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Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

What are the similarities between colonial management of the forests in Bastar and in Java?

Solution: The forest management of Bastar in India was under the control of the British, while in Java, it was under Dutch management (I) Just like the British, the Dutch required timber to make sleepers for railway tracks. (II) The British and Dutch colonial authorities enacted their own version of the forest laws that gave them total control over the forests and deprived the customary rights of the forest dwellers. (III) Both the Dutch and the British put a ban on shifting cultivation on the grounds that they were dangerous to the existence of forests. (IV) The villagers of Bastar were allowed to stay in the forests on the condition that they provide free labour to the forest department. While in Java, the Dutch exempted those villages from paying taxes when they provided free labour to the forest department.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Discuss how the changes in forest management in the colonial period affected the following groups of people: 1. Shifting cultivators 2. Nomadic and pastoralist communities 3. Firms trading in timber/forest produce 4. Plantation owners 5. Kings/British officials engaged in shikar (hunting)

(I) Shifting cultivators: European colonists regarded shifting cultivation as harmful to the existence of forests. Also, it stood in the way of commercial timber forestry. There was always the chance of fires spreading out of control and burning down all the precious timber. Thus, keeping these factors in mind, the colonial government banned shifting cultivation. Many of these cultivators lost their livelihood in the process, and most were also displaced from their homes in the forest. (II) Nomadic and pastoralist communities: Nomadic and pastoralist communities like the Korava, Karacha and Yerukula from the Madras Presidency lost their livelihoods. They were designated as ‘criminal tribes’ by the British authorities and were forced to work in factories, mines and plantations under government supervision. (III) Firms trading in timber/forest products: The British gave European timber trading firms the sole right to trade in forest products in particular areas. Grazing and hunting by the local population were restricted by law. (IV) Plantation owners: Vast tracts of natural forests were cleared to make way for tea, coffee and rubber plantations in order to fulfil the demand for these commodities in Europe. Plantation owners, who were overwhelmingly European, were given land at a cheap rate. They were enclosed and cleared of forests and plated with tea or coffee. (V) Kings/ British officials engaged in hunting: The forest laws deprived forest dwellers of their means of livelihood. Before the enactment of these laws, the forest dwellers practised hunting as a means to sustain themselves. After their enactment, they were forbidden from hunting. Hunting instead became a sport where kings and British officials equally hunted big game in huge numbers, bringing some of them to the very brink of extinction.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day and repeated what he had heard from his father. Can you tell Ramesh what is wrong with these statements? a. Women always vote the way men tell them to. So what is the point of giving them the right to vote? b. Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by consensus not by competition. c. Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.

In elections, the secret-ballot system is used where an individual can vote for the party he/she likes. Hence, women can also use their discretion and cast a vote as per their wish. Competition is important for any profession, as it motivates one to improve. Competition in elections ensures that candidates work hard for society. Hence, it should be encouraged. Educational qualification is not the only factor for a candidate to understand the social needs of the people. Hence, it should be fair if someone who is not a graduate decides to run for an election.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Here are some reports of malpractices in Indian elections. Identify what the problem in each case is. What should be done to correct the situation? a. Following the announcement of elections, the minister promised to provide financial aid to reopen the closed sugar mill. b. Opposition parties alleged that their statements and campaign was not given due attention in Doordarshan and All India Radio. c. An inquiry by the Election Commission showed that electoral rolls of a state contain name of 20 lakh fake voters. d. The hoodlums of a political party were moving with guns, physically preventing supporters of other political parties to meet the voters and attacking meetings of other parties.

As per the code of conduct that a candidate has to obey during the election, they should not announce any promises. Hence, in this case, the Election Commission should take this up with the minister. Election Commission should ensure free and fair representation to all parties in the government-owned media. Election Commission should announce re-elections, as the presence of fake votes shows the vote-rigging. Election Commission should ban the party, as the use of muscle power and money power is totally illegal.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the world. Is there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve their elections? What would you suggest in each case? a. During an election in Nigeria, the officer in charge of counting votes deliberately increased the votes of one candidate and declared him elected. The court later found out that more than five lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another. b. Just before elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry will lead to bloodshed. This was a threat to voters of Indian origin. c. In the US, each state has its own method of voting, its own procedure of counting and its own authority for conducting elections. Authorities in the state of Florida took many controversial decisions that favoured Mr. Bush in the presidential elections in 2000. But no one could change those decisions.

On the vote-counting day, the representatives of each party that has contested in the election should be present. Nigeria should follow this rule of the election that is practised in India. In Fiji, the election commission should set up an enquiry-committee, and the party or the candidate who was involved in this negative propaganda should be debarred from the election. The US should have one Election Commission, who can make rules for states for the election.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Chinappa was convicted of torturing his wife for dowry. Satbir was held guilty of practising untouchability. The court did not allow either of them to contest elections. Does this decision go against the principles of democratic elections?

No. The decision to not allow both Chinappa and Satbir to contest elections for the crime they committed is totally fair. According to the elections’ rule, no criminal can participate in elections. Hence, it is a fair verdict.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Can we draw the following conclusions from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for each of these. a. Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections in the country. b. There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country. c. It is very easy for the party in power to win an election. d. Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.

No. The given conclusion for the Election Commission cannot be drawn because: Election Commission released the code of conduct for elections and has the power to punish whoever violates them. During elections, the election in-charge works under the Election Commission of India and not the government. Yes, the given conclusion can be drawn because: Voter-turnout has soared in the past few years There has been an increase in people’s participation in election-related activities No, it is not the right conclusion because: The ruling party in one election loses the power in the next Despite a lot of expenditure in the election campaign, candidates lose Yes, the conclusion is fair because: Reforms will make it easier for small parties to face no major challenge in fighting an election To stop candidates’ facing criminal charges from running an election

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

The table below gives the proportion of different communities among the candidates who won elections to the US Congress. Compare these to the proportion of these communities in the population of the US. Based on this, would you suggest a system of reservations in the US Congress? If yes, why and for which communities? If no, why not? Communities The proportion of the Community (in per cent) House of representatives Population of US Blacks 8 13 Hispanics 5 13 Whites 86 70

Yes, the system of reservation should be present in the US Congress for Hispanics and Blacks. Their representation in the US Congress is comparatively lower than Whites, who are the majority in the US.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Surekha is an officer-in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state. Describe what she should focus on for each of the following stages of election: a. Election campaign b. Polling day c. Counting day

Answer. Election Campaign Check law and order Keep a check on muscle and money power Keep a check on the expenditure limit of a candidate To ensure no promotion on the grounds of religion, caste or sex Polling Day Check the voters’ list Check on voters’ id Prevent booth capturing Ensure free and fair elections Counting Day Keep a fair counting practice Prevent the rigging of votes

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

List all the different election-related activities mentioned in the chapter and arrange them in a time sequence, beginning with the first activity and ending with the last. Some of these activities are given below: releasing election manifestos counting of votes making of voters’ list election campaign declaration of election results casting of votes ordering of re-poll announcing election schedule filing nomination

Making of Voters’ List Announcing Election Schedule Releasing Election Manifesto Election Campaign Filing Nomination Casting of Votes Ordering of Re-poll Counting of Votes Declaration of Election Results

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Match the following : It is necessary to keep the voters list up to date because There is a fair representation of all sections of our society Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that Everyone has an equal opportunity to elect their representative Everyone has one and only one vote so that All candidates must have a fair chance of competing in elections Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicles because Some people may have moved away from the area where they voted last

It is necessary to keep the voters list up to date because Some people may have moved away from the area where they voted last Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that There is a fair representation of all sections of our society Everyone has one and only one vote so that Everyone has an equal opportunity to elect their representative Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicles because All candidates must have a fair chance of competing in elections

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian elections are democratic? a. India has the largest number of voters in the world. b. India’s Election Commission is very powerful. c. In India, everyone above the age of 18 has a right to vote. d. In India, the losing parties accept the electoral verdict.

a) India has the largest number of voters in the world.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

. Which of the following statements about the reasons for conducting elections are false? a. Elections enable people to judge the performance of the government. b. People select the representative of their choice in an election. c. Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary. d. People can indicate which policies they prefer.

Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Read the following statements about a constitution. Give reasons why each of these is true or not true. a. The authority of the rules of the constitution is the same as that of any other law. b. Constitution lays down how different organs of the government will be formed. c. Rights of citizens and limits on the power of the government are laid down in the constitution. d. A constitution is about institutions, not about values

Answer. Not true because the Constitution is the supreme law. True, as the constitution lays out the roles and powers the legislature, executive and judiciary. True, as the Constitution has provided Fundamental Rights to each and every citizen of India. Not true as the Constitution holds values on which all institutions work. Our preamble states about values – justice, liberty, fraternity, and equality.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Read the following extract from a conduct book for ‘married women’, published in 1912. ‘God has made the female species delicate and fragile both physically and emotionally, pitiably incapable of self-defence. They are destined thus by God to remain in male protection – of father, husband and son – all their lives. Women should, therefore, not despair, but feel obliged that they can dedicate themselves to the service of men’. Do you think the values expressed in this para reflected the values underlying our constitution? Or does this go against the constitutional values?

The values expressed in the above-mentioned para do not reflect the values underlying our Constitution. Our constitution gives fundamental rights to each of its citizens regardless of gender, caste, sex, place of birth and religion. Women are given equal rights as men in our constitution through various Acts.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy. How much importance would you give to each of these factors? a. Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with representative legislative institutions under the British rule. b. Freedom Struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic. c. We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The denial of democracy in several other newly independent countries shows the important role of these leaders.

Democracy was chosen as the prime value of our nation during the freedom struggle against the British. Yes, with the Indian Councils Act, Indians started participating in the councils and hence, their experiences paved the way for legislative institutions in independent India. Freedom struggle did challenge the colonial exploitation but it worked for democracy by making laws with consensus and not imposing anything on anyone. Our freedom struggle fought a bloodless struggle with tools like ‘Satyagraha’ and ‘Ahimsa.’ These struggles were undertaken to free India from the clutches of the British and give Indians the freedom they deserved.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

How did your school celebrate Constitution Day on November 26th? Prepare a brief report.

Students should write their report on their own if they have celebrated Constitution Day on November 26th.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Here are some of the guiding values of the Constitution and its meaning. Rewrite them by matching them correctly. Sovereign The government will not favour any religion Republic People have the supreme right to make decisions Fraternity Head of the state is an elected person Secular People should live like brothers and sisters

Answer. Sovereign People have the supreme right to make decisions Republic Head of the state is an elected person Fraternity People should live like brothers and sisters Secular The government will not favour any religion

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Read again the extracts from Nehru’s speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ and answer the following: a. Why did Nehru use the expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the first sentence? b. What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take? c. “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye”. Who was he referring to?

Jawahar Lal Nehru in his speech, ‘Tryst with Destiny’ used the expression, ‘not wholly or in full measure’ as for him, nation-building was a challenging task which can’t be achieved overnight. Hence, he wanted nation-building to be a gradual process. Nehru wanted makers of the Indian constitution to take a pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity. Nehru was referring to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation.

Social StudiesClass 9CBSE

Match the following leaders with their roles in the making of the Constitution: Motilal Nehru President of the Constituent Assembly B.R. Ambedkar Member of the Constituent Assembly Rajendra Prasad Chairman of the Drafting Committee Sarojini Naidu Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928

Motilal Nehru Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928 B.R. Ambedkar Chairman of the Drafting Committee Rajendra Prasad President of the Constituent Assembly Sarojini Naidu Member of the Constituent Assembly

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