Social Science Short Question and answersSubject – Geography Class – VIII

Chapter – 1 Resources

Q1. What is the condition for a substance to be called a resource?Answer. A substance needs to have some utility to be called a resource.

Q2. What do you understand by the word “utility”?Answer. If a substance can be used in any way, it is said to have a utility.

Q3. What are natural resources?Answer. Resources that are drawn directly from nature are called natural resources.

Q4. What is the name given to the type of resources that have limited stock?Answer. The resources having limited stock are called non-renewable resources.

Q5. How are resources classified according to their distribution?Answer. On the basis of their distribution, resources are classified into ubiquitous and localised.

Q6. Give three examples of abiotic resources.Answer. Air, land, soils.

Q7. How are human-made resources different from natural resources?Answer. Human-made resources Jiave been created by human beings, whereas natural resources are provided by nature.

Q8. What is human resource development?Answer. Improving the quality of human skills in order to make them more useful is called human resource development.

Q9. Write a short note on the significance of time and technology in making a substance a resource.Answer. Time and technology are important factors in making substances resources. With time, technology develops. As technology develops, we begin to discover new ways to make life better. In this process, certain substances which were useless to us earlier become useful. An invention and discovery gives us new resources. An example is hydroelectricity. This technology has made water a source of electricity.

Q10. As human beings, how can we ensure sustainable development?Answer. Since we live on the earth, it is our duty to practice sustainable development. We can do this by ensuring that:(a) The usage of renewable resources is sustainable,(b) The diversity of life on earth is maintained,(c) The damage caused to nature by our activities is’as Tow as possible.

Chapter – 2 Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources

Q1. What are the possible reasons behind the uneven distribution of population around the world?Answer. The reasons behind uneven population distribution are mainly the varied conditions of land and climate.

Q2. Give three common forms of land use.Answer. Three common land use forms are: (i) As cropland, (ii) Pasture, (iii) Forests.

Q3. What human factors determine land use pattern?Answer. Human factors affecting land use pattern are population and technology.

Q4. Define soil.Answer. The thin layer of grainy substance covering the surface of the earth is called soil.

Q5. What is required to make soil fertile?Answer. The right mix of minerals and organic matter is needed to make soil fertile.

Q6. What is parent rock?Answer. The rock from which soil is derived is called parent rock.

Q7. What are the factors threatening soil as a resource?Answer. Two factors that threaten soil as a resource are soil erosion and its depletion.

Q8. What method of soil conservation may be used in coastal and dry reqions?Answer. Shelter belts are used to protect the soil in coastal and dry regions.

Q9. Why is the earth called the “water planet”?Answer. The earth’s surface has about three- fourths water, so it is called “water planet”.

Q10. In what forms is fresh water found on the earth?Answer. Fresh water is found in the forms of groundwater, water in rivers and lakes and as water vapour.

Chapter – 3 Mineral and Power Resources

Q1. Differentiate between a rock and an ore.Answer. A rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals. An ore is a rock from which minerals are mined.

Q2. Define quarrying.Answer. Quarrying is a process of extraction in which minerals lying near the surface are simply dug out.

Q3. Name the leading tin producers in Asia.Answer. China, Malaysia and Indonesia are leading tin producers in Asia.

Q4. Name two areas in Australia, which have large deposits of gold.Answer. Two areas in Western Australia having large deposits of gold are Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie.

Q5. Name two minerals in whose production India contributes a significant part.Answer. India has vast deposits of high grade iron ore, and it is also a leading producer of salt.

Q6. In which industry is silicon important? From which ore is it obtained?Answer. Silicon is important in the computer industry. It is obtained from quartz.

Q7. Why are minerals considered non-renewable?Answer. Minerals take thousands of years to form. The rate of formation is much smaller than rate of consumption. So we classify them as non-renewable.

Q8. Why is coal called “buried sunshine”?Answer. Coal is called “buried sunshine” because it is found buried under the earth, and is as important a source of energy as sunshine.

Q9. Why are petroleum and its derivatives called “black gold”?Answer. Petroleum and its derivatives are black in colour but as valuable as gold, so we refer to it as “black gold”.

Q10. What is natural gas?Answer. Natural gas is a fossil fuel obtained with petroleum deposits in oil fields.

Chapter – 4 Agriculture

Q1. What is the basic function of the three basic types of economic activities?Answer. The three types of economic activities are involved in the transformation from a plant to a finished product.

Q2. What are tertiary activities?Answer. Tertiary activities are those which provide support to primary and secondary activities.

Q3. In what sorts of areas are agricultural activities concentrated?Answer. Agricultural activities are concentrated in those areas of the world which have suitable conditions of growing crops.

Q4. What is arable land?Answer. The land on which crops are grown is called arable land.

Q5. How is subsistence farming classified?Answer. Subsistence farming is classified into intensive and primitive subsistence agriculture.

Q6. In what sort of areas is nomadic herding practiced?Answer. Nomadic herding is practiced in semi- arid and arid regions of Sahara, Central Asia and some parts of India.

Q7. Why is mixed farming called so?Answer. In mixed farming the land is used for growing crops as well as rearing livestock.

Q8. What is the main feature of plantation agriculture?Answer. In plantation agriculture only a single crop is grown.

Q9. What weather conditions are required in the growing and harvesting seasons of wheat?Answer. In the growing season wheat requires moderate temperature and rainfall and in the harvesting season it needs bright sunshine.

Q10. Which two countries lead in the production of jute?Answer. India and Bangladesh are the leading producers of jute.

Subject – History Class – VIIIChapter – 1 How, When and Where

Q1. Name the events for which specific dates can be determined.Answer. The year a king was crowned, the year he married, the year he had a child, the year he fought a particular battle, the year he died, etc.

Q2. What was an important aspect of the histories written by the British historians in India?Answer. The rule of each Governor-General was an important aspect.

Q3. Who was James Mill?Answer. He was a Scottish economist and political philosopher and is known for his book A History of British India.

Q4. What was Mill’s opinion about the Asian societies?Answer. In Mill’s opinion all Asian societies were at a lower level of civilisation than Europe.

Q5. What evil practices, according to James Mill, dominated the Indian social life before the British came to India?Answer. According to James Mill, the evil practices that dominated to the Indian social life were religious intolerance, caste taboos and superstitious practices.

Q6. How did paintings project Governor- General?Answer. Paintings projected Governor-Generals as powerful figures.

Q7. Why do many historians refer to modem period as colonial?Answer. It is because, under British rule people did not have equality, freedom or liberty—the symbols of modernity.

Q8. Mention one important source used by historians in writing about the last 230 years of Indian history.Answer. The official records of the British administration.

Q9. What is done under census?Answer. It records the number of people living all the provinces of India and gathers information on castes, religions and occupation.

Q10 .What do official records not tell?Answer. Official records do not tell what other people in the country felt, and what lay behind their actions.

Chapter – 2 From Trade to Territory

Q1. Who was the ruler of England in 1600?Answer. Queen Elizabeth I was the ruler of England in 1600.

Q2. What caused huge loss of revenue in Bengal?Answer. Aurangzeb’s farman had granted the Company only the right to trade duty free. But the officials of the Company, who were carrying on private trade on side, also stopped paying duty. This caused a huge loss of revenue for Bengal.

Q3. Why did the Company want a puppet ruler?Answer. A puppet ruler would willingly give it trade concessions and other privileges.

Q4. What was the main reason for the defeat of Sirajuddaulah at Plassey?Answer. Mir Jafar, one of Sirajuddaulah’s commanders, did not fight the battle.

Q5. Why did the Battle of Plassey become famous?Answer. It was the first major victory the Company won in India.

Q6. Whom did the Company install in place of Mir Jafar?Answer. Company installed Mir Qasim in place of Mir Jafar.

Q7. How did the Company purchase Indian goods?Answer. It purchased Indian goods with gold and silver imported from Britain.

Q8. Who were called ‘nabobs’?Answer. Several Company officials returned to Britain with wealth and led flashy lives and showed their riches with great pride. They were called “nabobs’.

Q9. Who were the Residents?Answer. The Residents were the political or commercial agents and their job was to serve and further the interests of the Company.

Q10. What purpose did the Residents serve?Answer. Through the residents, the Company officials began interfering in the internal affairs of Indian states.

Chapter – 3 Ruling The Country Side

Question.1. Why were Bengal artisans deserting villages?Answer. Bengal artisans were deserting villages because they were being pressurised to sell their goods to the Company at low prices.

Question.2. Name the Governor-General of India when the Permanent Settlement was introduced.Answer. Charles Cornwallis.

Question.3. What did the Permanent Settlement actually mean?Answer. The amount of revenue the peasants were expected to pay was fixed permanently, that is, it was not to be increased ever in future.

Question.4. What problems did zamindars face under the Permanent Settlement?Answer. As the revenue had been fixed at very high rate, zamindars found it difficult to pay. Anyone who failed to pay the revenue lost his zamindari.

Question.5. Who was William Morris?Answer. He was a famous poet and artist of 19th century Britain. He designed a floral cotton print known as Morris cotton print.

Question.6. Who created Kalamkari print?Answer. The weavers of Andhra Pradesh created Kalamkari print.

Question.7. What is common in the two prints—-a Kalamkari print and a Morris cotton print?Answer. Both use a rich blue colour commonly known as indigo.

Question.8. What is indigo?Answer. It is a plant that produces rich blue colour used as a dye.

Question.9. Why did cloth dyers prefer indigo to woad?Answer. Cloth dyers preferred indigo as a dye because it produced a rich blue colour, whereas the dye from woad was pale and dull.

Question.10. Where did the French begin cultivating indigo?Answer. The French began cultivating indigo in St Domingue in the Caribbean islands.

Chapter – 4 Tribal’s, Dikus and Vision of a Golden Age

Question.1. Mention different types of activities of the tribal people.Answer. (a) Some practised jhum cultivation, (b) Some were hunter-gatherers.(c) Some herded animals.(d) Some took to settled cultivation.

Question.2. Why did the British want tribal groups to settle down and become peasant cultivators?Answer. It was because settled peasants were easier to control and administer than people who were always on the move.

Question.3. Why did the British introduce land settlements?Answer. They did so in order to get a regular revenue source for the state.

Question.4. Why were some forests classified as Reserved Forests?Answer. These forests produced timber which the British wanted.

Question.5. What problem did the British face after they stopped the tribal people from living inside forests?Answer. They faced the problem of shortage of labour.

Question.6. Why did the Forest Department establish forest villages?Answer. It did so in order to ensure a regular supply of cheap labour.

Question.7. How did the tribal groups view the market and the traders?Answer. They viewed them as their main enemies.

Question.8. Who was Birsa?Answer. Birsa belonged to a family of Mundas, a tribal group that lived in Chottanagpur.

Question.9. What did people say about him?Answer. People said that he had miraculous powers. He could cure all diseases and multiply grain.

Question.10. What problems did Birsa set out to resolve?Answer. (a) The familiar ways of tribals seemed to be disappearing.(b) Their livelihoods were under threat.(c) The religion appeared to be in danger. Birsa set out to resolve these problems.

Chapter – 5 When People Rebel (1857 and after)

Question.1. What was the plea of Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao-II?Answer. Nana Saheb pleaded that he be given his father’s pension when the latter died.

Question.2. What was the first step taken by the Company towards ending the Mughal dynasty?Answer. The name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company.

Question.3. Why were the Indian sepoys unhappy with the British rule? Give any one reason.Answer. The Indian sepoys were underpaid.

Question.4. What rumour spread among the sepoys of the Meerut regiment about the new cartridges?Answer. The rumour spread that the new cartridges were coated with the fat of cows and pigs.

Question.5. What did the ageing Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar do after he was declared the leader of the rebels? Answer. He wrote letters to all the chiefs and rulers of the country to come forward and organise a confederacy of Indian states to fight the British.

Question.6. Name any two smaller rulers who acknowledged the suzerainty of Bahadur Shah Zafar.Answer. Nana Saheb and Biijis Qadr.

Question.7. Who was Tantia Tope?Answer. He was the General of Nana Saheb.

Question.8. Who was Ahmadullah Shah? What was his prophesy?Answer. Ahmadullah Shah was a maulvi from Faizabad. His prophesy was that the rule of the British would soon come to an end.

Question.9. Who was Bakht Khan?Answer. Bakht Khan was a soldier from Bareilly. He took charge of a large force of fighters who came to Delhi.

Question.10 . When did the British recapture Delhi?Answer. The British recaptured Delhi in September 1857.

Chapter – 6 Colonialism and The City

Question.1. Name the two industrial cities in Britain.Answer. Leeds and Manchester.

Question.2. Name the cities that were de-urbanised in the 19th century.Answer. Surat, Machlipatnam and Seringapatam.

Question.3. Why were the main streets of Chandni Chowk and Faiz Bazar made broad?Answer. They were made broad for royal processions to pass.

Question.4. Where did British live in the 1870s?Answer. They lived in the sprawling Civil Lines area that came up in the north.

Question.5. Where, did the Indians live in the 1870s?Answer. They lived in the Walled City.

Question.6. Why was a durbar held in Delhi in 1911?Answer. In 1911, when King George V was crowned in England, a durbar was held in Delhi to celebrate the occasion.

Question.7. Who visited the durbar?Answer. Numerous Indian princes and British officers and soldiers visited the durbar.

Question.8. What is Kingsway known now?Answer. It is now known as Rajpath.

Question.9. Why was the Viceroy’s Palace higher than Shah Jahan’s Jama Masjid?Answer. The Viceroy’s Palace was higher than Shah Jahan’s Jama Masjid in order to establish British importance.

Question.10. What jobs did the new migrants coming to Delhi take up?Answer. They took up jobs as hawkers, vendors, carpenters and ironsmiths.

Chapter – 7 Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners

Question.1. Give two reasons why Indian textiles were renowned all over the world.Answer. Their fine quality and beautiful craftsmanship made them renowned all over the world.

Question.2. Why were printed Indian cotton textiles I popular in England?Answer. Printed Indian cotton textiles were popular in England for their exquisite floral designs, fine texture and relative cheapness.

Question.3. During which period patola weaving was famous?Answer. It was famous during the mid-19th century.

Question.4. Name the origin of the word calico.Answer. Calicut.

Question.5. Name the important centres of jamdani weaving.Answer. Dacca in Bengal and Lucknow in the United Provinces (U.P.).

Question.6. Name two places where chintz were produced during the mid-19th century.Answer. Masulipatnam and Andhra Pradesh.

Question.7. How did European trading companies purchase cotton and silk textiles in India?Answer. European trading companies purchased cotton and silk textiles in India by importing silver.

Question.8. Name the household spinning instrument.Answer. Charkha and takli.

Question.9. What did Mahatma Gandhi urge people during the national movement?Answer. During the national movement Mahatma Gandhi urged people to boycott imported textiles and use hand-spun and hand-woven cloth.

Question.10 .What became a symbol of nationalism?Answer. Khadi became a symbol of nationalism.

Subject – Civics Class – VIIIChapter – 1 The Indian Constitution

Question1. In politics, what is a constitution?Ans: In Politics a Constitution can be described as a document outlining the basic laws or principles by which a country is to be governed.

Question2. Write a brief note on the making of the Indian Constitution.Ans: The Indian Constitutional Assembly was convened in December 1946. The members of this Assembly were only Indians. This Assembly started drafting the Constitution for Independent India. Dr. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Constitution drafting committee.The constitution declares India to be a sovereign, democratic republic and establishes the structure, procedures, powers and duties, of the government and duties of citizens.?The 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on the January 24, 1950. Two days later, on January 26, 1950, the Constitution of India became the law of all the Indian lands.

Question3. In Nepal, when did the Interim Constitution come into effect?Ans: In Nepal, the Interim Constitution came into effect from January 15, 2007.

Question4. Write a brief note on the struggle for freedom in Nepal.Ans: In Nepal, there was a people’s struggle for freedom in 1990. Democracy was established and it lasted for 12 years until 2002.In October 2002, King Gyanendra began taking over the government with the assistance of the army. In 2005 King Gyanendra took over as the head of the government.In 2006 people’s movement for democracy began gaining immense force. In April 2006 the King restored the Third Parliament and asked the political parties to form a government. In 2007, Nepal adopted an Interim Constitution and Nepal gained political freedom.

Question5. What are the negative points of a democratic society?Ans: In a democratic society Power can be misused. Sometimes the Majority can undermine minority. The citizens need certain rules to save themselves from folly.

Question6. How can a leader misuse power in a democratic country?Ans: A leader misusing his power may send his security guards to beat up his neighbours for a personal reason or ask the police not to take action against a relative who has committed a crime.

Question7. How does the Indian Constitution safe guard the minorities of the country?Ans: The Indian constitution ensures that the dominant group does not use its power against other, less powerful people or groups.

The Constitution contains rules that ensure that minorities are not excluded from anything that is routinely available to the majority. It also prevents the domination of the majority over the minority.

Question8. Mention the key features of the Indian Constitution.Ans: The key features of the Indian constitution are:-FederalismParliamentary Form of GovernmentSeparation of PowersFundamental RightsSecularismQuestion9. What are the factors the drafting committee had to take into consideration while drafting the constitution?Ans: The committee had to keep in mind that India was a land of many communities, languages and many religions. India was a land of diverse cultures and the Princely states in India had to be considered. The partition of the country into India and Pakistan was about to happen and the drafting committee had to bear this in mind. Finally the biggest consideration was the socio-economic condition of a majority of Indians which was in a bad state.Question10. What were the highlights of the text prepared by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who was the Chairman of the constitution drafting committee?Ans: Highlights of the Text prepared by Dr. Ambedkar are:-Constitutional guarantees and protections for individual citizensFreedom of religionAbolition of untouchabilityOutlawing of all forms of discriminationEconomic and social rights for womenReservations of jobs in the civil services, schools and colleges for members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Chapter – 2 Understanding Secularism

Question 1:What examples does history provide us on the grounds of religion?Answer:History provides us with several examples of discrimination, exclusion and persecution on the grounds of religion.

Question 2:What happened in the Jewish state of Israel? Answer:Muslim and Christian minorities were treated badly in the Jewish state of Israel.

Question 3:How are non-Muslims treated in Saudi Arabia?Answer:In Saudi Arabia, non-Muslims are not allowed to build a temple, church etc. They also cannot gather in a public place for prayers.

Question.4:What does the term ‘secularism’ refer to?Answer:The term ‘secularism’ refers to the separation of the power of religion from the power of the State.

Question 5:What do you mean by freedom to interpret’?Answer:‘Freedom to interpret’ means an individual’s liberty to develop his own understanding and meaning of the religion that one practises.

Question 6:Why cannot government schools celebrate religious festivals?Answer:Government schools cannot celebrate religious festivals because it will be a violation of government’s policy of treating all religions equally.

Question 7:Why is Paramjit allowed to drive in pagri?Answer:Paramjit is a Sikh youth and for him wearing a pagri is a very important part of his religion.

Question 8:How is Indian secularism different from that of American secularism?Answer:

Unlike Indian secularism, there is strict separation between religion and the State in American secularism.

Question 9:What is meant by ‘principled distance’?Answer:This means that any interference in religion by the State has to be based on the ideals laid out in the Constitution.

Chapter – 3 Why Do We Need a Parliament

Question-1What are the basic ideals of a democracy?Ans:The basic ideals of democracy are…The participation of the citizens in the government’s decision- making.The need for the government to have the consent of its citizens in all major issues taken by it.Question-2What is the purpose of a Parliament?Ans:The Parliament enables citizens of India to participate in decision making and control the government.Question-3What was the main principle of the Indian constitution?Ans:The main principle of the Indian constitution was Universal adult franchise. All adults in free India could vote and participate in decision- making.Question-4How can all the citizens participate in the decision–making process of the government?Ans:In a democracy general elections are held and all adults have a right to vote. The citizens elect a few people to represent them in the Parliament. The Parliament is made up of all these representatives. These representatives are known as Members of the Parliament. One group, from among these elected representatives forms the government. It is through these representatives that the citizens take part in the decision-making of the government.Question-5Who designed the Parliament house in India?Ans:The Parliament house in India was designed by the British architect Herbert Baker.Question-6What is an EVM?Ans:An EVM is an Electronic Voting Machine used for elections in India. Indian voting machines use a two-piece system with a balloting unit presenting the voter with a button for each choice connected by a cable to an electronic ballot box.Question-7What is a constituency?Ans:The country is divided into many areas for election purposes. Each area is called a constituency. A representative is elected from each constituency to serve in the legislative body.

Question-8Mention the 2 houses of the Indian Parliament.Ans: The 2 Houses of the Indian Parliament are …The Rajya SabhaThe Lok SabhaQuestion-9Write a brief note on the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.Ans:Rajya SabhaThe Rajya Sabha functions primarily as the representative of the states of India, in the Parliament. There are 233 elected members plus 12 members nominated by the President. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of various states. The Rajya Sabha plays an important role of reviewing and altering the laws initiated by the Lok Sabha.Lok SabhaThe Lok Sabha, known as the House of the People, with a total membership of 543, is presided over by the Speaker. The country is divided into 543 Lok Sabha constituencies. During a Lok Sabha election, people from different political parties stand for elections. Once elected, these candidates become Members of Parliament or MPs. These MPs together make up the Parliament.Question-10What are the three major duties of the Parliament?Ans:The three major duties of the Parliament are…To Select the National GovernmentTo Control, Guide and Inform the GovernmentLaw-Making

Chapter – 4 Understanding Laws

Question-1Mention the different categories under which Law can be classified.Ans:Some of the categories under which law can be classifies are…Criminal lawContract LawProperty LawInternational lawEquity and Trust LawsQuestion-2Write a short note on Lady Justice.Ans:Lady Justice or Justitia is the Roman Goddess of Justice. It is a personification of the moral force that underlies the legal system. Her blindfolded eyes symbolize equality under the law and impartiality towards all the people who are governed by it. The weighing scales represent the balancing of people’s interests under the law, and her sword denotes the law’s force of reason.Question-3Mention some of the common laws that govern us.Ans:Some of the common laws that govern us are…The age at which a person can voteSpecific age for marriageLaws governing the selling and buying of propertyQuestion-4What is a constitution?Ans:A Constitution is a document outlining the basic laws or principals by which a country is governed.Question-5State Article 14 of the Indian constitutionAns:Article 14 – Equality before law.—The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.Question-6How was the system of law during ancient times in India?Ans:In ancient India, there were countless and overlapping local laws. Different communities were given the liberty to enforce the laws according to their need. In some cases, the punishment that two persons received for the same crime varied depending on their caste. The lower castes were punished more harshly.Question-7

When was the Hindu Succession Amendment Act revised?Ans:The Hindu Succession Amendment Act was revised in 2005.Question-8What was the Sedition Act?Ans:According to the Sedition Act of 1870 any person protesting or criticising the British government could be arrested without due trial.Question-9Write a brief note on the Rowlatt Act.Ans:The Rowlatt Committee was a Sedition Committee appointed in 1918 by the British Indian Government with Mr. Justice Rowlatt, an English judge, as its president.The Rowlatt Act, also known as the Black Act, was instituted on the Rowlatt Committee’s recommendations. It had a significant impact on the political situation of India, placing her on a path of political movement headed by Gandhi that ultimately dominated the Indian Independence movement for the next 20 years. The Act gave the Viceroy’s government powers to quell sedition by silencing the press, detaining the political activists without trial, and arresting without warrant any individuals suspected of sedition or treason. In protest, a nationwide cessation of work was called, marking the beginning of widespread, although not nationwide, popular discontent.The agitation unleashed by the Act culminated on 13 April 1919, in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar, Punjab.Question-10How is a new law introduced in Parliament?Ans:Parliament of India consists of the President and two Houses—the Council of States or the Rajya Sabha and the House of the People or the Lok Sabha.A Bill can be introduced in either House of Parliament. A Bill introduced by the Minister is known as Government Bill and a Bill introduced by a private member is known as Private Member’s Bill.The procedure for the passage of the Bills is similar in both the cases. A Bill has to pass through three stages in each House of Parliament and receive Presidential assent before it becomes an Act of Parliament. In the event of a deadlock between the two Houses on a Bill, the issue is resolved at a joint sitting of the two Houses.

Chapter – 5 Judiciary

Question-1What do you understand by the word ‘law’?Ans:Law is a system of rules, usually imposed through a Government or Institution and is applied to govern a group people. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways.Question-2What does judiciary mean?Ans:In law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of courts which administers justice in the name of the state. It is the mechanism for the reAns of disputes and pronouncement of punishment. As an organ of the State, the judiciary plays a crucial role in the functioning of India’s democracy.Question-3How is the work of the judiciary categorised?Ans:The Judiciary comprises of courts that take decisions on a very large number of issues. The work of the judiciary can be divided into 3 categories, namely Dispute ReAns, Judicial Review and upholding the Law and Enforcing Fundamental Rights.Question-4Write a brief note on the independence of the judiciary.Ans:The Judiciary of India is an independent body. It is separate from the Executive and Legislative bodies of the Indian Government. The Executive and Legislature, that is the Central and State Governments, cannot interfere in the work of the judiciary.The courts are not under the government and do not act on their behalf.Judges in the High Court as well as the Supreme Court are appointed by the President with very little interference from the other branches of the government. It is also very difficult to remove a judge from his post.Question-5What is the structure of the judicial system of India?Ans:The judicial system of India is stratified into various levels. At the apex is the Supreme Court, which is followed by High Courts at the state level, District Courts at the district level and Lok Adalats at the Village and Panchayat Level.The structure of the courts from the lower to the highest level resembles a pyramid.Question-6What is the ‘appellate system’?Ans:An appellate court, commonly called an appeals court or court of second instance is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal. In most jurisdictions, the court system is divided into at least three levels: the trial court,

which initially hears cases and reviews evidence and testimony to determine the facts of the case; at least one intermediate appellate court; and a supreme court which primarily reviews the decisions of the intermediate courts. A jurisdiction’s supreme court is that jurisdiction’s highest appellate court.Appellate courts nationwide can operate by varying rules.The authority of appellate courts to review decisions of lower courts varies widely from one jurisdiction to another. In some places, the appellate court has limited powers of review. “Generally speaking, an appellate court’s judgment provides ‘the final directive of the appeals courts as to the matter appealed, setting out with specificity the court’s determination that the action appealed from should be affirmed, reversed, remanded or modified'”.Question-7Mention the branches of the Legal system.Ans:The Legal system can be divided into 2 branches, criminal law and civil law.Question-8What is “Public interest Litigation”?Ans:“Public interest Litigation” or PIL is a litigation filed in a court of law, for the protection of “Public Interest”, such as pollution, terrorism, road safety, constructional hazards etc.PIL can be filed for the following reasons:

Violation of basic human rights of the poorContent or conduct of government policyCompel municipal authorities to perform a public dutyViolation of religious rights or other basic fundamental rightsAny individual or organisation can file a PIL in the High Court or the SupremeCourt on behalf of those whose rights are being violated. It is not necessary, that the person filing a case should have a direct interest in the case.