Class 8th

Law and Social Justice MCQ Questions Class 8 Social Science with Answers

Question. Do you think the wages given to workers is______
(a) Low
(b) Adequate
(c) High
(d) None of the options

Answer : A

Question. Market has basically______parties
(a) Three
(b) One
(c) Two
(d) Four

Answer : A

Question. All persons are equal before______
(a) Police
(b) Minister
(c) Law
(d) Court

Answer : A

Question. It is______to deny workers their wages
(a) Justice
(b) Legal
(c) Illegal
(d) All of above

Answer : C

Question. Power looms are –
(a) Both Workers of textile mile and Small units with 4 – 6 looms
(b) None of the options
(c) Workers of textile mile
(d) Small units with 4 – 6 looms

Answer : A

Question. To protect people from exploitation – government make certain _________
(a) Courts
(b) Police
(c) Laws
(d) Ministers

Answer : C

Question. Supreme court is located in
(a) New Delhi
(b) Haryana
(c) Punjab
(d) Chandigarh

Answer : A

Question. 26 January was a day to establish
(a) Lower courts
(b) Supreme Court
(c) Panchayti raj
(d) High Court

Answer : D

Question. Right to health is included in
(a) Act 21
(b) Act 42
(c) Act 356
(d) Act 29

Answer : A

Question. To enforce the rule we have
(a) Judiciary
(b) Courts
(c) Minister
(d) Police

Answer : A

Question. Right against exploitation says that –
(a) No one can interrupt constitution
(b) All of the options
(c) No one can be forced to work for low wages
(d) Every person is free to chose any religion

Answer : C

Question. Enforcement of law become important –
(a) When law seeks to protect the weak from strong
(b) All of the options
(c) When law seeks to protect the ministers
(d) When law seeks to protect the rich persons

Answer : A

Question. The worlds most industrial tragedy took place in –
(a) Bhopal
(b) Karnataka
(c) Haryana
(d) Punjab

Answer : A

Question. Child Labour prevention means –
(a) Child under 14 of age banned for working in Restaurants
(b) Child under 14 of age banned for working in tea shops
(c) All of the options
(d) Child under 14 of age banned for working in dhabas

Answer : C

Question. Fundamental law was guaranteed by –
(a) Minister
(b) Government
(c) President
(d) Indian constitution

Answer : D

Question. Many workers are denied fair wages by their employers because –
(a) All of the options
(b) Paid low wages
(c) Workers has no bargaining power
(d) They badly need work.

Answer : A

Question. Only three states published the plan of child labour prevention act these are –
(a) Maharastra, Karnataka & Tamil Naidu
(b) None of the options
(c) Both Maharastra, Karnataka & Tamil Naidu and Punjab, Haryana & Maharastra
(d) Punjab, Haryana & Maharastra

Answer : A

Question. Violating child labour prevention act must be –
(a) Both Fine of rupee 10,000 to 20,000 and Penalized with the punishment of 3 months.
(b) None of the options
(c) Fine of rupee 10,000 to 20,000
(d) Penalized with the punishment of 3 months.

Answer : A

Question. Children labour prevention act was amended by the government in –
(a) Oct-05
(b) Oct-06
(c) Jan-02
(d) Sep-07

Answer : B

Question. No child below the age of______shall be employed to work in any factory
(a) Fourteen
(b) Three
(c) Ten
(d) Twenty

Answer : A

Question. With in three days, about how many people were dead
(a) More than 8,000
(b) None of the options
(c) Below 8,000
(d) About 8,000

Answer : A

Question. Bhopal gas tragedy occured on –
(a) 02-Dec-84
(b) 14-Dec-84
(c) 17-Dec-84
(d) 12-Dec-84

Answer : A

Question. In India incident occurs rapidly because of –
(a) Safety laws are not enforcement
(b) None of the options
(c) Both Safety laws are not enforcement and Safety laws are less in India
(d) Safety laws are less in India

Answer : C

Question. One worker can easily replace another because of –
(a) Low wages
(b) All of the options
(c) Too much unemployment
(d) Work in unsafe condition

Answer : C

Question. Lower working conditions include –
(a) All of the options
(b) Low wages labour
(c) Hard working labour
(d) Cheap labour

Answer : A

Question. UC means –
(a) Union calorie
(b) None of the options
(c) Union commission
(d) Unit Carbide

Answer : D

Question. Bhopal gas tragedy took place in –
(a) 24 years ago
(b) 10 years ago
(c) 20 years ago
(d) 22 years ago

Answer : A

Question. Give only one reason why foreigners come India?
(a) Both Hard working labour and Cheap labour
(b) None of the options
(c) Hard working labour
(d) Cheap labour

Answer : A

Question. Name the poisonous gas released from the industry at Bhopal.
(a) Methyl – Alcohol
(b) Methanol
(c) Methyl – chloride
(d) Methyl – isocyanide

Answer : D 

Question. UC is a______company.
(a) American
(b) None of the options
(c) Arabian
(d) African

Answer : A

Question. 26 January was a day to establish :-
(a) Supreme Court
(b) High Court
(c) panchayti raj
(d) Lower courts

Answer : B

Question. Market has basically ________ parties.
(a) Three
(b) One
(c) Two
(d) Four

Answer : A

Question. Enforcement of law become important :-
(a) When law seeks to protect the rich persons
(b) When law seeks to protect the ministers
(c) When law seeks to protect the weak from strong
(d) All of these

Answer : C

Question. Fundamental law was guaranteed by :-
(a) Minister
(b) Government
(c) President
(d) Indian constitution

Answer : D

Question. ‘Right against exploitation’says that :-
(a) Every person is free to chose any religion
(b) No one can interrupt constitution
(c) No one can forced to work for low wages
(d) All of these

Answer : C

Question. No child below the age of ______ shall be employed to work in any factory.
(a) Fourteen
(b) Twenty
(c) Ten
(d) Three

Answer : A

Question. All persons are equal before _____
(a) Police
(b) Minister
(c) Law
(d) Court

Answer : A

Question. To enforce the rule we have :-
(a) Courts
(b) Judiciary
(c) Minister
(d) Police

Answer : B

Question. ‘Right to health’ is included in :-
(a) Act 21
(b) Act 42
(c) Act 356
(d) Act 29

Answer : A

Question. Children labour prevention act was amended by the government in :-
(a) September 2007
(b) October2006
(c) January 2002
(d) October 2005

Answer : B

Question. Child Labour prevention means :-
(a) Child under 14 of age banned for working in dhabas
(b) Child under 14 of age banned for working in Restaurants
(c) Child under 14 of age banned for working in tea shops
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. Violating child labour prevention act must be :-
(a) Penalized with the punishment of 3 months.
(b) Fine of rupee 10,000 to 20,000
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. Only three states published the plan of child labour prevention act these are :-
(a) Maharastra, Karnataka & Tamil Naidu
(b) Punjab, Haryana & Maharastra
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. The world’s most industrial tragedy took place in :-
(a) Punjab
(b) Haryana
(c) Karnataka
(d) Bhopal

Answer : D

Question. Bhopal gas tragedy was took place :-
(a) 24 years ago
(b) 22 years ago
(c) 20 years ago
(d) 10 years ago

Answer : A

Question. UC means :-
(a) Unit calorie
(b) Union commission
(c) Union Carbide
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. UC is a _________ company.
(a) African
(b) American
(c) Arabian
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. Do you think the wages given to workers is _________.
(a) Adequate
(b) Low
(c) High
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. power looms are :-
(a) Small units with 4 – 6 looms
(b) Workers of textile mile
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. Many workers are denied fair wages by their employers because :-
(a) They badly need work
(b) Workers has no bargaining power
(c) paid low wages.
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Class 8 Civics Chapter 10 Important Questions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. What is Minimum Wages Act? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Minimum Wages Act specifies that wages should not be below a specified minimum limit.

2. Name the three states which have published plans to rescue and rehabilitate children who are working as domestic servants.
Answer: Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

3. How can you say that the Child Labour Prevention Act is not successful in achieving its goal? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Even today 74% of child domestic workers are under the age of 16.

4. Which disaster brought the issue of environment to the forefront?
Answer: The Bhopal gas tragedy brought the issue of environment to the forefront.

5. Write the full form of CNG.
Answer: CNG stands for Compressed Natural Gas.

6. Name the three South Asian countries which play hosts for industries producing pesticides, asbestos, etc.
Answer: India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

7. What do old ships no longer in use contain?
Answer: These ships contain potentially dangerous and harmful substances.

8: How can the government ensure social justice?
Answer: Through making, enforcing and upholding certain laws, the government can control the activities of individuals or private companies so as to ensure social justice.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What is the worth of an Indian worker? [V. Imp.]

Answer: One worker can easily replace another. Since there is so much unemployment, there are many workers who are willing to work in unsafe conditions in return for a wage. Making use of the worker’s vulnerability, employers ignore safety in workplaces. Thus, even so many years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, there are regular reports of accidents in construction sites, mines or factories due to the ruthless attitude of the employers.

2. How was the environment viewed before the Bhopal gas tragedy?

Answer: The environment was treated as a free entity and any industry could pollute the air and water without any restrictions. Whether it was our rivers, air, groundwater the environment was being polluted and the health of people disregarded. In 1984, there were very few laws protecting the environment in India, and there was hardly any enforcement of these laws. It was the Bhopal gas disaster that brought the issue of environment to the forefront.

3: What were the reasons for the Bhopal tragedy?

Answer: The Union Carbide tank’s alarms had not worked for 4 years. The steam boiler, intended to clean the pipes, was out of action and water sprays designed to “knock down” gas leaks were poorly designed. No action plans had been established to cope with incidents of this magnitude. The local authorities were not informed of the quantities or dangers of chemicals used and manufactured at the factory. These were the reasons for the Bhopal tragedy.

4: What are the reasons for the sharp differences in safety standards between the 2 Union carbide factories in the USA and India?

Answer: India has a high rate of unemployment and due to this workers are willing to work in unsafe conditions. One worker can easily replace another due to over population. Ignorance and the vulnerability of Indian workers is also another reason why the safety standards in the Indian factory were very much lower than the factory in USA.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Write the adverse effects of orders on environmental issues given by courts. What can be done to make environment safe? [V. Imp.]

Answer: We can explain it with an example. The courts directed industries in residential areas in Delhi to close down or shift out of the city. Several of these industries were polluting the neighbourhood and discharge from these industries was polluting the river Yamuna, because they had been set up without following the rules.

The court’s action solved one problem no doubt but at the same time it created another problem, i.e. the problem of livelihood. Because of the closure, many workers lost their jobs. Others were forced to go to far-away places where these factories had relocated. And the same problem now began to come up in these areas—for now these places became polluted. And the issue of the safety conditions of workers remained unaddressed. Environment is a public facility. Hence it must be given due attention. We must think how we can make our environment clean. One way this can be done is to gradually move to cleaner technologies and processes in factories. The government has to encourage and support factories to do this. It will need to impose fine on those who pollute. This will ensure that the workers’ livelihoods are protected and both workers and communities living around the factories enjoy a safe environment.

2: How do government certifications like the ISI certification help the consumer?

Answer: When a product has the ISI mark the consumer can be certain that the product is of good quality and it is safe. Hall mark certification assures the consumer of the purity of gold they buy.
ISO certification assures the consumer that a company has a good Quality Management System.
Consumers might be put to risk by the poor quality of products such as electrical appliances, food, medicines if the government had not set up the Bureau of Indian Standards.

3: Write a brief note on the Bhopal gas tragedy.

Answer: Union Carbide was an American Company which had a factory in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, which produced pesticides. At midnight on 2^nd December, 1984, methyl-isocyanides – a highly poisonous gas – started leaking from the factory plant.
Within three days, more than 8,000 people were dead. Hundreds of thousands were maimed. Most of those exposed to the poison gas came from poor, working-class families.
There are nearly 50,000 people today who are too sick to work. Among those who survived, many developed severe respiratory disorders, eye problems and other disorders. Children developed peculiar abnormalities.
The Bhopal disaster is frequently cited as the world’s worst industrial disaster.

4: In what way was the Government responsible for the Bhopal tragedy?

Answer: Safety laws were lax in India and these weak safety laws were not enforced.
Government officials refused to recognise the plant as hazardous and allowed it to come up in a populated locality. Though there was some objection regarding the safety violation, the government allowed the factory to start production as it was providing jobs for the local people.
The government did not take the initiative to ask the Union Carbide Company to shift to cleaner technology or safer procedures. Government inspectors continued to approve the procedures in the plant, even when there were repeated incidents of poisonous gas leaks. So the government has to bear certain responsibility for the tragedy.

Public Facilities MCQ Questions Class 8 Social Science with Answers

Question. Which one of the following is a fundamental right?
(a) Right to freedom of religion
(b) Right to property
(c) Right to work
(d) All of these

Answer : A

Question. The right provided by constitution are called
(a) Governmental Right
(b) Optional Right
(c) Economic Right
(d) Fundamental Right

Answer : D

Question. In which year Bengal was divided into two parts?
(a) 1905
(b) 1910
(c) 1915
(d) 1920

Answer : A

Question. Bengal was divided as a result of:-
(a) Do or die
(b) Divide & rule
(c) Both (1) & (2)
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. Who was the first governor general of independent India?
(a) Dr. Rajender Parsad
(b) Dr. S. Radhskishna
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Mount Batan

Answer : D

Question. Who was nominated as a permanent member of constitutional assembly?
(a) Dr. Rajender Parsad
(b) Dr. S. Radhskishna
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Dr. (b)R. Amedkar

Answer : D

Question. Muslim league demand for ________ constitutional assembly
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4

Answer : B

Question. Constitution was made in
(a) 2 years 11 months 18 days
(b) 1 years 11 months 18 days
(c) 3 years 11 months 18 days
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. Secularism is added in constitution by the amendment of :-
(a) 42th
(b) 62th
(c) 47th
(d) 73th

Answer : A

Question. After 42th amendment the first line of Indian preamble is ”we people of India _______
(a) Sovereign
(b) Secularism
(c) Democratic
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. Secularism means-
(a) State is against to all religious
(b) State accept only one religion
(c) State will not give any special concern with any religion
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. British come to India as :-
(a) Social reformer
(b) Inventor
(c) As a ruler
(d) As a traders

Answer : D

Question. How many languages are accepted in Indian constitution?
(a) 22
(b) 28
(c) 15
(d) 20

Answer : A

Question. Bi-Hinduism started in the year
(a) 1870
(b) 1878
(c) 1865
(d) 1861

Answer : B

Question. Right to freedom of religion is written in
(a) Act 25 – 29
(b) Act 14 – 18
(c) Act 56
(d) Act 51 1

Answer : A

Question. According to act 28, which type of education is resisted in educational institution?
(a) Education of specific religion
(b) Navy Education
(c) Moral Education
(d) Sex Education

Answer : A

Question. Non-interference means:-
(a) Respect the sentiments of all religion
(b) Respect only one religion
(c) Both (1) & (2)
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. History provides many examples of discrimination, exclusion and persecution on the ground of
(a) Exclusion
(b) Religion
(c) Law
(d) Caste

Answer : B

Question. Can there be different views with in the same religion?
(a) yes
(b) No
(c) Can’t say
(d) may be

Answer : A

Question. Is India a secularism country?
(a) yes
(b) No
(c) Can’t say
(d) may be

Answer : A

Question. Separation of same religion from the state in democratic societies is because of-
(a) To interrupt religious teaching
(b) To protect the freedom of individual exit from their religion
(c) Both (1) & (2)
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. India constitution mandates that Indian state is
(a) Socialist
(b) Secular
(c) Tyranny
(d) None of these 

Answer : C

Question. The most important aspect of secularism is its ________ of religion from state
(a) Include
(b) Separation
(c) Both (1) & (2)
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. Where the Hindu worship their God?
(a) Temple
(b) Masjid
(c) Both (1) & (2)
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. India is a :-
(a) Religion based country
(b) Religion free country
(c) Both (1) & (2)
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. Which areas in Chennai faces severe water shortages?
(a) Madipakkam
(b) Mtylapore
(c) Slums near Saidapet
(d) All these areas

Answer : D

Question. France passed a law banning students from wearing any conspicuous religious signs or symbols in year
(a) Feb 2004
(b) Jan 2007
(c) Dec 2006
(d) Dec 2007

Answer : A

Question. Who carries the responsibility of providing public facility to the people?
(a) Governmentcorrect
(b) Public
(c) Private organisation
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. For what purpose bore well water is not used?
(a) Toilets
(b) Washing
(c) Gardening
(d) Cooking and drinking purposes

Answer : D

Question. What is special about Porto Alegre?
(a) Highest infant death rate
(b) Lowest adult death rate
(c) Lowest infant death rate
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. What is the main sources of water?
(a) Municipal water
(b) Borewell
(c) River water
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. Healthcare is an example of _______.
(a) Public Facilities
(b) Right to Education
(c) Crime
(d) Career

Answer : A

Question. Public Facilities are better if provided by Government.
(a) True
(b) False
(c) Cannot be determined
(d) Private sector must provide

Answer : D

Question. Equity in the schooling facilities available to all children is an important aspect of
(a) Right to school
(b) Right to safety
(c) Right to education
(d) Right to life

Answer : C

Question. The burden of shortfalls in water supply falls mostly on the
(a) Poor
(b) Rich
(c) Politician
(d) Lawyers

Answer : A

Question. Which of the following is most important public transport?
(a) Aeroplane
(b) Boat
(c) Buses
(d) Cars

Answer : C

Question. Where are Anu and Kumar travelling through?
(a) Delhi
(b) Chennai
(c) Mumbai
(d) China

Answer : B

Question. Separation of religion from the state means
(a) Socialism
(b) Democracy
(c) Secularism
(d) All of these

Answer : C

Question. What are Public facilities?
(a) Essential facilities
(b) Non Essential facilities
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. Which of the following is a water related disease?
(a) Plague
(b) Eye flu
(c) Cholera
(d) All of these

Answer : C

Question. Wherefrom the government gets funds for providing Public facility?
(a) Income Tax collected from the people
(b) Fines collected from the people
(c) Other taxes collected from the people
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. How many languages are accepted in Indian constitution?
(a) 22
(b) 28
(c) 15
(d) 20

Answer : A

Question. What are some public facilities essential for everyone? 
(a) Electricity
(b) Public transport
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. In which year Bengal was divided into two parts?
(a) 1905
(b) 1910
(c) 1915
(d) 1920

Answer : A

Question. Constitution was made in
(a) 2 years 11 months 18 days
(b) 1 years 11 months 18 days
(c) 3 years 11 months 18 days
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. Scared book of Muslim is:-
(a) Ved
(b) Kuran
(c) Namaj
(d) All of these

Answer : B

Question. On the basis of _________ right to freedom of religion can be resisted?
(a) Public arrangement
(b) Morality
(c) Health
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. History provides many examples of discrimination, exclusion and persecution on the ground of
(a) Exclusion
(b) Religion
(c) Law
(d) Caste

Answer : B

Question. Which companies provide public facilities but at price that only some people can afford.
(a) Private companies
(b) Public companies
(c) Semi-government companies
(d) None of the above

Answer : A

Question. What are the basic needs of human beings?
(a) Food
(b) Water
(c) Healthcare
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

Question. What do you mean by right to life?
(a) Provide public facilities by government to people
(b) Provide tax free facilities
(c) Provide job facilities
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. India constitution mandates that Indian state is
(a) Socialist
(b) Secular
(c) Tyranny
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. There are maximum number of
(a) Hindu
(b) Muslim
(c) Both (1) & (2)
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. ____ is a city from Brazil
(a) New York
(b) Shanghai
(c) Porto Alegre
(d) Colombo

Answer : C

Question. Under which Article of our Constitution, Right to Water gets recognition?
(a) Article 20
(b) Article 21
(c) Article 22
(d) Article 23

Answer : B

Class 8 Civics Chapter 9 Public Facilities Important Questions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Why do the residents of Subramanian’s Apartments in Mylapore use borewell water in their toilets for washing?
Answer: It is because borewell water is brackish.

2. How do they manage water for other uses?
Answer: For other uses, they purchase water from tankers.

3. How do they manage water for drinking?
Answer: For drinking water, they have installed water purification systems in their homes.

4. What is the position of water availability in the slum area where Padma lives?
Answer: For 30 hutments there is a common tap at one corner, in which water comes from a borewell for 20 minutes twice daily.

5. How can deaths due to diarrhoea and dysentery be prevented? [Imp.]
Answer: By making safe drinking water accessible to all.

6. What does Right to Water mean? [V.Imp.]
Answer: It means that it is the right of every person, whether rich or poor, to have sufficient amounts of water to fulfil his/her daily needs at a price that he/she can afford.

7. What are known as public facilities? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Facilities like water, electricity, public transport, schools and colleges, healthcare, and sanitation are known as public facilities.

8. Write the important characteristic of a public facility.
Answer: Once it is provided, its benefits can be shared by many people.

9. Whose responsibility is this to ensure public facilities to everyone? [V.Imp.]
Answer: This is the responsibility of the government to ensure public facilities to everyone.

10.What are the sources of water in rural areas?
Answer: In rural areas the sources of water are—wells, handpumps, ponds and sometimes overhead tanks.

Short Answer Type Questions

1: What are public facilities? What are its important characteristics? 

Answer: Primary requirements like food, water, shelter, sanitation, healthcare, education etc which are necessary for survival are referred to as public facilities. The important characteristic of public facilities is that the benefits provided by public facilities can be shared by many people. 
For e.g- A school in a village will enable many children to get education. 

2: Why do you think that there are so few cases of private water supply in water? 

Answer: There are so few cases of private water supply in world as 
It is more expensive and private companies only think of their profits so people cannot afford it. 

3: Why most of the private hospitals & private schools are located in major cities and not in towns or rural areas? 

Answer: Most private schools and hospitals are located in major cities because in small towns and rural areas there is not a constant supply of electricity and hospitals and schools need constant supply. Hence rural areas hospital & schools are not available. 

4: Write a short note on “Water a part of fundamental Right to Life”. 

Answer: 1. The constitution of India recognized the right to water as being right to life as a part under article 21. 
2. This means that it is the right of every person, whether rich or poor to have sufficient amount of water to fulfill daily needs at a price they can afford. 
3. There should be “Universal access” to water.

5. How can you say that there are great inequalities in water use? [V. Imp.]

Answer: It is a fact that there are great inequalities in water use. The supply of water per person in an urban area in India should be about 135 litres (about seven buckets) per day. It is a standard set by the Urban Water Commission. But people living in slum areas have to do with less than 20 litres (one bucket) a day per person. At the same time people living in luxury hotels may consume as much as 1,600 litres (80 buckets) of water per day.

6. Some people are of the opinion that private companies should be allowed to take over the task of water supply. Why do they opine so?

Answer: Some people opine that since the government is unable to supply the amount of water that is needed and many of the municipal water departments are running at a loss, they should allow private companies to take over the task of water supply. According to them, private companies can perform better.

7. What do you know about the Right to Education?  What have activists and scholars working on education found out?

Answer: Our Constitution guarantees the Right to Education for all children between the ages of 6 to 14 years. The important aspect of this Right is to make available equal schooling 
facilities to all children. However, activists and scholars working on education are of different opinion. They have documented the fact that schooling in India continued to be highly unequal.

8. In some parts of the country water supply has been improved. Explain giving examples of Mumbai, Hydrabad and Chennai.

Answer: Mumbai. The water supply department in Mumbai raises enough money through water charges to cover its expenses on supplying water. In Hyderabad, a recent report shows that the department has increased coverage and improved performance in revenue collection.
In Che nnai, the department has taken several initiatives for harvesting rainwater to increase the level of ground water. It has also used the services of private companies for transporting and distributing water.

9. Write a short note on ‘Sulabh’.

Answer: Sulabh is a non-government organisation (NGO). It has been working for three decades to address the problems of sanitation which the low-caste and low-income group of people are facing. It has constructed more than 7,500 public toilet blocks and 1.2 milion private toilets. Now 10 million people have got access to sanitation. Usually the poor working class people use sulabh facilities.

Sulabh enters into contracts with municipalities or other local authorities to construct toilet blocks with governement funds. Local authorities provide land and fund, for setting up the services. So far maintenance costs are related, they are financed through user charges.

10. Why should the government bear the responsibility to provide public facilities to everyone? [V. Imp.]

Answer: If private companies are given the responsibility to provide public facilities such as water, they will charge more. In such a situation only some people can afford to buy water. Thus, even though private companies are providing the facility of water, but this facility is not available to all at an affordable rate. If we go by the rule that people will get as much as they can pay for them many people who cannot afford to pay for such facilities will be deprived of the opportunity to live a decent life. Obviously, this is not a desirable option. Public facilities relate to our basic needs. The Right to Life that the Constitution guarantees is for all person living in this country. Therefore, it should be the government’s responsibility to provide public facilities to all.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Discuss the role of the government in regard to public facilities.

Answer: Public facilities are associated with our basic needs. Our Constitution recognises many of the public facilities as being a part of the Right to Life. Therefore, the government must see that these rights are protected so that everyone can lead a decent life. But its efforts are not successful to some extent. There is a shortage in supply and there are inequalities in distribution. Metros and large cities are not in very bad condition but towns and villages are underprovided. In comparison to wealthy localities, the poorer localities are underserviced.
The government is expected to take steps in order to make all the public facilities accessible to everyone. So far we are concerned, we must cooperate with the government.

2: Do you think water is available in Chennai and affordable by all? Discuss. 
Answer: 

• Water supply in Chennai is marked by shortages.
• Municipal supply meets only about half the needs of the people of the city, on an average.
• There are areas which get more water regularly than others. Those areas that are areas that are close to the storage points get more water whereas colonies further away receive less water. 
• Apart from the availability of water access to ‘safe’ drinking water is also available to some and this depends on what one can afford. 
• The burden of shortfalls in water supply falls mostly on the poor.
• The middle class, when faced with water shortages are able to cope through a variety of private means such as digging bore wells, burying water from tankers and using bottled water for drinking. 

3: How is 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 ground water? Can the government do anything in this regard? 

Answer: Many private companies are providing water to cities by burying it from the farmers living in nearly villages. This affects the local people in the following ways:

• Ground water levels have dropped drastically. 
• Water is taken away for agriculture. 
• Drinking water supplies of the village is also affected. 
• It will result in like of water rate. 

Local people can object to such exploitation of ground water since it takes away their fundamental rights – right to life which includes right to water. Yes, the govt. can take certain steps to prevent such situation

4: Do you think the distribution of public facilities in our country is adequate and fair? 

Answer: While there is a no doubt that public facilities should be made available to all, in reality we see that there is a great shortage of such facilities. 

• The burden of shortfalls of facilities falls most on the poor. 
• The middle class when faced with such shortages are able to cope through variety of private means. 
• IT is quite true that people who can’t afford to pay such facilities will be deprived of the opportunity to live a discus life. 

For Example-
In Anna Nagar, Chennai lives Mr. Ramagopal who is a rich man. This area looks lush & green with lawns maintained by a generous spraying of water. Bungalows here have tap water for major part of the day. 

On days, when water supply is inadequate, Mr. Aanagopal calls to a senior official whom he known is the municipal water board and a water tanker is easily arranged for his house

5: What do you think can be done to conserve water and improve its supply? 

Answer: 1. Wise and judicious use of water is the most important step to conserve water. 
2. Several initiatives for rainwater harvesting to improve ground water level needs to be taken. 
3. It also requires the use of services of private companies for transporting and distributing water to ensure regular supply. 
4. Every citizen of the country has the right to all the facility provided by the government in an equitable manner. 

6:  Why do you think that government must assume the overall responsibility for public facilities even if it gets private companies to do a part of it? 

Answer: 1. Private companies operate for profit in the market. 
2. In most of the public facilities there is no profit to be made. Thus private companies will probably not interested in undertaking such work. 
3. Private companies provide public facilities at prices that only some people can afford. Hence not available to all at affordable rate. 
4. Public facilities relate to people’s basic needs. The constitution guarantees the Right to life for all Indians. 
5. Therefore the responsibility to provide public facilities must be that of government only.

7. Compare the availability of water in different regions of Chennai. [V. Imp.]

Answer: Anna Nagar in Chennai is a posh area. It looks lush green and green with lawns maintained by a enough spraying of water. Bungalows here have tap water for major part of the day.

The Subramanian’s Apartments in Mylapore faces water crisis. Like most areas of the city this area too gets municipal water once in two days. A private borewell to meets the water needs of some of the residents. 

Although borewell water is brackish, the residents are thankful to it because they use it in their toilets and for washing. For other uses, they purchase water from tankers. For drinking water, they have installed water purification system in their homes. The houses in Madipakkam are under acute water crisis. People get water once in four days. For drinking they purchase bottled water.
The slum area near Sadapet is a cluster of hutments without a tap connection. For 30 hutments there is a common tap at one corner, in which water comes from a borewell for 20 minutes twice daily. A family gets to fill a maximum of three buckets within this time. The same water is used for washing and drinking. In summer, water flows in trickle. As a result, one family gets water only at the cost of another. People have to wait long hours to get water from tankers.

Confronting Marginalisation MCQ Questions Class 8 Social Science with Answers

Question. In which year did the government passed the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act.
(a) In 1991
(b) In 1992
(c) In 1993
(d) In 1990

Answer : C

Question. In social environment, Marginalisation is due to :-
(a) Different Language
(b) Different Religion
(c) Minority
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. What is meant by the term ‘Assertive’?
(a) Those never express themselves
(b) Those oppose every concept
(c) Those express themselves strongly
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. How many percent of India’s population is Adivasi?
(a) Around 8%
(b) about 10%
(c) About 4%
(d) about 6%

Answer : A

Question. The well known Bhakti poet Chokhamela was from
(a) sixteenth century
(b) seventeenth century
(c) fifteenth century
(d) fourteenth century

Answer : D

Question. Bhakti poet Chokhamela belonged to ____ caste.
(a) Mahar
(b) Kumhar
(c) Bhil
(d) Gujjar

Answer : A

Question. Do Adivasi live close to the forest?
(a) No
(b) May be
(c) Yes
(d) Can’t say

Answer : C

Question. How does government ensure to end the inequity in the country?
(a) Through laws
(b) Through reservations
(c) Both A and B
(d) None of them

Answer : A

Question. 1835 onwards, Adivasis from Jharkhand & adjoining areas moved in India & the world’s like :-
(a) Mauritius
(b) Caribbean
(c) Australia
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. When did the Supreme Court ban the practice of manual scavenging?
(a) 2001
(b) 2002
(c) 2004
(d) 1993

Answer : D

Question. Which encroachers were pointed out by CK Janu
(a) Paper mill owner
(b) Timber Merchant
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. The areas where tribal originally lived and continue to stay in these fields :-
(a) Ancestors
(b) Encroachers
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) All of these

Answer : B

Question. What do you mean by Ostracise?
(a) Banish Individual or group
(b) Banish Caste
(c) Banish religion
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. Which is the Article of Constitution that states that untouchability has been abolished?
(a) Article 16
(b) Article 18
(c) Article 28
(d) Article 17

Answer : D

Question. Do Muslims have equal access to basic amenities?
(a) yes
(b) may be
(c) No
(d) Can’t not

Answer: C

Question. Why do we need safeguards?
(a) To protect the state
(b) To protect the society
(c) To protect the rich people
(d) To protect minority community

Answer : D

Question 13. Who needs to constantly work to bring equality and dignity for all?
(a) Government
(b) People
(c) None of them
(d) Both of them

Answer : D

Question. Marginalisation is linked to :-
(a) Experiencing disadvantages
(b) Prejudices
(c) Powerless
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. A person or a group that can express themselves and their views strongly are
(a) assertive
(b) representative
(c) forceful person
(d) none of these

Answer : A

Question. The forest or tribal people living in their aboriginal state the lifestyle are known as
(a) Invoke
(b) Dalits
(c) Adivasis
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. What do you understand by manual scavenging?
(a) Work of scavenging by machine
(b) Work of scavenging by hand
(c) Work of scavenging by power
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. Reservations play an important role in providing social justice to:
(a) Adivasis
(b) Dalits
(c) Muslims
(d) Both a and b

Answer : D

Question. Militarised means :-
(a) Presence of Minor Group
(b) Presence of Major group
(c) Presence of Adivasis
(d) presence of armed force

Answer : D

Question. People believing that adivasis are
(a) cunning, primitive and forward
(b) exotic, primitive and backward
(c) extrovert, primitive and forward
(d) exotic, modern and backward

Answer : B

Question. Who was the religious minorities in India?
(a) Sikh
(b) Muslim
(c) Jain
(d) All of these

Answer : C

Question. Who needs to constantly work to bring equality and dignity for all?
(a) Government
(b) People
(c) None of them
(d) Both of them

Answer : D

Question. Which type of poems Kabir wrote?
(a) Bhakti tradition
(b) Veer Ras
(c) Revolutionary
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. Marginalisation results in :-
(a) Low social status
(b) not equal access of Eduation
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. Who needs to constantly work to bring equality and dignity for all?

(a) Government

(b) People

(c) None of them

(d) Both of them

Answer : D

Question. What are the fundamental rights in the constitution that are treated with dignity and equality?
(a) Right to Equality
(b) Right to freedom
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Class 8 Civics Chapter 8 Confronting Marginalisation Important Questions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Who was Soyrabai?
Answer: She belonged to the Mahar caste.

2. Name two distinct cultural and religious groups in the country.
Answer: Muslims and Parsis.

3. How does our Constitution ensure cultural justice to minority groups? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Our Constitution ensures cultural justice to minority groups by granting them Cultural and Educational Rights.

4. What is government’s reservation policy? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Government’s reservation policy reserves seats in education and government employment for Dalits and Adivasis.

5. For admission to colleges, especially to institutes of professional education, governments define a set of ‘cut-off’ marks. What does this mean? [V. Imp.]

Answer: This means that not all Dalit and tribal candidates can qualify for admission, but only those who have done well and secured marks above the cut-off point.

6. Why is Kabir’s poetry sung and appreciated by Dalits and marginalised groups even today?
Answer: It is because Kabir’s poetry brings out the powerful idea of the equality of all human beings and their labour.

7. Who was Rathnam?
Answer: Rathnam was a twenty years old engineering student. He belonged to a Dalit Family.

8. Which ritual did he refuse to perform?
Answer: He refused the ritual of washing the feet of priests with and then bathing in that water.

9. What shocked the powerful castes?
Answer: A Dalit young boy like Rathnam dared to refuse to perform the age-old ritual.

10.Why did Rathnam file a complaint under the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act? [V. Imp.]
Answer: He filed a complaint under this Act to protest against the domination and violence of the powerful caste in his village.

11.What work does a manual scavenger do?
Answer: He does the work of carrying human and animal waste/excreta.

12.What is Safai Karamchari Andolan?
Answer: Safai Karamchari Andolan is an organization working with manual scavengers.

13.What is the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act about?
Answer: This Act is about the prohibition of the employment of manual scavengers as well as the construction of dry latrines.

14.How does Kabir describe the term ‘untouchability’?
Answer: According to Kabir untouchability is the highest state of knowledge. It means not be touched by narrow limiting ideas.

Short answer type questions

1: What are the ways in which marginalized communities tried to overcome the discriminations they faced?

Answer: The marginalized communities tried many ways to overcome the discrimination they faced. They are:

• Religious solace
• Armed struggle
• Self improvement
• Education
• Economic progress.

2: What did the marginal groups rely on to protect themselves from continued exploitation by other groups?
Answer: Marginal groups relied on the Constitution of India and the Judiciary System to protect them from continued exploitation by other groups.

3: What are the seven rights stated in the Indian constitution?

Answer: The seven fundamental rights are:
1. Right to equality
2. Right to freedom
3. Right against exploitation
4. Right to freedom of religion
5. Cultural and educational rights
6. Right to constitutional remedies
7. Right to Life and personal liberty.

4: What is ‘untouchability’, and who were called ‘untouchables’?

Answer: Untouchability is the individual discrimination against certain classes of persons.
Dalits are sometimes called Untouchables. Untouchables are regarded as ‘low caste’ and have been marginalized for centuries.

5: Mention 4 untouchable practices.

Answer: Some untouchable practices are :-
(i) Segregation in seating and food arrangements in village functions and festivals
(ii) Prohibited from entering into village temples
(iii) Separate burial grounds
(iv) No access to village’s wells and ponds.

6: What is the ‘Reservation Policy’?

Answer: Reservation Policy confirms that a percentage of seats are reserved in the public sector units, union and state civil services, union and state government departments and in all public and private educational institutions, except in the religious/ linguistic minority educational institutions, for the socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or the Scheduled Castes and Tribes who were inadequately represented in these services and institutions.

7: What is the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) ?

Answer: The central government passed the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. The Act states that the injustice meted out to the Adivasis must be undone. This Act recognises their right to their homestead, cultivable and grazing land and to non-timber forest produce. It points out that the rights of forest dwellers include conservation of forests and bio-diversity.

8: Why did the Safai Karamchari Andolan file a PIL in 2003? What did they complain about in their petition?

Answer: The safai karamcharis filed a PIL in 2003 to get the manual scavenging banned. They complained in their petition that manual scavenging which is an inhuman job still existed like in railways. Since this job violates the fundamental right against exploitation so the petitioners sought enforcement of their fundamental rights.

9: Why do you think the Dalit families were afraid of angering the powerful castes?

Answer: The Dalit families were afraid of angering the powerful castes because the Dalits belonged to the socio-economically poor background of the society and were of meager resources also. Many of them had to work on the fields of the powerful castes for earning their livelihood. These are the reasons because of which Dalit families were afraid angering the powerful castes.  

10: Why was the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 framed?

Answer: The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, was framed in response to demands made by Dalits and others groups.
They wanted the government to stop the ill treatment and humiliation Dalits and tribal groups face everyday.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. What does government do to promote social justice among Dalits and Adivasis?

Answer:(a)Both state and central governments create specific schemes for implementation in tribal areas or in areas that have a high Dalit population. For instance, the government provides for free or subsidised hostels for students of Dalit and Adivasi communities so that they can avail of education facilities that are not be available in their localities.
(b) Government’s reservation policy is a very significant way to promote social justice among Dalits and Adivasis. Under this policy seats are reserved in education and government’s employment for them.

2. How does government’s reservation policy work? [V. Imp.]

Answer: Governments across the country have their own list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and backward and most backward castes. The central government too has its list. Students applying to educational institutions and those applying for posts in government are expected to furnish proof of their caste and tribe certificates. If a particular Dalit caste or a certain tribe is on the government list, then a candidate from that caste or tribe can avail of the benefit of reservation.

3. How did Kabir look at the division in society in India?

Answer: Kabir strongly criticised caste system in his poetry. He attacked those who attempted to define individuals on the basis of their religious and caste identities. In his view every person had the ability to reach the highest level of spiritual salvation and deep knowledge within themselves through their own experience. His poetry brings out the powerful idea of the equality of all human beings and their labour. He writes about valuing the work of the ordinary potter, the weaver and the woman carrying the water pot–labour that in his poetry becomes the basis of understanding the entire universe.

4. What happened in parts of southern India into 1970s and 1980s? Or What did Dalit groups do in 1970s and 1980s to assert their rights? [Imp.]

Answer: During 1970s and 1980s, in parts of southern India, several strong Dalit groups came into being and asserted their rights. They refused to perform their so-called caste duties and insisted on being treated equally. They refused to follow practices which were based on humiliation and exploitation of Dalits. The powerful castes reacted violently against them. In order to indicate the government that untouchability was still being practised, Dalit groups demanded new laws that would list the various sorts of violence against Dalits and prescribe strict punishment for those who indulge in them.

5. Who in C.K. Janu? According to her how do governments violate the rights of tribal people?

Answer: C.K. Janu is an Adivasi activist. According to the real violators of the rights of tribal people are governments in the various states of India. It is they who allow non-tribal encroachers in the form of timber merchants, paper mills etc, to exploit tribal land. They forcibly evict tribal people from their traditional homelands i.e., forests in the process of declaring forests as reserved or as sanctuaries. She has pointed out that in cases where tribals have already been evicted and cannot go back to their lands, they must be compensated.

6. What is the Scheduled Tribe and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act about? [Imp.]

Answer: This Act was passed in 2006. The introduction to the final Act states that this Act is meant to undo the historical injustices meted out to forest dwelling populations in not recognising their rights to land and resources.
This Act recognizes their right to homestead, cultivable and grazing land and to non-timber forest produce.
The Act also mentions that the rights of forest dwellers include conservation of forest and bio-diversity.

7. What crimes have been dealt with by the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act? [V. Imp.]

Answer: This Act contains a very long list of crimes. The Act does not only describe terrible crimes, but also lets people know what dreadful deeds human beings are capable of.
The Act distinguishes several levels of crimes:

(a) It lists modes of humiliation that are both physically horrific and morally reprehensible and seeks to punish those who l force a member of a SC or ST to drink or eat any inedible or obnoxious substance, l forcibly removes clothes from the person of a member of a SC or a ST or parades him or her naked or with painted face or body or commits any similar act which is derogatory to human dignity.

(b) It enlist actions that dispossess Dalits and Adivasis of their meagre resources or which force them into performing slave labour. Thus, the Act sets out to punish anyone who wrongfully occupies or cultivates any land owned by, or allotted to, a member of a SC or a ST or gets the land allotted to him transferred;

(c) The Act recognises that crimes against Dalit and tribal women are of a specific kind and, therefore, seeks to penalise anyone who assaults or uses force on any women belonging to a SC or ST with intent to dishonour her.

8: Mention a few crimes listed in the Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989.

Answer: The Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 lists several levels of crimes. Some of them are
I. Modes of humiliation
(i) Force a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe to ; ; drink or eat any inedible or obnoxious substance
(ii) Forcibly removes clothes from the person of a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or parades him or her naked or with painted face or body or commits any similar act which is derogatory to human dignity

II. Actions that deprive Dalits and Adivasis of their possessions
(i) wrongfully occupies or cultivates any land owned by, or allotted to, … a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or gets the land allotted to him transferred
III. Crimes against Dalit and tribal women
(i) Assaults or uses force on any woman belonging to a Scheduled ; ; Caste or a Scheduled Tribe with intent to dishonour her.

9: How did the Dalits assert themselves?

Answer: The Dalits asserted themselves and sort the help of law to fight discrimination
In the late 1970s and 1980s in parts of South India the Dalits asserted themselves by refusing to perform their so-called caste duties and insisted on being treated equally.
Adivasi people successfully organised themselves and demanded equal rights, and for their land and resources to be returned to them.
Dalit groups demanded new laws that would list the various sorts of violence against Dalits and prescribe stringent punishment for those who indulge in them.

10: State one reason why you think reservations play an important role in providing social justice to Dalits and Adivasis?

Answer: In addition to providing certain facilities, the Government also made some laws to ensure that concrete steps are taken to end inequalities in our society. One such law or policy is the reservation policy by which a certain percentage of seats in education and Government employment are reserved for Dalits, Adivasis and other backward castes. The reservations play an important role in providing social justice to Dalits and Adivasis since the objective behind this policy is to bring the Dalits and the Adivasis at par with the forward castes in the society. 

11: What do you understand by manual scavenging? Or write a note on ‘Manual Scavenging’.

Answer: Manual scavenging means doing the scavenging work by hand. Manual scavenging is the practice of removing human and animal waste or excreta using brooms, tin plates and baskets from dry latrines and carrying it on the head to the disposal grounds some distance away. A manual scavenger is the person who does the job of carrying this filth. This job is mainly done by Dalit women and young girls. Manual scavengers are exposed to subhuman conditions of work and face serious health hazards. They are constantly exposed to infections that affect their eyes, skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. They get very low wages for the work they perform. In 1993, the Government passed the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act. This law prohibits the employment of manual scavengers as well as the construction of dry latrines.   

Understanding Marginalization MCQ Questions Class 8 Social Science with Answers

Question: Adivasi languages have often deeply influenced by the formation of
(a) Bengali
(b) Mainstream 
(c) Sanskrit
(d) Santhali

Answer : B

Question: Do Adivasi live close to the forest?
(a) Yes
(b) May be
(c) No
(d) Cant say

Answer : A

Question: The village spirits are worshipped at
(a) Specific Scared Groves
(b) Home
(c) Town
(d) All of the options

Answer : A

Question: Adivasi are involved in the worship of
(a) Temple
(b) Hinduism
(c) Jesus Chirst
(d) Ancestors 

Answer : D

Question: Scheduled Tribes is term used for
(a) Adivasis
(b) Rich people
(c) People below poverty line
(d) All of the options

Answer : A

Question: How many percent of Indias population is Adivasi?
(a) Around 8%
(b) About 10%
(c) About 4%
(d) About 6%

Answer : A

Question: Who are Adivasi?
(a) Tribals
(b) Original Inhabitants
(c) Both Original Inhabitants and tribals
(d) None of the options

Answer : C

Question: Explain the reason why groups may be marginalized
(a) Both Because of government profit and Less Majority
(b) Because of government profit
(c) Less Majority
(d) All of the options

Answer : A

Question: In social environment, Marginalisation is due to
(a) Minority
(b) Different Language
(c) Different Religion
(d) All of the options

Answer : D

Question: Marginalisation means
(a) Both Forced to occupy the side and At the centre of thing
(b) At the centre of thing
(c) Forced to occupy the side
(d) None of the options

Answer : C

Question: Minority means
(a) Used for the communities that is numerically small in population
(b) More groups
(c) Used for the communities that is numerically small in population
(d) All of the options

Answer : A

Question: Constitution provides safeguards to religious & _________ minorities as a part of fundamental Rights
(a) Both Linguistic and Cultural
(b) Linguistic
(c) Cultural
(d) None of the options

Answer : A

Question: The areas where tribal originally lived and continue to stay in these fields
(a) Ancestors
(b) Encroachers
(c) Both Encroachers and Ancestors
(d) All of the options

Answer : B

Question: How many wild life sanctuaries covering 1,09,652 square kilometer
(a) 190
(b) 458
(c) 570
(d) 372

Answer : D

Question: How many national parks are there in India?
(a) 82
(b) 64
(c) 72
(d) 54

Answer : D

Question: Niyamgiri is a scared mountain of
(a) Adivasis
(b) Religious people
(c) Both Adivasis and Religious people
(d) None of the options

Answer : A

Question: Niyamgiri hill located in Kalahandi district of
(a) Orissa
(b) West Bengal
(c) Punjab
(d) Kerela

Answer : A

Question: 1835 onwards, Adivasis from Jharkhand & adjoining areas moved in India & the worlds like
(a) All of the options
(b) Australia
(c) Caribbean
(d) Mauritius

Answer : A

Question: Where all the important metals are present in India?
(a) Home
(b) Village
(c) Forest
(d) Jungle

Answer : C

Question: Adivasis are believed to be
(a) Backward
(b) Exotic
(c) Primitive
(d) All of the options

Answer : D

Question: High level committee in 2005, was chaired by
(a) Rajinder Sanchar
(b) Hakkim shekh
(c) Ram Gopal
(d) None of the options

Answer : A

Question: Which religious group has the lowest literacy rate according to censes of India 2001?
(a) Muslims
(b) Hindus
(c) Hindus
(d) English

Answer : A

Question: According to literacy rate by religion, 2001 how many percent of population is literate?
(a) 1
(b) 0.65
(c) 0.95
(d) 0.8

Answer : B

Question: Do Muslims have equal access to basic amenities?
(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) May be
(d) Can not

Answer : B

Question: How many Muslims live in kutcha house according to amenties 1994
(a) 0.636
(b) 0.43
(c) 0.67
(d) 0.87

Answer : A

Question: How many percent of Muslims are in Indian population?
(a) 0.134
(b) 0.61
(c) 0.147
(d) 0.2

Answer : A

Question: Every citizen of India can approach the courts if they believe that their fundamental Rights have been
(a) Violating
(b) Decreased
(c) Increased
(d) None of the options

Answer : A

Question: Who plays a crucial role in upholding the law enforcing fundamental Rights?
(a) Supreme Court
(b) Judiciary
(c) High Court
(d) All of the options

Answer : A

Question: Why do we need safeguards?
(a) To protect minority community
(b) To protect the state
(c) To protect the society
(d) To protect the rich people

Answer : A

Question: Many tribal children are _______
(a) Efficient
(b) Balanced
(c) Healthy
(d) Malnourished

Answer : D

Question. Who are Adivasi?
(a) Original Inhabitants
(b) tribals
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. How many percent of India’s population is Adivasi? 
(a) Around 8%
(b) about 10%
(c) About 4%
(d) about 6%

Answer : A

Question. Scheduled Tribes is term used for :- 
(a) Rich people
(b) Adivasis
(c) People below poverty line
(d) All of these

Answer : B

Question. Adivasi are involved in the worship of :- 
(a) Ancestors
(b) Hinduism
(c) jesus Chirst
(d) temple

Answer : A

Question. The village spirits are worshipped at :-
 (a) home
(b) Town
(c) Specific Scared Groves
(d) All of these

Answer : C

Question. Do Adivasi live close to the forest? 
(a) No
(b) May be
(c) Yes
(d) Can’t say

Answer : C

Question. Adivasi languages have often deeply influenced by the formation of :-
(a) Mainstream
(b) Bengali
(c) Sanskrit
(d) Santhali

Answer : A

Question. Adivasis are believed to be :-
(a) Exotic
(b) Primitive
(c) Backward
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. Where all the important metals are present in India?
 (a) Forest
(b) Village
(c) Home
(d) Jungle

Answer : A

Question. 1835 onwards, Adivasis from Jharkhand & adjoining areas moved in India & the world’s like :-
(a) Mauritius
(b) Caribbean
(c) Australia
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. Niyamgiri hill located in Kalahandi district of :- 
(a) Orissa
(b) West Bengal
(c) Punjab
(d) kerela

Answer : A

Question. Niyamgiri is a scared mountain of :-
 (a) Adivasis
(b) Religious people
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. Constitution provides safeguards to religious & _________ minorities as a part of fundamental Rights. 
(a) Linguistic
(b) Cultural
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : C 

Question. Minority means :- 
(a) Used for the communities that is numerically small in population
(b) Used for the communities that is numerically small in population
(c) More groups
(d) All of these

Answer : B

Question. Many tribal children are _______. 
(a) Balanced
(b) Malnourished
(c) Healthy
(d) Efficient

Answer : B

Question. Marginalisation means :- 
(a) At the centre of thing
(b) Forced to occupy the side
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. In social environment, Marginalisation is due to :-
(a) Different Language
(b) Different Religion
(c) Minority
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. Explain the reason why groups may be marginalize(d) 
(a) Because of government profit
(b) Less Majority
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) All of these

Answer : C

Question. Why do we need safeguards?
 (a) To protect the state
(b) To protect the society
(c) To protect the rich people
(d) To protect minority community

Answer : D

Question. Who plays a crucial role in upholding the law enforcing fundamental Rights? 
(a) Judiciary
(b) Supreme Court
(c) High Court
(d) All of these

Answer : B

Class 8 Civics Chapter 7 Understanding Marginalisation Important Questions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. How many different Adivasi groups are there in India?
Answer: There are over 500 different Adivasi groups in India.

2. Name any four states where Adivasis are in great numbers. [V. Imp.]
Answer: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.

3. How are Adivasi societies most distinctive? Give one point. [V. Imp.]
Answer: There is often very little hierarchy among them.

4. How are Adivasis usually portrayed?
Answer: They are usually portrayed in Stereotypical ways in colourful clothes, headgear and through their dancing.

5. What do we usually think about Adivasis?
Answer: We usually think that Adivasis are exotic, primitive and backward.

6. What is the population of Adivasis in Assam? [Imp.]
Answer: There are 70 lakhs Adivasis in Assam.

7. How is Niyamgiri viewed by Dongarria Konds?
Answer: Dongarria Konds, an Adi vasi community, view Niyamgiri as the sacred mountain.

8. Why are Muslims considered as a marginalised community in India today?
Answer: It is because in comparison to other communities, they have always been deprived of the benefits of socioeconomic development.

9. How are Muslims usually identified?
Answer: Muslims are usually identified by their burqa, long beard and fez.

10.Which factor leads to ghettoisation of the Muslim community?
Answer: Social marginalisation of Muslims leads to ghettoisation of this community.

11.What is commonly believed about the Muslims?
Answer: It is commonly believed that the Muslims prefer to send their children to Madarsas.

12.What reality is brought in light by the Sachar Committee?
 Answer: Only 4% of Muslim children are in Madarsas, whereas 66% attend government school and 30% private schools.

Short Answer Type Questions

1: Mention the levels on which marginalization can take place.
Answer: Marginalization can take place on three levels.
They are Individual Community Global.

2: Mention the Names of the communities which experience marginalization in India?
Answer: The major communities which experience marginalization in India are the Adivasis, Dalits and Muslims.

3: Who headed the Committee set up by the government to look into the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim Community in India?
Answer: Justice Rajindar Sachar headed the Committee set up by the government to look into the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim Community in India.

4: What was the conclusion reached by the Justice Rajindar Sachar Committee?

Answer: The committee came to the conclusion that on a range of social, economic and educational indicators the situation of the Muslim community is comparable to that of other marginalised communities like Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

5: What are the consequences of marginalisation?
Answer: Marginalisation results in having a low social status and not having equal access to education and other resources enjoyed by the majority communities. 

6. What happened to Adivasis when they lost access to their traditional homelands? [V. Imp.]

Answer: After Adivasis lost access to their traditional homelands, i.e., forests, they became pampers. They faced the problems of livelihood and food. Hence, they migrated to cities in search of work. They got employment there but against very low wages. This made their life miserable. They caught in a cycle of poverty and deprivation 45% of tribal groups in rural areas and 35% in urban areas live below the poverty line. Their children, became malnourished in dearth of adequate food.

6: How are Adivasis portrayed today?

Answer: Today, Adivasis are portrayed as exotic, primitive and backward people. Cultural shows are presented with Adivasis dances. They are represented through colourful costumes and headgears.
Adivasis are blamed for their lack of advancement as they are believed to be resistant to change or new ideas.
This negative portrayal of the Adivasis has led to the marginalization of this community in modern India.

7: How can we tackle marginalization?

Answer: Marginalization is a complex and delicate issue and has to be handled by the Government very carefully. To rectify marginalization a variety of strategies, measures and safeguards have to be undertaken.

It is the duty of every citizen of this country to ensure that the Fundamental Rights of all citizen, whether they belong to the majority community or the minority community is protected. It is only the effort of everyone that will protect the diversity that makes our country unique and promote equality for all.

8. How are Adivasi stereotyped? [Imp.]

Answer: Whenever we talk about Adivasis, their fixed images come into our mind. We have a fixed impression about them. We believe that they are exotic, primitive and backward. Their colourful costumes, headgear, dancing and typical life style often give an impression that they lack advancement. We also believe that they are resistant to change or new ideas. This stereotyping about the Adivasi community leads to their discrimination and marginalisation.

9. Describe various reasons that forced Adivasis to move from their lands. [V. Imp.]

Answer: Various reasons are given below:
(a) More than 50% of Adivasis got displaced due to mines and mining projects.
(b) Huge tracts of Adivasis’ lands have gone under the waters of hundreds of dams that have been built in independent India.
(c) India has 54 national parks and 372 wildlife sanctuaries covering 1,09, 652 sq km. These are areas where tribals originally lived but were evicted from.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. What do you know about Adivasis? [Imp.]

Answer: The term Adivasi means original inhabitant. This community has close relation with forests. They depend on forests for everything. They cannot think a life without forests. About 8% of India’s population is Adivasi. Adivasis are found in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Assam, Manipur etc. There are over 500 different Adivasi groups in our country. Only in Orissa there are more than 60 different tribal groups. Adivasi societies are also most distinctive because there is often very little hierarchy among them. They practise their own tribal religions, different from Islam, Hinduism and Christianity. They have their own languages, which are as old as Sanskrit. Santhali is one of the languages which has the largest numbers of speakers.

2. Why are Muslims considered to be a marginalised community in India?

 Answer: Muslims are considered to be a marginalised community in India because in comparison to other communities, they have always been deprived of the benefits of socioeconomic development. Most of the Muslims do not avail even basic amenities of life such as water and electricity. They live in kutcha houses. They have little access to education and public employment. Thus, they always lag behind in terms of various development indicators.
Their customs and practices are sometimes quite distinct from what is seen as the mainstream. Some-not – all-Muslims may wear a burqa, sport a long beard, wear a fez and these become ways to identify all Muslims. All these lead to their marginalisation.

3: What are the reasons why a community is marginalized, and how does it affect the community?

Answer: The reasons for a community to be socially marginalized are:

• Different language
• Different customs
• Different religion
• Financial status
• Education

Economic, social, cultural and political factors work together to make certain groups in society feel marginalised. Marginalized groups are viewed with hostility and deprived of opportunities that are available to other communities. They experience a sense of disadvantage and powerlessness against more powerful and dominant sections of society.

4: Write a brief note on Adivasis.

Answer: The Adivasis are indigenous peoples and are believed to be the first inhabitants of India. Adivasis have distinct languages, religions and forms of self-government, together with a deep bond to their land and respect for nature. 8 per cent of India’s population are Adivasis. There are over 500 different Adivasi groups in India.

Adivasi communities do not have any hierarchy among them. They are totally different from communities organised around principles of the caste system.
The religion of Adivasis is different from Islam, Hinduism or Christianity. The Adivasis worship their ancestral, village or nature spirits.

During the nineteenth century, substantial numbers of Adivasis converted to Christianity, which has emerged as a very important religion in modern Adivasi history. Adivasis have their own languages which may be as old as Sanskrit. The Adivasi language has influenced the formation of Indian languages, like Bengali.

5: What were the hardships faced by the Adivasis?

Answer: The Adivasis were pushed out of the forests of Jharkhand and they had to migrate to other parts of India and the world. The Adivasis experienced hardship and death during the migration. Five lakh Adivasis had perished in these migrations.

When forests were cleared for mining a majority of tribals are displaced. Wide areas of forest land were submerged under water when many dams were built in India after 1947. Due to this many Adivasis were displaced from the States of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand.
In the North east, Adivasi lands are war-torn and occupied by the military.

There are 54 national parks and 372 wildlife sanctuaries in India. These Parks cover an area of 1, 09,652 sq km. of forest land. The Adivasis were evicted from these forests.

6. Describe marginalisation in context of the Adivasi and Muslim communities.
The life of Adivasis is very much associated with the forests. About 8% of India’s population is Adivasi and many of India’s most important mining and industrial centres are located in Adivasi areas such as Jharkhand, Rourkela, etc. There are over 500 different Adivasi groups in our country. They have their own life style. They are usually seen in colourful costumes, and headgear. They can also be identified through their dancing. In the pre-colonial world, Advasis were traditionally ranged hunter-gatherers and nomads and lived by shifting agriculture. Although these remain, for the past 200 years Adivasis have been increasingly forced to migrate to work in plantations, at construction sites, in industries and as domestic. [V. Imp.]

Answer: Adivasi Community: In the precolonial period, Adivasis ruled the forest areas. They were hunter-gatherers and nomads living by shifting agriculture and also cultivating in one place. But as the development and urbanisation took place, forests were cleared off. This affected the life of Adivasis badly. They had to migrate to cities in search of work. They also lost their power. They were now marginalised. Now they had to work in plantations, at construction sites, in industries and as domestic workers. They had no longer direct access to the forest territories. They lost their domain, and were compelled to lead a very miserable life in the cities. Their children are malnourished. They have little access to education. 45% of tribal in rural areas and 35% in urban areas are bound to live below poverty line.

Muslim Community: Muslims are considered to be a marginalised community in India today because in comparison to other communities, they have always been deprived of the benefits of socio-economic development. Most of the Muslims do not avail basic amenities like water and electricity. They are bound to live in kutcha houses. There is little education among them. They have little access to public employment.

Other factors that make them marginalised are their customs and practices. Some-not-all-Muslims may wear a burqa, sport a long beard, wear a fez and these become way to identify all Muslims. Because of this, they tend to be identified differently. Often this becomes an excuse to treat them unfairly and discriminate against them.

Understanding Our Criminal Justice System MCQ Questions Class 8 Social Science with Answers

Question. Every person has a fundamental Right to be defended by a lawyer under the act ___________.
(a) Act 42
(b) Act 67
(c) Act 45
(d) Act 22

Answer : D

Question. D K. Basu guideline include :-
(a) The police official should wear, accurate & visible name tags with their identifications
(b) A memo of arrest should be prepared at the time of arrest
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. FIR means :-
(a) Formal Identification report
(b) first information report
(c) First Indian region
(d) All of these

Answer : B

Question. Public prosecutor is :-
(a) One who represents the interests of state
(b) One who investigate crime
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. Constitution places a duty on the state to provide a lawyer to any citizen who is unable to engage one due to poverty or other disability.
(a) Act 39
(b) Act 22
(c) Act 43
(d) Act 67

Answer : A

Question. Key players of criminal justice system are :-
(a) Police & public prosecutor
(b) Defence lawyer & Judge
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. Police file a charge sheet in the court & _________
(a) If police arrest a person
(b) If a person is suspected for anything
(c) If a person commit a crime
(d) If investigation proved the person is accuse(d)

Answer : D

Question. Who decided the guilty or innocence of victim?
(a) Judge
(b) Police
(c) Neighbor
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. Right not to be ill treated or tortured during arrest or in custody written under :-
(a) Act 22
(b) Act 52
(c) Act 43
(d) Act 67

Answer : A

Question. Act 22 contains :-
(a) police has the Right to arrest any person without compliant
(b) A boy under 15 years of age & women can’t be used as evidence against the accused
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : B 

Question. What is the role of Judge?
(a) Decide whether accused person is guilty or innocent
(b) May send the person to jail
(c) May impose a fine or both
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. What is a fair trial?
(a) The trail in the absence of accused
(b) The trail in the presence of accused
(c) Judge should not be there for judgment
(d) All of these

Answer : B

Question. When someone violate the law, we immediately inform :-
(a) Neighbours
(b) Relative
(c) Judge
(d) Police

Answer : D

Question. Police generally do :-
(a) File report
(b) Arrest a person
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. An accused person is decided by :-
(a) Police
(b) Court
(c) Person himself
(d) All of these

Answer : B

Question. What is the best way to chose judges?
(a) Nominating by legislature
(b) by Executive
(c) By political parties
(d) By people

Answer : D

Question. The chief justice get retired at the age of :-
(a) 56 years
(b) 40 years
(c) 58 years
(d) 75 years

Answer : D

Question. ‘Rule of law’ was defined by :-
(a) Dyasi
(b) Glade stone
(c) Laski
(d) Glade stone

Answer : A

Question. The Indian judiciary consists of a _________ for entire nation.
(a) High Court
(b) Supreme Court
(c) District Court
(d) All of these

Answer : B

Question. Marshal judge is related with :-
(a) Constitutional law
(b) international law
(c) Public law
(d) Rule of law

Answer : A

Question. Act 22 contains
(a) A boy under 15 years of age & women cant be used as evidence against the accused
(b) Police has the Right to arrest any person without compliant
(c) Both A boy under 15 years of age & women cant be used as evidence against the accused and police has the Right to arrest any person without compliant
(d) None of the options

Answer : A

Question. Right not to be ill treated or tortured during arrest or in custody written under
(a) Act 52
(b) Act 22
(c) Act 43
(d) Act 67

Answer : B

Question. Who decided the guilty or innocence of victim ?
(a) Neighbor
(b) None of the options
(c) Judge
(d) Police

Answer : C

Question. Police file a charge sheet in the court & ?
(a) If investigation proved the person is accused.
(b) If a person commit a crime
(c) If a person is suspected for anything
(d) If police arrest a person

Answer : A

Question. Key players of criminal justice system are
(a) Both Defence lawyer & Judge and Police & public prosecutor
(b) None of the options
(c) Defence lawyer & Judge
(d) Police & public prosecutor

Answer : A

Question. Constitution places a duty on the state to provide a lawyer to any citizen who is unable to engage one due to poverty or other disability ?
(a) Act 39
(b) Act 67
(c) Act 43
(d) Act 22

Answer : A

Question. Every person has a fundamental Right to be defended by a lawyer under the act ?
(a) Act 22
(b) Act 45
(c) Act 67
(d) Act 42

Answer : A

Question. An accused person is decided by
(a) Police
(b) All of the options
(c) Person himself
(d) Court

Answer : D

Question. Police generally do
(a) Both Arrest a person and File report
(b) None of the options
(c) Arrest a person
(d) File report

Answer : A

Question. When someone violate the law, we immediately inform
(a) Police
(b) Judge
(c) Relative
(d) Neighbours

Answer : A

Question. Marshal judge is related with
(a) Public law
(b) Rule of law
(c) Constitutional law
(d) International law

Answer : C

Question. The Indian judiciary consists of a_______for entire nation
(a) Supreme Court
(b) All of the options
(c) District Court
(d) High Court

Answer : A

Question. Rule of law was defined by
(a) Dyasi
(b) Glade stone
(c) Laski
(d) Glade stone

Answer : A

Question. The chief justice get retired at the age of
(a) 56 years
(b) 58 years
(c) 40 years
(d) 75 years

Answer : D

Question. What is the best way to chose judges?
(a) By political parties
(b) By people
(c) By Executive
(d) Nominating by legislature

Answer : B

Question. What is a fair trial?
(a) The trail in the presence of accused
(b) All of the options
(c) Judge should not be there for judgment
(d) The trail in the absence of accused

Answer : A

Question. What is the role of Judge?
(a) All of the options
(b) May impose a fine or both
(c) May send the person to jail
(d) Decide whether accused person is guilty or innocent

Answer : A

Question. Public prosecutor is
(a) One who investigate crime
(b) None of the options
(c) Both One who represents the interests of state and One who investigate crime
(d) One who represents the interests of state

Answer : D

Question. FIR means
(a) First Indian region
(b) All of the options
(c) First information report
(d) Formal Identification report

Answer : C

Question. D. K. Basu guideline include
(a) Both The police official should wear, accurate & visible name tags with their identifications and A memo of arrest should be prepared at the time of arrest
(b) The police official should wear, accurate & visible name tags with their identifications
(c) None of the options
(d) A memo of arrest should be prepared at the time of arrest

Answer : A

Question. The judges of Supreme courts and High courts are appointed by
(a) President
(b) M. L. A
(c) Prime minister .
(d) M. P.

Answer : A

Question. According to________every individual charged of a crime has to be given fair trial
(a) Judge
(b) Constitution 
(c) Police
(d) Law

Answer : B

Question. When one see violating the law, one immediately think of informing the ?
(a) Judge
(b) None of the options
(c) Lawyer
(d) Police 

Answer : D

Question. What is Public Interest Litigation?
(a) Any one can approach to courts if public interest is hurt by the actions of government
(b) Nominate the leaders
(c) All of the options
(d) Public is important than law

Answer : A

Question. The power & independence of the Indian Judiciary allow to act as the guardian of the
(a) Fundamental Rights
(b) Directive principles of state policy
(c) Fundamental duties
(d) Moral duty

Answer : A

Question. How many judges are removed by an Impeachment motion?
(a) Three
(b) Seven
(c) Zero 
(d) Two

Answer : C

Question. Independence of judiciary means
(a) It is not under control of legislature or the executive
(b) None of the options
(c) Both It is not under control of legislature or the executive and It is under control of president
(d) It is under control of president

Answer : A

Question. Which is the highest court of appeal in civil & criminal cases?
(a) District Court
(b) All of the options
(c) High court
(d) Supreme court

Answer : D

Question. Judiciary of India is
(a) Less powerful than that of USA
(b) None of the options
(c) Equal powerful than that of USA
(d) More powerful than that of USA

Answer : A

Question. The judges of Supreme court are appointed by
(a) Vice President
(b) Ministers of council
(c) president
(d) Prime minister

Answer : C

Class 8 Civics Chapter 6 Understanding Our Criminal Justice Important Questions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. What has happened to Mr. Shinde’s house?
Answer: There has been a theft in Mr. Shinde’s house. His wife’s necklace has been stolen.

2. Who is Sushil? How is he treated in the police station?
Answer: Sushil is Shanti’s brother. He is abused and beaten by Sub-Inspector Rao in the police station.

3. What does the Magistrate do for Shanti?
Answer: The Magistrate appoints Advocate Kamla Roy as Shanti’s defence lawyer at the expense of the government.

4. What is mentioned in Article 22 of the Constitution? [V. Imp.]
Answer: It is mentioned in Article 22 of the Constitution that every person has a Fundamental Right to be defended by a lawyer.

5. What duty does Article 39A of the Constitution assign to the State?
Answer: The State shall provide a lawyer to any citizen who is unable to engage one due to poverty or other disability.

6. Name the people who play key role in the criminal justice system.
Answer: The police, the Public Prosecutor, the defence lawyer and the judge.

7. What is an important function of the police?
Answer: An important function of the police is to investigate any complaint about the commission of a crime.

8. On what basis do the police form an opinion?
Answer: The police form an opinion on the basis of investigation.

9. How is the job of the police limited? [V. Imp.]
Answer: It is not the job of the police to decide whether a person is guilty or innocent.

10. Who decides whether a person is guilty or innocent?
Answer: The judge decides whether a person is guilty or innocent.

11. How is a criminal offence viewed?
Answer: It is viewed as a public wrong.

12. What happened to Shanti in the last?
Answer: She was acquitted because she was innocent. She got a fair trial.

13. What is a fair trial? [V. Imp.]
Answer: In a fair trial justice is done to the innocent person and the real accused is awarded sentence.

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

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

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

Short Answer Type Questions

1: Why is the Prosecutor called a Public Prosecutor?

Answer: 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.

2: What is the role of the judge in the Criminal Justice System?

Answer: 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.

3: What are the procedures that have to be followed if the criminal trial has to be a Fair Trial?

Answer: 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 judgement only on the basis of the evidence before the court 

4: What are the guidelines that the police have to follow during investigation?

Answer: 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.

5. What role do the police play in investigating a crime? [V. Imp.]

Answer: Whenever there is any complaint about the commission of a crime, the police start an investigation into it. The investigation includes recording statements of witnesses and collecting different kinds of evidence. The police form an opinion on the basis of this investigation. If they think that the evidence points to the guilt of the accused person, then they file a chargesheet in the court. Thus, it is not the job of the police to decide whether a person is guilty or innocent. It is the judge who decides this point.

6. What guidelines have been issued by the Supreme Court on the role of the police in investigating a crime? [V. Imp.]

Answer: Police investigations always have to be conducted in accordance with law and with full respect for human rights. In this connection the Supreme Court has issued some guidelines that the police must follow at the time of arrest, detention and interrogation.

• 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.

7. Write a short note on First Information Report (FIR). [Imp.]

Answer: The police begin their investigations into a crime after an FIR is lodged. The law states that it is compulsory for an officer in charge of a police station to register an FIR whenever a person gives information about a cognizable offence. This information can be either oral or written. The FIR mentions the date, time and place of the offence, details the basic facts of the offence, including a description of the events. The FIR also mentions the name and address of the complainant. The police registers an FIR in a prescribed form which is signed by the complainant. He gives the complainant a free copy of the FIR in the last.

8. What role does the Public Prosecutor play in the criminal justice system? [Imp.]

Answer: The Public Prosecutor plays a key role in the criminal justice system. In the court, he represents the interests of the State. His role begins once the police has conducted the investigation and filed the chargesheet in the court. He does not play any role in the investigation. Being an officer in the  court, he is expected to discharge his duty impartially. It is also his duty to present the full and material facts, witnesses and evidence before the court so that the court may decide the case.

9. Describe the role of the judge in the criminal justice system. [V. Imp.]

Answer: The judge has a key role in the criminal justice system because it is he who decides whether the accused is guilty or innocent. His role is just like an umpire in a cricket game. He conducts the trial impartially and in an open court. The judge hears all the witnesses and the evidences, if any, presented by the prosecution and the defence. He then decides the case on the basis of the evidence presented and in accordance with the law. If the accused in guilty, then the judge pronounces the sentence. He may get jailed or be fined or both. It all depends on what the law prescribes.

10: Write a brief note on the criminal procedure in the Criminal Justice System in India.

Answer: 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.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Read Shanti’s case which has been described in the storyboard given and then identify the essential elements of a fair trial.

Answer: Shanti was given a copy of the chargesheet and all other evidence that the prosecution presented against her. Shanti was charged with the offence of theft that was defined as a crime in the law. The trial was held in an open court, in public view. Her brother, Sushil was allowed to attend the court hearings. The trial was held in the presence of the accused. Shanti was defended by a lawyer. Her lawyer, Advocate Roy was given an opportunity to cross-examine  all the prosecution witnesses. Advocate Roy was given an opportunity to present witnesses in Shanti’s defence.The police filed a case of theft against Shanti, but the judge assumed her to be innocent. The decided the matter on the basis of the evidence before the court. He did not jump to the conclusion that Shanti was the thief just because she was poor. Instead, he remained impartial. The evidence showed that some young men and not Shanti was the thief. Finally, the judge acquits her. In this way, Shanti got a fair trial.

2. What Fundamental Rights have been guaranteed by Article 22 of the Constitution and criminal law to every arrested person? [V. Imp.]

Answer: The following Fundamental Rights have been guaranteed by Article 22 of the Constitution and Criminal law to every arrested person.
(a) The Right to be informed at the time of arrest of the offence for which the person is being arrested.
(b) The Right to be presented before a magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.
(c) The Right not to be ill-treated or tortured during arrest or in custody.
(d) Confessions made in police custody cannot be used as evidence against the accused.
(e) A boy under 15 years of age and women cannot be called to the police station only for questioning.

3. What are known as the D.K. Basu Guidelines issued by the Supreme Court of India? Write in brief.

Answer: The Supreme Court of India has issued specific requirements and procedures that the police and other agencies have to follow for the arrest, detention and interrogation of any person. These are known as the D.K. Basu Guidelines which include the following points.
(a) The police officials who carry out the arrest or interrogation should wear clear, accurate and visible identification and name tags with their designations.
(b) 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 countersigned by the person arrested.
(c) The person arrested, detained or being interrogated has a right to inform a relative, friend or wellwisher.
(d) 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.

4: What are D.K. Basu Guidelines?
Answer: D.K. Basu Guidelines are as follows

• The police officials who carry out the arrest or interrogation should wear clear, accurate and visible identification and name tags with their designations.
• 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.
• The person arrested, detained or being interrogated has a right to inform a relative, friend or well wisher.
• 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.

5: What is a FIR?

Answer: 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.

judiciary MCQ Questions Class 8 Social Science with Answers

Question. How many levels of court are there in India?
(a) Multiple
(b) None of the options
(c) Two
(d) One

Answer : A

Question. When India did become Republic?
(a) 1950
(b) 1976
(c) 1965
(d) 1947

Answer : A

Question. Each state districts is presided over by
(a) District court
(b) None of the options
(c) Judiciary
(d) Subordinate

Answer : A

Question. Which court is at apex level?
(a) High court
(b) Lower court
(c) District court
(d) Supreme Court

Answer : D

Question. How many courts are there at apex level?
(a) One
(b) None of the options
(c) Two
(d) Three

Answer : A

Question. The Supreme court was established on
(a) 1962
(b) 1980
(c) 1950
(d) 1949

Answer : C

Question. Judiciary system provide mechanism for resolving disputes between_____
(a) All of the options
(b) Two state government
(c) Citizens & government
(d) Citizens

Answer : A

Question. Article 21 includes
(a) Right to health
(b) Right to worship
(c) Right to speech
(d) Right against Exploration

Answer : A

Question. We have judicial system to
(a) To provide food
(b) None of the options
(c) To enforce the rule law
(d) To provide freedom

Answer : C

Question. Law apply equally to all______
(a) Animals
(b) Ministers
(c) M.L.As
(d) Persons

Answer : D

Question. Criminal law include
(a) Theft
(b) Murder
(c) Harassing a women
(d) All of the options

Answer : D

Question. Integrated judicial system is
(a) Decisions of the high courts are bonded by lower courts
(b) None of the options
(c) Both Decisions of the high courts are bonded by lower courts and Lower courts are not bind to obey the supreme courts decision
(d) Lower courts are not bind to obey the supreme courts decision

Answer : A

Question. Which state shares the same High Court?
(a) Punjab & Haryana
(b) None of the options
(c) Both Punjab & Haryana and Haryana & Chandigarh
(d) Haryana & Chandigarh

Answer : A

Question. How many High Courts are there in India?
(a) 21
(b) 17
(c) 27
(d) 18

Answer : A

Question. The High Court of Delhi came up in______
(a) 1860
(b) 1972
(c) 1966
(d) 1862

Answer : C

Question. High Courts were first established in which of the three presidency cities?
(a) Calcutta, Bombay & Madras
(b) Madras, Tamil naidu, Punjab
(c) J & K, U. P., Haryana
(d) Punjab, Chandigarh, Madras

Answer : A

Question. In which year High Courts was first established?
(a) 1860
(b) 1980
(c) 1972
(d) 1862

Answer : D

Question. Who presided the Supreme Court?
(a) Chief justice
(b) All of the options
(c) District court
(d) Subordinate

Answer : A

Question. Supreme court is located at
(a) Punjab
(b) New Delhi
(c) J & K
(d) Chandigarh

Answer : B

Question. Each state has____
(a) High court
(b) All of the options
(c) Supreme Court
(d) Judiciary

Answer : A

Question. Right to livelihood is a part of
(a) Right to life
(b) All of the options
(c) Right to freedom
(d) Right of equality

Answer : A

Question. Right to food is included in
(a) Act 26
(b) Act 76
(c) Act 46
(d) Act 21

Answer : D

Question. For common people access to court is
(a) Access to help
(b) Access to justice
(c) None of the options
(d) Access to equality

Answer : B

Question. Midday meal given in governmentaided schools because of
(a) PIL
(b) All of the options
(c) FIR
(d) Supreme Court

Answer : A

Question. To increase to justice supreme Court devised
(a) PIL
(b) None of the options
(c) Both PIL and FIR
(d) FIR

Answer : A

Question. A mechanism of PIL was devised in
(a) 2000
(b) 1996
(c) 1980
(d) 2004

Answer : C

Question. A tenant who is being formed to move out fills a case in courts against the landlord
(a) Social law
(b) Criminal law
(c) Economical law
(d) Civil Law

Answer : D

Question. A group of girl is harassed by a group of boys is comes under
(a) Economical law
(b) Criminal law
(c) Social law
(d) Civil Law

Answer : B

Question. Civil law include
(a) Both Disputes related to purchase of good and Disputes related to sale of land
(b) None of the options
(c) Disputes related to purchase of good
(d) Disputes related to sale of land

Answer : A

Question. FIR means
(a) First information report
(b) None of the options
(c) First Incident report
(d) Final information Result

Answer : A

Question. Article 21 includes :-
(a) Right against Exploration
(b) Right to speech
(c) Right to health
(d) Right to worship

Answer : C

Question. The Supreme court was established on :-
(a) 1950
(b) 1949
(c) 1962
(d) 1980

Answer : A

Question. Which court is at apex level?
(a) High court
(b) District court
(c) lower court
(d) Supreme Court

Answer : D

Question. Each state districts is presided over by :-
(a) Subordinate
(b) District court
(c) Judiciary
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. Each state has ______
(a) Judiciary
(b) Supreme Court
(c) High court
(d) All of these

Answer : C

Question. Supreme court is located at :-
(a) Chandigarh
(b) J & K
(c) Punjab
(d) New Delhi

Answer : D

Question. The High Court of Delhi came up in ________
(a) 1862
(b) 1860
(c) 1972
(d) 1966

Answer : D

Question. How many High Courts are there in India?
(a) 18
(b) 27
(c) 17
(d) 21

Answer : D

Question. Which state shares the same High Court?
(a) Haryana & Chandigarh
(b) Punjab & Haryana
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. Law apply equally to all ___
(a) Animals
(b) Ministers
(c) M.L.A’s
(d) Persons

Answer : A

Question. We have judicial system to :-
(a) To provide freedom
(b) To provide food
(c) To enforce the rule law
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. Judiciary system provide mechanism for resolving disputes between ______
(a) Citizens
(b) Citizens & government
(c) Two state government
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. Integrated judicial system is :-
(a) Lower courts are not bind to obey the supreme courts decision
(b) Decisions of the high courts are bonded by lower courts
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. Criminal law include :-
(a) Theft
(b) Harassing a women
(c) Murder
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. FIR means :-
(a) First information report
(b) Final information Result
(c) First Incident report
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. Civil law include :-
(a) Disputes related to sale of land
(b) Disputes related to purchase of good
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. ‘A group of girl is harassed by a group of boys’ is comes under :-
(a) Civil Law
(b) Social law
(c) Economical law
(d) Criminal law

Answer : D

Question. For common people access to court is :-
(a) Access to justice
(b) Access to help
(c) Access to equality
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. ”Right to food ” is included in :-
(a) Act 26
(b) Act 46
(c) Act 21
(d) Act 76

Answer : C

Question. In India there is a rule of _______
(a) Person
(b) Prime minister
(c) President
(d) Law

Answer : D

Class 8 Civics Chapter 5 Judiciary Important Questions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Mention one function of the judiciary.
Answer: The judiciary settles disputes.

2. What do you mean by ‘judicial review’? [Imp.]
Answer: The judiciary has the power to strike down particular laws passed by the Parliament if it finds they don’t adhere to Constitution. This is known as judicial review.

3. Where were High Courts first established and when?
Answer: High Courts were first established in the three Presidency cities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1962.

4. The seven north-east states have a common High Court. Where is this located?
Answer: It is located at Guwahati.

5. What do you mean when you say ‘we have an integrated judicial system’? [V. Imp.]
Answer: It means that the decisions made by higher courts are binding on the lower courts.

6. What do you mean by the appellate system? [Imp.]
Answer: It means that a person can appeal to a higher court if they are not satisfied with the judgement of the lower court.

7. Name a few offences that are associated with criminal law.
Answer: Theft, harassing a woman for more dowry, murder.

8. In which Article of the Constitution is the Fundamental Right to Life guaranteed?
Answer: The Fundamental Right to Life is guaranteed in Article 21 of the Constitution.

9. How many judges are there in the Supreme Court?
Answer: There are 26 judges in the Supreme Court.

10. Give full form of FIR and PIL.
Answer: FIR – First Information Report
PIL – Public Interest Litigation

11: Mention the branches of the Legal system.
Answer: The Legal system can be divided into 2 branches, criminal law and civil law.

Short Answer Type Questions

1: What do you understand by the word ‘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.

2: What does judiciary mean?

Answer: In law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of courts which administers justice in the name of the state. It is the mechanism for the resolution of disputes and pronouncement of punishment. As an organ of the State, the judiciary plays a crucial role in the functioning of India’s democracy.

3: How is the work of the judiciary categorised?

Answer: The Judiciary comprises of courts that take decisions on a very large number of issues. The work of the judiciary can be divided into 3 categories, namely Dispute Resolution, Judicial Review and upholding the Law and Enforcing Fundamental Rights.

4: What is the structure of the judicial system of India?

Answer: The judicial system of India is stratified into various levels. At the apex is the Supreme Court, which is followed by High Courts at the state level, District Courts at the district level and Lok Adalats at the Village and Panchayat Level.
The structure of the courts from the lower to the highest level resembles a pyramid.

5. Why is the judiciary important for the functioning of the democracy in India?

Answer: However, in spite of this there is no denying that the judiciary has played a crucial role in democratic India, serving as a check on the powers of the executive and the legislature as well as in protecting the fundamental rights of citizens. The members of the constituent assembly had quite correctly envisioned a system of courts with an independent judiciary as a key feature of our democracy.

6. What is a Judicial System? What is its role in dispute resolution?

Answer: A judicial system is a mechanism of courts that a citizen can approach when a law is violated. It plays a very significant role in resolving dispute between:
(i) citizens
(ii) citizens and the government
(iii) two state governments
(iv) the centre and state governments

Long Answer Type Questions

1. What is an independent judiciary? Explain in brief. [V. Imp.]

Answer: The Indian Constitution provides for the independence of the judiciary. It means that other branches of the State such as the legislature and the executive cannot interfere in the work of the judiciary. The courts are not under the government and do not act on their behalf. The courts ensure that there is no misuse of power of the legislature and the executive. Anyone can approach the courts if they find that their Fundamental Rights have been violated.
Thus, the courts are not influenced by anyone, not even by the rich and powerful people.

2: Write a brief note on the independence of the judiciary.

Answer: The Judiciary of India is an independent body. It is separate from the Executive and Legislative bodies of the Indian Government. The Executive and Legislature, that is the Central and State Governments, cannot interfere in the work of the judiciary.
The courts are not under the government and do not act on their behalf.
Judges in the High Court as well as the Supreme Court are appointed by the President with very little interference from the other branches of the government. It is also very difficult to remove a judge from his post.

3. What is the structures of the courts in India? [Imp.]

Answer: There are three different levels of courts in India. At the lower level, we have subordinate or district courts. These courts hear many kinds of case. At the state level, we have High Courts. There are 21 High Courts in our country. The High Court is the highest authority in a state. At the top in the Supreme Court. It is the foremost judicial in our country. It is located in New Delhi and is presided over by the Chief Justice of India.
Thus, the structure of the courts from the lower to the highest level is such that it resembles a pyramid.

4. Write a brief note on ‘Public Interest Litigation.’

Answer: Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is a mechanism devised by the Supreme Court of India in the early 1980s to increase access to justice. Under this mechanism any individual or organisation is allowed to file a PIL in the High Court or the Supreme Court on behalf of those whose rights are being violated. The legal process that it involves is very simple. Even a letter or telegram addressed to the Supreme Court or the High Court can be treated as a PIL. Thus, PIL plays a very significant role in facilitating justice.

5. In principle, the courts are accessible to all. But what happens in reality? [V. Imp.]

Answer: In principle, every citizen has a right to justice through the courts. Here, it is worth mentioning that the courts play a very significant role in protecting our Fundamental Rights. If any citizen finds that their Fundamental Rights are violated, they can approach the court.
But things are not the same in reality. Access to courts has always been tough for the poor. These people do not dare to go to the court because they know that the legal procedures are very lengthy and complicated and involve a lot of money.

6. Describe the different branches of the legal system. How do they differ from one another. [V. Imp.]

 Answer: Different branches of the legal system are:
(a) Civil, and
(b) Criminal Civil law deals with matters like money, property, marriage disputes, etc. while criminal law deals with theft, murder, etc. Here are the significant differences between civil law and criminal law.

Civil Law	Criminal Law
Civil law deals with harm or injury to rights of individuals such as disputes relating to sale of land, purchase of goods, marriage, rent matters.	Criminal law deals with conduct or acts that the law defines as offences. Example – theft, robbery, cheating, physical injury and murder.
Civil cases begin with a petition that is filed before the relevant court by the affected party only.	Criminal cases usually begin with the lodging of an FIR with the police who afterwards investigate the crime after which a case filed in the court.

7: What is the ‘appellate system’?

Answer: An appellate court, commonly called an appeals court or court of second instance is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal. In most jurisdictions, the court system is divided into at least three levels: the trial court, which initially hears cases and reviews evidence and testimony to determine the facts of the case; at least one intermediate appellate court; and a supreme court which primarily reviews the decisions of the intermediate courts. A jurisdiction’s supreme court is that jurisdiction’s highest appellate court. Appellate courts nationwide can operate by varying rules.

The authority of appellate courts to review decisions of lower courts varies widely from one jurisdiction to another. In some places, the appellate court has limited powers of review. “Generally speaking, an appellate court’s judgment provides ‘the final directive of the appeals courts as to the matter appealed, setting out with specificity the court’s determination that the action appealed from should be affirmed, reversed, remanded or modified’”.

8: What is “Public interest Litigation”?

Answer: “Public interest Litigation” or PIL is a litigation filed in a court of law, for the protection of “Public Interest”, such as pollution, terrorism, road safety, constructional hazards etc.
PIL can be filed for the following reasons:
1. Violation of basic human rights of the poor
2. Content or conduct of government policy
3. Compel municipal authorities to perform a public duty
4. Violation of religious rights or other basic fundamental rights
5. Any individual or organisation can file a PIL in the High Court or the Supreme
6. Court on behalf of those whose rights are being violated. It is not necessary, that the person filing a case should have a direct interest in the case.

Understanding Laws MCQ Questions Class 8 Social Science with Answers

Question. Another hazardous industry that is growing rapidly in South Asia is :
(a) Ship Shaping
(b) Ship Stocking
(c) Ship Breaking
(d) All of the above

Answer : C

Question. What were the steps taken by women’s group to make the bill passed?
(a) Creating awareness among women
(b) Filing petition and public hearing
(c) Drafting of domestic violence bill, after meeting with various organizations
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. The law cannot discriminate between persons on basis of
(a) Religion
(b) Caste
(c) Gender
(d) None of these

Answer : D

Question. Who was the Afro-American woman who refused to give her seat to a white man in 1955?
(a) Rosy Peter
(a) Rosa Parkscorrect
(a) Rosy mary
(a) Rose Jose

Answer : B

Question. What are criminal cases?
(a) Related to taxes
(b) Related to property
(c) Related to criminal
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. In a democratic government what people might do in case of unpopular laws?
(a) Criticize the laws
(b) Hold public meetings.
(c) Write about it in newspapers and report to T.V. news channels
(d) All of them

Answer : D

Question. The court has the power to modify or cancel laws if it finds that they don’t adhere to the constitution
(a) True
(b) False
(c) None of these

Answer : A

Question. Where is Jallianwala Bagh located?
(a) Amritsar
(b) Delhi
(c) Agra
(d) Dehradun

Answer : A

Question. When did the Rowlatt Act come into effect?
(a) 13th April 1919
(b) 10th Feb 2020
(c) 14th March 1921
(d) 10th Mar 1919

Answer : D

Question. ________ was introduced in 2005.
(a) Citizenship Amendment Bill
(b) Dowry Act
(c) Hindu Succession Amendment Act
(d) Protection against Domestic VIolence Act

Answer : C

Question. Many workers are denied fair wages by their employers because :
(a) They badly need work
(b) Workers has no bargaining power
(c) Paid low wages
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

Question. Who introduced the rule of law in India?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Mughals
(c) British colonialists
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. Safety measures at work place means :
(a) Alarm system
(b) Emergency exits
(c) Properly functioning machinery
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

Question. Law on Domestic Violence was made in this year
(a) 2005
(b) 2006
(c) 2007
(d) 2008

Answer : A

Question. What was the Rowlatt Act?
(a) To control migrants
(b) To control revolutionary activities
(c) To control wealth of Indian
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. A major role of government is :
(a) Is to control the activities of private companies
(b) Enforcing law
(c) Ensure social justice
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

Question.______ submits its report regarding any Bill to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
(a) Cabinet Ministers
(b) Ministry Council
(c) State Ministry
(d) Parliamentary Standing Committee

Answer : D

Question. What were lay down by Hindu Succession Amendment Act 2005?
(a) Sons, daughters and their mother can get equal share of family property
(b) Only sons can get a share in the property
(c) Only sons and daughters can get a share in the property
(d) Only sons and mother can get a share in the family property

Answer : A

Question. What do you mean by the term ‘domestic’ in ‘Domestic violence’?
(a) House in which people live
(b) House in which people do not live
(c) A house where a nuclear family lives
(d) It includes all women who live or have lived together in a shared household with the husband.

Answer : D

Question. Who gave the order to fire in Jallianwala Bagh on innocent people protesting calmly?
(a) General Dyercorrect
(b) Dr. Satyapal
(c) Dr. Saifuddin Kichlew
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. What do understand by Sedition Act of 1870?
(a) A person could be arrested and deported.
(b) Any person criticizing or protesting the British government could be arrested without a trial.
(c) The arrested person could not engage an advocate.
(d) Arrested person could be detained in police custody for an indefinite period of time.

Answer : B

Question. Making law is not enough government has to ensure that these laws are :
(a) Implemented
(b) Enforced
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above

Answer : C

Question. The Constitution states that there should be no _____ exercise of power.
(a) Mediatary
(b) illegal
(c) arbitrary
(d) custom

Answer : C

Question. What is rule of law?
(a) To balance wealth
(b) To maintain the situation
(c) To maintain the price
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. When was the Rowlatt Act was passed?
(a) 10 March, 1919
(b) 8 March, 1919
(c) 12 March, 1919
(d) 3 March, 1919

Answer : A

Question. One worker can easily replace another because of :
(a) Too much unemployment
(b) Work in unsafe condition
(c) Low wages
(d) All of the above

Answer : A

Question. Who made the law?
(a) Laws are made by president
(b) Laws are made by prime minister
(c) Laws are made by sovereign power
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. When did Jallianwala Bagh’s massacre take place?
(a) 13 Aprilcorrect
(b) 13 March
(c) 13 May
(d) 13 June

Answer : A

Question. In India incident occurs rapidly because of :
(a) Safety laws are less in India
(b) Safety laws are not enforced
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above

Answer : C

Question. What do you mean by repressive law?
(a) Based on force or pressure
(b) Passed against the will of the people
(c) To prevent the person’s right to criticize
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Class 8 Civics Chapter 4 Understanding Laws Important Questions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Who introduced the rule of law in India – the British or the Indians?  
Answer: The Indians introduced the rule of law in their country.

2. How can you say that the Sedition Act of 1870 was arbitrary? [V.Imp.] 
Answer: The Sedition Act of 1870 was arbitrary because under this Act any person protesting or criticising the British government could be arrested without trial.

3. How was the Rowlatt Act an arbitrary law?
Answer: This Act allowed the British government to imprison people without trial.

4. Is the Protection of women from Domestic Violence Act a civil law or a criminal law?
Answer: The Protection of women from Domestic Violence Act is a civil law.

5. Why do people not accept some laws passed by the Parliament? [Imp.]
Answer: It is because they feel that the intention behind such laws is unfair and harmful.

6. What do people do to criticise unfair laws of the Parliament?
Answer: They hold public meeting, write about it in newspapers, report to TV news channels, etc.

7. What is controversial law? [V. Imp.]
Answer: The law that favours one group and disregards the other is known as controversial law.

8. What does the court do if it finds that laws don’t adhere to the Constitution? [V. Imp.]
Answer: The court has the power to modify or cancel such laws.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. ‘In ancient India, there was no rule of law’. Explain. [V. Imp.]

Answer: In ancient India there were several and often overlapping local laws. Different communities enjoyed different degrees of autonomy in administering these laws among their own people. In some cases, the punishment that the two persons received for the same crime varied judgement depending on their caste backgrounds. The lower castes in such circumstances were more  harshly penalised than the upper castes.

2. How was the Rowlatt Act protested by the Indian nationalists? What was its consequence?

Answer: The Rowlatt Act came into effect on 10 March, 1919. This Act allowed the British government to imprison people without due trial. Indian nationalists began to protest this arbitrary Act. In Punjab, the protest was more intensely carried out. On April 10, two leaders of the movement, Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew were arrested. To protest these arrests, a public meeting was held on 13 April at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. General Dyer entered the park with his troops and after closing the only exit ordered them to fire on the gathering. As a result several hundreds of people were killed and many more were wounded.

3. How did the Indian legal profession develop by the end of the 19th century? [Imp.]

Answer: By the end of the 19th century, the Indian legal profession developed enough to demand respect in colonial courts. They began to use law to defend the legal rights of Indians. Indian judges also began to play a greater role in making decisions. In due course, the rule of law evolved during the colonial period.

4. What role do citizens play in the evolution of a new law? [V.Imp.]

Answer: The Parliament plays an important role in making laws. There are many ways through which this takes place and it is often different groups in society that raise issue begins to take root, it is brought to the attention of the Parliament which in due course makes a law to crush it. Thus, the role of citizens is important in helping Parliament frame different concerns that people might have into laws. From establishing the need for a new law to its being passed, at every stage of the process the voice of the citizen is an important element.

5. Give one example to show that British law was arbitrary.

Answer: One example of arbitrary that continued to exist as part of British law is the sedition act of 1870. The idea of sedition was understood within this act. Any person protesting or criticizing the British government could be arrested without due trial.

6. What did the Indian nationalists do against the arbitrary laws of British?

Answer: (a) Indian nationalist began protesting and criticizing this arbitrary use of authority by the British.
(b) They 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.
(c) By the end of 19th century, Indian legal profession also began emerging and demanded respect in colonial courts.

7. Why were the new laws against domestic violence introduced?

Answer: (a) The law recognizes the right of women to live in a shared household, protection against violence women can get monetary relief to meet their expense including medical costs.
(b) Women wanted protection against being beaten, and the right to continue living in a shared household. Thus, the law against domestic violence was introduced to address these issues.

8. Write a short note on Lady Justice.

Answer: Lady Justice or Justitia is the Roman Goddess of Justice. It is a personification of the moral force that underlies the legal system. Her blindfolded eyes symbolize equality under the law and impartiality towards all the people who are governed by it. The weighing scales represent the balancing of people’s interests under the law, and her sword denotes the law’s force of reason.

9. How was the system of law during ancient times in India?

Answer: In ancient India, there were countless and overlapping local laws. Different communities were given the liberty to enforce the laws according to their need. In some cases, the punishment that two persons received for the same crime varied depending on their caste. The lower castes were punished more harshly.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. How are unpopular and controversial laws opposed by the people? [V. Imp.]

Answer: Sometimes the Parliament passes laws that turn out to be very unpopular even though they are constitutionally valid. People do not accept unpopular laws because they feel that the intention behind these laws is unfair and harmful. Hence, they criticise such laws, hold public meetings, write about them in newspapers, report to TV news channels etc.

In a democratic country like India, citizens can express their unwillingness to accept laws which, they think, are repressive. When a large number of people begin to feel that a wrong law has been passed, then the Parliament has to change it.

We can cite here an example. Various municipal laws on the use of space within municipal jurisdiction often declare hawking and street vending illegal. No one will dispute the necessity for some rules to keep the public space open. At the same time, one also cannot deny that hawkers and vendors provide essential services to the people. This is their means of livelihood. Hence, if the law favours one group and disregards the other it will be controversial leading to conflict. People who think that the law is unfair can approach the court to decide on the issue.

2: What are the advantages to foreign companies in setting up production in India? 

Answer: Advantages to foreign companies in setting up production in India are: 
Cheap labour- Wages that the companies pay to workers say in the U.S.A. are far higher than what they have to pay workers in India. 
For lower pay- Companies can get longer hours of work.
Additional expenses such as housing facilities for workers are also fewer. Thus, companies can save costs and earn higher profits. 
Cost cutting can also be done by other more dangerous means. 
Lower working conditions including lower safety measures are used as ways of cutting costs. 

For Example- 
At West Virginia (U.S.A.) computerized working and monitoring systems were in place, whereas the UC plants in Bhopal relied on manual gauges and the human senses to detect gas leaks. At the West Virginia plants, emergency evacuation plan were in place, but non-existent in Bhopal.

2: Do you think the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy got justice? Discuss. 

Answer: The victim of the Bhopal gas tragedy didn’t get justice. 
1. Despite the overwhelming evidence, pointing to UC as responsible for the disaster, it refused to accept responsibility. 
2. In the ensuring legal battle, the government represented the victims in a civil case against UC. It filled a $3 billion compensation case in 1985, but accepted a lowly $470 million in 1989. 
3. Survivors appealed against the settlement but the Supreme Court ruled that the settlement amount would stand. 
Even if the UC pays the full compensation set, the lives of the innocent would not come back or they won’t come back. 
4. Money cannot be everything or compensation against a life. Neither the government nor UC has provided the survivors safe drinking water for health care facilities and the jobs. The contaminated water is still the same  after 24 yrs. 

3: What do we mean when we speak of law enforcement? Who is responsible for enforcement? Why is enforcement so important? 

Answer:
1. Law enforcement means that to make sure a law or rule is obeyed. If there is a certain law, it is meant for being obeyed and followed. 
2. As a lawmaker and enforcer, the government is supposed to ensure that safety laws are implemented. 
3. It is also the duty of the government to ensure that the Right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the constitution is not violated.  Enforcement is so important because as seen in the example of the UC plant in Bhopal-

• Government officials refused to recognize the plant as hazardous and allowed it to come up in a populated locality. 
• When some municipal officials in Bhopal objected that the installation of an MIC production unit in 1978 was a safety violation, the position of the government was that the state needs the continued investment of the Bhopal plant, which provides jobs. 
• It was unthinkable, according to them, to ask UC to shift to cleaner technology or safer procedures. 
• Government inspectors continued to approve the procedures in the plant, even when repeated incidents of leaks from the plant made it obvious to everybody that things were seriously wrong. 
• Instead of protecting the interests of the people, their safety was being disregarded both by the government and by private companies. 

4: Explain the various roles played by the government?

Answer: 1. The government has to ensure that all the laws are implemented. This means that the law must be enforced. Enforcement becoming even more important when the law seeks to protect the weak from the strong. 
2. Through making, enforcing and upholding these laws, the government can control the activities of individuals or private companies to ensure social justice. 
3. As the lawmaker and enforcer, the government is supposed to ensure that safety laws are implemented. 
4. It is also the duty of the government to ensure that the Right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution is not violated. 
5. A major role of the government, therefore, is to control the activities of private companies by making, enforcing and upholding laws so as to prevent unfair practices and ensure social justice. 
6. This means that the governments has to make appropriate laws and also has to enforce the laws. 
7. Laws that are weak and poorly unforced can cause serious harm as the Bhopal gas tragedy showed. 
While the government has a leading role in this respect, people can exert pressure so that both private companies and the government act in the interests of society. 

5: How can laws ensure that markets work in a manner that is fair? Explain with the help of an example? 

Answer: Laws are very important in a market situation. 

• Private companies or individuals to make maximum profit may deny workers their rights and not pay them wages. 
• In the eyes of law, it is illegal to deny workers their wages. 
• To ensure that workers are not underpaid, there is a law on minimum wage. A worker has to be paid not less than the minimum wage by the employer. 
• Laws help ensure that the relations between these three parties in the market – the worker, consumer and producer are governed in a manner that is not exploitative. 
• There are also laws to protect the interests of procedure and consumes in the market 
• Shops should sell goods only at MRP price by the producer. 
• Unadulterated products should not be sold. For this a quality mark fixed by the government should be put on every product. 

Why do we need a Parliament? MCQ Questions Class 8 Social Science with Answers

Question. If the president has to resign, he sends his resignation to:-
(a) Prime minister
(b) Vice president
(c) Chief minister
(d) Lok sabha speaker

Answer : A

Question. What is the position of president in the executive?
(a) Head executive
(b) Constitutional head of government
(c) Constitutional head of state
(d) Head of party in power

Answer : A

Question. ”EVM” for the first time used in:-
(a) 2007
(b) 2004
(c) 2003
(d) 1990

Answer : B

Question. What did universal adult franchise mean:-
(a) Right to vote
(b) Right to freedom
(c) Right to equality
(d) Right to adult freedom

Answer : B

Question. The parliament of India has ______ houses
(a) 2
(b) 6
(c) 7
(d) 3

Answer : A

Question. Rajya sabha is also called
(a) Parliament
(b) House of people
(c) Council of states
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. Houses of people is _______
(a) Lok sabha
(b) Vidhan sabha
(c) Rajya sabha
(d) Parliament

Answer : A

Question. Rajya sabha has ________ members
(a) 245
(b) 250
(c) 238
(d) 219

Answer : A

Question. Lok sabha contains:-
(a) 550
(b) 552
(c) 545
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. How many members are nominated in Rajya sabha by president?
(a) 10
(b) 12
(c) 15
(d) 20

Answer : B

Question. How many members are nominated in Lok sabha by president?
(a) 2
(b) 4
(c) 5
(d) 7

Answer : A

Question. Parliament of India is _______ law making institution
(a) Midst
(b) Supreme
(c) Lowest
(d) All of above

Answer : B

Question. When was 14th election held?
(a) 2003
(b) 2000
(c) 1999
(d) 2004

Answer : D

Question. Which political party is currently in power?
(a) Congress
(b) BJP
(c) Telugu Desam
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. The lok sabha is elected after every _______ years
(a) 5
(b) 6
(c) 2
(d) 4

Answer : A

Question. The president of India holds office for a period of:-
(a) 6
(b) 5
(c) 4
(d) 7

Answer : B

Question. President electoral college consists of:-
(a) M.P
(b) M.L.A
(c) Members of state legislative
(d) Elected members of parliament & state legislative

Answer : D

Question. A dispute regarding the election of the president is referred to the:-
(a) Election commission
(b) Parliament
(c) Supreme Court
(d) Vice president

Answer : C

Question. Each constituencies elected
(a) 1 person to the parliament
(b) 2 person to the parliament
(c) 3 person to the parliament
(d) 4 person to the parliament

Answer : A

Question. Third lok sabha election held in
(a) 1973
(b) 1962
(c) 1966
(d) 1970

Answer : B

Question. When did the Indian congress demanded the elected members in the legislature?
(a) 1880
(b) 1885
(c) 1896
(d) 1845

Answer : B

Question. The parliament is made up with
(a) Prime minister, BJP
(b) President, Lok sabha, Rajya sabha
(c) Vidhan sabha, Vidhan Mandal
(d) All of these

Answer : B

Question. ____ functions based on representation of states.
(a) Lok Sabha
(b) President
(c) Vidhan Sabha
(d) Rajya Sabha

Answer : D

Question. Representatives to the Parliament are chosen by the
(a) People
(b) Rulers
(c) Government
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. In the 2014 elections, ____ was the leading party of the country.
(a) Indian National Congress
(b) Bhartiya Janta Party
(c) Communist Party
(d) Swatantra Party

Answer : B

Question. President electoral college consists of:-
(a) M.P
(b) M.L.A.
(c) Members of state legislative
(d) Elected members of parliament & state legislative

Answer : D

Question. When was the EVM used for the first time?
(a) 2007
(b) 2004
(c) 2003
(d) 1990

Answer : B

Question. What is the guiding philosophy of Bharatiya janata party?
(a) Marxism
(b) Revolutionary democracy
(c) Modernisation
(d) none of these

Answer : B

Question. Which political party has won most seats in all states in 8th lok sabha election?
(a) Telugu Desam Party
(b) Independents
(c) Kerala Congress
(d) Muslim League

Answer : A

Question. If the president has to resign, he sends his resignation to:
(a) Prime Minister
(b) Vice President
(c) Chief Minister
(d) Lok Sabha Speaker

Answer : B

Question. What do you mean by the Houses of people?
(a) Lok sabha
(b) Vidhan sabha
(c) Rajya sabha
(d) Parliament

Answer : A

Question. The combined strength of all political parties in the Parliament with less than 50% of representatives is
(a) ruling party
(b) opposition
(c) coalition
(d) none of these

Answer : B

Question. Each constituencies elected
(a) 1 person to the parliament
(b) 2 person to the parliament
(c) 3 person to the parliament
(d) 4 person to the parliament

Answer : A

Question. Situation in which there is no easy solutions to the problems is called:
(a) Approval
(b) Coalition
(c) unresolved
(d) Crucial

Answer : C

Question. Member of Parliament are representatives of?
(a) Government
(b) Party
(c) None of these
(d) People

Answer : D

Question. The disputes regarding the election of the President and Vice-President of India are decided by the
(a) Election Commission
(b) Parliament
(c) Supreme Court
(d) Vice President

Answer : C

Question. How many members are nominated in Rajya sabha by president?
(a) 10
(b) 12
(c) 15
(d) 20

Answer : B

Question. In which state lok sabha elections were held in 1984?
(a) Punjab
(b) Assam
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of above

Answer : C

Question. Political party is made by
(a) Members of parliament
(b) Member of legislative assembly
(c) Prime minister
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. Which is an important way to contro l the executive in Parliament?
(a) Assembly
(b) Zero hour
(c) Question hour
(d) none of these

Answer : C

Question. The Parliament is made up with?
(a) Prime minister, BJP
(b) President, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha
(c) Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Mandal
(d) All of the above

Answer : B

Question. Rajya Sabha has ____ elected members.
(a) 233
(b) 213
(c) 245
(d) 243

Answer : A

Question. For General elections, electronic voting machines were used for the first time in ____.
(a) 2001
(b) 2005
(c) 2004
(d) 2009

Answer : C

Question. The most important function of lok sabha is
(a) Judiciary
(b) Executive
(c) Legislature
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. What is the significant function of parliament?
(a) Law making
(b) Socio reform
(c) Child development
(d) none of these

Answer : A

Question. _____ is made up of all the representatives elected by the Indian people.
(a) Rashtrapati Bhavan
(b) White House
(c) House of Commons
(d) Lok Sabha

Answer : D

Question. What did universal adult franchise mean:-
(a) Right to vote
(b) Right to freedom
(c) Right to equality
(d) Right to adult freedom

Answer : B

Question. ‘EVM’ means
(a) Electronic voting machine
(b) Election voting machine
(c) Equal vote measure
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. The members of Rajya Sabha are elected?
(a) Directly
(b) Indirectly
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above

Answer : B

Question. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by whom?
(a) Legislative Assemblies
(b) Parliament member
(c) Advocate
(d) None of these

Answer : A

 Class 8 Civics Chapter 3 Why do We Need a Parliament Important Questions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. What is the advantage of the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Cutting of trees has been stopped.

2. Name the two Houses of the Parliament.
Answer: The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

3. What is the term or tenure of the Lok Sabha?
Answer: The tenure of the Lok Sabha is 5 years.

4. What makes the Indian Parliament powerful?
Answer: It is the representative of the people.

5. What do you mean by the executive? [Imp.]
Answer: The executive is a group of persons who work together to implement the laws made by the Parliament.

6. Who is the leader of the ruling party in the Lok Sabha? [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Prime Minister is the leader of the ruling party in the Lok Sabha.

7. Name the ministries which are housed in the North Block?
Answer: The Minister of Finance and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

8. Who nominates the 12 members of the Rajya Sabha? [Imp.]
Answer: The President of India nominates the 12 members of the Rajya Sabha.

9. How is the question hour an important mechanism?
Answer: It is through this mechanism that MPs can elicit information about the working of the government.

10.What has been done to give adequate representation to the communities that have been historically marginalised? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Some seats are reserved in the Parliament for people belonging to SC and ST category.

Short Answer Type Questions

1: What are the basic ideals of a democracy?

Answer: The basic ideals of democracy are:

• The participation of the citizens in the government’s decision- making.
• The need for the government to have the consent of its citizens in all major issues taken by it.

2: What is the purpose of a Parliament?
Answer: The Parliament enables citizens of India to participate in decision making and control the government.

3: What was the main principle of the Indian constitution?
Answer: The main principle of the Indian constitution was Universal adult franchise. All adults in free India could vote and participate in decision- making.

4: How can all the citizens participate in the decision–making process of the government?

Answer: In a democracy general elections are held and all adults have a right to vote. The citizens elect a few people to represent them in the Parliament. The Parliament is made up of all these representatives. These representatives are known as Members of the Parliament. One group, from among these elected representatives forms the government. It is through these representatives that the citizens take part in the decision-making of the government.

5: Who designed the Parliament house in India?
Answer: The Parliament house in India was designed by the British architect Herbert Baker.

6: What is an EVM?

Answer: An EVM is an Electronic Voting Machine used for elections in India. Indian voting machines use a two-piece system with a balloting unit presenting the voter with a button for each choice connected by a cable to an electronic ballot box.

7: What is a constituency?
Answer: The country is divided into many areas for election purposes. Each area is called a constituency. A representative is elected from each constituency to serve in the legislative body.

8: Mention the 2 houses of the Indian Parliament.
Answer: The 2 Houses of the Indian Parliament are
(i) The Rajya Sabha
(ii) The Lok Sabha

9: What are the three major duties of the Parliament?

Answer: The three major duties of the Parliament are…

• To Select the National Government
• To Control, Guide and Inform the Government
• Law-Making

10: How is a National government selected?

Answer: After the Lok Sabha elections, a list is prepared showing how many MPs belonging to each political party have won the elections. The Political party which has the majority of MPs will form the National government.
A majority Party should have at least 272 MPs, that is, more than half of the total number of MPs in the Lok Sabha.

11. How do the individuals give approval to the government? [V. Imp.]

Answer: One way of giving approval to the government is through election’s. People would elect their representatives to the Parliament. Then one group from among these elected representatives forms the government. The Parliament, which is made up of all representatives together, controls and guides the government. Thus, people, through their chosen representatives form the government and also control it.

12: Use the term ‘Constituency’ and ‘Represent’ to explain who an MLA is and how the person gets elected?

Answer: An MLA is the Member of Legislative Assembly. Each state is divided into different ‘Constituencies’. The MLA is the elected member who represents a particular constituency.

13. How are the members of the Rajya Sabha elected? 

Answer: The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the Legislative assemblies of various states. There are 233 elected members plus 12 members nominated by the President. 

14. Under what circumstances is the coalition government formed? Or Write a note on the coalition government. [V. Imp.]

Answer: The coalition government is a phenomenon of the recent past. At times it so happens that one political party does not get a clear majority that is required to form the government. In such circumstances a group of political parties come together to form a government. These political parties are usually interested in similar concerns. The government formed by these parties is popularly known as the coalition government.

15. Explain the basic idea behind the representative democracy? 

Answer: A representative democracy is a system of government in which all eligible citizens vote on representatives to pass laws for them. All of these elected officials supposedly listen to the populace and do what’s best for the nation, state or jurisdiction as a whole. 

Long Answer Type Questions

1. How is the national government formed?

Answer: After the Lok Sabha elections are declared, a list is prepared showing how many MPs belong to each political party. For a political party to form the government, they must have a majority of elected MPs. The total membership of the Lok Sabha is 545, in which 543 are elected members while 2 are nominated. Thus, a party should have at least half the number i.e., 272 members or more to have a majority. The opposition in Parliament is formed by all the political parties that oppose the majority party or coalition formed. The largest amongst these parties is 
known as the Opposition party.

2. Write a brief note on the Rajya Sabha.

Answer: The Rajya Sabha is also called the Council of States. The Rajya Sabha functions primarily as the representative of the states of India in the Parliament. It can also initiate legislation and a bill is required to pass through the Rajya Sabha in order to become a law. In this way, it plays an important role of reviewing and altering, if alterations are required, the laws initiated by the Lok Sabha. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of various states. The total strength of the Rajya Sabha is 245, in which 233 members are elected while 12 members are nominated by the President. The Rajya Sabha is chaired by the Vice-President of India.

3. What is meant by the Opposition parties? What role do they play in the government? [Imp.]

Answer: After election results are declared, the leader of the party with clear majority of elected members form a government. The other political parties form the opposition. The largest amongst these parties is known as the Opposition party.

The Opposition parties play a crucial role in the healthy functioning of a democracy. They keep a check on the government by highlighting its drawbacks in various policies and programmes. They also mobilise popular support for their own policies.

4. Discuss the role and functions of the Parliament?

 Answer: The parliament is the most important institution in a democracy. It performs the following role and functions:
(i) The Lok Sabha selects the executive, which is a group of persons who work together to implement the laws made by the Parliament.
(ii) The Parliament controls, guides and informs the government. The question hour with which the Parliament in session begins, is an important mechanism through which MPs can elicit information about the working of the government. This is a very important way through which the Parliament controls the executive. By asking questions the government is alerted to its shortcomings and also comes to know the opinion of the people through their representatives in the Parliament.
The government gets valuable feedback and is kept on its toes by the questions asked by the MPs. In addition, in all matters dealing with finances, the Parliament’s approval is crucial for the government. This is one of the several ways in which the Parliament controls, guides and informs the government.
(iii) The Parliament makes law for the entire country.

5: Why do you think our national movement supported the idea that all adults have a right to vote? 

Answer: Under colonial rule, the people had lived in fear of the British govt. & did not agree with many of the decisions that they took.

• But they faced great danger if they tried to criticised these decisions.
• The freedom movement changed this situation & the nationalists began to openly criticise the British govt & make demands.
• They demanded that there be elected members in the legislature with a right to discuss the budget & ask questions.

That is why nationalist movement supported the idea of universal adult franchise, so that the people can take part in the decision making of the country.

6: Discuss with your teacher the difference between a State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and the Parliament (Lok Sabha)

Answer: 

Parliament (Lok Sabha)	State Legislature Assembly (Rajya Sabha)
The Members of Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people	The members of Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by members of various legislative assemblies
There are 542 members & 2 are nominated by the President	There are 245 members, out of which 12 are nominated by the President
Its term is for 5 years	It’s term is for 6 years
Lok Sabha can be dissolved by the President That is why, it is known as the Temporary House	It cannot be dissolved because it is a Permanent House & 2/3 of its members retire after every two Years & new members join in their place

Vidhan Sabha (State Legislative Assembly)	Parliament (Lok Sabha)
Vidhan Sabha is the lower house of the state	Lok Sabha is known as lower house of the Parliament
The members of Vidhan Sabha are known as MLAs	The members of Lok Sabha are known as MPs

7: From the list below, identify the work of a State government and that of a Central government?

Answer: 

1. The decision of the Indian Govt. to maintain peaceful relations with China. (Central Govt.)
2. The decision of the Madhya Pradesh govt. to discontinue Board exams in Class VIII for all schools under this Board. (State Govt.)
3. Introduction of a new train connection between Ajmer & Mysore (Central govt.)
4. Introduction of a new 1,000 rupee note (central Govt.)

8: Why do we have a system where the representatives are elected for a fixed period and not for life?

Answer: We have a system where the representatives are elected for a fixed period & not for life. This is because –

1. So that the elected representative may not become strong & try to misuse their powers.
2. If we will choose a representative for lifetime, it will be against the democracy.

9: Describe the ways other than participating in elections to express approval or disapproval of the actions of government.

Answer: People participate in ways other than participating in elections & not just through elections to express approval or disapproval of the actions of govt. Three ways in which they do so are

1. For the election of MLA, the area is divided into various constituencies of a state.
2. Elections are held on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise.
3. From every constituency, one MLA is elected.

10. Define the following:

Answer: (i) UAF: It stands forUniversal Adult Franchise. In this principle, all adult citizens of the country have the right to vote. 
(ii) Coalition Government: It refers to the alliance formed by political parties after elections when no party has been able to get the adequate seats to form a clear majority. 
(iii) Executive: It is a smaller group of people who are responsible for implementing the laws and running the govt . They include CM, PM, Council of Minister. 
(iv) Constituency: A state is divided into several parts. From each area a MD is elected to control that area. 
(v) Opposition: The party which loses the election is called the opposition. 

11. What role does the parliament play in the functioning of the government? 

Answer:

1. The Parliament which is made up of all representatives controls and guides the government. 
2. The question of the hour is an important mechanism through which MPs can elicit information about the working of the government.
3. The Parliament also has a significant role in law-making. 
4. The Rajya Sabha primarily functions as the representative of the states of India in the Parliament. 
5. The Rajya Sabha can also initiate legislation and a bill is required to pass through the Rajya Sabha in order to become a law. Therefore, it has an important role of reviewing and altering the laws initiated by the Lok Sabha. 

12. Why do you think reservation of Dalits and women is important in India? 

Answer: 

1. It has been observed that representative democracy cannot produce a perfect reflection of society. 
2. There is a realization that when interests and experiences separate us it is important to ensure that communities that have been historically marginalized are given adequate representation. 
3. Similarly, it has more recently been suggested that there should be reservation of seats for women. 
4. With this in mind, some seats are reserved in the Parliament for SCs and STs. This has been done so that the MPs elected from these constituencies will be familiar with and can represent Dalit and Adivasi interests in Parliament. 

13. What role does the opposition party play in the healthy functioning of a democracy? 

Answer: 
1. They question the ruling government and make them accountable to the public.
2. Their role is to ensure that the government should not take any step which is against the interest of the public.
3. Their duty is to check and ensure the action of the ruling party is for the benefit of the masses and to support the government in such things.

14. Give at least 2 arguments against representative democracy. 

Answer:

1. Representative Democracy does not produce a perfect reflection of society as the interest and experiences separate the communities who have been given adequate representation. 
2. Representative democracy does not allow reservation in Parliament as after the elapse of sixty years of independence one-third reservation of women is still pending and only nine percent members are of Parliament even if half of the population is women. 

15. Why do you think the nationalist movement supported the idea that all the adults have a right to vote? 

Answer: Our national movement supported the idea that all adults have a right to vote because in our struggle for independence people from all walks of life participated. They came from various backgrounds and were unitedin their aspirations for a free,equal and independent nation where decision making would be in the hands of the people. The only way in which this would be possible would be through elections– allowing common people a vantage pointfrom where they can consent to and approveof a government that “they” have a right to choose.

16. Who is a Prime Minister and what role does he/she play in the functioning of the country?

Answer: 

1. The Prime Minister is the leader of the ruling party in Lok Sabha 
2. From the MPs who belong to his/her party, the Prime Minister selects ministers to work with him/her to implement the decisions. 
3. These ministers then take charge of different areas of govt. functioning like health, education etc. 

17. How can you say that composition of Indian parliament has changed recently? 

Answer: The Parliament now has more and more people from different backgrounds. For e.g.: 

1. There are more rural members as also members from any regional parties. 
2. Groups and peoples that were till now unrepresented are beginning to get elected to parliament. 
3. There has also been an increase in the political participation from the Dalit and the backward states and the minorities. 
4. Similarly, it has more recently been suggested that there should be reserved seats for women. 
5. This issue is still being debated. 60 yrs ago only 4% of MPs were women and today it is above 9%. This is a small share when you consider the fact that half the population is women. 

18. Explain the procedure of elections.

Answer: 

1. People would elect their representatives to the parliament, then one group from these elected representatives forms the government. 
2. The Parliament which is made up of all representatives together controls and guides the Govt. In this sense people, through their chosen representatives form the Government. 
3. The country is divided into numerous constituencies. Each of these constituencies elects one person to the parliament. The candidates who contest elections usually belong to different political parties. 

19: What is ‘Question hour’ in Parliament?

Answer: The first hour of every sitting during a Parliament Session is called the Question Hour. During ‘Question hour’ Questions are posed by members to specific government ministries. The concerned Ministries have to answer these Questions on a fixed date.
The Questions asked during ‘Question Hour’ highlights the shortcomings of the Government and also bring to light the opinion of the citizen through their representatives, namely the MPs.
This Question Hour helps the Parliament to control the Executive (Government).

20: Write a brief note on the Members of Parliament.

Answer: The Members of Parliament are from different backgrounds. Many members are from rural areas and from regional parties.
Groups and peoples that were not unrepresented so far, are beginning to get elected to the Parliament. Today there are more number of people from the Dalit and backward castes and the minorities, in Parliament.
It is good to have representatives in the Parliament from all sections of society, so that every Indian will be represented in the decision- making body. 

21: Write a brief note on the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

Answer: Rajya Sabha- The Rajya Sabha functions primarily as the representative of the states of India, in the Parliament. There are 233 elected members plus 12 members nominated by the President. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of various states. The Rajya Sabha plays an important role of reviewing and altering the laws initiated by the Lok Sabha.

Lok Sabha- The Lok Sabha, known as the House of the People, with a total membership of 543, is presided over by the Speaker. The country is divided into 543 Lok Sabha constituencies. During a Lok Sabha election, people from different political parties stand for elections. Once elected, these candidates become Members of Parliament or MPs. These MPs together make up the Parliament.

Understanding Secularism MCQ Questions Class 8 Social Science with Answers

Question. How many languages are accepted in Indian constitution ?
(a) 22
(b) 28
(c) 15
(d) 20

Answer: A

Question. Secularism refer to
(a) Freedom to religious
(b) Freedom to cote
(c) Freedom o education
(d) None of these

Answer: A

Question. What could the tyranny of majority result in?
(a) Discrimination
(b) Coercion
(c) None of the above
(d) Both (a) and (b)

Answer: D

Question. Which one of the following is a fundamental right ?
(a) Right to freedom of religion
(b) Right to property
(c) Right to work
(d) All of the above

Answer : A

Question. What was the names of the Muslim dominant former French colonies.
(a) Tunisia
(b) Morocco
(c) Algeria
(d) All of these

Answer: D

Question. What is celebrated on 2nd October of every year?
(a) Christmas Day
(a) Children’s Day
(a) Gandhi Jayanticorrect
(a) Diwali

Answer: C

Question. What can we not do in government schools?
(a) Sing national anthem
(b) Sing Rashtriya Geet
(c) Celebrate any religious festivalcorrect
(d) None of these

Answer: C

Question. What refers to the State’s effort to influence a particular matter in accordance with the principles of the constitution?
(a) Intervene
(b) Coercion
(c) Meditation
(d) None of these

Answer: A

Question. Hitler had prosecuted _ during his region in Germany.
(a) Muslims
(b) Christians
(c) Jews
(d) Hindus

Answer: C

Question. Secularism means:
(a) State is against to all religious
(b) State accept only one religion
(c) State will not give any special concern with any religion
(d) None of the above

Answer: C

Question. Identify the wrong statement
(a) In India, government spaces promote particular religion
(b) No one can dominate other members of same religious community
(c) government policy of treat all religions equally
(d) None of these

Answer: D

Question. In Saudi Arabia, ____ can’t practise their religion in public.
(a) non-Muslims
(b) Muslims
(c) Government
(d) People

Answer: A

Question. Which is the sect of Jainism?
(a) Arya Samaj
(b) Khalsa
(c) Digamber
(d) Sanatan Dharm

Answer: C

Question. Who were persecuted in Hitler’s Germany?
(a) Jews
(b) Christian
(c) Muslims
(d) Hindus

Answer: A

Question. The right provided by constitution are called ?
(a) Governmental Right
(b) Optional Right
(c) Economic Right
(d) Fundamental Right

Answer : D

Question. What does ‘to force someone to do something’ mean?
(a) Coercion
(b) Intervene
(c) Interpret
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. What is referred to as the separation of religion from the State?
(a) Diversity
(b) Fraternity
(c) Secularism
(d) Discrimination

Answer : C

Question. In a secular state, one religious state does not ____ the other.
(a) support
(b) discriminate
(c) follow
(d) resist

Answer : B

Question. The important fundamental rights to Equality is mentioned in which article of the constitution ?
(a) Article 19-22
(b) Article 23- 24
(c) Article 29-30
(d) Article 14-18

Answer : D

Question. In _____, there are upper castes who dominate lower castes.
(a) Jainism
(b) Jewism
(c) Parsis
(d) Hinduism

Answer : D

Question. In February 2004, which country has prohibited the wearing of conspicuous religious or political signs by the students?
(a) France
(b) India
(c) America
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. India constitution guarantees ______to every citizen of the Country.
(a) Fundamental Duty
(b) Fundamental Right
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above

Answer : B

Question. _____ is a Republic country
(a) Japan
(b) United Kingdom
(c) United States of America
(d) China

Answer : C

Question. The rights provided by constitution are called:
(a) Governmental Rights
(b) Optional Rights
(c) Economic Rights
(d) Fundamental Rights

Answer : D

Question. Which one of the following is a fundamental right?
(a) Right to freedom of religion
(b) Right to property
(c) Right to work
(d) All of these

Answer: A

Question. What is the status of U.S legislature in the matters of the religion?
(a) Prohibit making new gender law
(b) Prohibit making new reservation law
(c) Prohibit making new religion law
(d) None of these

Answer: C

Question. Explain the meaning of coercion.
(a) Force by legal authority
(b) Force by parents
(c) Force by Law
(d) None of these

Answer: A

Question. Which country didn’t allow non-Muslims to build their worship places?
(a) India
(b) Saudi Arabia
(c) Pakistan
(d) None of these

Answer: B

Question. Indian Constitution contains
(a) fundamental rights
(b) discrimination
(c) unequality
(d) all of these

Answer: A

Question. Tunisia was a colony of _____ earlier.
(a) Netherland
(b) France
(c) Spain
(d) United Kingdom

Answer : B

Class 8 Civics Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism Important Questions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

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.

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

3. How are non-Muslims treated in Saudi Arabia? [V. Imp.]
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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Short Answer Type Questions

1: What is religion?

Answer: Religion is the personal beliefs and practices relating to the divine. It is also people’s beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of the divine.

2: Name the major religions practiced all over the world.

Answer: Buddhism; Christianity; Hinduism; Islam and Judaism are the major religions practiced all over the world.

3: What is secularism?

Answer: Secularism is the belief that no one should be discriminated on the basis of the religion he or she practises. Every citizen, irrespective of which religion he or she follows, is equal in the eyes of the laws and policies that govern the Nation.

4: State the 4^th point of the Fundamental Rights of the Indian constitution.

Answer: The 4^th point of the ‘Fundamental Rights’ is …
(i) Right to Freedom of Religion
(ii) ‘Every person has the right to practise, profess and propagate the religion of their choice’.

5. What are the three objectives of a secular State? [V. Imp.]

Answer: The three objectives of a secular State are:
(a) One religious community does not dominate another.
(b) Some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community.
(c) The State does not enforce any particular religion nor does it take away the religious freedom of individuals.

6: What are the other reasons for separating the power of the State from religion?

Answer: People should have the freedom to leave the religion they have been practicing and join another religion. They should also have the freedom to interpret religious teachings differently. It is for these reasons that it is important to separate the power of the state from religion.

7: What do you understand from the statement ‘freedom to interpret religious teachings differently’ in context with the practice of untouchability?

Answer: Untouchability refers to the social practice of excluding a minority group (untouchables) by regarding them as “ritually polluted” and segregating them from the mainstream by social custom.

According to the Indian constitution every one has the freedom to interpret religious teachings in their own way. Similarly the Dalits who are called untouchables have the freedom to interpret religion in their own way. The Indian constitution has abolished ‘Untouchability’.

8: What are the objectives of the Indian constitution that advocates secularism?

Answer: The objectives of the Indian constitution that advocates secularism are…
One religious community should not dominate another.
Some members of a religious community should not dominate other members of the same religious community.
The State should not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals.

9: What are the strategies followed by the Indian government to establish secularism?

Answer: The strategies followed by the Indian government to establish secularism are…

• Strategy of distancing itself from religion
• Strategy of non-interference
• Strategy of intervention

10: State Article: 17 in the Right to Equality, in the Indian constitution.

Answer: Article 17 in the Right to Equality is related to the ‘Abolition of Untouchability.’
It states: “Untouchability” is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability rising out of “Untouchability” shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.”

11: Mention a few points in the US constitution related to secularism.

Answer: According to the U.S. Constitution the legislature cannot declare any religion as the official religion. The legislature cannot give preference to one religion and neither the State nor religion can interfere in the affairs of one another. 

Long Answer Type Questions

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:

(i) 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  groups 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.

(ii) 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 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.

2. Explain with an example that in Indian secularism the State can intervene in religious affairs.

Answer: An import ant aspect of India 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 and excluded and that violated the Fundamental Rights of Lower castes.

3. What is secularism? [Imp.]

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.

4: Secularism is separating religion from the power of the state. Discuss why it is vital to separate the power of the state from religious practices.

Answer: Secularism is very essential for the smooth functioning of a democratic country. In today’s world people go to other countries to work or do business. So you will find that people of different religions live in the same locality.

In the event of people of different religions living together in the same locality there is a possibility that people belonging to one particular religion being in the majority. If this majority has access to State power, there is likelihood that it will use it to discriminate and dominate the minority group which practices another religion.

In a secular democratic country any form of domination or tyranny, based on religion is in violation of the rights that a democratic society guarantees to each and every citizen irrespective of their religion.

Therefore it is important not to allow any one religion, even though it may be the majority, to violate the fundamental rights of all citizens. If this right has to be maintained it is vital to separate the power of the state from religious practices.

6. In what different ways does the Indian State work to prevent religious domination? [V. Imp.]

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, i.e. upper caste Hindus, dominate other members, i.e. 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 and excluded, and that violated the Fundamental Rights of the people belonging to lower caste.

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The Indian Constitution MCQ Questions Class 8 Social Science with Answers

Question. A constitution which can be amended easily is called :-
(A) Rigid constitution
(B) Flexible constitution
(C) Unwritten constitution
(D) None of these

Answer : B

Question. The words added to the preamble of Indian constitution by the 42nd amendment were :-
(A) Socialist and secular
(B) Democratic and Republic
(C) Secular
(D) Socialist

Answer : A

Question. The Constitution of India grants
(A) dual citizenship
(B) single citizenship
(C) both single and dual citizenship
(D) international and national citizenship.

Answer : B

Question. Fundamental Rights are
(A) basic rights for economic equality
(B) basic rights that are necessary for human happiness
(C) basic rights to keep people united
(D) basic rights which enable each individual to realise his best

Answer : D

Question. Fundamental Rights are given to citizens so that they
(A) get full opportunity for growth and development
(B) can be free from exploitation
(C) can gain social and economic equality
(D) can move anywhere they want.

Answer : A

Question. In parliamentary government the real power is exercised by :-
(A) The President
(B) The council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister
(C) Both of them
(D) None of these

Answer : B

Question. In a secular country :-
(A) All religious receive due protection and respect
(B) The country puts ban on religion
(C) There is one state religion
(D) None of these.

Answer : A

Question. The constitution of a country is a –
(A) collection of rules and laws.
(B) historical document of laws.
(C) system of fundamental laws adopted by the people according to which the country is governed.
(D) system of government according to which the country is governed.

Answer : C

Question. On which date did the Constituent Assembly meet for the first time?
(A) 9 August 1942
(B) 15 August 1942
(C) 9 December 1946
(D) 26 January 1950

Answer : C

Question. The Constituent Assembly that drafted our Constitution was elected on the recommendation of
(A) the Cripps proposals
(B) the Cabinet Mission
(C) the Indian Independence Act
(D) the Wavell Plan.

Answer : B

Question. The first President of the Constituent Assembly was
(A) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(B) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(C) Shri K.M. Munshi
(D) Dr. Sachidanand Sinha.

Answer : D

Question. When was the Indian Constitution adopted or passed?
(A) 15 August 1947
(B) 9 December 1946
(C) 26 November 1949
(D) 26 January 1950

Answer : C

Question. The Constitution of India came into force from
(A) 15 August 1947
(B) 26 November 1949
(C) 26 January 1949
(D) 26 January 1950

Answer : D

Question. Which of the following served as the background for the Indian Constitution?
(A) The Government of India Act, 1935
(B) Constitution of USA
(C) Proposals of Cabinet Mission in 1946
(D) Bill of Indian Independence of 1947

Answer : A

Question. The Preamble to the Constitution is
(A) a description of the Constitution
(B) a summary of the Constitution
(C) an introduction that gives the aims and objectives of the Constitution
(D) a directive to the Government

Answer : C

Question. If the Preamble to the Indian Constitution is violated,
(A) no remedy is available
(B) one can file a writ of habeas corpus
(C) only the Supreme Court can help
(D) the Supreme Court and the High Courts can help.

Answer : A

Question. The Indian Constitution describes India as a
(A) Federal State
(B) Unitary State
(C) quasi Federal State
(D) Union of States.

Answer : D

Question. Which one of the following statements about the Indian Constitution is not correct?
(A) It is partly federal and partly unitary.
(B) It is neither rigid nor too flexible.
(C) It is written and lengthy.
(D) Parliament can amend any of its parts.

Answer : D

Question. The Indian Constitution ensures a stronger Centre because
(A) the Centre can raise more financial resources
(B) the Centre has more subjects in its list
(C) residuary powers of legislation are with the central legislature or Parliament
(D) defence is the responsibility of the Centre.

Answer : C

Question. Which of the following statements is wrong?
(A) The Indian Constitution envisages Parliamentary form of government.
(B) The Indian Constitution is federal in character.
(C) The Indian Constitution favours presidential government.
(D) The Indian Constitution envisages an independent judiciary.

Answer : C

Question. The Indian Constitution is
(A) flexible
(B) rigid
(C) partly flexible, partly rigid
(D) quasi rigid.

Answer : C

Question. The Indian Constitution is secular because
(A) the Government cannot formulate any policies that discriminate between different religions
(B) the makers of the Constitution were from all religions
(C) all are given equal rights
(D) there is no state religion.

Answer : A

Question. Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution have been taken from the constitutions of
(A) Ireland and USA
(B) Spain and Ireland
(C) UK and USA
(D) Canada and USA.

Answer : B

Question. Which one of the following Directive Principles does not form a part of Gandhian philosophy?
(A) Prohibition of intoxicating drinks and drugs
(B) Establishment of village panchayats
(C) Separating judiciary from the executive
(D) Setting up and promoting cottage industries

Answer : C

Question. Which one of the following is enforceable in a court of law?
(A) Directive Principles
(B) Fundamental Rights
(C) Fundamental Duties
(D) Preamble

Answer : B

Question. Which one of the following is not an essential feature of the parliamentary form of government?
(A) It has an independent judiciary.
(B) It has the supreme power of making laws.
(C) The executive is responsible to the Parliament or the elected representatives of people.
(D) It has two chambers.

Answer : D

Question. The Federal system adopted by our Constitution is working successfully because
(A) the judiciary is independent
(B) there is a clear division of power between the Centre and the units or the states.
(C) the Press is free to criticise violation of Constitutional provisions.
(D) there is a division of power between the legislature and the executive.

Answer : B

Question. The Indian Constitution can be amended by
(A) A majority vote in each House of Parliament
(B) At least two thirds majority of the members present and voting in each House of Parliament
(C) At least two thirds majority of the members present and voting in each House of Parliament and ratified by at least half of the legislatures of the states.
(D) special majority in Parliament.

Answer : C

Question. Which of these statements is not correct? In a parliamentary form of government,
(A) Members of Parliament are responsible to the Prime Minister
(B) the Council of Ministers or the executive has collective responsibility
(C) Ministers are selected by the Prime Minister
(D) the President is indirectly elected by the people.

Answer : A

Question. In a parliamentary form of government, the executive can remain in office only if
(A) it enjoys the confidence of the ruling party
(B) it pleases the head of the state
(C) it has the confidence of the legislature and pleases the head of the state
(D) it enjoys the confidence of the people.

Answer : C

Question. A minister or member of Cabinet in a democracy is not supposed to
(A) disagree with other members in the Cabinet
(B) question the major policy decisions of the government
(C) defend his colleagues in Parliament
(D) compromise his views in the Cabinet meetings.

Answer : B

Question. Which of the following statements is not correct? A minister in a parliamentary form of government must
(A) Be a member of any of the two houses of Parliament
(B) Have the confidence of the Prime Minister
(C) Share collective responsibility
(D) Have basic knowledge of law.

Answer : D

Question. Majority of Rajya Sabha members are
(A) elected by the people
(B) elected by the state legislatures
(C) appointed by the President
(D) elected by Lok Sabha

Answer : B

Question. The term of a member of Rajya Sabha or the Upper House of Parliament is
(A) five years
(B) six years
(C) two years
(D) four years.

Answer : B

Question. The Indian Constitution provides
(A) only one constitution for all the states and the Centre
(B) a separate constitution for each state
(C) one constitution for the Centre and union territories
(D) choice of a constitution to the states.

Answer : A

Question. The Indian Constitution has divided the subjects between Centre and the states by providing
(A) three different lists
(B) powers to the courts to decide the subjects
(C) Parliament with the power to allot some subjects to the states
(D) powers to the courts to divide the subjects between the states.

Answer : A

Question. If there is a conflict between Centre and state laws, the Constitution says
(A) laws of the Centre will be valid
(B) the state has option to continue with its laws or use central laws
(C) the court decides which law will be enforced
(D) both laws will be declared valid. ‘.

Answer : A

Question. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution declares India to be a
(A) Sovereign Democratic Republic
(B) Sovereign Socialist Democratic Republic
(C) Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic
(D) Sovereign Socialist Democratic Federal Republic.

Answer : C

Question. With the preamble of which country’s constitution does our Preamble closely resemble?
(A) UK
(B) USA
(C) Ireland
(D) France

Answer : B

Question. Which new words were added to the Preamble to the Indian Constitution through the 42nd Amendment Act?
(A) Sovereign, Democratic and Republic
(B) Secular and socialist
(C) Liberty, Equality and Fraternity
(D) Justice, social, economic and political

Answer : B

Question. In the case of subjects not mentioned in any of the three lists, the power to enact laws rests with
(A) the Centre
(B) the states
(C) both Centre and states
(D) the Courts.

Answer : A

Question. Indian Constitution is federal because
(A) it is a written Constitution
(B) the states are autonomous
(C) the judiciary safeguards the Constitution and protects the rights of the states and the Centre
(D) the states are responsible for law and order.

Answer : C

Question. Which of the following features of the Indian Constitution can make the Constitution more unitary in nature?
(A) A strong Centre
(B) All India services
(C) Emergency powers of the President
(D) Centre’s responsibility of defence

Answer : C

Question. The President of India can declare a state of Emergency
(A) whenever he wants
(B) in case of external aggression or internal disturbances
(C) in case of conflict between him and Parliament
(D) when he does not agree with the Prime Minister.

Answer : B

Question. Which of the following statements is wrong?
(A) In the Indian Constitution, the judiciary is independent
(B) The High Court and Supreme Court Judges are elected by Parliament.
(C) In case of constitutional disputes the Supreme Court decides the case.
(D) The verdict of the Supreme Court is [mal.

Answer : B

Question. In the Indian Constitution the judiciary is independent because
(A) it can act independently
(B) it cannot be influenced by the party in power
(C) it enjoys security of tenure and cannot be removed except by a special procedure
(D) Judges are not members of any political party.

Answer : C

Question. The difference between Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Rights is
(A) they are written separately
(B) the former cannot be enforced by law while the latter are enforceable by law
(C) Directive Principles of State Policy come under the jurisdiction of state governments while Fundamental Rights are the responsibility of the Centre
(D) Directive Principles cannot be changed with times while Fundamental Rights can be changed.

Answer : B

Question. Who played a major role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution?
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru
(B). Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(C) . Dr. Bhimrao Ainbedkar
(D) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Answer : C

Question. In a Republic the Government derives its powers from
(A) the people
(B) the Constitution
(C) the Judiciary
(D) the President.

Answer : A

Question. Which one of the following countries is a democratic republic?
(A) India
(B) Japan
(C) UK
(D) Sweden

Answer : A

Question. Which of the following statements is correct?
(A) The President is a mere ceremonial head and has no powers.
(B) The Supreme Court can make or enact laws.
(C) Parliament has control over the Council of Ministers.
(D) The President can reject a bill passed by Parliament.

Answer : C

Question. One of the following is not a feature of the Indian Constitution. Which one is it?
(A) Federal government
(B) Parliamentary form of government
(C) Independent judiciary
(D) Presidential government

Answer : D

Question. Directive Principles of State Policy are there
(A) to keep the Government within its limits
(B) to protect the rights of ordinary people
(C) to safeguard the interests of state Governments
(D) to direct the Government to adopt policies which will help establish a just society.

Answer : D

Question. Which one of the following is not a necessary attribute of the citizen of a country?
(A) He has to inhabit that country.
(B) He participates in the process of government of that country.
(C) He has political rights in that country and abides by its laws.
(D) He should be in a democratic state.

Answer : A

Question. What should a good citizen not do?
(A) Participate in the process of government
(B) Abide by the laws of the country
(C) Perform his duties
(D) Demand his rights even at the cost of others

Answer : D

Question. Indian Citizenship Act of 1955 does not give Indian citizenship to
(A) children born of Indian citizens abroad
(B) children of diplomatic personnel born in India on or after 26 January 1950
(C) women who are or have been married to citizens of India
(D) persons of Indian origin who ordinarily reside in any country or place outside divided India.

Answer : B

Question. A citizen of any country should be loyal to
(A) the community
(B) the state
(C) the caste
(D) his religion.

Answer : B

Question. Among the following subjects there is one subject which falls under concurrent list.
(A) Public health
(B) Railways
(C) Trade and Commerce
(D) Education

Answer : D

Question. On the subjects under the concurrent list, a law can be enacted by
(A) the Union government
(B) state governments
(C) both Central and state governments.
(D) both President and state governors.

Answer : C

Question. Which one of the following does not come under the jurisdiction of the Central government?
(A) Defence
(B) Law and order
(C) Post and telegraph
(D) Foreign affairs

Answer : B

Question. Which of these statements is not correct?
(A) Fundamental Rights are guaranteed in the Constitution.
(B) Fundamental Rights cannot be violated by any government
(C) Fundamental Rights are enforced through courts.
(D) Fundamental Rights mean freedom to do anything one wants.

Answer : D

Question. Under which Fundamental Right is the practice of untouchability made punishable by law?
(A) Right to equality
(B) Right to freedom
(C) Right against exploitation
(D) Right to freedom of religion

Answer : A

Question. In the Indian Constitution developing of the scientific temper and attitude of humanism forms part of the
(A) Preamble
(B) Fundamental Rights
(C) Directive principles of State Policy
(D) Fundamental Duties.

Answer : D

Question. Which one of the following does not form a part of the right to freedom?
(A) Freedom of speech and expression
(B) Freedom to form unions and associations
(C) Freedom to turn out people speaking languages other than the one spoken by the majority in that particular region
(D) Freedom to practise any profession or occupation

Answer : C

Question. Which of the following statements is not correct about the right against exploitation?
(A) Children of poor parents can be employed in any trade.
(B) ‘Begar’ or work without wages will not be allowed.
(C) The State can organise compulsory service for public purposes.
(D) Children below the age of fourteen should not be employed in any dangerous jobs.

Answer : A

Question. Freedom of religion means
(A) All citizens are free to practise their religion
(B) the State is free to sponsor any religion
(C) religious education can be given by the State under the Constitution
(D) the government is free to make appointments on the basis of religion.

Answer : A

Question. Right to conserve and develop one’s language and script is guaranteed by the
(A) right to equality
(B) right to freedom
(C) cultural and educational right
(D) right against exploitation.

Answer : C

Question. Right to vote is a
(A) Fundamental Right
(B) Fundamental Duty
(C) part of Directive Principles
(D) legal right only.

Answer : A

Question. Right against exploitation comes under
(A) Fundamental Rights
(B) Directive Principles of State Policy
(C) Fundamental Duties
(D) non-fundamental rights such as the right to property.

Answer : A

Question. Which one of the following is not a Fundamental Right according to the Indian Constitution?
(A) Right to have judicial remedy
(B) Right to property
(C) Right to assembly
(D) Right to equality

Answer : B

Question. Which constitutional right is violated by discrimination against women?
(A) Right to freedom
(B) Right against exploitation
(C) Right to equality
(D) Right to constitutional remedy

Answer : C

Question. Equal pay for equal work for both men and women is a part of
(A) Fundamental Right to equality
(B) Fundamental Right against exploitation
(C) Directive Principles of the State Policy
(D) Fundamental Duties.

Answer : A

Question. Right to work is a part of
(A) Fundamental Rights
(B) Preamble
(C) Directive Principles
(D) Fundamental Duties.

Answer : C

Question. Which of the following is guaranteed by Article 17 of the Indian Constitution?
(A) Protection of individual freedom
(B) Right to equality
(C) Abolition of untouchability
(D) Right to constitutional remedies

Answer : C

Question. Right to property was omitted by
(A) 42nd Amendment Act of 1976
(B) 25th Amendment Act of 1971
(C) 44th Amendment Act of 1978
(D) 4th Amendment Act of 1955.

Answer : C

Question. When Fundamental Rights are violated, a citizen
(A) can approach the Supreme Court for a remedy
(B) can approach both the Supreme Court and the High Courts
(C) may mobilise public .opinion
(D) acquires the right to violate fundamental duties.

Answer : B

Question. Fundamental Duties were incorporated in the Constitution
(A) in place of Fundamental Rights
(B) in place of Directive Principles
(C) a separate entity
(D) as an integral part of Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles.

Answer : C

Question. Which of the following is not a Fundamental Duty?
(A) To abide by the Constitution
(B) To develop scientific temper, humanism and tolerance
(C) To defend the country
(D) To amass property

Answer : D

Question. Fundamental Duties are provided
(A) by laws of the Supreme Court
(B) by a law passed by the Parliament
(C) by the Constitution through the 42nd Amendment Act
(D) by the convention evolved over the years by the citizens themselves.

Answer : C

Question. Which one of the following is not correct?
(A) Rights and duties are complementary to each other.
(B) Rights are demanded from the government by the citizens whereas duties are demanded by the government from its citizens.
(C) Rights are an integral part of the Constitution while duties are directives.
(D) No right can be enjoyed without performing duties.

Answer : B

Question. Directive Principles of State Policy were incorporated in the Constitution
(A) to establish a socialistic welfare state
(B) to ensure freedom to the citizens from an excess of governance
(C) to make India a secular and democratic state
(D) to give directions to the citizens in performing their duties.

Answer : A

Question. What are the objectives for implementing the fundamental rights according to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar?
(a) To ensure every citizen is benefited
(b) To ensure every citizen is rich
(c) To ensure every citizen has ration card
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. What do you mean by Right to equality?
(a) Rich people are higher than poorer
(b) All are equal before law
(c) Government officer are superior
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. Where the Hindu worship their God?
(a) Temple
(b) Masjid
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. The Constituent of India was enacted by a Constituent Assembly set up:
(a) By the Indian National Congress
(b) Through a resolution of the provisional government
(c) Under the Indian Independence Act, 1947
(d) Under the Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946

Answer : D

Question. When did the Maoists join other political parties in Nepal to sign a 12-point agreement?
(a) April 2006
(b) October 2007
(c) Nov, 2005
(d) Feb 2005

Answer : C

Question. Who was the first governor general of independent India?
(a) Dr. Rajender Parsad
(b) Dr. S. Radhskishna
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Mount Batan

Answer : D

Question. Which forms defines the Rule of people by the people?
(a) Preamble
(b) Democracy
(c) Constitution
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. After 42th amendment the first line of Indian preamble is ”we people of India _______
(a) Sovereign
(b) Secularism
(c) Democratic
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. What is the name of the Kingship or rule of a king?
(a) Democracy
(b) Constitution
(c) Monarchy
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. In which country Non-Muslim are not allowed?
(a) USA
(b) Saudi Arabia
(c) India
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. Which of the following are included in right to freedom of religion?
(a) Right to freedom of conscience
(b) Freedom against forced religious instructions
(c) Practice & propagation of religion
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. What refers to a goal or a principle in its most excellent or perfect form?
(a) Arbitrary
(b) Ideal
(c) Polity
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. What kind of role citizens of India play in electing representatives?
(a) Indirect
(b) No Role
(c) Directcorrect
(d) Submissive

Answer : C

Question. Separation of same religion from the state in democratic societies is because of-
(a) To interrupt religious teaching
(b) To protect the freedom of individual exit from their religion
(c) Both (1) & (2)
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. Jurisdiction of which among the following high courts covers the Union Territory of Lakshadweep ?
(a) Tamil Nadu High Court
(b) Kerala High Court
(c) Calcutta High Court
(d) Bombay High Court

Answer : B

Question. Panchayati Raj is the tier of which government?
(a) First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) Fourth

Answer : C

Question. What type of government India practiced?
(a) Monarchy
(b) Democracy
(c) Anarchy
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. The Indian Constitution was enforced on :
(a) 15th Aug, 1947
(b) 26th Nov, 1949
(c) 26th Jan, 1950
(d) 30th Jan, 1950

Answer : C

Question. The members of the Constituent Assembly were :
(a) Elected by Provincial Assemblies
(b) Only representatives of the princely states.
(c) Elected directly by people.
(d) Nominated by the government.

Answer : A

Question. Buying and selling of human beings include in which right?
(a) Right to Equality
(b) Right to Freedom
(c) Right against Exploitation
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. Shri Jagjivan Ram was the first _____ minister of India.
(a) labour
(b) health
(c) Parliamentary Affairs
(d) Home

Answer : A

Question. The elected representatives in India are part of ____.
(a) Judiciary
(b) Legislature
(c) Executive
(d) Cabinet

Answer : B

Question. The system of courts in the country is collectively referred as ______.
(a) Judiciary
(b) Congress
(c) Ministers
(d) Executive

Answer : A

Question. Which of the following are Fundamental Rights?
(a) Right to equality
(b) Right to freedom
(c) Right against exploitation
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. What refers to a goal or a principle in its most excellent or perfect form?
(a) Arbitrary
(b) Idealcorrect
(c) Polity
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. What refers to independent people in a democratic form of government?
(a) Sovereign
(b) Ideal
(c) Polity
(d) Trafficking

Answer : A

Question. The father of Indian Constitution is ____.
(a) B R Ambedkar
(b) Liaquat Ali Khan
(c) Rajendra Prasad
(d) S C Sinha

Answer : A

Question. Define the term Sovereign as referred to in Indian Constitution.
(a) Equal opportunities to every one in the country
(b) People of India govern themselves through their elected representatives
(c) No discrimination on the basis of religion
(d) An independent India, no longer governed by any external authority

Answer : D

Question. Bi-Hinduism started in the year
(a) 1870
(b) 1878
(c) 1865
(d) 1861

Answer : B

Question. Separation of religion from the state means
(a) Socialism
(b) Democracy
(c) Secularism
(d) All of these

Answer : C

Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 The Indian Constitution Important Questions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1: In politics, what is a constitution?
Answer: In Politics a Constitution can be described as a document outlining the basic laws or principles by which a country is to be governed.

2: In Nepal, when did the Interim Constitution come into effect?
Answer: In Nepal, the Interim Constitution came into effect from January 15, 2007.

3: What are the negative points of a democratic society?
Answer: In a democratic society Power can be misused. Sometimes the Majority can undermine the minority. The citizens need certain rules to save themselves from folly.

4. What do you mean by federalism?
Answer: The term federalism refers to the existence of more than one level of government in the country.

5. What is Right to Equality? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Right to Equality means that all persons are equal before the law.

6. What is Right against Exploitation?
Answer: Under this Right the Constitution prohibits trafficking, forced labour and children working under 14 years of age.

7. How has the section on Fundamental Rights often been referred to?
Answer: It has often been referred to as the conscience of the Indian Constitution.

8. How are Fundamental Rights important? Give one point.
Answer: Fundamental Rights protect citizens against the arbitrary and absolute exercise of power by the state.

9. What does the word ‘State’ refer to? [Imp.]
Answer: The word ‘State’ refers to a political institution that represents a sovereign people who occupy a definite territory. For example, the Indian State.

10. What caused fear among the members of the Constituent Assembly?
Answer: They feared that the executive might become too strong and ignore its responsibility to the legislature.

11. What did the members of the Constituent Assembly do to come out of their fear?
Answer: They included several provisions in the Constitution to limit and control the actions taken by the executive branch of government as a whole.

12. What do you mean by a secular state? [V. Imp.]
Answer: A secular state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion.

13. Why do the people of Nepal not want to adhere to their previous Constitution.
Answer: The previous Constitution does not reflect the ideals of the country that want Nepal to be, and that they have fought for.

14: What is secularism?
Answer: Secularism is the right of the citizens to practice any religion. A secular state is one in which the state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion.

Short Answer Type Questions

1: How can a leader misuse power in a democratic country?

Answer: A leader misusing his power may send his security guards to beat up his neighbours for a personal reason or ask the police not to take action against a relative who has committed a crime.

2: Differentiate between a monarchy and a democracy? 

Answer: A country which is governed by a king or a queen is called a monarchy.  While Democracy is forms of government where people can vote to select their respective representative well govern the state on their behalf. 

3: How does the Indian Constitution safe guard the minorities of the country?

Answer: The Indian constitution ensures that the dominant group does not use its power against other, less powerful people or groups.
The Constitution contains rules that ensure that minorities are not excluded from anything that is routinely available to the majority. It also prevents the domination of the majority over the minority.

4: What will happen if there is no restriction to the powers of elected representatives? 

Answer: If there would have been no restrictions to powers of elected representatives, they may have misuse their powers. They could have used their powers in doing wrong deeds. They could even have supported a single religion. 

5: What is universal adult franchise?

Answer: Universal adult franchise is every adult citizen having a right to vote irrespective of sex, caste, creed, education and financial status.

6: What do you mean by the legislature, the executive and the judiciary?

Answer: The legislature refers to our elected representatives.
The executive is a smaller group of people who are responsible for implementing laws and running the government.
The judiciary refers to the system of courts in this country.

7: Mention the key features of the Indian Constitution.

Answer: The key features of the Indian constitution are:

• Federalism
• Parliamentary Form of Government
• Separation of Powers
• Fundamental Rights
• Secularism

8: What are the factors the drafting committee had to take into consideration while drafting the constitution?

Answer: The committee had to keep in mind that India was a land of many communities, languages and many religions. India was a land of diverse cultures and the Princely states in India had to be considered. The partition of the country into India and Pakistan was about to happen and the drafting committee had to bear this in mind. Finally, the biggest consideration was the socio-economic condition of a majority of Indians which was in a bad state.

9: What are the key components of fundamental rights?

Answer: The key components of Fundamental rights are:

• Right to Equality
• Right to Freedom
• Right against Exploitation
• Right to Freedom of Religion
• Cultural and Educational Rights
• Right to Constitutional Remedies

10: Explain the functions of organs of government. 

Answer: According to the constitution, there are three organs of the state. These are the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. 

• The legislature refers to our elected representatives. 
• The executive is a smaller group of people who are responsible for implementing laws and running the government. 
• The judiciary, refer to the system of courts in this country. 

11: What do you mean by tyranny of majority? 

Answer: Every society is prone to the tyranny of the majority. The constitution usually contains rules that ensure that minorities are not excluded from anything that is routinely available to the majority. The constitution is precise to prevent this tyranny or domination by the majority of a minority.  

Long Answer Type Questions

1. What is a Constitution? What purposes does it serve? [Imp.]

Answer: A Constitution is a written document containing certain rules. It serves several purposes. It tells us what the fundamental nature of our society is. A country is usually made up of different communities of people who share certain beliefs but they may not necessarily agree on all issues. A Constitution helps serve as a set of rules and principles that all persons in a country can agree upon as the basis of the way in which they want the country to be governed.
The second important purpose of a Constitution is to define the nature of a country’s political system. In countries that have adopted a democratic form of government, the Constitution lays out certain important guidelines that govern decision-making within these societies.

2. Why did Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar urge Scheduled Castes to join the government as well as the civil services? [V. Imp.]

Answer: Dr. Ambedkar was an important member of the Constituent Assembly. He believed that his participation in the Assembly helped the Scheduled Castes get some safeguards in the draft Constitution. But he also stated that although the laws might exist, scheduled castes still had reason to fear because the administration of these laws were in the hands of upper caste Hindu officers. Therefore, he urged scheduled castes to join the government as well as the civil services. It would give them a chance to play their role in law-making.

3. What were the challenges before the members of the Constituent Assembly?

Answer: The following were the challenges before the members of the Constituent Assembly: (a) The country was made up of several different communities who spoke different languages, practised different religions and had distinct cultures. (b) At the time the Constitution was being written, the country was going through considerable turmoil. The partition of the country was imminent, some of the Princely States remained undivided about their future.(c) The socio-economic condition of the vast mass of people appeared dismal. (d) Poverty was another major challenge.

4. Who do you mean by federal form of government? Why is it important?

Answer: Our Constitution provides for a federal form of government. This means that the responsibility of governing our country has been divided into the central government and the state governments. Panchayati Raj is the third tier of government.
India is a vast country. Different communities of people live here. Hence, a system of government needed to be devised that did not involve only persons silting in the capital city of New Delhi and making decisions for everyone. Instead, it was necessary to have another level of government in the states so that decisions could be made for that particular area. In this way, it will be easier to make positive efforts for the development of the country as well as the states.

5. Explain Right to Equality in detail.

Answer: Our Constitution states that all persons are equal before the law. This means that all persons shall be equally protected by the laws of the country. The Constitution also states that no citizen can be discriminated against on the basis of their religion, caste or sex. Every person has an access to all public places such as hotels, playgrounds, shops, etc. The state cannot discriminate against anyone in matters of employment.

6: Write a brief note on the making of the Indian Constitution.

Answer: The Indian Constitutional Assembly was convened in December 1946. The members of this Assembly were only Indians. This Assembly started drafting the Constitution for Independent India. Dr. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Constitution drafting committee.
The constitution declares India to be a sovereign, democratic republic and establishes the structure, procedures, powers and duties, of the government and duties of citizens.
The 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on the January 24, 1950. Two days later, on January 26, 1950, the Constitution of India became the law of all the Indian lands.

7: Write a brief note on the struggle for freedom in Nepal.

Answer: In Nepal, there was a people’s struggle for freedom in 1990. Democracy was established and it lasted for 12 years until 2002.
In October 2002, King Gyanendra began taking over the government with the assistance of the army. In 2005 King Gyanendra took over as the head of the government.
In 2006, people’s movement for democracy began gaining immense force. In April 2006 the King restored the Third Parliament and asked the political parties to form a government. In 2007, Nepal adopted an Interim Constitution and Nepal gained political freedom.

8: What is a constitutional monarchy? Give an example.

Answer: In constitutional monarchy, a country is ruled by a king or a queen but the country has a constitution which the king follows. 

Example: – Until quite recently, Nepal was monarchy. The previous constitution of Nepal, which had been adopted in 1990, reflected the fact that the final authority rested with the king. A people’s movement in Nepal fought for several decades to establish democracy and in 2006 they finally succeeded in putting an end to the powers of the king. Now the people have to write a new constitution to establish Nepal as a democracy. The reason that they do not want to continue with the previous constitution is because it does not reflect the ideals of the country that they want Nepal to be, and that they have fought for.

9: Explain how the constitution of India gets made? 

Answer: The long experience of authoritarian rule under the colonial state convinced Indians that free India should be a democracy in which everyone should be treated equally and be allowed to participate in government.  This was not done by one person but by a group of around 300 people who become members of the constituent assembly had a huge task before them.

The country was made up of several different communities who spoke different languages, belonged to different religions, and had district culture. Also, when the constitution was being written, India was going through considerable turmoil. 

10: What is the importance of constitution? 

Answer: The constitution plays an important role in laying out certain guidelines that govern decision making within the society. 
1. It lays down rules that guard against the misuse of power by our political leaders. 
2. It also contains rules to prevent tyranny. 
3. It also helps to protect us against certain adverse effect on the larger principal that the country believes in. 

11. Describe the key features of the Indian Constitution.

Answer: The key features of the Indian Constitution are given below:

(a) Federalism. Our Constitution has provided for a federal form of government. This means that we have government at the state level and at the centre. Panchayati Raj is the third tier of government. India is a large  country with a vast number of communities living together in it. Hence, a system needed to be devised that did not involve only persons sitting in the capital city of New Delhi and making decisions for everyone. Instead, it was important to have another level of government in states so that decisions could be made for that particular area. While each state in India enjoys autonomy in exercising powers on certain issues, subjects on national concern require that all of these states follow the laws of the central government. Under federalism, the states are agents of the federal government and they draw their authority from the Constitution.

(b) Parliamentary form of Government. The different tiers of government consists of representatives who are elected by the people. The Constitution of India guarantees universal adult franchise for all citizens. This means that people of India have a direct role in electing their representatives. At the same time, every citizen of the country, irrespective of his/ her social background, can also contest in elections. These representatives are accountable to the people.

(c) Separation of Powers. There are three organs of the state— the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. In order to prevent the misuse of power by any one branch of the state, the Constitution says that each of these organs should exercise different powers. In this way, each organ acts as a check on the other organs of the state and this establishes a balance of power between the three.

(d) Fundamental Rights. Fundamental Rights are called the conscience of the Indian Constitution. These Rights protect against the absolute exercise of power by the state. The Constitution thus guarantees the rights of individuals against the state as well as against other individuals.

(e) Secularism. It is an important feature of our Constitution. A secular state is one in which the state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion.

12. Describe all the Fundamental Rights mentioned in the Constitution. [V.Imp.]

Answer: The Constitution of India guarantees certain basic rights to all its citizens. These rights are called Fundamental Rights. There are altogether six Fundamental Rights:

(a) Right to Equality. All persons are equal before the law. It means that all persons shall be equally protected by the laws of the country. It also states that no citzen can be discriminated against on the basics of their religion, caste or sex. Every person has access to all public places such as restaurants, parks, etc. The state cannot discriminate against anyone on matters of employment.

(b) Right to Freedom. Everyone has the right to freedom of speech and expressions, the right to move freely and reside in any part of the country and the right to practise any profession, occupation or business.

(c) Right against Exploitation. The Indian Constitution prohibits trafficking, child labour and children working under 14 years of age.

(d) Right to Freedom of Religion. Everyone has the right to enjoy religious freedom. It means that everyone has the right to practise, profess and propagate the religion of their choice.

(e) Cultural and Educational Rights. Our Constitution states that all minorities, religious or linguistic, can set up their own educational institutions in order to preserve and develop their own culture.

(f) Right to Constitutional Remedies. A person has the right to go to the court for justice if he/she feels that his/her Fundamental Rights are being violated.

12: Describe in detail the various features of Indian constitution. 

Answer: FEDERALISM: This refers to the existence of more than one level of government in the country. In India, we have governments at the state level and at the center. Panchayati Raj is the third tier of government. 

The vast number of communities in India meant that a system of government needed to be devised that did not involve only persons sitting in the capital city of New Delhi and making decisions for everyone. Instead, it was important to have another level of government in the states so that   decision could be made for that particular area. While each state in India enjoys autonomy in exercising powers on certain issues, subjects of national concern require that all of these states follow the laws of the central government. 

The constitution contains lists that detail the issues that each tier of government can make laws on. In addition, the constitution also specifies where each tier of government can get the money from for work that it does. Under federalism, the states are not merely agents of the federal government but draw their authority from the constitution as well. All persons in India are governed by laws and policies made by each of these levels of government. 

PARLIAMENTARY FORM OF GOVERNMENT: The different tiers of government consist of representative who are elected by the people. The constitution of Indian guarantees universal adult   suffrage for all citizens. When they were making the constitution, the members of the constituent assembly felt that the freedom struggle had prepared the masses for universal adult suffrage and that this would help encourage a democratic mindset and break the clutches of traditional caste, class and gender hierarchies. This means that the people of India have a direct role in electing their representatives. Also, every citizen of the country, irrespective of his/ her social background, can also contest in elections. These representatives are accountable to the people. 

SEPARATION OF POWERS: According to the Constitution, there are three organs of the state. These are the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. The legislature refers to our elected representatives. The executive is a smaller group of people who are responsible for implementing laws and running the government. The judiciary refers to the system of courts in this country. In order to prevent the misuse of power by any one branch of the state, the constitution says that each of these organs should exercise different powers. 

Through this, each organ acts as a check on the other organs of the state and this ensures the balance of power between all three. 

• Central government
• State government
• Panchayati raj

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: The section on Fundamental Right has often been referred to as the ‘conscience’ of the Indian Constitution. Colonial rule had created a certain suspicion of the state in the minds of the nationalists and they wanted to ensure that a set of written rights would guard against the misuse of state powers in independent India. Fundamental Right, therefore protects citizens against the arbitrary and absolute exercise of power by the state. The constitution, thus, guarantees the rights of individuals against the state as well as against other individuals.

In addition to fundamental right, the constitution also has a section called directive principles of state policy. This section was designed by the members of the constituent assembly to ensure greater social and economic reform and to serve as a guide to the independent Indian. State to institute laws and policies that help to reduce the poverty of the masses. 

SECULARISM: A secular state is one in which the state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion.