CBSE Class 12 –Sociology Question Paper 2022

SECTION A

  1. Read the source and answer the question: Urban luxury manufactures like the high quality silks and cottons of Dacca or Murshidabad must have been hit first by the almost simultaneous collapse of indigenous court demand and the external market on which these had largely depended. Village crafts in the interior and particularly, in regions other than eastern India where British penetration was earliest and deepest, probably survived much longer, coming to be seriously affected only with the spread of railways.
    (Sarkar : 1983 : 29)
    Question: When the British took over states and towns of India, some of them lost their courts, artisans, and court gentry. Give any one reason.
    Answer: One reason for this loss was the collapse of the indigenous court demand and the external market, which these towns had largely depended on for their crafts and goods.
  1. Read the source and answer the question: Ways of thinking ….. John Stuart Mill, soon after its publication, became a text in Indian colleges. Indians came to know about Magna Carta, and the struggle for liberty and equality in Europe and America.
    Question: Mention the kind of Westernization being referred to in the given source.
    Answer: The kind of Westernization referred to in the source is the spread of Western ideas related to liberty, equality, and democracy, particularly through texts like those of John Stuart Mill, which became influential in Indian education and thought.

SECTION B


3.Question (a): “There is a close relationship between agriculture and culture.” Give one reason to support the given statement.
Answer: One reason is that many cultural practices, such as New Year festivals, are based on the timing of the harvest season, which highlights the connection between agriculture and cultural traditions.

Question (b): Name any two agriculture-related festivals.
Answer: Baisakhi and Pongal.


4.Question (a): Write any two features of a social movement.
Answer:

  1. A social movement requires sustained collective action over time.
  2. It is often directed against the state, aiming to demand changes in state policies or practices.

Question (b): Give an example of a Dalit Movement.
Answer: The Dalit Panther Movement.


5.Question: “There is a vital difference between the empire building of pre-capitalist times and that of capitalist times.” What is this difference?
Answer: The difference lies in the fact that pre-capitalist empires were often based on territorial conquest and feudal control, while capitalist empires focused more on economic dominance, exploitation of resources, and the global spread of industrial capitalism.


6.Question: “Sanskritisation seems to justify a model that rests on inequality and exclusion.” Give two reasons to support this statement.
Answer:

  1. Sanskritisation encourages lower castes to adopt the practices of higher castes, but it doesn’t fundamentally challenge the existing caste hierarchies.
  2. It often leads to the exclusion of those who cannot afford or follow the rituals and practices of higher castes, reinforcing social inequality.


7.Question: The varied social reform movements did have common themes. Yet there were also significant differences. State any two differences.
Answer:

  1. Some social reform movements focused on abolishing specific social practices (like untouchability), while others aimed at broader issues like education or women’s rights.
  2. The methods used also varied, with some movements being more radical in their approach, while others worked within the existing political system to bring about reforms.


8.Question (a): What are Redemptive or Transformatory social movements? Give one example.
Answer: Redemptive or Transformatory social movements aim to bring about complete change in individuals or society. An example is the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, which sought to transform societal structures and individual rights.

OR

Question (b): What is meant by Reformist social movements? Give one example.
Answer: Reformist social movements seek gradual changes within existing social, political, or economic systems rather than seeking complete revolution. An example is the Women’s Suffrage Movement, which advocated for women’s right to vote.


9.Question: “For Indian nationalists, the issue of economic exploitation under colonial rule was a central issue.” How did Indian nationalists promote industrialisation in the early years of independence?
Answer: Indian nationalists promoted industrialisation by advocating for the establishment of state-led industries, focusing on self-reliance, and creating institutions like the Planning Commission to guide economic development and reduce dependence on foreign powers.

SECTION C


10.Question: How did commercialization of agriculture lead to circulation of labour?
Answer: The commercialization of agriculture led to the circulation of labour because farmers started producing crops for the market rather than for their own consumption. This created demand for temporary or migrant labour in agricultural areas, which led to the movement of workers from rural areas to urban centers or other regions where they could find employment in agriculture, thus circulating labour for various agricultural tasks.


11.Question (a): Job recruitment as a factory worker takes a different pattern. Explain this pattern.
Answer: The recruitment pattern for factory workers typically involves formalized procedures such as interviews, skills testing, and background checks, with an emphasis on industrial skills required for factory work. Workers are often hired through employment agencies or labor unions, and their jobs are governed by formal contracts and wage agreements, reflecting a shift from informal, family-based work to structured, industrialized labour.

OR

Question (b): What shift from Scientific Management took place in the 1980s?
Answer: In the 1980s, there was a shift from the rigid, top-down approach of Scientific Management (which focused on maximizing efficiency through control and specialization of tasks) to more flexible, participatory management styles. The shift involved greater focus on worker autonomy, team-based work, and a more human-centered approach to management, where employee well-being and collaboration became priorities.


12.Question: Mention the positive and negative aspects of contract farming.
Answer:
Positive Aspects:

  1. Farmers can get access to better technology and techniques from large corporations, improving yield and quality.
  2. It provides a guaranteed market for crops, reducing the risk of price fluctuations.

Negative Aspects:

  1. Farmers may become overly dependent on corporations, losing their autonomy and facing exploitation through unfair pricing.
  2. There is a risk of losing land rights, as companies may impose restrictive contracts that favor them over the farmers.

SECTION D


13.Question (a): What is the difference between a strike and a lockout? Discuss the famous strike of Bombay Textile Mills of 1982.
Answer:

  • A strike is a work stoppage initiated by employees to protest against unfair working conditions, low wages, or other grievances.
  • A lockout is when an employer closes the workplace and prevents workers from entering, usually in response to a strike or to pressure workers into accepting certain terms.

The Bombay Textile Mills Strike of 1982 was one of the most significant labor protests in India. The workers of the mills protested against the closure of mills, low wages, and poor working conditions. The strike was marked by widespread unrest and was a symbol of the growing labor movement in India.

OR

Question (b): Home-based work is an important part of the economy. Explain by giving an example.
Answer: Home-based work plays a crucial role in the economy, particularly for women, who often perform tasks like weaving, tailoring, or assembling products from their homes. For example, in India, many women in rural areas engage in home-based embroidery or garment-making, which contributes to local economies while providing flexible employment options.


14.Question: Are ecological movements new or old social movements? Explain the above using the Chipko Movement as an example.
Answer: Ecological movements are considered new social movements as they focus on environmental and ecological issues rather than traditional social or political concerns. The Chipko Movement (1973) in India is a prime example, where people (mainly women) hugged trees to prevent deforestation. It was not just about conservation but also highlighted issues of social justice, local communities’ rights, and the impact of environmental degradation on livelihoods. The movement merged ecological and social concerns, making it a new kind of social movement.