CBSE Class 08 Social Science

Revision Notes
Political Science Chapter - 08 Confronting Marginalisation

Marginalisation is the process whereby something or someone is pushed to the edge of a

group and accorded lesser importance. This is predominantly a social phenomenon by which
a minority or sub-group is excluded, and their needs or desires ignored.
Invoking Fundamental Rights:

� Fundamental Rights are the basic rights given to every individual of a nation which
every person is entitled to have being a human.
� Fundamental Rights are enshrined in the constitution and has been inspires from
American constitution.
� The Fundamental Constitutional Rights are equally available to all Indians
including marginalised groups.
� Adivasis, Dalits, Muslims, women and other marginal groups argue that simply by
being citizens of a democratic country, they possess equal rights that must be
respected.
� Many among them look up to the Constitution to address their concerns.
� By insisting on their Fundamental Rights, they have drawn on these rights in two
ways:
o Forced the government to recognize the injustice done to them.
o They have insisted that the government should enforce these laws.
� The struggles of the marginalized groups have influenced the government to frame
new laws, in keeping with the spirit of the Fudamental Rights.
� Article 17 of the Constitution states that untouchability has been abolished.
� This means that no one can henceforth prevent Dalit from educating themselves,
entering temples, using public facilities, etc.
� Article 15 of the Constitution states that no citizen of India shall be discriminated on
the basis of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. This has been used by Dalits to
seek equality where it has been denied to them.
� Various other provisions under constitution prohibit the exploitation faced by
marginalised.

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 � Time to time, the marginalised and minority has raised their voices and asked for
equal and just treatment.

Laws for the Marginalised Groups:

� There are specific laws and policies for the marginalized groups in our country.
� The government makes an effort to promote such policies to give opportunities to
specific groups.
� The government tries to promote social justice by providing for free or subsidized
hostels for the students of Dalit and Adivasi communities.
� The reservation policy is significant and highly contentious.
� The laws which reserve seats in education and government employment for Dalits
and Adivasis are based or an important argument that in a society like ours, where
for centuries sections of the population have been denied opportunities to learn and
to work in order to develop new skills or assist these sections.
� Governments across India have their list of Scheduled Castes or Dalits, Scheduled
Tribes and backward and most backward castes. The central government too has its
list.
� Students applying to educational institutions and those applying for posts in
government are expected to furnish proof of their caste or tribe status, in the form of
caste and tribe certificates.
� Different kind of scholarship programmes are also run by governments.
� Laws related to wages, cultural rights, educational rights, and rights against
exploitation have been formed for Marginalised groups.
Protecting the Rights of Dalits and Adivasis:
� Our country has specific laws that guard against the discrimination and exploitation
of marginalized communities.
� The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was
framed in 1989to protect Dalits and Adivasis against the domination and violence of
the powerful castes.
� A number of assertive Dalit groups came into being and asserted their rights-they
refused to perform their so-called caste duties and insisted on being treated equally.
- In the 1970's and 1980's,Adivasi people successfully organised themselves and
demanded equal rights and for their land resources to be returned to them.

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� This Act distinguishes several levels of crimes.
- It lists-modes of humiliation that are both physically horrific and morally
reprehensible.
� Actions that disposes Dalits and Adivasis of their meagre resources or which force
them into performing slave labour.
� Crime against Dalit and tribal women are of a specific kind and therefore seeks to
penalise who use force on these women.
� Manual scavenging refers to the practice of removing human and animal
water/excreta using brooms, tin plates and baskets from dry latrines and carrying it
on the head to the disposal ground some distance away.
- In 1993,the government passed the Employment of Manual Scavengers and
Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act.This law prohibits the employment of
manual scavengers as well as the construction of Dry latrines.
� We still notice instances of atrocities against dalits, minorities and lower section of
society. this situation really needs to be taken care of by implementing the laws made
by government.
� The recent deaths of sewage workers put a horrific picture in front of adrrurustration
and make us to think that in this advanced era of technology we have to depend on
manual scavenging.
Adivasis Demands and The 1989 Act:
� The 1989Act is important because Adivasi refer to it to defend their right to occupy
land that was traditionally theirs.
� Adivasis often unwilling to move from their land, are forcibly displaces.
� This act merely confirms that the land belonging to the tribal people cannot be sold to
or bought by non-tribal people.
� Adivasis demands for their tribal rights to be preserved and their forest rights to be
conserever which they had inherited.
� Adivasis always wanted that their culture and primitive methods of living should not
changed and they should have previlage to live their own.
� By formulating Acts Indian government tried to stop exploitation of tribals in the
hands of forest official as well.

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 CBSE Class 08 Social Science
Revision Notes
Chapter -11 History
The Making of the National Movement: 1870s-1947

. The Emergence of Nationalism:

(i) India was the people of India- all the people irrespective of class, colour, caste, creed,
language or gender are Indians.

(ii) The awareness of being Indian and that its resources and systems were meant for all of
them led to see the trace nature and role of British in India.

(iii) The political associations came into being in the 1870sand 1880s.

(iv) Poona Sarvajanik Sabha and many such associations functioned in specific parts of
country their goals were stated as the goals of all the people of India, not those of anyone
region.

(v)They worked with the idea that the people should be sovereign - a modern consciousness
and a key feature of nationalism.

(vi)The Arms Act was passed in 1878,disallowing Indians from possessing arms.

(vii)The Vernacular Act, 1878which allowed the government to confiscate the assets of
newspapers including their printing presses if the newpapers published anything that was
found 'objectionable'.

(viti)In 1883 Lord Ripon's Law Member, Sir Courtenay llbert introduced a bill called libert
Bill.

(ix) The bill provided for the trail of British or European persons by Indians, and sought
equality between British and Indian judges in the country.

(x)The bill caused widespread agitation among the Whites who strongly opposed the bill and
forced the government to withdraw it.

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(xi)The Indian National Congress which was established in 1885by a british servant Allan
Octavian Hume. Il includes 72 delegates from different parts of the country. The main
leaders of the organization were- DadaBhai Naoroji, W.C.Bannerji, Surendranath Bannerji,
Romesh Chandra Dutt, S. Subramania Iyer, Pherozeshah Mehta and Badruddin Tyabji.

. A Nation in the Making:

(i) Indian National Congress has 2 groups, namely- Moderates and Radicals.

� Moderates were those who believed in pleading with the british government to bring
about reforms.
� Radicals were those who wanted to oppose the British strongly; they were in favour of
strikes & boycott.

(ii) Agreater voice for Indians in the government and in adrninistration was their demand.

(iii) Il demanded the separation of judiciary from the executive, the repeal (abolition) of
Arms Act and freedom of speech and expression.

(iv) It also demanded the separation of judiciary from the executive, the repeal of Arms Act
and freedom of speech and expression.

(v)The early Congress raised a number of economic issues. It declared that British rule had
led to poverty and famines, increase in land revenue had impoverished peasants and
Zamindars and there was food shortage because of exports and grains to Europe .

. Freedom is Our Birth Right:

(i) In Bengal, Maharashtra and Punjab, leaders such as Bipin Chandra Pal, Bal Gangadhar
Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai popularly known as 'Lal, Bal, Pal', strongly criticized the policies of
the colonial government.

(ii) They demanded 'Swaraj'. Tilak declared, 'Freedom is my birth right and I shall have
it'.

(iii) In 1905,Viceroy Curzon announced the partition of the biggest province British of India,
Bengal which included Bthar and parts of Odisha.

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(iv) The partition of Bengal infuriated people all over India. Both, the moderates and the
radicals protested the partition.

(v) Large public meetings and demonstrations were organized; People in order to show that
they are united tied 'rakhi' on each other's wrist and celebrated 'raksha bandhan' and this
led to the birth of Swadeshi Movement .

. The Growth of Mass Nationalism:

(i) After 1919, the struggle against Britain rule gradually became a mass movement,
involving peasants, tribals, students and women in large numbers and factory workers.

(ii) The first World War broke out in 1914and altered the economic and political situation in
India

(iii) India was dragged into the war and this led to a huge rise in defence expenditure of the
government of India.

(iv) Increased military expenditure and the demands for war supplies led to a sharp rise in
prices which create great difficulties for the common people.

(v) The war lead the British to expand their army. The government forced the villages in
India to send their soldiers for an alien cause.

. The Advent of Mahatma Gandhi:

(i) Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869at Porbandar in Gujarat.

(ii) He studied law in England and went to South Africa to practice law and stayed there for
20 years.

(iii) He emerged as a mass leader of India.

(iv) In South Africa, Gandhiji struggle for the Indians in non-violent marches against racist
(skin colour) discrimination and had earned great respect and popularity both at national
and international level.

(v) Mahatma Gandhi spent his initial years in India travelling throughout the country,
understanding the people, their needs and the overall situation.

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(vi) Gandhiji launched local movements in Champaran, Kheda and Ahmedabad in which he
received success.

(vii)Gandhiji's method of fighting was known as "Satyagraha" which was based on the
principles of- 'Truth' and 'Non-Violence' .

. The Rowlatt Satyagraha:

(i) In 1919,the government passes the Rowlatt Act and empowered the provincial
government to search any place and arrest any person whom it suspected without a warrant.

(ii) Gandhiji launched a Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Actwhich curbed the fundamental
rights such as the freedom of expression and strengthened police powers.

(iii) Mahatma Gandhi and Mohammad Ali Jinnah criticized the act as 'devilish' and
tyrannical.

(iv) In April 1919,a nation-wide hartal was launched and government used brutal measures
to suppress them. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre inflicted by General Dyer in Amritsar on
Baisakhi day was a part of this repression.

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

i) On April 13th 1919,on the day of Baisakhi, people gathered at Jallianwala Bagh for
celebration and for public meeting.

ii) General Dyer, a british officer entered Jallianwala Bagh locked all the entries and ordered
his troops to start firing at the crowd.

iii) Thousands of people were killed.

iv) The country was shocked by this incident.

v) All national leaders protested strongly against this cruel act.

. Khilafat Agitation and the Non-Cooperation Movement:

(i) In 1920,the British imposed a harsh treaty on the Turkish Sultan or Khalifa and he was
deprived of his political powers and authority.

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(ii) The Khilafat Movement was launched by Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali who wished to
initated a full-fledged Non-Cooperation Movement against the British under the leadership of
Gandhiji and demanded Swaraj.

(ill) In 1921-22,the Non-Cooperation Movement gained momentum. Thousands of students

left government controlled schools and colleges. Many lawyers such as Moti Lal Nehru, C.R.
Das, C.Rajagopalachari and Asaf Ali gave up their practices.

(iv) British titles were surrendered and legislatures boycotted. People lit public bonflres of
foreign cloth.

·People's Initiatives:

Kheda, Gujarat, Patidar peasants organized non-violent campaigns against the high
(i) In
revenue demand of the British.

(ii) In coastal Andhra and interior Tamil Nadu, liquor shops were picketed.

(ill) In Bengal, the Khilafat-Non-Cooperation alliance gave enormous communal unity and
strength to the national movement.

(iv) In Punjab, the Akali agitation of the Sikhs sought to remove corrupt mahants-supported
by the British from their gurudwaras.

·The People's Mahatma:

(i) People thought of Gandhiji as a kind of messiah, as someone who could help them to
overcome their misery and poverty.

(ii) Gandhiji wished to build class unity, not class conflict, still peasants could imagine that he
could help them in their fight against zamindars and agricultural labourers believed he
would provide them land.

·The Happenings of 1922-29:

(i) In February 1922a crowd of peasants set fire to a police station in Chauri Chaura,
Gandhiji was against violence and thus called off the Non-Cooperation Movement
immediately.

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(ii) Chittranjan Dass and Motilal Nehru argued that the party should fight elections to the
councils and enter them in order to influence government policies.

(ill) Civildisobedience Movement was launched in 1930under the leadership of Gandhiji.

(iv) The formation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)and the Communist Party of
India were the two important development of the mid-1920s.

(v) The Congress resolved to fight for 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) in 1929 under
the presidentship of Jawaha rlal Nehru and 26 January 1930was consequently observed as
'Independence Day' all over the country.

The March to Dandi:

(i) In 1930,Gandhiji started the march to break the Salt Law. According to this law,the state
had a monopoly on the manufacture and sale of salt.

(ii) Gandhiji and his followers marched from Sabarmati Ashram(in Ahemdabad) to the
coastal town of Dandi (in Surat) where they broke the Salt law by gathering natural salt
found on the sea-shore are boiling sea water to produce salt.

(ill) The combined struggles of the Indian people bore fruit when the Government of India
Act of 1935prescribed provincial autonomy and the government announced election to the
provincial legislature in 1937.

(iv)The Second World War broke out in September 1939.The Congress leaders were ready to
support the British war effort. But in return they wanted that India be granted Independence
after the war. The British refused to concede the demand and the Congress ministers
resigned in protest.

. Quit India Movement and Later:

(i) Mahatma Gandhi decided to initiate a new phase of movement against the British in the
middle of the Second World War which was Quit India Movement.

The first response of the British was severe repression and the end of 1943over 90,000
(ti)
people were arrested, and around 1,000killed in police firing.

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.Towards Independence and Partition:

In 1940, the Muslim League had moved a resolution demanding 'Independent States' for
(i)
Muslims in the north-western and eastern areas of the country.

(ti) The provincial elections of 1937seemed to have convinced the League that Muslims were
a minority, and they would always have to play second fiddle in any democratic structure.

(ill) The Congress's rejection of the League's desire to form a joint Congress-League
government in the United Provinces in 1937also annoyed the League.

(iv) In 1945,after the end of the war, the British opened negotiations between the Congress,
the League and themselves for the Independence of India. The talks failed because the league
accelerated the demand for Pakistan.

(v) In March 1946,the British cabinet sent a three-member mission to Delhi to examine this
demand. 16 August 1946was declared as the 'Direct Action Day' by the league.

(vi) On 3 June 1947,the Partition Plan was announced and Pakistan came into existence. The
joy of our country's Independence from British rule came mixed with the pain and violence
of Partition.

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 CBSE Class 08 Social Science
Revision Notes
Chapter - 12 History
India After Independence

After so many years of struggle and hardship, India finally attained freedom from the British
Raj on 15th August 1947.

A New and Divided Nation:

After Independence, India faced a series of enormous challenges. Like-

i. The problems of refugees and of the princely states had to be addressed immediately.

ii.The new nation had to adopt a political system that would best serve the hopes and
expectations of its population.

iii. India's population in 1947was large and was divided. Division between high castes and
low castes, between majority Hindu community and Indians who practiced other faiths could
be seen.

iv.Famers and peasants were dependent on the monsoon for their survival.

v. The new nation had to lift its masses out of poverty by increasing the productivity of
agriculture & by promoting new job creating industries.

vi. Unity & development goes hand in hand. If the divisions between sections of India were
not healed, they could result in violent conflicts. Examples-

� Hindus Vs Muslims
� High castes fighting with the low castes

A Constitution is Written:

The Constitution of India is a document that establishes the political values, the powers of
government and the rights of the citizens of the country.
It is the supreme law of India.
(i)The meetings of 'Constituent Assembly' were held in New Delhi and representatives
from all parts of India attended the meeting. These discussions resulted in the framing of the
Indian Constitution, which came into effect on 26January 1950.

(ii) One feature of the constitution was its adoption of Universal Adult Franchise; All
Indians above the age of 21 would be allowed to vote in the state and national elections. This
was the revolutionary step as Indians never had been allowed to choose their own leaders.

(iii) lt guaranteed equality before the law to all citizens, regardless of their caste or religious
affiliation. This was Constitution's second feature.

(iv)The third feature of the Constitution was that it offered special privileges for the poorest
and the most disadvantaged group of Indians.

(v) The practice of untouchability was abolished ..

(vi) Temples which were once opened for onlyhigher castes, were now open to all including
the untouchables or Harijans,

(vii) Alongwith the former Untouchables, the adivasis or Scheduled Tribes were also granted
reservation in seats and jobs.

(viii) The Constituent Assembly spent many days in discussing the powers of the Central
government and of the State government. lt was decided that Centre's interest should be
foremost as they will be in position to think & plan for the well-being of the country as a
whole.

(ix) The Constitution sought to strike a balance of power, between the centre and the states
by providing three lists of subjects which are Union list, the State list and the Concurrent list.

� The Union list has subjects like taxes, defence and foreign affairs which are the
responsibility of the Centre.
� The State list has subjects like education and health, which would be taken care of
principally by the state.
� The Concurrent list comprises of forests, agriculture, etc. in which the centre and the
states would have joint responsibility.

(x) Hindi was designated as the 'Official language' of India and English would be used in
the courts, the services and communications between one state and another.

(xi) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who was the Chairman of the drafting committee and under whose
supervision the document was finalized played an important role in framing the Indian
Constitution and referred to as "The father of Indian Constitution" .

. How Were States to be Formed:

(i) In 1920s,the Indian National Congress amended its constitution and reorganized its
regional branches on the basis of linguistic (language) groups.

(ii) Prime Minister Nehru and Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel were against the
creation of linguistic states.

(iii) In October 1952, a veteran Gandhian named Potti Sriramulu went on a hunger strike
demanding the formation of Andhra Pradesh to protect the interests of Telegu speaking
people.

(iv) On 15 December 1952,fifty eight days into his fast, Potti Sriramulu died. His death led to
violence all over the state and central government was forced to give in to the demand.

(v) On 1 October 1953, the new state of Andhra Pradesh was created.

(vi) After creation of Andhra Pradesh, other linguistic communities also demanded seperate
states. Therefore, a State Reorganisation Commission was set up.

(vii) Following recommendations were done:

� The large Hindi-speaking region of north India was also to be broken up into
several states.
� The bilingual state of Bombay was divided into separate states for Marathi & Gujarati
speakers.
� The state of Punjab was also divided into Punjab & Haryana .

. Planning for Development:

(i)Among the major objectives of the new nation, lifting India and Indians out of poverty and
building a modern technical and industrial base were very strong.
(ii) In 1950,the government set up a Planning Commission to help design and execute
suitable policies for economic development. It was agreed that India would follow 'Mixed
Economy' model where both public and private sectors would co-exist for the economic
development of the nation.

(ill) In 1956,the second five year plan was formulated which focused mainly on the
development of heavy industries in India such as steel, and on the building of large
dams. These sectors were directly under the control of the state.

(iv) The Bhilai steel plant of Chhatisgarh came to be seen as an important sign od
development of modern India after Independence .

. The Nation, Sixty Years On:

(i) On 15 August 2007, India celebrated sixty years of its existence as a free nation.

(ii) In these sixty years, India has seen many achievements as well as failures.

(ill) Success during 60 years of India were-

� Still a united and a democratic country

� There is unity in diversity
� There is a free press and an independent judiciary

(iv) Failures during 60 years of India-

� Deep divisions persist

� Despite constitutional guarantees
� the untouchables or the Dalits face violence and discrimination
� there are Clashes between different religious groups in many states
� The gulf between the rich and poor has widened over these years.
 CBSE Class O8 Social Science
Revision Notes
Political Science Chapter - 1O Law and Social Justice

� To protect people from exploitation the government makes certain laws. These laws
try to ensure that the unfair practices are kept at a minimum in the markets.
� To ensure that workers are not underpaid but are paid fairly, minimum wages has
been set by governments.
� There are laws that protect the interests of producers and consumers in the market.
� The government has to ensure that these laws are implemented which means that the
law must be enforced.
� Enforcement becomes even more important when the laws, the government can
control the activities of individuals or private companies so as to ensure social justice.
� Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution like 'Right against
Exploitation' say that no one can be forced to work for low wages or under bondage.
� The Constitution lays down no child below the age of 14 years shall be employed to
work in any factory or mines or engaged in any other hazardous employment.
� The Constitution has also make provisions against any sort of exploitation of human
being irrespective of gender and sex.
� By making constitutional rights governments always try to ensure social justice to
every section of society.
� The Social and Just society makes the basis of Gandhian socialism and avail the
resources to everyone and stop the discrimination.

Bhopal Gas Tragedy:

� The world's worst industrial tragedy took place in Bhopal 24 years ago.
� Union Carbide (MIC) an American company had a factory in the city in which it
produced pesticides. MIC, a highly poisonous gas, started leaking on 2 December
1984, at midnight from the factory.
� Within three days more than 8,OOO people were dead, Hundreds of thousands were
maimed.
� US stopped its operations but left behind tons of toxic chemicals.

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 � 24 years later, people are still fighting for justice, for safe drinking water, for
healthcare facilities and jobs for the people poisoned by UC.After effects still haunts
the generations of victims.
� Governments come and go but people are waiting for justice. To stop any such sort of
incidents in future the developers and business class should make liable by making
strict laws. So that such incidents could not take place in future.

What is a Worker's worth:

� Foreign companies come to India for cheaper labor.

� Wages in USA are higher than that compared to workers in poorer countries like in
India.
� For lower pay, companies can get longer hours of work.
� Costcutting can be done by other more dangerous means, e.g., lower working
conditions including lower safety measures are used as ways of cutting costs.
� Since there is as much unemployment, there are many workers who are willing to
work in unsafe conditions in return for a wage.
� In the grave situation of unemployment where people are ready to work in corrosive
situation as well, it become the duty of government to ensure the safety of its citizens.
� Proper safety laws should be present to protect the people from damages and
incidents.

Enforcement of Safety Laws:

� As the lawmaker and enforcer, the government is supposed to ensure that safety laws
are implemented.
� It is the duty of the government to ensure that the Right to Life guaranteed under
Article 21 sf the Constitution is not violated.
� Instead of protecting the interests of the people, their safety was being disregarded
both by the government and by private companies.
� With more industries being set up both by local and foreign business in India, there is
a great need for stronger laws protecting workers rights and better enforcement of
these laws.
� Before approval of any industry laws and codes must be satisfied with and after
assessment permission should be given.

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New Laws to Protect the Environment:

� In 1984, there were very few laws protecting environment (Environment protection
act 1986)in India and there was hardly any enforcement of these laws.
� Environment was treated as a 'free' entity and industry could pollute the air and
water without any restricted.
� Whether it was our rivers, air or groundwater the environment was being polluted
and the health of people disregarded.
� The polluter was to be held accountable for the damage done to environment.
� The Government is responsible for setting up laws and procedures that can check
pollution, clean rivers and introduce heavy fines for those who pollute.
� Supreme Court in many of judgments has also said about the right to healthy life and
safe drinking water as essential part of article 21 that is right to life.
� Recently by invoking swatch Bharat Abhiyan, Namami Gange and Rally for rivers
government has shown its commitment towards environment protection.
� By imposing high carbon tax and high taxes of petroleum government is deterring
individual from misusing these resources.
� At international level as well India is showing its commitment towards environment
issue.

Environment as a Public Facility:

� Environment issue in India has highlighted the fact that the growing concern for the
environment among the middle classes is often at the expense of the poor.
� The challenge is to look for solutions where everyone can benefit from a clean
environment.
� The government has to encourage and support factories to gradually move to cleaner
technologies.
� This will ensure that the workers livelihoods are protected and both workers and
communities living around the factories enjoy a safe environment.
� By heavy dependency of rich on air condition and vehicles the problem of pollution is
getting enhanced and burnt has to be faced by poor.

Conclusion:

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� Laws are necessary in many situations, whether this be the market, office or factory
so as to protect people from unfair practices.
� Laws that are weak and poorly enforced can cause serious harm.
� While the government has a leading role in the respect, people can exert pressure so
that both private companies and the government act in the interests of society.
� Here the role has to be played by government by making better policies and by
Implementing them in effective manner.

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