CBSE Class 12

Here we are providing Class 12 Political Science Important Extra Questions and Answers Chapter 1 The Cold War Era. Political Science Class 12 Important Questions are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

Class 12 Political Science Chapter 1 Important Extra Questions The Cold War Era

The Cold War Era Important Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What is meant by the Cold War? (Imp.) (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
Cold War means the war of nerves. It is not an actual war but a war in which the rival States try through all means, short of an actual war, to gain supremacy at the cost of the other State. One State or bloc tries to gain power and prestige defeating the cause of the rival States.

Question 2.
List any four member countries of NATO. (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:

1. The U.S.A.
2. Britain
3. France
4. Canada.

Question 3.
What is meant by the Cuban Missile Crisis? (Imp.) (C.B.S.E. 2016)
Answer:
Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the U.S.S.R. placed nuclear missiles in Cuba The Soviet Union Missiles were a threat to the U.S.A. The US President John F. Kennedy and his advisors were determined to get Khrushchev to remove the missiles and nuclear weapons from Cuba. President Kennedy ordered American warships to intercept any Soviet Union ships heading to Cuba. A conflict between two big powers was imminent and this crisis was known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Question 4.
Which two ideologies were involved in a conflict during the Cold-War era and why? (C.B.S.E. 2016)
Answer:
After the Second World War, Cold War started between, U.S.A. (Capitalist) and U.S.S.R. (Communist). A Cold War is a state of tension between countries in which each side adopts policies designed to strengthen itself and weaken the other, a line falling short of actual war.

Question 5.
What constrained the superpower to go for a full-fledged war in spite of having nuclear weapons? (C.B.S.E. 2016)
Answer:
Nuclear weapons though dangerous and disastrous, yet. check the big-powers from using against each other. They know the effects of these weapons and for this reason, big power try to avoid wars so that they can save themselves as well as opponents from their devastating effects.

Question 6.
Mention any two of the agreements signed between the two superpowers starting in the 1960s. (C.B.S.E. 2016)
Or
Starting in the 1960s, the two super-powers signed which two significant agreements to control arms? (C.B.S.E. 2017)
Answer:
1. Partial Test Ban Treaty
2. N.P.T.

Question 7.
Name four founders of NAM and the countries they belonged to respectively. (C.B.S.E. 2016)
Answer:

Question 8. What do you understand by NATO?
Or
Which organization came into existence in April 1949? (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was established in April 1949. It bound the U.S.A. to the defense of Western Europe. It also called the Atlantic Alliance or Western Alliance was an association of twelve states which declared that armed attack on any one of them would be regarded as an attack on all of them. NATO was a U.S. sponsored military alliance.

Question 9.
What is meant by Non-alignment? (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
The policy of non-alignment is an independent policy. A nation, by adopting it, can evade subordination of any power bloc and can easily form its opinion about any problem after thorough analysis. Non-alignment stands for a positive commitment to an independent foreign policy.

Question 10.
Mention any two major military features of the Cold War. (C.B.S.E. 2010, 16)
Answer:

1. U.S.A. and U.S.S.R, both groups formed a military alliance during Cold War.
2. U.S.A. and U.S.S.R, both are involved in military intervention in various countries.

Question 11.
What is meant by ‘Arenas of Cold War’? (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
Arenas of cold war mean the areas where crisis and war occurred or threatened to occur between the alliance system but did not cross certain limits. Arenas of the Cold War were Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan.

Question 12.
Mention the military alliances formed by the western Block. (C.B.S.E. Sample Q.P. 2017)
Answer:
(1) NATO
(2) CEATO
(3) CENTO

Question 13.
In which way did the policy of non¬alignment serve India’s interests? (C.B.S.E. 2017)
Answer:
The most important basic principles of India’s foreign policy is non-alignment as its base. A country with newly attained freedom could not interface in the international affairs. At the same time, India was facing manifold internal problems and could not afford to snap its relation with either of the two blocs. The basic principle of India’s foreign policy non-alignment, it safeguarding the national interests.

Question 14.
Why different arenas of the cold war did not convert into a hot war between the two alliances? (C.B.S.E. Sample Paper 2018)
Answer:
1. Both sides have enough capacity to retaliate against an attack and cause so many destructions.
2. Both sides exhibited restraint on their actions to prevent nuclear war.

Question 15.
Identify any one occasion/instance where the cold war between the two superpowers became a simple struggle for power by ignoring the ideological dimension. (C.B.S.E. Sample Papaer 2018)
Answer:
One such occasion/instance where the cold war between the two superpowers became a simple struggle for power by ignoring the ideological dimension when the U.S. first time openly supported the communist China of its opposite ideology in order to balance its power against the U.S.S.R.

Question 16.
Assess the main contribution of the Non- Aligned movement to the newly independent countries. (C.B.S.E. 2018)
Answer:
The main contribution to the Non-Aligned movement to the newly independent countries is to keep them away from the ‘Cold War’.

Question 17.
Why did Jawaharlal Nehru say that non-alignment was not a policy of ‘fleeing away’? (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:
Jawaharlal Nehru says that non-alignment was not a policy of ‘fleeing away1 rather India was in favor of actively intervening in world matters to reduce Cold War Tension.

The Cold War Era Important Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type (2 Marks)

Question 1.
Mention the impact of the end of the Cold War. (C.B.S.E. 2010)
Answer:
After the end of the Cold War, the world became unilateral and U.S. hegemony began.

Question 2.
Why was the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation also called Western ) Alliance? (Imp.) (C.B.S.E. 2015)
Or
What is meant by Western Alliance? (C.B.S.E. 2018)
Or
What is meant by Western Alliance formed during the Cold War period? (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was established in April 1949. NATO bound the U.S.A. to the deference of Western Europe. It also called the Atlantic or Western Alliance was an association of twelve states which declared that armed attack on any one of them would be regarded as an attack on all of them.

Question 3.
Why was the Warsaw Pact also called the ‘Eastern Alliance’? (C.B.S.E. 2015)
Answer:
Warsaw Pact was established in May 1955. It was bound to the Former U.S.S.R. for the defense of Eastern Europe. Therefore, it was called Eastern Alliance.

Question 4.
What is the full form of‘ SEATO’. (C.B.S.E. 2015)
Answer:
SEATO means-Southeast Asian Treaty Organisation.

Question 5.
Suggest one argument in ‘ support of the etab1iihment of NIEO in the world. (C.B.S.E. Sample Paper 2011)
Answer:
NIEO was established to develop the least developed countries of the third world, and lift them out of poverty.

Question 6.
Why is non-alignment not considered isolationism? (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:
Non-alignment not considered isolationism because isolation means remaining aloof from world politics on the other hand non-aligned countries played an active role in mediating between the two rival countries or alliances.

Question 7.
How does non-alignment differ from neutrality? (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:
Non-alignment differs from neutrality. Neutrality means a policy of staying out of the war, but non-aligned countries involved in wars for various reasons.

Question 8.
How did the Non-aligned countries play a role in reducing cold-war conflicts? (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:
Non-alignment countries tried to prevent was between others and also tried to end ongoing wars.

Question 9.
Why did the New International Economic Order (NIEO) initiative fade away in the late 1980s? (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:
The NIEO initiative fades away in the late 1980s, because of the strong opposition from developed countries.
Choose the correct answer:

Question 10.
Which of the following was not a member of NATO?
(a) The U.S.A.
(b) England
(c) France
(d) None of these.
Answer:
(d) None of these.

Question 11.
Which of the following was not a member of SEATO?
(a) U.S.S.R. (b) New Zealand
(c) Pakistan (d) Australia.
Answer:
(a) U.S.S.R.

Question 12.
Which of the following statements about the NIEO is false? (CBSE Sample Q.P. 2017)
(a) Give the LDCs control over their natural resources
(b) Obtain access to Western markets
(c) Reduce the cost of technology from the Western countries
(d) Provide the developed countries with a greater role in international economic institutions.
Answer:
(d) Provide the developed countries with a greater role in international economic institutions.

Question 13.
In 1945 the allied forces included the U.S___________U.S.S.R and ___________ (Sample Paper 2019-20)
Answer:
In 1945 the allied forces included the U.S., Britain, U.S.S.R, and France.

The Cold War Era Important Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Explain the meaning of the term Cold War.
Answer:
After the Second World War, the Cold War started between, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. A cold war is a state of tension between countries in which each side adopts policies designed to strengthen itself and weaken the other, a line falling short of an actual war. The term ‘Cold War’ came into use for describing the situation in which war was not actually fought but a warlike hysteria or as Nehru described ‘a brain war, a nerve war and a propaganda war’ was kept in operation.

The Cold War has been a predominant factor in determining the conduct of international affairs in the Post-Second World War. It envisaged an area of neither peace nor war between the Soviet Union and its dozen allies on one hand and the United States and a score of its allies on the other hand. The western alliances led by the U.S.A. were committed to liberal democracy and capitalism while the Eastern bloc led by the U.S.S.R. was committed to the ideology of socialism and communalism.

Question 2.
Why did India distance itself from the two camps led by the U.S. and the Soviet Union? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2015)
Answer:
1. First, India had to struggle against colonialism and imperialism. After getting freedom from imperialistic exploitations, faced the problem of economic reconstruction which could be accomplished in a peaceful atmosphere. So, India preferred not to join any group to avoid tension.

2. Secondly, India adopted the policy of non-alignment for peaceful co-existence for securing world peace and stability.

3. The policy of non-alignment was followed to elevate India’s prestige. If India gives it decision pertaining to international problems in a neutral way, both the power Blocs would respect its ideology, and the tension at the international level will lessen.

4. In order to preserve the hard-earned sovereignty, protect the territorial integrity and promote rapid economic development.

Question 3.
Mention two ways in which the non-alignment policy of India served its National interests. Also, write any two bases on which this policy was criticized. (C.B.S.E 2019)
Answer:
The policy of Non-aligned of India served its national interest in the way following ways:
1. Policy of Non-aligned help India to take a decision that served its National interests.
2. Due to the policy of Non-aligned India was able to balance one bloc against the other.

Criticism of Non-alignment: For this, See Question No. 4.

Question 4.
India’s policy of non-alignment has been criticised for being ‘In¬consistent’ and ‘Unprincipled’. Do you agree? Why? (C.B.S.E.2009)
Or
Why is the policy of non-alignment of India criticised? Explain any two reasons. (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Answer:
1. India’s policy of non-alignment has been criticised for being unprincipled. In the name of pursuing its national interest, it was said that India often refused to take a firm stand on critical international issues.

2. India’s Policy of Non-alignment has been also criticised for being inconsistent. India criticised other countries for joining alliances, and itself signed the treaty of Friendship in 1971 with U.S.S.R.

Question 5.
Explain the role played by India in maintaining Afro-Asian unity. (C.B.S.E. 2015)
Answer:
India is always ready to have friendly relations with other States of the world. India not only improved its friendly ties with Asian countries but with countries of the world also. India tries to unite Asian and African countries to strengthen economic and political relations. India believes that these countries can in unity oppose colonialism and create an atmosphere for the freedom of other Asian and African countries.

The Cold War Era Important Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Why was the end of the second world war considered to be the beginning of the Cold War? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2016)
Discuss the meaning and causes of the origin of the Cold War.
Answer:
Introduction. The remarkable result of the Second World War was the end of the war-time alliance and co-operation among the Allies. The United States, Britain and France had entered the war in close collaboration with Soviet Russia against the Fascist powers. A close alliance was formed forgetting all ideological differences. In fact, the United States and the Soviet Union came very close to each other. But after the end of the war, the War-time co-operation and friendship among the Allies dried up.

Soviet Russia and the United States emerged as the only two nations worthy of the title of ‘big powers’. The other nations of the world began to move around them. This led to the division of the world into two blocs. Under the leadership of these two powers, the rival blocs competed with each other for world-leadership. The rivalry (opposition) between these two rival blocs has been termed ‘Cold War’ or a battle of nerves. It envisaged an era of neither peace nor war between the Soviet Union and its dozen allies on one hand and the United States and a score of its allies on the other hand.

The term ‘Cold War’ was used first of all by Bernard Baruch, an American statesman but was popularised by Prof. Lippman. The term came to be used for describing the situation in which war was not actually fought but a war type hysteria was created. Pt. Nehru described the Cold War as ‘a brain war, a nerve war and a propaganda war’.

Cold War means the war of the nerves. It is not an actual war. It is a war in which the rival States try through all means, short of actual war, to gain supremacy at the cost of the other. One state or bloc tries to gain power and prestige defeating the cause of the other.

Causes of the Origin of the Cold War

The following reasons are given for the Cold War which started between nations of the above two militant power blocs. These blocs began contesting for their success politically and economically with
a view to dominate all the other countries of the world.

1. Mutual distrust during the war. The Western countries on one hand and the Soviet bloc on the other, during the course of the Great War, emphasised their mutual distrust. The Western powers had no doubt sided with Soviet Russia in facing the Nazi attack against Moscow but their friendship could not continue after the end of the War.

The Russian Communists had, as at the very start of their Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, once again renewed their attitude of distrust and contempt against the Western powers. So also the Western powers could not forget the Soviet determination of eliminating the capitalist hold from the countries of the world, of propagating the scope of Russian Communist upsurge all over the world.

2. War strategy of Western countries aimed at containment of Russia even during War. Soviet Russia had in 1942 proposed to the Western powers to open a second front for fighting against the Nazis in Europe. But England and France did not accede to it. They came forward with their counter-resolution of utilizing the U.S. and British forces which were soon to march towards the North of Balkan Peninsula after defeating the Nazis there.

The intentional delay made by the Western allies in opening the Western front on the Baltic against Germany largely proved to Soviet Russia that the Western allies were keeping themselves in utmost alertness to check the expansion of the Soviet Union in the Eastern part of Europe.

3. Efforts at enlarging areas of influence. Soon after the Second World War, both the Soviet Union and the Western countries began to make efforts to enlarge their areas of influence. The Western allies on one hand, and the Soviet Union on the other, started their most effective endeavours of winning over to their own side the chief political parties of the various countries, who had since been engaged in their National Revolutions for emancipation from foreign domination.

4. Secret of atomic weapons disclosed by America to England but not to the Soviet Union. The last but the most important reason for gradual aggravation of Cold War between the Western powers and the Soviet bloc was that America gave the secret of atomic weapons to Great Britain and not to the Soviet Union.

All these reasons considerably widened the gulf of political differences between Soviet Russia and Western allies. The result of that was apparent in the growing jealousy and strained relations of the two power blocs. Their differences became conspicuous in the various international conferences and foreign policies of the States of the world. The allies which had taken up arms against Hitler in the preceding war now arrayed themselves into two camps rival to each other.

U.S.A, Great Britain and France got into one camp to oppose the U.S.S.R. They carried on propaganda against each other through the medium of newspapers, magazines and radio programmes. The world now stood divided between the two armed and militant power-blocs, one of which is the Anglo-American Bloc or the Free World promoting Capitalistic Democracy, popularly known as the Western Camp while the other came to be known by the term Soviet or Communist Democratic Camp or the Eastern Camp.

Question 2.
Read carefully the passage given below and answer the following questions: (C.B.S.E. 2015)

The Cold War was not simply a matter of power rivalries, military alliances, and of the balance of power. These were accompanied by a real ideological conflict as well, a difference over the best and most appropriate way of organizing political, economic and social life all over the world.
(i) Why is a war-like situation called Cold War?
Answer:
The war-like situation is called the Cold War because the term came to be used for describing the situation in which war was not actually fought but a war type hysteria was created. In other words, it refers to a series of propaganda wars, tensions, competitions, and confrontations between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies.

(ii) Identify one military pact each signed by each of the two superpowers to balance the power rivalries.
Answer:
NATO was established by the U.S.A. and Warsaw Pact was established by the former U.S.S.R.

(iii) Differentiate between the ideologies represented by the rival blocs.
Answer:
The ideologies represented by the western alliance was led by the United States emphasised on liberal democracy and capitalism. While the eastern alliance was led by the Societ Union which followed the ideology of socialism and communism.

Question 3.
Describe the role played by India in keeping the Non-Aligned movement alive and relevant. (C.B.S.E. 2015)
Answer:
India is one of the founding fathers of NAM. India has always played an effective role in strengthening NAM. For the survival of NAM, India has played a vigorous and active role. Non-aligned continues to be a major principle of India’s foreign policy. Our Prime Ministers like Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Smt. Indira Gandhi has always supported and strengthened the policies of NAM.

The Indian Stewardship during 1983-86, made the NAM more respectable than before. As the chairman of the NAM, India gave strength to the movement by promoting consensus on international issues and problems and by securing the interest of the non-aligned countries. Smt. Indira Gandhi provided dynamism and cohesion to the Non-Aligned Movement. From the early days of NAM to nowadays, India presented a significant initiative for mobilizing wider support for the NAM.

Role of India in every meeting of NAM assumes significance. It has played a key role in the survival of NAM. After the dissolution of the American bloc and Russian bloc, the critics of NAM started arguing about the existence of NAM. But India always supported NAM and during the meeting of the tenth Summit, our then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao asserted that a unipolar world cannot reduce the NAM to a mere bagatelle.

In his address to the meet, he gave a call for a new charter of the NAM for carving out a changed role in NAM. India played a leadership role in the deliberations and decisions of the tenth NAM Summit. During the eleventh NAM Summit, India continued to remain a major NAM exponent.

India continued its faith and support to NAM and has always tried to achieve the aims of NAM. Non-alignment continues to be a major principle of Indian foreign policy. In Feb. 1995, the then Minister of External Affairs Mr Pranab Mukherjee declared India’s full and continued faith in the NAM. In 1996, the short-lived B.J.P. government lost no time in starting India’s continued faith in NAM and its resolve to remain as an active participant in NAM.

In June 1996 the United Front government also announced its commitment to NAM. In April 1997 Prime Minister I.K. Gujral also committed the same. In 1998, the twelfth Non-aligned summit accepted India’s key proposals for a global summit on combating terrorism.

In July 2009, addressing the opening session of the 15th NAM Summit, the Indian Prime Minister described the Non-Aligned Movement as a moral force for the equitable transformation of a world going through the worst economic crisis in living memory. In August 2012, addressing the 16th NAM Summit then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, strongly pitching for coordinated global actions against international terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, asked NAM to take a lead in this and also take a stand based on universally accepted principles on Syria. In Sept. 2016, 17th, and in Oct 2018, addressing the 18th NAM summit, India, strongly criticized terrorism.

No doubt, India is a motivating spirit behind NAM. It has always supported NAM, its policies, and plans. Every political party that came to rule India bows before NAM and fully supports it. India has played and is still playing an appreciable role in the survival of NAM.

Question 4.
Suppose there had been no Cold N War, how would that situation have affected India’s Foreign Policy? (Imp.) (G.B.S.E. 2015)
Answer:
India’s foreign policy is based on four major principles i.e., the policy of Non-alignment, Panchsheel, opposition to imperialists and colonialists, and full faith in the principle of the United Nations. In case the Cold War had not taken place and there would have emerged several major powers at the end of Second World War, India’s foreign policy had been affected in the following way:

1. Effect on Policy of Non-alignment. India adopted the policy of non-alignment because, after Second World War, the world was divided into two blocs. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of India’s foreign policy, clearly pointed out that India could not afford to snap its relation with either of the two blocs. So, the policy of Non-alignment was adopted. If there had been no Cold War, there would have been no need of adopting the policy of Non-alignment.

2. Friendly Relations with All States. If there had been no bloc and no Cold War then India would have adopted more friendly relations with all the countries of the world.

3. No Kashmir Problem. Kashmir issue is a major problem between India and Pakistan and this problem became a pending issue due to the Cold War. This problem could have been solved by the United Nations if there had been no Cold War. Due to the Cold War, America always sided with Pakistan.

4. Active Participation in International Politics. If there had been no indifference in the attitude of Pakistan due to the Cold War, India would have more actively participated in International politics.

Question 5.
Explain any three reasons each for the ‘arms race’ as well as the ‘arms control’ during the Cold War. (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:
Following are the main three reasons for the arm-race during the Cold War.
1. Both alliances wanted to keep maximum arms in comparison to each other.
2. Both alliances wanted to have maximum arms as they were afraid of each other.
3. Both alliances wanted to have maximum arms to have control over the opposite alliances.

Following are the three reasons for the arms-control between two alliances during Cold-War.
1. Both alliances realized that there can be any dangerous war in spite of keeping discipline and self-control.
2. Atomic war will cause a big loss to both alliances.
3. War equipment, armaments, and ammunition are costing sufficient to the economic resources of the nations.

Question 6.
What do you mean by this term ‘New International Economic Order’? What are the major themes and issues of the New International Economic Order?
Or
Highlight the circumstances with gave birth to the idea of the New International Economic Order (NIEO) explain any two factors that weekend this initiative. (C.B.S.E. 2017)
Answer:
Since early 1970’s the issue of New International Economic Order has been the frontal issue in international relations involving the developing countries (Third World) on one side and the developed countries (First Two Worlds) on the other side. Developing countries of the Third World made persistent demand for the establishment of the New International Economic Order (NIEO). While the South, again and again, makes a demand for NIEO, the North resists it. The Third World Countries regards the restructuring of the existing international economic order as the only way to get out of its present problems of poverty, scarcity, unemployment, under¬development and economic problems.

Meaning. New International Economic Order constitutes a framework for eliminating the existing era of an international economic system which is mostly catering to the needs and interest of the developed countries to the detriment of the under-developed Third World. The NIEO is based on the assumption that the prevalent international order perpetuates and aggravates international inequalities and that new relationship of interdependence should replace the older patterns of dependence and unequal exchange. NIEO stands for making the international system fairer, just, and equitable by adopting a code of conduct for the developed countries and by accepting the due rights of the ‘underdeveloped countries’. It stands for reducing the gap between the developed countries and the ‘underdeveloped countries’. It seeks to end the existing imbalances and inequalities in the economic relations between the underdeveloped and the developed world.

The NIEO aims at restructuring existing institution and establishing new organisations which will govern the flow of trade, technology and capital resources for the benefit of the whole world in general and the developing countries in particular. The NIEO is a historical attempt to redress some of the inequalities which have their roots in Colonialism. It seeks to secure an equitable and fairer distribution of world income and resources as that can enable both the developed world and the Third World to develop side by side. The NIEO is in many respects a world strategy for non-renewable resources. It seeks to establish a basis for pursuing the goal of economic justice through more equitable access to and distribution of the world’s rules and resources.

Major Themes and Issues of NIEO
The following are the major themes and issues of NIEO:
1. Restructuring of World Economic Relations. The major theme of NIEO is the urgent need for restructuring the world economic relation on a just and reasonable basis. NIEO is basically a demand for more efficient and equitable management of interdependence of the world economy.

2. Institutional Changes. The advocates of NIEO emphasise the restructuring of the existing rules and regulations governing the international economic relations and the formation of new institutions and systems of co-operation among nations.

3. End of Protectionism in International Economy and Trade. The concept of NIEO stands for eliminating the existing system of protectionist trade and policies which is designed by the developed countries to safeguard their interest in international economy and trade.

4Self-Reliance. A major theme of NIEO is self-reliance. The developing countries want to be self-reliant to achieve this objective. They want to achieve a new international economic order with a view of eliminating the existing partial and rich dominated international economic.

Two factors that weakened this initiative:

1. Strong opposition from the developed countries who acted as a united group against NIEO.
2. Non-aligned countries struggled to maintain their unity in the face of this opposition.

Question 7.
How did the two power blocs of the world form their own alliances to become superpowers? Explain with the help of examples. (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:
The world during the Cold War was sharply divided between two blocs.

These two superpowers were keen on expanding their spheres of influence in different parts of the world. The smaller states as compare to big powers were more interested to link themselves to the superpower for their own interests, protection, weapons, economic aids etc. During the cold-war period, Europe too was divided into two groups. Most countries of Western Europe sided with the US and of eastern Europe sided with the Soviet Union and they are given the name Western and eastern alliances.

International alliances during the Cold War era were determined by the requirements of the superpowers and the calculations of the smaller states. In many cases, these superpowers used their military power to bring smaller countries into their respective alliances NATO, SEATO, and CENTO – military and mutual treaties or alliances were made by the United States of America, whereas the Soviet Union used its influence in eastern Europe known as the Warsaw Pact and also the Soviet Union and communist China made close relations with North Korea, Iraq, and North Vietnam, etc.

Question 8.
Explain the idea of the New International Economic Order (NIEO) for the development of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Highlight any three reforms proposed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in 1972 to improve the’ global trading system. (C.B.S.E. 2018)
Or
What is meant by New International Economic Order? Mention any four reforms of the global trading system proposed by UNCTAD in 1972. (C.B.S.E. 2015)
Answer:
Since the early 1970s, the issue of New International Economic Order has been the frontal issue in international relations involving the developing countries (Third world) on one side and the developed countries (First two worlds) on the other side. Developing countries of the third world made persistent demand for the establishment of the New International Economic Order (NIEO). While the South, again and again, makes a demand for

NIEO, the North resists it. The third world countries regard the restructuring of the existing international economic order as the only way to get out of the present problems of poverty, scarcity, unemployment, under-development and economic problems. NIEO stands for making the international system fairer, just and equitable by adopting a code of conduct for the developed countries and by accepting the due rights of the underdeveloped countries.

It seems to end the existing imbalance and inequalities in the economic relations between the underdeveloped and the developed world.

The NIEO aims at restructuring the existing institution and establishing new organisations which will govern the flow of trade, technology and capital resources for the benefit of the whole world in general and the developing countries in particular. The NIEO is a historical attempt to redress some of the inequalities which have their roots in colonialism.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) brought out a report in 1972 entitled towards a New Trade Policy for Development. The report proposed a reform of the global trading system as follows:

1. The LDCs (Least Developed Countries) should be given control over their natural resources which are exploited by the developed countries.
2. The LDCs should be given access to western markets, so that they can sell their products and therefore, make trade more useful for the poorer countries.
3. Reduce the cost of technology from western countries.
4. LDCs should be provided a greater role in international economic institutions.

Question 9.
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions that: follow: (CBSE 2017)

The smaller states in the alliances used the link to the superpowers for their own purposes, they got the promise of protection, weapons and economic aid against their local rivals, mostly regional neighbours with whom they had rivalries. The alliance system led by the two superpowers, therefore, threatened to divide the entire world into two camps. This division happened first in Europe. Most countries of Western Europe sided with the US and those of Eastern Europe joined the Soviet camp. That is why these were also called the ‘western’ and the ‘eastern’ alliances.

(i) Name one organisation each related to the Western’ and the ‘Eastern’ alliances.
Answer:
Most of the countries of Western Europe that sided with the US are called Western or NATO and those of Eastern Europe join with the Soviet Union are known as WARSAW Pact.

(ii) Why were the smaller states interested in joining the super alliances?
Answer:
The smaller states in the alliances used the link to themselves with Super Powers for their own purposes. They got the promise of protection, weapons, and economic acids against their local rivals or regional neighbors with whom they and rivalries.

(iii) How did the ‘alliance system’ threaten to divide the world?
Answer:
Most of the countries of Western Europe sided with the US and of Eastern Europe joined the Soviet Camp. This divided the entire world into two groups. The alliance system led by the two superpowers threatened world peace and gave birth to the cold-war.

Question 10.
Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions: (C.B.S.E. 20IS)

Non-alignment as a strategy evolved in the Cold War context With the disintegration of USSR and the end of Cold War in 1991 non-alignment, both, as an international movement and as the core of India’s foreign policy, lost some of its earlier relevance and effectiveness.
(i) Why did India adopt non¬alignment?
Answer:
India adopted non-alignment in order to secure the territorial integrity, and promote rapid economic development and advocate peaceful coexistence.

(ii) Explain any two reasons for the loss of its relevance by the Non-Aligned Movement.
Answer:
(a) Disintegration of USSR
(b) The end of the Cold War in 1991.

(iii) How far do you agree that the Non-aligned Movement has become an international movement?
Answer:
Non-Alignment has become an international movement as with the disintegration of USSR
and the end of the Cold War in 1991. In 1961, it has 25 members, whereas now the number is increased to 120. It tried to solve regional and international problems through discussions and solutions.

Question 11.
How far is it correct to say the international alliances during the Cold War era were determined by the requirements of the superpower and? the calculations of the smaller states? \ Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2016)
Answer:
The international alliances during the Cold War era were determined by the requirements of the superpower.
For examples:

1. The smaller countries were helpful to the superpowers in gaining access to natural resources such as oil and minerals.
2. The smaller countries were helpful for the superpowers in gaining access to territory, from where the superpowers could launch their weapons and troops.
3. The superpowers could gain access to locations from where they could spy on each other.
4. The smaller countries together could help pay for military expenses.

Thus, the smaller countries were helpful to the superpowers in gaining their personal benefits. For example:

• The smaller countries got security from the superpowers against their local territorial opposing nations.
• The smaller countries got weapons and economic-help from these superpowers also.

Question 12.
Name the five founder leaders of NAM along with the countries they belong to which three factors were the culmination of the non-aligned summit of 1961 in Belgrade? (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:

The first Non-aligned summit was held in Belgrade in 1961. The first NAM Summit was the culmination of the following three factors:

• Increasing cold war tension and its widening arenas.
• Many new decolonized African countries became members of NAM. By 1960, there were 16 New African members in the U.N.
• Co-operation among five countries.

Question 13.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: (C.B.S.E. 2017)

In the event of a nuclear war, both sides will be so badly harmed that it will be impossible to declare one side or the other as the winner, even if one of them tries to attack and disable the nuclear weapons of its rival, the other would still be left with enough nuclear weapons to inflict unacceptable destruction. Both sides have the capacity to retaliate against an attack and to cause so much destruction that neither can afford to initiate war. Thus, the cold war – in spite of being an intense form of rivalry between great powers – remained a ‘cold’ and not hot or shooting war. The deterrence relationship prevents war but not the rivalry between powers.
(i) Why did intense rivalry between the super-powers remains a cold war only?
Answer:
Both sides have the capacity to retaliate against an attack. Both were having enough nuclear weapons to inflict disastrous destruction.

(ii) Why can’t a nuclear war between the two nuclear powers be decisive?
Answer:
In a nuclear war, both sides will be so badly harmed that it will be impossible to declare either as the winner. The nuclear weapons will inflict unacceptable destruction to both sides that neither can afford to initiate war.

(iii) Explain the logic of ‘deterrence’.
Answer:
In an event of a nuclear war, both sides will be badly harmed. Both sides have the capacity to retaliate against an attack and to cause so much destruction that neither can afford to initiate war. this ‘deterrence’ relationship prevents the war.

Question 14.
How did India play a crucial role in the Non-aligned Movement during the Cold War period? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2017)
Or
Describe the crucial role played by India in the NAM during the cold war period. (C.B.S.E. Sample Paper 2018)
Answer:
India is one of the founding fathers of NAM. India has always played an effective role in strengthening NAM. For the survival of NAM, India has played a vigorous and active role. Non-aligned continues to be a major principle of India’s foreign policy. Our Prime Ministers like Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Smt. Indira Gandhi has always supported and strengthened the policies of NAM.

The Indian Stewardship during 1983-86, made the NAM more respectable than before. As the chairman of the NAM, India gave strength to the movement by promoting consensus on international issues and problems and by securing the interest of the non-aligned countries. Smt. Indira Gandhi provided dynamism and cohesion to the Non-Aligned Movement. From the early days of NAM to nowadays, India presented a significant initiative for mobilizing wider support for the NAM.

Role of India in every meeting of NAM assumes significance. It has played a key role in the survival of NAM. After the dissolution of the American bloc and Russian bloc, the critics of NAM started arguing about the existence of NAM. But India always supported NAM and during the meeting of the tenth Summit, the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao asserted that a unipolar world cannot reduce the NAM to a mere bagatelle. In his address to the meet, he gave a call for a new charter of the NAM for carving out a changed role in NAM. India played a leadership role in the deliberations and decisions of the tenth NAM Summit. During the eleventh NAM Summit, and there on India continued to remain a major NAM exponent.

India continued its faith and support to NAM and has always tried to achieve the aims of NAM. Non¬alignment continues to be a major principle of Indian foreign policy.

Question 15.
Read the passage given below carefully and answer the following questions (C.B.S.E. 2018)

The ‘Cuban Missile Crisis’ was a high point of what came to be known as the Cold War. The Cold War referred to the competitions, the tensions and a series of confrontations between the United States of America and the Soviet Union backed by their respective allies. Fortunately, however, it never escalated into a ‘hot war’.
(а) Explain the meaning of ‘hot war’.
Answer:
Hot war means a destructive war between the two rivals. Hot war or destructive war cause to death of hundred of living and loss of property.

(b) Why was the ‘Cuban Missile Crisis’ considered as the high point of the Cold War?
Answer:
The ‘Cuban Missile crisis’ considered as the high point of the war because this incident brought the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. to the edge of the Nuclear War.

(c) “Ideological conflict was also a cause of the Cold War.” How far do you agree with the statement?
Answer:
Yes, ideological conflict was also a cause of the cold war, because both countries try to expand their ideology in the world.

Question 16.
Read the passage given below carefully and answer the question that follows:

It is important to remember that India chose to involve other members of the non-aligned group in this mission of reducing tension. During the Cold War, India repeatedly tried to activate those regional and international organizations, which were not a part of alliances led by the US and the USSR. Nehru reposed great faith in ‘a genuine commonwealth of free and co-operating nations’ that would play a positive role in softening, if not ending, the Cold War’.
(i) Explain the meaning of the Cold War.
Answer:
For this, see S.A.T. Question No. 1.

(ii) Explain India’s response to the then-ongoing Cold War.
Answer:
For this, see Textbook Question No. 8.

(iii) Highlight any two features of India’s policy of Non-alignment. (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:
(a) India was not a member of any bloc.
(b) India’s is non-aligned policy emphasis on cordial relations among developing countries.

Question 17.
Explain the formation and importance of NATO, Warsaw Pact and SEATO during the Cold War period. (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:
1. NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was established in April 1949. It bound the U.S.A. to the defense of Western Europe. It also called the Atlantic Alliance or Western Alliance was an association of twelve states which declared that armed attack on any one of them would be regarded as an attack on all of them. NATO was a U.S. sponsored military alliance and at present consists of 26 countries including the U.S.A. and European countries.

2. Warsaw Pact: The Warsaw Treaty Organisation came into existence nine days after West Germany’s entry as a full member into the NATO. The U.S.S.R. took the initiative in the establishment of Warsaw Pact which came into existence in May 1955. Warsaw Pact was a treaty of friendship, co-operation and mutual assistance. The treaty was signed for a period of 20 years. Its doors were open to all European states. The main aim of the Warsaw Pact was to counter the impact and influence of NATO.

3. SEATO: Southeast Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO) was established in 1954. It was a military organization and its members are Australia, France, Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand, and the U.S.A, etc. main aim of this organization to prevent the U.S.S.R is an expansion in this area.

Question 18.
Describe briefly the Cuban missile crisis. (C.B.S.E. 2019)
Answer:
Cuba was an ally of the Soviet Union. In April 1961, the leaders of U.S.S.R. were worried that the U.S.A. would invade Communist-ruled Cuba and overthrow Fidel Castro, the President of Cuba.

Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of U.S.S.R. placed nuclear missiles in Cuba. America was threatened by Soviet Union missiles and therefore President John F. Kennedy and his advisers were determined to get Khrushchev to remove the missiles and nuclear weapons from Cuba. President Kennedy ordered American warships to intercept any Soviet Union ships heading to Cuba. A conflict between two big powers was imminent and this crisis was known as Cuba Missile Crisis.

During the time the member states of OAS were readying their support for the naval quarantine, there took place an exchange of letters between President Kennedy and Khrushchev, Kennedy and U. Thant, the acting Secretary-General of the United Nations. Ultimately, the threat of a nuclear war was averted. In this crisis. President Kennedy and Soviet leader Khrushchev played an effective role.

The Cold War Era Important Extra Questions HOTS

Question 1.
Give reasons why the smaller States in alliances in the Cold War era, used the link to the superpowers.
Answer:
The smaller States in alliance used the link to with the superpowers for their own benefit. The smaller states got the promise of security and protection. They also got the promise of economic aid, weapons and support.

Question 2.
What is the Warsaw Pact?
Answer:
The Warsaw Treaty Organisation came into existence nine days after West Germany’s entry as a full member into the NATO. The U.S.S.R. took the initiative in the establishment of Warsaw Pact which came into existence in May 1955. Warsaw Pact was a treaty of friendship, co-operation and mutual assistance. The treaty was signed for a period of 20 years. Its doors were open to all European states. The main aim of the Warsaw Pact was to counter the impact and influence of NATO.

Question 3.
What was the result of the Second World War between the Allied Powers and Axis Powers?

Answer:
In the Second World War, Allied forces led by the U.S.A., U.S.S.R., Great Britain and France defeated Axis powers led by Germany, Italy and Japan.

Question 4.
Who was Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru?
Answer:
Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) was the first Prime Minister of independent India. Pt. Nehru had full faith in the principles of Panchsheel. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru advocated peaceful existence for securing international peace. He is known as the architect of India’s foreign policy. It was Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru who filled life and zeal to the movement of non-alignment.

Question 5.
Why did India not join either NATO or SEATO?
Answer:
India did not join either NATO or SEATO because India followed a policy of Non-alignment. India remained independent by not joining any group.

Here we are providing Class 12 Geography Important Extra Questions and Answers Chapter 12 Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems. Geography Class 12 Important Questions are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

Class 12 Geography Chapter 12 Important Extra Questions Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems

Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems Important Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
In which town, do vehicles emit most carbon-monoxide ?
Answer:
Delhi.

Question 2.
What is the volume of polluted water flowing in Ganga river daily ?
Answer:
87.3 crore litre.

Question 3.
How many leather tanneries are located along the Ganga hanks ?
Answer:
150.

Question 4.
Name two sources of Air Pollution.
Answer:
Volcanoes and industries.

Question 5.
Name a gas which depletes Ozone gas.
Answer:
CFC—Chlorofluorocarbon.

Question 6.
Classify pollution into three main types.
Answer:
Pollution can be classified into three categories on the basis of medium of transportation of the pollutants:

• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Land pollution.

Question 7.
What is the total number of two- wheelers in India.
Answer:
117 crores (2010-11).

Question 8.
What is Smog ?
Answer:
Smog is smoky fog in urban industrial cities when carbondioxide freezes over smoke.

Question 9.
Name the Anthropogenic sources of pollution.
Answer:
Industrial sources, urban source, agricultural sources, cultural sources.

Question 10.
Name the two polluted rivers of India.
Answer:
Ganga and Yamuna.

Question 11.
Name the cultural sources of pollution.
Answer:
Pilgrimages, religious fairs, tourism.

Question 12.
How much area is under land erosion in India ?
Answer:
13 crore hectares.

Question 13.
Which areas have become alkaline and saline and why ?
Answer:
Northern India due to over-irrigation.

Question 14.
Name the ill-effects of use of chemical fertilisers.
Answer:
It destroys the micro-organisms of the soils.

Question 15.
What is the cause of acid-rain? (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
Sulphur emitted from factories.

Question 16.
How can urban waste become a resource?
Answer:
When it is used for generating energy and compost.

Question 17.
Which type of pollution causes various diseases related to the respiratory system? (Sample Paper 1)
Answer:
Air pollution

Question 18.
Name the two cities of U.P. that are mainly responsible for pollutions the river Ganga. (C.B.S.E. 2011)
(Sample Paper 2)
Answer:
Kanpur and Varanasi.

Question 19.
Mention any two cultural activities responsible for water pollution in India. (C.B.S.E. 2009) (Sample Paper 2017-18)
Answer:
(i) Religious fairs
(ii) Tourism.

Question 20.
Which is the main source of water borne diseases in India? Name one water borne disease. (C.B.S.E. 2009)
Answer:
Contaminated water is the main source of water borne diseases. Hepatitis is a water borne disease.

Question 21.
Name the two states of India which have less than five percent of population below poverty line.
Answer:
Goa (4.40% poverty) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1% poverty) are the two states having less than 5% population below poverty line.

Question 22.
Why Swachh Bharat Mission is launched ?
Answer:
This is apart of the urban renewals mission by the government of India. SBM is launched to improve that quality of life in urban slums.

Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems Important Extra Questions Short Answer Type

uestion 1.
Mention three criterias used for identi¬fying pollution.
Answer:
(i) Disposal of Human wastes.
(ii) Damages caused by disposal wastes.
(iii) Effect of damage caused.

Question 2.
What is the difference between pollution and pollutants ?
Answer:
Pollution means degradation of air, land, water. It deteriorates our resources. Pollutants are matter causing degradation and pollution of ecosystem.

Question 3.
Give two examples of River pollution.
Answer:
Pollution of Rivers. With rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, huge quantities of waste water enter rivers. About 873 million litres per day (mid) of waste water drained into the Ganga before the Ganga Action Plan was initiated. The Sabarmati, a small river, alone receives 998 mid of dirty water from the city of Ahmedabad.

Question 4.
Explain any five objectives of ‘Namami Gange Programme’. (Outside Delhi 2019)
Answer:
Ganga river has national importance but this river needs cleaning by effectively controlling the pollution. The water of this river is polluted ‘Namami Gange Programme’ has launched by union government.

Objectives of Namami Gange Programme are:

• Motive to develop sewerage treatment system in towns.
• Objective of creating awarness in public to avoid adding pollutants in to the water of the river. People because of their own rituals do so.
• Objective of development of Ganga Grams in the areas of Uttarakhand, U.P., Jharkhand, Bihar and W.B.
• Industrial pollution from towns also a serious problem for the river. So monitoring of industrial effluents is also a major objective of the programme.
• Domestic wastes from urban centres also a serious problem so cleaning of the surface of the river is also a good objective.

Question 5.
Mention any two source of land pollution in India. (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Answer:
(i) Human and animal excreta.
(ii) Use of pesticides and fertilisers.

Question 6.
Describe any three problems of slums in India. (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
(i) There is a lack of basic amenities like toilet, safe drinking water, electricity, etc., in slums.
(ii) People are prone to diseases and illness as they are malnourished.
(iii) Poverty makes people vulnerable to drug abuse, alcoholism, crime and exclusion from society.

Question 7.
Describe the effects of air pollution. (C.B.S.E. 2011)
Or
How is air pollution harmful ?
Or
Explain any three different cause’s of air pollution. (Outside Delhi 2019)
Or
“Air pollution is very harmful to flora, fauna and property. Explain any three values which can help in maintaining pollution free air to some extent. (C.B.S.E. Delhi 2017)
Answer:
Effects of air pollution. The air pollution modifies weather and climate, effects human health and biotic community.
(1) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) cause depletion of ozone layer which enable ultraviolet rays of the sun to reach the earth and increase atmospheric temperature.

(2) Increased concentration of carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere causes greenhouse effect raising the atmosphere temperature.

(3) Smoky fog over cities called as urban smog is caused by these gases. It proves very harmful to human health.

(4) Air pollution can also cause acid rains.

(5) Rainwater analysis of urban environment has indicated that pH value of the first rain after summer is always lower than the subsequent rains. Studies conducted by NEERI show that the minimum pH of 4.5 was in Kochi, while the average pH of all rains at all the urban agglomerations ranged from 6.2 to 7.6.

Question 8.
Name the Industrial wastes causing water pollution.
Answer:
Though water pollutants are also created from natural sources (erosion, landslides, decay and decomposition of plants and animals, etc.) pollutants from anthropogenic sources are the real causes of concern. They include industrial sources, urban source, agricultural source, cultural source, etc.

Industries produce several undesirable products including industrial wastes, polluted waste water, poisonous gases, chemical residuals, numerous heavy metals, dust, smoke, etc. Most of the industrial wastes are disposed off in running water. Consequently, poisonous elements reach the reservoirs, rivers and other water bodies which destroy the biosystem of these waters. Major water polluting industries are leather, pulp and paper, textiles and chemicals.

Question 9.
How is air pollution harmful ? Explain any three different causes of air pollution.
Answer:
Air pollution is harmful. Air pollution results into the spread of diseases related to lungs, skin and throat etc. Air pollution also causes acid rain which damages human health. The ozone layer is depleted by the chlorofluorocarbon and great shrinkage in the glacier.

Causes of air pollution:
(i) Natural Resources: Such as volcanic eruption, dust, strom, fires etc.

(ii) Factories: Factories cause smoke, ash.

(iii) Automobiles: Automobilies release carbon monoxide & lead in the atmosphere. Transport and farming are the main actions that have been directly linked to emissions. Forest fires and the burning of living, or recently living organisms, represent a further major sources of emission.

Question 10.
Name the diseases caused by air and water pollution. (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
Air pollution causes diseases of lungs, heart, nervous and circulatory systems. A study conducted in the ambient air of Kolkata (in 1994) concluded that three out of every ten persons in the city suffered from some kind of respiratory diseases that cough, bronchitis and allergic-rhinitis which were associated with concentrations of suspended particulate matter.

The diseases commonly caused due to contaminated water are diarrhoea, trachoma, intestinal worms, hepatitis, etc. Recent World Bank and World Health Organisation data shows that about one-fourth of the communicable diseases in India are water-borne.

Question 11.
Compare the water pollution in Ganga and Yamuna Rivers.
Answer:

Question 12.
Write a note on Land Pollution.(C.B.S.E. 2011)
Ans.
Land Pollution. Land pollution encompasses the degradation and pollution of soil and vegetative cover. Deterioration in the quality of soil occurs because of

• soil erosion
• reduction in plant nutrients
• decline in soil micro-organisms
• lack of moisture
• concentration of various harmful elements, etc.

Erosion is caused by natural and human factors. Deforestation, overgrazing and improper use of land also accelerates soil erosion. It is estimated that 130 million hectares of land is affected by erosion problems in the country. Shifting agriculture alone has affected about 30 million hectares.

Besides erosion, salinisation and flooding caused due to construction of dams, reservoirs, canals and tanks in geologically unsuitable areas, excessive use of canal irrigation and diversion of floodwater in areas of impervious rocks also reduce the potentiality of land. Because of over-irrigation, saline and alkaline areas have increased in the northern plains of the country.

Irrigation also changes the structure of the soil. Besides, use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides and herbicides degrade the soil by destroying their natural- physical, chemical and biological properties. Chemical fertilisers destroy micro-organisms of the soil, which are agents of nitrogen conversion in the soil.

They increase sterility and reduce water-holding capacity of soil. They also leave their traces in crops, which act as slow poison for human beings. Similarly, organic phosphate compounds used to kill insects can stay for longer time in soils destroying micro-organism.

Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems Important Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Describe urbanisation in India and discuss its problems.
Answer:
Urbanisation. Many Geographers have defined urbanisation.

• According to Griffith Taylor: Urbanisation is a shift of people from village to city.
• According to G.T. Trewartha: The urbanisation process denotes an increase in the fraction of a population which is urban.

According to changing Political, Social and Economic conditions, the human settlements have been developing. Rural settlements were changed to urban settlements. Therefore urbanisation is a process in which rural settlement, change to urban settlements. According to E.E. Bergel, “The process of change of villages to towns is known as urbanisation. ”

Nature and Trends of Urbanisation in India
In India, urbanisation has not developed on a large scale. The size of urban population is large, India has the second largest urban population in the world, but the percentage of urban population is only 31.6%.

It is small as compared to urban population of 82.6% in USA, 91.7% in Japan, 74% in Russia, 89.3% in Australia and 86.3% in New Zealand. China has 51.8% urban population. During the last 100 years, the urban population is increasing in India. It has increased from 11% to 31.16% in 2011. The total urban population was 2-6 crores in 1901. It has increased 11 times now.

Problems of Slums and Urban waste : Many problems have arisen due to increasing population and urbanisation. The problems of slums and disposal of urban waste are the two main problems.

Slums: There is a shortage of space in towns. The increasing population creates housing problems. Multi-storeyed buildings are being constructed to solve it. Generally, push and pull factors force the people to migrate to towns.

These people move in search of employment. In towns, the housing facility is costlier. The people construct huts on the vacant land outside the towns. There is dense population in such slums. There is no facility for water-drainage and disposal of urban waste. People’s standard of living is very low. The administration has taken many steps to provide facilities to these areas, yet these slums suffer from many diseases.

According to 2001 census, data was collected regarding slums. This population is known as the slum population. About 4 crore 3 lakh people live in slums. This covers a population of 22.6% of towns, with the result 1/4 of urban population lives in slums. The maximum number of slums are found in Maharashtra and have a population of 1,06,40,000.

The maximum slum population in towns is found in Mumbai with a population of 48.8 per cent. Patna has only 0.25 percent slum population. Meghalaya has the highest percentage (41.33%) and Kerala has the lowest percentage (1.81%) of slum population.

Disposal of urban waste : Another problem in urban areas is the domestic sewage. This urban waste leads to water pollution. The urban waste, the animal waste and the industrial waste material is deposited in heaps over land due to which the land becomes unsuitable for other uses. This waste creates many health problems. The urban waste thrown in rivers and streams cause water pollution.

The waters of river Ganga and Yamuna have been polluted in this way. The towns located along the banks of these rivers use their water as drinking water. The polluted water affects animals living in rivers and spreads many diseases like Hepatitus, Typhoid, Dysentery, etc. which affects human health.

Question 2.
Write a note on Environmental pollution in India.
Answer:
Environment: Environment is the sum total of a set of surroundings that affect the development and life of organisms. It includes natural as well as cultural environment.

Environmental Pollution : Environmental pollution has become a serious problem for mankind. It is threatening the existence of mankind. The composition of air is being altered by undesirable chemical, physical and biological elements. It is known as air pollution.

Atmospheric pollution is as old as civilisation. The use of fire caused gases, smoke, ash. With the development of Industrialisation, the natural composition of the earth atmosphere is gradually degrading. It has damaged the environment. The atmospheric pollution has endangered the existing and future generations.

Pollutants : The common pollutants found in air are as follows:

• Deposited matter like Soot, Smoke, tandust.
• Gases like sulphur, Carbon-monoxide, Nitrogen oxide, Ammonia, Fluorine, etc.
• Chemical Compounds : Like arenes, Phosgenes, detergents.
• Metals like lead, Iron, zinc, mercury.
• Sewage
• Radio-active Substances.
• Noise and heat.

Atmospheric Pollution. Atmosphere is of fundamental importance for our existence. Due to industrial revolution, the atmospheric pollution is increasing gradually. The effect of atmospheric pollution is not local but regional. The whole of atmosphere is affected. It has harmed ultra-violet shielding ozone layer. The addition of heat-trapping green house gases will cause a disaster.

Air-Pollution by Natural Agents : The volcanic eruptions, forest fires, natural decay of organic and in organic matter is causing air pollution. These cause smoke, ash, gases in atmosphere. These, reduce visibility. Smoke is injurious to health. Acid rain has changed the composition of air and water.

Human activities : The burning of fuels and chemicals is increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in atmosphere. It has increased by 25%. With the result, the average temperature of the earth is increasing. It has increased by 0.3°C to 0.7°C during the last century. Deforestation has also lead to increase in carbon dioxide. The increasing use of fuels in vehicles has increased the amount of sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and has created many respiratory diseases.

Atmosphere is of fundamental importance for human health. Most of the countries of the world have enacted laws to check air pollution. Only a healthy nation can utilize its natural resources.

Water pollution : Water is another indispensable source of our life. Pollution of water has caused far- reaching implications. It is a serious problem in metropolitans like Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. It not only affects the water of rivers, tanks and lakes; but also ocean water. The following factors affect water pollution:

• Domestic sewage
• Industrial wastes
• Agricultural activities
• Thermal pollution
• Marine pollution.

Land Pollution: Land is one of the most important components of life support system. Land is degrading due to over use from centuries. Depletion of land is caused by :

• Soil erosion
• Pollutants.

Soil erosion is active on steep slopes and areas devoid of vegetation. Torrential rainfall also washes away fertile layer of soil. Ravines or gullies are caused. Deforestation, over grazing has also led to soil erosion. The effect of soil erosion is a serious problem in agricultural countries.

The accumulation of pollutants on land makes it unsuitable for other uses. The impact of soil erosion on ecological system is visible in Siwalik hills where the harm has been done by chos.

Question 3.
Describe the major problems I associated with urban water disposal in India. (C.B.S.E. 2011)
Answer:
Urban Waste Disposal Problems. The environmental problems of cities include water, air and noise pollution and disposal of toxic and hazardous wastes.

Problems. Lack of sewers or other means to dispose off human excretes safely and the inadequacy of garbage collection services adds to water pollution because many of the uncollected wastes are washed into streams. The dumping of industrial waste into rivers is a major cause of industrial waste into rivers is a major cause of water pollution. River pollution from city-based industries and untreated sewage leads to serious health problems downstream.

Increase in urban wastes.
Solid waste generation continues to increase in both absolute and per capita terms in cities. It is estimated that per capita waste generation increased from 375 gm/day to 490 gm/day during 1971-1997 in urban areas of the country. This increase along with the population increase has tremendously swollen up the figuers of total waste generation quantum. The amount of total wastes has increased from 14.9 Tonnes per day to 48. Tonnes per day.

III effects of urban waste : At the same time, the composition of solid waste changes from biodegradable organic material to plastic and other synethetic materials, which take much longer time to decompose. When this solid waste is not collected and disposed off efficiently and effectively, it attracts rodents and flies which spread diseases. It also pollutes and degrades land and water resources.

Table. India: Composition of Solid Wastes from Cities (in Percentage)

It is evident from the above Table that shares of plastics, glass and metals increased remarkably through time. Plastics recorded five-fold jump within twenty years. Most of these do not have a good recycling value and hence are disposed off by municipalities as part of the kitchen waste.

Harmful for Health.
Inability to collect solid waste is a serious problem. In metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, etc. about 90 per cent of the solid waste is collected. But in most of the cities and towns about 30 to 50 per cent of the waste generated are left uncollected which accumulate on streets, in open spaces between houses and in wasteland, contributing to serious health hazards.

It is remarkable that both formal and informal sectors are involved in collection of solid waste, yet the problem of urban waste disposal remains unsolved. These wastes should be treated as Resource and utilized for generating energy and comfort.

Effect on ground water. About 90 percent of the municipal water collected by the civic authorities is dumped in low-lying areas outside the city/town limit, without any provision for treatment. As a result, heavy metals find their way to the underground water rendering it unfit for drinking. Untreated wastes ferment slowly and release noxious biogas to the atmosphere, including methane (65 to 75 per cent) which is a green house gas and which has a global warming potential 34 times more than carbon dioxide.

Question 4.
Explain soil erosion, salinisation and water logging problems.
Answer:
1. Irrigation. Because of our irrigation, saline areas increased in northern planes of country. Irrigation also changes the structure of the soil.

2. Use of chemicals. Besides, use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides and herbicides degrades the soil by destroying their natural, physical, chemical and biological properties.

3. Use of fertilisers. Chemical fertilisers destroy micro-organisms of the soil, which are agents of nitrogen conversion in the soil. They increase sterility and reduce water-holding capacity of the soil. They also leave their traces in crops, which act as slow poison for human beings.

4. Use of pesticides. Similarly, organic phosphate compounds used to kill insects can stay for longer time in soils destroying micro-organisms.

5. Industrial wastes. Improper disposal of industrial and urban wastes, and irrigation of agricultural fields with polluted urban sewage water near urban and industrial areas degrade the soil. The toxic chemical substances of industrial effluents and urban sew’age enter the soil mostly in their neighbourhoods and pollute them.

6. Pollutants emitted by chimneys. Besides gaseous and solid pollutants emitted by the factory chimneys are transported by winds. These pollutants containing toxic substances, are deposited on soils and pollute them.

7. Acid Rain. Sulphur emitted from factories cause acid rains which increases the acidity of the soils. Pollutant from cement factories like klins, coal mining and transport vehicles, thermal power plants, etc., also pollute the soils on a large scale.

Question 5.
Describe the air pollution caused by automobiles. Give examples for four metro- politons.
Answer:
The vehicles which use leaded fuel, account for about 95% of air borne lead pollution. The growth of number of motor vehicles in the last three decades has been almost 32 times. In 1997-98, there were 0.53 million buses, 2.53 million trucks, 28.24 million two- wheelers, 1.34 million auto rickshaws and 5.05 million cars, jeep and taxis.

Urban air quality has generally deteriorated throughout India. The reasons are absence of pollution abatement and rising number of motor vehicles that use leaded fuels. The annual mean concentration trends for the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) for some cities observed various atmospheric pollutants. From figures,
(1) it is clear that nitrogen dioxide concentraton trend is stabilising for Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai
(2) sulphur dioxide concentrations are decreasing in Delhi but still increasing in Mumbai and Kolkata.
(3) Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) concentrations have somewhat increased in all these cities.

Table. India: Estimated Vehicular Emission Load in certain Metropolitan Cities
(Vehicular Pollution Load tonne per day)

Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems Important Extra Questions HOTS

Question 1.
‘Land Degradation is caused by human made processes are more harmful than natural processes in India.’ Analyse the statement with suitable examples. (C.B.S.E. 2009)
Answer:
Land degration caused by man-made processes amounts to 5.58% of the total rate of degradation. It is more than land degraded by natural sources (2.4%). Wastelands are formed due to shifting cultivation, planation crops, degraded forests and pastures, mining and industrial wastelands.

Question 2.
Why is the ‘Urban Waste Disposal’ a serious problem in India? Explain any three reasons. (Delhi 2019) (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
Urban waste disposal is a serious problem in India-

• Solid waste cause health hazard and spread diseases like Typhoid, Diphtheria, Diarrhoea, Malaria, and Cholera.
• The dumping of industrial waste into rivers leads to water pollution.
• Untreated wastes ferment slowly and release toxic gases into the atmosphere including Methane.

Question 3.
Explain the reasons for the coming up of slums in developing countries like India with suitable examples.
(Sample Paper 2018-19)
Answer:
Slums are clusters of shanty structures. These are inhabited by those people who are forced to migrate from the rural areas to these urban centres in search of livelihood but are not able to afford proper housing due to high rents. They occupy environmentally incompatible and degraded areas. Developing countries like India face this problem at a large scale. For e.g., Dharavi, Asia is largest slum in a striking example of the same.

Here we are providing Class 12 Geography Important Extra Questions and Answers Chapter 11 International Trade. Geography Class 12 Important Questions are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

Class 12 Geography Chapter 11 Important Extra Questions International Trade

International Trade Important Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What was the value of foreign trade of India in 2010-11 ?
Answer:
₹ 28,74,600 crore.

Question 2.
What is the share of India in International trade ?
Answer:
1.1%.

Question 3.
Which port has been developed to relieve the pressure of Chennai port ?
Answer:
Ennore.

Question 4.
Name the import of India having the highest value ?
Answer:
Petroleum.

Question 5.
What is the value of adverse balance of trade in India in 2011 ?
Answer:
₹ 540,818 crore.

Question 6.
What in the value of total exports of India in 2011 ?
Answer:
₹ 1,142,649 crore.

Question 7.
To which Block, the most of exports go ?
Answer:
Asia-Oceania.

Question 8.
State the number of major ports of India ?
Answer:
12 major ports and 187 minor ports.

Question 9.
Name two new ports of India.
Answer:
Nhava Sheva and Paradip.

Question 10.
How many domestic airports are there in India ?
Answer:
11 international airports and 81 Domestic airports.

Question 11.
Name a new port of Tamil Nadu.
Answer:
Tuticorn.

Question 12.
State the difference between import- export trade of India.
Answer:
₹ 540,818 crore.

Question 13.
Name two main groups of imports of India.
Answer:
Fuel and Raw-material minerals.

Question 13 A.
Name the port developed on a Satellite port to relieve the pressure of Mumbai port.
Answer:
Nhava Sheva (Jawarher Lai Nehru Port).

Question 14.
What is the share of petroleum and petroleum products in India’s imports ?
Answer:
26 percent.

Question 15.
What is the share of minerals in exports of India ?
Answer:
5 percent.

Question 16.
To which eight countries of western Europe are exports from India sent ?
Answer:
Germany, U.K., Belgium, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland.

Question 17.
Which one of the Indian Sea Ports provides facilities to the land locked neigh- bouring countries ? Name any one such country. (C.B.S.E. 2009)
Answer:
Kolkata provides facilities to Nepal and Bhutan.

Question 18.
Name the oldest artificial sea port of India. (C.B.S.E. 2009)
Answer:
Chennai is the oldest artificial sea port of India. It was built in 1859.

Question 19.
Describe in brief any three measures that have been adopted by India to increase its share in the International trade. (C.B.S.E. 2009)
Answer:
India aims to double its share in the international trade within the next five years. The three measures have been adopted for it:

• Import liberalisation.
• Reduction in import duties
• Delicencing.

Question 20.
Name the first major sea port developed after Independence. (C.B.S.E. 2011, 2014)
Answer:
Kandla.

Question 21.
What is the meaning of the (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Answer:
An inland area adjoining the port which provides the resources of a port.

Question 22.
Name the major sea port I located on the Hoogly river. (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Answer:
Kolkata.

International Trade Important Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Mention four important items which India imports from other countries.
Answer:

• Petroleum and Petroleum products.
• Fertilisers
• Machinery
• Transport Equipment.

Question 2.
Name four important items which India exports to other countries.
Answer:

• Manufactured goods
• Readymade garments
• Cotton yarn
• Leather goods.

Question 3.
Name five countries of Africa with which India has trade relations.
Answer:

• South Africa
• Nigeria
• Kenya
• Ivory coast
• Tanzania.

Question 4.
Name the ports of India located on the East coast.
Answer:
Kolkata, Haldia, Vishakapatnam, Paradip, Chennai, Tuticorn.

Question 5.
State the major problem being faced by Kolkata Seaport. (CBSE 2018)
Answer:
Problem of silt accumulation in Hugli River which provides a link to the sea.

Question 6.
Give two reasons for the increase in difference between value of import and exports trade of India.
Answer:
In 2010-1 lvalue of imports was ₹ 1,683,467 croreand the value of exports was ₹ 1,142,649 crore and difference was ₹ 540,818 crore. Gap between import and export values has widened, resulting a mounting adverse balance of trade.

There are two major reasons for this state of affairs: first is the hike in prices on the world level and second is the declining value of Indian rupee in the world market. Slow growth in production, increasing domestic consumption and keen competition in the world market are other reasons of slow growth in export.

Question 7.
Name the items whose share in import of India has increased.
Answer:
Fertilisers, Chemicals, Machinery, Electrical and Non-electrical goods and Machinery.

Question 8.
Name the items whose share in imports of India has declined.
Answer:
Food products, Food grain, Pulses, Milk products, Fruit, Vegetables.

Question 9.
Name the agricultural products of export from India.
Answer:
Among agricultural produces, marine products including fish and fish products are at the top accounting for 3.1 per cent of the total value of export. Next in importance are cereals, tea, oil cake, cashew nuts, spices, fruits and vegetables, coffee and tobacco. A small quantity of raw cotton is also exported.

Question 10.
‘Ports are the Gateways tp I trade’. Discuss. (C.B.S.E. 2014) !
Answer:
The word ‘Port’ comes from the latin word ‘Porta’ which means gateway. Port is the gateway of a country as exports and imports are handled through them. Therefore, ports are called the gateways to trade.

Question 11.
‘Ports function as focal points for foreign trade’. Explain.
Answer:
Sea ports function as focal points for foreign trade of India. They act as collection centres of commodities from hinterland for further shipment to foreign destinations on one hand, and as receiving points of foreign consignments coming to India for distributing them in the interior part of the country.

Question 12.
State two main characteristics of sea ports of India. Name any two states which have two major ports.
Answer:
There are 12 major ports of India. These are the gateways for imports and exports of India. These serve as collection centres for commodities to be exported and for commodities coming to India for distribution. West Bengal has two major ports of Kolkata and Haldia. Tamil Nadu has two major ports of Chennai and Tuticorin.

Question 13.
What is the role of sea ports in the foreign trade of India? Write any three points in this regard.
Answer:
Sea ports function as focal points for foreign trade of India.

• Ports act as collection centres of commodities from hinterland for further shipment to foreign distinations.
• Ports act as receiving points of foreign consignment coming to India for distribution.
• Ports are the gateway for foreign trade as these handle exports and imports.

Question 14.
Why is Mumbai called a Unique port ? Explain three reasons.
Answer:

• Mumbai is the biggest port of India as regards exports and imports are handled.
• It is a natural port with deep waters and safe facilities for big ships.
• It is an important industrial and commercial centre of India.

Question 15.
Explain the increase of share of petroleum and petroleum products in India’s import trade.
Answer:
Largest positive change occurred in petroleum and petroleum product group, which gained 23.8 per cent points during 1960-61 and 2000-01. In 1960-61, these items accounted for only 6.2 per cent of total import value but it reached to 19.2 per cent in 1973-74 and 26% per cent in 2004-05.

This rapid growth was more due to the increasing prices and less due to increasing quantity. During 1974, oil producing and exporting countries raised the price of crude petroleum many times. Consequently, petroleum bill jumped very high.

Question 16.
The importance of manufactured goods and raw materials in India’s, import trade has reduced. Explain.
Answer:
Manufactured goods also lost their significance. Among them, jute textile, cotton textile, leather goods and iron and steel products are the major sufferers. Significant decline was registered in items of crude material group. In this group, the decline in crude rubber, wood, timber, textile fibres and ferrous minerals has been most striking. This was due to increasing domestic production of these products.

Question 17.
Describe in brief the changing nature of export items in the international trade of India.
Answer:

• India’s international trade is continuously increasing.
• The share of agricultural and allied products is decreasing.
• The import of Petroleum products is increasing.
• The exports of coffee, tea, spices is decreasing.
• The share of fresh fruits and sugar has increased in exports.
• The share of manufactured goods has increased in exports.
• The export of engineering goods has increased.
• Share of Gems-pearls and ornaments in exports has increased.

Question 18.
Distinguish between a major and a minor port.
Answer:

Question 19.
Distinguish between imports and exports.
Answer:
No country is self-sufficient in all the commodities. When a country produces a commodity more than its needs, this commodity is sent to the deficit countries. It is called export. When a country produces a commodity less than its needs, it has to get the commodity from other countries. This is called import. For example, India exports tea but imports petroleum.

Question 20.
Compare the east and west coast harbour in respect of their site, hinterland and pattern of foreign trade.
Answer:

Question 21.
Define the term ‘trade.’ Describe the features of rural marketing centres and urban marketing centres. (Outside Delhi 2019)
Answer:
Trade: Trade is essentially buying and selling of items produced elsewhere. The trade services are intended for profits. All this work takes in towns and cities and are called trading centres.

(а) Rural marketing centres: These centres cater to nearby settlements. These are quasi urban centres. Here personal and professional services are not well developed. These form local collecting and distributing centres. Most of these have mandis and also retailing centres. These supply goods demanded by rural folk.

(b) Urban marketing centres: These provide urban services. These supply specialised goods and services. These sell manufactured goods. Markets for labour, housing and semi-finished goods are held. These provides services of eduction, teachers, lawyers, consultants, physicians, dentists and veterinary doctors.

International Trade Important Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Describe the location, characteristics and commercial importance of major ports of India.
Answer:
Ports are protected inlets on the coast providing shelter to ships. An ideal port should haye indented coast line, deep water, rich hinterland and good climate. India has a coastline of 7,517 km long. There are 12 major, 22 medium and 185 minor ports.

Ports on the Western Coast:

1. Kandla. It is located at the head of gulf of Kachchh. It is a tidal port and is expected to take the place of Karachi. It is a natural and safe harbour connected with a vast and rich hinterland of North West India. An offshore terminal has been built at Vadinar. It has the facilities of entrance of large ships. It is located on the Suez Canal route. Main items of imports include petroleum, chemicals, fertilisers and machinery. Its main exports are salt, sugar, cement and cotton goods.

(2) Mumbai. Mumbai occupies central position on the west coast of India. It stands on an island connected with the mainland. Mumbai has developed as a port for historical reasons. The British Colonial interests were the major forces for its development. It is the only natural deep-water harbour of India. It is a 20 km. long and 10 km. wide port. It is connected with Europe through Suez Canal.

It has rich productive hinterland of black cotton soil region. It is a spacious and safe port with natural facilities for the big ships. It has 54 docks and many warehouses. It is also known as the ‘Gateway of India’. It is an important industrial and commercial town of India.

Textiles, oil seeds, hides and skins and manganese are its major exports. The imports include machinery, petroleum, raw films, fertilisers, paper and medicines. A new mechanised port is being developed at Nhava Sheva. (Jawaharlal Nehru port), it is the largest container port in India.

(3) Mormugao. This port lies on the west coast in Goa on an estuary. It is a deep natural harbour. Its hinterland includes Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka. It exports mainly iron ore, groundnut and manganese. The imports include machinery and manufactured goods. Konkan Railway has helped its development.

(4) New Mangalore. It lies in Karnataka to export iron ore, fertilisers coffee, tea, yarn, etc.

(5) Cochin. Cochin lies on the Malabar coast in Kerala. It is called the queen of the Arabian sea. It has a large sheltered back waters formed by lagoons. It is a safe, deep and natural harbour. It is located on the route to Australia and the far east. It is an important naval centre and a shipyard. The major exports include tea, coffee, cashew nuts, rubber, pepper, cardamoms and cotton goods. The imports include oil, fertilisers, machinery and coal.

(B) Ports on the Eastern Coast:

(6) Kolkata. It is a river port on the mouth of Hugh about 120 kms. inland. It has a rich hinterland of productive agricultural Ganges-Brahmputra delta and Chhottanagpur region rich in minerals. It is located on the route to Japan and U.S.A. Ships have to depend upon tides to enter this port.

It gets silted and needs constant dredging. A new port of Haldia is being developed to share the burdens of Kolkata. It is the second biggest port of India. Its main exports are jute, tea, sugar, iron ore, mica and coal. The imports consist of machinery, chemicals, rubber, paper, etc.

(7) Vishakhapatnam. It is a new major port on the east coast of India. It lies mid-way between Kolkata and Chennai. It is a well protected natural harbour enclosed by hard rocks of Dolphin nose. It is connected with a mining region of iron ore, coal and manganese. Its hinterland includes Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. It has the largest shipyard of India. It exports iron ore, manganese, oilseeds, mica and tobacco. The imports include rice, machinery and petroleum.

(8) Paradip. It is a new major port on the Odisha coast on Mahanadi Delta. It is a deep natural port. It provides facilities for the stay of big ships. It has a vast hinterland of Odisha-Chhatisgarh-Jharkand with minerals, forest products and agricultural resources. It exports iron ore to Japan and other minerals like chrome, manganese and mica. The imports include fertilisers, chemicals and rice.

(9) Chennai. It is an artificial, man-made port on the east coast. It is the third largest port of India.

Two concrete walls (Break waters) have been built to provide shelter. Its hinterland includes Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It is a rich agricultural region. The principal exports include tea, coffee, oilseeds, hides and skins, rubber, cotton goods and tobacco. The imports include, coal, rice, paper, chemicals and machinery.
(10) Ennore. It lies 25 km. North of Chennai.

(11) Tuticorn. It is a major port and lies South of Chennai.

Question 2.
Describe the main features of India’s Foreign trade.
Answer:
India’s Foreign Trade.
In ancient period, India had a large foreign trade. India was called the ‘Golden sparrow’. During the British Period, India became a market for the manufactured goods from Europe. The agricultural raw materials were exported to Britain. After Independence, India’s foreign trade has undergone many changes. It has the following characteristics

• Coastal Trade. Above 90% trade of India is by sea.
• Low Foreign Trade. The total amount of trade is very low. It is only 1% of the international trade of the world.
• Low per-capita Trade. Due to large population, the per capita trade in India is low as compared to other countries.
• Increase in Volume and Value of Trade. India’s trade is rising in volume as well as value.

(v) Unfavourable Balance of Trade. Due to large import of machinery and petroleum, the balance of trade is becoming unfavourable.

(vi) Features of Export Trade—
(а) Traditional export. India still exports a large number of traditional goods like tea, jute-goods, cotton textile, oilseeds, minerals, hides and skins. Now, a large variety of goods are being exported.

(b) Manufactured goods and Engineering goods. India used to export mostly raw material, but now manufactured goods occupy a major share in the total exports. Their share has increased to 35%.

(c) A large number of buyers of exports. India has now trading links with a large number of countries. About 3000 items are exported every year.

(d) Change in direction of foreign trade. Great Britain was the biggest buyer of Indian goods. Our trade increased with U.S.A. and Russia during the last decade. Now, Japan is the biggest purchaser of Indian goods.

(vii) Features of import trade.
(a) Predominance of machinery. India is on the road to industrialisation. Machinery and transport- equipment form the major items of import.

(b) Increase in the transport of manufactured goods. The imports of manufactured goods is increasing. Paper, silk, chemicals and petroleum are being imported.

(c) Decrease in imports of food grains. Green Revolution has led to an increase in food production. Therefore, import of cotton, wheat, jute has decreased.

(d) Change in direction of foreign trade. U.S.A. has again emerged as the largest supplier of goods to India. Import trade has increased with Bangladesh, Japan, Russia, Iran and West Germany.

International Trade Important Extra Questions HOTS

Question 1.
‘India’s international trade has changed in recent years in terms of volume, composition and direction.’ Support the statement with examples. (C.B.S.E. 2009)
Answer:
Many changes have taken place in India’s foreign trade after 1947.
1. Volume of trade. The volume of trade has increased many times. In 1951, the total trade was ₹ 1,250 crore; but due to industrial development; it has risen to ₹ 28,26,116 crores in 2010-11.

2. Change in Composition of Exports. The import-export trade has undergone many changes. India used to export tea, jute, leather, iron ore, spices, etc. But now manufactured goods are exported such as Engineering goods, ready-made garments, Handicrafts, etc.

3. Changes in the Composition of Imports. The ratio of foodgrains, cotton, jute increased in import trade. But now petroleum, fertiliser, steel, industrial raw materials, machinery, chemicals, are mostly imported.

Question 2.
‘Most of India, foreign trade is carried through sea routes’. Explain the statement giving three reasons.
Or
Describe the importance of sea routes in handling India is foreign trade. (Delhi 2019)
Answer:

• India’s long coastline foster the development of ports.
• Indian ports are all weather ports having good harbour facilities.
• Most of India is foreign trade is carried through the sea routes.
• Sea routes act as receiving points of foreign consignment coming to India for distribution.

Here we are providing Class 12 Geography Important Extra Questions and Answers Chapter 10 Transport and Communication. Geography Class 12 Important Questions are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

Class 12 Geography Chapter 10 Important Extra Questions Transport and Communication

Transport and Communication Important Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What is total length of roads in India ?
Answer:
42 lakh kms.

Question 2.
Name the two terminal stations of East- west Corridor.
Answer:
Silchar and Porbandar.

Question 3.
Which is the longest National Highway ?
Answer:
National Highway no 7- (Varanasi to Kanniyakumari).

Question 4.
What is the National average density of the roads in India ?
Answer:
125 km.

Question 5.
What is the total length of railways in India ?
Answer:
1,15,000 km.

Question 6.
How many international airports are there in India ?
Answer:
17.

Question 7.
When was Prasar Bharti set up ?
Answer:
In 1997.

Question 8.
When was radio transmission started in India ?
Answer:
In 1927.

Question 9.
Expand PSLV.
Answer:
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Question 10.
When was the first telecast by Doordarshan started ?
Answer:
15 September, 1959.

Question 11.
On which levels does the transportation functions as a lifeline of the economy ?
Answer:
Global, national, regional and local.

Question 12.
Name three forms of Communication.
Answer:
Physical (Postal Services), through Telegraph and through Airwaves.

Question 13.
Which is the longest National highway in India ?
Answer:
Prom Varanasi to Kanniyakumari—2,369 km.

Question 14.
Which states has the highest and the lowest density of metalled roads in India ?
Answer:

• The Highest road density—Kerala (387 per 100 sq. km.)
• The lowest road density Jammu & Kashmir— (3.5 km per 100 sq. km.)

Question 15.
State any two advantages of air transport in the International trade. (CBSE – 2018)
Answer:

• Over long distances deliver items quickly.
• Require less time.

Question 16.
On the basis of configuration and purpose, compare the two satellite systems in India. (Sample Paper 2018-19)
Answer:
(1) Indian National Satellite System (INSAT).
(2) Indian Remote Sensing Satellite System (IRS)

Question 17.
Name the two categories of air transport in India.
Answer:
International and domestic.

Question 18.
Name the Headquarters of Northern Railway zone.
Answer:
New Delhi.

Question 19.
Identify the Indian seaport which provides port facilities to its landlocked neighbour countries. Name any one such country. (Sample Paper 2018-19)
Answer:
Kolkata Seaport and Nepal Sea Port.

Question 20.
Name the Air service of India which connects all the continents.
Answer:
Air India.

Question 21.
Which category of roads in India constitute only 2% of the total road length but carry about 40% of the total road traffic ?
Answer:
National Highways.

Question 22.
Name a port of the Maharashtra and a port of Tamil Nadu which have been constructed to reduce the pressure of the existing major ports.
Answer:
(a) Maharashtra – Nhava Sheva
(b) Tamil Nadu – Ennore.

Question 23.
Why is the density of rural roads very low in hilly areas of India? Give one reason. (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Answer:
It is difficult to construct roads due to hilly terrain of the area.

Question 24.
State the main function of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Or
What are the major functions of the National Highways Authority of India?
Or
Which is the apex body responsible to improve the quality of roads at National level in India? (C.B.S.E. Delhi 2017 Set-II)
Answer:
To improve the quality of National Highway.

Question 25.
What means of transport is more suitable for long distanes in Northern Eastern region ? (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Answer:
Pawan Hans Helicopters.

Question 26.
Name the northern most international air port of India. (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
Amritsar.

Transport and Communication Important Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What are the important modes of transport in India ?
Answer:

• Railways
• Roadways
• Airways
• Waterways
• Pipelines.

Question 2.
What are the disadvantages of road transport?
Answer:
Disadvantages of Road Transport.

• Road transport is costly.
• It results in air pollution.
• Heavy goods cannot be taken to long distance.
• Road transport is more accident prone.

Question 3.
What is the Golden Quadrilateral ?
Or
Explain the term ‘Gloden Quadrilateral.
Answer:
It is a super-highway project linking Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai. It has six super highways. It forms the shape of a Quadrilateral.

Question 4.
Name four national highways mentioning their terminals.
Answer:
(i) Sher Shah Suri Marg. National Highway No. 1. (Delhi to Amritsar)
(ii) National Highway No. 3. Between Agra and Mumbai.
(iii) National Highway No. 7. Between Varanasi and Kanniyakumari.
(iv) National Highway No. 2. Between Delhi and Kolkata.

Question 5.
Name two national waterways.
Answer:
1. National Waterway No. 1. Pravagraj Haldia on Ganga river.
2. National Waterway No. 2. Sadiya to Dhubri or Brahmaputra.

Question 6.
Name the different types of railways in India on the basis of width. Where does India rank in world railways ?
Answer:
Rail Transport
Indian railway system is the main artery of the country’s inland transport. It is the biggest in Asia and the fourth largest in the world. It has a route length of 63221 km on which 12,670 trains run every day connecting 7,500 stations. Indian railways comprise of three gauges: broad gauge (1.616 metres is the distance between both the lines); metre gauge (1.00 metre) and narrow gauge (0.762 and 0.610 metres). Its fleet of locomotives comprises of steam, diesel and electric engines.

Different parts of railways having different width have been constructed in India due to its diverse relief. Broad gauge railway lines are constructed in plains while narrow gauge railway lines are constructed in hilly region.

• Broad gauge = 1.6 metres wide
• Metre gauge = 1 metre wide
• Narrow gauge = 0.76 metre wide.

Question 7.
Describe the two main types of air services in India.
Answer:
The air services In India are of two types viz. international and domestic. Air India provides international air services for both passengers and cargo traffic to 35 destinations from four focal points—Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Air India carried 3.83 million passengers in 2000-01.

Major international air routes are Delhi-Rome-Frankfurt, Mumbai-London, Delhi-Moscow, Kolkata-Tokyo, Kolkata-Perth, Mumbai- London-New York. Indian Airlines, Affiance Air (subsidiary of Indian Airlines), private scheduled airlines and air taxis provide domestic air services.

Indian Airlines operations also extends to the neighbouring countries of Southeast Asia and West Asia. At present, there are two private scheduled airlines operating on the domestic network; 38 companies hold non-scheduled air taxi operators permit. Private operators presently cater to nearly 52.8 per cent of the domestic air traffic. The share of private sector airways has increased rapidly after liberalisation.

Question 8.
What are the problems of having three railway gauges ?
Answer:
The railways in India are of three gauages— Broad gauge, metre gauge and narrow gauge. The metre gauge is being converted into broad gauge. This is called unigauge project. It avoids the transhipment of goods from one gauge to another. It will increase the capacity of transportation by trains and will he cheaper also.

We have already noted that Indian Railways operate on three different gauges. This poses problems in the smooth flow of goods and passengers. The shift from one gauge line to the other involves unloading and transhipment which is time-consuming and expensive. The perishable commodities cannot withstand such a delay. Moreover, the passenger and freight traffic has been increasing day by day. The tracks are not suitable to take the heavy loads.

Question 9.
Describe the different means of communication.
Answer:
Communication network carries information from one place to another physically like postal services, through wires like telegraph and telephone, or through airwaves like radio and television. Some communication systems work in cooperation with transport system like postal services. Others, however, function independent of the transport system such as radio.

Question 10.
Where does India rank in the world in context to roadways ? Describe the major National Highways.
Or
“India has one of the largest network of roads in the world.” Support the statement with examples. (Delhi 2019)
Answer:
Roads. The road network in India is one of the largest in the world. The road length has increased from 397.62 thousand kilometres in 1950-51 to around 42 lakh kilometres. Of the total kilometreage, the length of the surfaced (metalled) roads increased from 156.11 thousand kilometres in 1950-51 to 833.0 thousands kilometres while the unsurfaced (unmetalled) road length during the same period increased from 241.5 thousand kilometres to 940 thousand kilometres.

National Highways. A number of important National Higways in India run in north-south and east- west directions. They link one part with the other

• Sher Shah Suri Marg is historically very important. It connects Kolkata with Peshawar. It is now known as National Highway 1, which links Delhi and Amritsar,
• National Highway 2 which links Delhi and Kolkata
• National Highway 3 runs between Agra and Mumbai via Gwalior, Indore and Nasik.
• National Highway 7 is the longest one which links Varanasi with Kanniyakumari via Jabalpur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Madurai. It traverses a distance of 2,325 km.
• National Highways 5 and 17 run along the eastern and western coasts respectively.
• National Highways 15 represents the border road in Rajasthan desert and run through Kandla, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and joins the border road in Punjab.

Question 11.
Name the different units manufacturing Railway equipments.
Answer:
Indian Railways run six units to manufacture rolling stock. These are :
(i) Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Chittaranjan
(ii) Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi
(iii) Integral Coach Factory, Perambur
(iv) Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala
(v) Wheel and Axle Plant, Bangalore, and
(vi) Diesel Component Works, Patiala.

Question 12.
Describe the national waterways of India.
Answer:
The Inland Waterways Authority of India was set up in 1986 for the development, maintenance, and regulation of National Waterways in the country. At present, there are only three National Waterways in the country. Ten other waterways are being considered for upgradation as National Waterways.

The three national Waterways are:

• National Waterway 1 : The Allahabad-Haldia stretch of the Ganga-Bhagirathi Hooghly river system (1620 km);
• National Waterways 2 : The Sadiya-Dhubri stretch of the Brahmaputra river (891 km);
• National Waterways 3 : The West Coast Canal from Kottapuram to Kollam alongwith Udyogmandal and Champakar canals (205 km).

Question 13.
Write a note on Akashvani.
Answer:
Akashvani : Radio is an effective means of mass communication in the country. Radio broadcasting started in India in 1927 with two private transmitters located at Mumbai and Kolkata. All India Radio (AIR) was constituted in 1936. It is also known as Akashvani. At the time of Independence there were six radio stations. At present, the All India Radio has 208 stations and 327 transmitting centres.

These stations and transmitting centres provide services to 99 per cent of the population and 90 per cent of the area of the country. Private parties also have set up about 100 FM radio stations. All India Radio broadcastes a variety of programmes like information, education and entertainment.

Question 14.
Write a note on Doordarshan in India.
Answer:
Doordarshan: Doordarshan, the national television of India, is one of the largest terrestrial networks in the world. It has changed socio-cultural life of the people both in villages and in towns. DD-1 operates through a network of 1,042 terrestrial transmitters that reaches to over 87 per cent of the population.

There are 65 additional transmitters giving terrestrial support to other channels. First telecast by Doordarshan was made on 15 September, 1959. Television was confined to certain cities up to 1975. The first experiment with satellite technology in India known as the Satellite Instructional

Television Experiment (SITE), was conducted in 1975-76. National programme and use of colour television could be started in the country only by 1992. Afterwards, television facility expanded very rapidly.

All India Radio has introduced commercial programmes also. Vivid Bharati channels have commercial broadcasting. Besides Vividh Bharati, other channels and local stations also provide commercial services. For rtiral audiences, several programmes are regularly transmitted.

Similarly, programmes on family welfare and healthcare are broadcasted every day. Music and drama are major components of the schedule of broadcasting. All India Radio commissioned the National Channel in 1998, which is essentially a night service, airing evening to morning broadcast.

Question 15.
What do you mean by ‘Open Sky Policy5 ?
Answer:
Air transport terminals are called airports. Air transport cost is comparatively very high, and therefore, it is mainly used for passenger services. Only light and valuable cargo is dispatched by cargo aircraft. In order to help Indian exporters and make their export more competitive, the Government of India introduced the ‘open sky policy5 for cargo. Under this policy any foreign airlines or association of exporters can bring freighters to the country for upliftment of cargo.

Question 16.
What do you know about Sher Shah Suri Marg ?
Answer:
Sher Shah Suri built the Shahi (Royal) road to strengthen and consolidate his empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed the Grand Trunk (GT) road during the British period, connecting Calcutta and Peshawar. At present, it extends from Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into 2 segments:

• National Highway (NH)- 1 from Delhi to Amritsar, and
• NH-2 from Delhi to Kolkata.

Question 17.
What are the importance of Konkan Railway ? (C.B.S.E. 2017)
Or
Describe any three features of Konkan Railway. (C.B.S.E. Delhi 2017)
Answer: Konkan Railway. One of the important achievements of Indian Railways has been the construction of Konkan Railway in 1998. It is 760 km long rail route connecting Roha in Maharashtra to Mangalore in Karnataka. It is considered an engineering marvel.

It crosses 146 rivers, streams, nearly 2000 bridges and 91 tunnels. Asia’s largest tunnel which is nearly 6.5 km long, also lies on this route. The states of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka are partners in this undertaking.

Question 18.
State any six characteristics of road transport in India. (C.B.S.E. 2009)
Answer:

• India has one of the largest road network in the world.
• The total length of roads in India is 42 lakh kms.
• About 85% of passenger and 70 percent of freight traffic is carried by roads.
• Roads continue to concentrate in and around urban centres.
• Rural areas have the least km of roads.
• 5846 km long Golden Quadrilateral network connects Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Question 19.
Which is the most effective and advanced personal communication system in India ? Explain any four characteristics of it. (C.B.S.E. 2009)
Answer:
Internet is the most effective and advanced personal communication system in India.
Characteristics.

• It is widely used in urban areas.
• It connects the user through E-mail with the world.
• It is widely used for e-commerce and carrying out money transactions.
• It is a store house of detailed data.

Question 20.
Explain with five suitable examples how the level of Economic development and nature of terrian affect the density of roads in India. (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Or
Why is the distribution of roads not uniform in India? Explain with l examples. (CBSE2016)
Answer:
The distribution of roads is not uniform in the country. The level of economic development and nature of terrian are the main determinants of density of roads.

• Construction of roads is easy and cheaper in plain area.
• Quality of roads is better in plains, as compared to roads in high altitude areas.
• The density of road is 10.48 km in Jammu and Kashmir (including Ladakh) where as it is 387.24 km in Kerala (a plain area).
• The density of roads is high in northern states due to the high level of economic development.

Question 21.
What are National Highway ? Explain any four uses of national ‘ highways in India ? (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Or
Describe any five characteristics of national Highway of India. (CBSE 2018)
Answer:
National Highway: The main roads which are constructed by the Central Government are known as the National Highways.

• These are meant for inter-state transport.
• These help in movement of defence goods and material in strategic areas.
• These connect the state capitals, major cities ports, railway junctions, etc.
• These carry 40% of road traffic, while these ae only 2% of the total road length.

Question 22.
The railway network in the north Indian Plain is dense. Why ?
Answer:
A dense network of railways is developed in the north Indian plains. About 50% of the total length of railways in India is found in northern India. The northern railways is the longest railway with a length of 10,977 kms. Many physical and economic factors are responsible for it.

• Northern plain is a level plain with low altitude. It is best suited for the construction of railways.
• Due to dense population, big towns have developed which has led to high density of railway.
• The intensive development of agriculture and industries has promoted the construction of railway lines.
• It is essential to connect Mumbai and Kolkata with their hinterlands or northern plain.

Question 23.
Describe the growth and development of Border Roads in India. (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Or
Which apex body develop the border roads ? Explain the importance of border roads with examples. (Outside Delhi 2019)
Answer:
Looking at the strategic importance of our border areas, the Border Roads Organisation was set up in 1960 and entrusted with the construction and maintenance of roads in the border states of the country. These border roads have helped in accelerating the economic development in these areas by increasing accessibility besides helping in strengthening of the defence preparedness.

It includes the highest road of the world from Manali to Leh, at an altitude of 4220 metres above sea level. Along Indo-Chinese border, Hindustan Tibetan Road has been constructed. The board has constructed about 22800 km of Border roads and manages above 16400 km. of roads in border area.

Question 24.
Why has Punjab the highest density of roads ? Explain five factors responsible for the same.
Answer:
Punjab has the highest density of surfaced roads. The density of roads is 74 km. per 100 sq. km. It is due to the following factors:

(1) Punjab plain is a gently sloping alluvial plain. It is easy to construct roads.

(2) Punjab is an agriculturally developed state. For the easy and quick movements of agricultural products, roads have been constructed.

(3) Punjab exports wheat, rice and other crops to other parts of India. Therefore quick means of transportation is required.

(4) The per capita income of people and the standard of living is quite high. So the state needs a lot of manufactured goods and raw materials. Roads provide door to door service.

(5) The movement of passenger traffic is high. So, roads are required especially for the rural areas.

Question 25.
‘A well-knit and co-ordinated system of transport is necessary for sustained economic growth of the country’. Discuss.
Answer:
Transport network is established to facilitate the movement of people and goods. It is the means of bringing human beings and the things they need and use together. It functions as a lifeline of the spatial economy at all territorial levels: A transport system involves origin, destination, route and the carrier.

• Origin. Origin is the point where the traffic originates.
• Destination. Destination is the point where it terminates.
• Route. Route is the surface on which movement takes place.
• Carrier. The carrier is the vehicle that moves the passenger or cargo. A well-knit and coordinated system of transport plays an important role in the sustained economic growth of the country.

Question 26.
Account for the growing importance of roads.
Answer:
In India, the growing importance of road transport vis-a-vis rail transport is rooted in following reasons:

• Construction cost of road is much lower than that of railway line
• Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography
• Road transport can economically carry few persons and relatively small amount of goods.
• Cost of loading and unloading is much lower in case of road transport, because it provides door-to-door service.
• Road transport also supplements other modes of transportation. It provides link between railway stations and airports and their hinterlands.

Question 27.
How are Indian Railways contributing to the growth of national economy ? Explain with examples. (C.B.S.E. 2011)
Answer: Indian Railways :
(i) Indian railways network is one of the longest in the world.

(ii) It facilitates the movement of both freight and passengers. The total freight carried by railways is 557.39 million tonnes. The total number of passengers carried by railways is 5112 million.

(iii) Metro rail has revolutionised the urban transport system in Kolkata and Delhi.

(iv) Railways developed around towns, raw material producing areas, hill stations have been developed for the exploitation of resources.

(v) Railways could run to remain the main means of transport for the masses.

Question 28.
Distinguish between
(a) Personal communication and
(b) Mass communication.
Or
Classify means of communication on the basis of scale and quality into two categories. Explain any two characteristics of each category. (Outside Delhi C.B.S.E. 2017)
Answer:

Question 29.
Distinguish between a National and a State highway.
Answer:

Question 30.
What are border roads ? Gi ve I two characteristics of border roads. (C.B.S.E. 2013, Outside Delhi 2019)
Answer:
Border roads are strategically important roads along the Northern and North-eastern boundary of the country.
(i) These are roads in high altitudes and mountainous areas.
(ii) These are contructed and maintained by BRO (Border Road Organisation).

Question 31.
Describe any three advantage of Satellite Communication in India. (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
Advantage of Satellite Communication
Satellite communication is vital for the country due to economic and strategic reasons:
(i) They are significant means of communication.
(ii) These can be used for the weather-forecast, monitoring of natural calamities, surveillance of border areas.
(iii) This is useful in the management of natural resources.

Question 32.
‘The distribution of roads in I India is not uniform’. Examine the statement giving three reasons. (Sample Paper 2018-19) (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
(i) The density of roads varies from only 10.48 km in Jammu and Kashmir (including Ladakh) to 387.24 km in Kerala.
(ii) Nature of topography is the main basis of road density.
(iii) Construction of roads is easy and cheaper on plains, while it is expensive on hilly terrain.

Question 33.
Describe any three advantages of pipelines as a means of transport in India. (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Answer:
(i) Pipelines are used to transport liquids and gases.
(ii) It is environmental-friendly means of transport.
(iii) Pipelines can be laid through difficult terrain and also under water.

Question 34.
Define the term ‘communication.’ Describe the importance of telecommunication. (Outside Delhi 2019)
Answer:
Communication is an activity of conveying information through the exchange of thoughts, messages or information by speech, visual, writing or behaviour.
Importance of Telecommunication:

• Telecommunication is an important tool for busines. This device is used to receive and send messages, access data etc.
• This refers to the exchange of information with electronic and electrical means over a long distance.
• Telecommunication also useful for students.
• Telecommunication is helpful for people living in areas that do not have special care facility. With this they get in touch with a healthcare provider.
• Telecommunication play a vital role in transport sector.

Transport and Communication Important Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Describe the distribution of railways in India.
Answer:
Distribution of Railways. A close look at the railway map of India in any atlas would reveal the following pattern of the railway network:
(1) Northern plains. A dense network of railways has been developed in the Northern Indian Plain from Amritsar to Howrah with a few focal points like Delhi- Kanpur-Mughal Sarai, Lucknow, Agra and Patna.

The whole of Northern Plain is very well connected. While connectivity is more efficient in east-west direction, it is not so efficient in the north and south direction from the trunk routes. The rail network in this plain is highly correlated to the level of agricultural and industrial development. Delhi is the focal point from where railway lines radiate in all directions. It is connected with ports through superfast trains.

Many favourable factors have led to development of a dense network of railways in Northern Plains.
Favourable factors. A dense network of railways is developed in the north Indian plains. About 50% of the total length of railways in India is found in northern India. The northern railways is the longest railway with a length of 10,977 kms. Many physical and economic factors are responsible for it.

• Northern plain is a level plain with low altitude. It is best suited for construction of railway.
• Due to dense population, big towns have developed which have led to high density of railway.
• The intensive development of agriculture and industries h as promoted the construction of railway lines.
• It is essential to connect Mumbai and Kolkata with their hinterlands of northern plain.

(2) Peninsular plateau. The peninsular region, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have a denser rail network as compared to other parts. The whole of the peninsular region has a hilly and plateau terrain. The concentration of population is moderate. Therefore, the rail network is also sparse. Trunk routes are aligned in such a way that there are efficient connections between Mumbai-Chennai, Chennai-Cochin, Chennai- Delhi and Chennai-Hyderabad.

(3) Coastal plains. There is a distinct contrast in the rail network between eastern coastal plains and western coastal plains. There exists a long trunk route all along the east coast. Such a rail track is the Konkan Railway of 837 km. long which has been built along the western coast from Mumbai to Cochin.

The outcrops of the Western Ghats being very close to the coast, restrict the extent of the coastal plain while the eastern coast is wider and the Ghats lie away from the coast.

(4) Areas with sparse Rail network. Himalayas, west Rajasthan, Brahmaputra valley, North East hilly region have sparse rail-network.

(a) Himalayan Region. The mountainous terrain of the Himalayas is such a noteworthy region. The rugged terrain, hill and valley topography, backward economy and sparse population are the factors responsible for the sparse rail network in this region.

(b) Western Rajasthan. In western Rajasthan a few metre gauge railway lines have penetrated the arid tract.

(c) Brahmaputra valley. The Brahmaputra Valley has two parallel lines but no railway line has been constructed on the Meghalaya plateau.

(d) N.E. Region. In Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland, no railways have been constructed. The main reasons for the absence of a railway network are the hilly terrain and forested tracts. The cost involved in providing railway tracks in these regions is too high. The sparse population is another important aspect which has not encouraged this investment.

Question 2.
Describe the major oil and gas pipelines of India.
Answer:
(1) Naharkatiya Barauni pipeline. Oil India Limited constructed the first pipeline of 1,152 km from Naharkatiya oilfield in Assam to Barauni refinery in Bihar via Noonmati (1962-68).

2. Haldia-Kanpur pipeline. To transport refined petroleum products. Barauni-Kanpur pipeline was laid down in 1966. Haldia-Maurigram-Rajbandh pipeline was constructed later.

3. Ankleshwar-Koyali pipeline. Extensive network of pipelines has been constructed in the Gujarat region. First pipeline connected the Ankleshwar oilfield to Koyali refinery (1965). Later, Kalol-Sabarmati crude pipeline, the Navagaon-Kalol-Koyali pipeline and the Mumbai High-Koyali pipeline were laid.

4. Ahmedabad-Koyali pipeline. Ahmedabad has been linked with Koyali by pipeline for transport of petroleum products.

5. Ankleshwar-Vadodara pipeline. Gas pipelines have also been laid down between Khambhat and Dhuvaran, Ankleshwar and Uttaran, and Ankleshwar and Vadodara. Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) operates over 4,200 km of pipeline in the country and supplies gas to power plants.

6. HBJ gas pipeline. Construction of a cross country 1,750 km long Hazira-Bijapur-Jagdishpur (HBJ) pipeline has already been completed. This pipeline has now been extended from Bijapur to Dadri in Uttar Pradesh.

7. Kandla-Delhi pipeline. GAIL is also implementing a 1,246 km long LPG pipeline project from Kandla/Jamnagar in Gujarat to Luni in Uttar Pradesh via Delhi.

8. Mathura-Jalandhar pipeline. The Mathura refinery gets its crude from the Mumbai High through pipeline, which extends from Salaya on the Gulf of Kachchh to Mathura, Petroleum product supply pipeline exists between Mathura and Jalandhar via Delhi and Ambala, and between Mumbai and Pune for the transport of petroleum products.

Question 3.
Describe the main features of development of roads in India.
Answer:
The history of roads construction in India is very old. Sher Shah Suri constructed Grand Trunk Road. After independence, a 10 year road development scheme known as the Nagpur Plan, was prepared. Four types of roads are found in India:
(i) National Highways (79,243 km)
(ii) State Highways (1,31,899 km)
(iii) District Roads (4,67,763 km)
(iv) Village Roads (26,50,000 km)

Main features of Roads in India:

(1) India has 13,94,000 kms of metalled roads.
(2) India has 8,73,500 kms of unmetalled roads.
(3) India has just 41 km. road length for every
100 sq. km. area. It has a road length of 251 km for every 1 lakh people.
(4) India has 79,243 kms of National highways.
(5) About 26 lakh automobiles move on roads of India.
(6) Annual income from roads is about 1500 crore rupees.
(7) Indian roads carry about 30% of total freight of the country.
(8) The important National highways are:

• Sher Shah Suri Marg (G.T. Road) Kolkata to Jammu.
• Delhi-Mumbai Road
• Kolkata-Mumbai Road
• Mumbai-Chennai Road
• Great Deccan Road (Varanasi to Kanyakumari)
• Kolkata-Chennai Road.
• Pathankot-Srinagar Road.
• The Border Road Development Board was established in 1960.

It has got constructed about 38,028 km. long metalled roads in border areas. It has constructed the world’s highest road from Manali (H.P.) to Leh (Ladakh). The average height of this road is 4,270 metres.

Question 4.
Describe the main features of develop¬ment of railways in India.
Answer:
Railways in India. The first railway line was constructed between Mumbai and Thane in the year 1853. It was only 34 km. long. Railways are the chief means of transport in India.

Main Characteristics:

• Indian Railways have a total length of 62,759 kms.
• It is the largest railway system in Asia and the fourth largest in the world.
• More than 18 lakh workers are engaged in Indian railways.
• Indian railways have about 12,670 trains which operate over 6,867 stations for a distance of 13 lakh kms.
• These railways carry 130 lakh passengers and 13 lakh tons freight daily.
• Railways have an investment of a capital of 8.0 crore rupees and yield an annual income of ? 21,000 crore.
• Indian railways have about 11,000 locomotives,38.0 coaches and 4 lakh wagons.
• Most of the railways are found in the level Gangetic plain.
• Railways have not been extensively developed in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh N.E. India, Western ghats, Chhotta Nagpur Plateau and Thar Desert (Rajasthan).
• In Southern India, construction of railways is retarded due to hilly areas and rivers.
• India has 4,259 diesel locomotives, 2,302 electric locomotives and 347 steam locomotives. The electric trains run over a distance of 11,772 kms.

Indian railways run of three gauges:

• Broad gauge—1.67 metres wide (49%)
• Metre gauge—1 metre wide (44%)
• Narrow gauge—0.76 metre wide (7%)

During year 1996-97, seven new rail zones have been created out of existing ones. The four following zones have been started:

• North-Central with headquarters at Allahabad.
• Central-Eastern with headquarters at Hajipur (Bihar).
• North-Western with headquarters at Jaipur.
• West-Southern with headquarters at Bangalore.
• Central with headquarters at Jabalpur.
• Eastern with headquarters at Bhubneshwar.
• S.E. Central Railway at Bilaspur.

Question 5.
Describe the inland waterways of India.
Or
Examine the role of inland waterway, authority of India. Explain why inland water transport is an important mode of transport.(C.B.S.E. 2016)
Or
“Waterways is an important mode of transport for both passengers and cargo traffic in India.” Support the statement with examples.
(Delhi 2019)
Answer :
For the development, maintenance and regulation of natural waterways in India, the inland waterways authority was set up in 1986. It has identified 13 inland waterways which could be upgraded.

Inland Waterways: Water transport is a cheaper means of transport and is suitable for carrying heavy and bulky materials. India is endowed with many navigable rivers and inland water bodies but the share of inland waterways is only one per cent in the country’s transport system.

(1) A total river length of 3,700 km. of major rivers is navigable by mechanised boats but only 1,700 km. of this length is utilised.

(2) We also have a network of about 4,300 km. of canals, of which a stretch of 485 km. is navigable by mechanised crafts but only 3.5 km. is actually utilised. It shows that the inland waterways are greatly underutilised.

(3) Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries are navigable. The deltaic areas of Godawari, Krishna and Mahanadi, lower reaches of Narmada and Tapti, backwaters of Kera, Mondoai and Juari rivers of Goa are some of the major inland waterways.

(4) Buckingham canal in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and the Cumberjua Canal are also important navigable canals. The policy for the development of inland waterways is formulated by Central Inland Water Transport Board, New Delhi. The national waterways are developed, maintained and managed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) which was set up in 1986. The national waterways

(Prayagraj-Haldia stretch of Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hugli River system) Act, 1982 has the provision that the regulation and development of this waterway is the responsibility of the Central Government. The river navigation services are operated for carrying goods between Kolkata and Assam, Kolkata and Farakka and Kolkata and Cachar, by Central Inland Water Transport Corporation, which is a Government of India undertaking.

Question 6.
Transport plays an important role in strengthening the social, political and economic unity of India. Explain the statement by giving five examples.
Or
“The triple transport system plays an important role in strengthening the social, political economic unity of India.” Explain.
Answer:
Integrating role of transport. Means of transport are the lifeline of a country. A developed and efficient system of transport is vital for maintaining the sovereignty and economic unity of the country. Under the 20 years Nagpur Plan, a balanced and integrated transport system of rail, road and waterways has been aimed at. The different means of transport have played an integrating role in the political and economic unity of India.

(i) These have connected far flung areas with one another. Leh has been connected with Kanniyakumari, while Assam has been connected with Kutch.

(ii) Means of transport distribute foodgrains, manufactured goods, raw materials and minerals to different parts of the country.

(iii) Pipelines supply petroleum and gas to different areas.

(iv) The commercialisation of agriculture, manufacturing growth of towns and cities have been achieved due to means of transport.

(v) The new road, railway lines have integrated the border areas with the rest of the country. Jawahar tunnel connects Kashmir valley with India.

(vi) Railways line through gaps in the Vindhyan- Satpura hills and in Western Ghats have provided easy connection between the North and South.

(vii) Ganga as a waterway has acted as a unifying agent right from U.P. to West Bengal. Thus, each means of transport has played its own role in a unified system of transport.

Question 7.
Why is air transport important for India ? Describe the different types of Air trans¬port in India.
Answer:
Importance of Air Transport
Air transport is the fastest but costliest mode of transport. It is an important mode for a country of the size of India where the terrain and the climatic conditions are so diverse and important commercial and industrial centres are located at great distances. It is vital for our internal transport system as well as for the links with other countries. India occupies a central location between western Europe and Africa on the one hand and South-East and East Asia, on the other.

Types of Air transport: The air transport in India has two sectors.
(i) Air India : The Air India handles the foreign traffic, both passengers and cargo from four focal points, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata. It connects all the continents through its services. The Air India carried 21.33 lakh passengers in 1997-98.

(ii) Indian Airlines. The domestic traffic is handled by the Indian Airlines Corporation. It carries passengers, cargo and mail to different destinations within the country as well as to eight neighbouring countries.

(iii) Vayudoot. To augment the air transport in the country the Vayudoot airlines was set up in 1981. It generally provides links with remote and inaccessible areas which are not covered by the Indian Airlines.

(iv) Pawan Hans. In 1985, the Pawan Hans Limited was established to provide helicopter services in order to link far-flung and inaccessible areas in hilly and forested regions.

Question 8.
Describe the different type of Roads.
Or
Evaluate the utility of ‘Golden Quadrilateral.’ (Outside Delhi 2019)
Answer :
Six types of Roads are formed in India :
(i) Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways. A major road development project linking Delhi-Kolkata- Chennai-Mumbai by six-lane super highways. North South corridor links Srinagar with Kanya Kumari and The East-West corridor links Silchar with Porbandar. It is 5,846 km. long.

(ii) National Highways. They connect capitals and main towns. These are maintained by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), are known as the National Highways. There was a road length of National Highways 79,243km in 2010-11.

(iii) State Highways : The States and Union territories also construct and maintain roads. The state capital is linked with the district headquarters by state highways. It has a total length of 1,31,899km. and is 20% of the total length of roads.

(iv) District Roads. These connect district headquarters of a state. It has a total length of 6 lakh kms. 4,67,763 km is the total length of district road.

(v) Rural Roads. The rural areas are inter-linked by rural roads, which are generally dusty tracks. It can safely be said that the lower the level of roads in its type-hierarchy the poorer the quality of the road.26,50,000 km is the total length.

(vi) Border Roads. The border roads organisation was set up in 1960 for the development of roads of strategic importance in Northern and North-eastern borders. It has completed 30,028 kms. roads inaccessible areas of difficult terrain.

Transport and Communication Important Extra Questions HOTS

Question 1.
“Transport and communication are the necessary infrastructure for the economic development of a country5. Explain.
Or
Why is the transport a vital sector of the economy ?
Answer :
A good network of roads, railways, waterways and airways are the lifeline of a country. The agricultural and economic development of a country depends upon efficient transport system. The development of means of transport is essential for the utilisation of natural resources. It is the basis of industries and trade of the country. It helps to join the far-flung regions into a single national economy.

These also help in defending the independence and the national unity of a country. Just as the arteries supply blood to the different parts of human body, similarly, transport system maintains the movement of men and goods in different parts of the country.

Question 2.
Why is the Indian Railway System divided into seventeen zones ? Name the headquarters of Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern Zones. (C.B.S.E. 2009)
Answer :
Railway Zones have been made to improve the efficiency of Railways. It helps in handling freight and passenger traffic.

Question 3.
Analyse the importance and declining popularity of water transport in India in recent times. (Sample Paper 2018-19)
Answer:
Importance
(1) One of the important if water transportation is that it does not require route construction.
(2) The oceans are linked with each other and are negotiable with ships of various sizes.
(3) The energy cost of water transportation is lower. In ancient times, river ways were the main
highways of transportation in the case of India. But these last importance because.

• Competition from Railways
• Lack of water
• Poort maintenance of water bodies.

Here we are providing Class 12 History Important Extra Questions and Answers Chapter 15 Framing the Constitution: The Beginning of a New Era. Class 12 History Important Questions are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

Class 12 History Chapter 15 Important Extra Questions Framing the Constitution: The Beginning of a New Era

Framing the Constitution Important Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
When was the Indian Constitution framed?
Answer:
Between 9 Dec. 1946 and 26 Nov. 1949 A.D.

Question 2.
Who was the President of the Constituent assembly?
Answer:
Dr Rajendra Prasad.

Question 3.
Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee?
Answer:
Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

Question 4.
How many members of the Constituent Assembly were there?
Answer:
389.

Question 5.
How many members remained in the Constituent Assembly after the partition of India?
Answer:
299.

Question 6.
Who gave an objective resolution of the Constituent Assembly?
Answer:
Jawaharlal Nehru.

Question 7.
Under whose recommendation, the Constituent Assembly was formed?
Answer:
Under the recommendation of the Cabinet Mission.

Question 8.
Who was the Constitutional Advisor of the Government of India?
Answer:
B.N. Rau.

Question 9.
Who was the Chief Draughtsman of the Indian Constitution?
Answer:
S.N. Mukherjee.

Question 10.
Name the official language of India.
Answer:
Hindi.

Question 11.
When was the Indian Constitution framed? When was it enforced?
Answer:
The Indian Constitution was framed from December 1946 to November 1949 and was enforced on 26 January 1950.

Question 12.
Discuss the significance of the Indian Constitution. Give any two points.
Answer:

1. It wanted to heal the wounds of the past.
2. It enabled people belonging to different classes, castes, and communities to share a new political experience by coming together with each other.
3. It strengthened democratic institutions in the country.

Question 13.
What were the demands of low-caste people and linguistic minorities at the time of making the Indian Constitution?
Answer:

1. The low-caste people demanded an end to ill-treatment by the upper-caste people.
2. They also demanded reservation of separate seats, on the basis of their population, in legislatures, government departments, and local bodies.
3. The linguistic minorities demanded freedom of speech in their respective mother-tongue. They also demanded redistribution of provinces on linguistic basis.

Question 14.
Name any six leaders who played an important role in the Constituent Assembly.
Answer:

1. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
2. Sardar Patel
3. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
4. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
5. K.M. Munshi
6. Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyar

Question 15.
Who was the President of the Constituent Assembly? Who was the Chairman of its Drafting Committee?
Answer:

• Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the President of the Constituent Assembly.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly.

Question 16.
In the 19th century, what efforts were made by the social reformers for social justice and what efforts were made by communists and socialists for economic justice? Give one point each.
Answer:

1. The social reformers opposed child- marriage and supported widow-remarriage.
2. The communists and the socialists brought all laborers and peasants together. In other words, they organised them.

Question 17.
What provisions were made in the Constitution to make the Centre more strong? Give any three arguments.
Answer:

1. More subjects were included in the union list.
2. The Union Government has control over many minerals and important industries.
3. Article 356 empowers the center to take over the state administration on the recommendation of the Governor.

Question 18.
What argument was given against Hindi being made a national language?
Answer:
The people in South India were strongly opposed to Hindi. They viewed every propaganda for Hindi as cutting the very root of the provincial languages.

Question 19.
Which two features of the Indian Constitution had a substantial agreement?
Answer:

1. Granting the right to vote to every adult citizen of India. It was called the Universal Adult Franchise.
2. Emphasis on secularism. It is the soul of the Indian Constitution.

Question 20.
In what way was the right to vote to every adult Indian a unique provision?
Answer:
The right to vote to every adult citizen of India is a unique feature of the Indian Constitution. The people in the United States and the United Kingdom got this right after a long struggle. But the Indians got it during the framing of the Constitution.

Question 21.
What Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution ensure religious freedom?
Answer:
They are as follows:

• Right to Equality
• Right to Freedom of Religion
• Cultural and Educational Rights.

Question 22.
Mention any two arguments given by Balakrishna Sharma for greater power to the Centre. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (O.D.))
Answer:
Bal Krishna Sharma stated that only a strong centre can make plans for the interest of the country, can provide requisite resources, can establish proper order and can save the country from foreign invasion.

Question 23.
Why is ‘Objectives Resolutions’ of Nehru considered a momentous resolution? Give any two reasons. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D.))
Answer:

1. It proclaimed India as an ‘Independent, Sovereign Republic’.
2. It guaranteed its citizens justice, equality, and freedom.

Question 24.
How were the discussions in the Constituent Assembly influenced by the opinions expressed by the public? State any two examples. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (O.D.))
Answer:

1. Calcutta based All India Varnashrama Swarajya Sangh suggested that our Constitution should enshrine principles as given in ancient Hindu books.
2. Some people proposed the abattoirs should be closed and slaughter should be prohibited.

Question 25.
Mention how the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935 were incorporated in the Indian Constitution by the Assembly members. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (O.D.))
Answer:
Government of India Act, 1935 had a provision of the strong and united centre. This provision was incorporated in the Indian Constitution by the Assembly members and they gave a very strong centre to the country.

Framing the Constitution Important Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
India is a Secular, Democratic, Republic. Explain.
Answer:
The Constitution established Secular, Democratic, Republican system in India. A secular state means that all religions are given equal treatment in the state. All religions enjoy equal freedom. In secular states, there is no particular state religion. The citizens are not discriminated on the basis of religion. All the people can adopt any religion which they like. They also enjoy the freedom to worship.

A Democratic state means that all citizens enjoy equal rights. The administration is run by the representatives elected by the people during periodical elections.

The Republic means that the head of the state will not be an emperor. He will be the President who is indirectly elected by an Electoral College.

Question 2.
In the Constituent Assembly, Congress itself was a broad front. Elucidate.
Answer:
About 82% of members of the Constituent Assembly were from the Indian National Congress. These members had diverse views such as:

1. The Congress had many members who lacked identical views. It had atheists who did not believe in the existence of God. It also had secular members who gave equal respect to all religions. There were also many members who were technically Congressmen but spiritually associated with Hindu Mahasabha and R.S.S.
2. Viewed economically, a few members of the Constituent Assembly were socialists in their economic philosophy. Contrary to it, there were also members who supported landlords and Zamindars.
3. The Congress also had many independent members. These members were drawn from different castes and religious groups.
4. There were also many members who represented the women.
5. There were also members who were experts in the law.

Thus, Congress seemed like a broad front. All its members held a wide range of views and had the diversity of opinions.

Question 3.
Which problems did India face at the time of its Independence? Briefly explain any of the two problems.
Answer:
India had faced two main problems at the time of Independence:

1. Problem of Refugees: There was an atmosphere of joy and hope on Independence Day 15 August 1947. But this was an unforgettable moment for innumerable Muslims and Hindus and Sikhs who lived in Pakistan. Millions of refugees moved from one place to another. Muslims were moving towards East and West Pakistan and Hindus and Sikhs were moving towards West Bengal and the Eastern part of Punjab. Many of them died before they reached their destination and those who survived had to be rehabilitated.

2. Problem of Local Kingdoms: There was another serious problem in front of the country and that was the problem of local kingdoms. During the British rule, almost one-third part of the country was under the control of those nawabs and maharajas who owed allegiance to the British crown.

They had the freedom to run their territory as they wished. When the British left India, the constitutional status of these nawabs and maharajas remained ambiguous. Few of these maharajas were dreaming of independent power in divided India. Indian freedom was incomplete without taking these states into the Union of India.

Question 4.
What were the limitations of the Constitutional reforms during the colonial period?
Answer:
The Constitutional reforms, during the colonial period, were in the response to the increasing demand of representative government. But Indians had no direct role in the passing of these different Acts (1909, 1919 and 1935). They were also enforced by the colonial government.

There was definitely an expansion of the electorate that elected the provincial bodies. But even in 1935, this right remained limited to 10-15% of the adult population. Till then, there was no arrangement of Universal Adult Franchise. The legislatures which were elected under the Act of 1933 were operating within the framework of colonial rule. They were responsible to the Governor appointed by the British.

Question 5.
How was the centre made more powerful and strong by the Constituent Assembly?
Answer:
Most of the members of the Constituent Assembly were in favour of the strong central government for India. Even Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru wanted a strong centre as he felt, writing a letter to the President of the Constituent Assembly, that, “it would be injurious to the interests of the country to provide for a weak central authority.” He was, in fact, convinced that only a strong central government could ensure peace and stability.

The following points make it clear that several attempts were made to make the center more strong and powerful:

1. The Union list contained more subjects than the State list.
2. Regarding the Concurrent list, the center and the state shared responsibility.
3. The center enjoyed control over many important mineral and key industries.
4. Article 356 empowered the center to take over a state administration on the recommendation of the Governor.
5. The position of the center was also strong in fiscal affairs. It kept all the proceeds from customs duties and company taxes. However, it shared with states income from Income Tax and Excise Duties.

Question 6.
Which provisions of the Constitution ensure secularism and religious freedom?
Answer:
The following provisions of the Constitution have ensured secularism in the country:

1. The word ‘secular’ has been included in the Preamble of the Constitution by 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976.
2. There is a guarantee for equal treatment to all religions. No one can be discriminated on the basis of religion.
3. The state considers all religious institutions as equal. No government school or college can impart any religious education.
4. While granting employment, no discrimination can be made on the basis of religion. However, there is a scope for social reforms. That is why the practice of untouchability was prohibited in the Constitution.
5. All citizens are free to adopt and preach any religion of their choice. They can also manage their religious affairs.

Question 7.
Explain how the Constituent Assembly reflected the diversity of the people of India and their opinions. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D))
Answer:
The election of the members of the Constituent Assembly was held in 1946 on the basis of provincial elections. The Constituent Assembly included members from the British provinces besides representatives from Princely states. They were included because many of the Princely states had, one by one, become a part of the Indian Union. The Muslim League, prior to the independence of India, boycotted the meetings of the Constituent Assembly. So at that time, the Constituent Assembly was dominated by only one political party, that is the Indian National Congress. 82% members of the Constituent Assembly were Congress-men.

Congress in itself was a very big and extensive force. Its members held different views about different issues. Many of them were either atheists or seculars. A few members of the Constituent Assembly belonged to R.S.S. or Hindu Mahasabha. Economically speaking, a few members had socialist leanings and the others favoured the big landlords and zamindars.

Question 8.
Explain how the constructional developments before 1946 were different from those made by the Constituent Assembly. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D))
Answer:
The constructional efforts made before 1946 were quite different from the constructional efforts made for the setting up of the Constituent Assembly. The Indians had no role in the passing of Government of India Acts of 1909, 1919 and 1935. These laws were framed and implemented by the colonial government. However, the number of members in the Provincial Assemblies were increased. But till 1935, only 10 to 15% of the adult population enjoyed the right to cast vote. There was no provision for Universal Adult Franchise.

The Provincial Assemblies elected under the Govt, of India Act, 1935, were working under the colonial rule. They were responsible to Governor-General who was appointed by the British Government. On the other hand, Nehru on 13 December 1946 talked of a constitution for an independent and the sovereign Indian Republic.

Question 9.
Explain the problems raised in the Constituent Assembly about the tribals. What did they want for them? (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Answer:
The issue of the tribals was raised in the Constituent Assembly mainly by N. G. Ranga and Jaipal Singh. N. G. Ranga referred to them as the oppressed people. He highlighted their problems which are as under:

1. They were uprooted from the place where they lived.
2. They were devoid of the jungles and meadows.
3. They were forced to run in search of new houses.
4. They were looked down upon by society as they were primitive and backward.
5. The tribals had their own laws and lands. No one can snatch them. But many traders bought their land in the name of the open market. They enslaved the tribal people and kept them as slaves from generation to generation.

Jaipal laid stress on the point that the hiatus between the tribals and the rest of the society must be filled. The emotional and material gap between them and the society must be filled up. He pleaded that seats must be reserved for the tribals in the

Assembly. It will compel the people to hear the voice of the tribals and to go near them.

Question 10.
Explain why many leaders demanded a strong centre during the debates in Constituent Assembly? How were powers to legislature finally divided? (C.B.S.E. 2008)
Answer:

1. The issue of the relation between the center and states was highly debated in the meetings of the Constituent Assembly. Those who were in favour of the strong centre included Jawaharlal Nehru. In a letter addressed to the President of the Constituent Assembly, he had said, “As the partition has now become a reality, “a weak central government will be quite harmful to the country because a weak centre will not be able to establish peace, coordination and raise voice at the international level.”

2. Similarly, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had also stated that he wanted a strong and unified center. It should be much stronger than visualized in the Govt, of India Act of 1935. Referring to the massacre on the roads on account of the partition of the country, many members emphasised on the need for a strong centre so that violence may be curtailed. Replying to the demand for more powers to the state, Gopalaswami Ayyar had stated, “the Centre should be as strong as possible.”

3. Bal Krishan Sharma, a member of the United Province, threw a lot of light on the need for a strong center. He stated that only a strong centre can make plans for the interest of the country, can provide requisite resources, can establish proper order and can save the country from foreign invasion.

So as compared to states, the centre has been made strong in India. The states have been empowered to frame laws on subjects mentioned in the State list. All subjects of national importance have been kept in the Union list.

Question 11.
Why did several members in the Constituent Assembly support the cause of the depressed classes? What did the Assembly finally recommend for them? (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Answer:
During the freedom struggle, Dr Ambedkar demanded separate constituencies for the backward classes. Mahatma Gandhi opposed it by saying that it will segregate them from the mainstream of society. The issue was much debated in the Constituent Assembly.

1. The members of the backward classes stated that society made use of their labour and services
but kept them away from the social mainstream. The people of upper castes avoided to meet them. They neither eat with them nor allow the people belonging
backward classes to visit temples.

2. Nagappa stated that numerically the backward class people were not a minority. They constitute 20 to 25% of the total population. But they have been kept away from society. They have neither education nor participation in administration.

3. Sh. K. J. Khandelkar, addressing the Constituent Assembly dominated by members of upper castes, stated: “We have been crushed for centuries. We have been so crushed that our brain and body do not work. Our heart has become feelingless. Now we are not able to move ahead. This is our plight.”

At last, the Constituent Assembly suggested the following:

1. Untouchability will be eradicated.
2. The Hindu temples will be opened to people belonging to all castes.
3. Seats will be reserved for backward classes in the Assemblies and Educational Institutions.

Question 12.
How were the discussions within the Constituent Assembly influenced by the opinions expressed by the people? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (D))
Answer:
The discussions within the Constituent Assembly were also influenced by public opinions. The arguments of different sections were published in newspapers and there was a public debate on all the proposals. In this way, criticism and counter-criticism in the process had a great impact on the consensus that was ultimately reached on specific issues. The public was also asked for submissions to create a sense of collective participation. Hundreds of responses came. Religious minorities asked for special safeguards as well.

Framing the Constitution Important Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
The years immediately preceding the making of the Constitution had been exceptionally tumultuous. Give examples in support of this statement.
Answer:
Before the independence of India on 15 August 1947, the political and social conditions in the country were tumultuous. No doubt the people had great hope for free, peaceful and prosperous India but they also felt depressed and disappointed due to many incidents such as communal riots that followed our independence and in which more than two lakh people were killed.

1. Indian independence accompanied the partition of the country. The country was divided into two parts namely India and Pakistan.
2. The people still remembered the Quit India Movement of 1942. It was perhaps the most widely popular movement against the alien rule.
3. The people were still reminiscent of Azad Hind Fauj constituted by Subash Chandra Bose with foreign aid, the purpose of which, of course, was to win freedom.
4. During the late 1940s, there were mass protests of workers and peasants in different parts of the country.
5. There was a lack of social harmony as the Congress and the Muslim League repeatedly failed to arrive at any reconciliation.
6. There were persistent riots in northern and eastern India. There were many killings in Calcutta in August 1946.

Question 2.
Discuss the role of six most important members of the Constituent Assembly. Throw light on their contribution.
Answer:
There were nearly three hundred members in the Constituent Assembly. But the most dominant voices in the House were a few. They included Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabh Bhai Patel, Rajinder Prasad, B.R. Ambedkar, K.M-. Munshi and Alladi Krishnaswamy Aiyar. All of them played a significant role in the meetings and deliberations of the Constituent Assembly.

Jawaharlal Nehru: He presented the Objectives Resolution in the Constituent Assembly on 13 December 1946. It not only outlined the ideals of the Constitution but also provided a framework within which the constitution was to be framed. He also moved a resolution which proposed that the National flag of India should be a horizontal tri-colour of saffron, white and dark green in equal proportion, with an Ashok Chakra in navy blue at the centre.

Sardar Patel: He did not remain at the fore-front and worked mostly behind the scenes. He played an important role in the drafting of various reports. His role was very crucial as he worked mostly to reconcile opposing and contradictory points of view put forward by different members of the House.

Rajinder Prasad: As he was the President of the Constituent Assembly, his role naturally ought to be very important and impressive. He steered the discussions and deliberations in such a way that constructive decisions easily cropped up. He ensured that all the members of the Assembly got a chance to speak and express their views freely.

Dr, B.R. Ambedkar: He was a lawyer and an economist. He was in fact a non-Congress member. He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution and the law minister in the Union Cabinet. He scrutinised and compiled the reports submitted by various committees of the Constituent Assembly. He prepared a Draft Constitution and presented it before the Constituent Assembly for perusal, discussion and approval. His role was quite significant.

K.M. Munshi: He was a lawyer from Gujarat who helped a lot in the drafting of the Constitution.

Alladi Krishnaswamy Aiyar: He was a lawyer from Madras. He, like K.M. Munshi, gave crucial input in the writing of the Constitution.

Question 3.
Examine any four major issues that went into the making of the Indian Constitution.
Answer:
The making of the Indian Constitution was greatly influenced by many subjects or issues. These issues were such without which the establishment of real democracy was not possible. Out of these important issues, the main was as follows:

1. Political equality and socio-economic justice
The right to Universal Adult Franchise was the symbol of political equality. However, this political equality was incomplete without social and economic justice. So, it was essential to abolish social and economic discrimination.

2. Issues concerning the Dalits and the untouchables. It was essential to give special patronage for the upliftment of the Dalits and the Untouchables. The same was needed for the scheduled tribes.

3. Centralised federation:
A federal government with a strong centre was set up to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation. This federation was a symbol of unity amidst diversity.

4. Separate electorate:
The Dalits and minority communities were demanding separate electorate so that they may be able to get their representatives elected in the legislature. But it could endanger one’s loyalty towards the state. t So this view was rejected and to remove this apprehension or misgiving, seats were reserved for the Dalits. The reservation of seats for the Dalits in the Legislature was a solution to the demand for a separate electorate.

Framing the Constitution Important Extra Questions HOTS

Question 1.
What was the fear or concern of many leaders regarding the grant of community rights?
Answer:
Though community rights were considered important yet many leaders feared that they might divide the loyalty of the citizens. They will be a hurdle in national unity and make a state weak.

Question 2.
What did the Language Committee of the Constituent Assembly suggest regarding the issue of Hindi as a national language?
Answer:
The Language Committee of the Constituent Assembly had suggested the following:

1. Hindi in the Devanagri script would be the official language in India.
2. The transition to Hindi would be gradual. For the first fifteen years, English would remain in use for all official purposes.
3. Each province will be allowed to opt for one regional language for official work in the province.

Question 3.
How was the Constituent Assembly organised? This Assembly represented the whole country, then why had it become a group of one party?
Answer:
The members of the Constituent Assembly were elected on the basis of provincial elections held in 1946. It included members not only from the British provinces but also from princely states of India. The members of princely states were inducted in the Assembly because most of the princely states had already merged with India.

The Constituent Assembly included popular leaders from all over the country. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr Rajinder Prasad, Sardar Patel and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad were members of the Indian National Congress. The members who were from other political parties included Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherji and Frank Anthony. There were also a few women members such as Sarojini Naidu and Vijay Laxmi Pandit.

Thus, the Constituent Assembly basically represented the whole country but the Muslim League boycotted its early meetings. Because of the absence of the members of the Muslim League, the Constituent Assembly had mainly members from the Congress party. 82% of members of the Constituent Assembly were Congress-men. Thus, it is right to say that though the Constituent Assembly represented the whole country, yet it had mostly members belonging to the Congress party.

Question 4.
In the Constituent Assembly, our law-makers had to discern many conflicting interests. Give a few examples to explain this statement.
Or
“The discussions within the Constituent Assembly were also influenced by the opinion expressed by the public.” Examine the statement. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:
The Constituent Assembly of India encouraged public debates. It was always influenced by the opinions expressed by the public. All its recommendations and deliberations were reported in newspapers. It was done to reach a consensus on specific issues. It also encouraged public participation. On many intricate issues, the public submitted its responses. Hence, there were views and counter¬views. Therefore, our law-makers had to take an account of many conflicting interests. A few examples are given here below:

1. Calcutta-based All India Varnashrama Swarajya Sangh suggested that our Constitution should enshrine principles as laid down in ancient Hindu books.
2. Some people proposed the abattoirs should be closed and cow-slaughter should be prohibited.
3. The people belonging to low-castes demanded that their ill-treatment by upper-caste people must end. They also wanted reservation of seats in the legislature and government departments.
4. Religious minorities demanded special safeguards.

Question 5.
“A communist member, Somnath Lahiri, saw the dark hand of British imperialism hanging over the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly.” Examine the statement and give your own views in support of your ‘.answer. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:
A communist member, Somnath Lahiri, saw the dark hand of British imperialism hanging over the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly. He urged the members especially Indians, to completely free themselves from the influences of imperial rule.

During the winter of 1946-47, when the Assembly was constituted, the British were still in India. An interim administration headed by Jawaharlal Nehru was in place, but it could only operate under the directions of the Viceroy and the British Government in London. Lahiri exhorted his colleagues to realise that the Constituent Assembly was British made and was working the British plans as the British should like it to be worked out.

Question 6.
The problem of separate electorates was an intricate problem that confronted the Constituent Assembly. Discuss the debate held in the Assembly over this issue.
Answer:
Arguments in favour of Separate Electorates

1. It is a political framework in which minorities can live in harmony with people who are in majority.
2. It is an arrangement which can minimise differences between different communities.
3. It can provide good representation to the minorities in the political system of the country.
4. It enables others to hear the voice of the minority and take into account its views and opinions.
5. Only the minority people can choose their true representative.

Arguments against Separate Electorates

1. It was a measure deliberately introduced by the foreign rulers to divide the people.
2. It can lead to riots, violence and civil war.
3. It is a poison in any political system.
4. It divides the nation and causes bloodshed as one community turns against the other.
5. It is a mischief left behind by the British.
6. It is harmful not only to the nation but also to the minorities. It is rather suicidal to the minorities.
7. It is self-destructive as it isolates the minorities from the majority.
8. It divides the loyalty of the citizens towards their nation.

Framing the Constitution Important Extra Questions Source-Based

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.
“We are not going just to copy”

This is what Jawaharlal Nehru said in his famous speech of 13 December 1946:

My mind goes back to the various Constituent Assemblies that have gone before and of what took place at the making of the great American nation when the fathers of that nation met and fashioned out a Constitution which has stood the test of so many years, more than a century and a half, and of the great nation which has resulted, which has been built upon the basis of that Constitution. My mind goes back to that mighty revolution which took place also over 150 years ago and to the Constituent Assembly that met in that gracious and lovely city of Paris which has fought so many battles for freedom, to the difficulties that Constituent Assembly had and to how the King and other authorities came in its way, and still, it continued.

The House will remember that when these difficulties came and even the room for a meeting was denied to the then Constituent Assembly, they betook themselves to an open tennis court and met there and took the oath, which is called the Oath of the Tennis Court, that they continued meeting in spite of Kings, in spite of the others, and did not disperse till they had finished the task they had undertaken. Well, I trust that it is in that solemn spirit that we too are meeting here and that we, too, whether we meet in this chamber or other chambers, or in the fields or in the market-place, will go on meeting and continue our work till we have finished it.
(i) How was the American Constitution finalised and explain its results?
Answer:
There were certain problems in the making of American Constitution-keeping in mind the interests of all the constituent states and making proper provisions for the strength of the federal system. There was another problem that to what extent voters could be limited. Even then the Nation-builders formed such a Constitution which is standing high even today and which has become base of formation of a great nation.

(ii) What does Nehru’s determination to pass The Constitution Show? Explain any two such difficulties that were faced by the Constituent Assembly. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
Nehru Ji believed that the work of framing the Constitution which the Constituent
Assembly has taken in its hands, will definitely be completed. Following problems were there in its way—
(a) To solve the problem of separate electorate.
(b) To solve the language problem and to determine the national language.

Question 2.
“That is very good, Sir – bold words, noble words”

Somnath Lahiri said:
Well, Sir, I must congratulate Pandit Nehru for the fine expression he gave to the spirit of the Indian people when he said that no imposition from the British will be accepted by the Indian people. Imposition would be resented and objected to, he said, and he added that if need be we will walk the valley of struggle. That is very good, Sir – bold words, noble words.

But the point is to see when and how are you going to apply that challenge. Well, Sir, the point is that the imposition is here right now. Not only has the British Plan made any future

Constitution dependent on a treaty satisfactory to the Britisher but it suggests that for every little difference you will have to run to the Federal Court or dance attendance there in England or to call on the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee or someone else. Not only is it a fact that this Constituent Assembly, whatever plans we may be hatching, but we are also under the shadow of British guns, British Army, their economic and financial stranglehold-which means that the final power is still in the British hands and the question of power has not yet been finally decided, which means the future is not yet completely in our hands.

Not only that, but the statements made by Attlee and others recently have made it clear that if need be, they will even threaten you with division entirely. This means, Sir, there is no freedom in this country. As Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel put it some days ago, we have freedom only to fight among ourselves. That is the only freedom we have got… Therefore, our humble suggestion is that is it not a question of getting something by working out this Plan but to declare independence here and now and call upon the Interim Government, call upon the people of India, to stop fratricidal warfare and lookout against its enemy which still has the whip hand, the British Imperialist and go
together to fight it and then resolve our claims afterwards when we will be free.
(i) Why did Somnath Lahiri congratulate Pandit Nehru? Explain.
Answer:
Jawaharlal Nehru said that no imposition from the British will be accepted fly the Indian people. Any imposition would be resented and objected to. If any need arises then we will walk the valley of struggle. That is why Somnath Lahiri congratulated Pandit Nehru.

(ii) Explain the intentions of the British in not framing the Constitution beforehand. What did they want?
Answer:
British wanted to divide the country by dividing the people. They wanted to keep India as its slave indirectly even after independence and it should remain under their shadow. That is why the British were not framing the Constitution in hand. If they could have done then the country’s constitutional problem could have solved earlier which they did not want to do so.

(iii) Explain the views of Sardar Yallabhbhai Patel on the issue. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
Sardar Patel said that we have freedom only to fight among ourselves. That is the only freedom we have got. Therefore, our humble suggestion is that it is not a question of getting something by working out this plan but to declare independence here and now and call upon the interim government and Indian people to stop fratricidal warfare and lookout against its enemy which still has the whip in hand, the British imperialism and go together to fight it and then resolve our claim afterwards when we will be free:

Question 3.
What should the Qualities of a National Language be?

A few months before his death, Mahatma Gandhi reiterated his views on, the language question:

This Hindustani should be neither Sanskritised Hindi nor Persianised Urdu but a happy combination of both. It should al§o freely admit words wherever necessary from the different regional languages and also assimilate words from foreign languages, provided that they can mix well and easily with our national language.

Thus, our national language must develop into a rich and powerful instrument capable of expressing the whole gamut of human thought and feelings. To confine oneself of Hindi or Urdu would be a crime against intelligence and the spirit of patriotism.
(i) Which language was supported by Mahatma Gandhi as the national language and why? Give any two reasons.
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi supported Hindustani as the national language for India.
(a) Hindustani was a blend of Hindi and Urdu. It was a very popular language in the country. It was spoken by a large number of people.
(b) It was a composite language enriched by the interaction of different cultures.

(ii) What kind of language did he want? Write any four points.
Answer:
(a) Gandhiji wanted that Hindi should not be Sanskritised nor Persianised.
It should be a mixture of the two.
(b) It should imbibe words even from the regional languages.
(c) It should incorporate words and terms from different sources and foreign languages.
(d) It should have a composite character expressing human views and values.

(iii) What did Mahatma Gandhi consider against patriotism and loyalty?
Answer:
He did not remain confined to Hindi or Urdu. He considered it a sin, to stick to any one of these two languages, against patriotic spirit and wisdom.

Question 4.
“The Real Minorities are the Masses of this Country”

Welcoming the Objectives Resolution introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru, N.G. Ranga said:

Sir, there is a lot of talk about minorities. Who are the real minorities? Not the Hindus in the so-called Pakistan provinces, not the Sikhs, not even the Muslims. No, the real minorities are the masses of this country. These people are so depressed and oppressed and suppressed till now that they are not able to take advantage of the ordinary civil rights. What is the position? You go to the tribal areas.

According to law, their own traditional law, their tribal law, their lands cannot be alienated. Yet our merchants go there, and in the so-called free market, they are able to snatch their lands. Thus, even though the law goes against this snatching away of their lands, still the merchants are able to turn the tribal people into veritable slaves by various kinds of bonds and make them hereditary bond-slaves.

Let us go to the ordinary villagers. There goes the money-lender with his money and he is able to get the villagers in his pocket. There is the landlord himself, the zamindar, and the malar and there are the various other people who are able to exploit these poor villagers. There is no elementary education even among these people. These are the real minorities that need protection and assurances of protection. In order to give them the necessary protection, we will need much more than this Resolution
(i) How is the notion of minority defined by N.G. Ranga?
Answer:
According to N.G. Ranga, the masses or the common people of India were the real minorities. These people have been so depressed that they never enjoyed any civil right.

(ii) Do you agree with Ranga? If not, mention who are the real minorities according to you and why?
Answer:
Yes, we agree with Ranga’s view because only backward, depressed and oppressed classes could be considered as minorities who must be given necessary facilities to bring them back in the mainstream of society.

(iii) Explain the condition of ordinary villagers.
Answer:
Condition of ordinary villagers is quite a pity. There goes the moneylender with his money and he is able to get the villagers in his pocket. Zamindar and malguzar exploit these poor villagers. There is no elementary education even among these people.

(iv) Describe the living conditions of the tribals. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
The living condition of tribal people was not good. According to law, their own traditional law, their tribal law, their lands cannot be alienated. Yet our merchants go there and in the so-called free market, they are able to snatch their lands. Thus, even though the law goes against the snatching away of their lands, still the merchants are able to turn the tribal people into veritable slaves by various kinds of bonds and make them hereditary bondslaves.

Question 5.
“I believe separate electorates will be suicidal to the minorities”

During the debate on 27 August 1947, Govind Ballabh Pant said:

I believe separate electorates will be suicidal to the minorities and will do them tremendous harm. If they are isolated forever, they can never convert themselves into a majority and the feeling of frustration will cripple them even from the very beginning. What is it that you desire and what is our ultimate objective? Do the minorities always want to remain as minorities or do they ever expect to form an integral part of a great nation and as such to guide and control its destinies?

If they do, can they ever achieve that aspiration and that ideal if they are isolated from the rest of the community? I think it would be extremely dangerous for them if they were segregated from the rest of the community and kept aloof in an airtight compartment where they would have to rely on others even for the air they breathe… The minorities if they are returned by separate electorates can never have any effective voice.
(i) How will separate electorates prove suicidal to the minorities? Explain the views of G.B. Pant.
Answer:
G.B. Pant was of the view that the separate electorate will prove suicidal not only to the minorities but for the whole nation as well. It would permanently isolate the minorities from the majority community. As a result, minorities will not have an effective say within the government. It would cripple the minorities and make them feel frustrated.

(ii) Will the creation of separate electorates solve the problem of minorities? If so, how?
Answer:
From one point of view, the separate electorate
can solve the problems of minorities. They will get a chance to choose a representative from their own community. As a result, their participation in administration will increase and they will get the right status in society. But this way will be proved fatal for national unity.

(iii) Suggest any one way to solve the problem of minorities. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
The most important way to solve the problem of minorities is to reserve seats for them in different institutions.

Question 6.
“The British element is gone, but they have Left the mischief behind”

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel said:
It is no use saying that we ask for separate electorates because it is good for us. We have heard it long enough. We have heard it for years, and as a result of this agitation we are now a separate nation … Can you show me one free country where there are separate electorates? If so, I shall be prepared to accept it. But in this unfortunate country, if this separate electorate is going to be persisted in, even after the division of the country, woe betide the country; it is not worth living in. Therefore, I say, it is not for my good alone, it is for your own good that I say it, forget the past. One day, we may be united … The British element is gone, but they have left the mischief behind. We do not want to perpetuate that mischief. (Hear, hear). When the British introduced this element they had not expected that they will have to go so soon. They wanted it for their easy administration. That is all right. But they have left the legacy behind. Are we to get out of it or not?
(i) What did Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel say in opposition to the provision of separate electorates?
Answer:
Sardar Patel stated that there was no provision of separate electorates in any free country of the world.

(ii) What were the evil-effects of the separate electorates?
Answer:
The provision of separate electorates was not good for the country. It has led to the partition of the country. It has brought woes to the people.

(iii) What did he say while making an appeal to abolish separate electorates?
Answer:
According to Sardar Patel, the provision of separate electorates was like a poison in the political system. It had turned one community against another. It had divided the nation and caused bloodshed.

(iv) According to Patel, whose mischief it was to provide for separate electorates? Why had they done so?
Answer:
According to Sardar Patel, the provision of separate electorates was the mischief of the British. They have gone but left their mischief behind. They deliberately introduced it to divide the people.