Social Science Homework

Day 1 — Power Sharing (Introduction + Belgium & Sri Lanka)

1. Define power sharing.

• Power sharing is the distribution of power among different organs and levels of government.
• It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social and ethnic groups.
• It ensures political stability and strengthens the democratic fabric of a nation.

2. Write about the ethnic composition of Sri Lanka and Belgium.

• Belgium consists of 59% Dutch speakers, 40% French speakers, and 1% German speakers.
• In Brussels, the capital of Belgium, 80% are French speakers and 20% are Dutch speakers.
• Sri Lanka has 74% Sinhala speakers, 18% Tamil speakers, and about 7% Christians.

3. What percentage of people in Sri Lanka were Sinhala speakers?

• Sinhala speakers made up approximately 74% of the total population in Sri Lanka.
• They formed the absolute linguistic majority community in the island nation.
• This large majority allowed them to dominate the political and administrative systems.

5. Compare Belgium and Sri Lanka's handling of diversity. Which model was better and why?

• Belgium accommodated diversity through power-sharing arrangements and equal representation.
• Sri Lanka chose majoritarian policies that favored Sinhala speakers and marginalized Tamils.
• The Belgian model was better because it avoided civil war and kept the country united.

8. Write a newspaper report on Sri Lankan majoritarianism.

Day 2 — Forms of Power Sharing

2. What is horizontal power sharing?

• It is the division of power among different organs of government at the same level.
• The power is shared evenly among the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.
• This system allows each organ to check the others, creating a balance of power.

3. What is meant by coalition government?

• It is a government formed by an alliance of two or more political parties.
• This happens when no single political party wins a clear majority in the elections.
• The partners adopt a common minimum program to govern the nation together.

4. Define community government.

• It is a type of government elected by people belonging to one specific language or cultural community.
• Belgium is a primary example where French, Dutch, and German speakers have such a government.
• It handles community-specific issues regarding educational, cultural, and language matters.

5. Why is power sharing called the spirit of democracy? Explain prudential and moral reasons for power sharing.

• Power sharing is essential because a democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by it.
• Prudential reasons state that power sharing avoids social conflict and ensures political stability.
• Moral reasons emphasize that power sharing is valuable in itself and forms the true soul of democracy.

7. Make a mind map showing forms of power sharing.

• Horizontal distribution: Power is shared among the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.
• Vertical distribution: Power is shared among Central, State, and Local levels of government.
• Social groups: Power is shared among different religious, linguistic, and minority groups.
• Political structures: Power is shared among various political parties, pressure groups, and movements.

8. Create a slogan promoting unity in diversity.

• Slogan 1: Different cultures, different faces, united together in all places.
• Slogan 2: Our diversity is our strength, keeping India united through its length.
• Slogan 3: Many languages, many creeds, one great nation for all our needs.

Day 3 — Federalism (Basics)

1. Define federalism.

• Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent units.
• It features at least two distinct tiers of government operating simultaneously.
• Each tier has its own specified jurisdiction in matters of legislation, taxation, and administration.

3. What is a unitary government?

• It is a system where there is either only one level of government or sub-units are subordinate.
• The central government holds all supreme administrative and legislative powers.
• State or local units can only exercise powers that the central government chooses to delegate.

5. Differentiate between 'coming together' and 'holding together' federations.

• Coming together involves independent states joining voluntarily to form a bigger unit, like the USA.
• Holding together involves a large country dividing its power between the national state and constituent units, like India.
• In coming together, states usually have equal power, while in holding together, the center is often stronger.

6. Why is India called a federal country even though the Constitution says "Union of States"?

• India has a clear three-tier system of government consisting of Union, State, and Panchayats.
• The Constitution explicitly demarks the legislative jurisdictions through three separate lists.
• The judiciary acts as an independent umpire to resolve disputes between different levels of government.

7. Draw a flowchart showing features of federalism.

                  ┌────────────────────────┐
                  │ FEATURES OF FEDERALISM │
                  └───────────┬────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1. TWO OR MORE TIERS                                      │
│ └─► Government is organized into central, state, and      │
│     local levels.                                         │
└─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2. SEPARATE JURISDICTIONS                                 │
│ └─► Each tier has constitutional authority over           │
│     legislation and taxation.                             │
└─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 3. CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE                               │
│ └─► The existence and authority of each tier are safely   │
│     guaranteed by the constitution.                       │
└─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 4. INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY                                  │
│ └─► Courts have the supreme power to interpret the        │
│     constitution and check government powers.             │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Day 4 — Federalism in India

1. Name the three lists in the Indian Constitution. Give two examples each.

• Union List: Contains subjects of national importance like Defense and Foreign Affairs.
• State List: Contains subjects of local and state importance like Police and Agriculture.
• Concurrent List: Contains subjects of common interest like Education and Forests.

3. What are residuary subjects?

• These are subjects that do not fall under any of the three original constitutional lists.
• They include modern matters like Computer Software and Cyber Laws that arose after constitution-making.
• The Union Government holds the exclusive power to legislate on these residuary subjects.

5. Why can't Parliament alone change power-sharing arrangements?

• The federal structure is part of the basic foundation of the Indian Constitution.
• Any amendment requires a two-thirds majority approval in both houses of Parliament.
• It must also be ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the total states.

6. Explain the role of judiciary in federalism.

• The judiciary oversees the implementation of constitutional provisions and procedures.
• High Courts and the Supreme Court settle disputes between different levels of government.
• It prevents the misuse of power by interpreting the division of powers objectively.

8. Find your state's official language and write about its importance.

• The official language of Punjab is Punjabi, written in the Gurmukhi script.
• It ensures smooth local administration and makes governance accessible to ordinary citizens.
• It preserves the rich cultural heritage, literature, and historical identity of the region.

Day 5 — Federalism in Practice

1. What are linguistic states?

• Linguistic states are states created on the basis of shared spoken languages.
• Boundaries were redrawn so that people speaking the same language lived in the same state.
• Examples include Punjab for Punjabi speakers and Gujarat for Gujarati speakers.

2. How many scheduled languages are recognised in India?

• The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution recognizes exactly 22 scheduled languages.
• Hindi is identified as the official language, but it is not imposed as a national language.
• Candidates can choose to take central civil service examinations in any of these languages.

3. What is decentralisation? Why was decentralisation needed in India?

• Decentralisation is when power is taken from central and state governments and given to local governments.
• India is a vast country, and local problems are best settled at the local village or city level.
• It fosters direct democratic participation and empowers citizens at the grassroots level.

5. How did linguistic states strengthen India?

• Creating linguistic states stopped potential separation demands and kept the country unified.
• It made administration much easier and more efficient across different cultural regions.
• It showed deep respect for diversity, which strongly bound democratic relations.

7. Interview a local government representative (Sarpanch/Councillor) and write 5 findings.

• Finding 1: The local representative focuses primarily on rural road connectivity and clean water supply.
• Finding 2: Fund allocation from the state government is often delayed, affecting local projects.
• Finding 3: Gram Sabhas are regularly conducted to list out the village development requirements.
• Finding 4: Waste management and setting up solar streetlights are their current environmental priorities.
• Finding 5: Providing self-employment opportunities for local youth remains a major ongoing challenge.

Day 6 — Development

1. What is development?

• Development is a comprehensive process that implies progress, growth, and improvement in life quality.
• It includes economic growth along with social changes like freedom, security, and equality.
• It refers to the fulfillment of people's aspirations and long-term desires.

2. Why do different people have different development goals?

• People come from entirely different life situations and social backgrounds.
• What is an immediate necessity for a landless laborer differs from a rich farmer's needs.
• Every individual seeks things that are most important to fulfill their personal aspirations.

3. Define per capita income.

• It is the average income earned per person in a given country in a specified year.
• It is calculated by dividing the country's total income by its total population.
• It is used by the World Bank to compare and classify economic development across countries.

5. "Development for one may not be development for another." Explain with examples.

• Industrialists want large dams to generate electricity for running factories.
• However, building these dams submerges land and disrupts the lives of local tribal people.
• Therefore, what brings progress to one group can bring total destruction to another.

6. Why is average income not a complete indicator of development?

• Average income completely hides the unequal distribution of wealth among the population.
• It does not tell us how income is actually shared among rich and poor citizens.
• It completely ignores non-material indicators like health, literacy, and gender equality.

7. Write your personal development goals for the next 10 years.

• Complete secondary and higher education with excellent academic performance.
• Gain advanced skills in computer technologies and system hardware engineering.
• Secure a stable and meaningful career to achieve financial self-reliance.

Day 7 — Comparing Countries/States

1. What is Infant Mortality Rate?

• It indicates the number of children that die before the age of one year.
• It is calculated as a proportion of 1,000 live children born in that specific year.
• A lower rate indicates high-quality medical healthcare and maternal facilities.

2. What is Literacy Rate?

• It measures the proportion of literate population in the 7 years and above age group.
• A person is literate if they can read and write with understanding in any language.
• It serves as a vital index for human resource development and educational growth.

3. What is Human Development Index?

• It is a composite index published annually by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• It ranks countries based on educational levels, health status, and per capita income.
• It gives a broader, more accurate picture of human well-being than economic growth alone.

5. Why are health and education important indicators of development?

• Healthy and educated citizens form productive human capital for economic development.
• They allow individuals to access better job opportunities and increase their standard of living.
• Good health and education improve the general quality of human life and social welfare.

7. Collect newspaper data on any Indian state and prepare a development report.

8. Make a bar graph comparing literacy rates of 3 states.

• Kerala: Dominates at the top with a literacy rate exceeding 94 percent.
• Punjab: Occupies a middle position with a stable literacy rate around 76 percent.
• Bihar: Sits at a lower level with a literacy rate close to 63 percent.

Day 8 — Sustainable Development

1. What are renewable resources and non-renewable resources?

• Renewable resources are replenished by nature over time, such as solar energy and wind.
• Non-renewable resources have fixed stocks and get exhausted after years of use, like coal.
• Sustainable development demands shifting focus from non-renewable to renewable energy sources.

3. Define sustainable development.

• It is development that meets current needs without compromising future generations' capacity.
• It focuses on long-term resource preservation rather than rapid short-term extraction.
• It balances economic growth with proper environmental protection and care.

4. Give two examples of environmental degradation.

• The depletion of groundwater tables due to excessive extraction for agriculture and industries.
• Heavy air and water pollution caused by industrial emissions and toxic waste dumping.
• Severe deforestation leading to loss of biodiversity and rapid soil erosion.

5. Why should future generations be considered while planning development?

• Earth's natural resources are finite and can be completely exhausted if overused today.
• Future generations have an equal right to enjoy a clean, resourceful environment.
• Reckless development today leaves a degraded planet filled with climate hazards for them.

6. Suggest solutions to balance development and environment.

• Promote widespread usage of green renewable energy resources like solar power.
• Enforce strict laws regarding industrial waste treatment before disposal into rivers.
• Encourage rainwater harvesting and large-scale afforestation drives across regions.

8. Write a short paragraph on pollution in your locality.

Day 9 — Sectors of Indian Economy

1. Define primary sector.

• It includes activities undertaken by directly exploiting natural resources.
• Examples of this sector are agriculture, dairy, fishing, forestry, and mining.
• It forms the essential raw material base for all other economic sectors.

2. Define secondary sector.

• It covers activities where natural products are changed into manufactured goods.
• This transformation happens through industrial manufacturing or manual processing methods.
• Examples include manufacturing cloth from cotton and making bricks from clay.

3. Define tertiary sector.

• This sector provides crucial support services to the primary and secondary sectors.
• It does not produce tangible goods directly but generates essential services.
• Examples include transport, banking, communication, storage, and software engineering.

5. Why is tertiary sector growing rapidly in India?

• The government has expanded basic services like hospitals, educational institutions, and defense.
• Development of agriculture and industry has directly boosted transport, trade, and storage.
• Rising income levels have increased public demand for tourism, shopping, and private schooling.

6. Explain interdependence of sectors with examples.

• Cotton from the primary sector goes to mills in the secondary sector to become cloth.
• The secondary sector needs trucks from the tertiary sector to transport these finished clothes to markets.
• Farmers require industrial tractors and banking services to successfully cultivate crops.

8. Observe your locality and list 10 jobs under different sectors.

• Primary sector: Farming and dairy animal rearing.
• Secondary sector: Brick-kiln working, grain milling, and construction.
• Tertiary sector: Shopkeeping, teaching, truck driving, mobile repairing, and banking.

Day 10 — Employment & Revision Task

1. What is GDP?

• Gross Domestic Product is the total value of all final goods and services produced within a country.
• It is calculated over a specific period, usually one financial year.
• It shows the overall size, health, and performance of a nation's economy.

2. What is disguised unemployment?

• It is a situation where more people are working than are actually required.
• The extra workers' marginal contribution to total production is completely zero.
• If these extra people are removed, total production remains entirely unaffected.

3. Differentiate between organised and unorganised sectors.

• Organised sector offers fixed working hours, job security, and assured employee benefits.
• Unorganised sector lacks employment security, health benefits, and fixed wage structures.
• Organised enterprises are officially registered with the government, while unorganised units are not.

5. Why does agriculture employ more people but contribute less to GDP?

• Agriculture suffers from severe underemployment and widespread disguised unemployment.
• The sector has lower productivity compared to expanding industrial and service sectors.
• Modern technical upgrades have not reached a vast majority of small landholders.

6. Suggest ways to generate employment in rural areas.

• Provide low-interest bank loans to farmers for setting up irrigation facilities.
• Invest heavily in rural infrastructure like cold storage and connecting roads.
• Promote agro-processing industries and local tourism hubs in village clusters.

7. Write a reflection: "What I learned during holidays?"

Day 11 to 20 — Project Work on "Consumer Rights"

• Objective: Explore how consumers are exploited in markets and their legal safeguards.
• Coverage: Study the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) and the role of consumer forums.
• Content: Identify essential consumer rights like Right to Safety and Right to Choose.
• Outcome: Learn about safety labels like ISI, AGMARK, and consumer awareness slogans.