Resource and
Development
Multiple choice questions:
(i) Which one of the following types of resources is iron ore?
a. Renewable
b. Biotic.
c. Flow
d. Non-renewable
(ii) Under which of the following type of resource can tidal energy be put?
a. Replenishable
b. Abiotic
c. Human-made.
d. Non-recyclable
(iii)Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in
Punjab?
a. Intense cultivation
b. Deforestation
c. Over irrigation
d. Overgrazing
(iv) In which one of the following states is the terrace
cultivation practiced?
a. Punjab
b. Haryana
c. Plains of Uttar Pradesh
d. Uttaranchal
(v) In which one of the following states is the black soil found?
a. J & K
b. Gujarat
c. Rajasthan
d. Jharkhand
(i) (d) Non-renewable
(ii) (a) Replenishable
(iii) (c) Over irrigation
(iv) (d) Uttarakhand
(v) (b) Gujarat
Page 13:
Q.2: Answer the following questions in about 30 words:
(i) Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly grown in
it.
(ii) What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the Eastern Coast? Give
three main features of this type of soil.
(iii) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?
(iv) What are biotic and abiotic resources? Give some examples.
(i) The states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
have black soil. The crop which is mainly grown in this soil is cotton. This
soil is also called ‘Regur’ or black cotton soil.
(ii) The river deltas of the eastern coast have alluvial soil.
Alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay.
The main features of alluvial soil are:
(a) These soils are very fertile and so ideal for cultivation.
(b) They contain adequate quantities of potash, phosphoric acid and lime good
for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, and other crops.
(c) In drier areas these soils are more alkaline.
(iii) In hilly areas, soil erosion can be controlled by contour ploughing which
is ploughing along contour-lines, using terrace farming techniques and using
strips of grasses to check soil erosion by wind and water.(iv)
Biotic Resources: The resources which are obtained from the biosphere and have
life are called Biotic Resources. Examples of biotic resources are animals,
plants, human beings, fish, livestock etc.
Abiotic Resources: The resources which are composed of non-living things are
called Abiotic Resources.
Examples of abiotic resources are, water, minerals, metals, wind, solar energy
etc.
Q3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.
(i) Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not
increased much since 1960-61?
(ii) How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of
resources?
1) Land resources in India are primarily divided into
agricultural land, forest land, pasture and grazing land, and waste land. Waste
land includes rocky, arid and desert areas, and land used for non-agricultural
purposes like housing, roads, industry etc.
According to recent data available the percentage of net sown
area (NSA) in India is about 54% of the total reporting area (if, the other
than current fallow lands is included). . 22.5% is covered by forests, and
3.45% is used for grazing. The rest is waste land, with traces of miscellaneous
cultivation.
Improper use of forest land has led to land degradation and made conservation
of forests difficult.
Human activities like deforestation,overgrazing, mining , quarrying etc have
contributed to the slow growth rate of forests. Thus, land under forest has
increased by only about 4% since 1960-61.
(ii) The following factors have been responsible for technical and economic
development leading to over consumption of resources .
In colonial times, imperial powers used their technological and economic
superiority to establish control over other countries and thereby gain access to
the latter’s resources. One country’s resources were accessible to the citizens
of its colonial ruler too, leading to increased consumption.
Technical progress also results in efficient machinery, increased production
and greater consumption of resources.
Technological development and economic progress has led to
populations increasing due to low mortality at all ages. With new developments
in medicine and health care, fewer people die due to accidents, diseases, in
childbirth etc. This too has contributed to higher consumption of resources.
Q. 1. What is resource planning ? Mention the
steps which are involved in resource planning. [CBSE 2009 (F); Sept. 2010,
14]
Or
Explain the three steps
involved in the resource planning in India. [CBSE Sept. 20W]
Or
What are the three
stages of resource planning in India?
Ans.
“Resource planning is a technique or skill of proper or judicious use of
resources. ”
Resource planning is a complex process which involves :
(i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the
country. This involves surveying, mapping, qualitative and quantitative
estimation and measurement of the resources.
(ii) Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill
and institutional set up for implementing resource development plans.
(iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development
plans.
Q. 2. Explain the classification of resources on
the basis of exhaustibility. [CBSE 2009 (D), Sept. 2010, 2011]
Ans. (i)
Renewable resources: “Renewable resources are the natural resources which can
be used again and again or can be reproduced by physical, mechanical and
chemical processes.” Solar energy, air, water and soil are some of the
renewable resources of energy.
(ii) Non-renewable resources: “Non renewable resources are the natural
resources that cannot be replaced at all or within a reasonable time.” Fossil
fuels such as oil, gas and coal are examples of non renewable resources. These
resources are accumulated over millions of years. They are considered to be
non-renewable resources because once they are used up, they are gone forever.
Q. 3. Explain the classification of resources on
the basis of origin.
Or
Give two examples of
abiotic resources. [CBSE 2010(F)]
Or
What are biotic and abiotic
resources ? Give two examples for each. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Q- 4. Explain the classification of resources on
the basis of ownership. [CBSE 2009 (O), 2014]
Or
Explain what is meant by
national resources and individual resources. [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2014]
Ans. (a)
Individual Resources: Resources which are owned by private individuals are
known as individual resources. Plots, fields, houses, cars, books, etc., are
some examples of individual resources.
(b)Community Owned Resources : The resources which are accessible .to all the
members of the community are known as community resources. Village ponds,
public parks, playgrounds, etc., are some examples of community resources.
(c)National Resources: All the resources which are under the control of state
or union government are known as national resources. All the resources within
political boundaries are national resources because the government has the
power to acquire even the private properties
(d)International Resources: These resources are owned and regulated by
international institutions. The oceanic resources beyond 200 km of the
Exclusive Economic Zone belong to the open ocean, and no individual country can
utilise these without the concurrence of international institutions. India has
got the right to mine manganese nodules from the bed of the Indian Ocean from
that area which lies beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone.
Q.5.Explain the classification of resources on the
basis of the state of development. [CBSE 2008]
Or
Distinguish between
stock resources and reserve resources. [CBSE Sept. 2010,12]
Ans. (i)
Potential Resources : Resources which are found in a region, but have not been
utilised due to lack of capital or other reasons. For example: the western
parts of India, particularly Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for
the development of wind and solar energy, but so far, these have not been
developed properly.
(ii) Developed Resources : These are resources which have been surveyed and
their quality and quantity have been determined for utilisation. The
development of resources depends on technology and the level of their
feasibility. For example, India has a cumulative total of about 2,47,847
million tonnes of coal resources.
(iii) Stock : These are the materials in the environment which have the
potential to satisfy the human needs but cannot be
used as the human beings do not have the appropriate technology to convert them
into usable form. For example, water (H20) is a compound of two inflammable
gases, i.e., hydrogen and oxygen, but human beings do not have the required
technology to use them as a source of energy.
(iv) Reserves : These are the subset of the stock, which can be put into use
with the existing technology, but their uses have been postponed keeping in mind
the needs of the future generations. For example, India has sufficient amount
of forests to fulfil the needs of the present generation, but they are being
protected for the future generations.
Q. 6. Distinguish between Renewable and Non
renewable resources. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Q.7. HOW is land a natural resource of utmost
importance ? Explain with four facts. [CBSE 2008 (O), 2012, 2013]
Or
“Land is a natural
resource of utmost importance.” Elaborate the statement with the help of
suitable examples highlighting the value of land resource. [CBSE 2013]
Ans.
Land is an important natural resource, because :
(i)All economic activities are performed on land.
(ii)It supports natural vegetation and wildlife.
(iii)Most of the minerals are formed in land.
(iv)It is used for transport and communication system.
Q-8. Which is the most widely spread and important
soil of India ? State any six characteristics of this type of soil. [CBSE 2008 (F), Sept. 2010]
Or
Mention any four
characteristics of alluvial soils.
Or
How are alluvial soils
formed ? How is Bangar different from Khadar ? [CBSE 2012]
Ans.
Alluvial soil
Characteristics of the Alluvial soil :
(i) Alluvial soils are transported soils. Most of the soils are derived from
the sediments deposited by rivers as in the Indo-Gangetic plain. Thus, the
parent material of these soils is of transported origin.
(ii) These soils consist of varying proportion of sand, silt and clay. In the
upper course of the river, the soil is coarse. In the middle course, it is
medium, and fine grained in the lower course.
(iii) Apart from the size of their grains or particles, soils are described
according to their age as well. They are old alluvium and new alluvium.
Locally, the old alluvium is called ‘Bhangar’ and the new alluvium is called ‘Khadar’.
(iv) The old alluvium often contains ‘kankar, nodules, with calcium carbonates
in the sub-soil. The new alluvium is more fertile than the old alluvium.
Q.9. Distinguish between Khadar and Bhangar.[CBSE 2010(0), Sept. 2010,
2011]
Q.10. Which soil is called ‘regur soil’ ? Mention
any four characteristics
of this type of soil. [CBSE 2009 (F), Sept. 2010, 2012, 2013]
Ans.
Black soil
(i) These have been formed due to withering of lava.
(if) The black soils are made of extremely fine materials, i.e., clayey
materials.
(iii)These soils are rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate,
magnesium carbonate, potash and lime.
(iv)These soils are generally poor in phosphoric content.
(v)The soil is well known for its capacity to hold moisture.
Q.11. How is red soil formed ? Mention its three
characteristics. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Or
How does red soil
develop ? What makes it look red and yellow ? [CBSE 2014]
Ans.
Formation : Most of the red soils have come into existence due to weathering of
ancient crystalline igneous rocks. Characteristics/Features :
(i) Soils are loamy in deep depressions and in uplands. They consist of loose
gravels and highly coarse materials.
(ii)The colour of these soils is generally red, often grading into brown,
chocolate or yellow. The red colour is due to wide diffusion rather than high
percentage of iron content. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
(iii)Soils are deficient in phosphoric acid, organic matter and nitrogenous
materials but are fairly rich in potash. But crops are cultivated with the use
of fertilizers.
Q.12. Which geographical factors are responsible
for the evolution of black soil ? Why is it considered the most suitable for
growing cotton ? [CBSE 2012, 2013]
Ans. (1)
Climatic conditions like temperature, rainfall etc. along with present rock
material are important factors for making of black soil. The parent rock is
volcanic rock.
(2) It is ideal for growing cotton because:
(i)It has capacity to hold moisture.
(ii)They are rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
(iii)This soil is also known as black cotton soil,
(iv) They develop deep cracks during hot weather, which help in the proper
aeration of the soil.
Q.13. How is mountain soil (forest soil) formed ?
Mention any four characteristics of forest soil. .
Ans.
Formation: The soils are formed due to mechanical weathering caused by snow,
rain, temperature variation, etc. Characteristics/Features :
(i) These soils are heterogeneous in nature, and their character changes with
mountainous environment and altitude.
(ii) The soils are very rich in humus, but are deficient in potash, phosphorus
and lime.
(iii) The soils are especially suitable for plantation of tea, coffee, spices
and tropical fruits.
(iv) The soil is loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the
upper slopes. It is acidic with low humus content in the snow covered areas. It
is fertile in the lower parts of the valleys.
Q.14. Mention any four features of the arid soils.
Or
Name the soil type which
is widely found in Western Rajasthan. Explain two important characteristics of
this soil type which make it unsuitable for cultivation. [CBSE 2012]
Ans.
Arid soil is widely found in Western Rajasthan.
(i) The soil ranges red to brown in colour.
(ii) The soils contain considerable amount of soluble salts.
(iii) The soils contain a low percentage of organic matter due to dry climate
and absence of vegetation.
(iv) The soil is alkaline in nature as there is no rainfall to wash soluble
salts.
(v) The lower horizon of the soil is occupied by ‘kankar’ because of the
increasing calcium content downwards. The ‘kankar’ layer formations in the
bottom horizons restrict the infiltration of water.
(vi) The soils are infertile but with irrigation and
fertilizers, the drought resistant and salt tolerant dry crops such as barley,
cotton, wheat, millets, maize, pulses, etc., are grown. (Any Four)
Q.15. Explain the formation and important features
of the laterite soil. [CBSE 2013, 14]
Ans.
Formation : It develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall. The
laterite soil is a result of intense leaching owing to heavy tropical rains.
Features :
(i) The soils are acidic in nature, coarser and crumbly in texture.
(ii) Due to lack of nitrogen, potassium and organic elements, the laterite
soils lack fertility, and are not suitable for cultivation. But when the soils
are manured and irrigated, some crops can be cultivated.
(iii) As the soils are indefinitely durable, so they provide valuable building
materials.
Q.16. What is soil erosion ? Explain the major
types of soil erosions prevailing in India. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Ans.
“Soil erosion is the removal of soil by the forces of nature like wind and
water, more rapidly than the various soil forming processes can replace it.”
Generally, there is a balance between the soil forming process and the
erosional process. The balance can be disturbed by natural or human factors.
Types of Soil Erosion :
(a) Water Erosion : Water is a powerful agent of soil erosion. Following are
the major types of erosion caused by water.
(i) Sheet Erosion : When the top layer of the soil is removed over a large area
by the running water, it is called as sheet erosion.
(ii) Rill Erosion : This is the second stage of sheet erosion. If erosion
continues unchecked for a sufficient time, (rills) or small finger-shaped
grooves which are a few centimetres in depth, may develop on the landscape.
Over a period of time, the fine rills increase in number and also become deeper
and wider, and resemble the twigs, branches and trunk of a tree. This is called
as rill erosion.
(iii) Gully Erosion : This is the third stage of sheet erosion. With further
erosion of the soil, the rills may deepen and become enlarged, and are
ultimately turned into gullies. The main cause of gully erosion is the removal
of vegetation, particularly of trees with their widespread binding roots.
Gullies cut up agricultural land and the entire area may be turned into a bad
land
topography. Gully erosion is also responsible for the formation of ravines.
(b) Wind erosion : Wind is a powerful agent of erosion in arid and semi-arid
lands with little rainfall. Wind can lift the valuable top soil from one area
and deposits in another area. The wind erosion is very dangerous type of
erosion because due to wind most of the deserts of the world are expanding.
Q.17. With reference to the types of soil, answer
the following questions :
(i) Name any four
regions or states where alluvial soil is formed. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
(ii) Name any four
regions or states where red and yellow soils are formed.
(iii) Name any four
regions or states where laterite soil is formed.
Ans. (i)
Rajasthan, Gujarat, deltas of Mahanadi and Godavari, and deltas of Krishna and
Kaveri rivers.
(ii) Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Southern parts of the middle Ganga plain and the
Western Ghats.
(iii) Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
Q-18. State two main differences between the
Alluvial soil and the Red soil.
Q.19. Give reasons :
(i) Alluvial soil can
hold moisture, and is very fertile.
(ii) Black soil needs to
be tilled after the first rain.
(iii) Red soil is ideal
for dry farming.
(iv) The percentage of
organic matter in desert soil is very low.
(v) Red soil is less
fertile.
Ans. (i)
Because the alluvial soil is made up of fine particles. The soil is very
fertile because it is rich in mineral nutrients like potash and lime.
(ii) The soil is sticky, and difficult to work unless tilled immediately after
the first rain.
(iii) Because it does not require much moisture.
(iv) Because of the dry climate and absence of vegetation.
(v) Because it is deficient in phosphorus, nitrogen, lime and humus.
Q.20. Name two important crops associated with the
following types of soil :
(a) Alluvial soil (b)
Black soil
(c) Desert soil (d)
Laterite soil
Ans. (a)
Alluvial: Wheat and rice.
(b) Black: Cotton and sugarcane.
.(c) Desert: Barley and ragi.
(d) Laterite: Coffee and tea.
Q.21. Explain the land-use pattern of India.
Ans. (i)
The net sown area in India has decreased from 45.26% to 43.41%. This means that
more and more agricultural land is being shifted to other activities. This is
not a healthy trend, and must be checked. The steps taken by government has
resulted in increase of net sown area to 47% in 2005-06.
(ii) The pattern of the net sown area varies greatly from one state to another.
It is over 80 per cent of the total area in Punjab and Haryana, and less than
10 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
(iii) The area under forests has increased from 18.11% in 1960-61 to 22.57% in
2000-03 and to 23% in 2005-06 yet it is far below than the scientific norms.
(iv) The land under permanent pasture is very low, i.e., only 3.45% (Fallen to
3%). This shows the tremendous pressure of livestock population on agricultural
land. Cattle are reared mainly on the farm wastes, grain chaff and a few fodder
crops.
(v) Area under fallow land has also decreased which shows, that subsistence
agriculture is being replaced by commercial agriculture.
(vi) A part of the land is termed as waste land, and land put to other
non-agricultural uses. Waste land includes rocky, arid and desert areas, and
land put to other non- agricultural uses includes settlements, roads, railways,
industries, etc.
Q. 22. Explain any four proper fanning techniques
which can be used for soil conservation.
Or
Suggest any three
measures of soil conservation. [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2011]
Or
What is soil
conservation ? Explain any three methods of soil conservation suitable to
Indian conditions. [CBSE 2013, 14]
Ans.
Soil conservation includes all those measures which help in protecting the soil
from erosion or degradation.
(i) Crop rotation : If the same crop is sown in the same field, year after
year, this consumes certain nutrients from the soil making it infertile. Crop
rotation can check this type of erosion.
(ii) Settled agriculture : Checking and reducing shifting agriculture by
persuading the tribal people to switch over to settled agriculture.
(iii) Terracing and contour bunding :
Terracing and contour bunding across the hill slopes is a very effective, and
one of the oldest methods of soil conservation. Hill slope is cut into a number
of terraces having horizontal top and steep slopes on the back and front.
Contour bunding involves the construction of bank along the contour.
(iv) Strip cropping : Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass
are left to grow between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind. This
method is known as strip cropping.
(v) Shelter Belt : Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a
similar way. Rows of such trees are called shelter belts. These shelter belts
have contributed significantly to the stabilisation of sand dunes and in
establishing the desert in western India
Social Sciences Civics
Federalism
Q.1. Explain the major key features of federalism.
Or
Describe any four
features of the federalism. [CBSE 2011, 14]
Ans. (i)
Two or more levels of government :
Federalism is a system of government in which the governmental power is divided
between a central authority and its various constituent units. Usually, a
federation has two levels of government. One is the government for the entire
country, and the other governments at the state or provincial level. ,
(ii) Same Citizens Separate jurisdiction : Different tiers of the government
govern the same citizens, but each tier has its own jurisdiction in specific
matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
(iii) Superiority of Constitution : The jurisdictions of the respective levels
or tiers of the government are specified in the Constitution. So the existence
and authority of each tier of the government are constitutionally safeguarded.
‘
(iv) Rigid Constitution : The fundamental provisions of the Constitution cannot
be unilaterally changed by one level of the government. Such changes require
the consent of the both the levels of the government.
(v) Supreme authority of the courts : Courts have the power to interpret the
Constitution, and the powers of different levels of the government. The highest
court acts as an umpire in case of disputes arising between different levels of
the government in the exercise of their respective powers, (of) Dual objectives
: The federal system,
thus has dual objectives : to safeguard and promote the unity of the country,
while at the same time, to accommodate the regional diversity.
Q.2.Distinguish between the Coming Together
Federations and the Holding Together Federations. [CBSE 2012, 14J]
Q.3. ‘India is a federal country.’ Explain by
giving examples.[CBSE Sept. 2012, 2013]
Or
Explain the three fold
distribution of legislative powers between the Union Government and the State
Governments.
Or
Mention any five main
features which make India a federal country. [CBSE 2013]
Ans. (i)
Division of powers : The Constitution demarcates the powers of the central and
the state governments into different lists of subjects. There are three lists :
(i) Union List.
(ii) State List.
(iii) Concurrent List.
(ii) Three-tier system : As discussed earlier, under a federal government
different tiers of the government govern the same citizens. This is true for
India. In India, we have a three-tier system of government, i.e.,
• Union Government
• State Government
• Local Self-Government.
(iii) Not equal powers to all administrative units : Most of the federations
that are formed by ‘holding together’ do not give equal powers to its
constituent units. Thus, all states in the Indian Union do not have identical
powers. Some states enjoy a special status. Jammu and Kashmir has its own
Constitution. Many provisions of the Indian Constitution are not applicable to
this state without the permission of the state assembly.
(iv) Consent of both the levels of the government : Under a federal government,
the fundamental provisions cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of the
government, and the same is true for India. The Parliament cannot on its own
change the fundamental structure of the Constitution.
implementation of constitutional provisions and procedures. The same is true
for India. In case of any dispute about the division of powers, the High Courts
and the Supreme Court take a decision.
(vi) Separate sources of income : A clear mention regarding the financial
powers of the centre and the states has been made in the Indian Constitution.
Income tax, excise duty, corporation tax, etc., are levied and collected by the
central government, whereas land revenue, stamp duty, building tax, etc., come
under the state government.
Q.4. How is federalism practised in India ?
Explain.
Or
‘The real success of
federalism in India can be attributed to the nature of democratic politics in
India.’ Explain.
Ans. (i)
Linguistic States : After independence, in 1950, the boundaries of several old
states were changed in order to create new states. This was done to ensure that
the people who spoke the same language, share common culture, ethnicity or
geography could live in the same state.
(ii) Language Policy : The Indian Constitution did not give the status of
national language to any one of the languages. Though Hindi was identified as
the optional language, but the central government has not imposed Hindi on
states where people speak a different language. Besides Hindi, there are 22
other languages recognised as Scheduled Languages by the Indian Constitution.
(iii) Centre-State relations : Improving the Centre-State relations is one more
way in which federalism has been strengthened in practice. Though Indian
Constitution has demarcated the powers of the Union and the state governments
but still the Union government can have influence over the state in many ways.
In the past, the Central government has often misused the Constitution to
dismiss the state governments that were controlled by
rival parties. This undermined the spirit of federalism, and that of democracy.
The judiciary has played a major role in improving the autonomy of the state
governments because many a time, it has rescued state governments which were
dismissed in an arbitrary manner.
Q.5. “The creation of linguistic states was the
first and major test for democratic politics in our country.” Justify this
statement. [CBSE 2011, 14]
Ans. In
1947, the boundaries of several old States of India were changed in order to
create new States. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the same
language lived in the same State. Some States were created not on the basis of
language but to recognize differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
These include States like Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand. When the demand
for the formation of States on the basis of language was raised, some national
leaders feared that it would lead to the disintegration of the country. The
Central Government resisted linguistic States for some time. But the experience
has shown that the formation of linguistic States has actually made the country
more united. It has also made administration easier.
Q.6. Explain how law making powers are
shared between centre and states in India ? Mention three subjects each
of Ans. Union List and State List. [CBSE 2013]
Or
Describe the division of
power between the central and the state governments in India. [CBSE 2011]
Or
How are the powers
divided between the states and centre ? Explain with examples.
Ans.
Union List includes subjects of national importance such as defence of the
country, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency. They are
included in this list because we need a uniform policy on these matters
throughout the country. The Union Government alone can make laws relating to
the subjects mentioned in the Union List.
State List contains subjects of State and local importance such as police,
trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation. The State Governments alone can
make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the State List. Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage,
adoption and succession.
Both the Union as well as the State Governments can make laws on the subjects
mentioned in this list. If their laws conflict with each other, the law made by
the Union Government will prevail.
(i) Under a federal government, the fundamental provisions cannot be unilaterally
changed by one level of the government and the same is true for India,
(ii) The Parliament cannot on its own change the fundamental structure of the
Constitution. Any change in it has to be first passed by both Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority. Then it has to be ratified by the
legislatures of at least half of the total states.
Q.7. Distinguish between the Union List and the
Concurrent List.
Q.8. ‘Most federations that are formed by ‘holding
together’ do not give equal power to its constituent units.’ Is it true for
India ? Explain.
Or
“Holding together
federations” do not give equal power to its constituent units. Explain the
statement with the help of examples in context to India. [CBSE 2012]
Ans.
Yes, the above statement is true for India.
(i) All states in the Indian Union do not have identical powers. Some states
enjoy a special status. Jammu and Kashmir has its own Constitution. Many
provisions of the Indian Constitution are not applicable to this state without
the permission of the state assembly. Indians who are not permanent residents
of this state cannot buy land or house here.
(ii) Similar special provisions exist for Assam and the hill states of
North-East India.
(iii) There are some units of Indian Union which enjoy very little power. These
are areas which are too small to become an independent state but which could
not be merged with any of the existing states. These areas, like Chandigarh, or
Lakshadweep or the capital city of Delhi, are called the Union Territories.
These territories do not have the powers of a state. The central government has
special powers in running these areas.
Q.9. Why were the linguistic states created? What
are their advantages ? [CBSE 2008 (Compt)]
Ans. (i)
Common Language: Many states were created on the basis of language to ensure
that people who speak the same language lived in the same state.
(ii) Common culture, ethnicity or geography: Some States were created not on
the basis of language but to recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity
or geography. These include States like Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.
Advantages :
• The experience has shown that the formation of linguistic States has actually
made the country, more united. It has also made administration easier.
Q.10. Explain the language policy of Indian
Federal. How is it different from Sri Lanka ?
Or
Write any four
characteristics of language policy of India. [CBSE 2011]
Or
Describe in brief the
language policy of India. [CBSE 2010]
Ans. (i)
No National Language: Our Constitution did not give the status of national
language to any one language. Hindi was identified as the official language.
But Hindi is the mother tongue of only about 40 per cent of Indians. Therefore,
there were many safeguards to protect other languages.
(ii) Scheduled Languages: Besides Hindi, there are 22 other languages
recognised as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution. A candidate in an
examination conducted for the Central Government positions may opt to take the
examination in any of these languages. States too have their own official
languages. Much of the government work takes place in the official language of
the concerned State.
(iii) Spread of Hindi with cautious approach: Unlike Sri Lanka, the leaders of our
country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
According to the Constitution, the use of English for official purposes was to
stop in 1965. However, many non-Hindi-speaking States demanded that the use of
English continue. In Tamil Nadu, this movement took a violent form. The Central
Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English along with
Hindi for official purposes. Promotion of Hindi continues to be the official
policy of the Government of India. Promotion does not mean that the Central
Government can impose Hindi on States where people speak a different language.
(iv) Language policy of Sri Lanka: In 1956, an Act was passed by the Sri Lankan
government to recognise Sinhala as the only official language whereas in case
of India the government agreed to continue the use of English along with Hindi
for official purposes.
Q.11. ‘Restructuring the Centre-State relations is
an important way in which the Indian Federalism has been strengthened in
practice.’ Explain.
Ans. (i)
After 90s, many regional political parties have emerged in many states of the
country.
(ii) The regional parties are playing a very vital role in forming the Union
government.
(iii) The judiciary has played a major role in improving the autonomy of the
state governments because many a time, it has rescued the state governments
which were dismissed in an arbitrary manner.
Q.12. Why does the exact balance of power between
the Centre and the State Governments vary from one Federation to another ? Explain
with two examples. [CBSE 2008(D)]
Ans. The
exact balance of power between the central and the state government depends
mainly on the historical context in which the federation was formed. There, are
two kinds of routes through which federations have been formed :
(i) Coming Together Federations
(ii) Holding Together Federations
[Refer Q. 2, Long Answer Type Questions]
Q.13. Point out one feature in the practice of
federalism in India that is similar to any one feature that is different from
that of Belgium.
Ans. One
similar feature of Federalism between India and Belgium : India and Belgium are
both holding together federations where the Central Governments tend to be more
powerful vis-a-vis the states.
One different feature of Federalism between India and Belgium : In Belgium,
there are three Ans. kinds of government – government at the centre, government
at the state level and third kind of government is the community government.
The community government has the power regarding cultural, educational and
language related issues.
But in India, there is no third kind of government, there is no community
government.
Q.14. What is decentralisation ? What is the
importance or need for decentralisation ? [CBSE Sept. 2010, 14]
Or
“Do you take
decentralisation as a mean to minimise the conflicts ?” Give your view point. [CBSE 2014]
Ans.
When power is taken away from the Central and State governments, and given to
the Local governments, it is called decentralisation.
(i) The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a large number of
problems and issues which are best settled at the local level. People have a
better knowledge of problems in their localities. They also have better ideas
on where to spend money, and how to manage things more efficiently.
(ii) At the local level, it is possible for the people to directly participate
in decision, making. This helps to inculcate a habit of democratic
participation. Basically the local government is the best way to realise one
important principle of democracy, namely the Local Self-Government.
Q.15. Name the three tier government system in
India. What steps have been taken by the government to make the third tier more
powerful and effective ? [CBSE 2008(0)]
Or
How has the third tier
of government in our country been made more effective and powerful by the
Constitutional Amendment of 1992 ? [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Or
Explain any four
provisions that have been made towards decentralisation in India after the
constitutional amendment in 1992. [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2011,
2012]
Ans.
Three tier system :
1. Union Government
2. State Governments
3. Local Governments.
Steps :
• Now, it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to the local
government bodies.
• Seats are reserved in the elected bodies and the executive heads of these
institutions for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Backward
Classes.
• At least one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
• An independent institution called the State Election Commission has been
created in each state to conduct free and fair elections for the panchayat and
the municipalities.
• The State governments are required to share some powers and revenue with the
Local government bodies. The nature of sharing varies from state to state.
Q.16. Explain the advantages of decentrali¬sation. [CBSE Sept. 2010, 14]
Or .
Explain any four
features of the third tier of government. [CBSE Sept. 2011]
Or
Explain how the federal
experiment has been successful in the matter of formation of states in India. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Or
Give two arguments in
favour of decentralisation of powers to local governments. Give two provisions
under the amendment of 1992 which empowers local governments in India. [CBSE Sept. 2011]
OR
Assess the need for
local government. [CBSE 2012, 14]
Ans. (i)
Locals have better knowledge : The basic idea behind decentralisation is that
there are a large number of problems and issues which are best settled at the
local level. People have better knowledge of problems in their localities. They
also have better ideas on where to spend money, and how to manage things more
efficiently.
(if) Direct participation of the people : Decentralisation makes it possible
for the people to directly participate in decision making. This helps to
inculcate a habit of democratic participation. The Local government is the best
way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely the Local
Self-Government.
(iii) Foundation of democracy : Local governments are most important in a
democratic system. These are training schools for local citizens and local
leadership. These provide political education. The people get familiar about
the electoral process, and the proper use of their vote, which is the very
foundation of democracy.
(iv) Reduction of burden of the Central Government : It reduces the burden of
the Central or State governments. These can concentrate on matters of national
or state importance in a better way. In this way, the Local Self-Government
ensures efficiency everywhere, at all the three levels of today’s governance.
Indian leaders have recognised the need for decentralisation.
(v) Women empowerment : At least one-third of all positions are reserved for
women in all the local bodies. This has lead to women empowerment.
Question-1
What is Federalism?
Solution:
Federalism is the advocacy of federal political orders, where the final
authority is divided between sub-units and a centre. Unlike a unitary state,
sovereignty is constitutionally split between at least two territorial levels
so that units at each level have final authority and can act independently of
the others in some area. In such a case citizens have political obligations to
two authorities. The allocation of authority between the sub-unit and centre
may vary.
The federal system thus has dual objectives that is to safeguard and promote
unity of the country and accommodate regional diversity.
Governments at different levels should agree to some rules of power sharing. An
ideal federal system has both aspects; mutual trust and agreement to live
together.
Question-2
What makes India a Federal Country?
Solution:
India is a nation with many languages, religions and regions. It emerged as an
independent nation after a long and painful partition. Several princely states
became a part of the country soon after independence. India was declared as a
Union of States, by the Constitution.
The Indian Union is based on the principles of federalism. The Constitution
earlier provided a two-tier system of government, the Union Government (Central
Government), representing the Union of India and the State governments. Later,
Panchayats and Municipalities were added as a third tier of federalism. All
these different forms of government enjoy separate jurisdiction.
Question-3
Write a brief note on the language policy adopted in India.
Solution:
The ‘Language policy’ was the second test for Indian federation. No language
was given the status of national language by our Constitution. Hindi was
identified as the official language. But only about 40 per cent of Indians have
Hindi as their mother tongue. Therefore, 21 other languages besides Hindi, are
recognised as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution. A candidate in an
examination conducted for the Central Government positions may opt to take the
examination in any of these languages.
States too have their own official languages. Much of the government work takes
place in the official language of the concerned State.
The flexibility shown by Indian political leaders helped our country avoid any
conflict based on languages.
Question-4
Write a brief note on village councils.
Solution:
Village Councils looked after the affairs of the village, had police and
judicial powers and were the lines of contact with higher authorities on
matters affecting the villages. Custom and religion elevated them to a sacred
position of authority.
These Councils were the pivot of administration, the centre of social life,
and, above all, a focus of social solidarity.
Question-5
What are the dual objectives of Federalism?
Solution:
The dual objectives of Federalism are to safeguard and promote unity of the
country and to accommodate regional diversity.
Question-6
What are the duties of a Central and State governments?
Solution:
The duties of the Union or Central Government include subjects of national
importance such as defence of the country, foreign affairs, banking,
communications and currency. This is because, a uniform policy on these matters
will be maintained throughout the country. All the laws pertaining to the above
duties must be given only by the Union Government.
The duties of the State Governments include subjects of the State and local
importance such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation. All the
laws pertaining to the above duties must be given only by the State
Governments.
Some aspects have to be taken care of, by both, the Union Government as well as
the State Governments. They are education, forest, trade unions, marriage,
adoption and succession. Both governments can make laws on these subjects. If
their laws conflict with each other, the law made by the Union Government will
prevail.
Question-7
What is the special status the state of Jammu and Kashmir enjoys?
Solution:
Jammu and Kashmir enjoys a special status. It has its own Constitution. Many
provisions of the Indian Constitution are not applicable to this State without
the approval of the State Assembly. Indians who are not permanent residents of
this State cannot buy land or house here. Similar special provisions exist for
some other States of India as well.
