.
Three ways to solve the problem of underemployment:
Provision of loans may help in creating jobs for disguised unemployed and underemployed workers.
The loan money can be used for the promotion of economic activity of the family adding to the
family’s earning or for setting up a cottage industry.
Another way is to promote and locate industries and services in semi-rural areas where a large
number of people may be employed.
Example, Setting up a dal mill, opening a cold storage, starting or promoting honey collection.
If local banks give credit to farmers at a reasonable rate of interest, they will be able to buy
agricultural inputs and increase productivity.
Centres for vegetables and fruit processing, health centres, educational institutions, tourism and IT
centres will certainly help in creating jobs.
Question 18.
Why didn’t shift out of primary sector happen in case of employment although there has been a
change in the share of the three sectors in GDP? (2013)
Answer:
A remarkable fact about India is that while there has been a change in the share of the three sectors
in GDP, a similar shift has not taken place in employment.
A similar shift out of primary sector did not happen in case of employment because not enough jobs
were created in the secondary and tertiary sectors.
Even though industrial output or the production of goods went up by eight times during the period,
employment in the industry went up by only 2.5 times.
While production in the service sector rose by 11 times, employment in the service sector rose less
than three times.
As a result, more than half of the workers in the country are working in the primary sector, mainly in
agriculture, producing only a quarter of the GDP.
Question 19.
Classify the economic sectors on the basis of nature of activities. Mention the main feature of each.
(2014)
Answer:
On the basis of nature of activities, economic sectors are classified into:
Primary sector
Secondary sector
Tertiary sector
Primary sector forms the base for all other products that we subsequently make. Since most of the
natural products we get, are from agriculture, dairy, fishing, forestry, this sector is also called sector
for agriculture and related activities (stone quarrying, animal husbandry, etc.).
Secondary sector covers activities in which natural products are changed into other forms through
ways of manufacturing. It can take place in a factory, workshop or at home.
Examples:
(a) Spinning yam from cotton fibre from plants.
(b) Making sugar from sugarcane.
It is also called the Industrial sector.
Tertiary sector. Activities in this sector do not produce any goods. This sector produces services that
act as aid and support to the Primary and Secondary sectors. Services like administration, police,
army, transport, hospitals, educational institutions, post and telegraph, courts, municipal
corporation, insurance companies, storage, trade communication and banking are some of the
examples of activities of the Tertiary sector. This sector is also known as Service sector.
Question 20.
What is meant by Gross Domestic Product (GDP)? How is GDP measured in India? (2015)
Answer:
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country is the value of all the final goods and services produced
in each sector within a country during a particular year. This indicates how big the country’s
economy is. GDP is measured by the Central Government Ministry. This Ministry, with the help of all
the Indian States and Union Territories, collects information relating to total volume of goods and
services and their prices and then makes an estimate of the GDP.
Question 21.
Describe the importance of Primary sector in the Indian economy.
Answer:
Importance of Primary sector:

Primary Sector provides the basic needs of economy for food and mineral ores.
It produces some of the raw materials (like jute, cotton, coal extracted from mines) for the industrial
sector.
The Primary sector continued to be the largest employer in the economy even in the year 2000, the
reason being that Secondary and Tertiary sectors still do not create enough jobs.
The agricultural population in the Primary sector provides a very large market of consumers for the
Secondary sector (for buying finished products like clothes, goods of daily need, fertilizers, etc.).
Question 22.
How can we create more employment in secondary and tertiary sectors in rural India? (2012)
Answer:
Investing in basic agricultural infrastructure like construction of dams and canals for irrigation can
lead to a lot of employment generation within the agricultural sector itself reducing the problem of
under employment.
If the government invests some money in the storage and transportation of crops, or makes better
rural roads so that mini-trucks reach everywhere, several farmers can continue to grow and sell
these crops throughout the year. This activity can provide productive employment to not just
farmers but also others such as those in services like transport or trade.
Providing credit at a reasonable rate of interest to help farmers buy seeds, fertilisers, agricultural
equipments, pumpsets etc. can generate employment in rural banking.
The government/banks can provide loans at cheap rates to the small farmers to improve their
irrigational facilities like constructing a well so that they can irrigate their land well and get two to
three crops a year instead of one. Thus more people can be employed in the same field.
Another way is to promote and locate industries and services in semi-rural areas where a large
number of people may be employed. For example, setting up a dal mill, opening a cold storage,
starting or promoting honey collection, etc.
Question 23.
Explain the importance of the service sector. (2013)
Or
Explain reasons for the rising importance of the tertiary sector in India. (2012)
Answer:
Tertiary sector or service sector plays a very significant role and its importance is rising day by day:
Greater the development of primary sector and secondary sector more would be the demand for
Services.
Tertiary sector has become the largest producer in India because various kinds of Services such as
hospitals, educational institutions, post and telegraph services, police stations, courts, village
administrative offices, transport, banks, insurance companies, etc. are required.
Even development of agriculture and industry leads to the development of services such as
transport, trade and storage, etc.
With the rise in income, demand for more services is rising.
For example, eating out in restaurants, tourism, malls and shopping complexes, schools, professional
training, etc.
New services like Information Technology and outsourcing have become very important for modem
day trade and industry.
Unfortunately, the rapid growth of the service sector in India has not yet shown the expected
corresponding increase in employment.
Question 24.
How can employment be increased in both rural and urban areas? Explain. (2013)
Answer:
Ways to provide more employment opportunities in rural areas:
Promote and locate industries and services in semi-rural areas where a large number of people may
be employed. Example, setting up a dal mill, opening a cold storage, starting or promoting honey
collection.
Promoting small-scale industries, small-scale manufacturing units, agro-processing industries and

providing loans for the same. The government/banks can provide loans at cheap rates to the small
farmers to improve their irrigational facilities so that they can get two or three crops a year instead
of one. Thus more people can be employed in the same field.
If more dams are built and canal water is provided to all the small farmers, then a lot of employment
can be generated in the agricultural sector.
If more money is spent on transportation and storage, then not only small farmers will be benefitted
but many more people can be employed in transport and storage sector.
Investing more in tourism and employing more youth in this sector.
Question 25.
“There are several things needed by the society as a whole”. In the light of this statement explain as
to who can provide them at a reasonable cost, the private or the public sector and why? (2013)
Or
Explain any three demerits of private sector.
Answer:
Society as a whole needs several things which the private sector will not be able to provide at a
reasonable cost.
Reasons for this are:
Activities in the private sector are guided by the motive to earn profits and not welfare of the
people,
There are several services needed by the society which the private sector cannot provide at a
reasonable price. Activities like construction of roads, bridges, railways, irrigation through dams etc.,
require huge amount of money which is beyond the capacity of the Private sector. Private sector
charges high rates for the use of these services.
It is difficult for the Private sector to collect money from thousands of people who use these
services.
The Private sector sometimes ignores regional balanced development, equality of income and
development of basic industries.
Private sector charges include profit margins whereas the government will charge a reasonable price
for services. It is the primary duty of the government to ensure the provision of public facilities with
a service motto.
Question 26.
Describe any five conditions or aspects that you would consider before accepting a job? (2014)
Answer:
Before accepting a job many factors need to be considered apart from income—
These include factors such as facilities for families, working atmosphere, or opportunity to learn.
In another case, a job may give less pay but may offer regular employment that enhances sense of
security. Another job however, may offer high pay but no job security and also leave no time for
family.
The terms of employment are as per government rules and regulations.

The enterprise also gives several other benefits like paid leave, provident fund, gratuity, etc.
The employer also makes provisions for medical benefits and safe working environment. A safe and
secure environment may allow more women to take up a variety of jobs.
Question 27.
‘There has been a big change in the three sectors of economic activities, but a similar shift has not
taken place in the share of employment.’ Explain the above statement on the basis of facts. (2014)
Answer:
Though there has been a change in the share of the three sectors in GDP, similar shift has not taken
place in the structure of employment. The Primary sector continues to be the largest employer even
in the year 2000. The reason for this is that not enough jobs are created in the Secondary and
Tertiary sectors. More than half of the workers in the country are working in the Primary sector,
mainly in agriculture, producing only a quarter of GDP. In contrast to this, Secondary and Tertiary
sectors produce three- fourths of the produce though they employ less than half of the people.
Reasons:
During the last thirty years in the Indian economy, not enough jobs have been created in the
Secondary and Tertiary sectors, although their output has increased many folds. As a result more
than half of the workers in the country are working in the primary sector, mainly agriculture, causing
gross underemployment due to overcrowding in the sector.
There are more people engaged in agricultural activities than is necessary. The situation is such that
even if we remove a lot of people from agriculture, the production of this sector will not be affected.
Question 28.
Define tertiary sector. Describe about the different kinds of people employed in this sector in India.
(2014)
Answer:
Tertiary sector. Activities in this sector do not produce any goods. This sector produces services that
act as aid and support to the primary and secondary sector. Services like administration, police,
army, transport, hospitals, educational institutions, post & telegraph, courts, municipal corporation,
banking & insurance, storage, trade and communications are examples of activities in the tertiary
sector. This sector is also known as the Service Sector.
The first kind of people are the highly skilled and educated people providing specialised services.
E.g., doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc. There are a limited number of services that employ highly
skilled and educated workers and offer big salaries.
There are also a very large number of workers engaged in services, such as small shopkeepers, repair
persons, transport persons. These people barely manage to earn a living and yet they perform these
services because no alternative opportunities for work are available to them.
Hence, only a part of this sector is growing in importance.
Question 29.
State any five features each of public sector and private sector. (2015)
Answer:
Public Sector:
The government owns most of the assets.
All the services are provided by the government.
The main motive of the public sector is the welfare of the people (masses). Activities are guided by
the interest of the nation as a whole.
Employees feel secured and there is discipline and regular work.
Governments raise money through taxes and other meAnswer:
For example, railways, post offices, construction of roads, bridges, harbours, dams, etc.
Private Sector:
In the private sector, ownership of assets is in the hands of private individuals or companies.
Services are provided or are in the hands of individuals.
people.
Jobs of the employees are less secured and the whims of the owners are above all.
Private sector charges high rates for the use of services provided by them.
For example, Companies like Tata Iron and Steel Co. (TISCO), Reliance Industries, etc.
Question 30.
Explain with suitable examples how public sector contributes to the economic development of the
nation. (2015)
Answer:
Role of Public sector in economic development. The Public sector is that sector of the economy in
which the government owns most of the assets and provides all the services, e.g., railways, post and
telegraph.
It promotes rapid economic development through creation and expansion of infrastructure.
The public sector provides various services and facilities like construction of roads, bridges, railways,
irrigation through dams, etc. where heavy spending is required.
A large number of activities are a primary responsibility of the government like schools, hospitals,
housing, safe drinking water, etc.
Certain activities are meant to be supported by the government, like providing electricity to small
scale industries at low prices, supply of food to the poor, etc. It encourages development of small,
medium and cottage industries.
It ensures availability of goods and services at moderate rates and also contributes to community
development through creation and expansion of infrastructure.
Question 31.
How can workers in the unorganised sector be protected? Explain giving examples of rural and urban
areas.
Answer:
There is need for protection and support of the workers in the unorganised sector:
In the rural areas, this sector comprises of landless agricultural labourers, small and marginal
farmers, share croppers and artisans (weaners, carpenters, goldsmiths).
These farmers need to be supported through adequate facility for timely delivery of seeds,
agricultural inputs, credit, storage facilities and marketing outlets.
In urban areas, workers in the small scale industry, casual workers in construction, trade and
transport, street vendors, head load workers, garment makers, ragpickers etc. are all a part of the
unorganised sector. Small scale workers need government aid for procuring raw materials and
marketing of their goods.
The government must make concerted efforts to ensure that workers in this sector are not exploited
and earn fair wages. They must also be provided with job security and other benefits.
Question 32.
Describe certain activities of public interest on which the government has to focus on priority basis.
(Board Question)
Answer:
Activities of public interest on which the government needs to focus on a priority basis:
Education. The government must provide adequate education facilities in all rural and urban areas.
The government must necessarily focus on education for girls so that all girls are able to acquire
atleast secondary level schooling. Running proper schools and providing quality education,
particularly elementary education, is the duty of the government.
Health and Nutrition,
Basic health care facilities are a must for all. Establishment of government hospitals, clinics and
dispensaries, especially in rural areas, to provide subsidized and unadulterated medicines to the
poorer sections of society.
An effective Public Distribution System—proper functioning of ration shops and equitable

distribution of food grains is very essential.
Transportation. A well developed public transport system to make it easy for general public to
commute.
Electricity. It is the duty of the government to provide electricity and water at reasonable rates to
the common man and prevent him from exploitation by private companies.
Question 33.
Compare the employment conditions prevailing in the Organized and Unorganized sectors. (NCERT
Question)
Answer:
Organized sector:
In this sector, terms of employment are regular and people have assured work.
They are registered by the government.
Workers enjoy security of employment, they have to work for fixed hours, they are paid overtime
and enjoy several other benefits like paid leave, payment during holidays, Provident Fund, gratuity,
pension, retirement benefits, medical benefits, etc.
Entities under Organized sector have to follow the rules and regulations which are given in various
laws (Factories Act, Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Gratuity Act, Shops and Establishment Act).
Unorganized sector:
In this sector, employment is not secure and jobs are irregular.
Here government rules are not followed as they are outside the control of the government.
Usually, they offer low-paid jobs, no provision for overtime, paid leave, holiday leave or sick leave.
Employees can be asked to leave without any reason. One can also see a large number of under-
employed workers in this sector.
Question 34.
Explain the importance of the service sector. (2017 D)
Answer:
Tertiary sector or service sector plays a very significant role and its importance is rising day by day:
Greater the development of primary sector and secondary sector more would be the demand for
Services.
Tertiary sector has become the largest producer in India because various kinds of services such as
hospitals, educational institutions, post and telegraph services, police stations, courts, village
administrative offices, transport, banks, insurance companies etc. are required.
Even development of agriculture and industry leads to the development of services such as
transport, trade and storage etc.
With the rise in income, demand for more services is rising.
For example, eating out in restaurants, tourism, malls and shopping complexes, schools, professional
training.
New services like Information Technology and outsourcing have become very important for modern
day trade and industry.
Unfortunately, the rapid growth of the service sector in India has not yet shown the expected
corresponding increase in employment.
Question 35.
How can employment be increased in both rural and urban areas? Explain. (2017 OD)
Answer:
Ways to provide more employment opportunities in rural areas:

Promote and locate industries and services in semi-rural areas where a large number of people may
be employed. For example, setting up a dal mill, opening a cold storage, starting or promoting honey
collection.
Promoting small-scale industries, small-scale manufacturing units, agro-processing industries and

providing loans for the same. The government/banks can provide loans at cheap rates to the small
farmers to improve their irrotational facilities so that they can get two or three crops a year instead
of one. Thus more people can be employed in the same field.
If more dams are built and canal water is provided to all the small farmers, then a lot of employment
can be generated in the agricultural sector.
If more money is spent on transportation and storage, then not only small farmers will be benefitted
but many more people can be employed in transport and storage sector.
Investing more in tourism and employing more youth in this sector.
Question 36.
“There are several things needed by the society as a whole”. In the light of this statement explain as
to who can provide them at a reasonable cost, the private or the public sector and why? (2017 OD)
Answer:
Society as a whole needs several things which the private sector will not be able to provide at a
reasonable cost.
Reasons for this are:
people.
There are several services needed by the society which the private sector cannot provide at a
reasonable price. Activities like construction of roads, bridges, railways, irrigation through dams,
etc., require huge amount of money which is beyond the capacity of the Private sector. Private
sector charges high rates for the use of these services.
It is difficult for the Private sector to collect money from thousands of people who use these
services.
The Private sector sometimes ignores regional balanced development, equality of income and
development of basic industries.
Private sector charges include profit margins whereas the government will charge a reasonable price
for services. It is the primary duty of the government to ensure the provision of public facilities with
a service motto.
Question 1.
The currency notes on behalf of the Central Government are issued by whom? (2011 D)
Answer:
Reserve Bank of India.
Question 2.
Why do banks ask for collateral while giving credit to a borrower? (2014 D, 2011 OD)
Answer:
Collateral is an asset that the borrower owns (land, building, vehicle, livestock, land documents,
deposits with banks, etc.) which stands as a security against the money borrowed. In case the
borrower fails to repay the loan, the lender has the right to sell the asset or collateral.
Question 3.
What do banks do with the deposits they accept from customers? (2012 D)
Answer:
Banks use a major portion of deposits to extend loans to people.
Question 4.
What comprises ‘terms of credit’? (2012 OD)
Answer:
Interest rate, collateral and documentation requirement and mode of repayment together comprise
terms of credit.
Question 5.
What is the main informal source of credit for rural households in India? (2013 D)
Answer:
Money lenders are the main source of informal credit for rural households.
Question 6.
Which body supervises the functioning of formal sources of loans? (2013 OD)
Answer:
Reserve Bank of India.
Question 7.
‘Modern currency is without any use of its own’; then why is it accepted as a medium of exchange?
(2014 OD)
Answer:
Modern currency is accepted as a medium of exchange because it is certified for a particular

denomination (?10, ?100, etc.) of the country by authorities set up by the Central Government. It is
issued by the Reserve Bank of India and it can be used for buying any commodity which is on sale. It
is authorized by the government of the country.
Question 8.
What is the meaning of ‘barter system’? (2015 D)
Answer:
Barter system refers to the system of exchange of goods and services. It is the system by which one
commodity is exchanged for another without the use of money. Before money was introduced,
people practised barter system.
Example: A farmer could buy a dhoti from a weaver or a pair of shoes from a cobbler in exchange of
grains he produced.
Question 9.
What is the meaning of ‘investment’? (2015 D)
Answer:
Investment is buying of an asset in the form of a factory, a machine, land and building, etc. (physical
assets) or shares (monetary assets) for the purpose of making or sharing profits of the enterprises
concerned.
Common investments are—buying land, factories, machines for faster production, buying small local
companies to expand production, cheap labour, skilled engineers, IT personnel, etc.
Question 10.
What is meant by double coincidence of wants? (2015 OD)
Answer:
Double coincidence of wants means when both parties have agreed to sell and buy each other’s
commodities.
Question 11.
How does money act as a medium of exchange? (2015 OD)
Answer:
Money acts as a medium of exchange as it acts as an intermediate in the exchange process and
transactions. A person holding money can easily exchange it for any commodity or services that he
or she might want.
Question 12.
How do the deposits with banks become their source of income? (2016 D)
Answer:
Banks charge a higher interest rate on loans they extend than what they offer on deposits. The
difference of interest is the main source of income of banks.
Question 13.
Why one cannot refuse a payment made in rupees in India? (2016 D)
Answer:
One cannot refuse a payment made in rupees in India because it is accepted as a medium of
exchange. The currency is authorized by the government of the country.
Question 14.
Compare formal sector loans with informal sector of loans regarding interest only. (2016 D)
Answer:
Most of the informal lenders charge a much higher interest on loans than the formal sector
loAnswer:
Question 15.
Why is the supervision of the functioning of formal sources of loans necessary? (2016 OD)
Answer:
Supervision of the functioning of formal sources of loans is necessary because banks have to submit
information to the RBI on how much they are lending, to whom they are lending and at what
interest rate etc.
Question 16.
Prove with an argument that there is a great need to expand formal sources of credit in rural India.
(2016 OD)
Answer:
There is great need to expand formal sources of credit in rural India because:
There is no organisation that supervises the credit activities of lenders in the informal sector. They
lend at whatever interest rate they choose.
No one can stop rural money-lenders from using unfair means to get their money back.
Question 17.
Why are most of the poor households deprived from the formal sector of loans? (2016 OD)
Answer:
Most of the poor households are deprived from the formal sector loans because of lack of proper
documents and absence of collateral.
Question 18.
What do you understand by demand deposits?

Answer:
To ensure safety of their money, people deposit their money with banks. Banks accept deposits and
pay interest on deposits. People have the provision to withdraw their money as and when they
require. Since money can be withdrawn on demand, these deposits are known as demand deposits.
Features:
A demand deposit has the essential characteristic of money. It can be used as a medium of
exchange.
The facility of cheques against demand deposits makes it possible to make payments, without using
cash.
Since demand deposits are accepted widely as a means of payment along with currency, they
constitute money in the modem economy.
Question 19.
Which country has successfully organized SHGs? Who had initiated the programme?
Answer:
Bangladesh has successfully organized SHGs. Grameen Bank of Bangladesh is the biggest success
story in reaching the poor to meet their credit needs at reasonable rates. Grameen Bank has now
over 6 million borrowers in 40,000 villages across Bangladesh. Most of the borrowers are women
and belong to the poorest section of society. This idea is the brain child of Prof. Mohammad Yunus,
recipient of 2006 Nobel Prize for Peace.
Question 20.
Highlight the inherent problem in double coincidence of wants. (2017 D)
Answer:
Double coincidence of wants means that when someone wants to exchange his goods with another
person, the latter must also be willing to exchange his goods with the first person. It can only work
when both the persons are ready to exchange each other’s goods.
Question 21.
How does the use of money make it easier to exchange things? Give an example. (2017 OD)
Answer:
The use of money solves the problem of double coincidence of wants. Money acts as a medium of
exchange and serves as a unit of value.
Question 22.
What is money? Why is modern money currency accepted as a medium of exchange? (2012 D)
Answer:
Money is a medium of exchange in transactions. A person holding money can easily exchange it for
any commodity or service that he or she might want.
Modem money currency is accepted as a medium of exchange because
it is certified for a particular denomination (For example, ₹ 10, ₹ 20, ₹ 100, ₹ 1,000).
it is issued by the Central Bank of the country.
it is authorized by the government of the country.
Question 23.
What are the modern forms of money? Why is the ‘rupee’ widely accepted as a medium of
exchange? Explain two reasons. (2013 D)
Or
Why is modern currency accepted as a medium of exchange without any use of its own? Give
reasons?
Answer:
Modem forms of money currency in India include paper notes and coins which are known as Rupees
and Paise.
It is accepted as a medium of exchange because the currency is authorized by the Government of

India.
In India, the Reserve bank of India issues currency notes on behalf of the Central Government of
India.
The law legalizes the use of rupee as a medium of payment that cannot be refused in settling
transaction in India.
No Individual in India can legally refuse a payment made in rupees.
Therefore, the rupee is widely accepted as a medium of exchange.
Question 24.
What is collateral? Why do lenders ask for collateral while lending? Explain. (2012)
Answer:
Collateral is an asset that the borrower owns (land, building, vehicle, livestock, land documents,
deposits with banks etc.) which stands as a security against the money borrowed. In case the
borrower fails to repay the loan, the lender has the right to sell the asset or collateral to recover the
loan money. Most lenders ask for collateral while lending as a security against their own funds.
Question 25.
“Cheap and affordable credit is essential for poor households both in rural and urban areas.” In the
light of the above statement explain the social and economic values attached to it. (2013 OD)
Or
“Cheap and affordable credit is crucial for the country’s development.” Assess the statement. (2016
D)
Or
‘Credit has its own unique role for development’. Justify the statement with arguments. (2016 OD)
Answer:
Credit means loAnswer: It refers to an agreement in which the lender supplies the borrower with
money, goods or services in return for the promise of future repayment.
Cheap and affordable credit is crucial for the country’s growth and economic development. Credit is
in great demand for various kinds of economic activities—big or small investments, to set up
business, buying cars, houses, etc.
In rural areas credit helps in the development of agriculture by providing funds to farmers to buy
seeds, fertilizers, expensive pesticides.
Manufacturers need credit for buying raw material or to meet ongoing expenditure of production.
Credit helps in the purchase of plant, machinery, equipment, etc.
Some people may need to borrow for illness, marriages etc.
Thus, cheap and affordable credit is crucial for the country’s growth and economic development.
Question 26.
How does money solve the problem of double coincidence of wants? Explain with an example. (2014
D)
Answer:
Money acts as a medium of exchange. Money can be exchanged for any kind of commodity or
service of one’s choice or need. Before money was introduced, people practised barter system. They
exchanged goods with each other.
Example, A farmer could buy a dhoti from a weaver or a pair of shoes from a cobbler in exchange of
grains he produced.
The problem with the barter system was that both the parties had to agree to sell and buy each
other’s product. This is known as double coincidence of wants.
In barter system, where goods are directly exchanged without the use of money, it is essential that
there is a double coincidence. Double coincidence is a situation where two persons need or desire to
have each other’s product.
Money solves this problem as with money we can buy whatever we want and whenever we want,
without having to exchange something in return.
Question 27.
How is money used in everyday life? Explain with examples. (2014 D)
Answer:
Money plays a central role in our daily life. It is used as a medium of exchange to carry out
transactions.
Money buys us food, clothing, shelter and other basic necessities of life.
Money provides us social security. It is needed to procure services like transport, education,
healthcare, entertainment, recreation, and so on. Money facilitates business and trade and is the
basis of the working of an economy.
Question 28.
Explain with examples, how people are involved with the banks. (2014 D)
Answer:
Banks help people to save their money and keep their money in safe custody of the bank. Banks
accept deposits from the public and also help people to earn interest on their deposits.
People can withdraw the money deposited with the bank at the time of their need. As the money
can be withdrawn on demand, these are called demand deposits.
Banks also grant loans to people for a variety of purposes. In times of need individuals, business
houses and industries can borrow money from the banks.
Question 29.
Why is it necessary for the banks and cooperative societies to increase their lending facilities in rural
areas? Explain. (2015 D)
Answer:
Banks and Cooperatives can help people in obtaining cheap and affordable loans. This will help
people to grow crops, do business, set up small-scale industries or trade in goods and also help
indirectly in the country’s development. They should do so, so that relatively poor people do not
have to depend on informal sources of credit (money-lenders).
Question 30.
How can money be easily exchanged for goods or services? Give an example to explain. (2016 D)
Answer:
Money as a medium of exchange for goods and services:
A person holding money can easily exchange it for any commodity or service that he or she might
want. Everyone prefers to receive payments in money and exchange the money for things they
want.
For example: A shoemaker wants to sell shoes in the market and buy wheat. The shoe maker will
first exchange shoes for money and then exchange the money for wheat. If the shoemaker had to
directly exchange shoes for wheat without the use of 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. Both
the parties have to agree to sell and buy each other’s commodities. This process is very difficult, time
consuming and unhealthy.
Question 31.
“The credit activities of the informal sector should be discouraged.” Support the statement with
arguments. (2016 D)
Answer:
The credit activities of the informal sector should be discouraged because:
85% of loans taken by the poor households in the urban areas are from informal sources. There is no
organisation that supervises the credit activities of lenders in the informal sector.
Informal lenders charge very high interest on their loAnswer: They try to charge more and more
interest on their loans as there are no boundaries and restrictions.
Higher cost of borrowing means a larger part of the earnings of the borrowers is used to repay the
loan.
In certain cases, the high interest rate for borrowing can mean that the amount to be repaid is
greater than the income of borrower. This could lead to increasing debt and debt trap, therefore the
credit activities of the informal sector should be discouraged.
Question 32.
Why do we need to expand formal sources of credit in India? (NCERT Question)
Answer:
There is no organisation that supervises the credit activities of lenders in the informal sector. They
lend at whatever interest rate they choose.
No one can stop rural money-lenders from using unfair means to get their money back.
Informal lenders charge a very high rate of interest on loans and as a result a larger part of the
earnings of the borrowers and farmers are used to pay the loans.
The amount to be repaid is often greater than income, and farmers and other borrowers in villages
fall in a debt trap.
Thus, it is necessary that banks and co-operatives increase their lending, particularly in rural areas,
so that dependence on informal sources of credit ends.
Question 33.
What is the basic objective of ‘Self Help Groups’? How do they work? Describe any four advantages
of ‘Self Help Groups’ for the poor. (2015 D, 2011 D)
Answer:
The basic objective of ‘Self Help Groups’ is to organize rural poor, particularly women belonging to
one neighbourhood into small Self Help Groups (15-20 members). These members save regularly
and the amount varies from ₹25-100 or more depending upon their ability to save.
The four advantages of ‘Self Help Groups’ are as follows:
The members can take small loans from the group itself to meet their needs. The group charges
interest on these loans which is still less than what moneylenders charge.
After a year or two, if the group is regular in savings, it becomes eligible for availing loan from the
bank which is sanctioned in the name of the group to create self employment opportunities. All
important decisions regarding loan, purpose, amount of interest, non-payment of loan are taken by
the group members.
For instance, small loans are provided to the members for releasing mortgaged land, meeting
working capital needs, for acquiring assets like sewing machines, handlooms, cattle etc.
Since non-repayment of loans is dealt with seriously by group members, therefore banks are willing
to lend to the poor women when organized in SHGs, even though they have no collateral as such.
Thus, the SHGs help women to become financially self reliant.
The regular meetings of the group provide a platform to discuss and act on a variety of social issues
such as health, nutrition, domestic violence etc.
Question 34.
‘Banks and cooperatives help people in obtaining cheap and affordable loans’ Which values
according to you does this support? (2011 OD)
Answer:
Cheap and affordable loans help people to grow crops, do business, set up small scale industries or
trade in goods.
This promotes:
Self reliance and financial security and independence of people.
Protection of the relatively poor against corrupt moneylenders.
Eradication of poverty in general.
All this indirectly helps in the country’s development.
Question 35.
What is Credit? Why is cheap and affordable credit important for the country’s development? Give
four reasons. (2012 D)
Or
What is credit? Explain with an example, how credit plays a vital and positive role for development.
(2014 OD)
Answer:
Credit means loans. It refers to an agreement in which the lender supplies the borrower with money,
goods or services in return for the promise of future repayment.
Cheap and affordable credit is crucial for the country’s growth and economic development. Credit is
in great demand for various kinds of economic activities—big or small investments, to set up
business, buying cars, houses, etc.
In rural areas credit helps in the development of agriculture by providing funds to farmers to buy
seeds, fertilizers, expensive pesticides.
Manufacturers need credit for buying raw material or to meet ongoing expenditure of production.
Credit helps in the purchase of plant, machinery, equipment, etc.
Some people may need to borrow for illness, marriages etc.
Thus, cheap and affordable credit is crucial for the country’s growth and economic development.
Question 36.
What are the two categories of sources of credit? Mention four features of each. (2013 OD)
Answer:
The two sources of credit are formal sources and informal sources:
Formal sources of credit:
Banks and cooperative societies fall under the formal sector. One can obtain loans from banks or
cooperative societies.
The Reserve Bank of India supervises the functioning of formal sources of loAnswer:
Bank loans require documentation and collateral (collateral is an asset such as land, building, vehicle,
livestock, deposits with the bank, etc.). This is used as a guarantee to the lender until the loan is paid
back.
Formal sources cannot charge any rate of interest from the borrowers according to their whims.
Informal sources of credit:
In the informal sector money can be borrowed from a person, friend, relative, moneylender, traders,
employers, etc.
There is no organization that checks or supervises the activities of lenders in the informal sector.
Loans from informal sources do not require any such collateral.
They charge a very high rate of interest on loans as they do not require any collateral.
Question 37.
Which government body supervises the functioning of formal sources of loans in India? Explain its
functioning. (2012 OD)
Answer:
The Reserve Bank of India supervises the functioning of formal sources of loans.
Functions of Reserve Bank of India.
RBI requires commercial banks to maintain a minimum cash balance out of the deposits they
receive. The RBI monitors that the banks actually maintain the cash balance.
RBI sees that the banks give loans not just to profit-making businesses and traders but also to small
cultivators, small-scale industries, small borrowers, SHGs, etc.
RBI issues guidelines for fixing rate of interest on deposits and lending by commercial banks.
Periodically, banks have to submit information to the RBI on how much they are lending, to whom,
at what interest rate, etc.
Question 38.
What are the various sources of credit in rural areas? Which one of them is the most dominant
source of credit and why? (2013 D)
Answer:
Moneylenders are the most dominant amongst sources of credit for rural households. They
constitute an informal source of credit. They charge a very high rate of interest on loans as they do
not require any collateral. They are the most convenient source of credit in the rural areas.
Other sources of rural credit:
Cooperative Societies are another major source of rural credit. They are a source of formal sector
credit. Members of a Cooperative pool their resources for helping one another, e.g., Farmers’
Cooperatives, Weavers’ Cooperatives, etc. They offer cheap credit in rural areas for their members.
Once these loans are repaid, another round of loans is offered.
Agricultural traders, relatives and friends are other informal sources of rural credit. Some farmers
borrow from agricultural traders who supply the farm inputs (such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides,
etc.) on credit at the beginning of the cropping season and repay the loans after the harvest.
Commercial banks also give loans to rural households. However, not many rural households borrow
from banks as they require proper documentation and collateral.
Question 39.
“Deposits with the banks are beneficial to the depositors as well as to the nation”. Examine the
statement. (2016 OD, 2015 D)
Answer:
Benefit of deposits to the depositors:
Bank accepts the deposits and pays interest to the depositor.
Banks help people save their money and keep their money in safe custody of the bank.
People can withdraw the money as and when they require.
Banks also grant loans to people for a variety of purposes. In times of need, individuals, business
Benefit of deposits to the Nation:
Banks use the major proportion of the deposit to extend loans.
There is a huge demand for loans for various economic activities. In times of need, business houses
and industries can borrow money from the banks.
Banks mediate between those who have surplus funds and those who are in need of these funds.
Thus, it helps in the economic development of the Nation.
Question 40.
How do banks play an important role in the economy of India? Explain. (2015 OD)
Answer:
Banks help people to save their money and keep their money in safe custody. To ensure safety of
their money, people deposit their money with banks. Banks accept deposits and pay interest on
deposits. People have the provision to withdraw their money as and when they require.
Credit provided by banks is crucial for the country’s growth and economic development. Credit is
needed for all kinds of economic activities, to set up business, buy cars, houses, etc.
Banks also help people in obtaining cheap and affordable loans. This can help people to grow crops,
do business, set up small-scale industries or trade in goods and also help indirectly in the country’s
development. They should do so, so that relatively poor people do not have to depend on informal
sources of credit (money-lenders).
Question 41.
Describe the vital and positive role of credit with examples. (2016 D)
Answer:
In the festive season, a shoe manufacturer, Ram receives an order from a large trader in town for
3,000 pairs of shoes to be delivered in a month’s time. To complete production on time Ram has to
hire workers for stitching and pasting work. He has to purchase the raw materials. To meet these
expenses Ram obtains loans from two sources.
First, he asks the leather supplier to supply leather now and promises to pay him later.
Second, he obtains loan in cash from the large traders as advance payment for 1000 pairs of shoes
with a promise to deliver the whole order by the end of the month.
At the end of the month, Salim is able to deliver the order, make a good profit and repay the money
he had borrowed.
Salim obtains credit to meet the working capital needs of production. The credit helps him to meet
the ongoing expenses of production, complete production on time and thus increase his earnings.
Credit therefore plays a vital and positive role in this situation.
Question 42.
How can the formal sector loans be made beneficial for poor farmers and workers? Suggest any five
measures. (2016 OD)
Answer:
Formal sector loans can be made beneficial for poor farmers and workers in the following ways:
Create greater awareness among farmers about formal sector loans.
Process of providing loans should be made easier. It should be simple, fast and timely.
More number of Nationalized Banks/cooperative banks should be opened in rural sectors. Banks and
cooperatives should increase facility of providing loans so that dependence on informal sources of
credit reduces.
The benefits of loans should be extended to poor farmers and small scale industries.
While formal sector loans need to expand, it is also necessary that everyone receives these loans. It
is important that formal credit is distributed more equally so that the poor can benefit from cheaper
loans.
Question 1.
What are Multi-National Corporations (MNCs)?
Answer:
A Multi-National Corporation (MNC) is a company that owns or controls production in more than
one nation. The goods and services are produced globally. The production process is divided into
small parts and spread out across the globe.
Question 2.
Explain ‘what is investment? Give a few examples of investment.
Answer:
Investment is buying of an asset in the form of a factory, a machine, land and building, etc. (Physical
assets) or shares (monetary assets) for the purpose of making or sharing profits of the enterprises
concerned.
Common investments are: buying land, factories, machines for faster production, buying small local
companies to expand production, cheap labour, skilled engineers, IT personnel, etc.
Question 3.
In which year did the government decide to remove barriers on foreign trade and investment in
India? (2011 D)
Answer:
1991
Question 4.
Why is ‘tax’ on imports known as a trade barrier? (2011 OD)
Answer:
Tax on imports is known as a trade barrier because it increases the price of imported commodities. It
is . called a barrier because some restriction has been set up.
Question 5.
Which organization lays stress on liberalization of foreign trade and foreign investment? (2014 D,
2012 OD)
Answer:
World Trade Organization (W.T.O).
Question 6.
Give one characteristic feature of a ‘Special Economic Zone’?
Answer:
Special Economic Zones or SEZs are industrial zones set up by the government having word class
facilities such as electricity, water, roads, transport, storage, recreational and educational facilities.
Companies who set up production units in SEZs are exempted from taxes for an initial period of five
years.
Question 7.
Name an important barrier on foreign trade. (2013 D)
Answer:
Tax on imports is an important barrier on foreign trade.
Question 8.
What is meant by “fair globalization’? (2013 OD)
Answer:
Fair globalization means globalization that would create opportunities for all and ensure that its
benefits are shared better.
Question 9.
What do you understand by the term ‘Foreign Direct Investment’? (2014 OD)
Answer:
FDI is the investment of foreign capital in the economic and productive activities of a country by
foreign companies or MNCs with the aim of expanding capacity and production to earn profits.
Question 10.
Why had the Indian Government put barriers to foreign trade and foreign investment after
independence? State any one reason. (2015 D)
Answer:
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.
To protect the Indian economy from foreign infiltration in industries affecting the economic growth
of the country as planned.
Question 11.
What is meant by trade barrier? (2015 OD)
Answer:
Barriers or restrictions that are imposed by the government on free import and export activities are
called trade barriers. Tax on imports is an example of a trade barrier because it increases the price of
imported • commodities. The government can use a trade barrier like ‘tax’ to increase or decrease
(regulate) foreign trade and to decide what kind of goods and how much of what should come into
the country.
Question 12.
Differentiate between investment and foreign investment. (2016 D)
Answer:
The money that is spent to buy assets (land, building, machines and other equipments) is called
investment, while the investment made by the MNCs is called foreign investment.
Question 13.
Why do MNCs set up their offices and factories in those regions where they get cheap labour and
other resources? (2016 OD)
Answer:
MNCs set up offices and factories for products in regions where they can get cheap labour and other
resources so that—
the cost of production is low
the MNCs can earn greater profits.
Question 14.
Explain the role of government to make globalization fair. (2011 D)
Answer:
The government can play a major role in making fair globalization possible:
Fair globalization would create opportunities for all, and also ensure that the benefits of
globalization are shared better. Government policies must protect the interests not only of the rich
and the powerful, but also of all the people in the country.
Government should ensure that labour laws are implemented and workers’ rights are protected.
Government should support small producers to improve their performance till the time they become
strong enough to compete with foreign competition.
If necessary, government should use trade and investment barriers.
It can negotiate with WTO for fairer rules.
It can also align with other developing countries with similar interests to fight against the
domination of developed countries in the WTO.
Question 15.
Explain any three advantages of globalization. (2011 OD)
Answer:
Globalization means integrating the economy of the country with the world economy.
Under this process, goods and services along with capital, resources and technology can move freely
from one nation to another.
It has increased the movement of people between countries. People usually move from one country
to another in search of better income, better jobs or better education. Earlier the movement of
people between countries was less due to various restrictions.
Rapid improvement in technology has been one major factor that has stimulated the globalization
process. For instance, advancement in transportation technology has made much faster delivery of
goods across long distances possible at lower costs. Container services have led to huge reduction in
port handling costs. The cost of air transport has fallen which has enabled much greater volumes of
goods being transported by airlines.
Developments in information and communication technology (IT in short) has brought a revolution
in telecommunications. It has made e-banking, e-commerce, e-leaming, e-mail and e-governance a
reality.
Globalization has resulted in greater competition among producers and has been of advantage to
consumers, particularly the well-off section. Rich people now enjoy improved quality and lower
prices for several products.
Question 16.
What is a trade barrier? Why did the Indian Government put up trade barriers after Independence?
Explain. (2011 OD)
Answer:
The restrictions set by the Government to regulate foreign trade are called trade barriers. Tax on
imports is an example of a trade barrier.
The Indian Government had put barriers to foreign trade and foreign investment after independence
to protect the domestic producers from foreign competition. Imports at that stage would not have
allowed local industries to come up. India allowed imports of only essential items such as machinery,
fertilizers, petroleum, etc.
Question 17.
What would happen if Government of India puts heavy tax on import of Chinese toys? Explain any
three points. (2012 D)
Answer:
If Government of India puts heavy tax on import of Chinese toys
The cost of Chinese toys will increase.
Less Chinese toys would come in the Indian market.
Indian buyers would have lesser choice in the market and toys will become more expensive.
For Indian toy makers this would provide an opportunity to expand business as there will be less
competition in the market.
Question 18.
How do Multinational Companies manage to keep the cost of production of their goods low? Explain
with examples. (2013 D)
Or
Explain the conditions that determine MNCs setting up production in other countries? (2011 D)
Answer:
MNCs set up offices and factories for production in regions where they can get cheap labour and
other resources. Example, Countries like China, Bangladesh and India. They also provide with the
advantage of cheap manufacturing locations.
MNCs also need close-by markets for their manufacturing goods. Mexico and Eastern Europe are
useful for their closeness to the markets in the US and Europe.
Besides these, MNCs also require skilled engineers and IT personnel and a large number of English
speaking people who are able to provide customer care services (India possibly tops in this area).
All these factors help MNCs in saving costs of production by 50-60%.
Question 19.
How do we participate in the market as producers and consumers? Explain with three examples.
(2013 D)
Answer:
We participate in the market both as producers and consumers.
As producers of goods and services we could be working in any of the sectors like agriculture,
industry or services.
For example, a farmer who sells wheat to a flour mill. The man at the mill grinds the wheat and sells
the flour to a biscuit company. The biscuit company uses flour, sugar and oil to make packets of
biscuits. It sells the biscuits in the market to the consumer. Biscuits are the final goods, i.e., the
goods that reach the consumer and people as consumers buy.
We as producers in the market could be made to sell the produce to the moneylender at a low rate
in return for a timely loan.
For example, in case of small farmers; the failure of crops often makes loan repayment impossible.
They have to sell a part of their land to repay the loans.
As consumers we participate in the market when we purchase goods and services that we need. As
individual consumers we often find ourselves in a weak position. Whenever there is a complaint
regarding a good or service that had been bought, the seller tries to shift all the responsibility on to
the buyer.
For example, a long battle had to be fought with court cases to make cigarette manufacturing
companies accept that their product could cause cancer.
Question 20.
How are local companies benefitted by collaborating with multinational companies? Explain with
examples. (2013 OD)
Answer:
When local companies enter into a joint venture with MNCs:
First, the MNCs provide money for additional investments for faster production.
Second, MNCs bring with them the latest technology for enhancing and improving the production.
Some Indian companies have gained from successful collaborations with foreign companies.
Globalization has enabled some companies to emerge as multinationals.
Parakh Foods was a small company which has been bought over by a large American Company —
Cargill Foods. Parakh foods had built a large marketing network in various parts of India as a well-
reputed brand. Parakh Foods had four oil refineries whose control has now shifted to Cargill. Cargill
is now the largest manufacturer of edible oil in India making five million pouches daily.
Question 21.
How has foreign trade been integrating markets of different countries in the world? Explain with
examples. (2012 OD)
Or
“Foreign trade integrates the markets in different countries.” Support the statement with
arguments. (2015 OD)
Answer:
(i) Foreign trade creates opportunities for producers to reach beyond domestic markets. Producers
can compete in markets located in other countries of the world. Similarly, for the buyers, import of
goods from another country leads to expanding choice of goods beyond what is domestically
produced. Buyers can thus choose from a wide range of products to suit their individual tastes.
(ii) With the opening of trade, goods travel from one market to another. Choice of goods in the
market rises. Prices of similar goods in two markets tend to become equal, and producers in the two
countries now closely compete against each other even though they are separated by thousands of
miles. Foreign trade, thus, results in connecting the markets or integration of markets in different
countries.
For example., There are endless number of footwear brands available in the Indian market. A
consumer who is aware of international trends can choose between a local brand like Bata, Lakhani
and international brands like Adidas, Nike, Reebok etc.
Question 22.
Define the term liberalization. Explain the reasons why the Indian Government started the policy of
liberalization in 1991. (2014 D)
Or
‘Barriers on foreign trade and foreign investment were removed to a large extent in India since
1991’. Justify the statement. (2016 D)
Answer:
Removing barriers or restrictions set by the government on foreign trade and foreign investment is
what is known as liberalization. The Indian Government removed these barriers because:
Liberalization of trade and investment policies allows Indian producers to compete with producers
around the globe leading to an improvement in performance and quality of products.
After the barriers on foreign trade and foreign investment were removed to a large extent, goods
could be imported and exported easily and also foreign companies could set up factories and offices
in India. This has led to an increase in trade with different countries.
Businesses are allowed to make decisions freely about what they wish to import or export due to the
liberal policies of the government.
Doors of investment opened up for MNCs. They have been investing large sums of money in India
and have been seeking to earn large profits.
Question 23.
How has information and communication technology stimulated globalisation process? Explain with
examples. (2014 D)
Answer:
Information and communication technology has helped globalisation in the following ways:
Rapid improvement in technology has contributed greatly towards globalisation. Advanced

technology in transport systems has helped in the delivery of goods faster across long distances at
lower costs.
Development in information and communication technology has also helped a great deal.
Telecommunication facilities — telegraph, telephone, mobile phones, fax are used to contact one
another quickly around the world, access information instantly and communicate from remote
areas. This is possible due to satellite communication devices. Teleconferences help in saving
frequent long trips across the globe.
Information technology has also played an important role in spreading out production of services
across countries. Orders are placed through internet, designing is done on computers, even payment
of money from one bank to another can be done through e-banking through internet. Internet also
allows us to send instant electronic mail (e-mail) and talk (voice-mail) across the world at negligible
cost.
Question 24.
Why had Indian government put barriers to foreign trade and foreign investment after
independence? Explain. (2014 D)
Or
Why had the Indian government put barriers to foreign trade and foreign investments after
independence? Analyse the reasons. (2016 OD)
Answer:
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,
fertilisers, petroleum etc. was allowed.
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.
Question 25.
How are MNCs able to cope with large demands from all over the ivorld and control prices? (2014
OD)
Answer:
Large MNCs in developed countries place orders for production with small producers.
The MNCs sell these under their own brand names to the customers.
As they control the market with the huge demand, they are able to control prices.
Question 26.
“A wide ranging choice of goods are available in the Indian markets.” Support the statement with
examples in context of globalisation. (2016 D)
Answer:
Globalisation has led to integration of markets across countries. The Indian markets are now flooded
with a wide ranging choice of goods. Import from other countries has led to an expanding choice of
goods beyond what is domestically produced —
We have a wide variety of goods and services before us in the market.
The latest models of digital cameras, mobile phones and televisions made by leading manufacturers
of the world like Sony, Samsung etc. are available in the market.
Every season, new models of automobiles can be seen on Indian roads. Today Indians are buying
cars produced by nearly all the top companies in the world.
A similar explosion of brands can be seen for many other goods like footwear. For example, Adidas,
Nike, Reebok, Puma and many more.
Question 27.
In spite of Globalization, creating good quality products and expanding market, how is it affecting
the stability in jobs for the workers? (2014 OD)
Answer:
Employment of ‘flexible workers’.
Increased competition, objective to lower costs, the axe falls on the ‘labour costs’—temporary jobs
given.
Longer working hours for labour to get suitable salaries.
Question 28.
Examine any three conditions which should be taken care of by multinational companies to set up
their production units. (2017 D)
Answer:
Conditions:
other resources. Example, Countries like China, Bangladesh and India. They also provide with the
advantage of cheap manufacturing locations.
MNCs also need close-by markets for their manufacturing goods. Mexico and Eastern Europe are
useful for their closeness to the markets in the US and Europe.
Besides these, MNCs also require skilled engineers and IT personnel and a large number of English
speaking people who are able to provide customer care services (India possibly tops in this area).
All these factors help MNCs in saving costs of production by 50-60%.
Question 29.
How do Multi-National corporations (MNCs) interlink production across countries? Explain with
examples. (2017 OD)
Answer:
MNCs set up production in various countries based on the following factors:
other resources; eg., in countries like China, Bangladesh and India. These countries also provide with
the advantage of cheap manufacturing locations.
At times, MNCs set up production jointly with some of the local companies of countries around the
world. The benefit of such joint production to the local company is two-fold. First, the MNCs can
provide money for additional investments for faster production. Secondly, the MNCs bring with
them the latest technology for enhancing and improving production.
Some MNCs are so big that their wealth exceeds the entire budgets of some developing countries.
This is the reason why they buy up local companies to expand production.
eg. Cargill Foods, a very large American MNC has bought over smaller Indian companies such as
Farakh Foods.
There is another way in which MNCs control production and that is by placing orders for production
with small producers in developing nations; eg., garments, footwear, sports items etc. The products
are supplied to these MNCs which then sell these under their own brand name to customers. MNCs
also enter into close competition with local companies thereby influencing production in distant
locations.
Long Answer Questions 5 Marks
Question 30.
Give the meaning of WTO? What is the major aim of WTO? Mention any two shortcomings of WTO?
(2011 D, 2012 OD)
Answer:
WTO (World Trade Organization). WTO believes that there should not be any barriers between trade
of different countries. Trade between countries should be free.
Aims of WTO:
To liberalize international trade.
To establish rules regarding international trade.
Two shortcomings of WTO:
Though WTO is supposed to allow free trade for all, in practice, it is seen that the developed
countries have unfairly retained trade barriers and continued to provide protection to their
producers. For example, farmers in the US receive huge sums of money from the government and as
a result can sell the farm products at abnormally low prices in other countries, adversely affecting
farmers in those countries.
On the other hand WTO rules have forced the developing countries to remove trade barriers.
Question 31.
What is globalization? Explain with three examples how top Indian companies have benefitted from
globalization. (2011 OD)
Answer:
Globalization is the process of rapid integration or interconnection among countries. It is the

integration between countries through foreign trade and foreign investments by multinational
corporations. It means the coming together of various economies of the world to form a global
economy.
The top Indian companies have benefitted from the increased competition and globalization.
They have invested in new technology and production methods and raised their production
standards.
Some have gained from successful collaborations with foreign companies.
Moreover, globalization has enabled some large Indian companies to emerge as multinationals
themselves. For example, Tata Motors, Infosys, Ranbaxy, Asian Paints, Sundaram Fasteners etc.
Question 32.
What is an MNC? Give two examples of Indian companies that have emerged as MNCs. What are the
harmful effects of MNCs to a host country? Give three examples. (2012 OD)
Answer:
A Multi-National Corporation (MNC) is a company that owns or controls production in more than
one nation. The goods and services are produced globally. The production process is divided into
small parts and spread out across the globe.
Tata Motors (automobiles), Infosys (IT), Ranbaxy (medicines), Asian Paints (paints), Sundaram
Fasteners (nuts and bolts), etc. are some of the Indian companies which are spreading their
operations worldwide as MNCs.
Harmful effects of MNCs to a host country:
Small producers compete or perish. MNCs have posed major challenges for a large number of small
producers and workers. The small manufacturers have been hit hard due to competition. Several of
the units have shut down rendering many workers jobless. Batteries, taps, tyres, dairy-products,
vegetable oil are some of the industries that are badly affected due to stiff competition from MNCs.
Uncertain employment. In order to maximize the profit MNCs look for a location with minimum
labour costs. Faced with competition, most employers these days prefer to employ workers on
temporary basis so that they do not have to pay workers for the whole year. This has changed the
lives of workers and their jobs are no longer secure.
The Condition of employment. Workers also have to put in very long working hours and work night
shifts on a regular basis during the peak season. Wages are low and workers are forced to work
overtime to make both ends meet. The workers are denied their fair share of benefits and no longer
get the protection that they enjoyed earlier, for example, the Indian garment export industry often
deny their workers their fair share of benefits.
Question 33.
How has globalization been advantageous to both the producers as well as the consumers in India?
Explain. (2012 OD)
Answer:
To Producers. Several of the top Indian Companies have been able to benefit from the increased
competition.
They have invested in newer technology and production methods and thereby raised their
production standards.
They have gained from successful collaborations with foreign companies.
Globalization helped in the development of IT sector.
Good quality products are being produced at lower prices.
To Consumers. There is greater choice before consumers who can enjoy improved quality and lower
prices for several products.
People today, enjoy much higher standards of living than was possible earlier.
Question 34.
How has globalization benefitted India? Explain with five examples. (2013 OD)
Answer:
Globalization has benefitted India in the following ways:
1. People with education, skill and wealth have benefitted by globalization.
Greater competition among producers (both local and foreign) has been advantageous to
consumers, particularly the well-off section. Rich people enjoy improved quality at lower prices for
several products and enjoy a higher standard of living.
MNCs have increased their investments in India over the past 20 years in industries such as cell
phones, automobiles, electronics, soft drinks, fast food and services such as banking.
New jobs have been created in all these industries and services.
Top Indian companies have benefitted from the increased competition. They have invested in newer
technology and production methods.
Some Indian companies have gained from successful collaborations with foreign companies.
Globalization has enabled some companies to emerge as multinationals.
Question 35.
How is the Government of India trying to attract more foreign investment? Explain with examples.
(2013 OD)
Answer:
In order to attract foreign investment, the Government has taken the following steps:
All the barriers and restrictions on foreign trade and investment have been removed to a large
extent.
Liberalization of investment policies has allowed Indian producers to compete with the producers
around the globe.
Allowing privatization of many public sector industries by the government.
Allowing businesses to make decisions freely about what they wish to import or export.
The government has allowed flexibility in labour laws to attract foreign investment for the benefit of
companies.
Question 36.
What is the meaning of SEZ? Mention any three features of SEZ. (2011 D)
Answer:
SEZ or Special Economic Zones are industrial zones set up by the Central and State Governments
with world class facilities in electricity, water, roads, transport, storage, recreational and educational
facilities. Three features of SEZ:
The companies who set up production units in the SEZs do not have to pay taxes for an initial period
of five years.
Government has also allowed flexibility in the labour laws to attract foreign investment. This is done
to reduce the cost of labour for the company.
These are being set up to attract foreign companies to invest in India.
Question 37.
“Advancement of international trade of a country is an index of its economic prosperity.” Justify the
statement with five arguments. (2013 OD)
Answer:
“Advancement of international trade of a country is an index to its economic prosperity”.

As no country is self-sufficient in all resources, it cannot survive without international trade.
If the balance of international trade is favourable, a country will be able to earn more foreign
exchange.
International trade encourages a country to develop secondary and tertiary sectors for exporting
goods which can fetch more foreign exchange.
A country’s economic prosperity can be gauged by the health of its international trade.
A country can earn large amounts of foreign exchange through international trade.
Question 38.
Explain the role of multinational corporations in the globalization process. (2014 D)
Answer:
Globalization is the process of rapid integration or inter-connection among countries. MNCs have
contributed greatly in the process of globalisation.
MNC’s have set up production centres in various countries and are supplying produced goods,
services and technology to various countries.
The countries of the world have come closer. It has also increased the movement of people between
countries.
The MNCs provide money for additional investments, for faster production. Also, MNCs bring with
them the latest technology for enhancing and improving the production.
Question 39.
How has improvement in technology stimulated the globalization process? Explain with five
examples. (2013 OD, 2012 D)
Answer:
Improvements in technology have helped in globalization in the following ways:
Rapid improvement in technology has contributed greatly towards globalization. Advanced

technology in transport systems has helped in the delivery of goods faster across long distances at
lower costs.
Development in information and communication technology has also helped a great deal.
Telecommunication facilities—telegraph, telephone (including mobile phones), fax are now used to
contact one another quickly around the world, access information instantly and communicate from
remote areas. Teleconferences help in saving frequent long trips across the globe.
Information technology has also played an important role in spreading out production of services
across countries. Orders are placed through internet, designing is done on computers, even payment
for designing and printing can be arranged through internet. Internet also allows us to send instant
electronic mail (e-mail) and talk (face-to-face) across the world at negligible cost.
The cost of air transport has fallen which has enabled much greater volumes of goods being
transported by airlines.
Technology has made e-banking, e-commerce, e-learning, e-mail and e-governance a reality.
Question 40.
What is globalisation? Describe the role of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) in promoting

globalisation process. (2016 D)
Answer:
Globalisation is the process of rapid integration or inter-connection among countries. Over the last
20-30 years, these has been a tremendous increase in globalisation with the increase in the number
of MNCs.
MNCs set up production centres worldwide where cheap labour is available, markets are near and
government policies are favourable.
They supply produced goods to different countries.
Countries of the world have come closer due to increased movement of people between countries.
MNCs provide money for additional investments for faster production.
MNCs bring with them the latest technology and know-how for enhancing and improving the
production process.
Question 41.
What is trade? Explain the importance of international trade. (2015 OD, 2016 D)
Answer:
The exchange of goods among people, states and countries is referred to as trade.
Importance of international trade:
International trade of a country is an index to its economic prosperity.
It is considered the economic barometer for a country. If the balance of international trade is
favourable, a country will be able to earn more foreign exchange.
As no country is self-sufficient in all resources it cannot survive without international trade.
Countries have trade relations with the major trading blocks.
Exchange of commodities and goods have been superseded by the exchange of information and
knowledge.
Question 42.
Describe the impact of globalisation on Indian economy with examples. (2016 OD)
Or, “Globalisation and greater competition among producers has been of advantage to consumers.”
Justify the statement with examples. (2015 OD)
Answer:
Impact of Globalisation on the Indian Economy:
Greater competition among producers (both local and foreign), has been advantageous to
consumers, particularly the well-off section. There is greater choice before the consumers who now
enjoy improved quality and lower prices for several products.
Globalisation has led to a higher standard of living especially in urban areas.
MNCs have increased their investments in India in industries such as electronics, automobiles,
cellphones, soft drinks, fast food, banking services etc. thereby providing consumers with a vast
variety of products. New job opportunities have been created in these industries and services,
thereby increasing purchasing power.
Globalisation has enabled some large Indian companies to emerge as MNCs themselves like Tata
Motors, Infosys, Ranbaxy, Asian Paints, etc.
Globalisation has also created new opportunities for companies providing services particularly those
involving IT (Information Technology)- For example, call centres.
Top Indian companies have benefitted from the increased competition. They have invested in newer
technology and production methods indirectly benefitting the consumers.
Local companies supply raw materials to foreign industries and have prospered.
However, for a large number of producers and workers the impact has not been uniform, and
globalisation has posed major challenges.
Question 43.
How are MNCs spreading their products? Explain with examples. (2014 OD)
Or, How are multinational corporations (MNCs) controlling and spreading their production across
the world? Explain. (2015 D)
Answer:
MNCs set up production in various countries based on the following factors:
other resources; e.g., in countries like China, Bangladesh and India. These countries also provide
with the advantage of cheap manufacturing locations.
At times, MNCs set up production jointly with some of the local companies of countries around the
world. Such joint production also provides benefits to the local company.
MNCs with huge amounts of wealth sometimes buy up local companies to expand production, e.g.,
Cargill Foods, a very large American MNC has bought over smaller Indian companies such as Parakh
Foods.
There is another way in which MNCs control production and that is by placing orders for production
with small producers in developing nations; e.g., garments, footwear, sports items etc. The products
are supplied to these MNCs which then sell these under their own brand name to customers. MNCs
also enter into close competition with local companies thereby influencing production in distant
locations.
Question 40.
How do banks play an important role in the economy of India? Explain. (2015 OD)
Answer:
Banks help people to save their money and keep their money in safe custody. To ensure safety of
their money, people deposit their money with banks. Banks accept deposits and pay interest on
deposits. People have the provision to withdraw their money as and when they require.
Credit provided by banks is crucial for the country’s growth and economic development. Credit is
needed for all kinds of economic activities, to set up business, buy cars, houses, etc.
Banks also help people in obtaining cheap and affordable loans. This can help people to grow crops,
do business, set up small-scale industries or trade in goods and also help indirectly in the country’s
development. They should do so, so that relatively poor people do not have to depend on informal
sources of credit (money-lenders).
Question 41.
Describe the vital and positive role of credit with examples. (2016 D)
Answer:
In the festive season, a shoe manufacturer, Ram receives an order from a large trader in town for
3,000 pairs of shoes to be delivered in a month’s time. To complete production on time Ram has to
hire workers for stitching and pasting work. He has to purchase the raw materials. To meet these
expenses Ram obtains loans from two sources.
First, he asks the leather supplier to supply leather now and promises to pay him later.
Second, he obtains loan in cash from the large traders as advance payment for 1000 pairs of shoes
with a promise to deliver the whole order by the end of the month.
At the end of the month, Salim is able to deliver the order, make a good profit and repay the money
he had borrowed.
Salim obtains credit to meet the working capital needs of production. The credit helps him to meet
the ongoing expenses of production, complete production on time and thus increase his earnings.
Credit therefore plays a vital and positive role in this situation.
Question 42.
How can the formal sector loans be made beneficial for poor farmers and workers? Suggest any five
measures. (2016 OD)
Answer:
Formal sector loans can be made beneficial for poor farmers and workers in the following ways:
Create greater awareness among farmers about formal sector loans.
Process of providing loans should be made easier. It should be simple, fast and timely.
More number of Nationalized Banks/cooperative banks should be opened in rural sectors. Banks and
cooperatives should increase facility of providing loans so that dependence on informal sources of
credit reduces.
The benefits of loans should be extended to poor farmers and small scale industries.
While formal sector loans need to expand, it is also necessary that everyone receives these loans. It
is important that formal credit is distributed more equally so that the poor can benefit from cheaper
loans.

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Question 1.

What is the meaning of concentration camps? (2015 OD)

Treaty of 1832: Constantinople

The Greek War of Independence in 1821.

Short Answer Questions (SA) 3 Marks

Three beliefs of conservatism that emerged after 1815 were:

Explain the contribution of Otto von Bismarck in German unification. (2011 D)

Three reforms introduced by Napoleon in the territories he conquered were:

French revolutionaries introduced various other measures such as:

French revolutionaries introduced various other measures such as:

Following are the causes of economic hardships in Europe during 1830s:

Long Answer Questions 5 Marks

Administrative divisions were simplified.

In towns, guild restrictions were removed.

Transport and communication systems were improved.

Following are the causes of economic hardships in Europe during 1830s:

French revolutionaries introduced various other measures such as:

Describe the process of unification of Germany. (2015 D, 2013 D, 2012 D)

Describe the process of Unification of Britain.

How has Britain come into existence? Explain.

Nationalism in Britain was different from the rest of Europe.

What was the Rowlatt Act? (2011 OD)

Why was the Rowlatt Act imposed? (2011 D)

Lahore Session, December 1929.

Who composed ‘Vande Mataram’? (2012 D)

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Who created the first image of Bharat Mata? (2012 D)

Why was the Khilafat movement started? (2012 OD)

Red, Green and White.

Inland Emigration Act of 1859.

Who is the author of the famous book ‘Hind Swaraj’? (2014 D)

Author — Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

In 1916, in Champaran, Bihar.

Short Answer Questions (SA) 3 Marks

Explain the idea of Satyagraha according to Gandhiji. (2014 D)

It resulted in an uprising in Peshawar in 1930.

Reaction of Indian people against the Rowlatt Act of 1919:

Railways, workshops and shops closed down.

The passing of this Act aroused large scale indignation.

Explain any three problems faced by the peasants of Awadh. (2011 D)

Three problems faced by the peasants of Awadh were:

The economic sphere was affected by the Non-cooperation Movement:

People began discarding imported clothes and wearing Indian ones.

Role of rich peasants:

Role of the peasants in Awadh in the Non-cooperation Movement:

The movement of Awadh peasants was led by:

Suppressive measures taken by the British administration were:

Describe the main features of the ‘Salt March’. (2014 OD)

Describe the main features of ‘Poona Pact’. (2015 OD)

The Poona Pact:

But, they were to be voted in by the general electorate.

Describe the spread of Non-Cooperation Movement in the countryside. (2015 OD)

It had a crescent moon, representing Hindus and Muslims.

Mahatma Gandhi designed the ‘Swaraj Flag’ by 1921.

Main features of the ‘Swaraj Flag’:

It had tricolours — Red, Green and White.

It had a spinning wheel in the centre.

It represents the Gandhian idea of self-help.

1. Image of Bharat Mata: