Preface

This collection of notes has been meticulously compiled to serve as a

comprehensive and focused revision guide for the ICSE Class 10 History and Civics
syllabus. The material is organized chapter-wise, emphasizing key facts, dates,
causes, consequences, and provisions, as per the examination requirements. Our
goal is to provide a structured and easily digestible resource that aids in quick recall
and thorough preparation for your board examinations.

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Author's Note
Team Tutorific has meticulously compiled this guide with the aim of creating a
single, reliable source for all essential syllabus points. Every effort has been made to
ensure accuracy and clarity. We hope these structured notes prove invaluable in
simplifying your revision process and helping you achieve your academic goals.

Table of Contents

I. History Section (1857 to 1947 & World Wars)

●​ Chapter 1: The First War of Independence, 1857 .................................... 4
●​ Chapter 2: Growth of Nationalism ......................................................... 9
●​ Chapter 3: First Phase of the Indian National Movement (1885-1907) .. 11
●​ Chapter 4: Second Phase of the Indian National Movement (1905-1916) . 12
●​ Chapter 5: Mahatma Gandhi and The National Movement (1915–1947) . 15
●​ Chapter 6: Quit India Movement .......................................................... 18
●​ Chapter 7: Forward Bloc and INA ......................................................... 19
●​ Chapter 8: Independence and Partition of India .................................... 20
●​ Chapter 9: The Contemporary World — The First World War ............... 21
●​ Chapter 10: Rise of Dictatorships ......................................................... 23
●​ Chapter 11: The Second World War ....................................................... 24

II. Civics / World Organizations

●​ Chapter 12: United Nations (Objectives, GA, SC) ................................. 25
●​ Chapter 13: Major Agencies of the UN (WHO, UNICEF) ....................... 27
●​ Chapter 14: Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) ......................................... 28
●​ Chapter 15: United Nations (ICJ & Advisory Opinions) ........................ 31
●​ Chapter 16: Major Agencies of the UN (WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO) ....... 29

III. Civics - The Union Government

●​ Chapter 1: The Union Parliament .......................................................... 30

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 ●​ Chapter 2: The President and the Vice-President ................................... 30
●​ Chapter 3: Prime Minister and Council of Ministers ............................... 30
●​ Chapter 4: The Supreme Court .............................................................. 31
●​ Chapter 5: The High Courts and Subordinate Courts ............................. 31

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Chapter 1: The First War of Independence, 1857

(A) Political Causes

1. Company's Territorial Expansion / Policy Annexation:

●​ (a) Lord Richard Wellesley, Subsidiary Alliance: It was introduced by British
Governer general of India from 1798 to 1805.
●​ Its main Principles were:
○​ Any Indian Ruler accepting the subsidiary alliance with the East India
Company to keep the British army within the territory and was
supposed to pay for the maintenance.
○​ In lieu of the payment, some of the states territory was ceded to
British.
●​ (b) Doctrine of Lapse: According to Doctrine of lapse, If an Indian Ruler of a
dependent state did not have his real son to succeed him, he was not allowed
to adopt a successor without the Company's consent.
●​ Lord Dalhousie, Governer general of India 1848-1856 introduced Doctrine of
Lapse.

States controlled by Doctrine of Lapse:

●​ Satara — 1848
●​ Sambalpur — 1849
●​ Baghat — 1850
●​ Udaipur — 1852
●​ Jhansi — 1853
●​ Nagpur — 1854

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2. Unjust Annexation of Awadh:
●​ Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh on the pretext of maladministration by
Nawab Wajid Ali Shah who was sent to Calcutta on a pension of ₹ 12 lakh per
annum.
●​ Feb 13, 1856.

3. Unjust Annexation of Berar:

●​ The Nizam owed a huge amount to the English Company on the account of
contingent forces.
●​ As the Nizam was unable to pay the debt back, Lord Dalhousie annexed Berar
in 1853.

4. Unfair attitude towards the Mughal Emperor:

●​ Dalhousie declared that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the emperor
and his successors would have to leave the royal palace, i.e. Red Fort.
●​ Later Lord Canning the next Governer General announced that (in 1856 A.D)
that Bahadur Shah’s successors would not be allowed to use the title of a
king.

5. Unpopular Administration of the Company:

●​ The British offices were very arrogant and had contempt for the Indians.
●​ Indians were not appointed on high posts in administration.
●​ They were not easily approachable.

6. India was governed by a foreign land.

●​ The rule of the East India Company was seen as the oppressive rule of a
foreign power.
●​ Indians felt they were being ruled by an alien government that did not care
for their welfare or sentiments, generating widespread resentment.

7. Stopping the Pension of Nana Sahib.

●​ Nana Sahib was the adopted son of the last Peshwa, Baji Rao II.

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 ●​ The Company refused to pay him the pension of ₹ 80,000 per annum that his
father was receiving.
●​ This made him a bitter enemy of the British and an important leader of the
revolt.

(B) Socio-Religious Causes

1. Fear of Mass Conversion:

●​ The teaching of the christian doctrine was made compulsory in the schools
set up by christian missionaries.
●​ The officials openly preached the christian doctrine in mosque and temples.

2. The Law of interfered with the religious customs of the people.

3. General Service Enlistment Act:

●​ Indians were required to serve anywhere or overseas.
●​ This caused a great alarm amongst Indian soldiers that crossing the sea was
contrary.
●​ (1856).

4. The Religious Incompetence Law:

●​ This law says, if a person belongs to the Hindu religion changed his religion,
he could remain the heir of his ancestral property.
●​ (1850).

5. Widow Remarriage Act (1856):

●​ Widow Remarriage Act legalised the widow remarriage.
●​ This was also not liked by the orthodox Hindus who favoured sati.

6. Other Prohibitations:
●​ The government had also prohibited the Sati System, female infanticide and
child marriage.

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7. Railway and Telegraph.
●​ The introduction of railways and telegraphs was viewed with suspicion by
orthodox Indians.
●​ They feared that the mixing of people of all castes and creeds in train
compartments interfered with the caste system.
●​ Some believed the new technology was a way to convert them to
Christianity.

8. Fear of English Education.

●​ The introduction of English education was seen by orthodox Indians as a
deliberate attempt to discourage traditional Oriental learning.
●​ It was feared that English education would alienate Indians from their native
culture and lead to conversion to Christianity.

9. General indignities hurled upon India.

●​ British officers and non-officials displayed a feeling of racial superiority
towards Indians.
●​ They treated Indians with contempt and abuse, creating a sense of deep
humiliation among all sections of Indian society.

(C) Economic Cause

1. The Ruin of Indian Trade and Handicrafts:

●​ i) They imposed heavy export duty on silk and cotton textile.
●​ ii) British goods were imported in India without any duty.
●​ iii) British goods flooded in Indian market.
●​ iv) The British goods were machine made Indians weavers and producers
failed to compete with them.

2. Impoverishment of Peasants:
●​ Through the Permanent Settlement of 1793 AD., the Zamindar was supposed
to collect land revenue.

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 ●​ He was authorized to eject a peasants for the non-payments of revenue.

3. India was converted into an Agricultural Colony:

●​ The British saw that India was a source of raw crops like jute, opium, indigo,
cotton and oilseeds.

4. Ill-treatment of Indigo-Cultivators.
●​ Cultivators were forced to grow commercial crops like indigo and jute
instead of food crops.
●​ They were often coerced by British planters into unfair contracts and
received negligible payment for their produce.

5. Confiscation of Estates.
●​ Large estates and tax-free lands held by the Zamindars and landlords were
confiscated by the British.
●​ This policy, particularly through Inam Commissions, ruined thousands of
families and made them hostile to the British.

6. Loss of Employment.
●​ The dissolution of the native Indian states and the annexations led to the
unemployment of thousands of soldiers, officials, artists, and craftsmen who
were patronized by the local rulers.

7. Drain of Indian wealth to England.

●​ This refers to the continuous transfer of resources, revenue, and wealth from
India to England without adequate return.
●​ This included salaries and pensions of British officials and the purchase of
raw materials at cheap rates, which severely impoverished the country.

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(D) Military Causes

1. Meagre British Troops in India:

●​ The ratio between British soldiers and Indian soldiers was very low.

2. Higher jobs and salaries to the Englishmen in the army:

●​ The Indian soldier was not given a higher rank than a subedar.
●​ All high ranks were reserved for the Englishmen.

3. Ill-treating the Indian troops:

●​ Besides the discrimination in rank and pay they have ill-treated with Indian
troops.

4. Disbanding of Troops.
●​ Following the annexation of native states like Awadh and Nagpur, the local
armies were disbanded.
●​ These thousands of unemployed soldiers deeply resented the British rule and
were ready to join the revolt.

5. General Service Enlistment Act.

6. Defeat of British Troops in the first Afghan War.

●​ The defeat of the British in the First Afghan War (1838–1842) shattered the
myth of British military invincibility.
●​ This defeat gave Indian soldiers the confidence to challenge the British
authority.

7. Postage Office Act, 1854.

●​ This Act withdrew the privilege of free postal services previously enjoyed by
the Indian soldiers.
●​ The necessity to pay for their private letters caused widespread discontent in
the military ranks.

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8. The Immediate Cause:
●​ In January 1857, the Company had introduce Enfield Rifle in the Bengal Army.
●​ Greased Cartridges were to be used in this Rifle.
●​ The soldiers had to bite the end of the cartridges with their mouth before
using it.
●​ The Cartridges were believed to be greased with the fat of cow and pig.

(E) Consequences of the First War of Independence, 1857

●​ End of Company's Rule: The Government of India Act, 1858, transferred the
political power from the East India Company to the British Crown.
●​ Change in Administration: A Secretary of State for India was appointed, and
the Governor-General was redesignated as the Viceroy.
●​ Reorganization of the Army: The ratio of Indian to European soldiers was
reduced, and important branches like artillery were exclusively retained by
the British.
●​ Policy of Divide and Rule: The British began to systematically pursue a policy
to divide Hindus and Muslims to prevent united uprisings.
●​ Queen Victoria's Proclamation (1858): Promised non-interference in the
religious affairs of Indians and guaranteed the rights of Indian Princes and
Chiefs.

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Chapter 2: Growth of Nationalism
Nationalism: Nationalism refers to the feeling of oneness and common
consciousness that emerges when people living in a common cultural territory
share the same historical, political and background.

Factors Promoting Growth of Nationalism

1. The Ilbert Bill:
●​ The Ilbert Bill was introduced by Lord Ripon.
●​ It aimed at bringing Indian and Europeans at par, as far as the criminal
jurisdiction of courts was concerned.
●​ It sought to withdraw the privilege enjoyed by the European of being tried by
a judge of their own race only.
●​ According to this bill, the Indian Session Judges were to be given permission
to try the Europeans who were accused.
●​ The bill put the Indian judges at par with the European judges.
2. Repressive Policies of Lord Lytton:
●​ Lord Lytton was the viceroy of India from 1876 to 1880.
●​ (a) Vernacular Press Act: This act was passed to suppress the freedom of the
Indian Press. The act required the press to publish nothing that would excite
disaffection against the government.
●​ (b) Indian Arms Act, 1878: This Act made it a criminal offence for Indians to
carry arms without licence. This Act was not applicable to the Britishers.
●​ (c) The Afghan War: To check Russian influence in Afghanistan, Lord Lytton
waged a war against Afghanistan. This unnecessary war put a huge burden on
the Indian economy.
●​ (d) Famine (1876-1878): A serious famine occurred in India during the period
from 1876 to 1878. The worst affected areas were Madras, Bombay,
Hyderabad, Punjab, and some parts of Central Madhya Pradesh.
●​ At that time, Lord Lytton imposed custom duty on textile goods exported
from England.
●​ He also held a Durbar at Delhi in 1877 in which Queen Victoria was declared
as the Empress of India. The extravagant cost millions of Rupees.

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 ●​ (e) Age Limit: In 1877, the maximum age limit for the civil service was lowered
from twenty-one to nineteen, making it difficult for the Indians to compete
for the examination.

Socio-Religious Reforms Movements

Contributions of great Social Reformers:
a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833):
●​ He founded Brahmo Samaj in 1828.
●​ He opposed untouchability.
●​ He abolished the evil of sati in 1829 with the help of Lord William Bentinck.
●​ He favoured widow remarriage (legalised in 1856).
●​ He laid foundation of an English school, the Hindu College.
b) Jyotirao Phule:
●​ He established Satya Shodhak Samaj.
●​ In Gulamgiri (1873), he gave a historical survey of the lower castes.
●​ He opposed Casteism and untouchability.
●​ He advocated for Equality.
●​ He forced for women Education.

Indian National Congress (INC)

●​ Founder: Allan Octavian Hume (A.O. Hume).
●​ Year: Founded on 31st March, 1885.
●​ Viceroy at that time: Lord Dufferin.
●​ First meeting: Held from 28th to 30th December, 1885, at Gokuldas Tejpal
Sanskrit College, Bombay (Mumbai). It was originally going to be held at
Poona (Pune) but could not be held there.
●​ First President: W.C. Bannerjee.
●​ Second President: Dadabhai Naoroji.
Objectives of INC:
●​ To promote friendly relations between nationalist political workers from
different parts of the country.
●​ To develop and consolidate the feelings of national unity irrespective of
caste, religion, or province.

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 ●​ To formulate popular demands and present them before the government.
●​ To train and organise public opinion in the country.

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Chapter 3: First Phase of the Indian National Movement
(1885-1907)

Methods of struggle of the Early Nationalist

●​ The method of struggle of the Early Nationalist was known as Constitutional
Agitation.
●​ These methods included Prayers, Petition, and Pleas and Protest.

Objectives
●​ The first objective was to educate people in India in modern politics, to
arouse national political consciousness, and to create a united public
opinion.
●​ The second objective was to influence the British government and the British
public.
●​ They held meetings where speeches were made and resolutions for popular
demands were passed.
●​ They made use of the press to criticise government policies through
discussion, processions, speeches, and peaceful propaganda.

Key Contributions of Early Nationalist Leaders

Dadabhai Naoroji
●​ He founded the East India Association in London in 1866.
●​ He presented the "Drain Theory".
●​ He served as India's Unofficial Ambassador in England.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
●​ He was the Political Mentor of Mahatma Gandhi.
●​ He formed the Servants of India Society in Pune, Maharashtra in 1905.
●​ He advocated for economic reforms.
●​ His relentless efforts led to the reduction in toll tax.
●​ He played a significant role as a Member of the Imperial Legislative Council.
Surendranath Banerjee
●​ He was the first Indian to pass the Indian Civil Service exam.

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 ●​ He founded the Indian Association in 1876 and convened the Indian National
Conference in 1883.
●​ He opposed the Vernacular Press Act and the lowering of the age for
appearing in the ICS Examinations from 21 to 19 years.
●​ He was known as the "Indian Burke".

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Chapter 4: Second Phase of the Indian National
Movement (1905-1916)
This chapter covers the rise of Assertive Nationalism, the Partition of Bengal, and
the formation of the Muslim League.

Causes of the Partition of Bengal (1905)

Curzon’s Real View (Nationalist Perspective):
●​ To weaken the Congress and the Indian National Movement.
●​ To divide Hindus and Muslims.
●​ To stop the rising tide of nationalism.
●​ To demonstrate the strength of the British Raj.
Government’s Official Version (Fake View):
●​ Bengal was too large to be administered efficiently.
●​ The government desired to promote the development of backward Assam.
●​ Administrative necessity.
●​ To solve the problems of famine and the defense of Bengal.

Key Dates and Events

●​ Announcement: The Partition was announced or normally approved in 1903
by Lord Curzon.
●​ Implementation: It was implemented and became effective on October 16,
1905.
●​ Mourning Day: October 16 was observed as a "Mourning Day" by the people.
●​ Surat Split (1907): A major split occurred between the Early and Assertive
Nationalists.

The Muslim League

●​ Founded: 30th December, 1906.
●​ Founder & First President: Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka.
●​ First Session: Held at Karachi in 1907.
●​ Permanent President: Aga Khan (appointed in 1908).

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Objectives of the Muslim League:
●​ To promote among the Muslims support for the British.
●​ To promote amongst Indian Muslims the feeling of loyalty towards the British
government.
●​ To promote the social and economic interests of Muslims.
●​ To secure a right place for Muslims in Indian society and economy.
●​ To promote friendly relations between Muslims and other communities.

Assertive Nationalism: Objectives and Methods

Objective: Immediate attainment of Swaraj (Complete Independence).
Methods of Struggle:
●​ Swadeshi: Promotion of indigenous goods.
●​ Boycott: Refusal to use British goods.
●​ National Education: Establishing Indian-run educational institutions.
●​ Passive Resistance: Non-violent defiance of British rule.

The "Lal-Bal-Pal" Trio

1. Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Father of Assertive Nationalism):
●​ Newspapers: Mahratta (English) and Kesari (Marathi).
●​ Festivals: Started the Ganapati festival (1893) and Shivaji festival (1895) to
build national spirit.
●​ Home Rule: Started the Home Rule League in 1916.
●​ Slogan: "Swaraj is my birth right, and I shall have it".
2. Bipin Chandra Pal (Father of Revolutionary Thought):
●​ Newspapers: The Tribune, Bengal Public Opinion, and New India.
●​ Social Reforms: Advocated for widow remarriage and opposed the caste
system.
●​ Economic Views: Wanted to tax the rich more heavily to establish equality.
3. Lala Lajpat Rai (Punjab Kesari / Sher-e-Punjab):
●​ Newspapers: Founded Punjabi, Vande Mataram (Urdu), and People (English).
●​ Leadership: President of the INC (1920) and the first President of the All India
Trade Union Congress (1920).
●​ Sacrifice: Died while protesting against the Simon Commission.

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Significance of the Lucknow Pact (1916)
●​ Forged Hindu-Muslim Unity and unity between the two factions of the
Congress.
●​ Pressurized the British to introduce constitutional reforms.
●​ Led to the gradual development of self-governing institutions.

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Chapter 5: Mahatma Gandhi and The National Movement
(1915–1947)

I. Non-Cooperation Movement
Started by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, asking the people not to assist the foreign
government to rule over them.
Causes:
●​ (i) Rowlatt Act (March 1919): Implied arrest without warrant, in camera trial,
restrictions on movement, and suspension of Habeas Corpus.
●​ (ii) Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy (13 April 1919): A terrible massacre.
●​ (iii) Khilafat Movement: Started by the Ali Brothers (Mohammad Ali and
Shaukat Ali) in August 1920 because the Sultan of Turkey (the Caliph) was
deprived of authority.
Suspension of the Program:
●​ Chauri-Chaura Incident (Feb 1922): An infuriated mob set a police station on
fire, killing 22 policemen.
●​ The movement was called off on 12th Feb 1922.
Programs:
●​ Boycott: Refusal of schools, colleges, courts, foreign goods, and surrender of
titles.
●​ Swadeshi: Popularization of Khadi and hand-weaving.
Impact:
●​ The national movement became a mass movement.
●​ Instilled new confidence and fostered Hindu-Muslim unity.
●​ Promoted social reforms.

II. Civil Disobedience Movement

Started by Mahatma Gandhi in March 1930.
Causes:
●​ (a) Simon Commission (1927): Composed of 7 British members; the absence of
Indian members was seen as an insult.

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 ●​ (b) Demand for Poorna Swaraj: The Lahore session in 1929 declared
Complete Independence as the objective.
●​ (c) Dandi March (1930): Gandhiji and 78 followers marched from Sabarmati
Ashram to Dandi. On 6th April, he violated the Salt Law, marking the
beginning of the movement.
Program:
●​ Defiance of salt laws and non-payment of taxes.
●​ Boycott of liquor and foreign cloth.
Impact:
●​ Shattered faith in the British government and deepened social roots for the
struggle.
●​ Led to the first Round Table Conference (which Congress did not attend).

III. Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 5, 1931)

British Government agreed to:
●​ Release political prisoners not guilty of violence.
●​ Withdraw ordinances and end prosecutions.
Congress agreed to:
●​ Suspend the Civil Disobedience movement.
●​ Participate in the Second Round Table Conference.

IV. Second Round Table Conference (1931)

●​ Held in London; Gandhiji attended as the sole representative of the Congress.
●​ B.R. Ambedkar also attended.

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Chapter 6: Quit India Movement

I. Causes
●​ (a) The Cripps’ Mission (Sir Stafford Cripps):
○​ He proposed giving India Dominion Status once the war ended.
○​ Proposed a federation of British India and the Indian States.
○​ Suggested that Provinces would be free to join the Indian Union.
●​ (b) Failure of the Cripps’ Mission:
○​ It did not promise immediate independence.
○​ The plan involved partitioning the country.
○​ The Muslim League opposed a single Union, and the Hindu Mahasabha
feared partition.
●​ (c) Japanese Threat:

II. Quit India Resolution

●​ Adopted at Wardha in July 1942 and passed on 8th August, 1942 at Mumbai.
●​ Gandhiji and other leaders were arrested immediately.
●​ The British government declared the Congress an illegal organization.

III. Impact of the Movement

●​ Demonstrated the depth of nationalist feeling and the Indian capacity for
sacrifice.
●​ Made it clear to the British that they could no longer rule India against the
wishes of its people.
●​ Involved participation from all sections of society.
●​ Attracted significant international attention to the Indian problem.

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Chapter 7: Forward Bloc and INA

Forward Bloc
●​ Founder: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
●​ Objectives:
○​ Reorganisation of agriculture and industries on socialist lines.
○​ Abolition of the Zamindari System.
○​ Introduction of a new monetary and credit system.
○​ The main objective was the liberation of India with the support of
workers, peasants, youth, and other organisations.

Indian National Army (INA)

●​ Developed by: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
●​ Founder: Mohan Singh.
●​ Objectives:
○​ To organise an armed revolution to fight the British army with modern
arms.
○​ To form a provisional government of free India.
○​ The motto of the INA was 'unity, faith, Sacrifice'.
○​ To train people for armed struggle inside and outside the country.

Contributions of Subhas Chandra Bose

●​ He led the freedom struggle outside India as the Supreme Commander of the
INA.
●​ He set up the Provisional Government of Free India in Singapore.
●​ He declared war on Britain and the USA and acquired the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands when Japan handed over that territory.
●​ He formed the Forward Bloc.
●​ He served as the President of the INC at Haripura (1938) and Tripura (1939).
●​ Slogans:
○​ "Delhi Chalo"
○​ "Jai Hind"

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 ○​ "Give me blood and I shall give you freedom"

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Chapter 8: Independence and Partition of India

I. The Mountbatten Plan

Causes of Partition:
●​ Communal Riots: The large-scale communal riots engulfing the country
convinced leaders that partition was the only solution to the communal
problem.
●​ Obstruction by the League: The Muslim League joined the Interim
Government to obstruct proceedings rather than cooperate.
●​ Fear of Civil War: Leaders felt further delay in the transfer of power would
plunge India into a civil war.
Main Clauses:
●​ Partition of Bengal and Punjab: Proposed if the Legislative Assemblies of
these provinces decided in favor of partition.
●​ Relations between Dominions: Outlined the future relationship between the
two new nations.
●​ Boundary Commission: A commission was proposed to settle the borders.
●​ Princely States: These states were free to join either the Indian Union or
Pakistan.
●​ Sindh: The Legislative Assembly of Sindh was to take its own decision at a
special meeting.
●​ Transfer of Power: Specified the mechanism for the handover of authority.

II. Cabinet Mission (Causes Only)

●​ Federal Union: Creation of a union of states.
●​ Power of the Union: Defining the authority held by the central government.
●​ Provincial Autonomy: Granting self-governance to provinces.
●​ Grouping of Provinces: Categorizing provinces into specific groups.
●​ Formation of Constituent Assembly: To draft the new constitution.
●​ Transfer of Power: Planning the handover from British rule.

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III. Indian Independence Act 1947 (Provisions)
●​ Two New Dominions: Creation of independent India and Pakistan.
●​ Provision of Partition: Formal legal basis for the division.
●​ Governor General: A separate Governor General for each dominion.
●​ End of Jurisdiction: The British Parliament would no longer have authority
over India.
●​ Division of Assets: Splitting the army and national assets between the two
nations.
●​ Bringing the Act into Operation: Steps to implement the legislation.
Key Figures:
●​ First Governor General of Free India: Lord Mountbatten.
●​ Last Viceroy of India: Lord Mountbatten.
●​ First and Last Indian Governor General: C. Rajagopalachari.

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Chapter 9: The Contemporary World — The First World
War
This chapter details the unique causes and the significant territorial and political
consequences of the Great War.

(A) Causes of the First World War

●​ Militant Nationalism: A major factor leading to the conflict.
●​ Race for Armaments: Intense competition between nations to build up
military strength.
●​ Division of Europe: The formation of opposing alliances, specifically the
Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.
●​ Sarajevo Crisis (Immediate Cause): The murder of Archduke Francis
Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, on June 28, 1914, by a Serbian in
Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia.

(B) Results and Consequences

1. The Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919):
●​ The Treaty declared Germany guilty of aggression.
●​ Germany was forced to pay war reparations of 33 billion dollars.
●​ The German Army was restricted to 100,000 soldiers, and the Navy was
limited to 15,000 men and 24 ships.
●​ Germany was required to cede parts of its pre-war territory to Denmark,
Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and France.
2. Territorial Rearrangements:
●​ The war resulted in significant changes to the political map of the world.

(C) Formation of the League of Nations (1920)

Established after the war to maintain international peace.
Aims and Objectives:
●​ All states were prohibited from entering into any secret treaties or alliances.

26
 ●​ Member-states were expected to avoid maintaining huge armies, warships,
or destructive armaments.
●​ All states were required to respect each other's independence.

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Chapter 10: Rise of Dictatorships
This chapter covers the ideologies of Fascism and Nazism that emerged in Europe
following the First World War.

(A) Causes for the Rise of Fascism (Italy)

●​ Discontentment after the Treaty of Versailles: Dissatisfaction with the
terms of the peace treaty.
●​ Economic Crises: Financial instability and hardship.
●​ Political Instability: Weak governance in the post-war period.
●​ Threat of Communism: Fear of a communist revolution.
●​ Leadership Provided by Mussolini: The influence of Benito Mussolini’s
personality and leadership.

(B) Causes for the Rise of Nazism (Germany)

●​ Humiliating Treaty of Versailles: The feeling of national shame caused by
the treaty's terms.
●​ Growing Fear of Communism: Alarm over the spread of communist ideals.
●​ Economic Crises: Severe inflation and unemployment.
●​ Charismatic Personality of Hitler: The persuasive leadership of Adolf Hitler.
●​ Absence of Strong Opposition: Lack of a unified political front to challenge
the Nazi party.

(C) Similarities Between Fascism and Nazism

●​ Totalitarian Rule: To have faith in absolute control by the state.
●​ Despise Democratic Systems: To look down upon and reject democratic
political structures.
●​ One-Party and One Leader: To uphold the idea of a single political party and
one supreme leader.
●​ Aggressive Nationalism and Imperialism: A strong belief in the superiority
of one's nation and the expansion of territory.

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Chapter 11: The Second World War

(A) Causes of the Second World War

●​ Dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Versailles: Continued resentment over
post-WWI settlements.
●​ Rise of Fascism and Nazism: The growth of aggressive dictatorships in Italy
and Germany.
●​ Policy of Appeasement: The policy of conciliation toward aggressive powers
at the expense of other countries.
●​ Japanese Invasion of China: Japan started an undeclared war in 1931 and
later left the League of Nations in 1933.
●​ Failure of the League of Nations: The inability of the international body to
prevent conflict.
●​ Hitler's Invasion of Poland (Immediate Cause): The occupation of the Danzig
corridor to connect East Prussia, which triggered the war.

(B) Key Events

●​ Pearl Harbour (Entry of USA): On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise
aerial attack; the USA joined the war the following day.
●​ Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The US dropped atomic bombs on
August 6 (Hiroshima) and August 9 (Nagasaki), 1945.
●​ Japanese Surrender: Japan formally surrendered on September 2, 1945.

(C) Consequences of the War

●​ Defeat of Axis Powers: The total military defeat of Germany, Italy, and Japan.
●​ Formation of the UN: The establishment of the United Nations to maintain
global peace.
●​ Cold War: The emergence of a long-standing geopolitical tension between
the USA and the USSR.

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Chapter 12: United Nations

(A) The Objectives of the UN

●​ To maintain international peace and security.
●​ To develop friendly relations among the nations.
●​ To solve international problems.
●​ Disarm, decolonise and develop.

(B) The General Assembly

●​ Composition: All the members of the UN are members of the General
Assembly. Each state has five representatives in the General Assembly but
each has one vote.
●​ Functions:
○​ To consider recommendations on the principle of cooperation in the
maintenance of peace and security.
○​ To make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
○​ To consider and approve the budget of the UN.
○​ To elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council.

(C) The Security Council

●​ Composition: The Council consists of 15 members.
●​ Permanent Members: It has five permanent members: China, France, Russia,
Britain, and the USA.
●​ Veto Power: The negative vote of a permanent member is called a veto.
●​ Non-permanent Members: Their term is 2 years.
●​ Functions:
○​ To maintain International Peace and Security.
○​ To investigate any dispute or situation.
○​ To recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of
settlement.

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(D) International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Located at The Hague, Netherlands.
●​ Composition: The Court is composed of 15 judges elected for a nine-year
term of office.
●​ Elections: Elections are held every three years for 1/3 of the seats.
●​ Advisory Opinions: It provides advisory opinions on legal questions referred
to it.

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Chapter 13: Major Agencies of the United Nations

(A) World Health Organisation (WHO)

●​ Full Form: World Health Organisation.
●​ Functions:
○​ To help countries improve their health systems by building up
infrastructure.
○​ To give important information about diseases and promote health
education.
○​ To launch programs to immunise children against six major diseases:
Measles, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Tuberculosis, Polio, and Whooping
Cough.

(B) UNICEF
●​ Full Form: United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.
●​ Functions:
○​ To provide funds for programs that help children and mothers in
developing countries.
○​ To work for the protection of children's rights and their welfare.

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Chapter 14: Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

(A) Chief Architects

●​ Jawaharlal Nehru (India).
●​ Joseph Broz Tito (Yugoslavia).
●​ Gamal Abdul Nasser (Egypt).

(B) Objectives
●​ To maintain international peace and security.
●​ To keep away from the power blocs (USA and USSR).
●​ To encourage friendly relations among all nations.
●​ Mutual non-aggression and non-interference.

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Chapter 16: Major Agencies of the United Nations
(Note: While the index on page 23 lists Chapter 16 as "Major Agencies of the United
Nations", the corresponding handwritten notes for these agencies appear integrated
with the UN section or mentioned in practice papers within the document).
World Health Organisation (WHO):
●​ Functions:
○​ This organisation has launched a programme to immunise children
against six major diseases—Measles, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Tuberculosis,
Polio and Whooping Cough.
○​ To help countries improve their health systems.
○​ To promote health education and give information about diseases.
UNICEF:
●​ Full Form: United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.
●​ Functions:
○​ To provide for the welfare of children.
○​ To protect the rights of children.
○​ To provide funds for programs helping mothers and children in
developing countries.
UNESCO:
●​ Full Form: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
●​ Functions:
○​ To safeguard cultural heritage and promote international cooperation
in education, science, and culture.
○​ To protect world heritage sites.

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Chapter 1: The Union Parliament
●​ Composition of the Rajya Sabha:
○​ Maximum Strength: 250 members.
○​ Nominated Members: 12 members nominated by the President.
○​ Elected Members: 238 members representing States and Union
Territories.
●​ Election of Rajya Sabha Members: Elected by the elected members of the
Legislative Assembly of each state in accordance with the system of
proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
●​ The Lok Sabha:
○​ Strength: The strength of the house is 550.
○​ Quorum: Minimum number of members required to be present to
conduct business; if only 35 or 50 members are present, the Speaker
may adjourn the house for lack of quorum.
●​ Presiding Officers:
○​ Speaker: Presides over the Lok Sabha.
○​ Vice President: Presides over Rajya Sabha meetings as the ex-officio
Chairman.
●​ Exclusive Powers of the Lok Sabha:
○​ Money Bills: Can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha.
○​ Vote of No-Confidence: Can only be moved and passed in the Lok
Sabha.
●​ Exclusive Powers of the Rajya Sabha:
○​ It can declare a subject in the State List as a matter of national
importance, allowing Parliament to make laws on it.
○​ It can create one or more All-India Services.

Chapter 2: The President and the Vice-President

●​ The President of India:
○​ Status: The Constitutional Head of the Indian Republic and nominal
head of the Indian Union.
○​ Election: Indirect election by an electoral college.

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 ○​ Executive Powers:
■​ Appointment of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
■​ Appointment of High Officials like Governors, Judges of the
Supreme Court and High Courts.
○​ Legislative Powers:
■​ Power to summon, prorogue the Houses of Parliament, and
dissolve the Lok Sabha.
■​ Ordinance: An order of the President when both Houses of
Parliament are not in session; it has the same force and effect as
an Act of Parliament.
○​ Financial Powers: No money bill can be introduced without the
President's recommendation.
○​ Emergency Powers: The President can proclaim three types of
emergencies: National (Art 352), Constitutional (Art 356), and Financial
(Art 360).
●​ The Vice President: Acts as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and presides
over its meetings.

Chapter 3: Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

●​ Appointment: The Prime Minister is selected by the President from the
leader of the majority party.
●​ Cabinet Formation: The PM selects senior and trustworthy colleagues and
advises the President to appoint them as Cabinet Ministers.
●​ Position of the PM:
○​ Acts as a link between the President and the Council of Ministers.
○​ The leader of the Lok Sabha and chief spokesman of the Government.
●​ Individual and Collective Responsibility:
○​ Collective Responsibility: The Council of Ministers is collectively
responsible to the Parliament and must resign if it loses the
confidence of the Lok Sabha.
○​ Individual Responsibility: Ministers are individually responsible to the
President and hold office during the pleasure of the President.

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 ●​ Difference between Council of Ministers and Cabinet:
○​ Council of Ministers: Consists of Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State,
and Deputy Ministers.
○​ Cabinet: A smaller group of 15 to 18 senior ministers who determine
the policy and program of the Government.

Chapter 4: The Supreme Court

●​ Composition: Consists of the Chief Justice of India and 33 other judges.
●​ Qualifications:
○​ Citizen of India.
○​ Judge of a High Court for at least five years, OR an advocate of a High
Court for at least 10 years, OR a distinguished jurist in the opinion of
the President.
●​ Independence of Judiciary:
○​ Security of Tenure: A judge remains in office until the age of 65.
○​ Removal: Can only be removed by impeachment with a 2/3 majority in
each house.
●​ Jurisdiction:
○​ Original: Disputes between Center-State, inter-state, and protection
of Fundamental Rights.
○​ Appellate: Power to grant special leave to appeal against judgements in
constitutional, civil, and criminal cases.
○​ Advisory: The President may refer questions of law or fact for the SC's
opinion.
○​ Revisory: Power to review its own judgement to remove mistakes or
errors.
○​ Judicial Review: Power to review laws passed by Union or State
Legislatures and declare them null or void if they violate the spirit of
the Constitution.
○​ Court of Record: Judgements are recorded for evidence and
testimony.

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Chapter 5: The High Courts and Subordinate Courts
●​ The High Court:
○​ Composition: A Chief Justice and other judges appointed by the
President from time to time.
○​ Jurisdiction:
■​ Original: Matters relating to state revenue, wills, divorce,
marriage, and enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
■​ Appellate: Power to accept appeals against the decisions of
District courts in civil and criminal matters.
●​ Subordinate Courts:
○​ Court of District Judge: The highest civil court of the district; decides
cases related to land, property, and marriage.
○​ Sessions Court: The highest criminal court of the district; decides
cases like murder and theft.
●​ Lok Adalats:
○​ Meaning: "People's Court".
○​ Advantages: Reduces the workload of other courts, delivers fast and
inexpensive justice, and tends to promote social justice.

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Chapter 15: United Nations
Objectives of UN:
●​ To maintain international peace and security.
●​ To develop friendly relations among the nations.
●​ To solve international Problems.
●​ Disarm, decolonise and develop.
The General Assembly:
●​ Composition: All the members of UN are members of General Assembly.
●​ Each state has five representatives in General Assembly but each has one
vote.
●​ Functions:
○​ To consider recommendations on principle of Cooperation in
maintenance of peace and Security.
○​ To make recommendation for the peaceful Settlement of Dispute.
○​ To consider and approve the budget of UN.
○​ To elect the non-permanent member of the Security Council.
The Security Council:
●​ Composition:
○​ The Council Consist of 15 members.
○​ It has five permanent members: China, France, Russia, Britain and USA.
●​ Veto power: The negative vote of permanent member is called veto.
●​ non permanent members term = 2 years.
●​ Functions:
○​ To maintain International Peace and Security.
○​ To investigate any dispute or situation.
○​ To recommend method of adjusting such disputes or the terms of
settlement.
International Court of Justice at Hague (Netherlands):
●​ Composition:
○​ The Court is composed of 15 judges elected to Nine years term of
office.
○​ Elections are held at every three years for 1/3 of seats.
●​ Advisory Opinions:

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