CBSE Class 10 Social Science — NCERT Solutions

Correct option: (c) Over irrigation

Justification: In Punjab, the excessive use of irrigation water has led to waterlogging and salinisation of the soil. The accumulation of salts on the surface makes the land unfit for cultivation, making over irrigation the main cause of land degradation in Punjab.

Correct option: (d) Uttarakhand

Justification: Terrace cultivation is practised in hilly and mountainous regions where slopes are cut into step-like terraces to create flat land for farming and to reduce surface run-off and soil erosion. Uttarakhand, being a hilly state in the Himalayas, is well known for this practice.

(b) Because life situations of persons are different.

This is more important because people want different things according to their needs, circumstances, and opportunities. For example, a landless labourer, a farmer depending on rain, and an urban unemployed youth will all have different developmental goals. So, development depends more on life situation than just on people being different.

No, the two statements do not mean the same.

• Different developmental goals means people may want different things.
• Conflicting developmental goals means the goals of two people or groups may clash with each other.

For example, a girl may want equal freedom and sharing of housework, while her brother may not like this. So all different goals are not necessarily conflicting, but some can be.

Example 1 — Bombay High Court vs. Maharashtra State Government:

• Type of power sharing: Power shared among different organs of government (Horizontal distribution of power).
• Who shares power with whom: The Judiciary (Bombay High Court) is exercising its power to check and direct the Executive (Maharashtra State Government). This is an example of the system of checks and balances where the judiciary checks the executive.

Example 2 — Ontario Government and Aboriginal Community (Canada):

• Type of power sharing: Power sharing among different social groups (Community/Social group power sharing).
• Who shares power with whom: The Ontario State Government is sharing power with the aboriginal (indigenous) community by recognising their land claims and working cooperatively with them.

Example 3 — Union of Right Forces and Liberal Yabloko Movement (Russia):

• Type of power sharing: Power sharing among political parties (forming a coalition).
• Who shares power with whom: Two political parties — the Union of Right Forces and the Liberal Yabloko Movement — are sharing power with each other by forming a coalition and presenting a common list of candidates.

Example 4 — Finance Ministers of Nigerian States vs. Federal Government:

• Type of power sharing: Power shared among governments at different levels (Vertical distribution / Federal power sharing).
• Who shares power with whom: The State Governments (represented by their finance ministers) are asserting their right to share power with the Federal (Central) Government of Nigeria by demanding transparency in revenue sources and distribution.

Given/Concept: Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. In modern democracies, power is shared in the following four main forms:

Form 1: Horizontal Distribution of Power (Among organs of government)

• Power is shared among the three organs of government — Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.
• Each organ checks the others, creating a system of checks and balances.
• Example: In India, the Parliament (Legislature) makes laws, the Cabinet (Executive) implements them, and the Supreme Court (Judiciary) can strike down any law that violates the Constitution.

Form 2: Vertical Distribution of Power (Among governments at different levels)

• Power is shared among the Central (Federal) Government, State Governments, and Local Self-Government bodies.
• Example: In India, the Constitution divides powers between the Union Government and State Governments through the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List. Panchayati Raj institutions exercise power at the local level.

Form 3: Power Sharing Among Social Groups

• Power is shared among different social groups such as religious and linguistic minorities.
• Example: In India, the system of reserved constituencies in legislatures for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes ensures that these social groups have a share in political power.

Form 4: Power Sharing Among Political Parties, Pressure Groups, and Movements

• In a democracy, political parties compete for power, and sometimes form coalitions. Pressure groups and movements also influence decision-making.
• Example: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in India are examples of coalition governments where multiple parties share power.

Conclusion: These four forms ensure that power is not concentrated in one hand, making democracy more genuine and effective.

Correct Answer: (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries

Justification: Demarcation (marking boundaries) of Wildlife Sanctuaries is carried out by the government/state authorities as an administrative and legal process. It does not directly involve local communities in decision-making or participation. In contrast, Joint Forest Management, Beej Bachao Andolan, and the Chipko Movement are all community-driven or community-participatory conservation initiatives.

(i) has not — Employment in the service sector has not increased to the same extent as production. While the tertiary sector's share in GDP has grown significantly, it has not generated employment in the same proportion.

(ii) tertiary — Workers in the tertiary sector do not produce goods; instead they provide services such as banking, transport, communication, etc.

(iii) organised — Most of the workers in the organised sector enjoy job security because they are registered with the government and are protected by various labour laws.

(iv) large — A large proportion of labourers in India are working in the unorganised sector, which includes small and scattered units that are largely outside the control of the government.

(v) Cotton is a natural product and cloth is a manufactured product. Cotton is obtained directly from nature (primary sector), whereas cloth is made by processing cotton in factories (secondary sector).

(vi) interdependent — The activities in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors are interdependent. For example, agriculture (primary) provides raw materials to industries (secondary), and both depend on transport and trade (tertiary).

Note: This is a map-based activity. Students should obtain a blank outline political map of India and mark the following states:

• Manipur — Located in the North-East India, bordering Myanmar. It is one of the Seven Sister States.
• Sikkim — Located in the North-East India, nestled between Nepal (west), China/Tibet (north), Bhutan (east), and West Bengal (south).
• Chhattisgarh — Located in Central India, carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000. It is surrounded by states like Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and others.
• Goa — Located on the western coast of India (Konkan coast), bordered by Maharashtra (north) and Karnataka (east).

Mark each state clearly and label it on the map.

Classification:

(a) Region with high annual rainfall:
➤ Not suffering from water scarcity.
High rainfall means abundant water availability and the population pressure is not mentioned, so water is sufficient.

(b) Region having high annual rainfall and large population:
➤ Suffering from water scarcity.
Even though rainfall is high, the very large population creates excessive demand, leading to over-exploitation and scarcity.

(c) Region having high annual rainfall but water is highly polluted:
➤ Suffering from water scarcity.
Polluted water is unfit for use. Despite high rainfall, the lack of clean/usable water means the region effectively suffers from water scarcity.

(d) Region having low rainfall and low population:
➤ Not suffering from water scarcity.
Although rainfall is low, the population is also low, so the demand is minimal and the available water is sufficient to meet needs.

Money acts as a medium of exchange. So a person can sell goods for money first and then use that money to buy whatever they need, without needing to find someone who wants exactly what they offer in return.

Given/Context: The question asks about various areas where women face discrimination or disadvantage in India.

Answer:

Women in India face discrimination and disadvantage in the following aspects of life:

1. Education: The literacy rate among women is significantly lower than that of men. Girls are often pulled out of school early due to social and economic reasons.

2. Employment and Wages: Women constitute a much smaller proportion of the paid workforce. Even when they do work, they are paid less than men for the same work.

3. Safety and Security: Women face various forms of violence — domestic violence, sexual harassment, and crimes against women are widespread.

4. Sex Ratio: The child sex ratio (number of girls per 1000 boys) is declining due to sex-selective abortions and neglect of the girl child, reflecting a strong preference for sons.

5. Property and Inheritance: Traditionally, women have had limited rights over ancestral property, though legal provisions now exist.

6. Political Representation: Women are severely under-represented in legislative bodies such as the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

7. Household Work: A large share of domestic and care work (cooking, cleaning, raising children) is performed by women, but this work is not paid and is socially undervalued.

Conclusion: Despite constitutional guarantees of equality, women continue to face deep-rooted discrimination across social, economic, and political spheres in India.

Given/Context: Guiseppe Mazzini was a key figure in the Italian nationalist movement during the 19th century.

Answer:

Guiseppe Mazzini (1807–1872) was an Italian revolutionary and one of the most passionate advocates of nationalism and liberalism in Europe.

Key points:

1. Early Life & Beliefs: Born in Genoa in 1807, Mazzini became a member of the secret society Carbonari at a young age. He believed deeply that God had intended nations to be the natural units of mankind, and that Italy must be unified as a single republic.

2. Founding of Organizations: He founded two important revolutionary organizations:

• Young Italy (1831) — to unite Italian states into a republic.
• Young Europe (1833) — a broader movement based on the idea that nations of Europe should be free, independent, and unified.

3. Philosophy: Mazzini opposed monarchy and believed that the unification of Italy could only be achieved through a popular uprising of the people. He envisioned a democratic republic.

4. Impact: His relentless efforts and writings inspired a whole generation of revolutionaries not only in Italy but across Europe. Metternich (the Austrian Chancellor) described him as "the most dangerous enemy of our social order."

5. Limitations: Despite his idealism, Mazzini's attempts at revolution (e.g., in 1831 and 1848) largely failed, and the actual unification of Italy was ultimately achieved through the more pragmatic approach of Cavour and Garibaldi.

Conclusion: Mazzini's greatest contribution was ideological — he gave nationalism a moral and spiritual dimension and inspired millions to dream of a unified, free Italy.

Correct Option: (b) Plantation Agriculture

Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming where a single crop (such as tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, or banana) is grown on a large area of land. It is capital-intensive and the produce is mainly used as raw material for industries.

The garment company may, for example, get cotton fibre from Korea, buttons from France, zips from Japan, designing from the USA, and stitching done in Thailand.

Functions of Political Parties in a Democracy:

Political parties perform the following key functions:

1. Contesting Elections: Parties put up candidates for elections. In most democracies, candidates are either chosen by party leaders or selected through party primaries.

2. Policy and Programme Formation: Parties put forward different policies and programmes before the voters. The party that wins a majority gets to implement its policies.

3. Making Laws: Parties play a decisive role in making laws for the country. Laws are debated and passed in the legislature, where members largely follow party lines.

4. Forming and Running the Government: The party that wins a majority in elections forms the government and runs it. The party controls the executive (cabinet) and makes major decisions.

5. Role of Opposition: Parties that lose elections sit in the opposition. They criticise the government's failures and wrong policies, and mobilise opposition to the government.

6. Shaping Public Opinion: Parties raise and highlight issues. They have lakhs of members and activists spread across the country who help shape public opinion.

7. Access to Government Machinery and Welfare Schemes: Parties provide citizens access to government machinery and welfare schemes. A local party worker is often the link between a citizen and a government official.

Conclusion: Thus, political parties are the most visible institutions in a democracy and perform indispensable functions for its smooth working.

Given/Context: The relationship between nationalism and anti-colonialism in colonies like India.

Answer:

The growth of nationalism in the colonies is inseparably linked to the anti-colonial movement for the following reasons:

1. Common enemy unites people: Colonial rule created a shared experience of exploitation, racial discrimination, and political subjugation. This common suffering brought together people of different religions, castes, and regions under one national identity, directed against the colonial power.

2. Economic exploitation: Colonialism drained the wealth of colonies through heavy taxation, destruction of local industries (e.g., the decline of Indian handicrafts due to British policies), and forced cultivation of cash crops. This economic hardship made people conscious of their collective interests against the coloniser.

3. Political awakening: Colonial rule denied people basic political rights and self-governance. The desire to reclaim political freedom gave rise to nationalist consciousness. People began to imagine themselves as part of one nation that deserved to be free.

4. Cultural assertion: Colonisers often denigrated local cultures and traditions. In response, nationalists began to revive and celebrate their own culture, history, and heritage, which further strengthened a shared national identity.

5. Nationalism as a tool of liberation: In colonies, nationalism did not develop in a vacuum — it was forged in the struggle against colonial domination. The anti-colonial movement gave nationalism its content, its leaders, and its mass base.

Conclusion: Thus, in colonies, nationalism and anti-colonialism are two sides of the same coin — the desire to be free from foreign rule naturally gave birth to a sense of nationhood among the colonised people.

Correct option: (b) bauxite

Bauxite is formed by the decomposition (weathering) of rocks over a long period of time. The process leaves behind a residual mass of weathered material rich in aluminium hydroxide. Coal is formed from plant remains, while gold and zinc are found in veins/lodes or sedimentary strata — not as residual weathered masses.

People may be exploited in the market in several ways: shopkeepers may weigh less than they should, extra charges may be added that were not told before, and adulterated or defective goods may be sold. Big companies may also manipulate the market by giving false information through media and other sources, so consumers are misled.

Given/Concept: We need to explain how democracy leads to accountable, responsive, and legitimate governance.

Answer:

1. Accountable Government:

• In a democracy, the government is elected by the people and must answer to them for its actions.
• Regular elections compel rulers to be answerable to citizens. If they fail, they can be voted out of power.
• Institutions such as the legislature, judiciary, and free press keep a check on the executive, ensuring transparency.
• Mechanisms like the Right to Information (RTI) Act allow citizens to demand information from the government, making it accountable.

2. Responsive Government:

• A democratic government has to respond to the needs and demands of its citizens because it depends on their votes.
• Citizens can express their grievances through elections, protests, petitions, and media, and the government is obliged to address them.
• Unlike a dictatorship, a democratic government cannot ignore public opinion for long without facing electoral consequences.

3. Legitimate Government:

• Democracy is based on the principle of free and fair elections, where every adult citizen has the right to vote.
• Because the government is chosen by the people themselves, it enjoys legitimacy — the people accept its authority willingly.
• Even when people disagree with a decision, they accept it as legitimate because the process of decision-making is transparent and participatory.
• People have the right to criticise and change their rulers through peaceful means, which further strengthens legitimacy.

Conclusion: Thus, through regular elections, constitutional checks, and citizen participation, democracy produces a government that is accountable to the people, responsive to their needs, and legitimate in its authority.

Given: We need to identify global exchanges before the 17th century — one from Asia and one from the Americas.

Example from Asia:
For thousands of years, the Silk Routes linked Asia with Europe and beyond. Traders carried silk, spices, cotton textiles, and precious metals along these routes. Ideas, religions (Buddhism, Islam), and art also travelled along these paths. For instance, Chinese silk and Indian spices reached European markets through Central Asian and Arab traders.

Example from the Americas:
When European sailors reached the Americas in the late 15th century, a wide range of food crops — such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, maize (corn), tomatoes, chillies, and groundnuts — were introduced to the rest of the world. These crops transformed diets across Europe, Asia, and Africa. For example, the potato became so important in Europe that its failure (the Irish Famine, 1840s) caused mass starvation and migration.

Conclusion: These examples show that global exchanges of goods, ideas, and crops existed long before the 17th century, shaping economies and cultures worldwide.

Correct Option: (a) Aluminium Smelting

Bauxite is the chief ore of aluminium. It is used as the primary raw material in aluminium smelting plants where it is processed (through the Bayer process and electrolytic reduction) to extract pure aluminium metal. Cement uses limestone, paper uses wood pulp, and steel uses iron ore as their respective raw materials.

Given/Context: After the introduction of the Spinning Jenny by James Hargreaves in 1764, women workers in Britain began attacking the machines.

Explanation:

The Spinning Jenny was a multi-spindle spinning frame that could do the work of many individual spinners at once. Before its introduction, women in the villages and towns earned their livelihood by hand-spinning wool and cotton yarn.

Reason for the attack:

• The Spinning Jenny drastically reduced the demand for hand labour in spinning.
• Women workers feared that the new machine would take away their jobs and leave them unemployed.
• Since spinning was one of the primary sources of income for poor women, the threat to this occupation was a direct threat to their survival.
• Therefore, out of fear of unemployment and loss of livelihood, women workers attacked the Spinning Jenny wherever it was introduced.

Conclusion: The attack was essentially a protest against mechanisation that threatened to displace traditional hand-spinners from their work.

Correct answer: (b) Silchar and Porbandar

Justification: The East-West Corridor is part of the Golden Quadrilateral Super Highway project. It connects Silchar (in Assam, extreme east) to Porbandar (in Gujarat, extreme west), covering a distance of about 3,640 km.

Given / Context: Woodblock printing was known in China and East Asia long before it reached Europe.

Reason:
Woodblock printing came to Europe only after 1295 because it was Marco Polo, the famous Italian explorer, who brought this knowledge back with him after spending many years in China. Before his return to Italy in 1295, Europeans had no knowledge of this technique. Once Marco Polo returned, the knowledge of woodblock printing spread in Europe, and Europeans began using it to print textiles, playing cards, and religious pictures. Thus, the technology was geographically confined to East Asia until direct contact was established through Marco Polo's travels.