Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 The Indian Constitution

 NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Civics Chapter 1 The Indian Constitution

Question 1.

Why does a democratic country need a Constitution?

Solution:

A democratic country needs a constitution because:-

• In a democracy people choose their representatives and the leaders might misuse their powers. Constitution provides safeguards against this.
• In a democracy, the constitution ensures that the dominant group does not use power against less powerful groups.
• The constitution guarantees fundamental rights to the citizens for their social, economic, and political welfare.

Question 2.

What is the difference in who exercises Executive Power in the 1990 and Interim Constitutions of Nepal? Keeping this in mind, why do you think Nepal needs a new Constitution today?

Solution:

In the 1990 Nepal constitution, the Executive powers of the Kingdom were entirely in the hands of the King. According to the Interim constitution drafted in 2007, the executive powers of Nepal are in the hands of the council of ministers headed by the Prime Minister.

There was a dire need for a new constitution as the ideals of the people had changed as the country had moved from a monarchy to a democracy. The old constitution was drafted when the country was under the rule of the king. The people of Nepal fought for a democratic government for many years. So the old constitution does not reflect the ideals of the people. The new constitution will change the rules of the old constitution in order to bring in a new society with new ideas.

Question 3.

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

Solution:

If there were no restrictions on the power of elected representatives then:

• These leaders (representatives) might misuse their authority.
• This misuse of authority can result in gross injustice and mismanagement.

Class 7 Civics Chapter 4 Growing up as Boys and Girls

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Civics Social Science Chapter 4 Growing up as Boys and Girls

 1. What was a very important activity on the Samoan islands in the 1920s?

Answer: Fishing was a very important activity on the Samoan Islands in the 1920s.

 2. How was the girls’ school in Madhya Pradesh in the 1960s designed differently from the boys’ school?

Answer: Girls’ school had a central courtyard where girls played in total seclusion and safety from the outside world. The boys school had no such courtyard.

3. As these girls walked on the streets, they looked so purposeful’. What does the word ‘purposeful’ refer to?

Answer: Their only intention was to get home safe and as soon as possible.

4. Why do we give boys and girls different toys to play with? [V. Imp.]

Answer: We want to tell them that they will have different futures when they become men and women.

5. What do we teach boys and girls in their early childhood? [Imp.]

Answer: We teach boys that they need to be tough and masculine. On the contrary, we, teach girls that they need to be soft and mild.

6. Why did Harmeet develop a notion that her mother did not work?

Answer: In our societies, the work that women do within the home is not recognised as work. It is assumed that this is something that comes naturally to women. It is therefore, Harmeet developed such notions and said that her mother did not work

7. Why are the wages of domestic workers usually low? [V. Imp.]

Answer: It is because the work that domestic workers do, does not have much value.

8. What is the daily schedule of a domestic worker?

Answer: A domestic worker’s day usually begins at five in the morning and ends at twelve in the night.

9. How are domestic workers treated by their employers? [V. Imp.]

Answer: Domestic workers are often not treated well by their employers. Despite the hard work they do, their employers often do not show them much respect.

10. What do you mean by the term ‘double burden’? [Imp.]

Answer: Several women today work both inside and outside the home. This is often referred to as ‘double burden’.

11. Housework commonly involves many different tasks. Name some of them.

Answer: Washing clothes, cleaning, sweeping, cooking, etc.

12. Why do girls like to go to school together in groups?

Answer: Girls like to go to school together in groups because in a group they feel secured.

Class 7 Civics Chapter 1 On Equality

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Civics Social Science Chapter 1 

On Equality

1. In a democracy why is Universal Adult Franchise important?
Answer: In a democracy, the Universal Adult Franchise is important because of the following reasons:

1. Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
2. Every adult irrespective of caste, creed, religion, region, sex, the rich or poor background is allowed to vote. This is called a universal adult franchise.
3. The concept of the universal adult franchise is based on equality.
4. In a democracy every citizen is equal.

2. Re-read the box on Article 15 and state two ways in which this Article addresses inequality?
Answer: This Article addresses inequality in terms of access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment, or [b] the use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of state funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.

3. In what ways was Omprakash Valmikis experience similar to that of the Ansaris?
Answer: Omprakash Valmiki’s experience was similar to that of Ansaris in the following ways:

1. Omprakash Valmiki was not allowed to sit with other students on the desks or mats.
2. Ansaris were not given apartments on rent in the locality of the people belonging to the Hindu religion.
3. Omprakash Valmiki was discriminated against on the basis of caste while Ansaris were discriminated against on the basis of religion.

4. What do you understand by the term “all persons are equal before the law”? Why do you think it is important in a democracy?
Answer:

1. By the term, “all persons are equal before the law”, we understand equality.
2. Equality is important in a democracy because democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
• Equality is the essence of democracy.
• If people are discriminated against on the basis of caste, creed, religion, sex, prosperity etc. the democracy will not survive.

6. Who have been employed to cook the meal under midday meal scheme?

Answer: Dalit women have been employed for this purpose.

7. How did B.R. Ambedkar view self-respect?

Answer: B.R. Ambedkar viewed self-respect as the most vital factor in life, without which man was cipher.

8. What was the condition of the African-Americans in the United States of America prior to 1950s? [V. Imp.]

Answer: Prior to 1950’s, the African-Americans were treated extremely unequally in the USA and denied equality through law.

9. What is known as the Civil Rights Movements? [V. Imp.]

Answer: A movement took place in the USA in the late 1950’s to push for equal rights for African-Americans. This movement later came to be known as Civil Rights Movement.

Class 7 History Chapter 4 The Mughal Empire

 NCERT Solutions For Class 7 History Social Science Chapter 4 The Mughal Empire

1. Match the following:

1. mansab – Marwar
2. Mongol – governor
3. Sisodiya Rajput – Uzbeg
4. Rathor Rajput – Mewar
5. Nur Jahan – rank
6. subadar – Jahangir

• Answer: 

1. mansab – rank
2. Mongol – Uzbeg
3. Sisodiya Rajput – Mewar
4. Rathor Rajput – Marwar
5. Nur Jahan – Jahangir
6. subadar – governor

2. Fill in the blanks:

1. The capital of Mirza Hakim, Akbar’s half-bro: her, was …………………
2. The five Deccan Sultanate were Berar, Khandesh, Ahmadnagar,
3. If zat determined a mansabdar’s rank and salary, sewer indicated his………………………
4. Abul Faze, Akbar’s friend and counsellor, helped him frame the idea of …………. so that he could govern a society composed of many religions, cultures, and castes.

Answer:

1. Kabul
2. Bijapur, Golconda
3. number of horses maintained
4. administration

3. What were the central provinces under the control of the Mughals?

Answer: Panipat, Lahore, Delhi, Agra, Mathura, Amber, Ajmer, Fatehpur Sikri, Chittor, Ranthambhore and Allahabad.

4. What were the relationships between the mansabdar and the jagir?

Answer:

Relationship between the mansabdar and the jagir:

• Mansabdars were those who joined Mughal service.
• Jagirs were the salaries of the mansabdars in the form of revenue assignments.
• It means mansabdars received jagirs as their salaries. Hence, mansabdars depended upon jagirs for their livelihood.

5. What was the role of the zamindar in Mughal administration?

Answer: Zamtndars were powerful local chieftains appointed by the Mughal rulers. They exercised great influence and power. They collected taxes from the peasants and gave them to the Mughal emperor. Thus, they played the role of intermediaries. In some areas the zamindars became more powerful. The exploitation by Mughal administrators made them to rebellion. They got support from the peasants in rebelling against the Mughal authority.

6. How were the debates with religious scholars important in the formation of Akbar’s ideas on governance?

Answer:

In the 1570’s at Fatehpur Sikri Akbar started discussions on religion with people of different faiths. There were ulemas, Brahmanas, Jesuit Catholic priests and Zoroastrians.

• These discussions took place in Ibadat Khana. These were about social and religious customs.
• These interactions made him realise that religious scholars are bigots. They emphasize rituals and dogma.
• Their teachings create divisions in society. This led to the idea of Sulh-i-Kul or ‘Universal peace’.

7. Why did the Mughals emphasise their Timurid and not their Mongol descent?

Answer: The Mughals were descendants of two great lineages of rulers. From their mother’s side they were descendants of Genghis Khan, ruler of the Mongol tribes. From their father’s side they were the successors of Timur, the ruler of Iran, Iraq and modern-day Turkey. However, the Mughals did not like to be called Mongol because Mongol’s especially Genghis Khan’s, memory was associated with the massacre of innumerable people. It was also linked with the Uzbegs, their Mongol competitors. On the other hand, the Mughals were proud of their Timurid ancestry, because it achieved good name in the history.

8. How important was the income from land revenue to the stability of the Mughal Empire?

Answer:

The income from land revenue is very important to the stability of the Mughal Empire as:

• It was used for extension of empire, wars, etc.
• Income is used to pay salaries/wages to army, bureaucrats, artisans and workers.
• The administrative expenditure is dealt by this income.

9. Why was it important for the Mughals to recruit mansabdars from diverse backgrounds and not just Turanis and Iranis?

Answer: The Mughal Empire expanded to different regions. Hence, it was important for the Mughals to recruit diverse bodies of people in order to make people comfortable with them. Apart from Turanis and Iranis, now there were mansabdars from Indian Muslims, Afghans, Rajputs, Marathas and other groups.

10. Like the Mughal Empire, India today is also made up of many social and cultural units. Does this pose a challenge to national integration?

Answer:

No, this does not pose a challenge to national integration because:

• We have a unified system of government that has the same rules and regulations for all the citizens irrespective of religion, region, etc.
• We have a constitution guarding the rights of all and specifying their duties.
• Now we are unified as a nation, not as distinct states or regions of different rulers.

Class 7 History Chapter 3 The Delhi Sultans

 NCERT Solutions For Class 7 History Social Science Chapter 3 The Delhi Sultans

1. Which ruler first established his or her capital at Delhi?

Answer: The Tomara Rajputs were the first rulers who established their capital at Delhi.

2. What was the language of administration under the Delhi Sultans?

Answer: It was Persian.

3. In whose reign did the Sultanate reach its farthest extent?

Answer: The Sultanate reached its farthest extent during the reign of Muhammad Tughluq.

4. From which country did Ibn Battuta travel to India?

Answer: Ibn Battuta belonged to Morocco, Africa and travelled to India.

5. According to the ‘circle of justice’ why was it important for military commanders to keep the interests of the peasantry in mind?

Answer:

According to the ‘circle of justice’ it was important for military commanders to keep the interest of peasantry in mind. As is clear from the following:

• A king survived on soldiers.
• Soldiers worked for salaries.
• Salaries came from revenue collected from peasants.
• Peasant would pay revenue when they are prosperous and happy. This in turn will happen when there is justice and honest governance.

6. What is meant by the ‘internal’ and ‘external’ frontiers of the Sultanate?

Answer: The ‘internal’ frontier means the hinterland of the garrison town.

The ‘external’ frontier means the areas beyond the hinterland of the garrison towns.

7. What were the steps taken to ensure that muqtis performed their duties? Why do you think they may have wanted to defy the orders of the Sultans?

Answer:

Steps taken to ensure that the muqtis performed their duties well:

• Appointment of accountants to check the amount collected by the muqtis.
• Collection of revenues only which were prescribed by the state, not more than that in any circumstances.
• Fixation of limit to keep the required number of soldiers.
• They might be shifted to another area.
• The muqtis may have wanted to defy the orders of the Sultans because restrictions imposed on them were very rigorous.
• Their appointment was temporary.

8. What was the impact of the Mongol invasions on the Delhi Sultanate?Ans. The Delhi Sultanate mobilised a large standing army in Delhi. It posed a big administrative challenge.

Answer:

Alauddin Khalji constructed a new garrison town at Siri for his soldiers. He imposed taxes on land to feed the army at the rate of 50 percent of peasant’s yield. He began to pay the soldiers in cash.

Muhammad Tughluq shifted people of Delhi to Daulatabad in south and thus converted Delhi into a garrison town. He also disbanded the army. He also paid the soldiers in cash.