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chapter 1 democracy in the contemporary world

CHAPTER 1 Democracy in the Contemporary World

·         Allende was the founder leader of the Socialist Party of Chile and led the Popular Unity coalition to victory in the presidential election in 1970.

·         The landlords, the rich and the Church opposed his policies. General Augusto Pinochet (pronounced Pinoshe), an Army general, led the coup. The government of the United States of America was unhappy with Allende’s rule and is known to have supported and funded activities that led to the coup. Pinochet became the President of the country and ruled it for the next 17 years.

·         In the year 1990 Solidarity won the elections and came to power in Poland. Lech Walesa became the President.

Features of Democracy

1.       Only the leaders elected by the people can rule the country.

2.       Freedom to organise, freedom to protest and freedom of expression are the rights guaranteed to the people.

1975- 2000 is the most imp period in the expansion of democracy.

Ans 7- (b) Yes, the statement supports democracy. The basic objective of democracy is to provide equality and it should work the betterment for all sections of the society.

(c) No, it does not contribute to the spirit of democracy. Democracy ensures equal opportunities for both poor and rich. Otherwise, international policies will be governed by the rich countries.

(d) No, it does not support democracy fully. India being developing nation and the most populous  state, represent the voice of the masses. Her opinions must be valued and heard at international arena, but any country should not be privileged based on geographical or population size.

Q: Which East European countries were ruled by the communist parties in 1980s?

Answer: East European countries ruled by the communist parties in 1980s were:

1. Poland
2. Russia
3. Ukraine
4. Romania
5. Bulgaria

Q: Here are three opinions heard in a television debate on the struggle for democracy in Nepal. Which of these do you agree with and why?

Guest 1: India is a democracy. Therefore, the Indian government must support the people of Nepal who are struggling against monarchy and for democracy.

Guest 2: That is a dangerous argument. We would be in the same position as the US was in Iraq. Remember, no outside force can promote democracy.

Guest 3: But why should we bother about the internal affairs of another country? We should be worried about our business interests there, not about democracy.

Answer: I agree with Statement made by Guest 1. India became a democratic republic after a long struggle for Independence. It values democratic principles and has been a promoter of peace and non-violence. By following democratic and non-violent approaches at international forum (e.g. public opinion, debates etc.) it can support people of Nepal restore democracy.

Q imp: Which one of the following is the best way to establish democracy in a country?
(a) Foreign aggression by a democratic country
(b) People’s struggle within their own country.
(c) Resolution by the U.N. General Assembly.
(d) Voluntary support by the majority of the people.

Answer: (d) Voluntary support by the majority of the people.

Q: What reforms were carried out by Allende in Chile?  How was it taken by opposition parties?

Answer: Allende as the president of Chile introduced a number of social reforms. 

1. He took several policy decisions to help the poor and the workers.
2. He introduced reforms to the educational system. 
3. He provided free milk for children and redistribution of land to the landless farmers. 
4. He opposed to foreign companies taking away natural resources like copper from the country.

The rich, capitalists, the Church and the opposition parties were against his policies specially distribution of land to landless farmers and his opposition towards foreign companies.

Q: Why did USA support the military coup in Chile in 1973?

Answer: USA being a capitalist country was against the policies of socialist president Allende. They supported the military and the capitalists of Chile who were opposing Allende's social reforms.

Q Imp: A direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.

(a) Plebiscite

(b) Referendum

(c) Recall

(d) Veto

Answer: (b) Referendum

Q: What did Allende hope for in his last address? 
Answer: During the coup, when democratic government was toppled, Allende addressed to his nation. He hoped that Democracy would be restored and felony, cowardice and treason would be finally punished.

Q: Why were women given voting rights much later than men in the most countries? Why did this not happen in India?

Answer: Although political struggle for democracy started since nineteenth century and many European countries became democratic by the beginning of the twentieth century. At that time women were not given voting rights, because they were not being considered equal. Their political representation was not  given enough importance. They were granted rights much later than men. In India this was not the case. The Constitution of India granted universal suffrage to all its citizens irrespective they belong to different gender or community or caste.
Q: What was the 'voting rights' situation in USA after she adopted constitution? When was universal adult franchise granted there?
Answer:  USA adopted constitution in 1787, but here too the right to vote was limited to very few men. In 1965, after a long struggle, universal adult franchise was granted to all citizens, including women and Afro-Americans.

Q: ‘The disintegration of the Soviet Union accelerated the process of expansion of democracy.’ Give reasons.

Answer: After 1980, the disintegration of the Soviet Union accelerated the process of democracy.

1. Soviet Union controlled several European countries and all of them were communist governments.
2. Poland and several other countries became free from the control of the Soviet Union during 1989-90. They chose to become democracies.
3. The Soviet Union comprised of 15 republics emerged as independent
   democratic countries after the USSR broke down.

Q: Who was Lech Walesa? How did he become famous in Poland?

Answer: Lech Walesa was a former electrician of Lenin Shipyard in the city of Gdansk. He joined and led the strikers who

• demanded for higher wages, 
• right to form independent trade unions, 
• the release of political prisoners and 
• an end to censorship on press.

Finally the Polish government gave in and signed 21-point agreement with Lech Walesa and his workers. A new trade union called Solidarity was formed under his leadership. General Jaruzeleski imposed martial law which led to another wave of strikes by Solidarity. Later in 1988, the union won elections with absolute majority and Walesa was elected as the president of Poland.

Q Imp: How democratic is the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?

Answer: 

1. IMF a special agency affiliated with United Nations has been one of the biggest moneylender for any country in the world.
2. Its working is not fairly democratic because its 185 members do not have equal voting rights.
3. The vote of each country is weighed by how much money it has contributed to the IMF. 
4. Since the top 10 developed countries have large contributions, they have a major say in IMF. These 10 countries have More than 54%of the voting power in the IMF. 
5. While the remaining 175 countries have negligible participation in IMF policy making. This is undemocratic.

Q: What happened to democracy in Ghana?

1. Ghana (earlier called Gold Coast), used to be a British Colony, got independent in 1957. 
2. Kwame Nkrumah, son of a goldsmith and himself a teacher played an active role in independence struggle.
3. After independence, he became first prime minister and then the president of Ghana.
4. Later he declared himself as elected president for life and established dictatorship.
5. In 1966, he was overthrown by the military and Ghana couldn’t remain a democratic nation for long.

Q: Which among the following was NOT the demand raised by striking workers in Poland?

(a) Right to form trade unions

(b) Release of Political Prisoners

(c) Stepping down of Communists

(d) End of censorship on press.

Answer: (c) Stepping down of Communists

Q:  Who among the following had replaced Salvador Allende?
(a) General Augusto Pinochet
(b) General Jeruzelski
(c) Lech Walesa
(d) Michelle Bachelet
Answer: (a) General Augusto Pinochet
 

chapter2 physical features of india

Ch 2 Physical Features of India

1.      Scientists believe that there are huge sheets of rocks that lie below the earth’s surface are known as _______________.

2.      The movement of plates results in building up of _________ within the plates and the continental rocks above, leading to __________, _________ and __________ activity.

3.      The variations in the colour of rocks are due to differences in rock ______________.

4.      When the plates move towards each other they form ______________ boundary.

5.      When the plates move away from each other they form ______________ boundary.

6.      The oldest landmass was a part of ________________.

7.      The northward drift of gondwana land led to the _________ of plate with a much larger plate.

8.      ____________ is the northernmost range and is also known as ‘Himadri.

9.      The folds of the Great Himalayas are asymmetrical in nature and the core of this part is composed of granite.

10.  _______________________ lies between the Indus and Sutlej.

11.  Nepal _______________  lies between the Kali and Tista rivers.

12.  The Shiwaliks have an altitude varying between ______ and ____ metres.

13.  After descending from the mountains, the rivers deposit pebbles in a narrow belt. The width of this belt is about 8 to 16 km and it lies parallel to the Shiwaliks. This region is known as___________.

14.  Bhangar is the largest part of the __________ plain.

15.   __________ is the largest inhabited riverine island in the world.

16.  The rivers split into numerous channels due to the deposition of _____. These channels are known as _______________.

17.  _________ is land between two rivers.

18.  The Central Highlands are _________ in the West but ____________ in the East.

19.  Western Ghats are ___________ than the Eastern Ghats.

20.  Anai Mudi is the highest peak of ____________ Ghats.

21.  The black soil area of the peninsular plateau is known as _____________________.

22.  Barchans are crescent shaped ________________.

23.  The Chilika Lake is the largest _______________ lake in India.

24.  The ________________ islands lie close to the Malabar Coast of Kerala.

25.  Corals are short lived microscopic ______________, which live in colonies.

26.  India’s only active volcano is found on ___________ island in ________________________ group of islands.

27.  The mountains are a major source of ________ and ________ wealth.

28.  The Northern Plains are the ___________ of the country.

29.  The plateau is a ________________ of ____________, which has played a crucial role in the _________________________ of the country.

30.  The major rivers of peninsular plateau are _________, _____________________ and __________. 

chapter 3 constitution design

CHAPTER 3 Constitutional Design

Preamble to the Constitution of India

The original text of the Preamble, before the 42nd Amendment) of the Constitution

The preamble to the Constitution of India is a brief introductory statement that sets out the guiding purpose and principles of the document. The preamble-page, along with other pages of the original Constitution of India, was designed and decorated solely by renowned painter Beohar Rammanohar Sinha of Jabalpur who was at Shantiniketan with acharya Nandalal Bose at that time. Nandalal Bose endorsed Beohar Rammanohar Sinha's artwork without any alteration whatsoever. As such, the page bears Beohar Rammanohar Sinha's short signature Ram in Devanagari lower-right corner.

That the preamble is not an integral part of the Indian constitution was declared by the Supreme Court of India in BeruBari case therefore it is not enforceable in a court of law. However, Supreme Court of India has, in the Kesavananda case, overruled earlier decisions and recognised that the preamble may be used to interpret ambiguous areas of the constitution where differing interpretations present themselves. In the 1995 case of Union Government Vs LIC of India also, the Supreme Court has once again held that Preamble is the integral part of the Constitution.

As originally enacted the preamble described the state as a "sovereign democratic republic". In 1976 the Forty-second Amendmentchanged this to read "sovereign socialist secular democratic republic".^[1]

Introduction

“

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.

”

These are the opening words of the preamble to the Indian Constitution

Meaning

The enacting words, "We, the people of India ...in our constituent assembly ...do here by adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution", signify the democratic principle that power is ultimately rested in the hands of the people. It also emphasises that the constitution is made by and for the Indian people and not given to them by any outside power (such as the British Parliament). The phrase "we the people" emphasises the concept of popular sovereignty as laid down by J. J. Rousseau: All the power emanates from the people and the political system will be accountable and responsible to the people.

Sovereign

The word sovereign means supreme or independence. India is internally and externally sovereign - externally free from the control of any foreign power and internally, it has a free government which is directly elected by the people and makes laws that govern the people.She allies in peace and war. The Popular sovereignty is also one of the basic structure of constitution of India. Hence, Citizens of India also enjoy sovereign power to elect their representatives in elections held for parliament, state legislature and local bodies as well.People have supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as external matters.No external power can dictate the government of India.

Socialist

The word socialist was added to the Preamble by the Forty-second Amendment. It implies social and economic equality.

Social equality in this context means the absence of discrimination on the grounds only of caste, colour, creed, sex, religion, or language. Under social equality, everyone has equal status and opportunities.

Economic equality in this context means that the government will endeavor to make the distribution of wealth more equal and provide a decent standard of living for all. This is in effect emphasized a commitment towards the formation of a welfare state. India has adopted a socialistic and mixed economy and the government has framed many laws to achieve the aim.

Secular

Secular means the relationship between the government and the people which is determined according to constitution and law. By the 42nd Amendment, the term "Secular" was also incorporated in the Preamble. Secularism is the basic structure of the Indian constitution. The Government respects all religions. It does not uplift or degrade any particular religion. There is no such thing as a state religion for India. In S.R. Bommai vs UOI (1994) The SC of India held "A state which does not recognise any religion as the state religion, it treats all religions equally". Positively, Indian secularism guarantees equal freedom to all religion. It stands for the right to freedom of religion for all citizens. Explaining the meaning of secularism as adopted by India, AlexandrOwics has written, "Secularism is a part of the basic of the Indian Constitution and it means equal freedom and respect for all religions."

Democratic

The first part of the preamble “We, the people of India” and, its last part “give to ourselves this Constitution” clearly indicate the democratic spirit involved even in the Constitution.India is a democracy. The people of India elect their governments at all levels (Union, State and local) by a system of universal adult franchise; popularly known as "one man one vote". Every citizen of India, who is 18 years of age and above and not otherwise debarred by law, is entitled to vote. Every citizen enjoys this right without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, colour, sex, Religious intolerance or education.

Republic

As opposed to a monarchy, in which the head of state is appointed on hereditary basis for a lifetime or until he abdicates from the throne, a democratic republic is an entity in which the head of state is elected, directly or indirectly, for a fixed tenure. The President of India is elected by an electoral college for a term of five years. The post of the President Of India is not hereditary. Every citizen of India is eligible to become the President of the country.The leader of the state is elected by the people.

Forty-second Amendment

On 18 December 1976, during the Emergency in India, the Indira Gandhi government pushed through several changes in the Forty-second Amendment of the constitution. A committee under the chairmanship of Sardar Swaran Singh recommended that this amendment be enacted after being constituted to study the question of amending the constitution in the light of past experience. Through this amendment the words "socialist" and "secular" were added between the words "sovereign" and "democratic" and the words "unity of the Nation" were changed to "unity and integrity of the Nation"

The idea for the addition of 'socialist' was prompted by Indira Gandhi, as an ode to India's growing relationship with the erstwhile USSR.

geography india: size and location

Kavita Mehta

CLASS I X   Geography India: Size and Location                                                                                                  

1.     In which period India has made progress in every field.  Ans -During the last fifty yrs

2.     State the latitude of the northern tip of the Indian mainland. Ans - 8 º 4’ N.

3.     State the degree of longitude of the westernmost tip of India.  Ans- 68 º 7’ E.

4.     State the total north-south extent in kilometres of India. Ans- 3214 km

5.     State the degree of longitude of the eastern tip of India. Ans- 97 º 25’ E.

6.     State the parallel of latitude that divides India into two halves. Ans- Tropic of Cancer 23 1/2̊ N

7.     Name the place situated on the three seas, also name the seas. Ans- Kanyakumari. Seas – (i) The Arabian Sea, (ii) The Indian Ocean,(iii) The Bay of Bengal.

8.      Name the Island groups of India lying in the Arabian sea with their longitudinal and latitudinal extent. Ans- Lakshadweep. 8 º to 12 º 3’ N and 71 º to 74 º E.

9.      Name the island groups of India lying in the Bay of Bengal with their longitudinal and latitudinal extent. Ans- Andaman and Nicobar Island. 6 º to 14 º N, and 92 º to 94 º E.

10.   State the southernmost tip of the Indian Union. Ans- Indira Point in Nicobar Island. 

11.   What is the geographical area of India? Ans - 32.8 Lakh Sq. Km. It is 2.4% of the world area.

12.   What is the length of land boundaries and coastline of India? Ans- Land boundaries = 15200 Km Coastline including that of Andaman& Nicobar and Lakshdweep = 7516.6 Km.

13.   Why Ahmedabad in the west and Kolkata in the east are able to see the noon sun exactly overhead twice a year but not Delhi being in the north? Ans- i) The sun shines overhead between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn twice a year.(ii) The places lying between these two parallels of latitude, enjoy the overhead sun twice a year. (iii) Ahmedabad and Kolkata lie between these two parallels, hence they enjoy the overhead sun twice a year.

14.   State the reasons of the difference between the duration of day and night hardly felt at Kanyakumari but it is not so in Kashmir. Ans - I) The places near the equator experience almost equal duration of day and night.(ii) Going toward the pole from the equator, the duration of day and night differs. (iii) Kanyakumari is near the equator and difference in time is 45 minutes while Kashmir being away from equator experiences difference of duration in time of 5 hours in day and night.

15.    What distance has been reduced between India and Europe by opening Suez canal? Ans- 7000 Km.

16.   State the types of states India had before 1947. Ans- Before 1947 there were two types of states in India : (i) Provinces : - Ruled by Viceroy appointed by the British authority. (ii) Primary States : - Ruled by the local kings/princes based on heredity as the had accepted the sovereignty of British and were autonomous.

17.   The number of Union territories situated on the Western and Eastern coasts.  (i) Western Coast – Daman and Diu, Dadra – Nagar – Haveli, Mahe (Pondicherry) = 03.  Eastern Coast – Yonama Karikal (Pondicherry ) = 01.

18.   Which is the largest and the smallest state of India in respect of Area?  Largest State – Rajasthan. Smallest State – Goa.

19.   Which state do not touch international boundaries or coasts? Ans- Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand.

20.   Divide the states of India in four catogories which touch the boundaries of (a) Pakistan – Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir. (b) China – Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh. (c) Myanmar – Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram. (d) Bangladesh – Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, West Bengal. 

21.   How is Sri Lanka separated from India? Ans- by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.

22.   Differentiate between local time and standard time. Ans-

Local Time	Standard Time
1. Local time is the time of a longitude.	1. Local time of a central longitude of a country is called Standard Time.
2. Local time of a country varies from place to place within the country.	2. Standard Time remains the same throughout the country.
3. The local time of the westernmost tip to the easternmost tip of India varies by 2 hours.	3. The local time of 82 º 30’ E is the Standard Time of India (IST).