Class 8 Geography Chapter 3

Class 8 Geography Chapter 3 Mineral & Power Resources

1. Answer the following questions.
(i) Name any three common minerals used by you everyday.
Answer
Salt, Gold and Copper are three common minerals used everyday.

(ii) What is an ore? Where are the ores of metallic minerals generally located?
Answer
Rocks from which minerals are mined are known as ores. For any material to be called ore of any mineral, it must contain minimum adequate quantity of that mineral so that it can be extracted profitably.

(iii) Name two regions rich in natural gas resources.
Answer
Russia and Norway are the two regions rich in natural gas resources.

(iv) Which sources of energy would you suggest for
(a) Rural areas
(b) Coastal areas
(c) Arid regions
Answer
(a) Biogas energy for rural areas
(b) Hydel and tidal energy for coastal areas
(c) Wind and solar energy for arid regions.

(v) Give five ways in which you can save energy at home.
Answer
Five ways in which energy can be saved at home:
→ Switching off lights, fans and other electrical appliances when not in use
→ By seeing to it that electrical devices are operating efficiently; for example, defrosting refrigerator regularly and not keeping the refrigerator door open for longer than necessary
→ Using energy-efficient devices such as fluorescent bulbs and tubes
→ Using energy efficiently while cooking; for example, keeping the lids of pans on while cooking
→ Unplugging electrical devices when not in use prevents leakage of electricity; thus saving energy.

2. Tick the correct answer.
(i) Which one of the following is nota characteristic of minerals?
(a) They are created by natural processes.
(b) They have a definite chemical composition.
(c) They are inexhaustible.
(d) Their distribution is uneven.
► (c) They are inexhaustible.
(ii) Which one of the following is nota producer of mica?
(a) Jharkhand
(b) Karnataka
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Andhra Pradesh
► (b) Karnataka
(iii) Which one of the following is a leading producer of copper in the world?
(a) Bolivia
(b) Ghana
(c) Chile
(d) Zimbabwe
► (c) Chile
(iv) Which one of the following practises will not conserve LPG in your kitchen?
(a) Soaking the dal for some time before cooking it.
(b) Cooking food in a pressure cooker.
(c) Keeping the vegetables chopped before lighting the gas for cooking.
(d) Cooking food in an open pan kept on low flame. 
► (d) Cooking food in an open pan kept on low flame.

3. Give reasons.
(i) Environmental aspects must be carefully looked into before building huge dams.
Answer
Environmental aspects must be carefully looked into before building huge dams because of the following reasons -
→ Dams create imbalance in the earth’s equilibrium.
→. Deforestation leads to environmental pollution.
→ People become displaced.
→ Cities / villages / towns may require shifting causing lot of hardships for the people.
→ Flood threats loom large.
→ Earthquake threats
→ Silting of lakes is a problem.

(ii) Most industries are concentrated around coal mines.
Answer
Coal is used as a source of energy and power and also as a raw material in most of the industries. Hence most industries are concentrated around coal mines of the purpose saving cost of transportation of coal (cost effectiveness).

(iii) Petroleum is referred to as “black gold”.
Answer
Petroleum is referred to as “black gold” because it is black in colour in the crude form and its derivatives are extremely valuable as petroleum itself. Today it is almost inevitable in our day-to-day life. A variety of products like – kerosene, diesel, petrol, wax, plastics, lubricants etc. are produced from these mineral resources.

(iv) Quarrying can become a major environmental concern.
Answer
Quarrying can become a major environmental concern because of the following reasons:
→ It may destroy the humus of soil which is much required for the growth of plants and crops.
→It produces a lot of noise pollution due to use of explosives at times in order to break the huge chunks of rocks.
→ In the process of quarrying lot of dust is generated which causes air pollution and also occupational hazards.
→ Blasting done in the process of quarrying generate vibration which damage in the nearby buildings, dams or any other similar structure.

4. Distinguish between the following.
(i) Conventional and non-conventional sources of energy

Conventional sources of energy	Non-conventional sources of energy
Have been in common use for a long time	Are not commonly used
Are generally exhaustible	Are generally inexhaustible
Are mostly polluting	Are mostly non-polluting
Example: Firewood, coal	Example: Solar energy, nuclear energy.

(ii) Biogas and natural gas

Biogas	Natural gas
Formed using organic wastes such as dead plant and animal matter, animal dung and kitchen waste	Found along with petroleum deposits and gets released when crude oil is brought to the surface
Is a non-conventional source of energy	Is a conventional source of energy
Is easily available, especially in rural areas	Is not easily available; very few countries have sufficient natural gas reserves of their own
Is polluting; causes greenhouse effect as it releases carbon dioxide	Is a cleaner fuel
Used as a domestic fuel for cooking and lighting	Used as a domestic fuel as well as an industrial fuel

(iii) Ferrous and non-ferrous minerals

Ferrous mineral	Non-ferrous mineral
A metallic mineral that contains iron	A metallic mineral that does not contain iron
Example: Iron ore, manganese	Example: Gold, silver

(iv) Metallic and non-metallic minerals

Metallic mineral	Non-metallic mineral
A mineral containing metal in raw form	A mineral not containing metal
Example: Bauxite, iron ore	Example: Limestone, gypsum

Class 8 Civics Chapter 3

Class 8 Civics Chapter 3 Why do we Need a Parliament

Q1 Why do you think our nationalist movement supported the idea that all adults have a right to vote?

Ans: People had lived in fear of the British government and did not agree with many of the decisions taken by the Britishers under colonial rule.

1. People were subjected to injustice and could not voice their opinions.
2. They faced great danger if they tried to criticise the decisions of the British government.
3. With the coming of independence, everyone became the citizens of a free country. The freedom movement changed this situation and the nationalists began to openly criticise the British government and make demands for freedom and equality.
4. They demanded that there must be elected members in the legislature with a right to discuss the budget and ask questions.
5. This did not mean that the government could do what it felt like, it meant that the government had to be sensitive to people’s needs and demands. The dreams and aspirations of the freedom struggle were made concrete in the Constitution of independent India.
6. These ideas were included in the Constitution of independent India that laid down the principle of universal adult franchise, i.e. that all adult citizens of the country have the right to vote. That way, the citizens can participate in forming the government and they can monitor its functioning.

Hence, the nationalist movement supported the idea of universal adult franchise, so that the people can form the government and take part in its decision making processes.

Class 8 History Chapter 3

Chapter 3 History Ruling the Countryside

1. Match the following:

ryot	village
mahal	peasant
nij	cultivation on ryot’s lands
ryoti	cultivation on planter’s own land

Ans :

ryot	peasant
mahal	village
nij	cultivation on planter’s own land
ryoti	cultivation on ryot’s lands

2. Fill in the blanks:

(a) Growers of woad in Europe saw ______ as a crop which would provide competition to their earnings.

Ans: Growers of woad in Europe saw indigo as a crop which would provide competition to their earnings.

(b) The demand for indigo increased in late-eighteenth-century Britain because of ________.

Ans: The demand for indigo increased in the late-eighteenth-century Britain because of the expansion of cotton production as a result of industrialisation, which in turn created an enormous demand for cloth dyes.

(c) The international demand for indigo was affected by the discovery of __________.

Ans: The international demand for indigo was affected by the discovery of synthetic dyes.

(d) The Champaran movement was against __________.

Ans: The Champaran movement was against indigo planters.

3. Describe the main features of the Permanent Settlement.

Ans: In order to get a stable revenue income, most of the East India Company’s officials believed that investment in land had to be encouraged and agriculture had to be improved. This led to introduction of permanent settlement in 1793. The main features of the Permanent settlement were:

1. The amount of revenue was fixed permanently, that is, it was not to be increased in ever in future.
2. It was felt that this would ensure a regular flow of revenue into the Company’s coffers and at the same time encourage the zamindars to invest in improving the land.
3. Since the revenue demand of the state would not be increased, the zamindar would benefit from increased production from the land.
4. Under this system revenue had been fixed so high that the zamindars found it difficult to pay.
5. Even when the income of zamindars increased with the expansion of cultivation, the company had no chance of gain because it could not increase a revenue demand that had been fixed permanently.
6. The system proved oppressive for the cultivators.

4. How was the mahalwari system different from the Permanent Settlement?

Ans :

Mahalwari Settlement	Permanent Settlement
The mahalwari system, devised by Holt Mackenzie, came into effect in 1822, in the North Western provinces of the Bengal Presidency.	The Permanent Settlement was introduced in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis.
It was devised as an alternative to the Permanent Settlement.	It was aimed at ensuring stable revenue for the East India Company.
The village headmen were in charge of collecting revenue.	The rajas and taluqdars were in charge of collecting revenue.
The revenue amount was not fixed, and was to be revised periodically. The estimated revenue of each plot within a village was added up to calculate the revenue that each village or mahal had to pay.	The revenue amount was fixed and was never to be increased in the future.

5. Give two problems which arose with the new Munro system of fixing revenue.

Ans: Two problems which arose with the new Munro system of fixing revenue were:

• Driven by the desire to increase the income from land, revenue officials fixed too high a revenue demand.
• Peasants were unable to pay the revenue as the crop failed in the countryside and villages became deserted in many regions.

6. Why were ryots reluctant to grow indigo?

Ans: The ryots were reluctant to grow indigo because:

1. The planters paid a very low price for indigo.
2. The ryots were not in a position to even recover their cost, earning a profit was a far-fetched idea. This meant that the ryot was always under debt.
3. The planters insisted that the peasants cultivate indigo on the most fertile parts of their land, but the peasants preferred growing rice on the best soils after an indigo harvest. The land could not be used for sowing rice, the ryots were reluctant to grow indigo.

7. What were the circumstances which led to the eventual collapse of indigo production in Bengal?

Ans: The ryots in Bengal got fed up with the coercive methods the planters used with them and finally refused to grow indigo. They became violent. They not only refused to pay rents to the planters, but also attacked indigo factories armed with swords and spears, bows and arrows. Meanwhile the local zamindars and village headmen also began to favour the indigo ryots. They mobililsed the indigo peasants and fought pitched battles with the lathiyals, the lathi-wielding strong men maintained by the planters. In other places even the zamindars went around villages urging the ryots to resist the planters. Worried by the rebellion, the government brought in the military to protect the planters from assault, and set up the Indigo commission to enquire into the system of indigo production. The commission held the planters guilty and criticised them for the coercive method they used with indigo cultivators. It declared that indigo production was not profitable for ryots. The commission asked the ryots to fulfill their existing contracts but also told them that they could refuse to produce indigo in future. After this revolt, indigo production collapsed in Bengal.

Class 8 Geography Chapter 2

Class 8 Geography Chapter 2 Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation & Wildlife

Q.1: Answer the following questions. 
(i) Which are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation? 
(ii) Write any two reasons for land degradation today. 
(iii) Why is land considered an important resource? 
(iv) Name any two steps that government has taken to conserve plants and animals. 
(v) Suggest three ways to conserve water.

Ans : (i) Temperature and rainfall are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation.
(ii) Deforestation and the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers in agricultural lands are two factors contributing to land degradation.
(iii) Land is among the most important natural resources. It provides habitation to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Human beings use land for various purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses and roads, and setting up industries.
(iv) Two steps that the government has taken to conserve plants and animals:
(a) Has set up national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves for protecting natural vegetation and wildlife; for example, the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.
(b) Has banned the killing of lions, tigers, deer, great Indian bustards and peacocks. It has also prohibited the trade of the species of plants and animals protected under the international agreement CITES.
(v)Three ways to conserve water:
(a) Rain-water harvesting
(b) Reducing wastage of water
(c) Replenishing ground water by promoting afforestation.

 Q.2: Tick the correct answer. 

(i) Which one of the following is NOT a factor of soil formation? 
(a) time 
(b) soil texture 
(c) organic matter 
(ii) Which one of the following methods is most appropriate to check soil erosion on steep slopes? 
(a) shelter belts 
(b) mulching 
(c) terrace cultivation 
(iii) Which one of the following is NOT in favour of the conservation of nature? 
(a) switch off the bulb when not in use 
(b) close the tap immediately after using 
(c) dispose polypacks after shopping

Ans : (i)-(b)
(ii)- (c)
(iii)-(c) 

Q.3: Match the followings : 
(i) Land use          (a) prevent soil erosion 
(ii) Humus            (b) narrow zone of contact 

                                     between the lithosphere, 

                                     hydrosphere and atmosphere 
(iii) Rock dams         (c) productive use of land 
(iv) Biosphere          (d) organic matter deposited 

                                         on top soil 

                                  (e) contour ploughing

Ans : 

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

Q.4: State whether the given statement is true or false. If true, write the reasons. 
(i) Ganga–Brahmaputra plain of India is an overpopulated region. 
(ii) Water availability per person in India is declining. 
(iii) Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement is called intercropping. 
(iv) Human interference and changes of climate can maintain the ecosystem.

Ans : (i) Ganga−Brahmaputra plain of India is an overpopulated region.
This statement is true. Plains and river valleys offer suitable land for agriculture. Hence, these are densely-populated areas of the world.
(ii) Water availability per person in India is declining.
This statement is true. Though water is present in abundance, fresh water is a scarce resource. Water availability is a serious problem in many regions of the world. Due to the wastage of water, deforestation, and the pollution and depletion of fresh water reserves (such as rivers and ground water), the availability of water is fast declining.
(iii) Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement is called intercropping.
This statement is false. The described process is called shelter belts.
Intercropping is the process in which different crops are grown in alternate rows, and are sown at different times to protect the soil from rain wash.
(iv) Human interference and changes of climate can maintain the ecosystem.This statement is false. Human interferences and climatic changes for the most part adversely affect the balance of the ecosystem.

Class 8 History Chapter 2

Class 8 History Chapter 2 From Trade to Territory

Question. 1. Match the following:

Answer.

Question.2. Fill in the blanks:
(a) The British conquest of Bengal began with the Battle of …………
(b) Haider All and Tipu Sultan were the rulers of …………..
(c) Dalhousie implemented the Doctrine of ……………
(d) Maratha kingdoms were located mainly in the part of …………… India.
Answer. (a) Plassey (b) Mysore (c) Lapse (d) Western

Question.3. State whether true or false:
(a) The Mughal empire became stronger in the eighteenth century.
(b) The English East India Company was the only European company that traded with India.
(c) Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the ruler of Punjab.
(d) The British did not introduce administrative changes in the territories they conquered.
Answer. (a) False (b) False (c) True (d) False

Question.4. What attracted European trading companies to India?
Answer. (a) The fine qualities of cotton and silk produced in India. (b) Indian spices such as pepper, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon.

Question.5. What were the areas of conflict between the Bengal Nawabs and the East India Company?
Answer.(a) The Bengal nawabs asserted their power and autonomy and refused to grant the Company concessions,
(b) They demanded large tributes for the Company’s right to trade,
(c) They denied the Company any right to mint coins,
(d) They stopped the Company from extending its fortifications
(e) Accusing the Company of deceit, they claimed that the Company was depriving the Bengal government of huge amounts of revenue and undermining the authority of the nawab. It was refusing to pay taxes, writing disrespectful letters, and trying to humiliate the nawab and his officials.
These were the areas of conflict between the Bengal Nawabs and the East India Company.

Question.6. How did the assumption of Diwani benefit the East India Company?

Answer. The Mughal emperor, in 1765, appointed the Company %s the Diwan of the provinces of Bengal. The Diwani allowed the Company to exploit the vast revenue resources of Bengal. This solved a major problem that the company had earlier faced. Although its trade had expanded, it had to buy most of the goods in India with gold and silver imported from Britain. The overflow of gold from Britain stopped after the assumption of Diwani. Now revenue from India could finance Company expenses. These revenues they used to purchase cotton and silk textiles in India, maintain Company troops and meet the cost of building the Company fort and offices at Calcutta.

Question.7. Explain the system of ‘subsidiary alliance’.
Answer. Under the system of ‘subsidiary alliance’, Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces. They were to be protected by the Company, but had to pay for the ‘subsidiary forces’ that the Company was supposed to maintain for the purpose of this protection. If the Indian rulers failed to make the payment, the part of their territory was taken away as penalty. The states which had to lose their territories on this ground were Awadh and Hyderabad.

Question.8. In what way was the administration of the Company different from that of Indian rulers?
Answer. The administration of the Company was different from that of the Indian rulers in the following ways:
(a) The Company divided its admini¬strative units called Presidencies. There were three Presidencies— Bengal, Madras and Bombay. In India, districts were the main administrative units.
(b) Each presidency was ruled by a Governor. Districts were ruled by the Collectors.
(c) The supreme head of the administration of the Company was the Governor-General. But in India, the head of the administration was the king. .
(d) The main job of the Governor-General was to introduce administrative reforms while the main job of the Collector was to collect revenue and taxes- and maintain law and order in his district.

Question.9. Describe the changes that occurred in the composition of the Company’s army.
Answer. Several changes occurred in the composition of the Company’s army:
(a) The Company began recruitment for its own army, which came to be known as the sepoy army.
(b) As the warfare technology changed from the 1820s, the cavalry recruitments of the Company’s army declined.
(c) The soldiers of the Company’s army had to keep pace with changing military requirements and its infantry regiments now became more important.
(d) In the early 19th century the Birtish began to develop a uniform military culture. Soldiers were increasingly subjected to European style training, drill and discipline that regulated Their life for more than before.

Question 10. After the British conquest of Bengal, Calcutta -grew from a small village to a big city. Find out about the culture, architecture and the life of Europeans and Indians of the city during the colonial period.
Answer:
Hints: Visit school library or get information from internet.
Indians were influenced by the British culture, architecture and life style.

• Culture : British influence began.
• Architecture : Influenced by the British Architecture (fortification of the city,churches etc.). Rich Indians started constructing bunglows in English style.
• Life: English education, English clothes, became to be popular.

Question 11.
Collect pictures, stories, poems and information about any of the following—the Rani of Jhansi, Mahadji Sindhia, Haidar Ali, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Lord Dalhousie or any other contemporary ruler of your region.
Answer:
The Rani of Jhansi: Collect information and photographs
Hints:

1.  Early childhood
2. Early marriage
3. Death of husband
4. Adopted son
5. Fight with British
6. Died fighting with   the British.
7. History would always remember her.

Rani of Jhansi LakshmiBai

1. Rani Of Jhansi:

Lakshmibai was born probably on 19 November 1828 in the holy town of Varanasi in a Marathi brahmin family. Her father was Moropant Tambe. Her father worked for a court of Peshwa of Bithoor district. Peshwa brought Manikarnika up like his own daughter. The Peshwa called her “Chhabili”, which means “playful”.

She was educated at home and was more independent in her childhood than others of her age; her studies included archery, horsemanship, and self-defence.

Rani Lakshmibai was accustomed to ride on horseback accompanied by a small escort between the palace and the temple. The Rani Mahal, the place of Rani Lakshmibai, has now been converted into a museum.

She died, fighting British Army bravely, to save her state Jhansi.

Mahadaji Scindia - Ruler of Gwalior

2. Mahadaji Shindhia

Mahadaji Shinde (1730-1794 A.D.) also spelled as Mahadji Scindia or Mahadaji Scindia, was a Maratha ruler of the state of Gwalior in central India.

Mahadaji was instrumental in resurrecting Maratha power in North India after the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, and rose to become a trusted lieutenant of the

Peshwa, leader of the Maratha Empire. During his reign, Qwalior became the leading state in the Maratha Empire and one of the foremost military powers in India.

He accompanied Shah Alarm II (Mughal Badshah) in 1771 to Delhi in order to restore the Mughals in Delhi. The Marathas were practically at that time ruling Delhi.

He annihilated the power of Jats of Mathura and during 1772-73 and destroyed the power of Pashtun Rohillas in Rohilkhand and captured Najibabad. His role during the ‘First Anglo Maratha War was greatest from the Maratha side since he humbled the British in Central India, single handed, which resulted into the Treaty of Salbai in 1782, where he mediated between the Peshwa and the British.

Hyder Ali

3. Hyder Ali Of Mysore

Hyder Ali (1721-1782) was the sultan and de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore’s rulers. Rising to the post of Dalavayi (commander-in-chief) to Krishnaraja Wodeyar II, he came to dominate the titular monarch and the Mysore government. He became the de facto ruler of Mysore as Sarvadhikari (Chief Minister) by 1761. He offered strong anti-colonial resistance against the military advances of the British East’India Company during the First and Second Anglo Mysore Wars and he was the innovator of military use of the ‘iron-cased Mysorean rockets.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh

4. Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Ranjit Singh was born to Sardar Maha Singh and Raj Kaur on 13 November, 1780, in Gujranwala, Punjab (now in Pakistan).

As a child he suffered from smallpox which resulted in loss of one eye. At the time, much of Punjab was ruled by the Sikhs under a Confederate Sarbat Khalsa system, which had divided the territory among factions known as misls Ranjit Singh’s father was the  commander of the Sukerchakia Misl and controlled a territory in the west Punjab based around his headquarter at Gujranwala.

In 1799, Ranjit Singh captured Lahore (now in Pakistan) from the Bhangi Misl and later made it his capital. This was the first important step in his rise to power. In the following years, he brought the whole of the central Punjab from the Sutlej to the Jhelum under his sway. This area includes, north of Satluj (Jullundhar, Amritsar, Pathankot etc.); and Lahore, Multan etc. of Pakistan.

Lord Dalhousie

5. Lord Dalhousie

A governor general of India (1848 to 1856):Lord Dalhousie is one the most negatively remembered personality in the rule of East India Company. He ruled India with his full efficiency from 1848 to 1856 A.D. In India he was famous for various negative and positive reasons.
Positive:

1. Starting of Railway in 1853 A.D. for the first time, between Bombay to Thane.
2. Starting of postal and telegraph services in India.
3. Starting of widow remarriage in 1856 A.D.
4. Completion of Ganges Canal.
5. Reform in Indian civil services.

Negative

1. East India Company captured the princely state of Punjab in 1849 A.D.
2. Second Anglo-Burmese War.
3. Doctrine of Lapse (Most Controversial).
4. Annexation of Awadh.

Class 8 History Chapter 1

Class 8 History Chapter 1 How, When and Where

Question.1.State whether true or false:
(a) James Mill divided Indian history into three periods—Hindu, Muslim, Christian.
(b) Official documents help us understand what the people of the country think.
(c) The British thought surveys were important for effective administration.

Answer. (a) False (b) False (c) True

Question.2. What is the problem with the periodisation of Indian history that James Mill offers?
Answer. James Mill divided Indian history into three periods—Hindu, Muslim and British. This periodisation has its own problem. It is difficult to refer to any period of history as ‘Hindu’ or ‘Muslim’ because a variety of faiths existed simultaneously in these periods. It is also not justified to characterise an age through the religion of the rulers of the time. What it suggests is that the lives and practices of others do not really matter. It is worth-mentioning that even rulers in ancient India did not all share the same faith.

Question.3. Why did the British preserve official documents?
Answer. The British believed that by preserving official documents, it would be easier for them or any other persons to know about the decisions taken in the past. One can study the notes and reports that were prepared in the past. Their copies may be prepared and used in present time if needed so.

Question.4. How will the information historians get from old newspapers be different from that found in police reports?
Answer. The information printed in newspaper are usually affected by the views and opinions of the reporters, news editors etc. But what historians find in police reports are usually true and realistic.

Question.5. Can you think of examples of surveys in your world today? Think about how toy companies get information about what young people enjoy playing with or how the government finds out about the number of young people in school. What can a historian derive from such surveys?
Answer. Students will do themselves.

Class 8 Civics Chapter 1

Chapter 1 The Indian Constitution

1. Why does a democratic country need a Constitution?

Answer

A democratic country need a Constitution because:
→ It lays out the important guidelines that govern decision making within the various societies of the country.
→ It lays down the ideals that form the basis of the kind of country that its citizens aspire to live in.
→ It serves as asset of rules and principles as the basis by which the country has to be governed.
→ It provides rules to safeguard the interests of minorities and prevent any kind of domination by the majority on minorities.
→ It lays down rules that guard against the misuse of power by any politician leader.
→ It also provides rights to its citizens and protects their freedom.

2. Look at the wordings of the two documents given below. The first column is from the 1990 Nepal Constitution. The second column is from the more recent interim Constitution of Nepal.

1990 Constitution of Nepal Part 7: Executive	2007 Interim Constitution Part 5: Executive
Article 35: Executive Power: The executive power of the Kingdom of Nepal shall be vested in His Majesty and the Council of Ministers.	Article 37: Executive Power: the executive power of Nepal shall be vested in the council of Ministers.

What is the difference in who exercises 'Executive Power' in the above two Constitutions of Nepal? Keeping this in mind, why do you think Nepal needs a new Constitution today?

Answer
The difference in who exercises "Executive Power" in the given two Constitutions of Nepal is that in the 1990 Constitution, this power was vested in the King and his Council of Ministers, while in the 2007 Interim Constitution of Nepal, "Executive Power" changed hands to being vested only in the Council of Ministers, thereby making Nepal a democracy from being a monarchy.
Nepal needs a new Constitution today because it is no longer a monarchy. The older Constitution vested power in the King, but when the country is now a democracy, a new Constitution is needed to reflect the "democratic" ideals of Nepal that the peoples' movement desired and fought for. In order to achieve this, all its constitutive rules must be changed.

3. What would happen if there were no restrictions on the power of elected representatives?

Answer
If there are no restrictions on the power of the elected representatives the leaders might misuse the powers given to them. The Constitution provides safeguards against this misuse of power by our political leaders.

4. In each of the following situations, identify the minority. Write one reason why you think it is important to respect the views of the minority in each of these situations.(a) In a school with 30 teachers, 20 of them are male.(b) In a city, 5 per cent of the population are Buddhists.(c) In a factory mess for all employees, 80 per cent are vegetarians.(d) In a class of 50 students, 40 belong to more well-off families.

Answer
(a) Female teachers are in minority. The female teachers must be allowed space to voice their opinion so that their efforts at teaching are not hindered by their minority status.

(b) Budhhists are in minority. Every individual has the right to follow the religion of his/her choice. People of other faith must respect the religion other than their own.

(c) Non-vegetrians are in minority. Food choice is personal wish so he/she should have the freedom to eat what he/she wants.

(d) Under privileged are in minority. Citizens cannnot be discriminated by their birth so their views have to be respected.

5. The column on the left lists some of the key features of the Indian Constitution. In the other column write two sentences, in your own words, on why you think this feature is important:

Key Feature	Significance
Federalism Separation of Powers Fundamental Rights Parliamentary Form of Government

Answer
Key features are-
1. Federalism: It ensures national unity and at the same time allows individual progress. A federal government allows the Centre to hold supreme power but its Constituent States have some power as well.

2. Separation of Powers: This serves two purposes: firstly, tyrannical use of power is avoided since it does not vest power in any single authority. Secondly, the 3 organs of power also work as a check on each other, thereby maintaining a good balance.

3. Fundamental Rights: These are important because they conform to a humane society. They also protect citizens against arbitrary and absolute use of power by the State.

4. Parliamentary Form of Government: It upholds universal adult franchise. This entails the fact that the people of a country play a direct role in electing their representatives to run the state as well as the nation.

Class 8 Geography Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Resources

Question. 1. Answer the following questions.

(i) Why are resources distributed unequally over the earth?
(ii) What is resource development?
(iii) Why are human resources important?
(iv) What is sustainable development?

Answer.(i) The distribution of resources depends on various factors such as physical nature of the place. The physical factors include terrain, climate, height above sea level, etc. Since these factors vary in different parts of the world, resources are pot distributed over the earth.
(ii) Resource development is the method of utilising our intelligence in order to improve the quality, usability and utility of a resource.
(iii) Human resources are important
because they have an intelligent mind which can make best use of nature to create more resources. Had humans not been there, different substances would not have been resources. Their utility can only be realised by human beings.
(iv) We should use resources in such a balanced way that we satisfy our needs as well as conserve them for future. This concept is called sustainable development.

Question.2. Tick the correct answer.
(i) Which one of the following does not make a substance a resource?
(a) utility (b) value (c) quantity
(ii) Which one of the following is a human-made resource?
(a) medicines to treat cancer
(b) spring water
(c) tropical forests
(iii) Complete the statement. Biotic resources are
(a) derived from living beings.
(b) made by human beings.
(c) derived from non-living things.
Answer. (i) (c), (ii) (a), (iii) (a).

Question.3. Differentiate between the followings.
(a) Potential and actual resources (b) Ubiquitous and localised resources

Answer. (a)

Class 8 Civics Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Law and Social Justice

Question -1 What are the advantages to foreign companies in setting up production in India?
Solution:
India provides cheap labour compared to some other countries. Wages paid to workers in foreign countries are much higher than in India. For lower pay, the foreign companies can get longer hours of work. Additional expenses such as housing facilities for workers are also fewer in India. Thus, foreign companies can save costs and earn higher profits.

Question -2 Do you think the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy got justice? Discuss.
Solution:
The victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy did not get justice. The disaster was caused due to gross neglect of safety measures by the management of the factory.
The government of India represented the people to legally claim compensation for the affected people. The government demanded $ 3 billion but had to accept a meagre $ 470 million from the Company.
Today, 24 years after the disaster, people of Bhopal are still fighting for justice.

Question -3 What do we mean when we speak of law enforcement? Who is responsible for enforcement? Why is enforcement so important?
Solution:
Law enforcement means to compel obedience to a law. Laws passed by the government have to be enforced otherwise the benefit of the laws will not reach the citizens. It is the duty of the government to enforce the laws.
By enforcing and upholding these laws, the government can control the activities of individuals or private companies so as to ensure social justice.
Enforcement is even more important when the law seeks to protect the weak from the strong.

Question -4 How can laws ensure that markets work in a manner that is fair? Give two examples to support your answer.

Solution:
The government has passed laws that ensure that essential products such as food grains, sugar and kerosene are not highly priced. It is necessary that such restrictions are placed on people who market these products; otherwise the poor will not be able to afford these goods.
The government has also passed the Consumers’ Protection Act which ensures that the consumers are not cheated by the sale of sub-standard products.
‘Hallmark’ certification helps the consumer to buy standard gold ornaments and ‘Agmark’ certification ensures that the food products on sale are of good quality.

Question -5 Write a paragraph on the various roles of the government that you have read about in this unit.
Solution:
The common man is exploited in most societies. When this happens it is the duty of the government to ensure that social justice prevails and all the citizens can establish their rights.
The government has passed many laws to guarantee that workers are not exploited by unscrupulous employers. Payment of Wages Act, 1936; Minimum Wages Act, 1948; Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 are some of the Acts that ensure that workers are not underpaid and exploited.
The government has passed the Factories Act, 1948. This Act regulates health, safety, welfare and other working conditions of workers in factories. It is enforced by the State Governments through their factory inspectorates.
The Consumer Protection Act ensures that the consumer is not put to risk by the poor quality of products such as electrical appliances, food and medicines. The Bureau of Indian Standards is a government organization that oversees the quality of products sold.
The government has also passed laws that ensure that essential products such as food grains, sugar and kerosene are not highly priced.
The Environment (protection) Act, 1986, was passed to protect the environment and avert health hazards to human beings.
Prohibition of Employment of Young Children protects children from being exploited. No child who has not completed his fourteenth year shall be required or allowed to work in any factory
The Trade Unions Act, 1926 provides for registration of trade unions with a view to render lawful organisation of labour to enable collective bargaining.

Question -6 How was environment treated earlier? What has been the change in perception?
Solution:
In 1984, there were very few laws to protect the environment in India. These few laws were not enforced strictly by the government. Industries discharged their waste into water bodies and made it unfit for consumption. The air was polluted with smoke that bellowed from the factories.
This pollution proved to be a health hazard for the people. The Bhopal disaster brought the issue of environmental pollution into focus.
The existing laws did not protect the common man from industrial disasters. Environmental activists insisted on new laws which will protect all the citizens from hazardous pollution of the environment. In response to the demand by the activists and the public, the government introduced new laws on the environmental safety.
According to the new laws imposed by the government the polluter will be held accountable for the damage done to the environment.
The Right to Life is a Fundamental Right under Article 21 of the Constitution and it includes the right to the enjoyment of pollution-free water and air for full enjoyment of life.

Question -7 What do you think the famous cartoonist R.K. Laxman is trying to convey in this cartoon? How does it relate to the 2006 law that you read about on page 125?
Solution:
The cartoon shows a young under privileged boy carrying the books of a well-to- do boy who is off to school. This reveals that the boy who is less than 14 years of age has been employed by the woman seen in the picture.
The cartoon emphasises that young children are being exploited at work places. They are made to work for long hours for very little wages. These children are being denied basic education which is very essential for them.
This is a violation of the Child Labour Prevention Act that was passed by the government in 2006. No child who has not completed his fourteenth year shall be required or allowed to work in any factory. The government has passed certain laws that will protect these children from being exploited.