Question 1.
Who are nomadic pastoralists ?
Answer:

• Nomads are people who do not live at one place but move from one area to another to earn their living.
• In many parts of India, we can see nomadic pastoralists on the move with their herds of goats and sheep, or camels and cattle.
• They move place to place in search of new pastures for their herds of goats and sheep.

Question 2.
What happened to the animal’s stock when pasture lands were turned into cultivated lands ?
Answer:
As pasturelands disappeared under the plough, the existing animal stock had to feed on whatever grazing land remained. This led to continuous intensive grazing of these pastures. Usually nomadic pastoralists grazed their animals in one area and moved to another area. These pastoral movements allowed time for the natural restoration of vegetation growth. When restrictions were imposed on pastoral movements, grazing lands came to be continuously used and the quality of pastures declined. This in turn created a further shortage of forage for animals and the deterioration of animal stock. Underfed cattle died in large numbers during scarcities and famines.

Question 3.
What do you know about the lifestyle of Gujjars of Garhwal and Kumaun ?
Answer:

• In Garhwal and Kumaun, the Gujjar cattle herders came to the dry forests of the bhabar in the winter, and went to the high meadows, the Bugyals, in summer.
• Many of them were originally from Jammu and came to the UP hills in the 19th century’ in search of good pastures.
• This pattern of cyclical movement between summer and winter pastures was typical of many pastoral communities of the Himalayas.

Question 4.
Describe the life of pastoralists inhabiting the mountains of India.
Answer:
(a) The Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir, the Gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh, the Gujjar cattle herders of Garhwal and Kumaun, the Bhotiyas, the Sherpas and Kinnauris move annually between their summer and winter grazing grounds governed by the cycle of seasonal movements.
(b) They adjust their movements to seasonal changes and make effective use of available pastures in different places. When pastures are exhausted or unstable in one place they move their herds to new areas.

Question 5.
Discuss the main features of the pastoral nomads of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Answer:

• In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, we found the dry central plateau covered with stone and grass inhabited by cattle, goat and sheep herders.
• The Gollas herded cattle and the Kurumas and Kurubas reared sheep and goats and sold woven blankets. They lived near the woods, cultivated small patches of land, engaged in a variety of petty trades and took care of their herbs.
• The pastoral nomads of these two southern states lived near the forests, cultivated small patches of land, engaged themselves in different petty trades and took care of the herds.

Question 6.
Name the pastoral communities of Africa. Where are they found ? What are their occupations ?
Answer:

• The Bedouins, Berbers, Maasai, Somali, Boran and Turkana are some of the pastoral communities of Africa.
• Most of them are found in semi-arid grasslands or arid deserts where rainfed agriculture is difficult.
• They raise cattle, camels, goats, etc. and sell their products like milk and meat. Others earn their living through trade and transport. Some of then combine pastoral activity with agriculture while still others do a variety of odd jobs to supplement their meagre and uncertain earnings.

Question 7.
Under colonial rule, what were the changes in the life of pastoralists ?
Answer:
Following were the changes that took place in the life of pastoralists under the colonial rule :

• Under colonial rule, the life of pastoralists changed dramatically. Their grazing grounds shrank.
• The revenue they had to pay was increased.
• Their movements were regulated.
• Their agricultural stock declined and their trades and crafts were adversely affected. (Any three points)

Question 8.
What factors had to be kept in mind by the pastoralists in order to survive ?
Answer:
Following factors had to be kept in mind by pastoralists in order to survive :

• They had to judge how longtfie herds could stay in one area and know where they could find water and pasture.
• They needed to calculate the timing of their movements, and ensure that they could move through different territories.
• They also had to set up a relationship with farmers on the way, so that the herds could graze in harvested fields and manure the soil.
• They also had to combine a range of different activities-cultivation, trade and herding-to make their living. (Any three points)

Question 9.
How did the Forest Acts change the life of pastoralists ?
Answer:
The Forest Acts change the life of pastoralists in the following ways :
(a) Forest Acts were enacted to protect and preserve forests for timber which was of commercial importance.
(b) They were now prevented from entering many forests that had earlier provided valuable forage for their cattle. Even in the areas they were allowed entry, their movement were regulated.
(c) They were issued permits which monitored their entry into and exit from forests. They could not stay in the forests as much as they liked because the permit specified the periods in which they could be legally within a forest. If they overstayed they were liable to fives.

Question 10.
What was the impact of frequent drought on the pasture lands of Maasai community ?
Answer:
Drought affects the life of pastoralists everywhere. When rains fail, and pastures are dry, cattle are likely to starve unless they can be moved to areas where forage is available. But from the colonial period, the Maasai were bound down to a fixed area, confined within a reserve, and prohibited from moving in search of pastures. They were cut off from the best grazing lands and forced to live within a semi-arid tract prone to frequent droughts.

Since they could not shift their cattle to places where pastures were available, large numbers of Maasai cattle died of starvation and disease in these years of drought. An enquiry in 1930 showed that the Maasai in Kenya possessed 720,000 cattle, 820,000 sheep and 171,000 donkeys. In just two years of severe drought, 1933 and 1934, over half the cattle in the Maasai Reserve died.

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Question 1.
Why were the farmers and landlords of England greatly alarmed in 1830 ?
Answer:

• The landlords and farmers were greatly alarmed because they were receiving
  threatening letters from a mysterious person called Swing. Most of these letters were signed in the name of captain swing.
• The people were angry because the landlords began to use threshing machine leading to the unemployment of labourers and loss of their livelihood.
• In 1830, a threshing machine was destroyed. There were riots which also alarmed the farmers.

Question 2.
Explain any three reasons f§*r the increasing demand for the production of wheat in the nineteenth century USA.
Answer:
Three reasons for the increasing demand for the production of wheat in the nineteenth century USA were :

• From the late nineteenth century, there was a dramatic expansion of wheat production in the USA. The urban population in the USA was growing and the export market was becoming ever bigger.
• As the demand for wheat increased, wheat prices rose, encouraging the farmers to grow wheat.
• The spread of the railways made it easier to transport the grain from wheat-growing regions to the eastern coast for export.
• During the First World War, when Russian supplies of wheat was cut off and the USA, had to feed Europe, US President Wilson called upon the farmers to respond to the need of the time. (Any three points)

Question 3.
Which innovations helped farmers to increase agricultural production in England ?
Answer:
Food-grain production was made possible not by any radical innovations in agricultural technology, but by bringing new lands under cultivation. Landlords sliced up pasturelands, carved up open fields, cut up forest commons, took over marshes, and turned larger and larger areas into agricultural fields.

Farmers at this time continued to use the simple innovations in agriculture that had become common by the early eighteenth century. It was in about the 1660s that farmers in many parts of England began growing turnip and clover. They soon discovered that planting these crops improved the soil and made it more fertile.

Question 4.
State any three features of the ‘Open Field’ system which prevailed in England in the 18th and early 19th century.
Answer:
Three features of the Open Field were :

• Before this period, in large parts of England, the countryside was open. It was not partitioned into enclosed lands privately owned by landlords.
• Peasants cultivated on strips of land around the village they lived in. Every peasant had a mix of good and bad land.
• Beyond the strips of cultivation lay the common land. All villagers had access to the common. Here they pastured their cows and grazed sheep, collected food, fuel and fodder and a variety of fruits. They fished in the rivers and ponds and hunted rabbits in common forests.
• For the poor, the common land was very necessary for survival. It supplemented their meagre income, sustained their cattle and helped them tide over bad times when the crops failed. (Any three points)

Question 5.
Which system was introduced by the British to make the unwilling cultivators produce opium ? How did this system work ?
Answer:
The unwilling cultivators were made to produce opium by the British through a system of advances. In the rural areas of Bengal and Bihar, there were many poor peasants. They never had enough to survive. It was difficult for them to pay rent to the landlord or to buy food and clothing. The government’s opium agents advanced money to them through the headmen of their village. They felt tempted to accept it, hoping to meet their immediate needs and pay back the loan later. But the loan tied the peasant to the headmen and through him to the government. By taking the loan the cultivator was forced to grow opium on a specified area of land and hand over the produce to the agents once the crop had been harvested.

Question 6.
Discuss why the British Parliament passed the Enclosure Acts.
Answer:
Till the middle of the eighteenth century the Enclosure Movement proceeded very slowly. The early enclosures were usually created by individual landlords. They were not supported by the state or the Church. After the mid-eighteenth century, however, the Enclosure Movement swept through the countryside, changing the English landscape forever. Between 1750 and 1850, 6 million acres of land was enclosed. The British Parliament no longer watched this progress from a distance. It passed 4,000 Acts legalising these Enclosures.

Question 7.
Why did the whole region of the Great Plains become a dust bowl ?
Answer:
When wheat cultivation had expanded dramatically in the early 20th century, zealous farmers had recklessly uprooted all vegetation, and tractors had turned the soil over, and broken the sod into dust.

The whole region had become a dust bowl. In the 1930s, terrifying dust storms began to blow over the southern plains of America. Black blizzards rolled in, very often 7,000 to 8,000 feet high, rising like monstrous waves of muddy water. The American dream of a land of plenty had turned into a nightmare.

Question 8.
‘The conflict between the British government, peasants and local traders continued as long as opium production lasted.’ Explain.
Answer:
By 1773, the British government in Bengal had established a monopoly to trade in opium. No one else was legally permitted to trade in the product. By the 1820s, the British found to their horror that opium production in their territories was rapidly declining, but its production outside the British territories was increasing.

It was being produced in Central India and Rajasthan, within princely states that were not under British control. In these regions, local traders were offering much higher prices to peasants and exporting opium to China. In fact, armed bands of traders were found carrying on the trade in the 1820s. To the British this trade was illegal: it was smuggling, and it had to be stopped. Government monopoly had to be retained.

It therefore instructed its agents posted in the princely states to confiscate all opium and destroy the crops. This conflict between the British government, peasants and local traders continued as long as opium production lasted.

Question 9.
What were the consequences of expansion of wheat agriculture in the Great plains ?
Answer:
The consequences of expansion of wheat agriculture in the Great plains were :

• As the skies darkened, and .(he dust swept in, people were blinded and choked.
• Cattle were suffocated to death, their lungs caked with dust and mud.
• Sand buried fences, covered fields, and coated the surfaces of rivers till the fish died.
• Dead bodies of birds and animals were strewn all over the landscape.
• Tractors and machines that had ploughed the earth and harvested the wheat in the 1920s were now clogged with dust, damaged beyond repair. (Any three)

Question 10.
Discuss the westward expansion of the white settlers in America. How did it lead to a destruction of American Indians ?
Answer:
(a) After the American War of Independence from 1775 to 1783 and the formation of the United States of America, the white Americans began to move westward. By the time Thomas Jefferson became President of the USA in 1800, over 700,000 white settlers had moved on to the Appalachian plateau through the passes. Seen from the east coast, America seemed to be a land of promise. Its wilderness could be turned into cultivated fields.
(b) The westward expansion of settlers in the USA led to a complete destruction of American Indians who were pushed westwards, down the Mississippi river, and then further west.
(c) Numerous wars were waged in which Indians were massacred and many of their villages burnt. The Indians resisted, won many victories in wars, but were ultimately forced to sign treaties, give up their land and move westward.

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Question 1.
When were the first laws of cricket drawn up? Mention any three such laws.
Or
Mention the first written Laws of Cricket’ drawn up in 1744. [CBSE March 2011,13,15]
Or
Describe the first written laws of cricket. [CBSE March 2011]
Answer:
The first written laws of cricket were drawn in 1774.

1. The principals shall choose from amongst the gentleman present two umpires who shall absolutely decide all disputes.
2. Stumps must be 22 inches high and the bail across them six inches.
3. Balls must be between 5 to 6 ounces.

Question 2.
Mention any three peculiarities of Test Cricket.
Or
Why is cricket called a peculiar game? Give any three reasons. [CBSE 2014]
Answer:

• A match can go on for five days and still end in a draw.
• No specification regarding the size or shape of the ground.
• There were no limits on the shape or size of the bat.

Question 3.
“Cricket has changed with changing times and yet fundamentally remained true to its origin in rural England”. Justify by giving examples.
Answer:

• No specification for ground: Even after more than 300 years of its origin still there is no specification regarding the measurement of the playing ground.
• Equipments: Cricket’s most important tools are all made of natural, pre-industrial materials. The bat is s made of wood as are the stumps and bails. The ball is made with leather, twine and cork. Even today, both bat and ball are hand-made, not industrially manufactured. The material of the bat changed slightly over time. Once it was cut out of a single piece of wood. Now it consists of two pieces, the blade which is made out of the wood of the willow tree and the handle which is made out of cane that became available as European colonialists and trading companies established themselves in Asia. Unlike golf and tennis, cricket has refused to remake its tools with industrial or man-made materials: plastic, fibre glass and metal have been firmly rejected.
• Protective equipment: Some of its equipments have changed with the changing time like gloves, helmet and pads. They all are manufactured by machines.

Question 4.
‘The organisation of cricket in England reflected the nature of English society’. Explain.
Answer:

• The English society at that time was divided into the rich and the poor. Similarly, there was also a division in cricket. The rich players who played for leisure were called amateurs and the poor who played for livings were called professionals.
• As most of the administrative laws were favouring the rich class,
  Similarly most of the cricket laws
  Were in favour of the batsmen as Amateurs tended to be the batsmen.
• Most of the hard work was done by the poor, similarly, in cricket, fielding and bowling was done by the professionals.
• Only the rich were having the right to lead, similarly, in cricket only the batsmen were made the captain.

Question 5.
Mention any three features of post packer game of cricket.
Answer:

• Cricket became a marketable game.
• Colored dress, protective helmets, field restrictions, cricket under lights, became a standard part of the post Oackergame.
• Television coverage beamed cricket into small towns and villages.

Question 6.
‘Cricket in India was organised on the principle of race and religion.’ Justify.
Or
How was the cricket used by the Britishers to spread their policy of racism?
Answer:

• When there was a quarrel between the Bombay Gymkhana and the Parsi cricketers over the use of public park, the Britishers favoured the Bombay. Gymkhana.
• They regarded religious comm¬unities as separate national-iris. That is why they used to approve applications for clubs on the basis of community.
• They encouraged pentangular tournament as it was based on comm¬unities.
• The first class cricket was also organised on communal and racial fines. The teams that played colonial India’s greatest and most famous first-class cricket tournament did not represent regions, but religious communities.

Question 7.
‘The centre of gravity in cricket has shifted away from the old Anglo- Australian axis.’ Justify by giving examples. [CBSE 2015]
Answer:

• The cricket headquarters has been shifted from London to tax free Dubai.
• England and Australia have lost their veto power right.
• Innovations like IPL, doosra and reverse swing have mainly come from the subcontinental teams of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• India has the largest viewership for the game amongst the cricket playing nations and the largest market in the world.

Question 8.
Explain the journey of cricket progress in India.
Answer:

(i) Cricket at initial stage: Cricket in colonial India was organised on the principle of race and religion. The first record we have of cricket being played in India is from 1721, an account of recreational cricket played by: England sailors in Cambay.

(ii) The Cricket Clubs: The first Indian club, the Calcutta Cricket Club, was established in 1792. Through the
eighteenth century, cricket in India was almost wholly a sport played by British military men and civil servants in all-white clubs and gymkhanas.

(iii)  Cricket by Parsis: Parsis were the first to play cricket in India. They were close to Britishers because of their interest in trade and western education. They founded the Oriental Cricket Club in Bombay in 1848 and later on Parsi Gymkhana.

(iv) Clubs by other communities: The establishment of the Parsi Gymkhana became a precedent for other Indians who in turn established clubs based on the idea of religious community. By the 1890s, the Hindus and Muslims were busy gathering funds and support for a Hindu Gymkhana and an Islam Gymkhana. The British did not consider colonial India as a nation.

(v) Quadrangular Tournament: This history of gymkhana cricket led to the first-class cricket being organised on communal and racial lines. The teams that played colonial India’s greatest and most famous first-class cricket tournament did not represent regions, as teams in today’s Ranji Trophy currently do, but religious communities. The tournament was initially called the Quadrangular, because it was played by four teams: the Europeans, the Parsis, the Hindus and the Muslims. It later became the Pentangular when a fifth team was added, namely, the Rest, which comprised all the communities left over, such as the Indian Christians.

Question 9.
What changes were brought by (MCC) Marylebone Cricket Club-in cricket laws in the later half of the 18th century? [CBSE 2015]
Or
Mention any three changes brought about in the game of Cricket by the MCC’s revision of the laws during the second half of the 18th century. [CBSE March 2011]
Answer:

• It was decided to pitch the ball in the air instead of rolling it along the ground. It gave the bowlers the options of length, deception through the air and increase in the pace.
• The curved bat was replaced by the straight one.
• The weight of the ball was limited to 51/2 to 53/4 ounces, while the width of the bat was limited to four inches.
• In 1774, the first leg before wicket law was published.
• At about the same time, a third stump became common.
• By 1780, three days had become the length of major matches.

Question 10.
“The social and economic history of England in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, cricket’s early years, shaped the game and gave cricket its unique nature.” Explain. [CBSE 2014]
Answer:

• Cricket and rural life: Cricket’s connection with a rural past can be seen in the length of a Test match. Originally, cricket matches had no time limit. The game went on for as long as it took to bowl out a side twice. The rhythms of village life were slower and cricket’s rules were made before the Industrial Revolution.
• Size of ground and the common land: In the same way, cricket’s vagueness about the size of a cricket ground is a result of its village origins! Cricket wag originally played on country commons, unfenced land that was public property. The size of the commons varied from one village to another, so there were no designated boundaries or boundary hits.
• Cricket’s tools: Cricket’s most important tools are all made of natural, pre-industrial materials. The bat is made of wood as are the stumps and the bails. The ball is made with leather, twine and cork.
• Division of the players: Cricket players were also divided on their social and economic status. The rich who could afford to play it for pleasure were called amateurs and the poor who played it for a living were called professionals.
• Cricket and the British Empire : Team sport like cricket and rugby were not treated as just as outdoor play, but as an organised way of teaching English boys the discipline, the importance of hierarchy, the skills, the codes of honour and, the leadership qualities that helped them build and run the British empire.

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Question 1.
What were the ‘Sumptuary Laws’ in France?
Answer:
From about 1294 to the time of the French Revolution in 1789, the people of France were expected to strictly follow some dress codes. These dress codes or laws related to wearing of clothes were known as ‘Sumptuary Laws’. Following were the major features of these laws:

• The laws tried to control the behaviour of those considered social inferiors, preventing them from wearing certain clothes, consuming certain foods and beverages (usually this referred to alcohol) and hunting game in certain areas.
• In medieval France, the items of clothing a person could purchase per Year was regulated, not only by income but also by social rank.
• The material to be used for clothing was also legally prescribed. Only royalty could wear ^expensive materials like ermine and fur or silk, velvet and brocade. Other classes were debarred from clothing themselves with materials that were associated with the aristocracy.

Question 2.
Give any two examples of the ways in which European dress codes were different from Indian dress codes.
Answer:
In different cultures, specific items of clothing often convey different messages. This was also true in case of European dress codes and Indian dress codes.

• Turban and hat: According to western traditions, a hat had to be removed before social superiors as a sign of respect. But in India, the turban was not just for protection from the heat but it was a sign of respectability and could not be removed at will. The British felt offended if the Indians did not take off their turbans when they met British officials.
• Use of shoes: When the British established their rule in India, they insisted that the Indians should take off their shoes as a sign of respect to the British officials. Many Indians, especially the government servants, were increasingly uncomfortable with such rule.

Question 3.
‘Though there were no formal sumptuary laws in India but it had its own strict social codes of food and dress’. Explain by giving examples.
Answer:

• During the 18th and 19th centuries the caste system in India was very rigid. The caste system clearly defined what subordinate and dominant caste Hindus should wear, eat, etc. and these codes had the force of law. No caste or community was allowed to overlook these codes. For example, when the lower caste people belonging to Shanar caste tried to cover their upper body they were attacked by Nairs, an upper caste.
• When in 1820 Shanar women tried to wear tailored blouses and clothes they‘were attacked by the Nairs. Even complaints were filed in the court against this dress change and Governor of Travancore issued a proclamation ordering Shanar women to abstain in future from covering the upper parts of the body.
• The abolition of slavery in travancore in 1855 led to even more frustration among the upper castes. In October 1859, riots broke out and Governor was forced to issue proclamation permitting Shanar women, whether Christian or Hindu to wear a jacket or cover their upper bodies in any manner whatever but not like the women of high castes.

Question 4.
Explain the reasons for the changes in clothing patterns and materials in the 18th century,
Answer:

• Revolution: There were many restrictions on the French people regarding the dress codes. These were known as sumptuary laws. But after the French Revolution of 1789 many restrictions imposed on clothes were lifted.
• Trade: There was also a change in the clothing pattern because of trade. Now people had more choices and variety of clothes.
• Spread of democratic ideas: During the 18th century democratic ideas were also spreading in different parts of the world. Democracy Jay stress on equality as a result of which all citizens were given the choice to wear whatever they like.
• War: Clothes got shorter, simpler and less colourful because of the two world wars.

Question 5.
Explain the impact of World Wars on the clothing pattern of women.
Answer:

• Women and work: Before the First World War most of the women in Europe were not working in factories.
  But by 1917, more than 7,00,000 women in Britain were employed in ammunition factories. As they were going to work they needed clothes that were comfortable and convenient. They started wearing a working uniform of blouse and trouser. Clothes became plainer and simpler. Skirts became shorter.
• No jewellery: Most of the working women stopped wearing jewellery and luxurious clothes.
• Change in school dress: Even schools started emphasising the importance of plain dressing, and. discouraged ornamentation. With the introduction of gymnastics and games women started wearing clothes that did not hamper movement.
• Change in colour: Before the war people used to wear bright coloured clothes but during the war bright colours faded from sight and only sober colours were worn. Thus clothes became plainer and simpler.

Question 6.
How did the French Revolution end all the distinctions imposed by the Sumptuary Laws? [CBSE 2015]
Answer:

• People started wearing clothing that was loose and comfortable.
• Blue, red and white colours became popular and were considered the signs of patriotism.
• Now the difference in dress was based on the earnings.
• Other political symbols too became a part of dress for example a red cap symbolised liberty.

Question 7.
Mention any three restrictions imposed on the common people of France from about 1294 to 1789.
Answer:

• Dress codes were sometimes imposed upon members of different layers of society through actual laws which were spelt out in some detail.”
• In medieval France, the items of clothing a person could purchase per year was regulated, not only by income but also by social rank.
• The material to be used for clothing was also legally prescribed. Only royalty could wear expensive materials like ermine and fur, or silk, velvet and brocade. Other classes were debarred from clothing themselves with materials that were associated with the aristocracy.

Question 8.
Why did Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of clothing the nation in Khadi became an appeal only to some sections of Indians?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi’s dream was to clothe the whole nation in Khadi. Though he succeeded using khadi as a source to inspire the Indian people but there were many with different opinions.

• The British machines made clothes which were much cheaper as compared to khadi. Poverty rate was very high in India, so most of the poor started adopting foreign clothes.
• The wealthy Parsis of western India: were among the first to adapt Western- style clothing because western clothes were a sign of modernity and progress.
• Though Motilal Nehru gave up his expensive Western-style suits and adopted the Indian dhoti and kurta but these were not made up of coarse material as suggested by Gandhiji.
• As the caste system in India was very rigid and the western dress style was for all, so many people adopted it for self-respect and equality.

Question 9
What were the changes that came to be seen in women’s clothing as a result of two World Wars? Explain. [CBSE March 2013]
Or
How were the two World Wars responsible in bringing changes in women’s clothing?
[CBSE March 2011, 13, 15]
Or
“Changes in women clothing came about as a result of two World Wars”. Explain the statement with examples. [CBSE March 2011]
Answer:

• Women and work: Before the First World War most of the women in Europe were not working in factories. But by 1917, more than 7,00,000 women in Britain were employed in ammunition factories. As they were going to work they needed clothes that were comfortable and convenient. They started wearing a working uniform of blouse and trouser.
  Clothes became plainer and simpler. Skirts became shorter.
• No jewellery: Most of the working women stopped wearing jewellery and luxurious clothes.
• Change in school dress: Even schools started emphasising the importance of plain dressing, and discouraged ornamentation. With the introduction of gymnastics and games women started wearing clothes that did not hamper movement.
• Change in colour: Before the War people used to wear bright coloured clothes but during the War bright colours faded from sight and only sober colours were worn. Thus, clothes became plainer and simpler.

Question 10.
Explain the ‘shoe respect’ controversy. [CBSE March 2013]
Answer:

• In different cultures, specific items of clothing often convey contrary meanings. This frequently leads to misunder-standing and conflict.
• At the beginning of the nineteenth century, it was customary for British officials to follow Indian customs and traditions and to remove their footwear in the courts of ruling kings or chiefs.
• In 1824-1828, Governor General Amherst insisted that Indians take their shoes off as a sign of respect when they appeared before him, but this was not strictly followed.
• By the mid-nineteenth century, when Lord Dalhousie was Governor-General, ‘shoe respect’ was made stricter, and Indians were made to take off their shoes when entering any government institution; only those who wore European clothes were exempted from this rule.
• Many Indian government servants were increasingly uncomfortable with these rules.

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Question 1.
Describe the basic factors affecting the population of India.
Answer:
The basic factors affecting the population of India are as under :

• Birth Rate: It is the number of live births per 1,000 individuals of a population per annum. It increases both population size and population density.
• Death or Mortality Rate: It is expressed as the number of death per 1,000 individuals of a population per year. It decreases both population size and population density.
• Migration: Migration is the movement of the people across regions and territories. Migration can be internal or international.

Question 2.
What is meant by population growth and how do you calculate it?
Answer:
Growth of population refers to the change in the number of inhabitants of a country/territory during a specific period or time as an instance, during the last 10 years. Such a change can be expressed in two ways: in terms of absolute numbers and in terms of percentage change per year.

It is obtained by simply subtracting the earlier population from the later population. It is referred to as absolute increase.

Question 3.
Distinguish between Total Population and Average Density of Population.
Answer:

Question 4.
What are the push and pull factors of internal migration in India?
Answer:
In India, most migrations have been from rural to urban areas because of the ‘push’ factor in rural areas. These are adverse conditions of poverty and unemployment in the rural areas and the ‘pull’ of the city in terms of increased employment opportunities and better living conditions.

Question 5.
Why do we need high literacy rate in a country? Who is a literate person?
Answer:
Literacy is a very important quality of a population. Only an informed and educated citizen can make intelligent choices and undertake research and development projects.
Low levels of literacy are a serious obstacle for economic improvement.
According to the Census 2011, a person aged 7 years and above, who can read and write with understanding in any language, is treated as literate.

Question 6.
What are the factors that influence the population distribution in India?
Answer:
Factors that influence the population distribution are :

• Type of Climate: Areas having moderate climate have more population than the areas having extreme climatic conditions. Leh and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir and western Rajasthan have extreme type of climate. Therefore, these regions have less or sparse population.
• Type of Soil: India’s northern plains and coastal plains are made up of alluvial soil which is very fertile. So, these areas are densely populated. On the other hand, hilly areas and deserts are thinly populated.
• Opportunity for Jobs: The areas which have more opportunities of jobs are thickly populated, whereas areas which do not provide people with job opportunities are sparsely populated. Urban areas are thickly populated because of this factor.
• Religious and Historical Places like Allahabad, Varanasi, Rameshwaram, Agra etc. are also thickly populated. (any three points)

Question 7.
How do you classify occupations?
Answer:
Occupations are, generally, classified as primary, secondary and tertiary activities.

• Primary activities include agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, etc.
• Secondary activities include manufacturing industry, building and construction work, etc.
• Tertiary activities include transport, communications, commerce, administration and other services.

Question 8.
Write a short note on adolescent population.
Answer:
The most significant feature of the Indian population is the size of its adolescent population. It constitutes one-fifth of the total population of India. Adolescents are generally, grouped in the age-group of 10 to 19 years. They are the most important resource for the future. Nutrition requirements of adolescents are higher than those of a normal child or adult. Poor nutrition can lead to deficiency and stunted growth. But in India, the diet available to adolescents is inadequate in all nutrients. A large number of adolescent girls suffer from anaemia. Their problems have so far not received adequate attention in the process of development. The adolescent girls have to be sensitised to the problems they confront. Their awareness can be improved through the spread of literacy and education among them.

Question 9.
What are the improvements made in the health status of people of India?
Answer:
Health is an important component of population composition, which affects the process of development. Sustained efforts of government programmes have registered significant improvements in the health conditions of the Indian population. Death rates have declined from 25 per 1000 population in 1951 to 7.2 per 1000 in 2011 and life expectancy at birth has increased from 36.7 years in 1951 to 67.9 years in 2012.

The substantial improvement is the result of many factors including improvement in public health, prevention of infectious diseases and application of modern medical practices in diagnosis and treatment of ailments.

Question 10.
Categorize the population of a nation into three broad categories based on age composition.
Answer:
The population of a nation is generally grouped into three broad categories :

• Children (below 15 years): This group is economically unproductive. They need to be provided with food, clothing, education and medical care.
• Working Age (15 to 59 years): They are economically productive and biologically reproductive. This group bears the burden of children and aged people.
• Aged (above 59 years): They can be economically productive through they may have retired.

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Question.1

• Sarpagandha: It is used to treat blood pressure. It is found only in India.
• Jamun: The juice from ripe fruit is used to prepare vinegar, which is carminative and diuretic, and has digestive properties.
• Arjun: The fresh juice of leaves is a cure for earache. It is also used to regulate blood pressure.

Question 2.
Write a short note on Mangrove Forests.
Answer:
The mangrove tidal forests are found in the areas of coasts influenced by tides. Mud and silt get accumulated on such coasts. Dense mangroves are the common varieties with roots of the plants submerged under water. The deltas of the Ganga, the Mahanadi, the Krishna, the Godavari and the Kaveri are covered by such vegetation. In the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, sundari trees are found, which provide durable hard timber. Palm, coconut, keora, agar, etc., also grow in some parts of the delta.

Royal Bengal Tiger is the famous animal in these forests. Turtles, crocodiles, gharials and snakes are also found in these forests.

Question 3.
Distinguish between the moist and dry deciduous forests.
Answer:

Question 4.
Write a short note on thorny forests and scrubs.
Answer:
The thorny forest and scrubs are found in regions with less than 70 cm of rainfall, the natural vegetation consists of thorny trees and bushes. This type of vegetation is found in the north-western part of the country, including semi-arid areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Acacias, palms, euphorbias and cacti are the main plant species. Trees are scattered and have long roots penetrating deep into the soil to get moisture. The stems are succulent to conserve water. Leaves are mostly thick and small to minimise evaporation. These forests give way to thorn forests and scrubs in arid areas. In these forests, the common animals are rats, mice, rabbits, fox, wolf, tiger, lion, wild ass, horses and camels.

Question 5.
Write three measures to conserve ecosystem.
Answer:
The measures to conserve ecosystem are :

• Deforestation has disturbed our ecosystem. It must be stopped forthwith.
• Indiscriminate killing of wild animals has distorted our ecosystem. Hence, killing of
  animals should be stopped immediately.
• Ecosystem can be conserved by developing more wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and biosphere reserves.

Question 6.
Why is conservation of wildlife very essential? Explain.
Answer:
The government has taken many special efforts to preserve endangered species of birds and animals. Periodic census is undertaken to find out the latest position and trends in this regard. The Project Tiger has been a great success. We have many tiger reserves in various parts of the country. Likewise, the Project Rhino is being implemented in Assam. The Indian Bustard of Rajasthan and Malwa Plateau are yet another endangered species. Even the number of lions had been dwindling for long. Conservation of wildlife is essential in order to protect the endangered species of birds and animals and also to maintain the ecological balance. The Government of India has so far set-up eighteen biosphere reserves.

Question 7.
How do the forests play both a productive and protective role?
Answer:
Productive Role of Forests :

• The forests supply us wood, pulp, cellulose, packaging material etc. to run a number of industries like paper industry, packaging industry etc.
• We obtain a number of consumer goods like fuel wood, timber, medicinal herbs, resins, gums, lac and honey from our forests.
• Forests control the wind force and temperature and cause rainfall.

Protective Role of Forests :

• Forests help in maintaining the ecological balance and providing pollution free air.
• These help in checking soil erosion and raising the water table which receding presently at a faster rate.
• These provide humus to the soil and make it fertile.
• These provide manure to the plants as their leaves and stems after they die, decompose in a natural way.

Question 8.
What are the different steps taken by the government to protect flora and fauna?
Answer:
The different steps taken by the government to protect flora and fauna are :

• Eighteen biosphere reserves have been set up in the country to protect flora fauna.
• The Sunderbans in the West Bengal, Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand, the Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu and the Nilgiris have been included in the world network of biosphere reserves.
• Financial and technical assistance is provided to many botanical gardens by the government since 1992.
• Project Tiger, Project Rhino, Project Great Indian Bustard and many other eco-developmental projects have been introduced by the government.
• 103 National Parks, 535 Wildlife Sanctuaries and Zoological Gardens are set up to take care of natural heritage.

Question 9.
Write a short note on wildlife in India.
Answer:
India is also rich in its fauna. It has approximately 90,000 animal species. The country has about 2,000 species of birds. They constitute 13% of the world’s total. There are 2,546 species of fish, which account for nearly 12% of the world’s stock. It also shares between 5 and 8 per cent of the world’s amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

The elephants are the most majestic animals among the mammals. They are found in the hot wet forests of Assam, Karnataka and Kerala. One-horned rhinoceroses are the other animals, which live in swampy and marshy lands of Assam and West Bengal. Arid areas of the Rann of Kachchh and the Thar Desert are the habitat for wild ass and camels respectively. Indian bison, nilgai (blue bull), chousingha (four-horned antelope), gazel and different species of deer are some other animals found in India. It also has several species of monkeys.

India is the only country in the world that has both tigers and lions. The natural habitat of the Indian lion is the Gir forest in Gujarat. Tigers are found in the forests of Madhya Pradesh, the Sundarbans of West Bengal and the Himalayan region.

Question. 10

• Preserving plant and animal species of the area in natural forms.
• To protect flora and fauna from their overexploitation.
• To save endangered species and prevent extinction of valuable species.
• To undertake research and experimentation in forestry

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Question 1.
“ Despite an overall unity in the gen¬eral pattern of climate of India,there are perceptible regional variations in climatic conditions within the country.” Justify.
Or
“India has diverse climatic conditions”Support this statement by giving examples, each of tempera¬ture and precipitation.
Answer:

• The mercury occasionally touches 50°C in the western deserts, and it drops down to as low as -45°C in winter around Leh.
• The annual precipitation is less than 10 cm in the north-west Himalayas and the western desert. It exceeds 400 cm in Meghalaya.
• Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September, but some parts like the Tamil Nadu coast get most of its rain during October and November.

Question 2.
Explain the factors affecting India’s climate. [CBSE 2015]
Answer:

• Latitude : The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country from the Rann of Kuchchh in the west to Mizoram in the east. Almost half of the country, lying south of the Tropic of Cancer, belongs to the tropical area. All the remaining area, north of the Tropic, lies in the sub-tropic. Therefore, India’s climate has characteristics of tropical as well as subtropical climates.
• Altitude: India has mountains to the north which have an average height of about 6,000 metres. India also has a.vast coastal area where the maximum elevation i% about 30 metres. The Himalayas prevent the cold winds from Central AsiafrQm entering the subcontinent. It is because of these mountains that this subcontinent experiences comparatively milder winters as compared to central Asia.
• Pressure and Winds: The pressure and wind conditions over India are unique. During winter, there is a high-pressure area north of the Himalayas. Cold dry winds blow from this region to the low-pressure areas over the oceans to the south. In summer, a low-pressure area develops over interior Asia as well as over northwestern India. This causes a complete reversal of the direction of winds during summer. Air moves from the high-pressure area over the southern Indian Ocean, in a south¬easterly direction, crosses the equator, and turns right towards the low-pressure areas over the Indian subcontinent. These are known as the Southwest Monsoon winds. These winds blow over the warm oceans, gather moisture and bring widespread rainfall over the mainland of India.

Question 3.
Mention any three characteristics of the Monsoon’.[CBSE 2011,12,14 ]
Answer:

• The Monsoons are pulsating in nature.
• These are affected by different atmospheric conditions prevailing in the region.
• The duration of the monsoon is between 100 – 120 days.

Question 4.
What is “October Heat”?
Answer:
The months of October-November form a period of transition from a hot rainy season to dry winter conditions. The retreat of monsoons is marked by clear skies, and rise in temperature. The land is still moist. Owing to the condition of high temperature and humidity, the weather becomes rather oppressive. This is commonly known as ‘October Heat’.

Question 5.
Explain development of Monsoon Trough and its influence over rainfall distribution. [CBSE 2014]
Answer:

• It is a region of low atmospheric pressure which develops because of excessive heat.
• It brings a remarkable change in rainfall pattern.
• It is responsible for diy and wet spells of monsoon.

Questions.6.
Compare the hot weather season of India with that of cold weather season.
Answer:

Questions.7.
How will you differentiate between the summer and winter monsoons?
Or
Differentiate between South-West and North-East trade winds.
Answer:

Question 8

Answer:

Questions.9.
“Monsoon acts as a unifying bond”. Explain. [CBSE March 2013,15]
Answer:

• The seasonal alteration of the wind systems and the associated weather conditions provide a rhythmic cycle of seasons. Even the uncertainties of rain and uneven distribution are very much typical of the monsoons.
• The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, its entire agricultural calendar arid the life of the people, including their festivities, revolve around this phenomenon. Year after year, people of India from north to south and from east to west, eagerly await the arrival of the monsoon.
• These monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing water to set the agricultural activities in motion. The river valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river valley unit.

Question 10.

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Question.1

• River Indus rises in Tibet near Mansarovar lake.
• Its total length is 2,900 km and is one of the longest rivers of the world.
• Majority flows through Pakistan and help in agricultural activities.
• The main tributaries of Indus are Nubra, Hunza, Sulley, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum. (any two)

Question 2.
Write a short note on the Brahmaputra river system.
Or
Describe the three main features of river Brahmaputra.
Answer:

• The Brahmaputra originates in Tibet where it is known as Tsangpo.
• It flows eastwards parallel to the Himalayas, but it takes a U-tum around the Namcha Barwa and enters India in Arunachal Pradesh.
• It is responsible for creating a havoc of floods in Assam and Bangladesh.
• This river receives less volume of water and has less silt in Tibetan part, but it carries a large volume of water and silt in India.
• It has a braided channel in most of its length in Assam with a few large islands within the channel.

Question 3.
Describe any three features of Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.
Or
Describe the features of the Ganga plain.
Answer:

• The Sundarban Delta derived its name from the Sundari tree which grows well in marshland.
• It is formed by the rivers Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
• It is the world’s largest and fastest growing delta.
• It is also the home of Royal Bengal Tiger.

Question 4.
Why do the Himalayan rivers get flooded every year? What are its advantages?
Answer:

• The Himalayan rivers receive water from the melted snow from the lofty mountains as well as from rain.
• During monsoons, due to heavy rainfall, these rivers get flooded every year.

Advantages:

• The Himalayan rivers flood parts of the northern plains enfiching the soil for the extensive agricultural lands.
• Various food crops and cash crops are grown in these fertile lands.

Question 5.
What progress has been made in the Ganga Action Plan?
Answer:

• Sixty-nine schemes have been completed with positive results.
• Trees have been planted in badly eroded portions.
• Check dams have been repaired in the upper reaches of the river.
• Interception and diversion of several major drains carrying sewage and industrial wastes to the river in some cities like Varanasi, Kanpur, Patna have reduced the pollution level.
• Turtles and the Gangetic dolphins which had disappeared for several years have now reappeared in Varanasi and other places.

Question 6.
Why are most of the Peninsular rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal? Give reasons. Name the two rivers draining into the Arabian Sea.
Answer:
(i)
(a) The main water divide in Peninsular India is formed by the Western Ghats, which runs from north to south close to the western coast..
(b) The Deccan Plateau is higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards.
Thus, most of the peninsular rivers such as Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri flow eastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal.
(ii) The river Narmada and river Tapi drain into the Arabian Sea.

Question 7.
Describe the four drainage patterns.
Answer:
The four drainage patterns are as follows:

• Dendritic: The dendritic patterns develop where the river channels follows the slope terrain. The stream with its tributaries resembles the branches of a tree, thus the name dendritic.
• Trellis: A river joined by its tributaries, at approximately right angles, develops a Trellis pattern. A Trellis drainage pattern develops where hard and soft rocks: exist parallel to each other.
• Rectangular: A rectangular drainage pattern develops on a strongly-jointed rocky terrain.
• Radial: The radial pattern develops when streams flows in different directions from a central peak or dome-like structure.

Question 8.
“Rivers constitute the most useful natural resources.” Support the statement with five suitable examples. HOTS
Answer:
Rivers are the most important natural resources because

• Rivers provide water for survival and growth of all organisms.
• Rivers provided ideal conditions for the early man to lead a settled life.
• Rivers have built flood plains, deltas and provide fertile soil for agriculture.
• Water from rivers is used for drinking, irrigation and for generating hydro- electricity.
• Man is able to supplement his food supply with the fish in the rivers. Rivers also serve as natural waterways.
• World’s earliest civilization developed in the river valleys, e.g., Nile Valley civilization, Indus Valley civilization etc. River Valleys are the world’s best agricultural lands, and are densely populated regions.

Question 9.
Explain the main features of the rivers originating from the Himalayas.
Answer:

• Most of the Himalayan rivers are perennial. It means that they have water throughout the year.
• The Himalayan rivers have long courses from their source to the sea.
• These perform intensive erosional activity in their upper courses and carry huge loads of silt and sand.
• They have cut through the mountains making gorges.
• They also have well-developed deltas.

Question.10

• Sewage flowing into the river is to be diverted to other locations for treatment and conversion into energy source.
• Steps have been taken to supply safe drinking water by constructing electric crematoriums and separating bathing Ghats.
• The diversion of several major drains carrying wastes into the river has been completed in cities like Varanasi, Patna and Kanpur and pollution level has been decreased.
• Infrastructure capable of diverting and treatment 835 million litres per day of domestic waste or sewage has been created.
• Ganga Action Plan has been merged with National River Conservation Plan. It now covers 152 towns located along 27 Inter-state rivers in over 16 states.

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Question 1.
Explain the theory of Plate Tectonics. HOTS
Answer:
According to this theory, the crust of the earth has been formed out of seven major and some minor plates. The movement of these plates led to folding, faulting and volcanic activity. These are classified in three categories:

• Convergent Boundary: When plates come .towards each other, also called folding movement.
• Divergent Boundary: When plates move away from each other, also called faulting movement.
• Transform Boundary: In the event of coming together, they may collide or may slide under each other.

Question 2.
What is the difference between a tributary and a distributary?
Answer:
A Tributary: A tributary is that river which joins the main river, and increases the volume of water. It is generally found in the upper or the middle course of a river. For example, the Yamuna is the main tributary of the river Ganga.

A Distributary: It is that river which originates from a main river. It is formed near the river’s mouth before it falls into the sea. It is found in the lower course of the river. For example, the Hooghly is the main distributary of the Ganga.

Question 3.
Name the three major divisions of Himalayas from the north to south.
Answer:
The three major divisions of Himalayas from north to south are:

• The northernmost range which is known as the Great Himalayas or Inner Himalayas or Himadri. It is the most continuous range consisting of the loftiest peaks. It has an average height of 6000 meters. It consists of all the prominent Himalayan peaks.
• The southern range of Himadri which is known the Himachal or the lesser Himalayas lies to the South of Himadri. It forms the most rugged mountain system. The ranges are mainly composed of highly compressed and altered rocks. The altitude varies between 3700 and 4500 meters and its average width is 50 kms.
• The outermost range of the Himalayas is known as Shiwaliks. Its height varies between 900 meters and 1100 meters. This range is composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by rivers from the main Himalayan ranges. These are also called foothill ranges. They represent the southernmost divison of Himalaya.

Question 4.
Name the southernmost range of Himalaya. Mention any four features of this range.
Answer:
The southernmost range of Himalayas is called Shiwaliks.
Features:

• The outermost range of the Himalayas is called the Outer Himalayas or Shiwaliks.
• They extend over a width of 10-15 km.
• Their altitude varies between 900-1100 metres.
• They are discontinuous ranges and are composed of unconsolidated sediments, gravel and alluvium brought down by the rivers from main Himalayan ranges located farther north.
• Longitudinal valleys known as Duns lie between the lesser Himalayas and Shiwaliks. e.g., Dehradun, Kote Dun, Path Dun. (any four)

Question 5.
How is Himadri range different from Himachal range? Mention any three differences.
Answer:

Question 6.
Differentiate between Western Himalayas and Eastern Himalayas.
Answer:

Question 7.
Write about the main features of the Shiwaliks.
Answer:

• It is the outermost range of the Himalayas.
• The average altitude of the Shiwalik range varies between 900 m and 1,100 m above the sea level, and extends over a width of about 10-50 km.
• This range is made of unconsolidated material such as mud, silt and soft rocks and is prone to earthquakes and landslides.
• Some narrow valleys are found between the Shiwaliks and the Himachal. They are called ‘duns’. For example, Dehradun, is situated in one such valley.

Question 8.
How did the northern plains come to existence? Write two points briefly. Also mention two features of these plains.
Answer:
(i) The northern plains have been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems, i.e., the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
(ii) The northern plain is formed of the alluvial soil brought by these rivers.
Features:

• These plains are very fertile.
• These are densely polulated.

Question 9.
Why are Northern Plains agriculturally productive parts of India? Explain.
Answer:

• The deposition of alluvium in a vast basin lying at the foothills of the Himalaya over millions of years, formed this fertile plain. It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sQuestion km.
• The plain being about 2400 km. long and 240 to 320 km. broad, is a densely populated physiographic division.
• With a rich soil cover combined with adequate water supply and favourable climate, it is agriculturally a very productive part of India.

Question 10.
Which three river systems form the northern plains of India? Mention main features.
Answer:
The northern plain has been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems—the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
Features:

• The river Indus and its tributaries form the western part of the northern plain which is referred to as the Punjab plains. The larger part of this plain lies in Pakistan.
• The Ganga plain extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers. It spreads over the states of North India; Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, partly Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• The Brahmaputra plain particularly lies mainly in Assam. It forms the largest riverine islands in the world.

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Question 1.
Explain the major dimensions of food security.
Answer:
Food security has the following dimensions:

• Availability of food: It means food production within the country, food imports and the previous years stock stored in government granaries.
• Accessibility: It means food is within reach of every person.
• Affordability: It implies that an individual has enough money to buy sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet one’s dietary needs.

Question 2.
Mention the major features of Public Distribution system of India.
Answer:

• The PDS has proved to be the most effective instrument of government policy over the years in stabilising prices and making food available to consumers at affordable prices.
• It has been instrumental in averting widespread hunger and famine by supplying food from surplus regions of the country to the deficit ones.
• The system, including the minimum support price and procurement has contributed to an increase in foodgrain production and provided income security to farmers in certain regions.
• It has minimized hoarding and black marketing.

Question 3.
What are the limitations of the public distribution system?  [CBSE 2015]
Answer:

• Failed to remove hunger: The PDS has been working for many years but still hunger is prevailing in the Indian society.
• Overflowing godowns: The FCI godowns are overflowing with foodgrains. In 2012 the stock of wheat and rice was 82.3 million tonnes which was much more than the minimum stock. There is a general consensus that high level of buffer stock of foodgrains is very undesirable and can be wasteful.
• Poor foodgrain quality: As most of godowns have more stock than their capacity, this leads to deterioration in grain quality.
• Adverse impact on the environment: Due to incentive by the government most of the states are producing only rice and wheat. The intensive utilization of water in the cultivation of rice has led to environmental degradation and fall in the water level, threatening the sustain- ability of the agricultural development in many states.

Question 4.
How is food security ensured in India?
Answer:
Food security in India has two components:
(a) Buffer stock
(b) Public distribution system.
(a) Buffer Stock: Buffer Stock is the stock of foodgrains, namely wheat and rice procured by the government through Food Corporation of India (FCI). The FCI purchases wheat and rice from the farmers in states where there is surplus production.

The purchased foodgrains are stored in granaries. This is done to distribute foodgrains in the deficit areas and among the poorer strata of society at a price lower than the market price, also known as Issue Price. This helps in resolving the problem of shortage of food.

(b) Public distribution system: The stored food is distributed to the poor people through ration shops. The items are sold to the poor people at a price lower than the market price.
Other schemes: Over the years, several new programmes have been launched like mid-day meal, Antyodaya Ana Yojana, etc. for food security.

Question 5.
Why is buffer stock created by the Government?
Answer:

• Food security: The main objective of the buffer stock is to distribute the foodgrains in the deficit areas and among the poorer strata of society at a price lower than the market price.
• Disaster or Calamity: The second objective of the buffer stock is to resolve the problem of shortage of food during adverse weather conditions or during the period of calamity.
• To save the farmers from the ups and downs of the market: The third important objective of the buffer stock is to save the farmers from ups and downs of the market. Under this farmers are paid a preannounced price for their crops. This price is declared by the government before the sowing season to provide incentives to the farmers.
• Uninterrupted supply of foodgrains: Buffer stocks are also created by the government to maintain uninterrupted supply of foodgrains throughout India and throughout the year.

Question. 6

• British Rule: Britishers ruled India more than 100 years. Prior to the British rule, traditional industries, for instance, textiles, flourished in India. During the British rule, the government adopted policies to discourage such industries. This left millions of weavers poor. Even after fifty years of independent India, we can find a major section of the people engaged handicraft industries as downtrodden.
• Lack of industrialisation: India is very backward from the industrial point of view. Hardly 3 per cent of the total working population is engaged in the large- scale industry.
• Over dependence on agriculture: Even after more than 60 years of independence more than 60 per cent of our total population still depends on agriculture for its livelihood. Due to shortage of inputs, our agriculture is backward.
• Inflationary pressure: Upward trend in prices adversely affects the poor sections of the society.
• Unemployment: Due to lack of job opportunities, more than 90 lakhs of our total working force is unemployed.

Question 7
Explain the major limitations of Public Distribution System.
Answer:

• Stock higher than buffer norms: The actual stock has always remained higher than the buffer. There is a general consensus that high level of buffer stocks of food- grains is very undesirable and can be wasteful. The storage of massive food stocks has been responsible for high carrying costs, in addition to wastage and deterioration in grain quality.
• High burden on the economy: The Minimum Support Price for food grains has risen very sharply in the recent years leading to a very high burden on state exchequer.
• Threat to sustainability of agriculture: The intensive utilisation of water in the cultivation of rice has also led to environmental degrada-tion and fall in the water level, threatening the sustainability of the agricultural development in many states.
• Marked ineffectiveness: Another major area of concern is the marked ineffectiveness of PDS, which is apparent from the fact that the average consumption of PDS grain at the all-India level is only 1 kg per person per month. The average consumption figure is as low as less than 300 gm per person per month in the states of Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.
• Corrupt dealers: PDS dealers are sometimes found resorting to malpractices like diverting the grains to open market to get better margin, selling poor quality grains at ration shops, irregular opening of the shops, etc. It is common to find that ration shops regularly have unsold stocks of poor quality grains left.

Question 8.
Distinguish between chronic and seasonal hunger.
Answer:

Question 9.
Study the graph and answer the following questions:

(i) In which recent year foodgrain stock with the government was maximum?
(ii) What was the minimum buffer stock norm in 2012?
(iii) Why were the FCI granaries overflowing with foodgrains?
(iv) What is buffer stock?
(v) Why is there general consensus that high level of buffer stock of foodgrains is very undesirable?
Answer:

• July, 2012.
• 33 million tonnes.
• The PDS or the Public Distribution System has failed to distribute foodgrains through the fair price shops.
• A stock of foodgrains procured by the government to distribute in deficit areas and among the poor strata of society.
• The higher level of buffer stock can be wasteful. The storage of massive food stock has been responsible for high carrying costs in adition to wastage and deterioration in grain quality.

Question 10

• Stock higher than buffer norms: The actual stock has always remained higher than the buffer. There is a general consensus that high level of buffer stocks of food- grains is very undesirable and can be wasteful. The storage of massive food stocks has been responsible for high carrying costs, in addition to wastage and deterioration in grain quality.
• High burden on the economy: The Minimum Support Price for food grains has risen very sharply in the recent years leading to a very high burden on state exchequer.
• Threat to sustainability of agriculture: The intensive utilisation of water in the cultivation of rice has also led to environmental degrada-tion and fall in the water level, threatening the sustainability of the agricultural development in many states.
• Marked ineffectiveness: Another major area of concern is the marked ineffectiveness of PDS, which is apparent from the fact that the average consumption of PDS grain at the all-India level is only 1 kg per person per month. The average consumption figure is as low as less than 300 gm per person per month in the states of Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.
• Corrupt dealers: PDS dealers are sometimes found resorting to malpractices like diverting the grains to open market to get better margin, selling poor quality grains at ration shops, irregular opening of the shops, etc. It is common to find that ration shops regularly have unsold stocks of poor quality grains left.

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NCERT Solution : Food Security in India

MCQs: Food Security in India

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