SECTION A
(Multiple Choice Questions) (20x1=20)
1. Who among the following hosted the 'Vienna Congress' in 1815? 1
(A) Chancellor Duke Metternich
(B) Ernst Renan
(C) William I
(D) Otto von Bismarck
2. Which one of the following religions emerged from eastern India and spread in several directions through intersecting points on the 'silk routes'? 1
(A) Hinduism
(B) Christianity
(C) Buddhism
(D) Jainism
3. Arrange the following events in chronological order and choose the correct option. 1
I. Formation of Khilafat Committee in Bombay
II. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
III. Bardoli Satyagraha
IV. Withdrawal of Non-Cooperation Movement
Options:
(A) I, II, III, IV
(B) II, I, IV, III
(C) I, II, IV, III
(D) III, IV, II, I
4. Choose the correct option to fill in the blank. 1
In the beginning of the 19th century, __________a girl married in a very orthodox household wrote an autobiography called 'Amar Jiban'.
(A) Pandita Ramabai
(B) Rashsundari Devi
(C) Tarabai Shinde
(D) Kailashbashini Debi
5. Match Column I with Column II and choose the correct option. 1
Column I (National Park)
ii.
Jim Corbett
iii.
Sunderbans
iv.
Bandhavgarh
Column II (State)
a. Madhya Pradesh
b.
Assam
c.
Uttarakhand
d.
West Bengal
Options:
(A) i-a, ii-b, iii-c, iv-d
(B) i-d, ii-e, iii-b, iv-a
(C) i-c, ii-b, iii-d, iv-a
(D) i-b, ii-c, iii-d, iv-a
6. In which one of the following states is 'bamboo drip irrigation system' prevalent? 1
(A) Tamil Nadu
(B) West Bengal
(C) Meghalaya
(D) Odisha
7. Which one of the following is the highest 'bauxite' producing state of India? 1
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Jharkhand
(C) Gujarat
(D) Odisha
8. Two statements, I and II are given below. Read both the statements and choose the correct option. 1
Statement I: Division of power is good for democratic systems.
Statement II: It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Options:
(A) Statement I is true, but II is false.
(B) Statement I is false, but II is true.
(C) Statements I and II are true and II is the correct explanation of I.
(D) Statements I and II are true, but II is not the correct explanation of I.
9. Choose the most appropriate option regarding the division of legislative rights in India. 1
Subject list in Indian Constitution - Subjects
(A) Union List - Defence and Commerce
(B) State List - Police and Agriculture
(C) Concurrent List - Forest and Communication
(D) Residuary Subjects - Computer Software and Trade
10. Read the following provisions regarding Secularism in the Indian Constitution and choose the correct option. 1
I. The Indian State has not adopted any religion as its official religion.
II. The Constitution gives freedom to all the citizens to practice and propagate any religion.
III. The Constitution declares any kind of discrimination done on the basis of religion to be legal.
IV. It gives the government the right to intervene in religious matters for ensuring equality within religious communities.
Options:
(A) Only I, II and III are correct.
(B) Only I, II and IV are correct.
(C) Only I, III and IV are correct.
(D) Only II, III and IV are correct.
11. Which one of the following steps has been taken by the Election Commission of India to reform political parties? 1
(A) Amended the Constitution to prevent defection.
(B) Candidates will have to give the details of criminal cases on affidavit.
(C) Candidates will have to give details of their property on affidavit.
(D) It has been made mandatory for all parties to conduct organizational elections and file income tax returns.
12. Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements and choose the correct option. 1
Assertion (A): Multi-party system has been adopted in India.
Reason (R): It is capable of accommodating all the social and geographical differences in India.
Options:
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
13. Which one of the following is a scheduled language as per the Constitution of India? 1
(A) Bhojpuri
(B) Garhwali
(C) Nepali
(D) Rajasthani
14. Two statements, I and II are given below. Read both the statements and choose the correct option. 1
Statement 1: Women are now actively contributing to various professions including roles as doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers and university teachers.
Statement II: Political expression of gender division and political mobilization helped to improve women's role in public life.
Options:
(A) Statement I is true, but II is false.
(B) Statement I is false, but II is true.
(C) Statements I and II are true and II is the correct explanation of I.
(D) Statements I and II are true, but II is not the correct explanation of I.
15. In one of the small villages, a farmer borrows money from the village moneylender at a high monthly interest rate but is not able to repay it back. Next, he borrows it from a bank at a lower interest rate. Gradually he earns and pays back the loan to the moneylender and the bank.
Which of the following best describes the role of the bank in this credit situation? 1
(A) The bank acts as a cooperative lender.
(B) The bank facilitates a debt-trap situation.
(C) The bank ensures a fair exchange of goods.
(D) The bank saves the farmer from debt-trap.
16. Look at the given picture. The work being done in the picture comes under which one of the following economic sectors? 1
(A) Primary
(B) Secondary
(C) Tertiary
(D) Quaternary
Note: The following question is for the Visually Impaired Candidates only, in lieu of Q. No. 16.
'Floriculture' comes under which one of the following sectors of the economy? 1
(A) Primary
(B) Secondary
(C) Tertiary
(D) Quaternary
17. Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements and choose the correct option. 1
Assertion (A): Rural poor families are still dependent on informal sources of credit.
Reason (R): For obtaining loan from banks, collateral and special documents are required.
Options:
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
18. Which one of the following is included in ‘liberalization’? 1
(A) Promoting trade barriers
(B) Removing trade barriers
(C) Controlling the other country through trade
(D) Increasing import, export duty on goods
19. Which one of the following sectors has the highest share in employment in India? 1
(A) Primary
(B) Secondary
(C) Tertiary
(D) Quaternary
20. Select the formal sources of credit from the given sources and choose the correct option. 1
I. Bank
II. Moneylender
III. Cooperatives
IV. Businessman
Options:
(A) Only I and II
(B) Only II and III
(C) Only I and III
(D) Only I and IV
SECTION B
(Very Short Answer Type Questions) (4x2=8)
21. Why was the Indian subcontinent central to the flows of the trading network before the sixteenth century? Explain. 2
22. (a) "Minerals occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks." Explain the statement with example. 2
OR
(b) "The ocean waters contain vast quantities of minerals." Explain the statement with example. 2
23. Why was the need for decentralisation recognized in the Indian Constitution? Explain. 2
24. How have the developments in information and communication technology been the major factor to enable globalisation? Explain. 2
SECTION C
(Short Answer Type Questions) (5×3=15)
25. (a) Explain the role of women in the Civil Disobedience Movement, with examples. 3
OR
(b) How did the Indian folklore and symbols strengthen the idea of nationalism during the twentieth century? Explain with examples. 3
26. Describe any three impacts of globalisation on Indian agriculture. 3
27. Analyse any three challenges faced by political parties in India. 3
28. Describe any three characteristics of the Indian federal system. 3
29. Why has the issue of sustainability become essential for development in present times? Explain with example. 3
SECTION D
(Long Answer Type Questions) (4×5=20)
30. (a) Evaluate the role of Giuseppe Mazzini in the unification of the Italian Republic. 5
OR
(b) Evaluate the role of Otto von Bismarck in the unification of Germany. 5
31. (a) "Manufacturing sector is considered the backbone of development of the country." Justify the statement. 5
OR
(b) "Agriculture and Industry move hand in hand." Justify the statement. 5
32. (a) Explain with examples the role of democracy in the reduction of inequality and poverty. 5
OR
(b) How is democracy a legitimate government? Explain with examples. 5
33. (a) Explain the differences between public and private sector of economic activities. 5
OR
(b) Explain the differences between the organised and unorganised sector of economic activities. 5
SECTION E
(Case-Based/Source-Based Questions) (3×4=12)
34. Read the given source and answer the questions that follow:
Print Comes to India
From 1780, James Augustus Hickey began to edit the Bengal Gazette, a weekly magazine that described itself as 'a commercial paper open to all, but influenced by none'. So it was private English enterprise, proud of its independence from colonial influence that began English printing in India. Hickey published a lot of advertisements, including those that related to the import and sale of slaves. But he also published a lot of gossip about the Company's senior officials in India. Enraged by this, Governor-General Warren Hastings persecuted Hickey, and encouraged the publication of officially sanctioned newspapers that could counter the flow of information that damaged the image of the colonial government. By the close of the eighteenth century, a number of newspapers and journals appeared in print. There were Indians, too, who began to publish Indian newspapers. The first to appear was the weekly Bengal Gazette, brought out by Gangadhar Bhattacharya, who was close to Raja Rammohan Roy.
(34.1) In which language was 'Bengal Gazette' edited by James Augustus Hickey published? 1
(34.2) Why was James Augustus Hickey persecuted? 1
(34.3) Which newspapers were encouraged during the 1780s? Why were they encouraged? 1+1=2
35. Read the given source and answer the questions that follow:
Conservation of Resources
At the international level, the Club of Rome advocated resource conservation for the first time in a more systematic way in 1968. Subsequently, in 1974, Gandhian philosophy was once again presented by Schumacher in his book Small is Beautiful. The seminal contribution with respect to resource conservation at the global level was made by the Brundtland Commission Report, 1987. This report introduced the concept of 'Sustainable Development' and advocated it as a means for resource conservation, which was subsequently published in a book, entitled Our Common Future. Another significant contribution was made at the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.
(35.1) Explain the meaning of sustainable development. 1
(35.2) In which international conference was 'Agenda-21' accepted? 1
(35.3) Explain any two outcomes of the Summit. 2x1=2
36. Read the given source and answer the questions that follow :
Loans from Cooperatives
Besides banks, the other major sources of cheap credit in rural areas are the cooperative societies (or cooperatives). Members of a cooperative pool their resources for cooperation in certain areas. There are several types of cooperatives possible such as farmers cooperatives, weavers cooperatives, industrial workers cooperatives, etc. Krishak Cooperative functions in a village not very far away from Sonpur. It has 2300 farmers as members. It accepts deposits from its members. With these deposits as collateral, the Cooperative has obtained a large loan from the bank. These funds are used to provide loans to members. Once these loans are repaid, another round of lending can take place.
Krishak Cooperative provides loans for the purchase of agricultural implements, loans for cultivation and agricultural trade, fishery loans, loans for construction of houses and for a variety of other expenses.
(36.1) How do 'Krishak Cooperatives' secure funds for providing loans to their members? 1
(36.2) What are the different types of loans that 'Krishak Cooperatives' offer to their members? 1
(36.3) Why are such cooperatives desirable in the rural areas? 2
SECTION F
(Map Skill-Based Question) (2+3=5)
37. (a) Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India (on page 27). Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them:
A. The place where the session of Indian National Congress was held in 1920. 1
B. The place where Gandhiji broke the salt law. 1
(b) On the same political outline map of India, locate and label any three of the following with suitable symbols: 3x1=3
(i) Bailadila Iron ore Mines
(ii) Namrup Thermal Power Plant
(iii) Kandla Major Sea Port
(iv) Meenam Bakkam - International Airport
Note: The following questions are for the Visually Impaired Candidates only, in lieu of Q. No. 37.
Attempt any five questions. 5×1=5
(37.1) Name the state where the session of Indian National Congress was held in 1927.
(37.2) Name the place where Gandhiji broke the salt law.
(37.3) Name the state where Bailadila iron ore mines are located.
(37.4) In which state is Namrup Thermal Power Plant located?
(37.5) Name the state where Kandla sea port is located.
(37.6) Name the state where Meenam Bakkam international airport is located.