2024 – Social Studies 

SECTION – I

Each question carries 2 marks

1. What were the steps taken in Hiware Bazar to conserve the soil and water?

• Rainwater Harvesting: The village implemented rainwater harvesting techniques to collect and store rainwater, reducing dependence on external water sources.
• Soil Conservation Measures: The community used techniques like terrace farming, contour bunding, and planting of trees to reduce soil erosion and enhance soil fertility.
• Water Management Practices: Water was efficiently managed through the construction of check dams and proper irrigation methods that ensured the sustainable use of available water resources.
• Vegetation Restoration: The villagers focused on afforestation and reforestation to improve the soil’s water retention capacity and prevent soil degradation.

2. What were the reforms introduced by the Communist Party of China?

• Land Reforms: The Communist Party of China (CPC) redistributed land from landlords to peasants, aiming to promote social equality and agricultural production.
• Collectivization: The CPC introduced the collectivization of agriculture, organizing farms into collective units to increase efficiency and support the state-controlled economy.
• Great Leap Forward: Initiated in 1958, this was an attempt to rapidly industrialize and collectivize the economy, though it had mixed results.
• Cultural Revolution: Aimed at enforcing communism by removing capitalist, traditional, and cultural elements from Chinese society, which resulted in widespread upheaval.

3. Prepare two slogans to reduce ‘Global Warming’ to create awareness among the people.

• “Act Now, Save Tomorrow: Fight Global Warming!”
• “Go Green, Keep Earth Clean – Stop Global Warming!”

4. Write any two suggestions to end ‘Caste discrimination’.

• Promote Social Equality through Education: Educating people about the harmful impacts of caste discrimination and promoting values of equality and respect for all individuals regardless of their caste can help eradicate this social injustice.
• Encourage Inter-Caste Marriages and Social Integration: Promoting inter-caste marriages and ensuring that people from different castes live and work together can help break caste barriers and foster social cohesion.

5. Draw the outline map of Telangana and locate Jogulamba Gadwal.

Unfortunately, I can’t draw maps directly. However, here’s a description of how you can do it:

• Draw the outline of Telangana, which is located in the southern part of India, bordered by Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
• Locate Jogulamba Gadwal: Jogulamba Gadwal is a district in the southwestern part of Telangana. It is near the border with Karnataka, and you can mark it slightly to the south-western region of Telangana.

6. Observe the data given in the table and answer the questions a and b.

Literacy rate (in %) Progress in Himachal Pradesh

a) What does the above table show?

• The table shows the literacy rates of males and females in Himachal Pradesh and India over two decades, 2001 and 2011. It highlights the improvement in literacy rates for both genders in both Himachal Pradesh and India. However, there is a noticeable gender gap in literacy rates, with males consistently having higher literacy rates than females.

b) Why is the male literacy rate more than the female literacy rate?

• The male literacy rate is higher than the female literacy rate due to historical social norms that favored the education of boys over girls. Factors such as gender discrimination, limited access to educational opportunities for girls, and traditional attitudes towards women’s roles in society have led to lower literacy rates among females. Despite improvements, these barriers still affect female education in some regions.

 SECTION – II

Each question carries 4 marks

7. Name the factors that affect climate and weather. Explain any one of them.

Factors that affect climate and weather:

• Latitude
• Altitude
• Distance from the sea (Continentality)
• Wind and Air Pressure Systems
• Ocean Currents
• Relief Features
• Human Activities

Explanation of one factor – Latitude:

• Latitude refers to the distance of a place from the equator, which has a significant impact on climate. The Earth’s surface receives varying amounts of solar energy depending on the latitude. Areas closer to the equator (low latitudes) receive more direct sunlight throughout the year, leading to warmer temperatures and a tropical climate. On the other hand, regions closer to the poles (high latitudes) receive sunlight at a lower angle, resulting in cooler temperatures and polar climates.

8. What major steps were taken for social and economic development of India after independence?

• Land Reforms: After independence, land reforms were introduced to distribute land more equitably. This included the abolition of zamindari systems, land ceilings, and tenancy reforms aimed at benefiting the poor and marginalized.
• Industrialization: The government focused on promoting heavy industries and setting up public sector enterprises to boost the economy. Key industries like steel, mining, and power generation were prioritized for national growth.
• Green Revolution: To achieve self-sufficiency in food production, India introduced the Green Revolution in the 1960s, using high-yielding varieties of crops, fertilizers, and modern irrigation techniques.
• Educational Reforms: Several policies were enacted to promote literacy and improve educational standards. The establishment of institutions like IITs and IIMs aimed at producing skilled professionals for the economy.
• Social Welfare Programs: Social welfare initiatives like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), providing minimum wage employment, were introduced to uplift the rural population.

9. Prepare a pamphlet on the importance of ‘food security’.

Pamphlet: The Importance of Food Security

What is Food Security? Food security means that all people, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. It is a fundamental human right that ensures the availability, access, and proper utilization of food.

Why is Food Security Important?

1. Health and Well-being: Food security is directly linked to good health. Adequate nutrition is necessary for the growth and development of individuals, particularly children and pregnant women. It helps in boosting immunity, reducing malnutrition, and preventing diseases.
2. Economic Growth: A healthy and well-nourished workforce contributes to higher productivity and economic growth. Food security is essential for a productive labor force and helps break the cycle of poverty.
3. Social Stability: When people have reliable access to food, it promotes social stability by reducing the chances of conflict over food shortages. Food insecurity can lead to social unrest, migration, and even violence.
4. Sustainable Development: Ensuring food security is key to sustainable development. It encourages sustainable farming practices, reduces food waste, and promotes better utilization of natural resources to meet the growing population’s needs.

How to Achieve Food Security?

• Improve Agricultural Productivity: Support small farmers, use advanced farming techniques, and enhance irrigation systems.
• Diversify Food Sources: Encourage the consumption of a variety of nutritious foods, ensuring access to a balanced diet.
• Strengthen Food Distribution Networks: Efficient transportation and storage systems are vital to reduce food wastage and ensure equitable distribution.
• Government Schemes: Promote initiatives like the Public Distribution System (PDS) to provide subsidized food to the economically weaker sections.

Conclusion: Food security is not just about food availability, but also about access, stability, and utilization. Ensuring food security is essential for a healthier, prosperous, and sustainable future for all. Together, we can work towards a world where no one goes hungry.

“Food Security for All, A Healthy Future for All!”

10. Read the given text, understand and interpret it.

The given text discusses the socio-economic disparities in urban areas, highlighting that while cities and towns may offer some benefits such as lower poverty levels compared to rural areas, they also come with significant challenges.

Interpretation:

• Urban Areas as a Boon for Few: While moving to cities can bring better opportunities for some, it is not equally beneficial for everyone. A few people may experience better living standards, access to better facilities, and improved opportunities, but this is not the case for all.
• Lower Poverty Levels in Cities: The text acknowledges that poverty levels in urban areas are generally lower than in rural areas, possibly due to better employment opportunities, infrastructure, and services available in cities.
• Growing Income Gap: However, despite lower poverty levels, the gap between the income of the rich and the poor in urban areas is widening. Low-income families in cities are far behind high-income families, leading to increasing inequality. This disparity in income means that while some people may live in comfort, a large portion of the population struggles to make ends meet.

11. Locate the following on the outline map of India.

• (1) Konkan coast
• (2) River Cauvery
• (3) Standard Meridian of India.
• (4) Arunachal Pradesh

 SECTION – III

Each question carries 6 marks

12. Distinguish between organized and unorganized sectors.

13. Explain the functions of the Election Commission of India.

The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body responsible for administering election processes in India at both the national and state levels. Its key functions include:

1. Conducting Elections: The Commission conducts elections for the President, Vice President, Parliament, State Assemblies, and local bodies.
2. Supervision of Election Process: It supervises the entire election process, ensuring that elections are fair, free, and conducted according to the law.
3. Electoral Roll Management: It prepares and updates the electoral rolls, ensuring that eligible citizens are registered to vote.
4. Regulating Political Parties: The Commission recognizes political parties, allocates election symbols, and regulates party activities.
5. Monitoring Campaigns and Elections: It ensures that election campaigns are conducted in a fair manner, with no misuse of power, and monitors political advertisements and expenditure during the campaign period.
6. Voter Education and Awareness: It works to increase voter participation by educating people about the electoral process and their voting rights.

14. What are the problems of overpopulation at present? Suggest measures to control overpopulation.

Problems of Overpopulation:

1. Resource Depletion: Overpopulation puts immense pressure on natural resources like water, land, and fossil fuels, leading to their depletion.
2. Environmental Degradation: More people lead to more pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction, which negatively impact the environment.
3. Unemployment: Overpopulation increases competition for jobs, leading to higher unemployment rates and underemployment.
4. Poor Quality of Life: Overpopulation leads to overcrowding, inadequate housing, poor healthcare, and lack of basic amenities, negatively affecting living standards.
5. Food Shortages: With an increasing population, demand for food rises, leading to food shortages and hunger, especially in developing countries.

Measures to Control Overpopulation:

1. Promote Family Planning: Educating people about family planning and providing access to contraception can help control birth rates.
2. Improve Healthcare and Education: By improving healthcare and promoting women’s education, fertility rates can decrease as educated women tend to have fewer children.
3. Encourage Urbanization: Developing infrastructure in urban areas can help manage population distribution and prevent overcrowding in rural areas.
4. Government Policies: Governments can implement policies like incentives for smaller families, and offering financial or social benefits to encourage population control.

15. Read the given text, understand and interpret it.

Interpretation of the Text:

The text highlights the threats faced by tribal communities and marginal farmers due to commercial farming, mining, and large infrastructure projects like dams. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Threatened by Commercial Farming and Corporations: Tribal and farming communities have been displaced due to large companies targeting remote rural areas for rare resources such as minerals, plants, and water. These resources are critical for industries, leading to their exploitation.
2. Displacement and Ousting: As companies expand, they push out tribal people and farmers from their traditional lands, which they depend on for livelihood. This displacement results in social and economic challenges for these communities.
3. Destruction of Tribal Cultures: The displacement causes the dispersal of tribal communities into new regions. This not only affects their livelihoods but also threatens their traditional cultures, as they are often forced to abandon their ancestral ways of life and integrate into mainstream society.

16.Locate the following on the outline map of the World.

(1) Israel

(2) Paris

(3) Black sea

(4) Cuba

(5) The city having International Court of Justice.

(6) Egypt

17. Observe the given table and analyze.

Table 1: Total Cropped Area (in million hectares)

Table 2: Net Irrigated Area (in lakh hectares)

a) What is the overall trend in the total cropped area in Andhra and Telangana from 1955-56 to 2006-07?

• The total cropped area in Telangana (4.8 million hectares) is slightly higher than in Andhra (4.2 million hectares). This suggests that Telangana has a slightly larger land area under cultivation compared to Andhra. However, without specific data from 1955-56 to 2006-07, it is difficult to analyze the long-term trend precisely. From this data alone, we can infer that both regions have significant agricultural areas, with Telangana having a marginally larger cropped area.

b) Which region shows a higher growth rate in net irrigated area?

• The growth rate in net irrigated area is higher in Andhra than in Telangana. The net irrigated area in Andhra (17 lakh hectares) is significantly higher compared to Telangana (7 lakh hectares). This shows that Andhra has made greater progress in expanding its irrigation facilities.

c) What could be the possible reasons for the difference in growth rates of irrigated area between the two regions?

Several factors could contribute to the difference in growth rates of irrigated areas between Andhra and Telangana:

1. Availability of Water Resources: Andhra may have better access to rivers, dams, or reservoirs, which provide more water for irrigation purposes compared to Telangana.
2. Government Investment in Irrigation Infrastructure: Andhra may have invested more in irrigation infrastructure, including canal systems and reservoirs, leading to greater irrigation coverage.
3. Agricultural Practices: Andhra could have adopted more water-intensive crops, requiring more irrigation, while Telangana might rely more on rainfed agriculture.
4. Topography and Geography: The geographical features of both regions might influence the irrigation potential. For instance, Andhra might have more flat land that is easier to irrigate compared to Telangana.

d) What are the implications of these trends for agricultural development in the two regions?

• In Andhra:
  • High Irrigation Coverage: With a higher net irrigated area, Andhra is likely to have more stable crop yields, as irrigation provides consistent water supply, especially during dry spells. This leads to better agricultural productivity and growth.
  • Greater Crop Diversification: Better irrigation facilities may enable farmers to diversify their crops and adopt more water-intensive, high-value crops, increasing overall agricultural output.
• In Telangana:
  • Limited Irrigation Access: With a relatively lower net irrigated area, Telangana’s agriculture might be more dependent on rainfall, which can be unpredictable. This increases vulnerability to droughts and irregular monsoons.
  • Potential for Improvement: The lower irrigated area presents an opportunity for development in irrigation infrastructure. Expansion of irrigation could lead to higher agricultural productivity and reduced dependency on rainfed agriculture.

Overall Implication:
The difference in irrigation infrastructure between the two regions suggests that Andhra might have a more resilient agricultural sector with higher productivity, while Telangana could benefit from increased investment in irrigation to improve crop yields and reduce vulnerability to climate variability. The expansion of irrigation in Telangana would likely play a key role in its agricultural development in the future.