Paper : ICSE Class X Important Questions : History (2007)

General Instructions

1. Attempt all the questions from Part I (Compulsory). A total five questions are to be attempted from Part II, two out of three questions from Section A and three out of five questions from Section B.
2. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets. 

PART I (30 Marks)
Attempt all questions from this Part

Question l

(a) Name the body which elects the Rajya Sabha Members. [1]

(b) What is the maximum gap allowed between two parliamentary sessions? [1]

(c) What is an ordinance? [1]

(d) Mention two military powers of the President of India. [1]

(e) What is meant by the term question hour in the context of parliamentary procedures in India? [1]

(f) To whom is the Council of Ministers of a State responsible? [1]

(g) How are the members of the State Legislative Assembly elected? [1]

(h) Name the highest Court dealing with civil cases at the District level. [1]

(i) What is meant by every high court is a court of record? [1]

(j) If the President of India considers that a question of law may be referred to the Supreme Court, under which jurisdiction will the Supreme Court express its opinion in the matter? [1]

Question 2

(a) Mention any two social evils that existed in India during the 19th century. What measures did the British Government take to stop them? [2]

(b) State two factors responsible for the growth of Nationalism in India. [2]

(c) Name the nationalist who said Swaraj is my birth-right. Mention one contribution of his to the National Movement. [2]

(d) Why was the Rowlatt Act (1919) passed? [2]

(e) Mention any two events which led to the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930. [2]

(f) State any two objectives of the Muslim League. [2]

(g) What was the issue between Germany and Poland that was a cause of World War II? [2]

(h) State any two similarities between Nazism and Fascism. [2]

(i) Which agency of the UN looks after the interests of the children in the world? What was the original purpose of setting up this agency? [2]

(i) State two reasons why Britain and France followed a policy of appeasement towards Germany in the l930's. [2]

PART II (50 Marks)
SECTION A

Attempt any two questions from this Section

Question 3

With reference to the functions of the Union Council of Ministers and State Council of Ministers, answer the following:-

(a) Mention three important functions of the Prime Minister. [3]

(b) What is the difference between the Council of Ministers and the Cabinet in the Central Executive? [3]

(c) How are the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister appointed at the Centre and State respectively? [4]

Question 4

With reference to the Executive branch of the Government:-

(a) Mention the common qualifications required to be eligible to become the President of India or the Governor of a State. [3]

(b) Explain the special powers of the Governor during the President's Rule in a State. [3]

c) Mention two executive and two legislative powers of the President of India. [4]

Question 5

With reference to the powers and functions of the Supreme Court, answer the following:-

(a) What is meant by Judicial Review and Original Jurisdiction? [3]

(b) What is Appellate Jurisdiction? Mention any two types of cases over which the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction. [3]

(c) (i) Why is the Judiciary kept independent from the control of the executive and legislature?

(ii) What is the procedure for the removal of a Supreme Court Judge? [4]

SECTION B
Attempt any three questions from this Section

Question 6

Several factors led to the revolt of 1857. With reference to this, explain each of the following:-

(a) Discontentment of the Sepoys. [3]

(b) Resentment of the rulers of the native States against the British. [3]

(c) Unhappiness of the Indian Artisans and Craftsmen. [4]

Question 8

In the political scenario of 1939, important developments took place in India and abroad. In this context, answer the following questions:-

(a) Who was the founder of the 'Forward Bloc'? Why was this organization formed? [3]

(b) Why did Sir Stafford Cripps come to India? Why was the Quit India Movement launched? [3]

(c) Explain any four proposals made by Lord Mountbatten to settle the independence issue for India. [4]

Question 9

The world witnessed a 'great war' in the years between 1914-1918. In this context:-

(a) Discuss any three reasons which led to the war in 1914. [3]

(b) Mention three clauses of the Treaty of Versailles. [3]

(c) Explain how the Treaty of Versailles was responsible for the outbreak of the Second World War. [4]

Question 10

With reference to the Human Rights issue, answer the following:-

(a) Why was it necessary to bring about the 'Universal Declaration of Human Rights'? [3]

(b) What is the importance of the articles 1 & 2 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? [3]

(c) What is meant by ILO? How does this agency of the UN ensure the welfare of the workers of the world? [4]