Economics

People as a Resource

1. What do you understand about ‘People as a Resource’?

Ans. The term "people as a resource" refers to the perspective that individuals,
specifically the workforce of a country or organization, are valuable assets due
to their skills, knowledge, and potential. It acknowledges that these individuals
can contribute to the success and growth of various entities, such as
businesses, societies, and economies, by utilizing and developing their abilities.
This perspective emphasizes the importance of investing in education, training,
talent management, diversity, and continuous learning to harness the full
potential of individuals as a valuable resource
2. How are human resources different from other resources like land and
physical capital?
Ans. Human resources utilize additional resources like land and physical capital
to produce outcomes, as these other resources lack independent utility. This
underscores the significance of human resources, which are considered
superior due to their pivotal role in boosting productivity and contributing
significantly to a nation's economic growth.
3. What is the role of education in human capital formation?
Ans. The most important component of human resource development is
education. The following are the roles of education in the formation of human
capital.
i. Human capital is cultivated through effective education and training, making
a well-educated population an invaluable asset.
ii. Education enhances both the quantity and quality of individual productivity,
thereby fuelling economic expansion.
iii. Education nurtures individual personalities and a collective sense of national
identity, both of which are vital for rapid economic progress.
iv. Education contributes not only to an individual's growth but also to the
comprehensive development of society.
4. What is the role of health in human capital formation?
Ans: In the development of human capital, health is crucial. A healthy person
has a better chance of reaching his full potential and being a valuable asset to
the economy. A sick person is less likely to reach his full potential and can
become a financial liability.
5. What part does health play in the individual’s working life?
Ans: An individual's health allows him to realise his full potential and also gives
him the ability to fight illness. An unhealthy employee is a liability to his
employer. A person's health is directly related to his productivity. When
compared to an unhealthy person, a healthy person can work more efficiently
and productively. A healthy person outperforms an unhealthy person in terms
of productivity.
6. What are the various activities undertaken in the primary sector,
secondary sector and tertiary sector?
Ans: Economic activities are classified into three types:
Primary Sector: This sector encompasses activities related to the extraction
and production of natural resources. It involves agriculture, forestry, animal
husbandry, fishing, poultry farming, mining, and quarrying.
Secondary Sector: The secondary sector refers to manufacturing, where
natural resources are processed and transformed into finished products.
Examples of secondary sector activities include light manufacturing, food
processing, oil refining, and energy production.
Tertiary Sector: Tertiary activities are those that provide support to both
primary and secondary activities. This sector includes services such as trade,
transportation, communication, banking, education, tourism, insurance, and
more.
7. What is the difference between economic activities and non-economic
activities?
Ans: Economic activities are defined as activities that add value to the national
income.
These are divided into two categories:
Aspect Economic Activities Non-
Economic Activities
Purpose Generate income or wealth Pursued for
personal, social, or cultural reasons
Nature of Transaction Involves monetary transactions May not
involve monetary transactions
Measurement Quantifiable, recorded in economic terms Subjective,
often not quantifiable
Examples Farming, Manufacturing, Investment Household
work, Volunteer work
Economic Impact Direct impact on economic growth indirect
impact on social life
8. Why are women employed in low-paid work?
Ans: Employment in the job market are predominantly influenced by two
crucial factors: education and skills. Unfortunately, gender discrimination often
deprives women of the opportunities to access the necessary education and
skill development, hindering their ability to contribute significantly to the
national income. Consequently, many women have limited educational and
skill-building opportunities, which is one of the contributing factors to the
gender wage gap, with women typically earning less than men
9. How will you explain the term unemployment?
Ans: Unemployment is a situation when a person who is willing to work and
actively looking for work is unable to find work. An individual is considered
unemployed if he or she is a member of a country's labour force and is capable
and willing to work for pay but is unable to do so.
10. What is the difference between disguised unemployment and seasonal
unemployment?
Ans: Disguised unemployment: occurs when there are more people working in
a job than are actually needed. For example, if eight people are involved in an
agricultural activity but the work/activity actually requires the services of five
people, then three people are extra. If these three people out of eight are
removed, total production will not be affected.
Seasonal unemployment: Seasonal unemployment occurs when people are
only able to find work during certain months of the year. Agricultural
labourers, for example, find work only during peak seasons, such as sowing,
harvesting, weeding, and threshing. This is due to the seasonal nature of
agriculture in India.

11. Why is the educated unemployed a peculiar problem of India?

Ans: Educated unemployment refers to the situation in which a large number
of young people with matriculation, graduation, and post-graduation degrees
are unable to find suitable employment.
India has a large population, and a large number of people graduate from
schools and colleges each year. The number of educated people graduating
from educational institutions is not keeping up with the number of jobs
available in various sectors. As a result, educated unemployed people are a
distinctive problem in India.
12. In which field do you think India can build the maximum employment
opportunity?
Ans: India has the potential to create significant employment opportunities in
fields such as Information Technology, manufacturing, healthcare, education,
renewable energy, e-commerce, and tourism. These sectors are likely to offer a
large number of jobs due to their growth potential and importance in the
Indian economy.
India can create the most job opportunities in the agricultural sector and
related industries. Agriculture is the economy's most labour-intensive industry.
When agricultural products are packaged in an efficient and high-quality
manner, it can create a large number of employment opportunities.
13. Can you suggest some measures in the education system to mitigate the
problem of the educated unemployed?
Ans: Measures in the education system to address the issue of educated
unemployment:
I. Make secondary education more career-oriented, providing individuals
with not only education but also the necessary skills for gaining
successful employment.
 II. Create a sort of screening process in which each individual selects
subjects that are appropriate for his or her abilities.
III. The introduction of newer subjects and fields of study at the secondary
level should be accompanied by an increase in job opportunities in the
sectors that will employ students who choose to study such subjects.

Ans 14: Human resources play an important role in a country's economy by

increasing productivity. Because of the human resource's contribution, the
other resource becomes useful. Human capital produces an output by utilising
other resources such as land, labour, and physical capital. The other resources
aren't going to be useful on their own. As a result, human capital may be
regarded as the most valuable of all resources.

History
Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution

Q1). What were the social-economic and political conditions in Russia before
1905?
Ans- (Economic Life)-:
1. The vast majority of Russia’s people were agriculturists.
2. About 85% of the Russian Empire’s population earned their living from
agriculture.
3. Russia was a major exporter of grain
4. Industry was found in pockets.
5. Craftsmen undertook much of the production.
6. Russia’s railway network was extended.
7. Foreign investment in industry increased.
8. Coal production doubled.
(Political life)-:
1. Most industries were the private property of industrialists.
2. Government supervised large factories to ensure minimum wages and
limited hours of work.
3. Factory Inspector could not prevent rules from being broken.
4. Accommodation given from rooms to dormitories.
(Social life)-:
1. Workers were a divided social group.
2. Workers were divided on the basis of their skills.
3. Meta workers consider themselves aristocrats among other workers.
4. Their occupation demanded more training and skill.
5. Women made up to 31% of the factory labour.
6. But they were paid less than men.
7. Divisions among workers showed themselves in dress and manners too.
2. In what ways was the working population in Russia different from other
countries in Europe, before 1917?
Answer
1. The working population in Russia was different from other countries in
Europe before 1917 because not all Russian workers migrated from the villages
to work in the industrial sector.
2. Some of them continued to live in villages and went to work daily, to the
towns.
3. They were a divided group, socially and professionally, and this showed in
their dress and manners too. Metal workers were the "aristocrats" of the
working class because their occupation demanded more training and skill.
4. Nevertheless, the working population was united on one front - strikes
against work conditions and employer tyranny.
3. Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?
Ans- 1. Russian army lost badly in Germany and Austria.
2. There were over 1 million casualties.
3. Russian Army destroyed crops and buildings.
4. The destruction of crops and buildings left over 3 million refugees in Russia.
5. The situation discredited the government and tsar.
6. All abled people were called to fight war. This led to the shortage of labour
in the industries.
7. Small industries were shut down
8. Industries were few suppliers of industrial goods by Germany.
9. Railway line began to break down.
Q 4. Make two lists: one with the main events and the effects of the February
Revolution and the other with the main events and effects of the October
Revolution. Write a paragraph on who was involved in each, who were the
leaders and what was the impact of each on Soviet history.
Ans:
February Revolution: Events
1. On the 22nd of February 1917, women led the procession and a factory was
locked out.
2. The Duma was suspended by the government on February 25th.
3. On the 26th and 27th of February, workers went on strike, which was shortly
followed by the military.
4. On March 2nd, the Tsar abdicated and Soviet and Duma leaders formed a
transitional administration.
Effect: There was no political party in the forefront of the February Revolution.
The people themselves were in charge. Petrograd had deposed the monarchy
and so earned a prominent position in Soviet history. The number of trade
unions expanded. The Tsar's dictatorial rule came to an end. Public meeting
and Association restrictions were eliminated.
October Revolution: Events
1. In April 1917, Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia.
2. In July, the Bolsheviks staged a demonstration against the provisional
government.
3. Between July and September, peasants took land from wealthy landowners.
4. On October 16, 1917, Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the
Bolshevik party to agree to a socialist takeover of power.
5. On October 24, a Bolshevik revolt took place in Petrograd.
Effect: The October Revolution was principally spearheaded by Lenin and his
subordinate Trotskii, with the masses rallying behind them. It was the start of
Lenin's reign over the Soviet Union, with the Bolsheviks under his command.
The fall of the interim government was the most significant result of the
October revolution. Russia had embraced socialism.
Q 5. What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks
immediately after the October Revolution?
Ans:
The following are the major changes brought about by the Bolsheviks shortly
following the October Revolution:
1. Nationalization of banks and industries
2. The nobility's land was declared social property, allowing peasants to seize it
3. Houses in metropolitan areas were divided into sections based on family
needs.
4. Old titles of the aristocracy were banned.
5. New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.
6. Bolshevik Party was renamed as the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik)
7. Bolsheviks conducted elections to the constituent assembly; however, they
failed to attain the majority, Assembly rejected the Bolshevik measures, and
Lenin dismissed the assembly.
8. All Russian Congress of Soviets became Parliament of the country. Russia
became a one-party state.
9. Trade unions were kept under party control, the Secret Police punished
anyone who criticised the Bolsheviks. Many young artists and writers
continued to support the Party as it stood for Socialism.
Q7. Write a few lines to show what you know about:
Kulaks
The Duma
Women workers between 1900 and 1930
The Liberals
Stalin's collectivisation programme
Ans:
Kulaks: It's a Russian word for wealthy peasants who, according to Stalin, were
stockpiling food to increase their profits. By 1927-28, grain supplies in Soviet
Russia's towns were in short supply. Part of the blame was attributed to the
Kulaks. In order to construct modern farms and administer them on an
industrial scale, the Communist Party, led by Stalin, believed it was also vital to
exterminate Kulaks.
The Duma: The Tsar permitted the formation of an elected consultative
parliament in Russia during the 1905 Revolution. The Duma was the name of
Russia's elected consultative parliament.
Women workers between 1900 and 1930: By 1914, women accounted for
31% of factory workers, but they were paid between half and three-quarters of
the wages paid to males. Women employees, on the other hand, were the
ones who led the road to strikes during the February Revolution.
Liberals: They espoused a nation that was tolerant towards all religions; one
that would protect individual rights against the government. Although the
liberals wanted an elected parliamentary form of governance, they believed
that the right to vote must only belong to men, and that too the ones who
were property holders.
Collectivisation Programme: Stalin believed that collectivization of agriculture
would help in improving grains supplies in Russia. He began collectivization in
1929. All peasants were forced to cultivate in collective farms (kolhoz). The
bulk of land and implements were transferred to the ownership of the
collective farm. Many peasants protested such attempts and destroyed
livestock to show their anger. Collectivization did not bring the desired results
in the food supply situation turned even worse in subsequent years.

Civics
Constitutional Design
1. Here are some false statements. Identify the mistake in each case and
rewrite these correctly based on what you have read in this chapter.
a. Leaders of the freedom movement had an open mind about whether the
country should be democratic or not after independence.
b. Members of the Constituent Assembly of India held the same views on
all provisions of the Constitution.
c. A country that has a constitution must be a democracy.
d. Constitution cannot be amended because it is the supreme law of a
country.
Answer.
a. Leaders of the freedom movement had a consensus that after
independence, India will be a democratic nation.
b. Members of the constituent assembly of India held the same views on
the basic principles of the Constitution.
c. A country that is a democratic country must have a Constitution.
d. A Constitution can be amended with time and the needs of the citizens.
2. Which of these was the most salient underlying conflict in the making of a
democratic constitution in South Africa?
a. Between South Africa and its neighbours
b. Between men and women
c. Between the white majority and the black minority
d. Between the coloured minority and the black majority
Answer.
D. A conflict between the coloured minority and the black majority was the
most underlying conflict in the making of the South-African constitution.
3. Which of these is a provision that a democratic constitution does not
have?
a. Powers of the head of the state
b. Name of the head of the state
c. Powers of the legislature
d. Name of the country
Answer.
B. Name of the head of the state
4. Match the following leaders with their roles in the making of the
Constitution:

Motilal Nehru President of the Constituent Assembly

B.R. Ambedkar Member of the Constituent Assembly
Rajendra Prasad Chairman of the Drafting Committee
Sarojini Naidu Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928
Answer.
Motilal Nehru Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928
B.R. Ambedkar Chairman of the Drafting Committee
Rajendra Prasad President of the Constituent Assembly
Sarojini Naidu Member of the Constituent Assembly
5. Read again the extracts from Nehru’s speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ and
answer the following:
a. Why did Nehru use the expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the
first sentence?
b. What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take?
 c. “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe
every tear from every eye”. Who was he referring to?

Answer.
a. Jawaharlal Nehru in his speech, ‘Tryst with Destiny’ used the expression,
‘not wholly or in full measure’ as for him, nation-building was a
challenging task which can’t be achieved overnight. Hence, he wanted
nation-building to be a gradual process.
b. Nehru wanted makers of the Indian constitution to take a pledge of
dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger
cause of humanity.
c. Nehru was referring to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation.
6. Here are some of the guiding values of the Constitution and its meaning.
Rewrite them by matching them correctly.
Answer.
7. How did your school celebrate Constitution Day on November 26th?
Prepare a brief report.
Sovereign The government will not favour any religion
Republic People have the supreme right to make decisions
Fraternity Head of the state is an elected person
Secular People should live like brothers and sisters
Answer.

Sovereign People have the supreme right to make decisions

Republic Head of the state is an elected person
Fraternity People should live like brothers and sisters
Secular The government will not favour any religion
8. Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy. How
much importance would you give to each of these factors?
a. Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to
work with representative legislative institutions under the British rule.
b. Freedom Struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of
different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but
democratic.
c. We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The
denial of democracy in several other newly independent countries
shows the important role of these leaders.
Answer.
a. Democracy was chosen as the prime value of our nation during the
freedom struggle against the British. Yes, with the Indian Councils Act,
Indians started participating in the councils and hence, their experiences
paved the way for legislative institutions in independent India.
b. Freedom struggle did challenge the colonial exploitation but it worked
for democracy by making laws with consensus and not imposing
anything on anyone.
c. Our freedom struggle fought a bloodless struggle with tools like
‘Satyagraha’ and ‘Ahimsa.’ These struggles were undertaken to free
India from the clutches of the British and give Indians the freedom they
deserved.
9. Read the following extract from a conduct book for ‘married women’,
published in 1912. ‘God has made the female species delicate and fragile
both physically and emotionally, pitiably incapable of self-defence. They are
destined thus by God to remain in male protection – of father, husband and
son – all their lives. Women should, therefore, not despair, but feel obliged
that they can dedicate themselves to the service of men’. Do you think the
values expressed in this para reflected the values underlying our
constitution? Or does this go against the constitutional values?
Answer.
The values expressed in the above-mentioned para do not reflect the values
underlying our Constitution. Our constitution gives fundamental rights to each
of its citizens regardless of gender, caste, sex, place of birth and religion.
Women are given equal rights as men in our constitution through various Acts.
10. Read the following statements about a constitution. Give reasons why
each of these is true or not true.
a. The authority of the rules of the constitution is the same as that of any
other law.
b. Constitution lays down how different organs of the government will be
formed.
c. Rights of citizens and limits on the power of the government are laid
down in the constitution.
d. A constitution is about institutions, not about values
Answer.
a. Not true because the Constitution is the supreme law.
b. True, as the constitution lays out the roles and powers the legislature,
executive and judiciary.
c. True, as the Constitution has provided Fundamental Rights to each and
every citizen of India.
d. Not true as the Constitution holds values on which all institutions work.
Our preamble states about values – justice, liberty, fraternity, and
equality.

Geography
Physical Features of India

1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
i. A landmass bounded by sea on three sides is referred to as
 a. Coast
b. Island
c. Peninsula
d. None of the above
Ans. (c) Peninsula
ii. Mountain ranges in the eastern part of India forming its boundary with
Myanmar are collectively called as
a. Himachal
b. Uttarakhand
c. Purvanchal
d. none of the above
Ans. (c) Purvanchal
iii. The western coastal strip, south of Goa is referred to as
a. Coromandel
b. Konkan
c. Kannad
d. Northern Circars
Ans. (b) Kannad
iv. The highest peak in the Eastern Ghats is
a. Anai Mudi
b. Kanchenjunga
c. Mahendragiri
d. Khasi
Ans: (c) Mahendragiri

2. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What is bhabar?
Ans: Bhabar is a narrow belt containing pebbles instead of silt along the banks
of the upper Himalayan rivers from the Indus river to the Teesta River.
2. Name the three major divisions of the Himalayas from north to south.
Ans: The three major divisions of the Himalayas are:
1. The Great or the Inner Himalayas or the Himadri
2. The Middle Himalayas or the Himachal
3. The Outer Himalayas or the Shivaliks
3. Which plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhyan ranges?
Ans. The Malwa plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhyan Ranges.
4. Name the island group of India having coral origin.
Ans. Lakshadweep Islands is the island group of India which has a coral origin.
3. Distinguish between:
1. Bhangar and Khadar
Ans: The difference between Bhangar and Khadar soils are:

Bhangar Khadar

It is old alluvial soil. It is the new alluvium.

It is found in northern plains. It is found in flood plains.

It has a terrace-like feature and is less It is more fertile than the

fertile. Bhangar.

2. Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats

Ans. The difference between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats are:

The Western Ghats The Eastern Ghats

These ghats are found on the They lie on the eastern side of the Deccan
western side of the Deccan
Plateau. Plateau.

They are higher and their They are lower as compared to the Western
average elevation is from 900 Ghats and their average elevation is about
metres to 1600 meters. 600 meters.

They are a continuous chain of These mountain ranges are not continuous
mountains and can be crossed and are broken by the rivers which flow into
only through passes. Bay of Bengal from the Western Ghats.

Major Rivers originate from Major rivers like Godavari, Krishna and
these ranges. Kaveri flow through them.

5. Which are the major physiographic divisions of India? Contrast the relief of
the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau.
Ans: The major physiographic divisions of India are:
 The Himalayan Mountains
 The Northern Plains
 The Peninsular Plateau
 The Indian Desert
 The Coastal Plains
 The Islands

6. Give an account of the Northern Plains of India.

Ans: The Northern Plains are formed by the deposition of the fertile alluvium
that was deposited by the rivers originating in the Himalayas. They stretch
from the south of the northern mountains to the north of the peninsular
plateau and towards the east of the Indian desert. It is divided into three parts,
i.e. Punjab Plains, Ganga Plains and the Brahmaputra Plains. The Northern
plains cover approximately 3000 kilometres and there are several rivers that
drain this region such as Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Ganga, Yamuna, Ghagra, Gandak,
Kosi, Chambal, Betwa, Son, etc.
The North Indian Plains are divided into four different zones:
1. Bhabhar
2. Tarai
3. Bangar
4. Khadar

7. Write short notes on the following.

i. The Indian Desert
Ans: The Great Indian Desert is also known as the Thar Desert and is located in
Rajasthan, India and also in Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan. A part of the desert
is also located in the states of Gujarat and Haryana.
The Thar Desert is a very dry region in between the countries of India and
Pakistan and is highly scarce in water availability and the only water sources
are the natural and man-made ponds across the region. Due to this reason, the
people generally live a nomadic life, which involves their constant movement
from place to place. The Luni river is an important river in the Thar Desert and
it drains a large area of the desert. The other major river is Ghaggar which
flows in the northern and eastern part of the desert.
ii. The Central Highlands
Ans: The parts of the peninsular plateau which are found in the north of the
River Narmada and generally covers a major portion of the Malwa plateau is
known as the Central Highlands. The rivers which drain this region flow from
southwest to northeast, due to their slope. The Central Highlands are wider in
the western side but narrow down towards the east. In Madhya Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, they are known as Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.
The Chotanagpur plateau is in the extreme east of the Central Highlands with
the Damodar River flowing through it.
iii. The Island groups of India
Ans: There are two island groups controlled by India. They are located in the
Arabian Sea (Lakshadweep Islands) and the Bay of Bengal (Andaman and
Nicobar Islands). These islands are located off the Malabar Coast of India. The
capital city of Lakshadweep Islands is Kavaratti and is the smallest Union
territory by area and the second smallest by population. The Islands of
Lakshadweep provide India a strategic base in the Arabian Sea and India is able
to reach out to the Maldives and other regions in the Indian Ocean in crucial
times.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of 572 islands. The Nicobar
Islands extend close to the Sumatra islands which make the reach of India to
Southeast Asian nations very easy, The Indian Navy also maintains a base in the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands which helps it to control the vessels passing
through the Strait of Malacca. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands also have the
North Sentinel Island which has the most primitive people from the human
race and are untouched by civilization and they are known as the Sentinelese
people.