Lesson -2

Short – Answer Questions:

16. What is known as the Saptsindhu ?

Ans : Saptsindhu was the land of 7 rivers. These rivers were river Indus or Sindhu and its
tributaries that flow through Punjab. The tributaries are Jhelum (Vitasta), Chenab(Askini),
Ravi(Parushni), Beas(Vipash) and Sutlej(Shatrudi).

17. Mention any three features of the Early Vedic Age ?

Ans : Features of the Early Vedic Age are :
 It was a non-iron using phase of the Indian history.
 The Aryans settled in Saptsindhu, or the ‘Land of seven rivers’ in Punjab.
 Composition of the oldest text, the Rig Veda, by oral transmission.
 It was a non-urban society.
 Monarchy was the prevailing system of government with the sabha and the samiti as
its organs.
 Emergence of the four varna or the caste system.
 Development of Sanskrit.
 Woman enjoyed a position of resect.
 Nature worship and classification of gods.
 The brahmanas of the priestly class occupied an important position in society.

18. What is the significance of the Purusha-sukta ?

Ans : The caste system is a unique feature of the Indian society. It originated in Indian in the
Early Vedic Age or the Rig Veda, the Purusha-Sukta, the society was divide into the four
varnas :
 Brahmanas or the priests
 Kshatriyas or the warriors or the ruling class.
 Vaishyas or the traders and agriculturists
 Shudras also referred to the jungle-tribes or dark-skinned people who were also called
dasya-varna or slaves.

19. Who were the most important administrative officials of a king in the Early Vedic Age ?
Ans : The most important administrative officials of the king were the purohita, the royal
priest, and the senani, the army chief. Beside them, the gramani was also an important
functionary. Spies were employed throughout the empire and dutas or messengers were the
only mode of communication with other kingdoms.
20. What is the most important duty of the kin in the Early Vedic Age ?
Ans : same as 10

21. Describe a Rig Vedic household ?

Ans : same as 5

22. How do the epics helps us to reconstruct the history of the Later Vedic Age ?
Ans : The two epics form an invaluable source of information for reconstructing the history
of India in ancient times. The epics give us a clear picture of the socio-economic and political
fabric of India The epics help us to understand the Hindu religion and philosophy. The
Bhagvad Gita answers many important questions about human life. They help us to
understand the Indian value system and its elements such as sacrifice, dutifulness and
obedience of children towards their parents, courage, morality, etc. They tell us how a
country should be governed and define the relationship between the government and the
people. The significance of the epics in 20th century India became evident when there was a
lot of political debate and activity over the Ram Setu.

23. Mention any two effects of the coming of iron in the Later Vedic Age ?
Ans : Effects of coming of iron in the Later Vedic Age ?
 Smelting and manufacturing steel from iron in furnaces made iron an industrial metal.
 Iron implements like weapons, utensils, etc. began to produced in large quantities.
 Production of iron became an industry in itself.
 Ploughshares and hoes made of iron used in agricul increased the efficiency of such
tools and agricult production.
 In the field of agriculture, the use of iron t reduced the fallow period and led to
double-crop techniques.
 Use of iron weapons in war lead to greater colonisa of the Gangetic Plains and the
growth of cities towns in that area.

24. Describe Aryan expansion in eastern and western India ?

Ans : In the Later Vedic Age, the Aryans gradually shifted towards the south-eastern part of
India. Literary texts like the Atharva Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Aranyakas, and the Aiteraya
and Satapatha Brahmana show that the Aryans moved towards the region around Delhi
(middle land), which was inhabited by tribes like the Kurus, Panchalas and Vashas and was
known as Kurukshetra. They also moved towards north-eastern and eastern Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar (Magadha in central Bihar) inhabited by Angas and Magadhas. In the western direction,
they shifted from Punjab, the land of five rivers, towards the north-west in Gandhara and
Balkh in Afghanistan.
25. Describe family life in the Later Vedic Age ?
Ans : The basic social unit was the family, with the eldest male as its head. In the Later Vedic
Age, this pattern remained unchanged. But in the Later Vedic Age, we come to know of
partitions or division of the joint family system. There is also the division of property after
the death of the head of the family. Senior members in the family claimed greater respect.
The father continued to be a commanding figure in the family but he was expected to be kind
and humane. The meeting of the father with his children after his return from a journey was a
novel feature of this Age because he dealt differently with his male and and female children.
The succession of leadership from father to son was considered a normal and natural feature
of family life in the Later Vedic Age.

26. What was the aim of the Gurukul system ?

Ans : According to Gurukul system, the student, after a ceremony of initiation into spiritual
life by the Guru (teacher), lived in the house of the Guru till the completion of his education.
Since the Guru was responsible for the all-round development of his students, he subjected
them to rigorous mental and physical training. Daily life of a student began by begging for
alms, collecting fuel like wood, leaves, etc., maintaining sacrificial fire, and performing
household work. The student had to observe strict chastity, austerity and discipline. The
Gurukul system aimed at 'simple living and high thinking’, irrespective of the socio-
economic background of the student. No fee was charged for it.
Other outstanding features of the education system of the Later Vedic Age included equal
position of famous women teachers with men, intellectual achievements of women, famous
learned kings like Janaka, and in some instances, the Brahmanas learned philosophy from the
Kshatriyas.

27. Discuss the impact of the expansion Aryan settlements in the field of agriculture ?
Ans : The expansion of Aryan settlements and agricultural tools of iron led to clearing of
forests, which led to the expansion of agriculture. In the Later Vedic Age we come to know
about special agricultural ceremonies and sacrifices. There were rituals for attaching the oxen
and bulls to the plough, sowing, and sacrifices for threshing, reaping, etc. Apart from rice,
barley, pulses and millets, new crops like sugarcane, wheat, wild rice, mustard or lentils
began to be cultivated. There is no proper reference to the cultivation of cotton.

28. What do you a understand by the statement ‘make us rich in cow’ ?

Ans : Cattle in the Later Vedic Age continued to be an invaluable resource and a symbol of
wealth for the people. This is clear from the statement 'make us rich in cow' in one of the Rig
Vedic mantras. The people performed lavish sacrifices and ceremonies like Solava for the
prosperity and good health of the cattle and recovery of lost cattle. It was performed to
appease Lord Shiva to protect the cattle from evil. Cattle was also used as a medium of
exchange and as a sacrificial fee. There was also a growing respect for the cow. Among other
animals, the elephant began to be tamed by the people in this Age. The elephant, later on,
became a useful animal in transport and war.

29. Which crop was not cultivated by the Aryans in the Later Vedic Age ?
Ans : Cotton

30. Mention one feature of industries in the Later Vedic Age ?

Ans : In the Later Vedic Age, all metals, such as gold, silver, copper, tin, lead and bronze
were used. Iron smelting became an important industry. As far as tool-making was concerned,
iron often replaced other metals and alloys for it. There was an increase in iron artefacts.
Industries making items like golden cutlery and earthenware also grew in number. In the
Later Vedic Age, there was a specialisation of industries and occupations. Dyeing industry,
jewellery, bow-making, rope-making and glass industries flourished during this period. Due
to an increase in sacrifices, the profession of the butcher became very important and manual
labour was highly respected. Wood was another important raw material for making tools.
Thus, the professions of the chariot-maker and carpenter were considered honourable in
society. Pottery also gained importance. Though there is no reference to cotton, there is
evidence of specialised occupations like embroidery, spinning and weaving.

Structured Questions:
1. With reference to the social life in the Rig Vedic Age, discuss the following:
a) Family
b) Caste system
c) Position of woman

Ans (a) : same as short answer 5

Ans (b) : same as short answer 9
Ans (c) : Women in Early Vedic or Rig Vedic India enjoyed a position of respect and honour
in the family. They received education and enjoyed much freedom in choosing their
husbands. There were few restrictions as far as choice in marriage was concerned. After
marriage, the woman was the mistress of the house and exercised much influence over her
husband's family. She took part in all ceremonies of the household. Monogamy was the
general rule but polygamy was also permitted. There was no practice of sati or widow
burning and child marriage in Rig Vedic India. In fact, remarriage of widows was allowed in
certain cases. However, the aim of marriage was the birth of more sons. Sons were desired
because it was a patriarchal society. The birth of daughters was not desired. Moreover,
despite their stated freedom, girls always remained under the protection of a guardian.
2. With respect to the religious life of the people of the Early Vedic Age, explain the
following :
a) Celestial gods
b) Terrestrial gods
c) Atmospheric gods

Ans (a) : Celestial gods or gods of the sky were the following:
 Dyaus, the oldest god of heaven. He is paired with Prithvi, the goddess of earth.
 Varuna, who is the upholder of the world order, and is the sovereign. He also regulate
the seasons, the waters, the rivers, oceans, etc He controls the orbits of the luminaries
in the sky. He is also the forgiver of all sins.
 Surya or the sun god. He is an all-seeing god.)
 Savitri or the dawn. The Gayatri mantra is chanted to invoke her. Savitri is connected
to Surya, the sun god.
 Pushan, the envoy of Surya. Pushan is associated with marriage, acts as a guardian of
cattle, roads, and is the deliverer from danger.
Ans (b) : Terrestrial gods or deities on the earth are the following:
 Agni or the sacrificial fire god. He is the supporter of the sky, the son of heaven,
symbol of strength, messenger of the gods and the most important part of sacrifice.
 Prithvi or the goddess of earth.
 Saraswati or the goddess of learning.
Ans (c) : Atmospheric gods described in the Rig Veda are the following:
 Indra is the king of gods and the ruler of heaven. The largest number of hymns are
addressed to him. He is the god of war, thunderbolt and rain, and destroyer of demons.
 Parjanya or the god of rain.
 Marut or the storm god. Parjanya and Marut shed rain, produce light and are the allies
of Indra.
 Vayu or the god of wind.

3. With reference to the economic life of the Early Vedic Age, discuss the following:
a) Agriculture
b) Trade and commerce
c) Industries and crafts

Ans (a) : Agriculture was an essential part of the Rig Vedic people who lived in villages. In
the Rig Veda, there is mention of the cultivated field (kshetra), the plough (langala) and
ploughshare (phala). There is also a reference to the use of a stone pulley wheel for drawing
water from the wells. Draught animals like the ox were used for this purpose. As far as crops
are concerned, there is mention of rice or yava in the Rig Veda. Wheat is not mentioned
in the Rig Veda.
Ans (b) : Rig Vedic Aryans traded with other tribes and foreign countries. They traded in
cloth and leather, among other items. Land was not an item or a unit of trade. Cows and
nishka (gold ornament) were used as units of exchange. War booty and dowry were also
important sources of wealth in the Rig Vedic economy. They used boats, horses, oxen and
bullocks to transport goods.
Ans (c) : Carpentry, tanning, sewing, spinning and weaving of cloth were important
industries. A metal called ayas was used to make utensils. Ayas has been identified as
copper, bronze or iron.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lesson -3
Short – Answer Questions:

17. What are the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?

Ans : The Four Noble Truths:
1. The world is full of sorrow, misery and suffering.
2. Desire or thirst (trishna) for material comfort and pleasure is the main cause of human
suffering.”
3. Human suffering can be eliminated by the removal of desires and lust (thirst).
4. To get rid of temptation and desires, one must follow the eight-fold path.

18. Name the two sects of Buddhism.

Ans : The two sects in Buddhism are Hinayana Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.
Hinayana Buddhism: Hinayana Buddhism or the Lesser Vehicle considers Buddha to be a
great religious teacher.
Mahayana Buddhism: Mahayana Buddhism or the Greater Vehicle believed that Buddha was
an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who came to the world to save mankind from disaster.

19. Name two famous followers of Mahayana Buddhism.

Ans : Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu and Dignaga
20. What are the Jataka Tales?
Ans : The Jataka Tales are stories with morals, humour, romance, adventure, etc. In short,
they are a storehouse of information on the lives of Indian people at the time of Buddha.

21. Which Ashokan pillar is the National Emblem of India?

Ans : The Sarnath Pillar with its Lion Capital

22. Mention two similarities between Jainism and Buddhism.

Ans :
o Both religions reject the idea of a creator god.
o Both religions believe in karma, the idea that good and bad actions bring good and
bad results, respectively, and that karma carries over from one life to the next.
o Both religions originated in India.
o Both religions reject the caste system.
o Both religions practice asceticism, or self-denial.
o Both religions believe in reincarnation and that enlightenment can end suffering.
o Both religions emphasize non-violence.
o Both religions believe in helping others.
o Both religions believe in the purification of the soul.
o Both religions teach to stay away from the materialistic world and desires.
o Both religions spread by teaching in the language of the common people.

23. Mention the names of any three mahajanapadas in India ?

Ans : Same as 5

24. To which clan did Mahavira belong?

Ans : Jnatrika or Nyaya clan

25. What is the meaning of a Jina?

Ans : Great hero or the conqueror

26. Where did Gautama Buddha make his last journey?

Ans : Buddha made his last journey to Kusinagara, the capital city of the Mallas, where the
died after an illness and thus attained nirvana in 486 BCE at the age of 80.

27. During the reign of which ruler was the Buddhist council of Pataliputra held?
Ans : King Ashoka

28. What is a vihara?

Ans : Vihara was the residence of the Buddhist monks and nuns. A vihara consisted of a main
hall square in shape with four rows of compartments or cells for the monks along the four
sides of a quadrangle.

29. Mention the two famous rulers of Magadha.

Ans : Bimbisara and Ajatshatru

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lesson -4
Short – Answer Questions:

16. Name one important feature of the Gandhara School of Art.

Ans : Features of the Gandhara School Of Art are :
o It has a Hellenistic influence.
o Images of the Buddha are in Graeco-Roman style.
o The figures depict turban, ornaments and draperies in Roman style.
o Indian sanyasis, priests, yakshas, garudas and nagas are represented like Greek gods.

17. When and how did Alexander reach India?

Ans : In 327 BCE, Alexander started his Indian expedition and crossed the Hindu Kush
mountains. He first reached the city of Taxila. The king of Taxila, Ambhi helped Alexander
who in return spared his kingdom. He is believed to be the first Indian king who betrayed his
countrymen for his own interests.
Alexander’s next encounter was with King Paurava (Porus, according to the Greeks) who is
said to be the enemy of the king of Taxila His kingdom lay between the rivers Jhelum and
Chenab. Porus heard how the Indian rulers had submitted before the invader. But he remained
firm and decided to fight bravely against him.
Alexander crossed the Jhelum river which was in flood at that time with a small part of his
army. Porus met the enemy with his whole army. (Luck was against Porus and overnight rains
made the ground slippery and the chariots got stuck in the mud. The army of Porus was no
match for Alexander’s cavalry. Finally, Porus was defeated and was compelled to surrender
with nine wounds in his body. He was brought before Alexander who asked him how he
would like to be treated. King Porus then made the famous reply, “Treat me as a king would
treat another king.” Alexander was highly impressed with this reply and his courage. He
therefore restored everything to Porus and they became allies. He also gave him the right to
rule 2 over fifteen republics in the eastern part of India.
After the battle of Jhelum with Porus, Alexander proceeded towards Chenab, Ravi and
reached Beas beyond which lay a fertile land ruled by the Nanda Dynasty.

18. Whom did King Dhanananda insult in his court?

Ans : Chanakya

19. Which clan did Chandragupta Maurya belong to and where did this clan originate?
Ans : Chandragupta Maurya belonged to the Kshatriya clan known as the Moriyas who ruled
over the district of Pipphalivana which was situated in Uttar Pradesh.

20. Who was Amitrochates?

Ans : Chandragupta was succeded by his son Bindusara. Bindusara was known as
Amitrochates (slayer of enemies).

21. Why was Ashoka called Chandasoka and Kamasoka?

Ans : Ashoka after his succession to the throne behaved loke a despotic ruler and was fond of
pleasure because of which he was often called Kamasoka and Chandasoka.

22. What are the sources of Ashoka’s Dhamma?

Ans : We get a clear idea of Ashoka’s Dhamma from the rock edicts, pillar edicts, cave and
stone inscriptions located at various places across the country. There are fourteen major rock
edicts and several minor rock edicts and seven pillar edicts. The language of Ashokan edicts
is Greek, Aramaic, Kharosthi and Brahmi. In his edicts he describes himself as Devanampiya
Piyadasi meaning ‘beloved of the gods.

23. Who were the philosophers’ of the Mauryan society?

Ans : The philosophers’ of the Mauryan society were Chanakya, Buddhist philosophers,
Nagasena, Moggaliputta-Tissa, Jain philosophers - Bhadrabahu by contributing to religious,
political, and ethical thoughts.

25. Mention two reasons for the decline of the Mauryan Empire.
Ans : Reasons for decline of the Mauryan Empire are :
o Ashoka was the ruler of a vast empire which his incompetent successors could not
maintain. This was aggravated by communication problems.
o After the death of Ashoka the governors of distant provinces in the empire became
independent in their attitude and oppressive with the people. As a result frequent
revolts took place in the province of Taxila which Ashoka’s successors could not
suppress.
o Palace officials became divided into rival groups which increased conspiracy and
treachery and destroyed administrative efficiency.
o The Mauryan state had a large army which required a huge amount of money to
maintain. But under Ashoka’s successors collection of taxes became difficult due to
revolts from different parts of the empire. Inefficiency in the collection of taxes was a
huge loss to the royal treasury.
o Foreign invasions of the Bactrian Greeks from the north-west also led to its decline.
o According to some, Asoka’s policy of non-violence led to a loss of the fighting spirit
in the army.

26. Why does H.G. Wells describe Ashoka as the greatest of kings?
Ans : According to H.G. Wells, he was the ‘greatest of kings’ because of ‘his character as a
man, the ideals for which he stood, and the principles by which he governed.

27. Which literary text gives us a list of 13 kings of the Mauryan Dynasty?
Ans : The Puranas (Vayu,Vishnu and Matsya Purana) give us the list of 13 kings of the
Mauryan Dynasty, which ruled India for 137 Years.

28. Which is the most important foreign account of Mauryan life and society?
Ans : Indika written by Megasthenes, a Greek ambassador of Seleucus I Nictator to
Chandragupta Maurya and historian who lived in 3rd century BCE.
29. Who deciphered the Asokan rock Edicts?
Ans : The Ashokan Rock Edicts were deciphered by James Prinsep, British archaeologist and
historian.
30. Write a short note on the Sanchi Stupa.
Ans : The Sanchi Stupa is located in the Vidisha district in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The
Sanchi Stupa holds the distinction of being the only stupa containing almost all the specimens
of Buddhist architecture. It was originally built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the third
century BC. Emperor Ashoka began its construction by erecting a stupa made of bricks on the
flattened surface of a hill. He also built a polished pillar made of sandstone by its side. Its
base was surrounded by a terrace with a railing and a stone umbrella on the summit. In the
first century BC, the four gateways depicting the Jataka Tales and images showing emperor
Ashoka’s homage to the Bodhi Tree were built. The stupa was enlarged and underwent many
changes till the twelth century AD. The last major addition was made to the stupa in the
Gupta Age when four seated images of Buddha, each under a pillared canopy, were built
facing the four gateways.
The Sanchi Stupa was built across centuries by many dynasties including the Mauryas,
Shungas and the Satavahanas. It is a silent witness to the rise and fall of many dynasties and
shows the development of Buddhist architecture. It also shows foreign influences, such as
Greek, Roman and Persian, in Indian architecture. The gateways and their images give us
information on the life and times of Buddha and Indian society of many centuries.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lesson -5
Short – Answer Questions:

16. Who established contact between the north and the south in ancient times?
Ans : Sage Agastaya was the first Verdic Sage to introduce Aryan customs and traditions in
South India. He was followed by many Brahmana preachers who spread the Aryan culture in
the south.

17. From which two languages is the Tamil language derived?

Ans : Sanskrit and Prakritik

18. What do you understand by the term Sangam?

Ans : The word Sangam means assembly. According to an ancient literary work, three
Sangams or an assembly of Tamil poets were held in Madura under the patronage of the
Pandyan kings. It is generally accepted that these Sangams lasted from the 1 st century BCE to
the 50th century CE. Around 8,598 poets and scholars participated in the assembly and
produced a large volume of outstanding Tamil poetry. These literary works were collected
and compiled into books called the Sangam literature.

19. What constitutes the most important part of the Sangam literature?
Ans : The literary works of the third Sangam constitute the most important part of Sangam
literature. It is the main source of information on the early history of the Tamil land.

20. What was the prevailing form of government during the Sangam Age?
Ans : Hereditary monarchy was the prevailing form of government during the Sangam Age.
The king had unlimited powers. But they were checked through the advice of wise ministers.
The people were proud of their kings and loyal to them. They looked upon the king as an icon
of high moral standards.
The king patronised all religions and cultural activities. He held a daily durbar where he
heard and resolved all complaints.

21. Who were known as the arasar and vellalas?

Ans : The Kshatriyas included the ruling class and the warrior or fighting class. The ruling
class was known as the ‘arasar’. The members of this class had matrimonial relations with the
‘vellalas’. The vellalas were high class agriculturists owned a major part of the land.

22. Which tasks were carried out mostly by women?

Ans : Women also contributed to family income by assisting their husbands in agriculture,
engaging in occupations like spinning, selling commodities like salt, butter, milk, fish,etc.

23. Who were the primary gods during the Sangam Age?
Ans : The worship of Murugan was popular among the Tamils in the hill regions during this
period. People starved in the temple to invoke the grace of God. Other gods included Shiva,
Vishnu, Indra and Durga. Nature worship and Vedic fire sacrifices were widely prevalent.

24. What was the most important occupation of the Tamils in the Sangam Age?
Ans : Agriculture was the main source of livelihood of the Tamils. It was considered to be the
most important of all occupations. Tolkappiyam, the earliest Tamil work is an important
source material to study the various aspects of Sangam agriculture. Kings reclaimed forest
and hilly lands to extend cultivation of crops.
Women, especially of the lower class known as kadaisiyar played a key rate in agriculture.
Ploughing, digging, removal of weeds, transplantation of seedlings were the main jobs of
women.

25. Mention two items of import and export of the Tamils in the Sangam Age.
Ans : Import items included coins, coral, copper, tin, raw glass and lead. The Tamilians
exported pepper, ivory, fine pearls and silk.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lesson -6
Short – Answer Questions:

16. Name the four philosophical schools of Buddhism which emerged during the Gupta Age
Ans : Vaibhashika, Madhyamika, Yogachara and Sautrantika Schools.

17. Name two rulers who patronised period Shaivism in the Gupta Period.
Ans : Shaivism also flourished in Gupta Age due to the patronage of rulers like Skandagupta,
Mihirakula and early Kushana kings.

18. Name two works of Kalidasa?

Ans : The greatest literary work of Kalidas is Shakuntala. His other dramas are
Malavikagnimitra and Vikramorvashya.

19. Why and by whom was Samudragupta described as the Indian Napolean?
Ans : Samudragupta was a highly successful as a conqueror and an empire builder. Due to
these reasons he has been referred to as ‘the Indian Napolean’ by Vincent Smith.

20. Name the Buddhist scholar who was the minister of Samudragupta.
Ans : Vasubandhu

21. How would you describe Samudragupta’s place in history?

Ans : Samudragupta occupies a unique position in history for the following reasons:
o The conquest of the rulers of north India, rulers of the south, tribal and frontier
kingdoms showed that he was a military genius.
o He revived the Aswamedha sacrifice.
o He was not only a great ruler, he displayed his skill in fine arts, promotion of peace
and learning.
22. Which Gupta king married the daughter of the Naga family?
Ans : Princess Kubernaga of the Naga family

23. Mention any three achievements of Chandragupta II.

Ans : Three achievements of Chandragupta II are :
o Chandragupta II issued a large number of gold, copper and silver coins. The silver
coins of both Samudragupta and Chandragupta show the picture of the bird Garuda,
vehicle of Lord Vishnu which proves that they were the followers Vishnu
o Fa Hien who visited India during Chandragupta’s reign mentions that the people in
his kingdom were happy. Those who cultivated the land paid a portion of the profit
and the king ruled without any capital punishment. According to some scholars there
were nine gems in the court of Chandragupta II and one of them was the great poet,
Kalidasa.
o Chandragupta will be remembered in history as the emperor who consolidated the
foundation of the Gupta Empire created by his father, for ending foreign rule and for
being a famous ruler.

24. Why is the Nandasar inscription important as far as the Guptas are concerned?
Ans : Nandasar inscription is important as far as the Guptas are concerned because it records
a land grant made by a Gupta ruler, providing key evidence of Gupta administration, religious
patronage and socio-economic practices during their reign.

25. Name any two types of temple styles that emerged during the Gupta period.
Ans : Nagara and Dravida Styles

26. What is the significance of Kumaragupta’s rule?

Ans : During his reign, commerce with the western world increased and there was a huge
influx of foreign gold.
Art and architecture also flourished during his reign. His numerous gold, silver and copper
coins are considered to be a brilliant specimen of art.
He was wise in the selection of his ministers and governors and his administrative reforms
gave stability to the empire.
He performed the Aswamedha sacrifice and assumed the title Mahendraditya.
He will be remembered in history for giving a long, peaceful and prosperous rule from the
Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal.
27. How would you describe the reign of Budhagupta?
Ans : The reign of Buddhagupta saw :
Stability in northern and central India.
o Invasions by Huns.
o Weakening Gupta power.
o Decentralization with more authority given to regional governors.
o Cultural patronage continuing the Gupta tradition of supporting art and religion

28. Mention any two features of the Vishnu Temple at Deogarh.

Ans : The Vishnu Temple at Deogarh is one of the finest examples of Gupta architecture. It is
erected on a broad base, with a flight of steps in the centre, on each side of the temple. The
base is decorated with beautiful carvings. This temple is different from the Gupta style
because it has no flat roof. Instead it has a high tower or a shikhara, spire, roof supported by
pillars and the garbha-griha is surrounded by four porticoes.

29. Describe the painting of Boddhisattva.

Ans : The most famous painting is that of Avalokitesvara Padmapani who is Bodhisattva.
This painting show karuna or compassion in the Bodhisattva for human suffering, amidst a
world full of enjoyment.

30. What is a stupa?

Ans : A stupa is a significant architectural structure in Buddhism, symbolizing the
enlightened mind of the Buddha and serving as a sacred monument for meditation and
worship.

31. What was given supreme importance in Gupta sculpture?

Ans : Supreme importance is given to human figures instead of the planet and animal
patterns which surround it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lesson -7
Short – Answer Questions:

11. What is a nagaram?

Ans : The nagaram was a local assembly which is not common like the Ur or the sabha. It
was the main assembly of merchants, which was found in important trade centers and in
purely industrial areas.

12. Which city was the famous for metal works and jewellery?
Ans : Tanjore

13. Who were raj-gurus ?

Ans : The chola kings were devout Shaivas. Shaivism in those days required its follower to
obtain initiation from its guru. The chola kings followed this practice and there was a
succession of raj-gurus un the entire Chola period.

14. Who was the first important ruler of the Chola Dynasty?
Ans : Rajaraja I is known as the first great Chola ruler under whom the empire achieved
imperial glory.

15. What was the structure of provincial administration under the Cholas?
Ans : The chola empire was divided into eight provinces or mandalams. The provinces were
further subdivided into Valanadus and Nadus which were again divided into Kottams. Each
Kottam consisted a group of autonomous villages.

16. What do you understand by the term nadu?

Ans : Territorial assemblies like the Nadus also existed and managed important functions like
land revenue, administration and charitable endowments.

17. Mention the three centres of learning under the Cholas.

Ans : The matha, palli and vihara were centres of learning and owned libraries and
transmitted knowledge by copying manuscript literature on a variety of topics, which
increased with every generation.

18. What is the greatest contribution of the Cholas in the cultural life of India?
Ans : Chola art and architecture is represented through temple construction. The
Brihadeshwara Temple is a fine example if Chola architecture. It has a quadrangle-shaped
base and is surrounded by gopurams. The temple complex has a large mandapa, pillared
portico and a Nandi shrine.
19. What do you understand by the term mathas?
Ans : The mathas and guhais were another important feature of the religious life of the
people. They increased in number and influence during the reign of Rajaraja I. They spread
all over the country and all temples possessed mathas. A famous matha was Srirangam.

20. Who were the Nayanars and Alvars?

Ans : Nayanars were devoted to lord Shiva (Shiva saints) and Alvars were devoted to Lord
Vishnu (Vaishnava Saints)

21. What was the importance of the Cholas in history?

Ans : Chola rule was important in Indian history for the following reasons:
o In the field of administration, they had very well- developed local governments in
comparison to the previous ages, in northern and southern India.
o By making temples a powerful socio-economic and religious institution, they
introduced a unique feature in Indian society.
o The naval supremacy achieved by the Cholas was unique and rare compared to the
contemporary rulers in northern and other parts of the country.

Structured Questions:
1. With reference to the sources for reconstructing the history of the Chola Dynasty, write
short notes on the following.
a) Literary sources
b) Archaeological sources
c) Chola inscriptions
Ans (a) : The important literary sources available for the Chola period include the following.
Kalingattuparani by Jayamkondar : Jayamkondar was the court poet of Kulothunga Chola I.
His famous poem Kalingattuparani describes the Chola-Kalinga War and celebrates the
victory of the Chola king.
Kalladam by Kalladanar : Kalladanar an important poet during this period, wrote the
Kalladam on Lord Shiva. His work gives us information on the religious life under the
Cholas.
The Works of Kamban: The greatest poet during this period was Kamban who translated the
Ramayana into Tamil. He was the court poet of Kulothunga Chola III. His other works
provide valuable information on the Cholas
Ans(b) : The archaeological sources include the famous temples, the Tanjore and Tirumalai
rock inscription and coins.
Ans(c) : Chola Inscriptions reveal details about Chola administration is their temple
patronage, military acheivements and provide insights into social and cultural life.
2. With reference to Rajaraja I's reign, discuss the following:
a) His conquests
b) Architecture
c) Administration
Ans (a) : His conquests include destruction of the Chera navy at Trivandrum, wresting of
Madurai from Amarabhujanga Pandya, Coorg, Quilon, and the western Ganga territory.
Rajaraja I also attacked Ceylon and annexed the northern part of the island.
Under his policy of expansion, he annexed the southern provinces of the western Chalukyas.
Rajaraja I is also known to have conquered the Maldives. He made Polonnaruwa his capital
and erected a Shiva temple. His empire consisted of the whole of south India upto
Tungabhadra, including Maldives and a portion of Ceylon. The Andhra region became his
feudatory.
Ans (b) : Rajaraja I built the magnificent Rajarajeswara Temple at Tanjore, which was
completed in 1010 CE. Rajaraja I was a Shaivite but he was tolerant towards other religions.
He constructed numerous Vishnu temples and helped the Sailendra emperor of Sri Vijaya in
the construction of the Chudamani Vihara at Nagapattinam. He had many queens and Loka
Mahadevi was the most famous of them.
Ans(c) : Rajaraja I was one of the greatest kings of south India. Rajaraja I was multi-talented.
He was a conqueror, an able administrator, a tolerant ruler, and a patron of arts and literature.
He started the practice of surveying land in 1000 CE. He efficiently administered his _ newly
conquered territories and encouraged local self- government all over his kingdom. In 1012
CE, he gave his son and yuvaraj, Rajendra, the monarchical responsibility and administration
of his territories which made the system more efficient and initiated a system of joint rule in
the kingdom.
3. With reference to Chola administration, explain the following:
a) Position of the king
b) Provincial administration
c) Army and navy
Ans (a) : Kingship was hereditary in the Chola period. The power and prestige of the king
was increased by building magnificent capitals like Tanjore, Gangaikonda-Cholapuram and
Kanchipuram, by holding grand feasts and making huge donations. Royal tours were an
important part of monarchical responsibility.
Ans(b) : same as 15
Ans (c) : The army consisted of elephantry, cavalry and infantry. According to the
inscriptions, at least seventy regiments were named after royal titles. The army had a
corporate nature, as soldiers were associated with guilds and donated to temples and
protected them.
The Cholas had a powerful naval system, which reached a state of perfection during the times
of Rajaraja and his successor Rajendra. They dominated the Coromandel and Malabar coasts
and the Bay of Bengal. There is not much information on the techniques of naval warfare and
how ships were made. There is a theory that they used merchant vessels to carry the soldiers
and land battles were fought on the deck of ships.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lesson -8
Short – Answer Questions:

13. What do you understand by the system of iqta?

Ans : The iqta system was developed by Iltutmish. Iqta means land and it was a military
assignment. Soldiers instead of being given a cash salary they were given land or iqtas which
they had to administer. Such soldiers were called muftis. They kept a part of the revenues of
the iqta as their salary and sent the rest to the central government.

14. What is zakat?

Ans : Payment made annually under Islamic law on certain kinds of property and used for
charitable and religious purposes; one of the Five Pillars Of Islam.

15. What was the court language of the Delhi sultans?

Ans : Persian

16. Who was the greatest poet of Maithili literature?

Ans : Vidyapati Thakur

17. Mention two features of the architecture of the Delhi sultans.

Ans : The Muslim rulers brought with them their own architectural styles from central Asia,
north Africa and western Europe. They merged them with indigenous or Hindu architectural
styles and employed Indian craftsmen to build them. As a result they gave birth to an Indo-
Islamic style of architecture.

18. Why was the Mamluk Dynasty also known as the Slave Dynasty?
Ans : Mamluk dynasty was referred to Slave dynasty because its three prominent rulers,
Qutub-ud-din Aibak, Iltutmish and Balban were slaves before they became kings.
19. Mention any two administrative measures of Iltutmish.
Ans : Two administrative measures of Iltutmish are :
o He was the first Turkish ruler to issue purely Arabic coins-the silver tanka and copper
jital.
o He created a new class of Turkish slave officers led by forty men who were called the
Turkan-i-Chahalgani or Chalisa.
o He took a bold decision in those times by nominating his daughter Raziya as his heir
to the throne over his incompetent sons.
o He introduced the iqta system..
o He introduced the use of gun powder in India.

20. Mention two difficulties faced by Balban after ascending the throne of Delhi. (g – 2)
Ans : Difficulties faced by Balban after ascending the throne are :
o A long period of weak rule had destroyed the prestige and power of the king. People
were no longer afraid.
o The members of the Chalisa had become too powerful and greedy.
o The Hindu rulers and other areas had become independent, the treasury was empty,
the army was weak and there was no law and order.

21. Who was sent by Ala-ud-din Khilji to conquer south India?

Ans : Alauddin Khilji sent his military general Malik Kafur to conquer the four kingdoms of
the Deccan or South India namely- Devagiri, Telangana, Dwarasamudra and Pandyas.

22. Mention two administrative reforms of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq.

Ans : Administrative reforms of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq are :
o He reorganised the police department, strengthened justice by appointing Ulemas as
qazis and drafting a law code for the civilians.
o He increased resources by increasing agricultural production.
o His military expeditions were directed against Warangal, Bengal, Odisha and the
Mongols.

23. Name the four departments of the central government of the Delhi Sultanate. S
Ans : The four departments of the central government of the Delhi Sultanate are :
The King : The king or the sultan wielded absolute power. He was the representative of god.
He had the authority to enforce and interpret the Islamic laws. He was the highest court of
law and head of the armed forces.
The Wazir (Prime Minister): The wazir or the prime minister was the link between the king
and the people. He acted on behalf of the king. He appointed officials, looked after the
finances, supervised revenue collection, recorded expenditure and income, gave endowments
and kept the sultan informed of all affairs in the kingdom.
Diwan-i-Insha: The Diwan-i-Insha was the minister for royal correspondence. He was
assisted by a group of writers. All confidential letters between the king and the provincial
governors and officials, in changing royal orders were dealt with by this department
Diwan-i-Rasalat: This ministry dealt with religious affairs like granting stipends to scholars
and pious people, endowments to religious institutions and charity.
Sadr-us-Sadr: The Sadr-us-Sadr was the department of justice and it was headed by the chief
qazi who supervised the administration of justice in the kingdom.

Structured Questions:
1. With reference to the Marnluk sultans, discuss the following:
a) Importance of Aibak’s reign
b) Early life of Iltutmish
c) Razia Sultana
Ans (a) : Importance of Aibak’s reign :
o He laid the foundation of a new dynasty in India.
o He protected the kingdom of Delhi from attacks from central Asia led by Shah and
Khwarazm two other slaves of Ghori-Yalduz and Qabacha.
o He was a great military leader with a generous nature for which he earned the title of
Lakh Baksh or Giver of Lakhs.
o He secured India’s independence from Ghazni.
Ans (b) : Iltutmish was born in a family of noble Turks of the Ilbari tribe of central Asia. He
was sold as a slave by his brothers to a merchant and sold again in Delhi to Qutb- ud-din
Aibak. Iltutmish rose rapidly in the service of Aibak. After the conquest of Gwalior, he was
made the governor of Bulandshahr and Badaun. Iltutmish also married Aibak’s daughter.
Ans (c) : Razia Sultan :
o She was highly educated, brave and foresighted.
o She was the only woman ruler of the Delhi sultanate
o She also received training in horse-riding and shooting.
o She ruled for only 3.5 years.
o She was considered as the most competent of all the successors of Iltutmish.
o The nobles did not like to be under the rule of a woman and therefore conspired
against her.

2. With reference to the Khilji Dynasty, discuss the following:

 a) Achievements of Jalal-ud-din Khilji
b) Accession and conquests of Ala-ud-din Khilji
c) Their army
Ans (a) : Jalal-ud-din Khilji’s achievements :
o Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji took the crown of the Delhi Sultanate in Kilughari in the
vicinity of Delhi.
o He ruled for six years but hastened his downfall by his extreme generosity and
merciful nature.
o The only notable event in his reign was the execution of Sidi Maula, a darvesh of
Delhi on charges of conspiracy, to kill the king and his fight with the Mongols and
Rajputs.
o Jalal-ud-din was finally murdered by his nephew Ala-ud-din Khilji on July 20, 1296
CE.
Ans (b) : Accession and conquest of Ala-ud-din Khilji :
o Before he became the sultan he, he was appointed governor of Kara, Manikpur and
Awadh.
o Ala-ud-din Khilji murdered Jalal-ud-din Khilji in July 20 1296 CE.
o He proclaimed himself as the sultan of Delhi on October 3 1296 CE.
o He conquered Malwa, Devagiri, Ranthambore, Mewar, Rajputana and Gujrat.
Ans (c) : Features of their army :
o Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji was very generous unlike Ala-ud-din Khilji and did not focus
much toward army
o Ala-ud-din Khilji was the first sultan of Delhi to maintain permanent standing army.
o Ala-ud-din Khilji introduced the system of branding horses, the dagh system.
o Ala-ud-din Khilji introduced the practice of taking the descriptive roll (chehra) of the
individual soldier.
o The soldiers were by sheer dint of merit recruited by the sultan and paid in cash.

3. With reference to the Delhi Sultanate administration, explain the following:

a) The role of the king
b) Finance during the period
c) Iqta system
Ans (a) : The king or the sultan wielded absolute power. He was the representative of god. He
had the authority to enforce and interpret the Islamic laws. He was the highest court of law
and head of the armed forces.
Ans (b) : The main source of income was land revenue which was one-fifth of the produce
but raised to half by Ala-ud-din Khilji. Other sources included jizya from the Hindus, import
duties, war booty, zakat and duties on mines.
Ans (c) : The iqta system was developed by Iltutmish. Iqta means land and it was a military
assignment. Soldiers instead of being given a cash salary they were given land or iqtas which
they had to administer. Such soldiers were called muftis. They kept a part of the revenues of
the iqta as their salary and sent the rest to the central government.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lesson -9
Short – Answer Questions:

11. Which Mughal prince was appointed as the viceroy of the Deccan by Shah Jahan?
Ans : Aurangzeb

12. Name the five objects kept by the Khalsa.

Ans : The Khalsa had to keep 5 things – kesh(hair), kachcha(underwear), kangha(comb),
kara(iron bangle), kirpan(sword).

13. Who were the two guardians of Shivaji?

Ans : The mantri or waqia nawis who was responsible for the personal safety of the king.

14. When and between whom was the Treaty of Purandar signed?
Ans : The treaty of Purandar was signed in June 12, 1666 between Jai Singh, Dilip Khan and
Shivaji.

15. When was the Third Battle of Panipat fought?

Ans : 14 jan 1761

16. What were the causes of Humayun’s failure?

Ans : Humayun failed due to the following reasons :
o Defective military strategies.
o Pleasure-loving and impulsive nature
o Lack of shrewdness, welfare for the people and lack of understanding.
o Disloyalty of his brothers.

17. What is the importance of Humayun’s reign?

Ans : Humayun played an important role in the following way:
 o He established diplomatic relations with Persia which reached an important stage at
the time of Akbar.
o He restored the house of the Mughals.
o He was the symbol of a humane king.
o He was tolerant of other religions.

18. How did Akbar secure the good will and support of the Rajputs?
Ans : Akbar realised the necessity of securing the good will and support of the Rajputs, the
most powerful of all the Hindu powers in order to strengthen and consolidate his empire.
Akbar successfully obtained their support in two ways:
o matrimonial alliances
o honouring them with high positions

19. Mention two taxes imposed by the Marathas on Mughal areas.

Ans : Chauth and Sardeshmukhi

20. Mention any three features of Mughal economy.

Ans : Some of the main features of the Mughal economy were:
o Main agricultural crops included food grains, indigo, fibres, sugarcane and poppy
besides cotton, spices, etc.
o Cotton was produced on a much larger scale in Mughal India.
o Tobacco was introduced to India by the Portuguese in the 16th century during the reign
of Akbar.
o Export items and industries remained the same as in the previous ages.
o Trade with the outside world flourished during the reign of Akbar and Jahangir.
o Trade guilds existed in cities, towns and villages.
o According to travellers like Abdur Razzaq and Domingo Paes, the seven cities-Agra,
Delhi, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Ahmedabad, Gauda (Bengal) and Vijayanagara were
astonishingly prosperous.

Structured Questions:
1. “Babur and Humayun were the first two Mughal rulers.” In this respect, explain:

a) Babur’s conquest of India

b) Babur’s importance in history
c) Humayun’s war with Sher Shah and exile
d) Humayun’s importance in history
Ans (a) : Conquest of Babur :
o Babur entered India for the first time in 1505 CE, through the Khyber Pass and
marched upto the Indus to defeat the Afghan tribes.
o Babur came to India again in 1507-1520 CE, during which he raided Bajaur and
Peshawar.
o His last and sixth expedition to Hindustan began on November 17, 1525 CE. Ibrahim
Lodhi, the A Sultan of Delhi was in constant conflict with Alam Khan and Daulat
Khan, the governor of Punjab, who sought the help of Babur.
o Babur finally met Ibrahim Lodhi at Panipat in 1526, and defeated him.
o Babur declared himself the emperor and went to Agra Babur then defeated the Rajputs
under Rana Sangram Singh in the Battle of Khanwa, west of Agra in 1527 and the
Afghans in the Battle of Ghaghra in 1529. These three battles made him the
undisputed master of northern India and he took the title of Ghazi.
Ans (b) : Importance of Babur in history
o Humayun gifted Babur the famous Kohinoor diamond in Agra after he defeated
Ibrahim Lodhi and declared himself the conqueror.
o He wrote down his Indian experiences in his memoir Tuzuk-i-Baburi.
o Babur also wrote a treatise on Muslim law called Mubayyin.
o He will be remembered in history as a great military leader, founding an empire and
destroying the power of the Rajputs
o He became the undisputed master of the Northern India and took the title of Ghazni.
Ans (c) : Humayun’s war with Sher Shah Suri :
o Humayun along with his brothers, Askari and Hindal marched from Agra in 1537, for
an encounter with Sher Shah.
o On his way he captured Chunar which gave time to his enemy to strengthen
themselves. Humayun captured Bengal in 1538, but wasted his time in luxury.
o Sher Khan in the meantime, cut off Humayun’s communication with Delhi and took
Benaras (Varanasi), Chunar, Kanauj, Jaunpur.
o Humayun received no help from his nobles and brothers to recover the lost territories
and left Bengal in 1539 for Agra.
o On his way he met the Afghan army of Sher Khan at Chausa. The Afghans made a
surprise night attack on the Mughal army and defeated them.
o Humayun escaped with the help of a water-carrier and reached Agra with Askari. But
he found that Delhi and Agra were under Hindal and Kamran who were hostile to
him.
o Sher Khan finally drove him and the Mughal army out of Punjab and he entered a
period of exile. In January 1544, he received help from Shah Tahmasp, ruler of Iran
and recovered Kabul, Kandahar and finally Delhi in 1555.
Ans (d) : Humayun played an important role in history in the following way:
o He established diplomatic relations with Persia which reached an important stage at
the time of Akbar.
o He restored the house of the Mughals.
o He was the symbol of a humane king.
 o He was tolerant of other religions.

2. “Akbar was the greatest ruler of medieval India.” In this respect, discuss:
a) Early life and accession to the throne
b) Second Battle of Panipat
c) Akbar’s policy
d) Mansabdari system
e) Rajput policy
Ans (a) : Akbar’s early life and accession to throne :
o Akbar was born in the house of a Rajput chieftain who had given shelter to his
parents.
o Akbar was the son of Humayun and Hamida Banu.
o Due to Humayun's sudden death, Akbar was made king at a very young age with
Bairam Khan as his regent.
o Akbar defeated Hemu in the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556, and re-conquered
Delhi and Agra.
o He expanded the Mughal Empire by conquest.
Ans (b) : Akbar was in Jalandhar, Punjab, when he was informed of the loss of Agra and
Delhi. He marched with his guardian Bairam Khan against Hemu who crowned himself at
Delhi and took the title of Vikramaditya.
The two met at the historic battlefield of Panipat and Akbar defeated Hemu in the Second
Battle of Panipat in 1556. Hemu was killed and Akbar took over Delhi and Agra. Akbar took
over the reins of power and Bairam Khan proceeded to Mecca. But he was murdered on his
way at Patna in 1561 by some Afghans led by Mubarak Khan.
Ans (c) : Akbar’s policies :
o In 1562, he became the first Muslim ruler to abolish enslaving prisoners of war,
forcible conversion to Islam and torture of women and children of the rival side.
o In 1564, he abolished the jizya and granted complete religious freedom to the Hindus.
To acquire knowledge of Islam and other religions he set up the Ibadat Khana (house
of worship) in 1575, at Fatehpur Sikri, for holding religious discussions.
o In 1579, he issued a decree which gave him absolute power in religious matters and
reduced the powers of the ulema and the qazis.
o He entrusted Muzaffar Khan and Todar Mal with the task of upgrading the land
revenue system. They instructed qanungos to provide accurate information on the area
of land (agricultural and non-agricultural land), its produce and land revenue
statistics. On the basis of their reports, a new measuring rod made of bamboos
connected by iron rings was introduced.
o On the basis of fertility, land was divided into three categories (good, middle and bad)
and the revenue was assessed. Next it was converted into cash. The state demand
payable in cash, which was calculated on the basis of crop prices over the last ten
years and was fixed for a period devised by ten years. This system of Raja Todar Mal
was known as the Dahsala System.
 o The state gave loans to farmers and pardoned revenue during famines and brought
reclaimed land under cultivation.
Ans (d) : Besides continuing with branding of horses and attendance of soldiers, Akbar
introduced a new system known as the mansabdari system. A mansab means a military rank.
The mansabs started from the rank of ten and went upto ten thousand. Mansabs of higher
rank were generally reserved for members of the royal family. The mansabdars were directly
appointed by the emperor. They were paid either in cash or given land or jagirs and a part of
the revenue of the land was taken as salary. The Mughal army had boats but no proper navy.
Ans(e) : Akbar realised the necessity of securing the good will and support of the Rajputs, the
most powerful of all the Hindu rmed powers in order to strengthen and consolidate his
empire. Akbar successfully obtained their support in two ways:
o matrimonial alliances
o honouring them with high positions
Raja Bihari Mal of Amber (Jaipur) willingly submitted to him and gave his daughter in
marriage to him. His grandson Man Singh was given a high position. The Rajput kingdoms of
Kalinjar, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer also submitted peacefully in 1569-70 due to Akbar’s
love and respect. Mewar was the only Rajput province which never submitted willingly to the
Mughals. Akbar’s Rajput policy was a success and they became his permanent allies and led
his military expeditions and managed important aspects of administration., 2

3. Explain the following events of Shah Jahan’s reign:

a) Rebellion of Jujhar Singh
b) Suppression of the Portuguese
c) Patron of art and architecture
d) Deccan Policy
Ans (a) : Rebellion of Jujhar Singh
o Trouble began for Shah Jahan immediately after his accession to the throne. Jujhar
Singh, son of Raja Bir Singh Deo, the Bundela chief, revolted from Orchha in
Madhya Pradesh.
o Shah Jahan sent Mahabat Khan and then Prince Aurangzeb to suppress the rebellion.
Jujhar Singh chased by the Mughals, fled to the jungle and was killed by the Gond
tribes. His huge treasures were taken by the Mughals.
o Immediately after this, the rebellion of Champat Rai of Mahoba was suppressed in
1639, Shah Jahan also suppressed the rebellion of Jagat Singh (Nurpur) and Khan
Jahan Lodhi (Deccan).
Ans (b) : The Portuguese had built a rich and well-developed port on river Hooghly in
Bengal. They became rich and behaved like independent rulers, plundering neighbouring
villages, capturing village folk and women. When complaints reached Qasim Khan, governor
of Bengal, he secured permission from Shah Jahan to suppress the Portuguese. In 1632,
Qasim Khan ruthlessly suppressed them and broke their power.
Ans (c) : Shah Jahan is said to have begun the ‘golden age of architecture’ in India. His
famous monuments include the Red Fort, Jama Masjid in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra,
built in loving memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. He also got the Peacock Throne
constructed.
Ans (d) : In the Deccan, the province of Khandesh and a part of Ahmednagar had been
brought under Mughal control by Akbar. Shah Jahan’s Deccan policy involved the conquest
of the whole of Ahmednagar, Bijapur and Golconda. He conquered Ahmednagar in 1632 and
put an end to the ruling Nizam Shahi Dynasty. Bijapur under Muhammad Adil Shah was
already conquered in 1631. In 1636, the ruler of Golconda did not pay annual tribute to the
Mughals. Aurangzeb marched to Golconda and secured the submission of the ruler by a
treaty, who then was made the viceroy of the Deccan for 8 years.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lesson -10
Structured Questions:
1. With reference to the emergence of a composite culture in India, discuss the following:
a) Meaning of a composite culture
b) Origin of Sufism
Ans (a) : Composite culture refers to the fusion of two or more cultures. For example, the
Indo-Islamic culture is a combination of Hindu and Islamic inflences.
Ans (b) : The Sufi movement which grew in the 12th and 13th centuries in India had its origins
in the 10th century Arabia under the Abbasid Caliphate. The mystics of Sufis tried to reform
Islam by applying reason, the teachings of Quaran and Prophet Muhammad. It is generally
held that Sufism was also influenced by Hinduisms.
2. With reference to the Sufi movement in India, discuss the following
a) Sufism in India
b) Principles and features of Sufism
c) Chishti order dane
d) The Suhrawardis
Ans (a): Sufism spread in India from the beginning of the 13th century. After the conquest of
Punjab by the Ghaznavids, Sufi saints arrived in India. Shaikh Ismail of Lahore was the first
Sufi saint among them. He was followed by Daata Ganj-Bakhsh (1088 CE). Daata Ganj-
Bakhsh is believed to be the real founder of Sufism in India. Sufism divided itself into 14
sects or silsilas and the most famous among them were the Chishti, Suhrawardi, Naqshbandi
and Qadiriya.
Ans (b) : Sufism in India had the following features and principles:

o They believed in profound devotion and opposed luxury and emphasised mortality.
 o They gave utmost importance to prayer and fasting.
o They believed in one god.
o All human beings were equal because god created the world as one basic whole.
o They believed that not rituals but devotion was the only way to reach god, the highest
stage of devotion being enlightenment.
o The Sufis wore a patched garment made of wool or Suf which they believed was a
legacy of the Prophet.
o They believed that man made his own destiny by his actions.
o They believed in penance and set up silsilas and khanqahs or hospices.
Ans (c) : The Chishti order was founded in India by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (1111-1236
CE). He came to Lahore and later settled in Ajmer in 1206 CE. He preached and served the
poor, helpless and low-caste people as he believed that service to mankind was the greatest
form of devotion to god. His famous disciples were Shaikh Hamiduddin and Shaikh
Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. His tomb in Ajmer, also known as Ajmer Sharief Dargah, is an
important place of pilgrimage and famous for its Urs or festivals.
Ans (d) : The Suhrawardi order was founded by Sheikh Shihab-ud-din Suhrawardi (1145-
1234 CE) who sent disciples to India and they settled in the north- western region. One such
disciple was Sheikh Bahauddin Zakariya Suhrawardi (1182-1263 CE) who founded the
Suhrawardi order in India. His centre of activity was Multan. He opposed penance and
poverty. He interacted with the sultans and rich people and accepted gifts and lands. He
supported Iltutmish and got the title of Shaikh- ul-Islam. After his death the Suhrawardi order
broke up into two groups-Multan and Ucheh in Sindh.
6. With reference to the contribution of women Bhakti saints, write short notes on the
following:
a) Mirabai
b) Lal Ded
c) Akka Mahadevi
Ans (a) : Mirabai was one of the greatest women Bhakti saints of India. She was born in the
Merta district of Rajasthan and was married early to the ruling Rajput family, eldest son of
Rana Sanga, Bhojraj in 1516 CE. Bhojraj died in the prime of his life and Mira became a
young widow. Since then, Mira who was highly religious as a child devoted herself
completely to Lord Krishna and became a Vaishnava. She sang kirtans and very soon made
many followers. Her fame spread everywhere. She travelled everywhere and composed many
songs in Gujarati at Dwarka.
Ans (b) : Lad Ded, also known as Lalleshwari was a famous woman Bhakti saint from
Kashmir. She was born in Pandrethan, four-and-a-half miles from Srinagar. She was married
at a very young age. But she developed a deep devotion for Lord Shiva and ultimately left
home at the age of twenty four to become a follower of Siddha Srikantha.
There are many legends associated with Lalleshwari and it is believed that she is the first
woman saint to remain naked. She wrote a distinct kind of poetry known as Vatsun. Her
poems are also the earliest literary works in Kashmiri.
Ans (c) : Akka Mahadevi was born in the Shimoga district of Karnataka in the 12 th century
CE. Akka meaning ‘elder sister’ was an honourific title given to her by some great Shaiva
saints. She became a devotee of Lord Shiva and considered him to be her ‘mystical husband.
She was married to a local Jain king, Kaushika. But she gave up her life of extravagance and
became a saint, singing poems in praise of Lord Shiva. As a true ascetic she discarded
clothes. Her vachanas or poems have enriched Kannada literature.
 Civics notes
Lesson -1
Structured Questions:

1. With reference to the circumstances leading to the formation of the Constituent Assembly,
discuss the following:
a) Demand for a Constituent Assembly
b) Commonwealth of India Bill
c) Cabinet Mission Plan
Ans (a) : The concept of a Constituent Assembly by which the Indian people might frame the
Constitution for their country was implicit in the opposition of the nationalist leaders to the
Montagu-Chemlsford Act of 1919.
The first clear and definite demand for a Constituent Assembly was made by Mahatma
Gandhi in 1922 in the following words, “Swaraj will not be a free gift of the British
Parliament; it will be a declaration of India’s full self-expression. That it will be expressed
through an Act of Parliament is true, but it will be merely a courteous ratification of the
declared wish of the people of India even as it was in the case of the Union of South Africa.”
There was a growing demand for the Constituent Assembly in the Motilal Nehru resolution of
1924 and 1925, Simon Commission of 1927 and the Round Table Conference.
The British government granted the demand for a Constituent Assembly in an indirect way
and with restrictions for the first time in the August Offer of 1940
Ans (b) : The demand made by Mahatma Gandhi resulted in the Commonwealth of India Bill
in 1923. The Bill was sent to a Member of the Labour Party and received huge support from
the Labour Party in England. But with the defeat of the Labour Party, the fate of this Bill was
sealed.) However it was a major effort made by the Indians to create a constitutional system
for India with the help of constitutional means.
Ans (c) : The Cabinet Mission Plan laid down the basic framework for the Constitution and
the procedure to be followed by the Constituent Assembly. The Cabinet Mission comprised
three Members of the British Cabinet- Lord Pethick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A.V.
A4 Alexander.
The Cabinet Mission proposed an indirect method of electing the Members of the Constituent
Assembly by making the elected Provincial Legislative Assemblies as electing bodies. The
Cabinet Mission recommended that the representation of the provinces in the Constituent
Assembly should be made on the basis of population in the ratio of one member to a million
and the seats allocated to the provinces be divided among the principal communities,
classified for this purpose Ahas Sikhs, Muslims and General.
The representatives of each community, were to be chosen by members of that community in
the Principal Assembly, and voting was done by method of proportional representation with a
single transferable vote. The number of members allotted to the Indian states was also to be
fixed on the basis of population as adopted for British India, but their mode of selection was
to be decided later by consultation

2. With reference to the Constituent Assembly, discuss the following:

a) Composition and structure of the Assembly
b) Elections to the Constituent Assembly
c) Women Members in the Assembly
Ans (a) :The strength of the Constituent Assembly was to be 385 (292 representatives, drawn
from the eleven Governors’ Provinces of British India and 93 representatives from the Indian
states). To these were to be added a representative each from the four Chief Commissioner’s
Provinces of Delhi, Ajmer-Merwar, Coorg and British Baluchistan.
Ans (b) : Elections for the 296 seats allotted to the British-Indian Provinces took place in
July-August 1946. The Congress won 208 seats including all the General seats except nine,
and the Muslim League, 73 seats which was all but five of the seats allotted to Muslims.
Ans (c) :The women members included Vijayalakshmi Pandit, Sucheta Kriplani, Sarojini
Naidu, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, G. Durgabai, Leela Roy and Malati Choudhury

3. With reference to the framing process of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly,
discuss the following:
a) Committees of the Constituent Assembly
b) The first reading
c) The second reading
d) The third reading and adoption
Ans (a) : in the copy
Ans (b) : In the first stage, the first draft of the Constitution was prepared in October 1947 by
the Advisory Branch of the office of the Constituent Assembly. This draft had collected
material from the constitutions of 60 countries. T
his Draft Constitution was given to Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman of the Drafting Committee,
for [Link] Draft Constitution was then sent to the President of the Assembly on 21
February 1948.
A huge number of proposals, comments, suggestions for amendments were received and they
were examined by the Selection Committee along with the recommendations of the Drafting
Committee. In this stage, suggestions made by the Selection Committee were again
considered by the tabled by the members were considered and of these 2,473 were actually
moved, discussed, disposed and Assembly worked like a truly democratic body because
discussion was encouraged, debates and criticisms were tolerated and considered healthy, and
freedom was given to express new ideas.
Ans (c) : The second reading of the Constitution was completed on 16 November 1949 and
on the next day the Assembly started the third reading of the Constitution. The second
reading of the Constitution was smaller and less important as compared to the 2nd and the 3rd
reading. It took less time as compared to the 1st reading
Ans (d) : Assembly started the third reading of the Constitution, with a motion by Dr
Ambedkar “that the Constitution as settled by the Assembly be passed.” The motion was
adopted on 26 November 1949 and on that day, the Members of the Constituent Assembly
adopted, enacted and gave to the people of India, the Constitution which was sovereign,
democratic and republic in nature) [The Constituent Assembly had completed this historic
task in a period of three years. The Constitution was finally signed by the Members of the
Constitutent Assembly on 24 January 1950, the last day of the Assembly. It came into effect
on 26 January 1950, which is known as the Republic Day. Constitution Day, also known as
National Law Day, is celebrated in India on 26 November every year to commemorate the
adoption of the Constitution of India

4. With reference to the Preamble, explain the following :

a) The first three provisions of the Objective Resolution
b) The text of Preamble
c) The 42nd Amendment Act
Ans (a) : in the copy
Ans (b) : The exact preamble :
Preamble to the Indian Constitution
“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a
SOVEREIGN, SOCIALIST, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLIC and to secure to all its
citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do
HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.”

Ans (c) : The 42nd Amendment Act inserted the words socialist, secular, and unity and
integrity of the state in the Preamble. This amendment came into effect on 3 January 1977.
5. With reference to the ideals contained in the Preamble, explain the meaning of the
following terms.
a) Sovereign state
b) Socialist
c) Secular
Ans (a) :The word ‘sovereign’ means free, absolute liberty, or complete freedom. In the
Indian context, it means that our country is not under the control of any foreign power which
she was before 15 August 1947. She is both externally and internally free to frame laws for
As the governance of her country, make foreign policies, international treaties, declare war
and make peace, and her sole authority and guide is the constitution.
Ans (b) : The term ‘socialist’ means social and economic equality. It also refers to the
achievement of social equality by removing discrimination on the grounds of caste, sex,
colour, creed, religion, race and language. Social equality means a condition in which every
individual gets equal status and opportunity without any bias or discrimination. Economic
equality in the context
Ans (c) : The word ‘secular’ means not religious or spiritual. A secular state has no official
religion and does not discriminate on the basis of religion. A secular state guarantees religious
freedom to all its citizens and does not interfere with the religious affairs of its citizens unless
it involves crime, fraudulence and endangers the security, unity and integrity of the state.
According to the Indian Constitution, all religions are equal and all citizens enjoy equal rights
irrespective of their religion. It makes religious freedom a Fundamental Right. Therefore, the
term ‘secular’ in the Preamble means Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava, treating all religions alike
or giving equal respect to all religions, instead of dharma-nirpeksh or panth-nirpeksh state
neutrality in matters of religion.
The opposite of a secular state is a theocratic state. A theocratic state has an official religion
as in the case of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan A13

6. With reference to the ‘outstanding features’ of the Indian Constitution given in the
Preamble, explain the following:
a) Liberty
b) Equality
c) Fraternity
Ans (a) : This ideal in the Preamble refers to the freedom of thought and expression and the
freedom of conscience and religion.
Freedom of thought and expression is the right of every individual to think, hold an opinion,
write and speak freely without any fear or control. However this right is subject to restrictions
for public decency, morality and security of the state. Freedom of the press and the right to
vote through secret ballot without any fear or favour are symbols of liberty of thought, speech
and expression.
Ans (b) : Equality of status means ‘equality among equals. This implies that a million are and
a beggar are not equal and a differentiation between them does not constitute a violation of
the ideals and aims of our Constitution. Equality of opportunity means prohibition of
discrimination in any form among individuals in general matters of public such as
employment and education. But it allows the government to make reasonable exceptions by
making special provisions for women and children, physically handicapped and backward
classes. Equality also means equality before the law. It implies that two individuals accused
of a similar crime in similar circumstances are equal in the eyes of the law, The law will not
discriminate on any ground whatsoever in such cases.

Ans (c) :The word fraternity means the spirit of brotherhood among people in a nation. India
is a multi-cultural nation and the ideal of fraternity in the Preamble indicates us to live in
harmony. It also indicates us to eradicate the feelings of communal hatred and prevent the
growth of regionalism and anti-socialism which might endanger the Akunity and integrity of
the nation. Fraternity to the framers meant inculcating feelings among the citizens that they
have the same motherland irrespective of their cultural differences. The concept of fraternity
has been given a concrete shape in two ways.
o Dignity of an individual
o Unity and Integrity of the Nation

7. In relation to the idea of justice contained in the Preamble, discuss the following:
a) Political justice
b) Social justice
c) Economic justice
Ans (a) :Political justice implies the basic and fundamental Right of every adult citizen to
participate in the political system of the country and elect the rulers A of the country by: (1)
exercising their right to vote, (2) guaranteeing a free and fair election by means of a secret
ballot, and, (3) enjoying an equal right to public offices. Article 16 of the Constitution
guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of appointment to public offices and Articles
325 and 326 grant equal rights to all adults to participate in elections.
Ans (b) : Social justice means fair treatment to all classes of human society. The Indian
Constitution prohibits discrimination in matters of appointment to public offices and access to
public places on the grounds of sex, race, colour, religion, caste and creed. It abolishes
untouchability. According to the Supreme Court the words social justice make it obligatory
for the state to take positive steps for the protection of the tribals and the people belonging to
socially and economically backward classes in the country.
Ans (c) : Economic justice means that the wealth or financial resources of the nation should
not come under the possession of powerful and higher class of human society which will
enable them to exploit the poorer classes. It thus refers to a fair and equal distribution of
wealth among all classes of Indian people. It also implies that efforts should be made to
bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. The Directive Principles of State Policy were
incorporated in the Constitution to bring about economic justice.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson -2
Structured Questions:
2. Explain the following features mentioned in the Indian Constitution:
a) Single citizenship
b) Universal Adult Suffrage
c) Establishment of independent bodies
Ans (a) : Since our Constitution establishes a federal polity, it has provision for single
citizenship which is Indian citizenship. In America, however there is dual S citizenship-
citizenship of America and citizenship of the province. India does not give recognition to
State- wise citizenship.
Ans (b) : Declares Universal Adult Suffrage to make India a truly democratic nation, the
framers of the Constitution introduced Universal Adult Suffrage without any communal
representation. All citizens of India who have attained 18 years of age and are not otherwise
disqualified by law have the right to enter. To ensure free and fair elections there is so an
Election Commission which is an independent body
Ans (c) : In our country, we have independent bodies like the Election Commission, Finance
Commission, Controller and Auditor General, which derive their source of power and
functions from the Indian Constitution.

3. With reference to the Preamble to the Constitution of India, explain the terms:
a) Democratic
b) Republic
c) Fraternity
d) Liberty
Ans (a) : Democracy means a form of government which is set up by the people of the
country by directly electing the representatives, In India, the people elect the representatives
by Universal Adult Franchise. Every adult citizen who is 18 years of age has a right to vote
without any discrimination on the ground of caste, creed, colour, sex, religion or education.
The Constitution has established an Election Commission, which is an independent body to
conduct free and fair elections
Ans (b) : The term ‘republic’ means a form of government in which the head of the state is an
elected representative and holds office for a fixed period of time. In a republic, the head of
the state and all the citizens have no hereditary right to public offices. India is a republic
because the President of India is indirectly elected by an Electoral College consisting of
elected Members of the Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies. All citizens possessing
the requisite qualifications are eligible to contest presidential elections. Secondly, the
Members of the Parliament, the State Legislative Assemblies and local bodies like the –
Municipal Corporation and panchayats are directly elected by the people for a fixed term of
five years.
Lesson -3
Short-Answer Questions:
20. From which Constitution were the Fundamental Duties borrowed ?
Ans : Soviet Constitution

21. In which part of the Constitution are Fundamental Duties contained ?

Ans : Part IV A (Article 51 A)
Fundamental rights are incorporated in the III

22. By which constitutional Amendment were the Fundamental Duties incorporated ?

Ans : 42nd Amendment Act of India adopted in 1976 incorporated Fundamental Duties for
citizens.

23. How many Fundamental Duties are there in the Indian constitution?
Ans : Eleven

24. Which committee recomended inclusion of Fundamental Duties in the Indian

Constitution?
Ans : Swaran Singh Committee

25. The provision of which international law do Fundamental duties follow ?

Ans : Article 29(1) Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

26. Mention two criticisms of Fundamental Duties ?

Ans : Fundamental Duties are criticised for :
o The idea of inclusion of Fundamental Duties was not logical because in a democratic
nation, law decides the powers of the government and actions of the citizens.
o It has no utility because they are not enforceable in the court of law and a citizen
cannot be punished for the non-observance of his/her fundamental duty.
o Some of the Fundamental Duties such as to develop a scientific temper and a spirit of
enquiry have been described as vague and difficult to understand.
27. What is the utility of Fundamental Duties?
Ans : Fundamental Duties are for the proper functioning of the government for maintaining a
peaceful environment in a county.

28. Are Fundamental duties legally enforceable?

Ans : Fundamental Duties are legally non-enforceable but they inspire the Judiciary to look at
them while examining the constitutionality to a law.

29. What was the noble and holy aim of the framers of the constitution?
Ans : The noble and holy aim of the framers of the Indian Constitution, as embodied in the
Preamble, was to create a democracy based on the dignity and welfare of the citizens of India.
To strengthen and fulfil this ideal, Fundamental Rights were incorporated in Part III of the
Indian Constitution.

30. Mention two events that made a huge impact on the framers of the Constitution.
Ans : The struggle for human rights throughout the world as reflected in the American War of
Independence, French Revolution, fight against apartheid in Africa, the signing of Magna
Carta in Britain and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had a deep impact on the
framers.

31. What is the meaning of equal protection of the laws?

Ans : The term “equal protection of the laws” means that the laws made by the State should
provide equal protection to all persons without distinction.

32. What form of discrimination is allowed by the Constitution?

Ans : Discrimination based on other grounds does not come under this Article and therefore
is not forbidden by the Constitution. For example, discrimination on grounds of residence is
not forbidden.

33. Mention any two restrictions on the Right to Freedom of speech and expression.
Ans : This right to freedom of speech and expression is not an absolute or unlimited right.
Article 19 of the Constitution enables the Parliament of India to impose reasonable
restrictions upon the right to freedom of speech and expression on the following grounds:
o sovereignty and security of the country
o security of the State
o friendly relations with foreign states
 o public order
o decency or morality
o contempt of court
o defamation
o incitement to an offence

34. What is the significance of the right to form association?

Ans : Article 19 of the Indian Constitution also guarantees to the citizens the right to form
associations or unions. It gives them the right to not only start an association but also to
continue it, to refuse to be a member of it if the citizen wishes to do so. It also gives the
citizen the right to dissolve the association after its formation.

35. Which Article of the Indian Constitution can declare an assembly of five persons illegal?
Ans : Article 144 of the Indian Criminal Procedure Code can declare an assembly of five
persons illegal if they meet to possess any property by force or to commit criminal trespass or
to prevent the implementation of any law and to overawe the government by a violent show
of force.

36. How did the National Security Act improve the law on preventive detention?
Ans : The National Security Act made further improvements on the law of preventive
detention in the following ways:
o The detenu must be informed of the grounds of detention within 5 days or 10 days in
an exceptional situation.
o The opinion of the Advisory Board must be sought.
o The person can be detained for one year.

37. What does the 86th Amendment Act state?

Ans : The 86th Amendment Act, 2002 has added a new duty and thus raised the number of
Fundamental Duties to eleven.

38. Mention two agencies who are excluded from the Right to Information Act.
Ans : Central Intelligence and security agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation and
other agencies specified by the State Governments through a notification are excluded from
this Act.

Structured Questions:
1. With reference to Fundamental Rights, discuss the following:
a) History of Fundamental Rights in India
b) Difference between legal rights and Fundamental Rights
Ans (a) : Fundamental Rights were borrowed from the Bill of Rights given in the American
Constitution, Fundamental Rights are basic rig which are necessary for human survival. They
are contained in Part III of the Indian Constitution.
Fundamental Rights fullfil the ideals in the Preamble; prevent the government from being
despotic and act as unifying force. They a Justiciable. Some rights are guaranteed against the
Executive but impose no restriction on the Legislature and they are amendable.
Ans (b) : Ans : Legal rights can be changed through a simple process by the Legislature,
whereas Fundamental Rights can only be changed through a specific procedure mentioned in
the Constitution.

2. With reference to inclusion of Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution, explain the
following:
a) Fulfilment of the ideals in the Preamble
b) Impact of colonialism and human rights movement
c) To make the Judiciary a watchdog
d) To promote international peace
Ans (a) : Ans : The framers of the Indian Constitution made a solemn promise in the
Preamble to give all the citizens a right to live with dignity and the liberty to develop
themselves in normal and healthy conditions. They also desired a democracy where socio-
economic and political justice and dignity of the individual would be guaranteed (embodied
in the Preamble). A democracy is of no use if the people have no basic rights. Therefore to
fulfil the ideals in the Preamble, the framers included Fundamental Rights in the Indian
Constitution.
Ans (b) : India had been under British rule for almost two hundred years. During these years,
the people had endured untold suffering at the hands of the foreigners and a despotic
government. To relieve the people from any such suffering the framers decided to arm the
citizens with some basic rights.
The struggle for human rights throughout the world as reflected in the American War of
Independence, French Revolution, fight against apartheid in Africa, the signing of Magna
Carta in Britain and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had a deep impact on the
framers. It awakened their spirits to the fact that absence of human rights would create unrest
and destroy human society.
Ans (c) : The Constitution empowers the Judiciary to protect the Fundamental Rights by
making them legally enforceable. The Judiciary declares a law ‘void’ if it violates
Fundamental Rights, an essential part of the Constitution. Thus the Judiciary acts as a
watchdog of the government whose duty is to fulfil the ideals of the Constitution.
Ans (d) : The framers of our Constitution made the promotion of peace as a Directive
Principle of State Policy. The inclusion of Fundamental Rights is a significant step in this
direction. It reaffirms India’s desire to promote international peace amidst global violence.
3. With reference to the features of Fundamental Rights, discuss the following:
a) As a guarantee against Executive action
b) They are justiciable
c) They reflect the Indian value system
Ans (a) : The fundamental rights in the Indian constitution are a guarrant against executive
action because they are :
o Protected by the constitution
o Justiciable
o Available to all citizens
o Protected in emergencies
o Prohib arbitrary action
o Protected by the Supreme court
Ans (b) : Fundamental Rights are justiciable rights and therefore enforceable in a court of
law. They are enforceable in two ways. First, Article 32 of the Indian Constitution empowers
an individual to move court for the implementation of his Fundamental Right and the
Supreme Court can issue writs for this purpose. Second, the power of the Supreme Court to
interpret the Constitution (Judicial Review) enables it to declare a law unconstitutional if it
violates a Fundamental Right.)
Ans (c) : The Fundamental Rights reflect the Indian value syste and its multi-cultural sytem.
The fundamental rights reflect the Indian value system by including :
o Social justice
o Equality
o Rule of law
o Secularism
o Democracy
o Unity of india