Class X Session 2025-26

Subject - Social Science

Sample Question Paper - 01
Class X
Subject - Social Science
Time Allowed: 3 hours Mock Test Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:

1. There are 38 questions in the Question paper. All questions are compulsory.

2. The question paper has Four Sections - A-History, B-Geography C-Political Science, and D-Economics.
3. Each Section is of 20 Marks and has MCQs, VSA, SA, LAs and CBQ.

4. Very Short Answer Type Questions (VSA), carry 2 marks each. Answers to each question should not exceed 40

words.

5. Short Answer Type Questions (SA), carry 3 marks each. Answers to each question should not exceed 60 words.

6. Long answer type questions (LA), carry 5 marks each. Answers to each question should not exceed 120 words.
7. There are case based questions (CBQ) with three sub questions and are of 4 marks each. Answers to each question

should not exceed 100 words.

8. The map-based questions, carry 5 marks with two parts- Q9. In Section A-History (2 marks) and Q19. In Section

B -Geography (3 marks)

9. There is no overall choice in the question paper. However, an internal choice has been provided in few questions.
Only one of the choices in such questions must be attempted.

SECTION-A HISTORY (20 marks)

1. Match the following: [1]

(a) 1797 (i) Revolt against economic hardships

(b) 1821 (ii) Napoleon invades Italy

(c) 1848 (iii) Slav nationalism gathers force in the Habsburg and Ottoman Empires

(d) 1905 (iv) Greek struggle for independence begins

a) (a) - (iii), (b) - (iv), (c) - (i), (d) - (ii) b) (a) - (ii), (b) - (iii), (c) - (i), (d) - (iv)

c) (a) - (ii), (b) - (i), (c) - (iv), (d) - (iii) d) (a) - (ii), (b) - (iv), (c) - (i), (d) - (iii)
2. Study the picture and answer the question that follows: [1]

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 Which of the following correctly describes the above picture?

a) It is a page from the Gita Govinda of b) It is a page from the traditional Chinese
Jayadeva ‘accordion book’

c) It is a page from Rigveda. d) It is page from Panchtantra.

3. Choose the correct option, related to the founders of the Swaraj Party within the Congress. [1]

a) Acharya Kripalani and Jayaprakash Narayan b) Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel

c) C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru d) Subhas Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru
4. Regarding the idea of Satyagraha, Arrange the following sentences in the correct order: [1]
i. Mahatma Gandhi successfully organised satyagraha movements in various places.
ii. Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915.
iii. The idea of satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth.
iv. Mahatma Gandhi believed that this dharma of non-violence could unite all Indians.

a) ii, iii, iv, i b) i, iii, iv, ii

c) iv, i, ii, iii d) i, ii, iv, iii

5. Explain any three ways in which nationalist feelings were kept alive in Poland in the eighteenth and nineteenth [2]
century.
OR
Who was Bismarck? How did he unify Germany as a nation-state?
6. It is difficult for us to imagine a world without printed matter. Justify the statement giving any three suitable [3]
arguments.
OR
What led the colonial government to pass the Vernacular Press Act in 1878? How did it affect the vernacular
newspapers?
7. How did culture play an important role in Europe in creating the idea of the nation? [5]
OR
Evaluate the role of Giuseppe Mazzini in the unification of the Italian Republic.
8. Read the following text carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]
On 13th April the infamous Jallianwalla Bagh incident took place. On that day a large crowd gathered in the
enclosed ground of Jallianwalla Bagh. Some came to protest against the government’s new repressive measures.
Others had come to attend the annual Baisakhi fair. Dyer entered the area, blocked the exit points, and opened
fire on the crowd, killing hundreds. As the news of Jallianwalla Bagh spread, crowds took to the streets in many

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 north Indian towns. There were strikes, clashes with the police and attacks on government buildings. Seeing
violence spread, Mahatma Gandhi called off the movement. While the Rowlatt satyagraha had been a
widespread movement, it was still limited mostly to cities and towns. Mahatma Gandhi now felt the need to
launch a more broad-based movement in India.
i. How did Mahatma Gandhi react to the Rowlatt Act? (1)
ii. What made Mahatma Gandhi call off Rowlatt Satyagraha? (1)
iii. Why did Rowlatt Act enrage people? (2)
9. Two places A and B have been marked on the given outline map of India. Identify them and write their correct [2]
names on the lines marked on the map.
a. The place where the Indian National Congress Session was held.
b. The place from where Gandhiji organized Satyagraha in favour of Indigo planters.

SECTION-B GEOGRAPHY (20 marks)

10. Where water is sufficiently available to meet the needs of the people, but, the area still suffers from water [1]
scarcity due to which of the following reasons?

a) unequal distribution b) more usage

c) over experimental attitude d) much of it may be polluted by domestic and

industrial wastes.
11. Two friends Ram and Lakhan engaged in a lively conversation about different types of soils. Ram, eager to [1]
challenge Lakhan, started giving clues to help identify arid soil. Which of the following clues provided by Ram
would be most useful in identifying the arid soil?
Clues:
i. They are generally sandy in texture and saline in nature.
ii. These soils are mostly deep to very deep and acidic (pH<6.0).
iii. In some areas, the salt content is very high, and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water.
iv. This is the most widely spread and important soil.

a) Clue i and iii b) Clue ii

c) Clue iv d) Clue iii and iv

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12. Read the given data and identify which Indian state has the highest share in the production of Bauxite. [1]

Production of Bauxite in 2016–17 Percentage

Jharkhand 9

Chhattisgarh 8

Gujarat 24

Karnataka 10

Odisha 49

Maharashtra 8

a) Maharashtra b) Gujarat

c) Odisha d) Jharkhand
13. Which of the following options validates the nature worship and existence of sacred groves? [1]
i. Certain societies revere a particular tree that they have preserved from time immemorial.
ii. Some patches of forest or parts of large forests are left untouched by the local people and any interference
with them is banned.
iii. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chota Nagpur region worship mahua and kadamba trees.
iv. Sacred qualities are ascribed to springs, mountain peaks and animals like langurs.

a) Statement ii, iii & iv are correct. b) Statement i and ii are correct.

c) Statement i, ii, & iii are correct. d) Statement ii is correct.

14. Which of the following is the largest producer of sugarcane? [1]

a) India b) Costa Rica

c) Brazil d) Guyana
15. In 2018, India was the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world after China. Which of the [1]
following process is involved in the production of Horticulture Crops?
i. Cultivation and harvesting of grapes.
ii. Growing and marketing flowers and ornamental plants.
iii. Breeding, rearing and transplantation of fish under controlled conditions.
iv. Cultivating silkworms and extracting silk from them.

a) Statement ii, iii & iv are correct. b) Statement i, ii, & iii are correct.

c) Statement ii is correct. d) Statement i and ii are correct.

16. Resource Planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life. Support the statement with [2]
examples.
17. (a)Name the non-metallic mineral which can be easily splited into thin sheets. [5]
(b)What are the properties of this mineral and in which areas is it found?
OR
"Formation of coal is a long drawn process spread over various periods." Elaborate the statement with examples in
the Indian context.
18. Read the following text carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]

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 Challenges faced by the Jute industry include stiff competition in the international market from synthetic
substitutes and from other competitors like Bangladesh, Brazil, Philippines, Egypt and Thailand. However, the
internal demand has been on the increase due to the Government policy of mandatory use of jute packaging. To
stimulate demand, the products need to be diversified. In 2005, National Jute Policy was formulated with the
objective of increasing productivity, improving quality, ensuring good prices to the jute farmers and enhancing
the yield per hectare. The main markets are U.S.A., Canada, Russia, United Arab Republic, U.K. and Australia.
The growing global concern for environment friendly, biodegradable materials, has once again opened the
opportunity for jute products.
i. Mention any two challenges faced by jute industry in India.
ii. What was the main objective of National Jute Policy formulated in 2005?
iii. How has jute industry once again opened the new opportunities for its products? Name some countries that
purchase the jute products from India.
19. On the same outline map of India locate and label the following with suitable symbols: [3]
I. Any one of the following:
i. Nuclear Power Plant located on the Coromandel coast near Chennai in Tamil Nadu.
ii. India's largest single-location steel-producing facility in Karnataka.
II. Any two of the following:
iii. Noida - Software Technology Park
iv. Paradeep - Sea Port
v. Sardar Sarovar - Dam
SECTION-C POLITICAL SCIENCE (20 marks)
20. Which of the following statements will be considered to call a party system a multiparty system? [1]
Statement i: There are several parties competing for power.
Statement ii: More than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power.
Statement iii: Only the two main parties have a serious chance of winning a majority.
Statement iv: The government is always formed by various parties coming together in a coalition.

a) Statement iii is right. b) Statement i and ii are right.

c) Only statement iv is right. d) Statement i, ii and iii are right.

[1]

21.

Which of the following options best signifies the given cartoon?

a) One Leader, One Party b) Perils of Running a Coalition Government

c) The Coalition Government Pleads for More d) Merits of Running a Coalition Government
Powers
22. Which of the following statements will be considered as the criteria for judging any democratic country? [1]
Statement i: Expectations from democracy.
Statement ii: Complaints from democracy.

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 Statement iii: A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy.
Statement iv: Equal recognition of all individuals in a democracy.

a) Statement iii is right. b) Statement i, ii and iii are right.

c) Only statement iv is right. d) Statement i and ii are right.

23. Assertion (A): The word scheduled is used for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. [1]
Reason (R): These groups include hundreds of castes or tribes whose names are listed in an official Schedule.

a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct b) Both A and R are true but R is not the
explanation of A. correct explanation of A.

c) A is true but R is false. d) A is false but R is true.

24. Describe the power sharing arrangement made by Belgium? [2]
25. What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities? [2]
26. How democracies have been able to reduce poverty? Elaborate. [3]
27. Define the two-party system. Explain its advantages and disadvantages. [5]
OR
Describe any five major functions of political parties performed in a democracy.
28. Read the following source and answer the questions that follow: [4]
Panchayati Raj
"We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the hopes of the
makers of our Constitution, Panchayati Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where
power belongs in a democracy - in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce
corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation
of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would
eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus, Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy."
i. How does giving power to Panchayats relate to the vision of Mahatma Gandhi? (1)
ii. Explain the primary objective of giving power to the Panchayats. (1)
iii. How does the establishment of Panchayati Raj contribute to democracy? Explain. (2)
SECTION-D ECONOMICS (20 marks)
29. Increasing role of the private sector comes under: [1]

a) Liberalisation b) Socialisation

c) Globalisation d) Privatisation
30. Read the information given below and select the correct option [1]
Swapna, a small farmer, grows groundnut on her three acres of land. She takes a loan from the moneylender to
meet the expenses of cultivation, hoping that her harvest would help repay the loan. Midway through the season,
the crop is hit by pests and the crop fails. She is unable to repay the moneylender and the debt grows over the
year into a large amount. Next year, Swapna takes a fresh loan for cultivation. It is a normal crop this year. But
the earnings are not enough to cover the old loan. She is caught in debt. She has to sell a part of the land to pay
off the debt. Which situation is Swapna facing?

a) Situation of debt trap b) Situation of barter system

c) Situation of lack of double coincidence of d) Situation of no collateral security

wants

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31. Fill in the blank: [1]

FINAL PRODUCT INTERMEDIATE GOODS

Biscuit Flour, Sugar, Oil

Shirt ?

a) Yarn, Cloth, Machine b) Tailor, Sewing machine, Yarn

c) Needle, Sewing machine, Yarn d) Yarn, Fabric, Button

32. Choose the incorrect option from column A and column B: [1]

Column A Category of person Column B Developmental goals/Aspirations

(a) Landless rural labourers (i) More days of work and better wages

(b) Prosperous farmers from Punjab (ii) Availability of other sources of irrigation

(c) Farmers who depend only on rain for growing

(iii) Assured a higher support price for their crops
crops

(d) A rural woman from a landowning family (iv) Regular job and high wages to increase her income

a) Only C b) Only B

c) All of these d) Both B and D

33. Match the following: [1]

(a) An institution that mediates between the depositor and the borrowers (i) Micro-finance

(b) Debt trap (ii) Mode of payment

(c) The mode through which the borrower will repay the loan (iii) Credit(loan)

(d) Self Help Group (iv) Banks

a) (a) - (iv), (b) - (iii), (c) - (ii), (d) - (i) b) (a) - (iv), (b) - (ii), (c) - (iii), (d) - (i)

c) (a) - (i), (b) - (iii), (c) - (ii), (d) - (iv) d) (a) - (iv), (b) - (i), (c) - (ii), (d) - (iii)
34. Rajesh, an ambitious entrepreneur, opened a wholesale store to sell locally-made textiles. He relied on the [1]
services of Priya, a skilled logistics coordinator, who efficiently organized the transportation and storage of the
goods. Additionally, Rajesh sought assistance from Ankit, a knowledgeable banker, who provided financial
support to expand his business. Together, they exemplified the vital role of tertiary sector activities in supporting
the production and trade of goods. Which sector of the economy includes activities such as transportation,
storage, communication, banking, and trade?

a) Primary sector b) Quaternary sector

c) Secondary sector d) Tertiary sector

35. How use of containers has helped much greater volumes of goods being transported by airlines? [3]
36. Formal credit meets only about half of the total credit needs of the rural people. Where does the other half come [3]
from?
37. “The Earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one [3]
person.” How is this statement relevant to the discussion of development? Discuss.

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38. Why does the primary sector in India continue to be the largest employer in 1973 as well as in 2000? [5]
OR
Describe the growth in different sectors of the Indian economy.

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 Solution

SECTION-A HISTORY (20 marks)

1.
(d) (a) - (ii), (b) - (iv), (c) - (i), (d) - (iii)
Explanation:
(a) - (ii), (b) - (iv), (c) - (i), (d) - (iii)

2. (a) It is a page from the Gita Govinda of Jayadeva

Explanation:
It is a page from the Gita Govinda of Jayadeva, eighteenth century. This is a palm-leaf handwritten manuscript in accordion
format.
3.
(c) C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru
Explanation:
C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru

4. (a) ii, iii, iv, i

Explanation:
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915. The idea of satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to
search for truth. Mahatma Gandhi believed that this dharma of non-violence could unite all Indians. After arriving in India,
Mahatma Gandhi successfully organised satyagraha movements in various places.
5. The nationalist feelings were kept alive in Poland in the eighteenth and nineteenth century in the following ways:
i. They used music to keep their unity and identity. Karol Kurpinski, kept up the national struggle by staging his polish operas
and music.
ii. The Polish people used dances like polonaise and mazurka making them into nationalist symbols.
iii. The use of Polish came to be seen as a symbol of struggle against Russian dominance. In 1831, there was a Polish armed
rebellion against Russian rule but the rebellion was crushed.
OR
Otto von Bismarck was the Prime Minister of the Prussian king Kaiser William-I. He was the architect of German Unification.
i. He made Prussia to take over the leadership of the movement of national unification. He followed the policy of Blood and
Iron.
ii. The land owners in Prussia were in support of the movement. He materialized this nationalist sentiment.
iii. He sought the help of the Prussian army & made many secret alliances to fight wars.
iv. Finally, he defeated Austria, Denmark and France and German Unification was declared with King William-I as the head of
the state.
6. It is difficult for us to imagine a world without printed matter because:
a. We find print everywhere around us in books, newspapers, journals, magazines, famous paintings, official circulars, calendars,
diaries, advertisements and cinema posters.
b. We read printed literature, books, novels and stories. Newspapers are being read every day and track public debates.
c. Printed matter helps in preservation and dissemination of history, scientific knowledge and culture, etc.
OR
i. After the revolt of 1857, enraged Englishmen demanded a clamp down on the ‘native’ press.
ii. Vernacular newspapers became assertively nationalist. They openly criticized and debated government policies.
iii. The colonial government wanted stringent control. So, in 1878 the Vernacular Press Act was passed.
iv. The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was passed which empowered the government to censor reports and editorials.
v. The government kept a regular track of vernacular newspapers. If a report was judged seditious, the newspaper was warned
and if the warning was ignored appropriate actions were taken.

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 7. Culture played an important role in creating the idea of a nation in Europe in the following ways:
i. Art, music, literature, and drama helped to express, shape and strengthen nationalist sentiments.
ii. Romantics like the German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder held the view that true German culture could be discovered
only among the common people, the das Volk.
iii. The glorification of reason and science was criticised by the romantic artists, rather they favoured emotions, intuitions and
mystical feelings.
iv. Language too boosted nationalism. The Polish people opposed the Russian occupation and the ban on the Polish language, by
using it in the Church gathering for all religious ceremonies and for religious instruction. The Polish language became a
weapon of the nationalists.
v. Two Germans, Grimm Brothers, used stories and folktales written in German to promote the German spirit against the
domination of the French.
vi. Operas and music, like that of Karol Kurpinski, kept alive the national spirit.
vii. Folk dances like the polonaise and mazurka became national symbols.
OR
Mazzini was a remarkable thinker and writer, who played a major role in the unification of Italy. He wrote the books, Italy,
Austria and Papacy, which provoked the youth of Italy.
Giuseppe Mazzini was an Italian revolutionary born in Genoa, 1807.
He instilled the feeling of national integration, freedom and rebellious thoughts among the people. He inspired the people
to revolt for national freedom and integration of Italy.
He attempted revolution in Liguria.
He was sent to prison for revolting against the monarchs at the age of 24.
He then formed secret society i.e. Young Italy and Young Europe in Marseilles and Berne respectively.
He also helped Bismarck during the war for unification of Italy (he had sought to put together coherent program for a
unitary Italian Republic)
He wanted unification with wider alliance of nations.
He frightened conservatives through opposition of monarchy and vision of democratic republics.
He favored war for unification of Italy.
He wanted Economic development and Political dominance.
He believed that good had intended nations to be the natural units of mankind. So Italy couldn't continue to be the
patchwork of small states and kingdoms.
8. i. Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919).
ii. As the news of Jallianwalla Bagh spread, crowds took to the streets in many north Indian towns. Seeing violence spread,
Mahatma Gandhi decided to call off the movement.
iii. This Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of the Indian
members. It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed the detention of political
prisoners without trial for two years.
9. a. Madras (Chennai)
b. Champaran, Bihar
SECTION-B GEOGRAPHY (20 marks)
10.
(d) much of it may be polluted by domestic and industrial wastes.
Explanation: Where water is sufficiently available to meet the needs of the people, but, the area still suffers from water
scarcity .This scarcity may be due to bad quality of water. Lately, there has been a growing concern that even if there is ample
water to meet the needs of the people, much of it may be polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides and
fertilisers used in agriculture, thus, making it hazardous for human use.
11. (a) Clue i and iii
Explanation: Arid soils range from red to brown in colour. They are generally sandy in texture and saline in nature. In some
areas the salt content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water.
12.
(c) Odisha
Explanation:
Odisha

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13.
(c) Statement i, ii, & iii are correct.
Explanation:
Statement i, ii, & iii are about forests and trees while statement iv is about traditional methods of conserving nature and its
creations by ascribing sacred qualities to anything like springs, mountain peaks, plants, and animals that are closely protected.

14.
(c) Brazil
Explanation:
India is the second-largest producer of sugarcane only after Brazil.

15.
(d) Statement i and ii are correct.
Explanation:
Horticulture involves floriculture, olericulture, pomology, viticulture, etc. (Viticulture deals with the cultivation and harvesting
of grapes. Floriculture deals with growing and marketing flowers and ornamental plants. Olericulture deals with the scientific
study of vegetable crops.)
While Pisciculture is a process of growing fish and selling it or using its products for domestic or commercial use.

16. 1. Resource planning is essential for the sustainable existence of all life forms, which requires resource planning.
2. Sustainable development includes sustainable living. Resources are necessary for human life as well as for maintaining the
level of living. Resources were considered undeserved gifts from nature.
3. As a result, people irresponsibly exploit resources, leading to resource depletion, the concentration of resources in a limited
number of hands, and resource exploitation.
4. An equitable distribution of resources has become essential for a sustained quality of life and global peace. If the present trend
of resource depletion by a few individuals and countries continues, the future of our planet is in danger.
17. (a) Mica is the mineral made up of a series of plates or leaves. It can be easily split into thin sheets.
(b) Its properties are as follows:
i. Mica sheets can be so thin that a thousand can be layered in to mica sheet of a few centimeters high.
ii. Mica can be clear, black, green, red, yellow or brown.
iii. Due to its excellent di-electric strength, low power loss factor, insulating properties and resistance to high voltage, it used in
electric and electronic industries.
The major mica producing areas are:
i. Mica is found in the northern edge of the Chota Nagpur plateau.
ii. Koderma Gaya-Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand is the leading producer
iii. In Rajasthan the major mica producing area is around Ajmer.
iv. Nellore mica belt of Andhra Pradesh is also an important producer in the country.
OR
Coal is a naturally occurring black material which is a mixture of carbon and compounds of carbon-containing hydrogen,
nitrogen, oxygen, and sulphur. Its formation is called fossilation. It is formed due to the compression of plant material (containing
carbon, the major component of coal) over millions of years. Indian coal was mainly formed during two geological ages the
Gondwana and the Tertiary ages. The Gondwana coal deposits (called ‘metallurgical coal), which are more than 200 million years
old, are located in the Damodar valley (West Bengal - Jharkhand), where Jharia, Raniganj, and Bokaro are important coal-fields. It
is also found in the Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha valleys. The tertiary age deposits, only about 55 million years old, are
mostly found in North-Eastern India in Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland. Thus, the formation of coal is a
long drawn process spread over various periods.
18. i. a. Stiff competition in the international market
b. Competitors are Bangladesh, Brazil, Philippines, Egypt and Thailand
c. Stiff competition from the synthetic substitutes
ii. a. To increase productivity

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 b. To improve quality
c. To ensure good prices to the farmers
d. To enhance the yield per hectare
iii. a. Biodegradable materials have once again opened the opportunity for jute products.
b. The global concern for environment-friendly products is increasing day by day.
c. Synthetic substitutes are being avoided.
U.S.A., Canada, Russia, United Arab Republic, U.K. and Australia.
19. i. Kalpakkam - Nuclear Power Plant
ii. Vijayanagar - Iron and Steel Plant

SECTION-C POLITICAL SCIENCE (20 marks)

20.
(b) Statement i and ii are right.
Explanation:
If several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their
own strength or in alliance with others, we call it a multiparty system. In this system, the government is formed by various
parties coming together in a coalition when no party gets a clear majority.

21.
(b) Perils of Running a Coalition Government
Explanation:
The cartoon is highligihting Perils of Running a Coalition Government

22.
(b) Statement i, ii and iii are right.
Explanation:
Expectations from democracy also function as the criteria for judging any democratic country. The fact that people are
complaining is itself a testimony to the success of democracy: it shows that people have developed awareness and the ability to
expect and to look critically at power holders and the high and the mighty. A public expression of dissatisfaction with
democracy shows the success of the democratic project.

23. (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:

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 The Census of India counts two social groups: the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs). Both these broad
groups(SCs and STs) include hundreds of castes or tribes whose names are listed in an official Schedule. Hence the prefix
'Scheduled' in their name.
24. The main elements of the Belgium model of power-sharing include:
i. Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government.
Some special laws require the support of the majority of members from each linguistic group. Thus, no single community can
make decisions unilaterally.
ii. Many powers of the Central Government have been given to State Governments of the two regions of the country.
iii. The Belgium model introduced a new concept of the third kind of government, i,e. the communist government. This
government is elected by the people belonging to one language community.
25. Democracies accommodate social diversities when it is well understood that democracy is not just the rule of the majority and that
the rule of the majority is not just the rule of a single religious or social community. Democracy also ensures that the government
is not formed by the majority and has the representation of minorities as well where the minority can't be suppressed by the
majority. In this way, democracy accommodates social diversity as it not only takes the interest of the majority but it also takes
care of the interests of weaker sections.
26. i. Democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities. Although the majority of voters constitute
the poverty-ridden group, yet democratically elected governments do not appear to be as keen to address the question of
poverty as you would expect them to.
ii. The situation is much worse in some of the countries where people depend upon rich countries for food supplies.
iii. But even then, democracy is favoured because it provides the opportunity to change the riders.
27. Two party system:
In a democratic system power usually changes between two main parties, several other parties may exists but only the two main
parties have a serious chance of winning majority of seats to form government is known as Two Party System.
Advantages:
i. Several other parties contest election.
ii. Clarity of manifestoes and programs.
iii. Political stability.
iv. Fair chance of competition among parties.
v. Representation of various ideologies.
Disadvantages:
i. Limited choice to the voters.
ii. Limited representation.
iii. Limited scope for plural society.
OR
Major functions of the Political Parties are as follows:
i. Parties contest elections. They are the very essence of a democracy where elections are contested between the candidates of
different parties.
ii. Parties put forward different policies and programmes. A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions
which it supports.
iii. Parties play a decisive role in making laws of a country.
iv. Parties form and run the government. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government
in the way they want.
v. Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition. They often criticize the government for its failures and
wrong policies. Opposition parties also mobilise opposition to the government
28. i. Giving power to Panchayats aligns with Mahatma Gandhi's vision of decentralizing power and ensuring that governance is
rooted in local self-government. Gandhi believed in empowering villages to manage their own affairs, which is a core
principle of Panchayati Raj.
ii. The primary objective of giving power to Panchayats is to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency by
involving local people in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes. This local involvement helps eliminate
corrupt middlemen and ensures better control over these schemes.
iii. The establishment of Panchayati Raj contributes to democracy by restoring power to the people, which is the essence of true
democracy. It allows for greater public participation in governance, ensuring that decisions reflect the needs and aspirations of

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 the local population. This grassroots involvement strengthens the democratic foundations by making governance more
transparent, accountable, and responsive to the people.

SECTION-D ECONOMICS (20 marks)

29.
(d) Privatisation
Explanation:
Privatisation refers to a process that reduces the involvement of the public sector and increases the role of the private sector in
economic activities of the country.

30. (a) Situation of debt trap

Explanation:
In Swapna’s case, the failure of the crop made loan repayment impossible. She had to sell part of the land to repay the loan.
Credit, instead of helping Swapna improve her earnings, left her worse off. This is an example of what is commonly called
debt-trap.
31.
(d) Yarn, Fabric, Button
Explanation:
Yarn, Fabric, Button

32.
(b) Only B
Explanation:
Prosperous farmer from Punjab wants to assure a high family income through higher support prices for their crops and through
hardworking and cheap labourers; they should be able to settle their children abroad.

33. (a) (a) - (iv), (b) - (iii), (c) - (ii), (d) - (i)
Explanation:
(a) - (iv), (b) - (iii), (c) - (ii), (d) - (i)
34.
(d) Tertiary sector
Explanation: Transport, storage, communication, banking, trade are some examples of tertiary activities. Since these activities
generate services rather than goods, the tertiary sector is also called the service sector.
35. The use of containers has helped much greater volumes of goods being transported by [Link] are placed in containers that
can be loaded intact into planes. Containers have led to huge reduction in port handling costs and increased the speed with which
exports can reach markets. Similarly, the cost of air transport has fallen. This has enabled much greater volumes of goods being
transported by airlines. Airlines are the fastest means of transportation.
36. Despite half the source of credit being the formal source the remaining half is derived from the informal source due to the
following reasons:
1. Compared to formal lenders, most of the informal lenders charge much higher interest rates on loans like 3% to 5% per month
i.e. 36% a year.
2. Besides the high interest rate, informal lenders impose various other tough conditions. For example, they make the farmers
promise to sell the crop to him at a low price. There is no such condition informal sector.
3. Informal lenders do not treat well with the borrowers. On the other hand, there is no such situation no such situation in the
formal sector.
5. Loans taken by poor people from informal lenders sometimes, lead them to debt-trap because of high interest rate.
6. The formal sources of credit in India still meets only about half of the total credit needs of rural people.
So, it is necessary that the formal sources of credit expand their lending, especially, in rural areas so that the dependence on
informal sources of credit reduces as this will also help in the development of the country.
37. Human wants and aspirations are unlimited but the resources required to satisfy these wants are scarce. Our earth has provided us
with enough resources. But nowadays human beings have become so greedy that for their progress and development that they
readily succumb to the activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, encroachment into forest lands, overuse of groundwater, use
of plastics, etc. The exploitation of natural resources not only harms the environment but may cripple the future generations of the

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 development process itself. If these available resources are utilised irrationally, they will end up soon, get degraded or become less
productive and inefficient. If human beings keep a check on their uncontrolled manners, our earth has enough resources to meet
their needs, but certainly not enough to satisfy their greed.
38. Primary sector continues to be the largest employer because of the following reasons:
In the secondary and tertiary sectors, enough jobs have not been created. Even though industrial output went up by eight
times during the period, employment in the industry sector went up by only 2.5 times.
The production has increased by eleven times in the tertiary sector but the employment has increased only less than three
times. The primary sector still employs about sixty-three percent of people in the country.
Both the secondary and the tertiary sectors offer a limited number of services which employ highly-skilled and educated
workers. Not all are able to get employment in these sectors. Hence they retain the primary sector which requires fewer
skills and no education.
OR
The growth rate in different sectors of the Indian economy is discussed as under:
i. Agriculture sector: The production and productivity of agriculture suffered from the vagaries of monsoon particularly in
drought years. The agricultural production grew at a rate of 3% per annum. Share of workers in agricultural activities alone
accounts for 58.4% of the total workers in 2001.
ii. Industrial sector: The industrial sector during this period recorded a higher growth rate of 5.5% per annum. The share of the
secondary sector increased from 13.3% to 25% within the plans period.
iii. Tertiary and quaternary sectors: Output in both sectors grew much faster. The contribution of trade and transport in the
gross domestic product increased by about 16 times during the plan period. The occupational structure of workers did not
change much. The primary sector accounts for 72% of the working population in 1951 and 67.5% in 1991. The economic
policy of 1991 shows the greater reliance on market forces and less role of the public sector.

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