Case Based - Social Science - Practice for Everyone

Nationalism in India

1. ‘It is said of “passive resistance” that it is the weapon of the weak, but the power which is the subject of this article can be used only by the strong. This power is not passive resistance; indeed, it calls for intense activity. The movement in South Africa was not passive but active… ‘Satyagraha is not physical force. A satyagrahi does not inflict pain on the adversary; he does not seek his destruction… In the use of satyagraha, there is no ill-will whatever. ‘ Satyagraha is pure soul-force. Truth is the very substance of the soul. That is why this force is called satyagraha. The soul is informed with knowledge. In it burns the flame of love. …Non-violence is the supreme dharma… ‘It is certain that India cannot rival Britain or Europe in force of arms. The British worship the war-god and they can all of them become, as they are becoming, bearers of arms. The hundreds of millions in India can never carry arms. They have made the religion of non-violence their own…’

1.1. Identify the motive behind the passive resistance from the following options–

(a) It is not a physical force.

(b) A Satyagrahi does not inflict pain on the adversary.

(d) All of the above

1.2 Which of the following is not the concept of Satyagraha?

(a) It emphasises the power of truth and the need to search of truth.

(b) With an aggression a satyagrahi could win the battle.

(d) If the struggle is against injustice then physical force is not necessary to fight.

1.3. What does correctly describe the Satyagrahi?

1.4. Who started the idea of Satyagraha?

2. Another means of creating a feeling of nationalism was through reinterpretation of history. By the end of the nineteenth century many Indians began feeling that to instill a sense of pride in the nation, Indian history had to be thought about differently. The British saw Indians as backward and primitive, incapable of governing themselves. In response, Indians began looking into the past to discover India’s great achievements. They wrote about the glorious developments in ancient times when art and architecture, science and mathematics, religion and culture, law and philosophy, crafts and trade had flourished. This glorious time, in their view, was followed by a history of decline, when India was colonised. These nationalist histories urged the readers to take pride in India’s great achievements in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under British rule.

2.1. How was the idea or feeling of nationalism created through reinterpretation or revival of Indian history?

(a) The British always described Indians as backwards, uncivilised and incapable of ruling themselves.

(b) In response many Indian writers wrote about the development of India in the field of art, architecture, science, mathematics, religion, culture and trade.

(c) These nationalist historians urged the readers to take pride in India’s great achievements and struggle to change the miserable conditions of India.

(d) All of the above

2.2. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

(a) By the end of the 19th century, there developed a feeling of sense of pride in the nation and this could be done through interpreting history of India in a different way.

(b) The British considered Indians as backward, but capable of governing the country.

(d) The readers were urged to read history and take pride in great achievements of India in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under the British rule.

2.3. What was the response of Indians when British saw Indians backward and primitive?

2.4. What was the main factor in the emergence of modern nationalism in India?

3. The movement started with middle-class participation in the cities. 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, felt that entering the council was one way of gaining some power–something that usually only Brahmans had access to. The effects of non-cooperation on the economic front were more dramatic. Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed, and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonfires. The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922, its value dropping from Rs. 102 crore to Rs. 57 crore. In many places merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade. As the boycott movement spread, and people began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian ones, production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up

3.1. Which of the following statements correctly explains the role of ‘Justice Party’ in boycotting of council elections?

(a) Justice Party felt that entering the council was one way of gaining some power.

(b) Justice Party of Madras was not boycotted the council elections.

(d) All of the above

3.2. Which among the following is/are the effect(s) of Boycott movement on foreign textile trade? Select the appropriate option.

(a) The import of foreign cloth halved.

(b) Merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade.

(d) All of the above

3.3. Mention the effects of ‘Non-Cooperation on the economic front dramatic

3.4. Name the form of demonstration by which people block the entrance to a shop, factory or office?

4. Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915. As you know, he had come from South Africa where he had successfully fought the racist regime with a novel method of mass agitation, which he called satyagraha. The idea of satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth. It suggested that if the cause was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor. Without seeking vengeance or being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through non-violence. This could be done by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor. People – including the oppressors – had to be persuaded to see the truth, instead of being forced to accept truth through the use of violence. By this struggle, truth was bound to ultimately triumph. Mahatma Gandhi believed that this dharma of non-violence could unite all Indians. After arriving in India, Mahatma Gandhi successfully organised satyagraha movements in various places. In 1917 he travelled to Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against the oppressive plantation system. Then in 1917, he organised a satyagraha to support the peasants of the Kheda district of Gujarat. Affected by crop failure and a plague epidemic, the peasants of Kheda could not pay the revenue, and were demanding that revenue collection be relaxed. In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi went to Ahmedabad to organise a satyagraha movement amongst cotton mill workers

4.1. In which among the following years Gandhiji returned to India, and from where?

(a) 1910, England

(b) 1915, South Africa

(d) 1910, South Africa the above

4.2. Identify the place where Gandhiji organised a Satyagraha against the oppressive plantation system.

(a) Champaran

(b) Chauri-Chaura

(d) Ahmedabad

4.3. Where did Gandhiji successfully organise the Satyagraha movement in 1917 and 1918 respectively?

4.4. Which of the following statements correctly describes the idea of Satyagraha?

(a) It emphasises the power of truth and the need to search for truth.

(b) It is a religion of many communities in India.

(d) All of the above

5. Satyagraha is not physical force. A satyagrahi does not inflict pain on the adversary; he does not seek his destruction … In the use of satyagraha, there is no ill-will whatever. ‘Satyagraha is pure soul-force. Truth is the very substance of the soul. That is why this force is called satyagraha. The soul is informed with knowledge. In it burns the flame of love. … Non-violence is the supreme dharma … ‘It is certain that India cannot rival Britain or Europe in force of arms. The British worship the war-god and they can all of them become, as they are becoming, bearers of arms. The hundreds of millions in India can never carry arms. They have made the religion of non-violence their own …’

5.1. What does Satyagraha mean?

(a) Complete independence

(b) Fight against justice

(d) Tribals’ independence

5.2. Mahatma Gandhi launched Kheda Satyagraha to support the

(a) Rowlatt Act

(b) mill workers

(d) peasants

5.3. Why did Gandhiji organise Satyagraha in Champaran in 1916?

5.4. Who worship the war-god?

6. In 1930, Sir Muhammad Iqbal, as president of the Muslim League, reiterated the importance of separate electorate for the Muslims as an important safeguard for their minority political interests. His statement is supposed to have provided the intellectual justification for the Pakistan demand that came up in subsequent years. This is what he said: ‘I have no hesitation in declaring that if the principle that the Indian Muslim is entitled to full and free development on the lines of his own culture and tradition in his own Indian home-lands is recognised as the basis of a permanent communal settlement, he will be ready to stake his all for the freedom of India. The principle that each group is entitled to free development on its own lines is not inspired by any feeling of narrow communalism… A community which is inspired by feelings of ill-will towards other communities is low and ignoble. I entertain the highest respect for the customs, laws, religions and social institutions of other communities. Nay, it is my duty according to the teachings of the Quran, even to defend their places of worship, if need be. Yet I love the communal group which is the source of life and behaviour and which has formed me what I am by giving me its religion, its literature, it’s thought, its culture and thereby its whole past as a living operative factor in my present consciousness… ‘Communalism in its higher aspect, then, is indispensable to the formation of a harmonious whole in a country like India. The units of Indian society are not territorial as in European countries… The principle of European democracy cannot be applied to India without recognising the fact of communal groups. The Muslim India within India is, therefore, perfectly justified… ‘The Hindu thinks that separate electorates are contrary to the spirit to true nationalism, because he understands the word “nation” to mean a kind of universal amalgamation in which no communal entity ought to retain its private individuality. Such a state of things, however, does not exist. India is a land of racial and religious variety. Add to this the general economic inferiority of the Muslims, their enormous debt, especially in the Punjab, and their insufficient majorities in some of the provinces, as at present constituted and you will begin to see clearly the meaning of our anxiety to retain separate electorates.’

6.1. When did Muhammad Iqbal become the president of All India Muslim League?

(a) 1930

(b) 1931

(d) 1933

6.2. Which among the following statements justify/justifies the demand for separate electorates by the Muslim League?

(a) Communalism in its higher aspect, then, is indispensable to the formation of a harmonious whole in a country like India.

(b) The units of Indian society are not territorial as in European countries.

(d) Both (a) and (b)

6.3. Sir Iqbal said that the principal of European democracy cannot be applied to India without….. (Complete the statement)

6.4. What is a nation as per the given source?

The Making of a Global World

1. The First World War, as you know, was fought between two power blocs. On the one side were the Allies – Britain, France and Russia (later joined by the US); and on the opposite side were the Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Turkey. When the war began in August 1914, many governments thought it would be over by Christmas. It lasted more than four years. The First World War was a war like no other before. The fighting involved the world’s leading industrial nations which now harnessed the vast powers of modern industry to inflict the greatest possible destruction on their enemies.

1.1. When was the First World War fought?

(a) 1918–1922

(b) 1939–1945

(d) 1910–1914

1.2. Which among the following were considered as Allies powers?

(a) Germany, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Turkey

(b) Japan, France and Britain

(d) Britain, France and Russia

1.3. Name the countries that were not included in central power.

1.4. From which country did Britain borrow large sums of money during the First World War?

2. The Bretton Woods conference established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to deal with external surpluses and deficits of its member nations. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (popularly known as the World Bank) was set up to finance postwar reconstruction. The IMF and the World Bank are referred to as the Bretton Woods institutions or sometimes the Bretton Woods twins. The post-war international economic system is also often described as the Bretton Woods system. The IMF and the World Bank commenced financial operations in 1947. Decision[1]making in these institutions is controlled by the Western industrial powers. The US has an effective right of veto over key IMF and World Bank decisions. The international monetary system is the system linking national currencies and monetary system. The Bretton Woods system was based on fixed exchange rates. In this system, national currencies, for example the Indian rupee, were pegged to the dollar at a fixed exchange rate. The dollar itself was anchored to gold at a fixed price of $35 per ounce of gold

2.1. Which of the following organizations were set up during the Bretton Woods conference?

(a) UNESCO and UNICEF

(b) UNO and ILO

(d) IMF and World Bank

2.2. What was Bretton Woods system?

(a) It was the post-war international economic system.

(b) It was the post-war military system.

(d) None of the above

2.3. When did the IMF and the World Bank commence financial operations?

(a) 1950

(b) 1945

(d) 1944

2.4. The Bretton Woods Monetary system was a based on

(a) floating exchange rates

(b) fixed exchange rates

(d) the RBI rules

Manufacturing Industries

1. Manufacturing industries not only help in modernising agriculture, which forms the backbone of our economy, they also reduce the heavy dependence of people on agricultural income by providing them jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors. Industrial development is a precondition for eradication of unemployment and poverty from our country. This was the main philosophy behind public sector industries and joint sector ventures in India. It was also aimed at bringing down regional disparities by establishing industries in tribal and backward areas. Export of manufactured goods expands trade and commerce, and brings in much needed foreign exchange. Countries that transform their raw materials into a wide variety of finished goods of higher value are prosperous. India’s prosperity lies in increasing and diversifying its manufacturing industries as quickly as possible. Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand in hand. For instance, the agro-industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by raising its productivity.

1.1. Manufacturing industries fall in _________ and agriculture in ___________ .

(a) Primary; Secondary Sector

(b) Secondary; Tertiary Sector

(d) Secondary; Primary Sector

1.2. Manufacturing provides job opportunities to reduce dependence on agriculture. Identify which sector the following jobs belong to:

Choose the correct option.

(a) a–1, b–2, c–3, d–4

(b) a–3, b–4, c–2, d–1

(d) a–4, b–2, c–1, d–3

1.3. Name an agency which markets steel for the public sector industries.

1.4. In order to attract foreign manufacturing firms what does a country need?

2. Over the last two decades, the share of manufacturing sector has stagnated at 17 per cent of GDP – out of a total of 27 per cent for the industry which includes 10 per cent for mining, quarrying, electricity and gas. This is much lower in comparison to some East Asian economies, where it is 25 to 35 per cent. The trend of growth rate in manufacturing over the last decade has been around 7 per cent per annum. The desired growth rate over the next decade is 12 per cent. Since 2003, manufacturing is once again growing at the rate of 9 to 10 per cent per annum. With appropriate policy interventions by the government and renewed efforts by the industry to improve productivity, economists predict that manufacturing can achieve its target over the next decade. The National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) has been set up with this objective.

2.1. If we classify the various industries based on a particular criterion then we would be able to understand their manufacturing better. Identify the industries on the basis of sources–

Choose the correct option.

(a) a–1, b–2, c–3, d–4

(b) a–3, b–4, c–2, d–1

(d) a–2, b–4, c–3, d–1

2.2. Which of the following statements is correct about NMCC?

(a) It was set up as a part of its Common Minimum Programme.

(b) It was established as an autonomous organisation.

(d) All of the above

2.3. At what per cent of GDP has the share of manufacturing sector stagnated out of total 27 per cent?

2.4. In which year has the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) been set up?

3. Chhotanagpur plateau region has the maximum concentration of iron and steel industries. It is largely, because of the relative advantages this region has for the development of this industry. These include, low cost of iron ore, high grade raw materials in proximity, cheap labour and vast growth potential in the home market. Though, India is an important iron and steel producing country in the world yet, we are not able to perform to our full potential largely due to: (a) High costs and limited availability of coking coal (b) Lower productivity of labour (c) Irregular supply of energy and (d) Poor infrastructure.

3.1. Which among the following is best suited title for the passage?

(a) Concentration of Iron and Steel Industries

(b) Concentration of Cheap Labour

(d) Potential of Energy Resources

3.2. On the basis of above passage identify the location of iron and steel plants from the following options–

Choose the correct option.

(a) a–1, b–2, c–3, d–4

(b) a–2, b–3, c–4, d–1

(d) a–4, b–2, c–1, d–3

3.3. Where are most of the iron and steel industries located because of its availability of resources?

3.4. The iron and steel industries are not able to perform their potential. Why?

Lifelines of National Economy

1. Today, the world has been coverted into a large village with the help of efficient and fast moving transport. Transport has been able to achieve this with the help of equally developed communication system. Therefore, transport, communication and trade are complementary to each other. Today, India is well-linked with the rest of the world despite its vast size, diversity and linguistic and socio[1]cultural plurality. Railways, airways, waterways, newspapers, radio, television, cinema and internet, etc. have been contributing to its socio-economic progress in many ways. The trade from local to international levels have added to the vitality of its economy. It has enriched our life and added substantially to growing amenities and facilities for the comforts of life. The modern means of transport and communication serve as lifelines of our nation and its modern economy. It is thus, evident that a dense and efficient network of transport and communication is a prequisite for local, national and global trade of today

1.1. The world has been covered into a large village with the help of _________ and _________ moving transport.

(a) moving; loaded

(b) efficient; fast

(d) convenience; fast

1.2. Which of the following is not the significance of means of transport as communication for socioeconomic progress?

(a) Create job opportunities

(b) Help to grow economy

(d) Interlinking world

1.3. Why is it essential to interlink with the world?

1.4. What is pre-requisite for the fast development of a nation?

2. Kandla in Kuchchh was the first port developed soon after Independence to ease the volume of trade on the Mumbai port, in the wake of loss of Karachi port to Pakistan after the Partition. Kandla also known as the Deendayal Port, is a tidal port. It caters to the convenient handling of exports and imports of highly productive granary and industrial belt stretching across the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Mumbai is the biggest port with a spacious natural and well-sheltered harbour. The Jawaharlal Nehru port was planned with a view to decongest the Mumbai port and serve as a hub port for this region. Marmagao port (Goa) is the premier iron ore exporting port of the country. This port accounts for about fifty per cent of India’s iron ore export. New Mangalore port, located in Karnataka caters to the export of iron ore concentrates from Kudremukh mines. Kochchi is the extreme south-western port, located at the entrance of a lagoon with a natural harbour. Moving along the east coast, you would see the extreme south-eastern port of Tuticorin, in Tamil Nadu. This port has a natural harbour and rich hinterland. Thus, it has a flourishing trade handling of a large variety of cargoes to even our neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, etc. and the coastal regions of India. Chennai is one of the oldest artificial ports of the country. It is ranked next to Mumbai in terms of the volume of trade and cargo. Vishakhapatnam is the deepest landlocked and well-protected port. This port was, originally, conceived as an outlet for iron ore exports. Paradwip port located in Odisha, specialises in the export of iron ore. Kolkata is an inland riverine port. This port serves a very large and rich hinterland of Ganga- Brahmaputra basin. Being a tidal port, it requires constant dredging of Hoogly. Haldia port was developed as a subsidiary port, in order to relieve growing pressure on the Kolkata port.

2.1. ____________ is the biggest port while Kandla is the tidal port in ________

(a) Kolkata; Vishakhapatnam

(b) Mumbai; Gujarat

(d) New Mangalore, Mumbai

2.2. Major ports handle about 95 per cent of India’s foreign trade. Identify which port belongs to which state:

Choose the correct option:

(a) a–2, b–1, c–4, d–3

(b) a–4, b–1, c–2, d–3

(d) a–4, b–2, c–1, d–3

2.3. Why is Chennai port called an artificial port?

2.4. Give the second name of Kandla Port.

3. The exchange of goods among people, states and countries is referred to as trade. The market is the place where such exchanges take place. Trade between two countries is called international trade. It may take place through sea, air or land routes. While local trade is carried in cities, towns and villages, state level trade is carried between two or more states. Advancement of international trade of a country is an index to its economic prosperity. It is, therefore, considered the economic barometer for a country. As the resources are space bound, no country can survive without international trade. Export and import are the components of trade. The balance of trade of a country is the difference between its export and import. When the value of export exceeds the value of imports, it is called a favourable balance of trade. On the contrary, if the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, it is termed as unfavourable balance of trade.

3.1. When the value of export exceeds the value of import is called–

(a) export trade

(b) favourable balance of trade

(d) import-export balance of trade

3.2. Trade or international trade can be mostly done through the ports and airports. Identify the following ports and airports with their location.

Choose the correct option:

(a) a–4, b–3, c–2, d–1

(b) a–1, b–4, c–2, d–3

(d) a–1, b–4, c–3, d–2

3.3. What is trade called between cities, towns and village?

3.4. International trade is considered as the economic barometer for a country. Why is it called so?

Political Parties

1. If several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others, we call it a multiparty system. Thus in India, we have a multiparty 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 such major alliances in 2004 parliamentary elections–the National Democratic Alliance, the United Progressive Alliance and the Left Front. The multiparty system often appears very messy and leads to political instability. At the time, this system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.

1.1. Which of the following statements associated with the advantage of multiparty system?

(a) It provides choice to the voters.

(b) It provides no choice to the voters.

(d) There is a possibility of conflict.

1.2. Which of the following statements is correct about a coalition government?

(a) Many parties compete for power.

(b) The government is formed by two or more parties coming together.

(d) Only one party comes in power.

1.3. Which country has adopted multi-party system?

1.4. Which coalition government is in power at centre India in present?

2. We have seen how crucial political parties are for the working of democracy. Since parties are the most visible face of democracy, it is natural that people blame parties for whatever is wrong with the working of democracy. All over the world, people express strong dissatisfaction with the failure of political parties to perform their functions well. This is the case in our country too. The parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the voters. In order to offer meaningful choice, parties must be significantly different. In recent years there has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties in most parts of the world. For example, the difference between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party in Britain is very little. They agree on more fundamental aspects but differ only in details on how policies are to be framed and implemented. In our country too, the differences among all the major parties on the economic policies have reduced. Those who want really different policies have no option available to them. Sometimes people cannot even elect very different leaders either, because the same set of leaders keep shifting from one party to another.

2.1. Which of the following is one of the challenges within the political parties?

(a) Lack of internal democracy

(b) Open and transparent procedures

(d) All of the above

2.2. The fourth challenge is that very often parties do not seem to offer a ___________ to the voters.

(a) dynastic succession

(b) meaningful choice

(d) money power

2.3. In which country does the labour party exist?

2.4. How are political parties viewed in a democracy?

3. Democracies that follow a federal system all over the world tend to have two kinds of political parties: parties that are present in only one of the federal units and parties that are present in several or all units of the federation. This is the case in India as well. There are some countrywide parties, which are called ‘national parties’. These parties have their units in various states. But by and large, all these units follow the same policies, programmes and strategy that is decided at the national level. Every party in the country has to register with the Election Commission. While the Commission treats all parties equally, it offers some special facilities to large and established parties. These parties are given a unique symbol only the official candidates of that party can use that election symbol. Parties that get this privilege and some other special facilities are ‘recognised’ by the Election Commission for this purpose. That is why these parties are called, ‘recognised political parties’. The Election Commission has laid down detailed criteria of the proportion of votes and seats that a party must get in order to be a recognised party. A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State and wins at least two seats is recognised as a State party. A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national party.

3.1. What do you know about Federal System?

(a) It is a system of government under which the power is divided between a central authority and its various constituent units.

(b) The various constituent units and the central authority run their administrative independently.

(d) All of the above

3.2. The Party that secure at least ________ per cent the total votes in the Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four states and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national party.

(a) four

(b) six

(d) seven

3.3. Who issues a Model Code of Conduct for political parties?

3.4. Who allots symbols for the political parties in India?

4. Party system is not something any country can choose. It evolves over a long time, depending on the nature of society, its social and regional divisions, its history of politics and its system of elections. These cannot be changed very quickly. Each country develops a party system that is conditioned by its special circumstances. For example, if India has evolved a multiparty system, it is because the social and geographical diversity in such a large country is not easily absorbed by two or even three parties. No system is ideal for all countries and all situations.

4.1. India has adopted a multi-party system because–

(a) This system keeps people informed about the political activities.

(b) This system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.

(d) All of the above

4.2. Each country develops a __________ that is considered by its special circumstances.

(a) national party

(b) party system

(d) political system

4.3. Why is one party system not considered a good democratic system?

4.4. Why do we need at least two parties in a democratic set up?

5. The parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the voters. In order to offer meaningful choice, parties must be significantly different. In recent years there has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties in most parts of the world. For example, the difference between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party in Britain is very little. They agree on more fundamental aspects but differ only in details on how policies are to be framed and implemented. In our country too, the differences among all the major parties on the economic policies have reduced. Those who want really different policies have no option available to them. Sometimes people cannot even elect every different leaders either, because the same set of leaders keep shifting from one party to another

5.1. There has been a decline in the ideological difference among parties in most parts of the world. In this context which among the following options is correct?

(a) Lack of internal democracy

(b) Dynastic Succession

(d) Corruption

5.2. The people should elect only those only those ___________ who possess the skill to fulfil the needs of citizens.

(a) political candidates

(b) Members of Parliament

(d) democratic leaders

5.3. What do help in promoting the meaningful choice to the voters in India?

5.4. Why do people express their dissatisfaction with the failure of political parties to perform their functions well?

Outcomes of Democracy

1. There are some things that democracy must provide. In a democracy, we are most 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. Therefore, the most basic outcome of democracy should be that it produces a government that is accountable to the citizens, and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens. Some people think that democracy produces less effective government. It is, of course, true that non-democratic rulers are very quick and efficient in decision making and implementation, whereas, democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. So, some delay is bound to take place. But, because it has followed procedures, its decisions may be both more acceptable to the people and more effective. Moreover, when citizens want to know if a decision was taken through the correct procedures, they can find this out. They have the right and the means to examine the process of decision making. This is known as transparency. This factor is often missing from a nondemocratic government. There is another aspect in which democratic government is certainly better than its alternatives: democratic government is legitimate government. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive, or clean. But a democratic government is people’s own government.

1.1. People’s right to choose their own rulers is called as the–

(a) Right to Initiate

(b) Right to Plebiscite

(d) Right to Referendum

1.2. Which of the following options helps in promoting transparency in the governance?

(a) Right to education

(b) Right to information

(d) Right to speech and expression

1.3. What make/s the government legitimate?

1.4. What is known as transparency in a democracy?

2. Democracies are based on political equality. All individuals have equal weight in electing representatives. Parallel to the process of bringing individuals into the political arena on an equal footing, we find growing economic inequalities. A small number of ultra-rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and incomes. Not only that, their share in the total income of the country has been increasing. Those at the bottom of the society have very little to depend upon. Their incomes have been declining. Sometimes they find it difficult to meet their basic needs of life, such as food, clothing, house, education and health.

2.1. Democracy is a rule of the ______________ .

(a) poor

(b) majority

(d) Parliament

2.2. Who among the following find it difficult to meet their basic needs of life?

(a) Ultra rich

(b) Rich

(d) None of them

2.3. What does the term ultra-rich mean?

2.4. How is democracy based on political equality?

3. Take the case of dignity of women. Most societies across the world were historically male dominated societies. Long struggles by women have created some sensitivity today that respect to and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society. That does not mean that women are actually always treated with respect. But once the principle is recognised, it becomes easier for women to wage a struggle against what is now unacceptable legally and morally. In a nondemocratic set up, this unacceptability would not have legal basis because the principle of individual freedom and dignity would not have the legal and moral force there. The same is true of caste inequalities. Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity. There are instances still of caste-based inequalities and atrocities, but these lack the moral and legal foundations. Perhaps it is the recognition that makes ordinary citizens value their democratic rights.

3.1. In which of the following set up freedom and dignity would not have the legal and moral force?

(a) Democratic

(b) Non-democratic

(d) Republic

3.2. Equal treatment of __________________ are necessary ingredients of a democratic society.

(a) all man and women

(b) women

(d) living organism

3.3. Which two sections of society get special emphasis in India regarding equal status and equal opportunities?

3.4. Have the disadvantaged and discriminated castes gained in strength due to democracy?

4. In a democracy, we are most 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. Therefore, the most basic outcome of democracy should be that it produces a government that is accountable to the citizens, and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens. Some people think that democracy produces less effective government. It is, of course, true that non-democratic rulers are very quick and efficient in decision making and implementation, whereas, democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. So, some delay is bound to take place. But, because it has followed procedures, its decisions may be both more acceptable to the people and more effective. Moreover, when citizens want to known if a decision was taken through the correct procedures, they can find this out. They have the right and the means to examine the process of decision making. This is known as transparency. This factor is often missing from a non-democratic government. There is another aspect in which democratic government is certainly better than its alternatives: democratic government is legitimate government. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive, or clean. But a democratic government is people’s own government.

4.1. People’s right to choose their own rulers is called as the–

(a) Right to Initiate

(b) Right to Plebiscite

(d) Right to Referendum

4.2. Which of the following options help in promoting transparency in the governance?

(a) Right to education

(b) Right to information

(d) Right to speech and expression

4.3. What makes the government legitimate?

4.4. Why are decisions in a democracy are more acceptable to the people?

5. There are some things that democracy must provide. In a democracy, we are most concerned with ensuring that people will have th 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. Therefore, the most basic outcome of democracy should be that it produces a government that is accountable to the citizens, and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.

5.1. Which of the following is a feature of dictatorship?

(a) No religious faith

(b) Faith showing supremacy and war

(d) All of these

5.2. ––––––– believe that democracy is necessary for their country.

(a) Centre and State Governments

(b) NGOs

(d) Political parties

5.3. Give the most basic outcome of democracy.

5.4. Democratic government is a legitimate government. Why?

6. Over a hundred countries of the world today claim and practice some kind of democratic politics: they have formal constitutions, they hold elections, they have parties and they guarantee rights of citizens. While these features are common to most of them, these democracies are very much different from each other in terms of their social situations, their economic achievements and their cultures. Clearly, what may be achieved or not achieved under each of these democracies will be very different. But is there something that we can expect from every democracy, just because it is democracy.

6.1. Which among the following is incorrect in context of assessing democracy?

(a) Guarantees rights of citizens.

(b) Never fulfils people’s demand

(d) Free and fair elections

6.2. Democracy has been failed in reducing

(a) political equalities

(b) economic inequalities

(d) social inequalities

6.3. How can you say that democracy is different from one another?

6.4. What is the basic outcome of democracy?

Money and Credit

1. Swapna, a small farmer, grows groundnut on her three acres of land. She takes a loan from the moneylender to meet the expenses of cultivation, hoping that her harvest would help repay the loan. Midway through the season the crop is hit by pests and the crop fails. Though Swapna sprays her crops with expensive pesticides, it makes little difference. She grows over the year into a large amount. Next year, Swapna takes a fresh loan for cultivation. It is a normal crop this year. But he earnings are not enough to cover the old loan. She is caught in debt. She has to sell a part of the land to pay off the debt.

1.1. The passage given above relates to which of the following options?

(a) Collateral credit.

(b) Credit recovery is very painful.

(d) Credit is somewhere beneficial.

1.2. According to the passage, Swapna faced which of the following options–

(a) Failure of the crop made loan repayment impossible.

(b) She had to sell part of the land to repay the loan.

(d) All of the above

1.3. It refers to an agreement in which the lender supplies the borrower with money, goods or services in return for the promise of future payment. What is it called?

1.4. What example does the passage give?

2. In recent years, people have tried out some newer ways of providing loans to the poor. The idea is to organise rural poor, in particular women, into small Self Help Groups (SHGs) and pool (collect) their savings. A typical SHG has 15-20 members, usually belonging to one neighbourhood, who meet and save regularly. Saving per member varies from ` 25 to ` 100 or more, depending on the ability of the people to save. Members can take small loans from the group itself to meet their needs. The group charges interest on these loans but this is still less than what the moneylender charges. After a year or two, if the group is regular in savings, it becomes eligible for availing loan from the bank.

2.1. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about Self-Help Groups?

(a) The SHGs help borrowers overcome the problem of lack of collateral.

(b) The SHGs are the building blocks of organisation of the rural poor.

(d) Both (a) and (b)

2.2. Which among the following is the basic idea behind the SHGs for poor?

(a) Help to reduce the functioning of informal sectors of credit

(b) Help to reduce the functioning of formal sectors of credit

(d) Organise urban poor people particularly women

2.3. Which of the following options signifies the definition of SHGs?

(a) It is the small groups of 15 to 20 members.

(b) It is mostly active in rural areas especially women for the improvement of their economic and social conditions.

(d) All of the above

2.4. Which of the following is/are the reason(s) for the banks willing to provide credit to the self-help groups without collateral?

(a) SHGs used to be regular in saving.

(b) The group decides the loan activities and any case of non-repayment of the loan is taken seriously by the group members.

(d) All of the above

Globalisation and the Indian Economy

1. Ford Motors, an American company, is one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers with production spread over 26 countries of the world. Ford Motors came to India in 1995 and spent Rs. 1700 crore to set up a large plant near Chennai. This was done in collaboration with Mahindra and Mahindra, a major Indian manufacturer of jeeps and trucks. By the year 2004, Ford Motors was selling 27,000 cars in the Indian markets, while 24,000 cars were exported from India to South Africa, Mexico and Brazil. The company wanted to develop Ford India as a component supplying base for its other plants across the globe.

1.1. The passage given above relates to which of the following options?

(a) Increased employment

(b) Foreign investment

(d) International competition

1.2. According to the given passage, Ford Motors can be termed as a Multi-National Company based on which of the following options?

(a) Production of different types of automobiles

(b) Largest automobile manufacturer in the world

(d) Industrial and commercial ventures across globe

1.3. What did Ford Motors want by setting up their production plants in India?

1.4. What does ‘Ford Motors’ want to develop Ford India as a component supplying base for its other plants across the globe?

2. The liberalisation of foreign trade and investment in India was supported by some very powerful international organisations. These organisations say that all barriers to foreign trade and investment are harmful. There should be no barriers. Trade between countries should be ‘free’. All countries in the world should liberalise their policies. World Trade Organisation (WTO) is one such organisation whose aim is to liberalise international trade. Started at the initiative of the developed countries, WTO establishes rules regarding international trade, and sees that these rules are obeyed. At present 164 countries of the world are currently members of the 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. On the other hand, WTO rules have forced the developing countries to remove trade barriers. An example of this is the current debate on trade in agricultural products.

2.1. In which year did the WTO officially commence its operations?

(a) 1994

(b) 1995

(d) 1993

2.2. Which of the following is/are the function(s) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)?

(a) To provide a forum for negotiations.

(b) To provide a platform for settling disputes.

(d) All of the above

2.3. According to the passage, what is an appropriate reason of unfair treatment of WTO with respect to developing countries?

2.4. Which organisation has been replaced by the World Trade Organisation?

3. Globalisation and greater competition among producers–both local and foreign producers–has been of advantage to consumers, particularly the well-off sections in the urban areas. There is greater choice before these consumers who now enjoy improved quality and lower prices for several products. As a result, these people today, enjoy much higher standards of living than was possible earlier.

3.1. It creates an opportunity for the producers to reach beyond the domestic markets. What does it refer to?

(a) Technology

(b) Investments

(d) Trade Barriers

3.2. How is globalisation beneficial for consumers?

(a) Greater choice before the consumers and improved quality

(b) Lower prices for several products

(d) All of the above

3.3. Mention the negative impact of globalisation.

3.4. Describe the factors that helped in the process of globalisation?

Case Based – Social Science