Chapter – 9 Public Facilities

Question. Why do you think there are so few cases of private water supply in the world?

Answer.

• There are few cases of private water supply in the world. Private companies do not take interest in undertaking any profit or low-profit work.
• Few private companies supply water through water tankers or in sealed bottles.
• They provide this facility at a price that only some people can afford.
• Water is an essential facility that needs to be provided for everyone.
• The government provides water facilities to all at an affordable rate so that anybody will not be deprived of the opportunity to live a good life.

Question. Do you think water in Chennai is available to and affordable for all? Discuss.

Answer.

1. In Chennai, water is not available and affordable to all.
2. Here water supply is not adequate and regular.
3. They have to wait long for public water tankers.
4. In Chennai government’s water supply is not adequate and regular.
5. People who live in slums suffer a lot.
6. They have only one common tap for 20-30 huts.
7. They have to wait long for public water tankers.

Question. How is the sale of water by farmers to water dealers in Chennai affecting the local people? Do you think local people can object to such exploitation of groundwater? Can the government do anything in this regard?

Answer.

The sale of water by farmers to water dealers in Chennai affects the local people as follows:

• Due to heavy exploitation of water, the groundwater level dropped drastically in the agricultural areas.
• Their agriculture suffers because they fail to manage water for irrigation.
• Local people can object to such heavy groundwater exploitation since it’s a public facility or nature’s gift on which everyone has equal rights.
• The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has to permit groundwater withdrawal and should take the necessary steps to recharge groundwater.

Question. Why are most private hospitals and private schools located in major cities and not in towns or rural areas?

Answer.

• Insignificant cities, life is fast. People could not wait for hours together, standing in long queues.
• They can afford it as they have money to spend.
• City people are more ambitious.
• They expect better facilities in private hospitals and private schools.
• Private schools/ hospitals provide better infrastructural facilities.

Question. Do you think the distribution of public facilities in our country is adequate and fair? Give an example of your own to explain.

Answer.

• Our country’s distribution of public facilities, such as the right to water, health, education, etc., is not adequate and fair.
• The major role of government is to ensure adequate public facilities for everyone, but the progress in this regard is far from satisfactory.
• There is inequality and irregularity in water supply distribution compared to metropolitan and big cities and towns.
• In comparison to wealthy localities, the poor localities are under-serviced.
• People who live in slums suffer a lot. They are provided with a very low water supply.

Ex: Take the example of electricity. It is not supplied to the insufficient public measure. In VIP areas, it is abundant, and people there avail facilities of ACs, heaters, etc. But in middle and lower class areas, people get electricity only for a few hours, and sometimes they don’t .

Question. Take some of the public facilities in your area, such as water, electricity, etc. Is there scope to improve these? What, in your opinion, should be done? Complete the table.

Answer.

It is available	How can it be improved?
Water	Yes	By extending the hour of supply. The quality of water should be checked regularly.
Electricity	Yes	Strict action should be taken to prevent light wastage, such as street lights being on during the daytime. Public appeal to prevent wastage. By extending power supply hours.
Roads	Yes	By making the roads with proper and good quality material. By regular repair and maintenance. By making footpath on both sides of the road to prevent breakage on the side.
Public Transport	Yes	By running some more buses.By deputing trained drivers.By arranging the service at the proper intervals.

Question. Are the above public facilities shared equally by all the people in your area? Elaborate.

Answer.

No, the above public facilities are not shared equally by all the people in our area.

• The municipal supply of public facilities meets only near about half the needs of the people of our area.
• For half of the needs, people take the help of private means.
• Public facilities like health care facilities are provided now. The poor fail to get these facilities.
• Due to the rush, most people do not avail governmental public facilities like health care, etc.

Question. Data on some public facilities are collected as part of the Census. Discuss with your teacher when and how the Census is conducted.

Answer.

• The census is conducted every 10 years. It counts the entire population of the country.
• It also collects detailed information about the people living in India, their age, schooling, work, etc.
• This information is used to measure several things, such as the number of literate people and the ratio of males and females.
• After the collection Census Dept publishes the data.

Question. Private educational institutions – schools, colleges, universities, technical and vocational training institutes are coming up in our country in a big way. On the other hand, educational institutes run by the government are becoming relatively less important. What do you think would be the impact of this? Discuss.

Answer.

• The government would withdraw from these activities.
• Private agencies will be given a boost.
• Money would play an important role.
• Children from the deprived sections of society would be at a loss.
• Less qualified teachers would work in private institutions.
• Children will get quantitative rather than qualitative education.

Chapter 9 – Public Facilities Summary

The government provides public facilities to the country’s citizens for them to have a comfortable life. The government’s primary responsibility is to ensure that everyone has access to adequate public facilities. It improves living standards and assists any country in gaining international recognition in terms of development. Public facilities are linked to basic requirements, and the Indian Constitution recognizes the right to water, health, education, and other such rights as part of the Right to Life.

You’ll learn about the following topics:

• The Persons of Chennai and Water: Water is a public service available in various quantities to different people. Individuals have a fundamental right to safe drinking water, and it is the government’s responsibility to provide it to its population.
• Water as a Part of the Basic Human Rights: Water is necessary for life and good health.
• India has one of the highest water-borne illnesses, such as diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution recognizes the right to water as part of the right to life. That is to say, “universal access” to water should be provided.
• Public facilities include electricity, public transportation, schools and universities, and other necessities for survival and daily living. A large number of people share the benefits of public facilities.
• The Government’s Role: One of the government’s most essential responsibilities is to ensure that these public amenities are accessible to everyone. Making provisions for education, establishing schools and colleges, ensuring equal distribution of food throughout the country, improving health and sanitation facilities, improving transportation, and maintaining public utility works such as post offices, railways, and roads are all responsibilities of the government.

‘Social and Political Life – III’ is a crucial text for Social Science students in Class 8. Apart from this chapter, the websites contain the complete set of NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science. Students can get a free pdf containing solutions for NCERT Class 8 Civics by clicking on the above links, and they can keep it for future reference.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Civics Chapter 8 Confronting Marginalisation

Question 1.
List two Fundamental Rights in the Constitution that Dalits can draw upon to insist that they should be treated with dignity and as equals. Re-read the Fundamental Rights listed on page 14 (of NCERT Textbook) to help you answer this question.
Answer:

• Right to Equality (1st Fundamental Right).
• Right against Exploitation.

Question 2.
Re-read the story on Rathnam as well as the provisions of the 1989 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Now list one reason why you think he used this law to file a complaint.
Answer:

• Rathnam used the law to file a complaint because he was forced to leave the village along with his mother and other members of his family.
• He filed the complaint against the domination and violence of the powerful castes of the village.

Question 3.
Why do Adivasi activists, including C.K. Janu, believe that Adivasis can also use this 1989 Act to fight against dispossession? Is there anything specific in the provisions of the Act that allows her to believe this?
Answer:
The Adivasi activists including C.K Janu believe that Adivasis can also use this 1989 Act to fight dispossession because this Act guarantees the tribals not to be dispossessed from the land and resources forcibly. Their land cannot be sold or bought by non-tribal people. The Constitution also guarantees the right of the tribal people to repossess their land.

Question 4.
The poems and the song in this Unit allow you to see the range of ways in which individuals and communities express their opinions, their anger and their sorrow. In class, do the following two exercises:
(a) Bring to class a poem that discusses a social issue. Share this with your classmates. Work in small groups with two or more poems to discuss their meaning as well as what the poet is trying to communicate.
(b) Identify a marginalised community in your locality. Write a poem, or song, or draw a poster, etc. to express your feelings as a member of this community.
Answer:
(a) Frame a poem of your own and do the activity which this question asks you to do.
(b) Yes. Marginalised community in our locality is the scheduled caste community. Now frame a poem or song or draw a poster, etc. to express your feelings as a member of this community.
Hints: A Poster

• An SC member wants to enter a Hindu Temple.
• The Priest asks him not to do so.
• Visitors to the temple belonging to Hindu powerful people beat the SC member and throw him away out of the gate of the temple.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Civics Chapter 7 Understanding Marginalization

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Civics Chapter 7 Understanding Marginalization

Question 1
Write in your own words two or more sentences of what you understand by the word ‘marginalization’.
Solution:
Marginalisation means the communities which are put at the margins of economic and cultural development. These communities are devoid of any changes or advancement which other people enjoy in modem times.

Question 2
List two reasons why Adivasis are becoming increasingly marginalised.
Solution:
The development of forests robbed the Adivasis of their natural territory and livelihood and turned them into marginal and powerless communities.

The Adivasis are portrayed negatively as exotic, primitive and backward people and are represented through colourful costumes and headgears. This has led to the marginalization of this community in modern India.

Question 3
Write one reason why you think the Constitution’s safeguards to protect minority communities are very important?
Solution:
Constitutional safeguards are important because these communities are backward and are lacking at educational, social, and economic levels. To give them equal status in society these safeguards are required. For the progress of a nation, it is necessary that all parts of society should progress.

Question 4
Re-read the section on Minorities and Marginalisation. What do you understand by the term minority?
Solution:
The term minority is most commonly used to refer to communities that are numerically small in relation to the rest of the population.

The Indian Constitution provides safeguards to religious and linguistic minorities as part of its Fundamental Rights. It ensures that minorities are not discriminated against and that they do not face any disadvantage.

Question 5
You are participating in a debate where you have to provide reasons to support the following statement: ‘Muslims are a marginalized community’. Using the data provided in this chapter, list two reasons that you would give.
Solution:
The literacy rate of the Muslim population in India is the lowest. It is only 59%.
43.2% of Hindus have access to electricity while only 30% of Muslims have access to electricity. The above statistics support the statement that Muslims are a marginalised community in India.
Muslims are less educated. They have very little share in government jobs.

Question 6
Imagine that you are watching the Republic Day parade on TV with a friend and she remarks, “Look at these tribals. They look so exotic. And they seem to be dancing all the time”. List three things that you would tell her about the lives of Adivasis in India.
Solution:
Adivasis had a deep knowledge of the forests. They were traditionally hunter-gatherers and nomads and lived by shifting agriculture and also cultivating in one place. This knowledge of forests made the Adivasis indispensable to the Rulers of the various Empires in India during the pre-colonial days.

Adivasis have their own languages which may be as old as Sanskrit. The Adivasi language has influenced the formation of Indian languages, like Bengali.

Question 7
Would you agree with the statement that economic and social marginalisation are interlinked? Why?
Solution:
Yes, economic and social marginalization is interlinked.

1. Dalits and tribals were considered a lower class of society.
   • They are living in separate areas of villages. Tribals are living in remote areas.
   • They were not getting a proper education, so not good jobs.
2. When they do not get opportunities they remain economically weak and do not get an education and this circle continues.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Civics Chapter 6 Our Criminal Justice System

Question 1.
Define the term “Criminal Justice System’.
Solution:
Criminal justice system is the ‘body of law’ or ‘Court’ regulating the inquiry into whether a person has violated criminal law or not.

Question 2.
Write a brief note on the criminal procedure in the Criminal Justice System in India.
Solution:
A crime is first reported by the victim to the Police and the police file a FIR or First Information Report. Then the police begin the investigation and arrest the suspected person or persons. The police then file a charge sheet in the Magistrate’s Court. The trial begins in court. The Public Prosecutor represents the victim and the accused can defend themselves with the help of a lawyer. Once the trial is over the accused is either convicted or acquitted. If convicted, the accused can appeal to the higher court.

Question 3.
What is the role of the police in the Criminal Justice System?
Solution:
In the Criminal Justice System the police play the role of investigating the case and arresting the accused.

Question 4.
What are the guidelines that the police have to follow during investigation?
Solution:
Police investigations have to be conducted in accordance with law and with full respect for human rights. The police are not allowed to torture or beat or shoot anyone during investigation. They cannot inflict any form of punishment on a person even for petty offences.

Question 5.
What are D.K. Basu Guidelines?
Solution:
D.K. Basu Guidelines are as follows

1. The police officials who carry out the arrest or interrogation should wear clear, accurate and visible identification and name tags with their designations.
2. A memo of arrest should be prepared at the time of arrest and should include the time and date of arrest. It should also be attested by at least one witness who could include a family member of the person arrested. The arrest memo should be counter-signed by the person arrested.
3. The person arrested, detained or being interrogated has a right to inform a relative, friend or well wisher.
4. When a friend or relative lives outside the district, the time, place of arrest and venue of custody must be notified by police within 8 to 12 hours after arrest.

Question 6.
What is a FIR?
Solution:
FIR stands for First Information Report. The police have to file a FIR whenever a person gives information about a known offence. This information can be given to the police either orally or in writing. A FIR is necessary for the police to begin their investigations into a crime.

The FIR should mention the date, time and place of the offence, details about the offence, including a description of the events. The FIR should also state the name and address of the complainant. There is a prescribed form in which the police register an FIR and it is signed by the complainant. The complainant also has a legal right to get a free copy of the FIR from the police.

Question 7.
Who is a Prosecutor?
Solution:
‘The Prosecutor’ is a lawyer representing the state or the people of the state in a criminal trial.

Question 8.
Why is the Prosecutor called a Public Prosecutor?
Solution:
The Prosecutor who represents the State is called a Public Prosecutor as a criminal offence is regarded as a public wrong, which has been committed not only against the victim, but also against the society as a whole.

Question 9.
What is the role of the judge in the Criminal Justice System?
Solution:
The judge conducts the trial impartially and in an open court. The judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the prosecution and the defence. The judge decides whether the accused person is guilty or innocent on the basis of the evidence presented and in accordance with the law. If the accused is convicted, then the judge pronounces the sentence. He may send the person to jail or impose a fine or both, depending on what the law prescribes.

Question 10.
What are the procedures that have to be followed if the criminal trial has to be a Fair Trial?
Solution:
A copy of the charge sheet and all other evidence has to be given to the accused. The trial has to be held in an open court, in public view, and should be in the presence of the accused. The accused has to be given a lawyer to defend himself in case he cannot afford to employ a lawyer.

The Prosecution has to prove beyond doubt the guilt of the accused and the Judge has to pass the judgment only on the basis of the evidence before the court.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 civics Chapter 5 – Judiciary

Question 1:

You read that one of the main functions of the judiciary is ‘upholding the law and Enforcing Fundamental Rights’. Why do you think an independent judiciary is necessary to carry out this important function?

ANSWER:

It is necessary to have an independent judiciary to carry out the basic function of “upholding the law and enforcing Fundamental Rights” because the judiciary plays a crucial role in the functioning of India’s democracy. It can function in this capacity only if it is independent of pressure from the legislature and the executive. This ensures two important things: one, the separation of powers between the judiciary, legislature and the executive can be maintained smoothly; two, any citizen can approach the courts of law if his/her Fundamental Rights are violated, without fear of disputes being solved in favour of those in power.

Question 2:

Re-read the list of Fundamental Rights provided in chapter 1. How do you think the Right to Constitutional Remedies connects to the idea of judicial review?

Answer

The Right to Constitutional Remedies connects to the idea of judicial review in its capacity of protecting the rights of an individual against the working of the State legislature or executive. The Right to Constitutional Remedies allows citizens to move the court if they think that any of their Fundamental Rights are being violated by the State administration. Judicial review implies invalidation of legislative or executive action if it is seen to violate Fundamental Rights. Hence, the Right to Constitutional Remedies and judicial review are inter-connected because the latter is practiced when a Fundamental Right is violated by the State. In this case, a higher court can repeal the judgments of a lower court based on its own investigation.

Question 3:

In the Following illustration, fill in each tier with the judgments given by the various courts in the Sudha Goel case. Check your responses with others in class.

ANSWER:

Lower Court (Trial Court): Laxman, his mother Shakuntala and his brother-in-law Subhash Chandra were sentenced to death

High Court: Laxman, Shakuntala and Subhash Chandra were acquitted.

Supreme Court: Laxman, Shakuntala were given life imprisonment while Subhash Chandra was acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence.

Question 4:

Keeping the Sudha Goel case in mind, tick the sentences that are true and correct the ones that are false.

(a) The accused took the case to the High Court because they were unhappy with the decision of the Trial Court.

(b) They went to the High Court after the supreme Court had given its decision.

(c) If they do not like the Supreme Court verdict, the accused can go back again to the Trial Court.

ANSWER:

(a) True

(b) They went to the High Court after the Trial Court had given its decision.

(c) If they do not like the Supreme Court verdict, the accused cannot go back again to the Trial Court since the Supreme Court is at the highest rung of the judiciary pyramid.

Question 5:

Why do you think the introduction of Public interest Litigation (PIL) in the 1980s is a significant step in ensuring access to justice for all?

ANSWER:

Re-read excerpts from the judgment on the Olga Tellis vs Bombay Municipal Corporation case. Now write in your own words what the judges meant when they said that the Right to Livelihood was part of the Right to Life.

The introduction of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the 1980s is a significant step in ensuring access to justice for all because it also keeps in mind the interests of the illiterate and poor who are not educated enough or cannot afford to access the Indian legal system for justice against exploitation or violation of their basic human and Fundamental Rights.

Question 6:

Re-read excerpts from the judgment on the Olga Tellis vs Bombay Municipal Corporation case. Now write in your own words what the judges meant when they said that the Right to Livelihood was part of the Right to Life.

ANSWER:

In Olga Tellis vs. Bombay Municipal Corporation case, the judges said that the Right to Livelihood was part of the Right to Life. They stated that life does not merely imply an animal existence; it cannot be lived without a means of living, that is, “the means of livelihood”. The judges conferred that eviction from a pavement or slum is deprivation of means of livelihood for the poor who cannot afford to live anywhere else. They take up small jobs in surrounding areas and to lose their pavement or slum would lead to loss of a job resulting in loss of a means of livelihood. Consequently, leading to “deprivation of life”. This is how the judges connected Right to Livelihood to the Right to Life.

Question 7:

Write a story around the theme, ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’.

ANSWER:

Attempt this question on your own.

Question 8:

Make sentences with each of the glossary words given on the next page.

ANSWER:

(a) Acquit – The strong case in favour of Ravi led the High Court to acquit him of all charges of guilt that the Trial Court had levied on him.

(b) To appeal – The women’s organization lent strong support to the domestic maid to appeal against charges of theft that her employer had accused her of.

(c) Compensation – The state government paid compensation to the victims’ families after an unfortunate train accident that killed hundreds.

(d) Eviction – The company’s claims to land occupied by slum-dwellers led to the poor people’s eviction from their homes, which were bull-dozed by municipal authorities.

(e) Violation- The judiciary takes stringent action against any violation of Fundamental Rights.

Question 9:

The following is a poster made by the Right to Food Campaign.

Read this poster and list the duties of the government to uphold the Right to Food.

How does the phrase “hungry stomachs, overflowing godowns! We will not accept it!!” used in the poster relate to the photo essay on the Right to food on page 61?

ANSWER:

The duties of the government to uphold the Right to Food include providing for the poor who cannot afford basic meals; taking care of the elderly, widows, disabled and children who might not be able to earn a livelihood; and, ensuring that no one dies due to malnutrition or hunger.

The phrase “Hungry stomachs, overflowing godowns! We will not accept it !!” relates to the photo essay on the Right to Food (on page 61) because it highlights the droughts in Rajasthan and Orissa in 2001 when millions faced acute shortage of food even though government godowns were overflowing with grain which was being eaten away by rats. The People’s Union of Civil Liberties filed a PIL in the Supreme Court against the guilty state governments who were then directed to provide more employment, food at cheaper rates and mid-day meals for children. In this sad situation of “hunger amidst plenty”, the filed PIL helped bring relief to many.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 4 Understanding Laws Social and Political Life

Exercises

1. Write in your own words what you understand by the term the ‘rule of law’. In your response include a fictitious or real example of a violation of the rule of law.

Answer

Law is a system of rules, usually imposed through a Government or Institution and is applied to govern a group people. It shapes politics,economics and society in numerous ways.

The most common example of a violation of the rule of law can be seen on the roads. Motorists and pedestrians do not follow the traffic rules. Motorists do not adhere to speed limits nor do they stop behind the line at traffic signals. Pedestrians rarely use the zebra crossing and cross the road at will causing harm not only to themselves but also to other road users.

2. State two reasons why historians refute the claim that the British introduced the rule of law in India.

Answer

The two reasons why historians refute the claim that the British introduced the Rule of Law in India are
→ Colonial law was arbitrary, e.g. Sedition Act of 1870
→ Indian nationalists played a prominent role in the development of the legal sphere in British India.

3. Re-read the storyboard on how a new law on domestic violence got passed. Describe in your own words the different ways in which women’s groups worked to make this happen.

Answer

Women’s groups worked hard and untiringly towards the passing of the new law on domestic violence in India. They used different forums like public protests, hearings, meetings with other organizations, press conferences and petitions to the government to introduce a new reformed bill on domestic violence to include demands like monetary relief and protection against being evicted from the shared household. While earlier, domestic violence only entailed “injury or harm or threat of injury or harm” by an adult male against a woman. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 extended to include physical, economic, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse.

4. Write in your own words what you understand by the following sentence on page 44-45: They also began fighting for greater equality and wanted to change the idea of law from a set of rules that they were forced to obey, to law as including ideas of justice.
Answer

This line refers to the protests of Indian nationalists against the violation of the rule of law by British authorities. Indians were discriminated against in their own country by the British colonists and the Sedition Act of 1870 was the most prolific example of the breach of the rule of law. This Act was remonstrated against by Indian freedom fighters in favour of a more just set of rules based on ideals of equality.
Many Indians began to practice the legal profession and used it to demand and gain equal rights for all. Thus, Indians played a major role in the evolution of the rule of law during times of colonial rule.

Question 1.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Civics Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism

Question 1.
Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practice infanticide? Give reasons for your answer.
Solution:
Yes, the government will and should intervene because this practice is against the right to freedom to live. Moreover, it is a crime to kill or practice infanticide.

Let’s Recall

Question 1.
List the different types of religious practices that you find in your neighbourhood. This could be different forms of prayer, worship of different gods, sacred sites, different kinds of religious music and singing, etc. Does this indicate freedom of religious practice?
Answer:
Different types of religious practice:
(i) Jagran
(ii) Kirtan
(iii) Namaj
(iv) Mass
(v) Havan
Yes, this indicates freedom of religious practice.

Question 2.
Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practice infanticide? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
The government will surely intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practice infanticide. Needless to say that the practice of infanticide is a crime. Under this practice the life of a newly-born child is killed. The law does not allow anyone to kill a life.

Question 3.
Complete the following table:

Answer:

Question 4.
Look up the annual calendar of the holidays of your school. How many of them pertain to different’religions? What does this indicate?
Answer:
Holidays in a school calendar for different religions:

Question 5.
Find out some examples of different views within the same religion.
Answer:
Different views are followed even within the same religion. As for example, only in the Hindu religion, we have hundreds of deities worshipped by different groups of people. Similarly, in the Muslim community, there are Shiyas and Shunnis. In Jainas, there are Shwetambar and Digambar sects. In Buddha Dharma, there are Hinayaans and Mahayaans.

Question 6.
The Indian State both keeps away from religion as well as intervenes in religion. This idea can be quite confusing. Discuss this once again in class using examples from the chapter as well as those that you might have come up with.
Answer:
India is a land of complex ideas. It is difficult to understand what it really wants. There are many ideals in the Constitution but practices are quite different from them. In many cases we see laws explain a concept in a different way. But people interpret it differently. Law itself in some cases acts differently. As for example, in secular state law has nothing to say in any of the practices of the religion but when the dominance of upper castes in religion was brought to question the law took favour of the lower castes. This interference of the State creates confusion.

Question 7.
This poster highlights the need for ‘Peace’. It says, “Peace is a never-ending process….. It cannot ignore our differences or overlook our common interests.” Write in your own words what you think the above sentences are trying to convey? How does it relate to the need for religious tolerance?

This chapter had three drawings on religious tolerance made by students of your age. Design your own poster on religious tolerance for your peers.
Answer:

• Peace is a never-ending process. It is the need of today.
• Peace respects our common interest and removes or minimize our difference.
• Peace helps us to live together in harmony.

I. Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct option:
(i) Which one is a correct statement with regard to Saudi Arabia?
(a) Non-Muslims can gather in a public place for prayer.
(b) They cannot build a temple, church, etc.
(c) They can live in their own way.
(d) None of the above

(ii) The most important aspect of secularism is its …………
(a) separation of religion from State power
(b) separation of politics from religion
(c) separation of one community from another
(d) mixing of religion with State power

(iii) The government cannot force Sikhs to wear a helmet while driving two-wheelers because ………..
(a) Sikhs are very powerful
(b) they do not obey government rules
(c) they look handsome in pagri
d) wearing a pagri is a very important part of Sikh religion
(iv) In American secularism, there is a …………
(a) the strict separation between religion and the State
(b) the loose separation between religion and the State
(c) the strict mingling of religion with the State
(d) the strict rule that contracts all religions
Answer:
(i) (b), (ii) (a), (iii) (d), (iv) (a).

II. Fill in the Blanks.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence.

1. The intervention of the State can also be in the form of ………….
2. In the United States of America, most children in government schools have to begin their school day reciting the
3. ‘Pledge of ……………….
4. The most important aspect of secularism is its separation of religion from …………. power.
5. Government schools don’t celebrate any ………….. festivals on the school premises.
6. The Indian State is not ruled by a ……………….. group and nor does it …………… any one religion.

Answer:

1. support
2. Allegiance
3. state
4. religious
5. religious, support

III. True/False

State whether each of the following statements is True or False.

1. In Indian secularism, the State is not strictly separate from religion.
2. Wearing a pagri is central to a Sikh’s religious practice.
3. Government schools can promote any one religion.
4. The Indian Constitution does not grant religious communities to set up their own schools and colleges.
5. In Indian secularism, the State cannot intervene in religion.

Answer:

1. True
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. False

IV. Matching Skills

Match the items given in Column A correctly with those given in Column B.

Answer:
(i) (d), (ii) (e), (iii) (a), (iv) (b), (v) (c).

Class 8 Social Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism  Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What examples does history provide us on the grounds of religion?
Answer:
History provides us with several examples of discrimination, exclusion, and persecution on the grounds of religion.

Question 2.
What happened in the Jewish state of Israel?
Answer:
Muslim and Christian minorities were treated badly in the Jewish state of Israel.

Question 3.
How are non-Muslims treated in Saudi Arabia?
Answer:
In Saudi Arabia, non-Muslims are not allowed to build a temple, church etc. They also cannot gather in a public place for prayers.

Question 4.
What does the term ‘secularism’ refer to?
Answer:
The term ‘secularism’ refers to the separation of the power of religion from the power of the State.

Question 5.
What do you mean by the freedom to interpret’?
Answer:
‘Freedom to interpret’ means an individual’s liberty to develop his own understanding and meaning of the religion that one practices.

Question 6.
Why cannot government schools celebrate religious festivals?
Answer:
Government schools cannot celebrate religious festivals because it will be a violation of the government’s policy of treating all religions equally.

Question 7.
Why is Paramjit allowed to drive in pagri?
Answer:
Paramjit is a Sikh youth and for him wearing a pagri is a very important part of his religion.

Question 8.
How is Indian secularism different from that of American secularism?
Answer:
Unlike Indian secularism, there is a strict separation between religion and the State in American secularism.

Question 9.
What is meant by ‘principled distance’?
Answer:
This means that any interference in religion by the State has to be based on the ideals laid out in the Constitution.

Class 8 Social Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Why is it important to separate religion from the State? Explain with examples.
Answer:
There are two main reasons why the separation of religion from the State is important:

The first is to prevent the domination of one religion over another. Example: Almost all countries of the world will have more than one religious group living in them. Within these religious groups, there will most likely be one group that is in a majority. If this majority religious group has access to State power, then it could quite easily use this power and financial resources to discriminate against and persecute persons of other religions. This would violate Fundamental Rights.

The second is to protect the freedom of individuals to exit from their religion, embrace another religion or have the freedom to interpret religious teachings differently. Example: We can give an example of untouchability in Hindu religious practice. If state power were in the hands of those Hindus who support untouchability, then it would be a difficult task for anyone to abolish this practice.

Question 2.
What are the three objectives of a secular State?
Answer:
The three objectives of a secular State are:

• One religious community does not dominate another.
• Some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community.
• The State does not enforce any particular religion nor does it take away the religious freedom of individuals.

Question 3.
Explain with an example that in Indian secularism the State can intervene in religious affairs.
Answer:
An important aspect of India’s secularism is that the State can intervene in religious affairs. We can prove this fact with an example of untouchability. It was a practice in which the members of the same religion, i.e. upper-caste Hindus, dominated other members, i.e. lower caste people, within it. In order to prevent this religion-based exclusion and discrimination of lower castes, the Indian Constitution banned untouchability. In this instance, the State intervened in religion in order to end a social practice that it believed discriminated against and excluded and that violated the Fundamental Rights of Lower castes.

Question 4.
What is secularism?
Answer:
The Indian Constitution contains Fundamental Rights. These rights are very important because they protect us against State power as well as against the tyranny of the majority. The Indian Constitution allows individuals the freedom to live by their religious beliefs and practices as they interpret these. Thus, our Constitution gives religious freedom to all and to maintain it India adopted a strategy of separating the power of religion and the power of the State. Secularism is, in fact, the separation of religion from the State.

Class 8 Social Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
In what different ways does the Indian State work to prevent religious domination?
Answer:
Indian secularism works in various ways to prevent religious domination:
(a) It uses a strategy of distancing itself from religion. The Indian State is not ruled by a religious group. It also does not support any one religion. In our country, government places like law courts, police stations, government schools, and offices are not supposed to demonstrate or promote any one religion.

(b) The second way in which Indian secularism works to prevent the domination of religion is through a strategy of non-interference. This means that in order to respect the sentiments of all religions and not interfere with religious practices, the State makes certain exceptions for particular religious communities. Just take the example of the Sikh community. For Sikhs, wearing a pagri is a very important part of their religion. The government cannot force them to wear a helmet while driving a two-wheeler.

(c) The third way in which Indian secularism works to prevent the domination of religion is through a strategy of intervention. Untouchability presents a good example where members of the same religion, e.upper caste Hindus, dominate other members, lower castes within it. In order to prevent this religion-based discrimination of lower castes, our Constitution banned untouchability. Here, the State intervened in religion in order to uproot a social practice that it believed discriminated against and excluded, and that violated the Fundamental Rights of the people belonging to the lower caste.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 1 The Indian Constitution Social and Political Life  III

Excercises

1. Why does a democratic country need a Constitution?

Answer

A democratic country need a Constitution because:
→ It lays out the important guidelines that govern decision making within the various societies of the country.
→ It lays down the ideals that form the basis of the kind of country that its citizens aspire to live in.
→ It serves as asset of rules and principles as the basis by which the country has to be governed.
→ It provides rules to safeguard the interests of minorities and prevent any kind of domination by the majority on minorities.

→ It lays down rules that guard against the misuse of power by any politician leader.
→ It also provides rights to its citizens and protects their freedom.

2. Look at the wordings of the two documents given below. The first column is from the 1990 Nepal Constitution. The second column is from the more recent interim Constitution of Nepal.

1990 Constitution of Nepal Part 7: Executive	2007 Interim Constitution Part 5: Executive
Article 35: Executive Power: The executive power of the Kingdom of Nepal shall be vested in His Majesty and the Council of Ministers.	Article 37: Executive Power: the executive power of Nepal shall be vested in the council of Ministers.

What is the difference in who exercises ‘Executive Power’ in the above two Constitutions of Nepal? Keeping this in mind, why do you think Nepal needs a new Constitution today?

Answer

The difference in who exercises “Executive Power” in the given two Constitutions of Nepal is that in the 1990 Constitution, this power was vested in the King and his Council of Ministers, while in the 2007 Interim Constitution of Nepal, “Executive Power” changed hands to being vested only in the Council of Ministers, thereby making Nepal a democracy from being a monarchy.
Nepal needs a new Constitution today because it is no longer a monarchy. The older Constitution vested power in the King, but when the country is now a democracy, a new Constitution is needed to reflect the “democratic” ideals of Nepal that the peoples’ movement desired and fought for. In order to achieve this, all its constitutive rules must be changed.

3. What would happen if there were no restrictions on the power of elected representatives?

Answer

If there are no restrictions on the power of the elected representatives the leaders might misuse the powers given to them. The Constitution provides safeguards against this misuse of power by our political leaders.

4. In each of the following situations, identify the minority. Write one reason why you think it is important to respect the views of the minority in each of these situations.

(a) In a school with 30 teachers, 20 of them are male.
(b) In a city, 5 per cent of the population are Buddhists.
(c) In a factory mess for all employees, 80 per cent are vegetarians.
(d) In a class of 50 students, 40 belong to more well-off families.

(a) In a school with 30 teachers, 20 of them are male.
(b) In a city, 5 per cent of the population are Buddhists.
(c) In a factory mess for all employees, 80 per cent are vegetarians.
(d) In a class of 50 students, 40 belong to more well-off families.

Answer

(a) Female teachers are in minority. The female teachers must be allowed space to voice their opinion so that their efforts at teaching are not hindered by their minority status.

(b) Budhhists are in minority. Every individual has the right to follow the religion of his/her choice. People of other faith must respect the religion other than their own.

(c) Non-vegetrians are in minority. Food choice is personal wish so he/she should have the freedom to eat what he/she wants.

(d) Under privileged are in minority. Citizens cannnot be discriminated by their birth so their views have to be respected.

5. The column on the left lists some of the key features of the Indian Constitution. In the other column write two sentences, in your own words, on why you think this feature is important:

Key Feature	Significance
Federalism Separation of Powers Fundamental Rights Parliamentary Form of Government

Answer

Key features

1. Federalism: It ensures national unity and at the same time allows individual progress. A federal government allows the Centre to hold supreme power but its Constituent States have some power as well.

2. Separation of Powers: This serves two purposes: firstly, tyrannical use of power is avoided since it does not vest power in any single authority. Secondly, the 3 organs of power also work as a check on each other, thereby maintaining a good balance.

3. Fundamental Rights: These are important because they conform to a humane society. They also protect citizens against arbitrary and absolute use of power by the State.

4. Parliamentary Form of Government: It upholds universal adult franchise. This entails the fact that the people of a country play a direct role in electing their representatives to run the state as well as the nation.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch Industries Geography

Excercises

1. Answer the following questions.

(i) What is meant by the term ‘industry’?

Answer

The term ‘industry’ refers to an economic activity that is concerned with the production of goods (e.g., iron and steel industry), extraction of minerals (e.g., coal mining industry) or provision of services (e.g., tourism industry).

(ii) What are the main factors which influence the location of an industry?

Answer

Factors influencing the location of an industry:
→ Availability of raw material
→ Availability of land
→ Adequate supply of water
→ Adequate supply of labour
→ Access to power
→ Amount of capital
→ Access to transport
→Presence of market

(iii) Which industry is often referred to as the backbone of modern industry and why?

Answer

Iron and steel industry is often referred to as the backbone of the modern industry because almost everything is either made from iron or steel or has been made using tools and machineries of these metals. There are plenty of examples like -ships, trains, vehicles; all are made largely of steel. Materials of our day-to-day use starting safety pin to our building in which we live, are made from steel. Without the use of iron no industry can run.

(iv) Why cotton textile industry rapidly expanded in Mumbai?

Answer

Cotton textile rapidly expanded in Mumbai because its warm, moist climate, facility of port for importing of machinery and above all the easy availability of skilled labour.

(v) What are the similarities between information technology industry in Bangalore and California?

Answer

Similarities between information technology industry in Bangalore and California:
→ Presence of high quality educational institutions, and advanced scientific and technological centres
→ Pleasant climate and clean environment.
→ Presence of good quality, skilled workforce.
→ Access to markets.
→ Well-developed and well-connected.

2. Tick the correct answer.

(i) Silicon Valley is located in
(a) Bangalore
(b) California
(c) Ahmedabad
► (b) California

(ii) Which one of the following industries is known as sunrise industry?
(a) Iron and steel industry
(b) Cotton textile

https://bc6f4487715ae55a19cb84bde62bf758.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

(c) Information technology
► (c) Information technology

(iii) Which one of the following is a natural fibre?
(a) Nylon
(b) Jute
(c) Acrylic
► (b) Jute

3. Distinguish between the following

(i) Agro-based and mineral-based industry

Agro-based industry	Mineral-based industry
Uses plant and animal products as raw materials	Uses mineral ores as raw materials
Source of employment for people in rural areas	Source of employment for people in rural as well as urban areas
Example: Dairy industry, cotton textile industry	Example: Iron and steel industry, heavy machinery industry

(ii) Public-sector and joint-sector industry

Public-sector industry	Joint-sector industry
Owned and operated by the government	Jointly owned and operated by the government and individuals or a group of individuals
Example: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Steel Authority of India Limited	Example: Maruti Udyog Limited

4. Give two examples of the following in the space provided.

(i) Raw materials: ____________ and _____________
(ii) End product: ____________ and _____________
(iii) Tertiary activities: ____________ and _____________
(iv) Agro-based industries: ____________ and _____________

(v) Cottage industries: ____________ and _____________
(vi) Co-operatives: ____________ and _____________

Answer

(i)Raw materials: cotton and steel
(ii)End product: shirt and safety pin
(iii)Tertiary activities: banking and transport
(iv)Agro-based industries: dairy industry and cotton textile industry
(v)Cottage industries: pottery industry and basket-weaving industry
(vi)Co-operatives: Anand Milk Union Limited and Sudha Dairy