Students rely on Social Science Class 10 Kerala Syllabus Important Questions Chapter 8 Democracy An Indian Experience to help self-study at home.
Class 10 History Chapter 8 Important Questions and Answers Democracy An Indian Experience
Kerala Syllabus Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 8 Democracy An Indian Experience Important Questions
Democracy An Indian Experience Class 10 Important Questions
Question 1.
When was the first general election in India?
Answer:
From October 1951 to February 1952
Question 2.
Arrange the given items in chronological order.
i. Internal Emergency
ii. Election Commission was formed
iii. First General Election
iv. The first non-Congress government
a) iii – ii – iv- i
b) ii – iii – iv – i
c) ii – iii – i – iv
d) ii – i – iii – iv
Answer:
c) ii – iii – i – iv
Question 3.
Choose the correct answer by reading the given assertion and reason.
Assertion: Dalit movements emerged in post-independence India.
Reason: The Dalit community does not receive their deserved position in the fields of education and employment.
a) Both assertion and reason are correct
b) Assertion is correct, Reason is wrong
c) Assertion is wrong. Reason is correct
d) Both assertion and reason are wrong
Answer:
a) Both assertion and reason are correct
Question 4.
Under which article of the Constitution was the state of emergency declared in India?
a) Article 352
b) Article 356
c) Article 360
d) Article 370
Answer:
a) Article 352
Question 5.
Arrange the table below.
| A | B |
| A. The Janata Party formed the government | i. 2014 |
| B. United Progressive Alliance | ii. 1989 |
| C. National Democratic Alliance | iii. From 1977 to 1979 |
| D. National Front led by the Janata Dal | iv. 2004 |
a) A – ii, B – i, C – iv, D – iii
b) A – iii, B – i, C – ii, D – iv
c) A – iii, B – iv, C – i, D – ii
d) A – ii, B – iii, C – i, D – iv
Answer:
c) A – iii, B – iv, C – i, D – ii
| A | B |
| A. The Janata Party formed the government | iii. From 1977 to 1979 |
| B. United Progressive Alliance | iv. 2004 |
| C. National Democratic Alliance | i. 2014 |
| D. National Front led by the Janata Dal | ii. 1989 |
Question 6.
Who was the Prime Minister when Emergency was declared?
Answer:
Indira Gandhi
Question 7.
Which commission is known as the Second Backward Classes Commission?
Answer:
Mandal Commission
Question 8.
Which organisation started the Right to Information movement?
Answer:
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS)
Question 9.
Which movement was started by E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker?
a) Quit India Movement
b) Self-Respect Movement
c) Swadeshi Movement
d) Non-Cooperation Movement
Answer:
b) Self-Respect Movement
Question 10.
Which article of the Constitution granted special rights to Jammu and Kashmir?
a) Article 350
b) Article 356
c) Article 370
d) Article 371
Answer:
c) Article 370
Question 11.
What are Other Backward Classes? Which commission was appointed by the central government to study the reasons for the social backwardness of the backward classes?
Answer:
Other Backward Classes are the groups of people who are not included in the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and are socially and educationally backward. In 1953, the Central Government appointed a commission to study the reasons for the social backwardness of backward classes and to suggest remedies. It is known as the Kaka Kalelkar Commission.
Question 12.
What are the main problems addressed by environmental movements?
Answer:
Environmental movements primarily address the environmental and social problems caused by large- scale irrigation projects, industries, mining, deforestation, etc. Environmental movements have been able to intervene in many issues such as the conservation of natural resources, conservation of biodiversity, formulation of environmental policy, creating environmental awareness, and sustainable development.
Question 13.
Explain Dravidian movement and its objectives.
Answer:
The Dravidian Movement was a movement that began in Tamil Nadu in the early decades of the 20th century under the influence of the ideas of political empowerment of the Dravidian people, the growth of the Tamil language, and rationalism. The aim of this movement was to resist the dominance of Brahmin culture over Dravidian culture.
Question 14.
Examine the movements for Autonomy.
Answer:
Movements for autonomy are emerged demanding greater autonomy within the country or by demanding special statehood. Such movements raise the demand for autonomy by raising issues such as regional neglect, linguistic and cultural differences, and unbalanced economic growth.
Question 15.
Explain Khalistan Movement. Which military operation was taken by the central government to suppress the terrorists who had infiltrated into the Golden Temple?
Answer:
The Khalistan movement emerged in Punjab with the demand for a separate nation called Khalistan for the Sikh people. In 1984, the central government suppressed the terrorists who had infiltrated into the Golden Temple through a military operation known as ‘Operation Blue Star’.
Question 16.
Explain the Sarkaria Commission. Name the Chairman of this commission.
Answer:
The Sarkaria Commission was appointed by the Central Government to study Centre – State relations and submit a report. The commission was constituted in 1983, and its chairman was Justice R. S. Sarkaria, a retired Supreme Court judge.
Question 17.
The Governor is only the nominal leader of the state. Substantiate the statement.
Answer:
The Constitution envisages a parliamentary system in the states similar to that of the Centre. Therefore, the Governor is only the nominal leader of the state. The real executive power is vested with the Cabinet headed by the Chief Minister. Hence, the Governor should exercise his powers on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
Question 18.
What are the Ill effects of using drugs?
Answer:
- Short-term effects of drugs include visual and hearing impairment, lack of coordination of physical activities, bad breath, and slowness.
- Drugs cause long-term effects such as physical and mental problems, poor health, and low immunity. Excessive use of drugs can lead to death. Unsafe use of drugs can also cause AIDS, STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and so on.
Question 19.
Define Nirbhaya Movement. What are the main demands raised by the Nirbhaya Movement?
Answer:
The Nirbhaya Movement is a mass movement that was formed in Delhi against violence against women. The main demands raised by the Nirbhaya Movement were to take strong legal action against sexual violence against women, speed up the legal process in such cases, and ensure exemplary punishment.
Question 20.
Write any two examples of farmer movements that emerged in various parts of the country.
Answer:
Shetkari Sanghatana in Maharashtra and Raita Sangha in Karnataka.
Question 21.
Evaluate the importance of the Mandal Commission Report.
Answer:
The Janata Party government that came to power after the Emergency, constituted another commission in 1979, headed by B. P. Mandal, to study the social and educational backwardness of the OBC communities and to suggest solutions. This is known as the Second Backward Classes Commission and as the Mandal Commission. The commission submitted its report to the central government in 1980, recommending 27% reservation for backward classes in government jobs and educational institutions. The National Front government led by V. P. Singh decided to implement this report in 1990. This decision led to violent protests and agitations in many cities of North India. However, later the Supreme Court approved the implementation of the report.
Question 22.
Why is the Anti-Arrack Movement considered a women’s liberation movement?
Answer:
The Anti-Arrack Movement is a women’s movement that emerged in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh in the 1990s. This movement, in which thousands of women rallied, later spread throughout the entire state. Arrack was a locally brewed and distributed alcoholic beverage. The widespread use of alcohol created social discord and damaged the mental and physical well-being of young people. This also led to the ruin of the economic foundation of the village, domestic violence, atrocities against women, and poverty. The Anti-Arrack Movement evolved into a protest addressing various issues faced by women. This helped to create social awareness against drugs and the problems faced by women in society.
Question 23.
Write examples of separatist movements in the North East Regions.
Answer:
| Movement | Leader | Demand | Solution |
| Mizo National Front (MNF) | Laldenga | A separate nation for the Mizo Tribe | According to the peace accord signed in 1986, it was decided to grant Mizoram full-fledged statehood with special powers |
| Naga National Council (NNC) | Angami Zapu Phizo | Unification of Naga Territory, autonomy, conservation of tribal culture. | Signed Naga Peace Accord in 2015 |
Question 24.
What is communalism? How does communalism pose a threat to Indian democracy?
Answer:
Communalism is the idea of dividing people on the basis of religion and creating social conflict. The riots that followed the partition of India also contributed to dividing the population based on religion and nurturing communal thoughts. Communal divide undermines our constitutional values like secularism and social justice, posing a threat to the nation’s unity and integrity. The formation of public opinion based on religion and communal thinking, and the way by which political parties use it to influence voters in elections, pose a significant challenge to democracy. Communalism can only be countered through creating public awareness, sensitisation, and proper democratic literacy.
Question 25.
Tensions in Centre-State relations are another major challenge facing Indian democracy. Elucidate the statement.
Answer:
Tensions in Centre-State relations are another major challenge fading Indian democracy. Although the Constitution has divided powers between the Centre and the States, more power is vested in the Centre. It has also ensured vantage of the Central Government in some matters. On the other hand, the Constitution also gives the States the right to freely exercise the powers given to them. However, often the successive Central Governments directly and through Governors interfere in this right of the States. We can also see politics interfering in the centrally-funded schemes and distribution of resources. Such moves are the main cause for worsening the Centre-State relations. The Judiciary has the authority to resolve legal dispute between the Centre and the States.
Question 26.
In the history of coalition politics in India, governments primarily formed in three ways. What are they?
Answer:
- Political parties reaching an understanding among themselves to contest as a front based on a common minimum programme before the election.
- Creating an alliance and forming a government after the election.
- Providing external support to a government that does not have a majority in the Lok Sabha.
Question 27.
Integration of the princely states was implemented through three treaties. Which are they?
Answer:
a) Stand Still Agreement
The princely states should maintain their status quo was the provision based on this agreement. This agreement helped to prevent these states from joining Pakistan.
b) Instrument of Accession
This agreement was meant for the princely states to give their consent to merge into the Indian Union. At the same time, the right to internal self¬governance was also granted to the princely states through this.
c) Merger Agreement
This was an agreement for the complete accession of the princely states to the Indian Union. According to this agreement, the right to self-governance ceases to exist.
After independence, a provisional government was governing India. Hence, it was necessary to establish a government elected by the people for the establishment of a democratic system. Thus, it necessitated a free and fair election. For this, an Election Commission was formed based on the Constitution on January 25, 1950. The first general election was held from October 1951 to February 1952. Conducting a free and fair election in a country as vast and diverse as India was replete with numerous challenges. That is why the first general election is described as an experiment. Challenges are:
- Delimiting constituencies.
- Preparing voters lists based on adult franchise.
- Educating the illiterate majority about the necessity of voting.
- Finding out enough election officials and training them.
- Ensuring a transparent, impartial and fair election.
Overcoming many such challenges, the first general election was successfully held and Jawaharlal Nehru took the oath of office as the first Prime Minister of India. Thus, it marked the beginning of the democratic system of administration in India. In the first general election, the majority of people put their trust in one political party and this marked the beginning of the government of one-party dominance. Later, this one-party dominance gradually ceased to exist and Indian politics transformed into a multi-party system and a coalition system.
Question 28.
Asa result of the intervention of the Environmental organisations and other popular movements, several environmental protection laws, laws protecting ecological rights. Which are they?
Answer:
- 2002 – Bio diversity Act
- 2006 – The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act.
- 2013 – The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act.
Question 29.
Analyse the Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation and their activities.
Answer:
Another organisation formed for the uplift of Dalit communities was the Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF), established in 1978. It was not simply an organisation formed for the protection of the interest of the employees. Rather, it stood for the political empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and the minorities. From this organisation, the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), under the leadership of Kanshi Ram were also formed. BSP was able to gain political influence in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab with the support of Dalits.
Question 30.
Explain the Impacts of the Emergency.
Answer:
- The national emergency abolished the federal system of the Constitution.
- Concentrated power in the union government.
- Froze the fundamental rights.
- Abolished the court’s power of judicial review.
- Opposition party leaders were imprisoned without trial.
- Censorship was imposed on newspapers and news.
- Economic restrictions were imposed.
Question 31.
Explain the background of the 1975 Internal Emergency.
Answer:
One of the major reasons was the agitations that broke out in various parts of the country against the central government. In Gujarat, the agitations under the leadership of Morarji Desai led to the dismissal of the state government. The Congress was defeated in the subsequent election. The series of agitations led by Jayaprakash Narayan in Bihar also had an impact at the national level. This also led to the agitations against the central government. The economic crisis, food shortages and unemployment faced in the 1970’s were the reasons behind these agitations. In the midst of these political crises, the Allahabad High Court gave an adverse judgement in the election case against Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and thus her election was nullified. Following the verdict, the opposition intensified the protests, demanding Indira Gandhi’s resignation. However, the Supreme Court stayed the Allahabad High Court’s verdict. Subsequently, the central government declared a national emergency in the country under Article 352 of the Constitution, alleging that the opposition protests posed a threat to internal security.
Question 32.
List the movements that emerged in India for Autonomy.
Answer:
MOVEMENTS FOR AUTONOMY
These are movements that emerged demanding greater autonomy within the country or by demanding special statehood. Such movements raise the demand for autonomy by raising issues such as regional neglect, linguistic and cultural differences, and unbalanced economic growth.
| Movement | Leading organisation | Reasons/Demand | Solution |
| Gorkha Land Movement | Gorkha National Liberation Front | A separate state for Nepali speaking Gorkha community in West Bengal | • An autonomous Darjeeling Gorkha hill council was formed in 1988. • Instead of Gorkha Hill Council, Gorkha land Territorial Administration was formed in 2012. |
| Jharkhand Movement | Jharkhand Mukti Morcha | Form a separate state Jharkhand, dividing Bihar | Jharkhand state was formed in 2000 |
| Telangana Movement | Telangana Rashtra Samithi | Form Telangana state dividing Andhra Pradesh | Telangana state was formed in 2014 |
Question 33.
Arrange the given items in chronological order.
i. Punjab Accord
ii. Operation Blue Star
iii. The dissolution of the Kerala Government
iv. The central government revoked the special rights granted to Jammu and Kashmir
Answer:
iii. The dissolution of the Kerala Government – 1959
ii. Operation Blue Star – 1984
i. Punjab Accord – 1985
iv. The central government revoked the special rights granted to Jammu and Kashmir – 2019
Question 34.
How does the criminalisation and defection of politics pose a challenge to Indian democracy?
Answer:
CRIMINALISATION OF POLITICS
Criminalisation of politics refers to the tendency of leaders or workers of political parties engaging in or encouraging criminal activities. Furthermore, the involvement of individuals engaged in criminal acts in politics also constitutes the criminalisation of politics. Intimidating people to vote in favour of a particular party or creating such an environment leads to the erosion of democratic values. When individuals with criminal backgrounds reach the leadership of political parties and become rulers, it causes citizens to lose faith in the democratic system. Electoral reforms that prohibit those facing trial or convicted of criminal offenses from contesting elections, strong legal systems, and awareness campaigns against the criminalisation of politics are ways to eliminate criminalisation of politics.
DEFECTION
- Another trend that emerged in Indian politics after the 1967 elections was defection.
- Defection refers to an elected representative, who contested and won the election as a candidate of one party, abandoning that party or joining another party.
This situation often betrays the trust that voters have placed in their representatives during the election. This often creates crisis in governance and poses a challenge to democracy. Subsequently, the Anti-Defection Law was passed by Parliament in 1985 through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment to prevent defection.
Political parties often adopt different strategies to prevent their members from defecting. Under the leadership of a loyal member of a party, members gather at a specific venue and design a strategy to prevent the influence of other political parties. This process is also called Resort Politics. Its history began in Haryana in 1982. Subsequently, this trend has also occurred in states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu.
Question 35.
Conducting a free and fair election in a country as vast and diverse as India was replete with numerous challenges. Examine what they are.
Answer:
- Delimiting constituencies.
- Preparing voters lists based on adult franchise.
- Educating the illiterate majority about the necessity of voting.
- Finding out enough election officials and training them.
- Ensuring a transparent, impartial and fair election.
Question 36.
Explain the major environmental movements that have attracted attention at the all-India level.
Answer:
ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS
Environmental movements emerged against the environmental problems created by unscientific development and its result in denial of social justice. These movements primarily address the environmental and social problems caused by large-scale irrigation projects, industries, mining, deforestation, etc. Environmental movements have been able to intervene in many issues such as the conservation of natural resources, conservation of biodiversity, formulation of environmental policy, creating environmental awareness, and sustainable development. Some of the major environmental movements that have attracted attention at the all-India level.
| Movements | Characteristics |
| Chipko Movement (Sunderlal Bahuguna) | • Opposed the felling of trees in large scale for industrial purposes in the Himalayan regions in Uttarakand. • Stood up for the rights of Indigenous people over forest resources • Women’s participation and leadership • A form of struggle involving embracing trees |
| Narmada Bachao Andolan (Medha Patkar) | • A movement formed against the Sardar Sarovar project on the Narmada River • Worked against the eviction of Tribal people • Worked to protect the livelihoods of indigenous people • Stood against unjust evictions and rehabilitation |
| Silent Valley (Silent Valley National Park) | • A movement against the proposed Silent Valley Hydro electric project • Stood for the conservation of rain forest and bio-diversity • Abandoned the proposed Hydro electric project due to public agitations • Silent Valley was declared a National Park |
Question 37.
Explain the major powers and functions of the Governor.
Answer:
Powers and Functions of the Governor
The Constitution envisages a parliamentary system in the states similar to that of the Centre. Therefore, the Governor is only the nominal leader of the state. The real executive power is vested w’ith the Cabinet headed by the Chief Minister. Hence, the Governor should exercise his powers on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
The major powers and functions of the Governor are:
| Legislative Powers | • To summon the legislative assembly, to prorogue sessions, and to dissolve the assembly. • To address the assembly. • To give assent to bills passed by the assembly. • To promulgate ordinances. • To give prior permission for the presentation of budgets and money bills in the assembly. |
| Executive Powers | • All executive powers of the state are exercised in the name of the Governor. • To invite the leader of the political party or alliance that has secured the majority in the state to form the government. • To appoint the Chief Minister of the state and, on the Chief Minister’s recommendation, other ministers. • To appoint the Advocate Ge neral, the Chairman of the State Public Service Commission (PSC), and members of the PSC. |
| Judiciary Powers | • The power to grant pardon, suspend, remit, or commute sentences for offenses related to matters within the executive power of the state government. |
| Discretionary Powers | • In situations where no single party secures a majority in the Legislative Assembly, the Governor can exercise discretionary power regarding the formation of the Council of Ministers. • To submit a report to the President regarding the administrative affairs of the state. • When bills passed by the Legislative Assembly are submitted for the Governor’s assent, the Governor can take the following actions: ■ Declare whether the bill has been given assent or not. ■ Return the bill to the Legislative Assembly with amendments. If the bill, thus returned, is reconsidered by the assembly and passed again with or without amendments and submitted to the Governor, the Governor is bound to give assent to it. ■ Submit the bill for the consideration of the President. |
The Governor’s duty is to help the state government to carry out the democratic process of the state smoothly and in a manner consistent with the spirit of the constitution. Governors are not the authority controlling the cabinet headed by the Chief Minister. Rather, they are its friend, philosopher and guide. The interventions of the Governors as envisaged by the constitution will strengthen the democratic process and will uphold the dignity of the constitution.