Social Science Class - X
Sample Paper - 1998 (Part -V)
(Solved)

Section A - HISTORY

Q16) How is the President of India elected? Explain the legislative and financial powers of the President of India.

Ans16) The President of India is elected indirectly by an electoral college which consists of elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all the federating states and elected members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The voting power of an elected member of a vidhan Sabha is worked out by adopting the following formula :

Total population of the state              
Elected members of the Vidhan Sabha x 1000
The voting power of the elected members of the Parliament is worked out as per the formula given below
Total Voting power of the state
Elected members of the Parliament
The election is by secret ballot according to the system of proportional representation by means of Single Transferable Vote System.

The Legislative powers of the Indian President may be discussed under the following head:-

(1) Power to summon and Prorogue Parliament and dissolve the Lok Sabha - The power to summon Parliament is subject to the condition that six months shall not exceed between the last sitting in one session and first sitting in the next session. The President can also dissolve the Lok Sabha and order fresh elections.

(ii) Nominating members to the House - The President nominates 12 members to the Raya Sabha having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of literature, science, art and social service. He can also nominate two members to the Lok Sabha from the Anglo Indian Community in case that community is not adequately represented in the House.

(iii) Assent to Legislation - Every Bill to become law requires President's assent. He may give his assent to the Bill or may refuse his assent. He can also send it back for reconsideration, if it is not a money Bill. In case the Bill is passed again by both Houses of Parliament with or without amendment , the President must give his assent thereto. Money Bills can be introduced in the Parliament only on his recommendation.

(iv) Power to promulgate Ordinances - The President can promulgate Ordinances at a time when both the Houses of Parliament are not in session and the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action. The Ordinance so promulgated is laid before both houses of Parliament when they reassemble.

Financial Powers of the President
No money can be granted unless recommended by the President, nor can Money Bills be introduced except on his recommendation. The contingency Fund is placed at the disposal of the President to enable advances to be made for the purpose of meeting unforeseen expenditure. The expenditure, however, must afterwards be authorised by Parliament.
The President appoints the Finance Commission consisting of a chairman and few other members. The commission makes recommendations to the President on some specific financial matters.

OR

Why were the rights guaranteed by the Indian constitution know as 'Fundamental Rights' ? Explain the significance of any two Fundamental Rights (Marks 6)

Ans. The rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution are known as fundamental rights because, these are those basic conditions of social life which are essential for an individual for his all round development. These rights are basic to the principles of democracy. They constitute a number of freedoms which enable citizens to develop their talents by giving them opportunities for self-development. They give self - confidence to the citizens providing them equality of status and opportunity.

Right to equality
Equality is the foundation stone of any socialist republic. It is explicitly stated in the preamble to the constitution. The right to equality in our constitution deals with equality before law and equal protection of laws. It prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. It guarantees equality of opportunity. It abolishes untouchability. It provides that the state will not confer any title on anyone except those of academic and military distinction. Thus the right to equality means the absence of legal discrimination against anyone individual, group, class or race. The state enforces the same law over all persons in the state and gives all persons equal rights and privileges in the protection of their civil liberties. Democracy, as it is, can only exist and flourish in a society of equals.
Right to Constitutional Remedies
This right provides for effective procedures for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed in the constitution. Without these procedures the Fundamental Rights will be meaningless. Article 32 confers the right to move Supreme Court whenever our rights are infringed or violated by the state action. The Supreme Court is authorised to issue writs of various kinds such as habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari for the enforcement of any of these rights.


SECTION C - GEOGRAPHY


Q17.1) Name the city where river Yamuna joins river Ganga
Q17.2) Name one state which is a southern neighbour of J & K state
Q17.3) Which state in India is the largest producer of sugarcane?
Q17.4) Name the river which is known for the largest deposits of 'black gold' in India
Q17.5) Name the industry associated with Nepanagar

A17.1) Allahbad
A17.2) Punjab
A17.3) Uttar Pradesh
A17.4) River Damodar
A17.5) Newsprint Paper Mill

Q20) Name four broad types of soils found in India. Mention two characteristics of a soil which is the most important and widespread (Marks 2+1=3)

Ans20) Four broad soil types of India are : -
(a) Alluvial Soil
(b) Black Soil
(c) Red Soil
(d) Laterite Soil

Other minor soil types are desert and mountain soil.

Alluvial soils are the most fertile and support nearly half the population of India. They contain adequate lime, potash and phosphoric acid. They are deficient in nitrogen and organic content. Alluvial soils are of two types (i) old alluvial soils known as bangar (ii) new alluvial soils known as Khadar. The former is coarse grained and contains 'kankar' modules and is less fertile than khadar.

Q21) Name two types of iron-ore chiefly found in India. Give a brief distribution of iron-ore deposits (Marks 3)

Ans21) India is rich in iron-ore. Haematite and magnetite are the two types of iron-ore chiefly found in India. Orissa and Bihar together account for 50% of iron-ore production.

The iron-ore producing districts of Orissa are Keonjhar, Bonai and Mayurbhanj.
The iron-ore producing districts of Bihar are Singhbhumi, Hazaribagh and Shahabad.

Q22) Mention one difference between 'composite textile mill' and 'spinning textile mill'. Name two leading states in Cotton Textile Industry and one manufacturing centre for each state. (Marks 1+1+1=3)

Ans22) The composite textile mills spin yarns from cotton raw material . These mills use the yarn to weave it into cotton fabric. Both the operations i.e. spinning and weaving are done in the same mill.
The spinning mills perform only one operation i.e. of spinning yarn. The yarn is used by other textile units both in the organised and decentralised sector.
Mumbai in Maharashtra and Ahmedabad in Gujarat are major cotton textile manufacturing centres of India.

Q23) Explain how the Himalayas act as boon for India in four different ways (Marks 4)

Ans23) For years the lofty and impassable Himalayas have guarded India against the invading hordes from the North. It has proved a boom for India in a variety of different ways:-

(1) The Himalayas check the rain bearing Monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean which would otherwise blow across the north. The Himalayas cause the monsoons winds to shower life giving rains on the valleys and the plains to their south. In this way, the Himalayas make the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the most fertile and productive plain in the world.

(2) The Himalayan peaks are snow covered throughout the year. As such they are the source of important rivers like the Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra. These rivers bring fertile alluvial soil which they deposit in the Great Northern Plain. These rivers are tapped for irrigation and hydel -power which brings agricultural and industrial prosperity to the Indian subcontinent.

(3) The Himalayas are covered by thick forests which are the source of numerous raw materials for such industries as the match industry, the pulp and the paper industry. They also provide us with soft wood, timber and other forest products like medicinal herbs. Temperate zone fruits like apple and the best tea is also found in the Himalayas. The Himalayan forests abound in natural wealth - both flora and fauna.

(4) The Himalayas are also known for some beautiful valleys and health resorts such as the Kashmir, Kulu and Kangra in the west and the Doon in the Kumayun Mountains in Uttar Pradesh. These Valleys are also known for their fruits.

Q24) Give two reasons for each of the following
(i) Kerala leads in production of rubber (Marks 2)

Ans24) (i) Kerala leads in the production of rubber because of the following reasons: -

(a) Rubber requires high temperature and heavy rainfall throughout the year and Kerala has both these requirements.

(b) Rubber collection is a labour-oriented occupation and as such it requires cheap labour. Kerala has a high density of population and cheap labour is easily available.

Q25) (ii) West Bengal is more densely populated than Punjab (Marks 2)

Ans25) (ii) The distribution of population generally corresponds with soil fertility. The thickly populated parts in India are the northern plains and the coastal plains.
The density of population, by and large is more in well watered parts of the fertile northern plains of the east and the population goes on decreasing with growing aridity from east to west. Therefore West Bengal is more densely populated than the drier plains of Punjab and Haryana.

There can be other reasons for the dense population of West Bengal like the continuous illegal entry of Bangladeshis into West Bengal. There is however, very little entry of people from Pakistan into Punjab. Besides in Punjab the growth rate declined between 1981 to 1991, the growth rate in Punjab declined but it actually increased in West Bengal, thus adding to the density of population.

Q26) Give a merit and a demerit of each of the following transport system in India :- (Marks 5 x 1= 5)
(a) Road Transport
(b) Rail Transport
(c) Inland Water Transport
(d) Sea Transport
(e) Air Transport

Ans26) (a) Road Transport
Roads can be brought up to our door steps or wherever we need them including hilly regions. Their cost is minimal if they are dirt tracks or unsurfaced roads.
Dirt-roads during the rainy season can not be used. Roadways carry lesser number of passengers and cargo per trip.

(b) Rail Transport
Railway can carry more goods and passengers per trip. Trains are suitable for long distance travel as they are comfortable and faster than roadways.
However, their cost of construction & maintenance is high. Trains can only move on fixed trunk routes and cannot be brought to our doorsteps. Railways can not negotiate steep slopes, thus not a suitable mode of transport in hilly areas.

(c) Inland Water Transport
This is the cheapest means of transport for bulky commodities. Rivers and lagoons can be interconnected by navigable canals providing alternative transport means as in the backwaters of Kerala or Tamil Nadu during the monsoon when the seas are rough. Inland waterways are the slowest. This mode often calls for dredging and development of riverine ports.

(d) Sea Transport
Bulk of international trade is carried by seaways. They are the cheapest means of transport for large and bulky cargo and passengers. The ships, however are the slowest means of transportation.

(e) Air Transport
Aeroplanes are the fastest and the most comfortable. They can negotiate any terrain. Air transport is the best means of transport for North-east India.
This mode of transportation, however, is the costliest of all and can carry limited passengers and goods of great value or need.


SECTION D - ECONOMICS


Q27) From the Constitution of India, write any three Directive Principles relating to the economic life of the people. (Marks 3)

Ans27) The Directive Principles which give the state certain guidelines for the functioning of the economy with the view of attaining economic development, stability and social justice are : -

(1) Article 39 - It observes that the State shall direct its policy towards securing (a) adequate means of livelihood to all citizens (b) a proper distribution of material resources of the community for the common good (c) The prevention of concentration of wealth to the common detriment (d) Equal pay for equal work for both men & women.

(2) Article 41 - It lays down that effective steps should be taken to make right to work a reality. It also stresses that education should be provided to all concerned. Public assistance should be extended in case of unemployment, old age and sickness.

(3) Article 43 - It emphasises the necessity of an adequate living wage in all sectors of economic activity. This article enjoins that healthy conditions of work should be provided and a descent standard of living should be guaranteed. It also stresses the right to leisure for all working people.

Q28) 'Credit is necessary in agriculture.' Elaborate this statement with the help of three arguments (Marks 3)

Ans28) Credit & finance facilities are the most important lubricants of any production activity . This is true of agriculture.

An average agriculturalist is a poor man, with very limited means at his disposal. He does not have much savings to fall back upon. Therefore, for every extraordinary need which falls outside his routine livelihood, he needs credit & finance facilities. The farmer needs credit for 3 different purposes:-

(a) Short term Credit :- Loans are repayable within a period of 15 months and are required by the farmer to meet his consumption needs and for purchasing seeds, manure etc.

(b) Medium term credit :- These loans are generally for periods between 15months & 5 years and are required by the farmer to purchase animals, implements, land improvement schemes etc. and

(c) Long term Credit :- These are repayable only after 5 years and are required by the farmer for the different purposes like introduction of some permanent improvements on land, building construction , purchase of costlier agricultural implements etc., or for paying the old loans.

Q29) Explain the following as agricultural inputs :- (Marks 4)

(a) Know-how

(b) Seeds

(c) Storage

(d) Own Labour

Ans29)
(a) Know-how
This is the foremost input that increases per capita productivity. Application of modern means of production includes improved varieties of seeds (HYV), chemical fertilizers, irrigation, etc. It is desirable for the Government to impart education and technical know-how in a formal way so as to derive full benefit from modern techniques of agricultural production.

(b) Seeds
High yielding variety (HYV) seeds are being used in Indian agriculture since 1965 and this has resulted in manifold increase in agricultural output specially in the wheat, rice and cotton crops. National Seeds Corporation has been established to produce HYV.

(c) Storage
Storage facility is another important need for agricultural development. A substantial part of grains produced in India is lost every year because of inadequate storage facilities. Pest proof and weather proof storage ware houses are set up by Food corporation of India to avoid loss of grains.

(d) Own Labour
This includes cultivator's own labour and labour of the members of his family. The input is not priced in the market. Hence in our agriculture, problems of disguised unemployment or underemployment prevails as more than required people work on the same piece of land.