SOCIAL SCIENCE

(Batch 2024-25)
General Instructions:

1. The question paper comprises Six Sections – A, B, C, D, E, and F. There are 37 questions in the Question Paper. All
questions are compulsory.
2. Section A – From questions 1 to 20 are MCQs of 1 mark each.
3. Section B – Questions 21 to 24 are Very Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 2 marks each. Answers to each question
should not exceed 40 words.
4. Section C – Questions 25 to 29 are Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 3 marks each. Answers to each question should
not exceed 60 words.
5. Section D – Questions 30 to 33 are Long Answer Type Questions, carrying 5 marks each. Answers to each question should
not exceed 120 words.
6. Section E – Questions 34 to 36 are case-based questions with three sub-questions, carrying 4 marks each. Answers to each
question should not exceed 100 words.
7. Section F – Question 37 is map-based, carrying 5 marks, with two parts: 37a from History (2 marks) and 37b from
Geography (3 marks).
8. There is no overall choice in the question paper. However, an internal choice has been provided in a few questions. Only one
of the choices in such questions must be attempted.
 Section A – MCQs (1 Mark Each)

(Questions 1-20)

1. Consider the following two statements on power-sharing and

select the answer using the codes given below:
1. Power sharing is good for democracy.
2. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social
groups.
Which of these statements are true and false?

a) 1 is true 2 is false
b) Both 1 and 2 are false
c) Both 1 and 2 are true
d) 1 is false and 2 is true
 Find the incorrect options:

Every party in the country has to register

A
with the Election Commission

While the commission treats all the parties

B
equally

It offers some special facilities to large and

C
established parties

These parties are given an ordinary symbol-only

D the official candidate of the party can use that
election symbol
Section A – MCQs (1 Mark Each)

(Questions 1-20)
 Arrange the following in correct sequence:

I. Transporting cloth to the workshop

II. Sale in shops and showrooms
III. Spinning of the yarn
IV. Weaving of the fabric

A II, III, I, IV

B I, II, III, IV

C II, I, IV, III

D III, IV, I, II
4. Choose the correctly matched pair about the Primitive Cultivation in India from the
following options:
A. Dahiya – Madhya Pradesh
B. Kumari-Jharkhand
C. Khil -Andhra Pradesh
D. Koman- Karnataka

5. Which of the following treaties recognized Greece as an independent nation?

A. Treaty of Constantinople, 1945

B. Treaty of Versailles, 1932
C. Treaty of Lausanne, 1945
D. Treaty of Constantinople, 1932
6. Professor Muhammad Yunus is the founder of which of the following banks?

A) Grameen Bank
B) Self- help group
C) Cooperative society
D) Commercial bank

7. Identify the Prime Minister of India and the name of Alliance headed by him.
a) Atal Bihari Vajpayee, NDA
b) PV Narasimha Rao, UPA
c) Atal Bihari Vajpayee, UPA
d) HD Deve Gowda, NDA
8. Arrange the following in the correct chronological sequence :

1. Treaty of Vienna
2. Napoleonic Wars Began
3. Unification of Italy
4. French REvolution

A. 4, 2, 1, 3

B. 3, 1, 2, 4

C. 1, 3, 4, 2

D. 4, 2, 3, 1
9. Identify the crop which has the
following features :

1. It is the main food crop 10. America’s original inhabitants had no

immunity against diseases that came from
2. It requires 50 to 75 cm of
Europe. _______, in particular, proved a deadly
annual rainfall evenly
killer.
distributed over the growing
season
a) Chickenpox
3. Requires a cool growing
season b) Measles

c) Smallpox
A. Wheat

B. Tea d) FilariA

C. Rice

D. Rubber
11. Look at the image and find the incorrectly matched pair:

(a) Breastplate: Symbol of the German empire – strength

(b) Broken chains: Being freed

c) Olive branch around sword: Readiness to fight

(d) Both A and C

12. Assertion (A): India has a three-tier system of
government, consisting of the Union, State, and Local levels.

Reason (R): The creation of linguistic states in India was

aimed at recognizing cultural and ethnic diversity.

Options:

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason
(R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason
(R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Assertion : People in rural India prefer to take
loans from informal sector

Reason : Informal sector has low rate of

interest.

A. A and R are true and R is the correct

explanation of R

B. A and R are true and R is not the correct

explanation of R

C. A is true but R is False

D. A is False but R is True

14. Which of the following statements best represents one of the key outcomes of a
democratic system?
A) Democracy ensures rapid economic growth and eliminates all social inequalities.
B) Democracies are characterized by increased transparency, and accountability.
C) In a democracy, decisions are made exclusively by elected officials with no input
from citizens.
D) Democracies guarantee complete and equal economic wealth for all citizens

15. Which of the following was one of the main factors contributing to the early
stages of globalization as described in the "Making of a Global World"?

1. The Industrial Revolution in Europe

2. The discovery of sea routes to Asia and America
3. The invention of the steam engine
4. The establishment of the United Nations
16. Mark the option with the correct definition of ‘Tavern’:

a) Places where people gathered to read books

b) Places where people gathered to meet relatives
c) Places where people gathered to drink alcohol, to be served food, and to
meet friends and exchange news
d) None of the above

17. Why does democratic government provide public facilities?

a) Because citizens can’t afford them

b) Because it is mandatory in a democracy
c) Because income by itself is not a completely adequate indicator of
material goods and services that citizens are able to use
d) Both a and b
18. Which of the following correctly describes a primary function of a bank?

A) Managing government spending and budgeting

B) Providing financial advisory services for international trade agreements
C) Accepting deposits and advancing loans to individuals and businesses
D) Directly implementing government policies on public welfare schemes
19. Which of the following is not a true about Print
Revolution in Europe?

A. In early days, luxury editions were handwritten on very

expensive vellum

B. With the growing demand for books, woodblock printing

gradually became more and more popular

C. The transition of print in Europe was simple

D. Many people feared that if there was no control over

what was printed and read then rebellious and
irreligious thoughts might spread.
20. Which act was made in colonial India to control print
revolution?

A. Local Press Act

B. Vernacular Press Act

C. Indian Press Act

D. East India Press Act

SECTION B
(4 X 2 = 8 Marks)
 Ques 21: Read the data in the table given below and answer the questions
that follow:

Compare the 2015-2016 and 2019-2020 data and give any one reason for the reduction of
production of steel in 2019 - 2020.

Answer:
a) Limited availability of coking coal

a) Lower productivity of labor

b) Irregular supply of energy

Ques 21: Read the data in the table given below and answer the questions
that follow:

b) Why is production and consumption of steel considered as an index of a country’s

development?

● The steel products are used as a raw material in different industries.

● It is required for export.

● It provides machinery for ensuring the country's growth.

Ques. 22 What is meant by Defection in democracy?

Defection in democracy is a political phenomena, which means moving of a

person from one party to another party for some personal benefit. Changing
party allegiance from the party on which a person got elected (to a legislative
body) to a different party
Ques 23: Explain the concept of secularism in India with respect to religion

Secularism in India means that the state does not favor any religion. It ensures that
all religions are treated equally and no one religion is given priority over others. This
allows individuals to freely follow their own faith and belief systems. The impact of
Indian secularism is seen in its efforts to maintain harmony among various religious
communities, preventing religious discrimination, and promoting unity in the
country's diverse society.
Ques 24: How is intensive subsistence farming different from primitive subsistence
farming in terms of:

a) Size of land
b) Method of farming

Answer: Size of Land:

● Intensive Subsistence Farming: The landholdings are usually small due to Right to
Inheritance
● Primitive Subsistence Farming: The patches taken for farming are typically small or
medium-sized, but the farming is less intensive.

Method of Farming:

● Intensive Subsistence Farming: It involves the use of more labor, advanced tools, and
fertilizers to achieve higher productivity
● Primitive Subsistence Farming: It is based on traditional slash-and-burn, with
minimal external inputs.
SECTION C
(3 X 5 = 15 marks)
25. Why is unification of Britain referred as a strange case?

Unification of Britain is referred as strange because of following reasons :

● It was the result of a long-drawn-out process.

● The primary identities of the people who inhabited the British Isles were
ethnic ones – such as English, Welsh, Scot or Irish. All of these ethnic
groups had their own cultural and political traditions.
● But as the English nation steadily grew in wealth, importance and
power, it was able to extend its influence over the other nations of the
islands
● English parliament first dominated Scotland after its unification with
them with Act of Union at 1701. They also forcibly incorporated Ireland
into UK in 1801.
Ques. 26. Discuss the purpose of Rio de Janeiro
Earth Summit and Agenda 21?
The first United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 to formulate an
Agenda to promote sustainable development.

This convention endorsed the Global Forest Principles and adopted

‘Agenda 21’ for achieving sustainable development in the 21st century.

The objectives of Agenda 21 are the alleviation of poverty, hunger,

sickness and illiteracy worldwide while halting the deterioration of
ecosystems which sustain life.
Ques 27. What is a Secular State? How can we say that India
is a secular state?

A secular state is a state which is not based on any religion. It accords

religious freedom to members of every religious community. India is a
secular state.

The following provisions made in the constitution of India prove that

India is a secular state :

● There is no official religion for the Indian state.

● Our Constitution does not give a special status to any religion.

● The Constitution provides to all individuals and communities

freedom to profess, practice and propagate any religion, or not to
follow any.

● The Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion.

 QUES 28. Describe any three steps taken by the government towards
decentralization in the year 1992.

i. The Constitution mandates the holding of regular elections to local

government bodies.
ii. Reservation of seats in the elected bodies and the executive heads
of these institutions for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes
and other Backward Classes.
iii. Reservation of at least one third of all positions for women.
iv. Creation of an independent institution called the State Election
Commission in each state to conduct panchayat and municipal
elections.
v. The state governments are required to share some powers and
revenue with local government bodies.
 QUES. 29. ‘The issue of sustainability is important for development.’
Examine the statement.

The issue of sustainability is important for development because:

i. Sustainable development aims at fulfilling the needs of today without

compromising the needs of the future generation.
ii. Sustainability is the capability to use the resources judiciously and maintain
the ecological balance.
iii. It lays emphasis on environmental protection and checks environmental
degradation.
 SECTION D
Long Answer Type Questions

(5X4=20)
 QUESTION 30.

Mention any four main objectives of multi -purpose river valley projects. Name
any two Multipurpose Projects of India. [CBSE 2018]

What is a multipurpose river valley project? Mention any four objectives of it.
[CBSE 2016-17]

List any three advantages and three disadvantages of multipurpose river project.
[CBSE 2013, 2012]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of multipurpose river project.

[CBSE 2014]
What is a multipurpose river valley project?
The multipurpose river valley projects are large-scale water resource development programs
that serve multiple objectives.

Examples of it in India:
● SARDAR SAROVAR DAM on Narmada River
● Bhakra Nangal Dam

Advantages:

a. These are the main source of power generation.

b. They provide us neat, pollution free and cheapest energy which is the backbone of
industry and agriculture.

c. These projects control the floods because water can be stored in them. These projects
have converted many, ‘rivers of sorrows’ into ‘rivers of boon’.

d. These projects are the main source of irrigation and also help in conserving soil.
Disadvantages:

a. Due to the construction of dams, there are no

adequate floods in the river. Because of this, the soil of
the downstream region does not get nutrient rich silt.

b. Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for

aquatic fauna to migrate for spawning, i.e., to produce
eggs.

c. It resulted in displacement of local communities. The

local people often have to give up their land and
livelihood and their meagre access and control over
resources for the greater need of the nation.
Name the sector that is the largest employer in India. Why does this
sector produce only a quarter of the national GDP?

[CBSE 2016]

Why didn’t shift out of primary sector happen in case of employment

although there has been a change in the share of the three sectors in
GDP? (2013)
The primary sector is the largest employer in India, engaging nearly 44% of the
workforce. However, this sector contributes only about a quarter of the national
GDP due to several reasons:

● Low Productivity: Farmers rely on traditional methods and lack modern

technology, leading to lower yields.
● Small Land Holdings: Fragmented and small land sizes reduce agricultural
efficiency.
● Disguised Unemployment: More people work in agriculture than necessary,
resulting in underemployment.
● Lack of Infrastructure: Insufficient irrigation, marketing, and storage
facilities hinder growth.
● Dependence on Monsoons: Most agricultural activities are rain-dependent,
causing instability.
QUESTION 32:

A) What was the attitude of the liberal and conservative Indians towards
women’s reading? How did women like Kailashbashini Debi respond to this
in their writings?

[CBSE 2014,2015]

B) Who invented printing press? How did he develop the printing technology?

[CBSE 2019, 2016]

ANSWER:

A) The conservative Hindu families believed that the literate girl would be
widowed.

The conservative Muslim families thought that by reading Urdu romances their
women would be corrupted.

Kailashbashini Debi from Bengal, wrote about the experiences of the women such
as how they are imprisoned at home.

Other writers like Tarabai Shinde and Pandita Ramabai from Maharashtra wrote
about the miserable lives of the widows.
B)

Johann Gutenberg developed the first known printing press in 1430s at

Strasbourg, Germany.

Most of his childhood was spent on a large agricultural estates where he saw wine
and olive presses.

He learnt polishing stones and created lead moulds. The olive press was the model
for the printing press and the moulds were used for casting the metal types for the
letters of the alphabet.
QUESTION 33

A) “Sharing of powers makes a country more powerful and united.” Do

you agree with this statement and why? [CBSE S.R 2016-17]

It provides a platform for diverse communities to coexist

harmoniously, minimizing the chances of social conflicts and enhancing
political stability.

Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy as it is the form of

government where power is shared with people to choose their
representatives unlike other forms of government like Monarchy,
Dictatorship etc.
B) “In our country, women still lag much behind than men despite some
improvements since independence.” Support the statement by giving five
reasons. [CBSE 2017]

Women face various challenges such as:

● Low Literacy Rates: Only 54% of women are literate compared to 76% of men.

● Fewer Higher Education Opportunities: Despite performing well in school, many

girls drop out because families prioritize boys' education.

● Underrepresentation in Top Jobs: Few women hold high-paying or prestigious

jobs, even though they work longer hours on average than men.
 SECTION E
CASE BASED QUESTIONS
(4x3=12)
34. Read the given text and answer the following questions:

The famous Chipko movement in the Himalayas has not only successfully resisted
deforestation in several areas but has also shown that community afforestation with
indigenous species can be enormously successful. Attempts to revive the traditional
conservation methods or developing new methods of ecological farming are now
widespread. Farmers and citizens groups like the Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and
Navdanya have shown that adequate levels of diversified crop production without the use of
synthetic chemicals are possible and economically viable. In India joint forest management
(JFM) programme furnishes a good example for involving local communities in the
management and restoration of degraded forests. The programme has been in formal
existence since 1988 when the state of Odisha passed the first resolution for joint forest
management. JFM depends on the formation of local (village) institutions that undertake
protection activities mostly on degraded forest land managed by the forest department. In
return, the members of these communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like
non-timber forest produces and share in the timber harvested by ‘successful protection’.
Ques 34. a) Which movement is known for successfully resisting deforestation in
the Himalayas?

● a) Beej Bachao Andolan

● b) Chipko Movement
● c) Navdanya
● d) Joint Forest Management

Ques 34. b) What is the primary goal of the Joint Forest Management (JFM)
program in India?

● a) To promote industrialization in forest areas

● b) To involve local communities in forest protection and management
● c) To ban the use of non-timber forest products
● d) To exploit forest resources for commercial purposes
Ques 34. c) Explain how community involvement has contributed to environmental
conservation in India, with reference to movements like Chipko and programs like
JFM.

Answer: Community involvement has played a crucial role in environmental

conservation in India. The Chipko Movement successfully resisted deforestation by
encouraging people, particularly women, to hug trees to prevent logging.

The Joint Forest Management (JFM) program has empowered local communities by
involving them in the management and protection of forests. This has led to the
restoration of degraded forests and sustainable management practices, benefiting
both the environment and local communities.
35. Read the given text and answer the following questions:

The movement started with middle-class participation in the cities. Thousands of

students left government-controlled schools and colleges, headmasters and teachers
resigned, and lawyers gave up their legal practices. The council elections were
boycotted in most provinces except Madras, where the Justice Party, the party of the
non-Brahmins, felt that entering the council was one way of gaining some power –
something that usually only Brahmins had access to.

The effects of non-cooperation on the economic front were more dramatic. Foreign
goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed, and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonfires.
The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922, its value dropping from Rs
102 crore to Rs 57 crore. In many places merchants and traders refused to trade in
foreign goods or finance foreign trade. As the boycott movement spread, and people
began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian ones, production of
Indian textile mills and handlooms went up.
Explain the role of ‘Justice Party’ in
boycotting of council elections.

The Justice Party was a party of

non-Brahmins, and so far they failed to
win any election, as only Brahmins were
able to secure votes. They thought that
the council elections was their only
option to gain power, and thus they
refused to boycott them.
How was the effects of ‘non-cooperation on the
economic front dramatic’?

The effects of non-cooperation on the

economic front were more dramatic.

Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops

picketed, and foreign cloth burnt in huge
bonfires. In many places merchants and
traders refused to trade in foreign goods or
finance foreign trade. As the boycott
movement spread, and people began
discarding imported clothes and wearing only
Indian ones, production of Indian textile mills
and handlooms went up.
Explain the effect of ‘Boycott’ movement on
‘foreign textile trade’.

The effect of boycott movement was

that all the foreign goods were
boycotted, and foreign cloth were
burnt in huge bonfires. The import of
foreign cloth halved between 1921 and
1922, its value dropping from Rs 102
crore to Rs 57 crore.
36. Read the given text and answer the following questions:

Take the case of dignity of women. Most societies across the world were historically
male dominated societies. Long struggles by women have created some sensitivity
today that respect to and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a
democratic society. That does not mean that women are actually always treated with
respect. But once the principle is recognised, it becomes easier for women to wage a
struggle against what is now unacceptable legally and morally. In a non-democratic set
up, this unacceptability would not have legal basis because the principle of individual
freedom and dignity would not have the legal and moral force there. The same is true
of caste inequalities. Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the
disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity. There
are instances still of caste-based inequalities and atrocities, but these lack the moral
and legal foundations. Perhaps it is the recognition that makes ordinary citizens value
their democratic rights.
Even in a democracy women are not always treated with
respect, then how does democracy favour them than other
forms of government?

In a democracy the principle of dignity is recognised, and so

it becomes easier for women to wage a struggle against
what is now unacceptable legally and morally.
What does democracy ensures?

Democracy ensures dignity and freedom of

the citizens.
Explain any 2 ways as to how democracy has succeeded
in maintaining dignity and freedom of citizens.

Democracy in India has strengthened the

claims of the disadvantaged and
discriminated castes for equal states and
opportunities, for example, SCs and STs.

India made stringent laws for crime againt

women.
 SECTION F
MAP SKILL BASED QUESTION
(2+3=5)
Two places A and B have been marked on the
given outline map of India

Identify them and write their correct names on

the lines drawn near them.

A. Calling off the Non-Cooperation Movement

B. Jallianwala Bagh Incident

37b. On the same outline map of
India locate and label any THREE
of the following with suitable
Symbols.

a. Paradip port

b. Kakrapar Power Plant

c. Leading rice producing state