CTET (Social Studies) Official Paper-II September 2015 (English-Hindi-Sanskrit) (Previous Year Paper)

Development and learning are not synonymous rather they both are different. Let's understand in brief:

• Development: It refers to a progressive and systematic series of changes that occur in the life of an individual he/she grows from infancy to old age.
• Learning: The process by which a person alters his responses and behavior in order to adjust himself to the changing environment is called learning.

Lev Vygotsky:

• A Russian psychologist and social constructivist.
• He had worked in the fields of educational and cognitive psychology.
• He believed that learning is an essential process and is necessary for development.
• He focussed on socio-cultural aspects and emphasized the role of society and culture in the development of a child.
• According to Vygotsky, learning is a process that occurs anytime in everyday life and that isn't just an external phenomenon.
• His theory of Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) expanded learning and development, which posits that learning precedes development processes.

Hence, it could be concluded that the statement 'development process lags behind the learning process' best summarizes the relationship between development and learning as proposed by Vygotsky.

Important Points

• Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is the difference between what a learner can do by himself (or without help) and what he/she can do with help.
• So, ZPD is the area of proximal development in which guidance should be given so that a child can reach the maximum potential.

Lawrence Kohlberg, an American psychologist, has propounded the 'Theory of Moral Development'. He has made a systematic study of moral development in his theory that is categorized into six culturally universal stages.

• Kohlberg adopts a cognitive theory of moral development and sets out to show that principles of moral judgment gradually develop as children grow older, but this development is highly dependent on environmental and social conditions.
• Kohlberg assumes that children have a morality that is distinct and different from adult morality.
• According to Kohlberg's scheme of things, there can be six stages of moral development. In such a way the development of a higher stage logically depends upon the development of the preceding stage. Each stage of moral development reveals a different kind of motivation for acting morally, or for forming a moral judgment.

Important Points

• A major criticism of Kohlberg’s theory is that Kohlberg did not account for cultural differences in moral reasoning of men and women.
• Criticism of Kohlberg’s theory regards justice concerns as developmentally more advanced than reciprocal considerations.
• Men tend to score as more morally developed than women on existing measures.
• This is because women rely more on 'care' considerations in moral dilemmas, whereas men rely more on 'justice' issues.

Hence, it becomes clear that not accounting for cultural differences in moral reasoning of men and women was a major criticism of Kohlberg's theory.

Learner-centred Classroom: Students and teachers participate equally in the teaching-learning process. The teacher is the facilitator and students actively engage in the activities. The needs of individual students form the basis.

• ‘Child-centred’ classroom means giving primacy to children’s experiences, their voices, and their active participation. This kind of classroom requires us to plan to learn in keeping with children’s psychological development and interests.

Role of the Teacher in a Learner-Centred Classroom are:-

• To make the active engagement of a child involves inquiry, exploration, questioning, debates, application, and reflection, leading to theory building and the creation of ideas.
• The teacher would employ such methods in which the learners are encouraged to take initiative for their own learning.
• The teacher will have to be sensitive to tribal cultures and practices and be able to incorporate local knowledge in the curriculum and textbooks.
• The teacher should provide space for individual children to express themselves freely in the classroom without fear of being judged or stereotyped. Children need to be aware that their experiences and perceptions are important and need to be encouraged to think and reason independently.
• To plan the teaching and learning process to suit the needs of the students.
• To promote learning by providing a conducive environment.
• To encourage learners to become active learners.

Hence, it becomes clear that in a learner-centred classroom, the teacher would employ such methods in which the learners are encouraged to take initiative for their own learning.

Intelligence refers to a set of different cognitive abilities to think rationally, act purposefully, resolve problems and deal with the demands of the environment.

The Theory of Multiple Intelligence:

Howard Gardner proposed this theory wherein he formulated eight categories of intelligence. He defined intelligence as “Intelligence is a bio-psychological potential to process information that can be activated in a cultural setting to solve problems or create products that are of value in a culture”.

• In one of his most influential books, Frames of Mind: Theory of Multiple Intelligences (1983).

Howard Gardner formulated the following types of intelligence:

• Intra Personal Intelligence (Self Smart): Individuals inclined to this intelligence tend to be more introverts as they have the ability to understand their own emotions, drives, desires, strengths, and vulnerabilities.
• They rely upon self-knowledge and self-motivation. This intelligence is instrumental in an individual's pursuit of the hobby, area of interest, the branch of study, and choice of career.

Hence, according to Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligence, the factor that would contribute most for being a 'self-aware' individual would be "Intrapersonal".

Piaget and Vygotsky were notable contributors to the cognitive development components of psychology.

Let's understand in brief:

• Jean Piaget: He was a Swiss psychologist and known as the father of Child Psychology. He made a systematic study of cognitive development in his theory that is categorized in four stages.
• Lev Vygotsky: He was a Russian psychologist and a social constructivist. He has propounded 'Socio-cultural Theory' which emphasizes the role of social interaction in cognitive development.

Key Points 

They considered that acquisition of speech is the major activity in cognitive development. However, they differ from each other in this matter.

Piaget's and Vygotsky's view on 'Language and Thought':

Hence, it could be concluded that a major difference between the perspectives of Vygotsky and Piaget pertains to their views about language and thought.

Genetic materials refer to the passing of habits or attitudes from one generation to the next generation. Specific sets of abilities are passed to both girls and boys from their parents. Different people inherent different abilities or qualities from their families.

The statement that 'girls are socialized to be caring while boys are discouraged to show emotions such as crying' is most likely to agree with in this context as in our society: 

• girls are socialized to be caring. They are supposed to take care of the household works, family members, and other responsibilities regarding home.
• boys are supposed to be rough and tough. They are not allowed to show any kind of emotions like crying as it is considered as a sign of weakness for them.

Heredity contributes too many individual differences in temperament and personality, especially differences in emotionality, activity level, and sociability. 

Hence, it could be concluded that the statement that 'girls are socialized to be caring while boys are discouraged to show emotions such as crying' is most likely to agree with in this context.

Motivation is simply the reason for an action and that which gives purpose and direction to behaviour. It is a general term applied to the entire class of drives, desires, needs, wishes, and similar forces. Motivation can be considered the state of having encouragement to do something.

Three Important Aspects:-

• Needs- Biological and Sociogenic
• Drives- keep you activated
• Incentives- Rewards

Motivation is the best way to empower your students. By following ways teacher ensures that her student are motivated intrinsically:-

• Always motivate them to set a greater goal. A teacher must focus on the processes of learning of individual children rather than on the final outcome.
• By showing them how knowledge applies in real life.
• By group work and competition.
• By introducing then the system of rewards.

Hence, if a teacher wants to ensure that her students are motivated intrinsically. She would focus on the processes of learning of individual children rather than on the final outcome.

Assessment of the child’s abilities can only be done through feedback. It helps us to know whether the child has learned what you have taught and whether your teaching is effective. Giving and receiving feedback is a difficult undertaking as it requires the ability to deal with the feelings that arise. The assessment helps in finding the reason behind the failure of a child.

• Failure of a child to perform well in class tests leads us to believe that there is a need to reflect upon the syllabus, pedagogy, and assessment processes.
• The system of Comprehensive and Continous Evaluation (CCE) recommended to identify the learning needs, difficulties, and conceptual gaps to provide timely and appropriate interventions to reduce stress and anxiety and enhance learning to help all children progress.
• It was also intended to reduce rote learning, help teachers reflect, review and improve their teaching and provide all children, including those with special needs and those belonging to the marginalized groups, with the feedback to improve their learning to bloom their potential fully.

Hence, it becomes clear that the failure of a child to perform well in class tests leads us to believe that there is a need to reflect upon the syllabus, pedagogy, and assessment processes.

Children’s errors:

• are necessary in the learning process to give insight into children's thinking.
• help the teacher to be aware of learners' learning styles, and to cater to them according to their needs.

In the above-mentioned situation, 'the children have not yet gained conceptual clarity and there is a need for the teacher to reflect on his/her pedagogy' is most likely to be the analysis of the situation as:

• every student differs from others on psychological aspects such as intelligence, personality, etc.
• every child has a different pace of learning and a single method cannot be applicable to all children.
• pedagogy helps teachers to involve children in constructing their own knowledge through experiences.

Hence, it could be concluded that 'the children have not yet gained conceptual clarity and there is a need for the teacher to reflect on his/her pedagogy' is most likely to be the analysis of the situation.

NOTE: Pedagogy refers to the set of principles that influence the approaches to teaching-learning. It consists of learning environment, teaching-learning arrangements, methods, general education principles, etc.

In the above-mentioned situation, the student is trying to regulate her own thinking by the organization of ideas as the organization of ideas refers to the arrangement of ideas in a systematic manner by an individual.

Key Points

Here the student is:

• highlighting the main points which show that the child is aware of the main points and is able to identify them.
• drawing visual representation which shows that the child is able to do abstract thinking on the basis of her understanding.
• posing questions which shows her curiosity & inquisitiveness and enables her to make the best of her educational experiences.

Hence, it could be concluded that in the above-mentioned situation, he is trying to regulate her own thinking by the organization of ideas. 

Additional Information

• Observational learning: It is a learning method which implies that student learns by observing and analyzing. Here, the child learns through watching others, keeping information, and then later recreating the behaviors that were observed.
• Strategy maintenance rehearsal: It involves the repetition of items in order to memorize them. It is also called as the rote rehearsal. For example, When we have a speech in our school, we continuously and repeatedly rehearse the speech in order to memorize it.
• Method of loci: It is used to recall a piece of information. It is a strategy for memory enhancement. The Loci system was used by Greek and Roman orators to remember the content and sequence of long speeches.

Problem-Solving Approach: Problem-solving is a learner-centred approach that emphasizes learner's active involvement in the learning process. It helps the children to learn better by catering totality of their experiences that occur in the educational process.

Teachers can model different aspects of problem-solving and engage students in activities and discussions around the concept. These are some ways by which teacher help children to become better problem solver-

• By providing multiple potential solutions for any problem
• By giving children a variety of problems to solve and support while solving them
• By 'do-it-yourself' projects
• By teaching basic problem-solving steps
• By Continous and Comprehensive Evaluation

Hence, from the above-mentioned points, it becomes clear that a teacher help children become better problem solvers by giving children a variety of problems to solve and support while solving them.

Learning is the acquisition of new behaviour or the strengthening or weakening of old behaviour as a result of experience. It represents progressive changes in behaviour. It also involves the acquisition of knowledge, habits, and attitude. The term learning covers every modification in behaviour to meet environmental requirements.

• Socio-cultural changes in society impact the content and objectives of education. It is a relationship between education and social change.
• Learning activities in such social contexts may be cooperative, collaborative, planned or unplanned, and they can be led by one or more individuals, or be completely self-organizing.
• Learning in the social context refers to all learning that occurs in and among groups of people. So, learning takes place in a socio-cultural context.
• However, education is also influenced by the socio-cultural changes that take place in society, it responds to the socio-cultural changes by re-organizing its content and process and by reinterpreting its goals and objectives.
• During the past few decades, acculturation, and living together have been emphasized as desirable goals of education.

Hence, from the above-mentioned points, it becomes clear that learning takes place in a socio-cultural context.

Development is a process by which an individual grows and changes throughout the life cycle. The term development applies to the changes that have a direction and hold a definite relationship with what precedes it. ​

Key Points Facts about Development:

• The development process passes through different stages. Each stage of development has certain distinct and specific characteristics.
• When any process once gets complete on the basis of which learner can learn a new skill is called Maturation.
• Maturation refers to the changes that follow an orderly sequence and are largely dictated by the genetic blueprint which produces Growth, Development, and Evolution commonalities in our growth and development.
• Maturity comes from learning and experiences and hence the development of a person occurs.
• Development occurs due to the interaction between maturation and experience.
• Development is a progressive series of qualitative changes that occur as a result of maturity and experience.

Therefore, it becomes clear that development occurs due to the interaction between maturation and experiences.

Debates are a great way to exchange ideas. They can help you improve your knowledge and your reasoning skills. Debates always help to develop essential critical thinking skills about any topics that help the learner to look at any issues from different angles.

Key Points

• The term ‘nature’ stands for what comes to children through genetic influences and heredity, i.e. it denotes the influence of factors inherent in the child himself from the time he is conceived.
• On the other hand, the term ‘nurture’ stands for the influence of the environment on child development, i.e. all the contextual factors that influence who we are, including our perceptions of early childhood, our social relationships, and the society around us.
• There is a relationship between heredity and environment factors in determining development. Nature refers to heredity, influenced by inherited characteristics of personality, physical growth, intellectual growth and social interaction. Nurture refers to the influence of the environment of all of those same things and includes parenting style, physical surroundings, economic factor and anything that can have an influence and development that does not come from within the person.
• Development is a product of the complex interaction of heredity (nature) and environment (nurture). Heredity gave us the abilities for development, which are used by the environment. Heredity can best be viewed as something that sets a range within which an individual’s development is actually shaped by the support and opportunities of the environment.

Therefore, In the context of the 'nature-nurture' debate, we can say that heredity and environment are inseparably interwoven and both influence development.

Socialization: It refers to the process which transforms a quite helpless human infant into a self-aware, knowledgeable person who is skilled in the ways of their society’s culture. Socialization is a Life-Long process that continues throughout life from birth to adulthood. 

Key Points

• Socialization is a process of acquiring values, beliefs, and expectations.
• Socialization is a process in which a person adapts all the social behaviour as-
• Adaptation of social values and principles.
• Adaptation of cultural rituals
• Adaptation of skills
• Socialization is a combination of personality development and cultural development.

Types of Socialization:

• Primary Socialization: It happens during infancy and childhood, during this phase, infants learn language and certain basic Socialization behavior forms of the family and the society in which she/he lives. Agents of primary socialization are parents and family. For children, their families are the primary agent of socialization since they are in immediate contact with their family members, who in turn introduce them to the outside world.​
• Secondary Socialization: It occurs once the infant passes into the childhood phase and continues into maturity. During this phase more than the family some other agents of socialization like the school and friends.

Therefore, from the above-mentioned points, it becomes clear that Socialization is a process of acquiring values, beliefs, and expectations.

Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, has made a systematic study of cognitive development in his theory that is categorized in four stages. Each stage is characterized by a distinct way of thinking and is age-related.

• He observed his children and their process of making sense of the world around them and developed a model of how the mind processes new information encountered.
• Piaget’s Pre-operational stage is from 2 - 7 years. In this stage, the child faces problems with the irreversibility of thought, concept of conservation, and struggles with the idea of centration.
• Due to the Irreversibility of thought, the child can focus his attention only on one aspect of the situation at a time and cannot reverse the direction of his thought.

Important Points

The Four Stages of Cognitive Development:

Therefore from the above-mentioned points, it is clear that Piaget attributed the above-mentioned inability to the Irreversibility of Thought.

Swiss biologist and psychologist Jean Piaget observed his children and their process of making sense of the world around them and how the mind processes new information encountered.

Piaget’s Key Concepts:

• Schema: A representation in the mind of a set of ideas or actions which go together.
• Assimilation: The process of taking in information into our previously existing schemas.
• Accommodation: Involves altering existing ideas or schemas as a result of new experiences.
• Equilibration: A mechanism that assists children in achieving a balance between assimilation and accommodation.
• Piaget says learning starts with an adaptation that can be achieved through assimilation and accommodation.
• He believed that learning is a lasting change in behaviour due to the acquisitions that result from experience and this learning process occurs at gradual levels, as the existence of previous mental structures built through individual (assimilation and accommodation) are necessary for the adaptation of a coherent system through a balancing self-regulating. So, for the learning process of adaptation is necessary.

Hence, from the above-mentioned points, it becomes clear that according to Piaget's theory, children learn by processes of adaptation.

'Lev Vygotsky', a Soviet psychologist, has propounded the "Socio-cultural Theory". This theory implies the idea that social interaction plays a crucial role in the development of learners' cognitive ability. 

According to Vygotsky, 'zone of proximal development' or 'ZPD' refers to the:

• the gap between what the child can do independently and with assistance.
• difference between what a learner can do on his/her own and what he/she can do with someone's help.
• range of tasks too difficult for the child to do alone, but possible with the help of adults and more skilled peer.
• distance between learners' actual development level and his/her level of development under someone's guidance.

Additional Information

Other Important Terms Proposed by Vygotsky in his 'Socio-cultural Theory':

• Scaffolding: It refers to a process through which temporary support is imparted to the learners to enhance learning to achieve goals.
• More Knowledgeable Other(MKO): It refers to a person with a higher skill level and a better understanding of the concepts than the learners.

Hence it could be concluded that according to Vygotsky, the zone of proximal development is the gap between what the child can do independently and with assistance.

A multi-cultural classroom is a classroom with learners having more than one culture and from different backgrounds. It incorporates values, beliefs, perspectives, the identity of learners from different cultural backgrounds**.**

• Assessment is a process of collecting, receiving, and using data for the purpose of improvement in the learning process. It determines the effectiveness of the learning process or program.

Key Points

A teacher in a multi-cultural classroom would ensure that the assessment considers the Socio-cultural context of her student as:

• Social interaction and cultural context play a crucial role in the development of learners' cognitive ability.
• In a multi-cultural classroom, the way students respond to assessment is subject to social and cultural influences.
• Assessment is a social activity and we can understand it only by taking account of the social-cultural context in which it operates.
• Education responds to the socio-cultural changes by re-organizing its content and process and by reinterpreting its goals and objectives
• There is a relationship between education and social change because socio-cultural changes in society impact the content and objectives of education.

Hence, it could be concluded that a teacher in a multi-cultural classroom would ensure that the assessment in the Socio-cultural context of her students.

The constructivist classroom is related to the constructivist approach of education which gives primacy to collaborative learning by involving learners in discussions and projects.

An upper primary school constructivist classroom would foresee the student's active involvement in their own assessment plan with the teacher as constructivist environment:

• emphasizes on collaboration with others for learning.
• ensures the active involvement of learners and promotes peer tutoring.
• allows learners to foster their own strategy of learning to perform a task.
• provides ample opportunities to learners to make them work at their own pace.
• views learners as makers of meaning and creators of knowledge through social interaction.

Constructivist classroom gives primacy to:

• peer tutoring.
• group activity.
• Self-assessment.
• dignified discussion.
• cooperative learning.
• face to face interaction.

Hence, it could be concluded that an upper primary school constructivist classroom would foresee students' active involvement in planning for their own assessment with the teacher.

Inclusive Education refers to the inclusion of all children in the education system, regardless of their differences and disabilities. Inclusive education welcomes and celebrates diversity.

• A heterogeneous society refers to a society that includes all individuals with different abilities, interests, educational level, skills, cultural backgrounds, beliefs, values, sexes, ages, ethnicities, etc.

Important Points

The rationale behind inclusive education is that society is heterogeneous and schools need to be inclusive to cater to heterogeneous society as:

• It values the diversity, each child brings to the classroom and facilitates all with equal opportunities to learn and grow.
• Inclusive education improves the quality and making provisions of education for all.
• It provides a provision to include disabled children along with normal children in a regular classroom environment.
• It refers to an education system that accommodates all children regardless of their physical, intellectual, social, emotional, linguistic, or other conditions.
• It is a process where diversity in a group with respect to any aspect is appreciated and in which everyone is recognized and respected for his/her worth.
• It is an effort to make sure that diverse learners – those with disabilities, different languages and cultures, different homes and family lives, different interests and ways of learning - are taught using teaching-learning strategies adapted to individual learning needs.
• It is a process that allows every individual to feel accepted, valued, and safe. An inclusive community consciously evolves to meet the changing needs of its members.

Therefore, we can conclude that the rationale behind inclusive education is that society is heterogeneous and schools need to be inclusive to cater to heterogeneous society.

Creativity refers to a cognitive ability to produce something original by offering a fresh perspective. Creativity is goal-directed thinking which is unusual, novel, and useful. Creativity is considered as the ability to produce something original or to find the solution to a problem by themselves.

Creative children have the ability to create or produce something. They have the ability to solve problems or tasks in a creative way by means of generating many original ideas.

Signs of Creativity:

• High levels of creativity and the ability to create original and imaginative ideas
• A heightened sense of awareness
• Good skills in problem-solving
• Curious and impulsive nature
• Fast learners with good memories
• Innovators and good problem solvers
• Fluency of ideas

NOTE: Giving objective type tests, intelligence tests, and observing how the child interacts with peers in team tasks, are not effective ways to identify a creative child by the teacher.

Hence, it becomes clear that detailed observation of the child especially when she solves problems would be the most effective way to identify a creative child by the teacher.

The term 'underprivileged' refers to the disadvantaged section of people who are economically, socially, and vocationally in an unfavorable situation compared to the rest of the population of the society. 

• The disadvantaged section/background refers to not just low income, but also encompasses lower educational achievement, poverty, poor health, financial insecurity, etc.

Key Points

A teacher can effectively respond to the needs of children from 'disadvantaged sections' of society by:

• reflecting on the school system and herself about various ways in which biases and stereotypes surface.
• relating their local knowledge with the classroom environment to make them feel comfortable and participate in learning.
• awaking the consciousness of students to take responsibility for their selves and develop a quest for personal improvement.
• understanding the mental conditions of disadvantaged children and by celebrating unity in diversity in school or classroom programs.
• valuing their cultural and linguistic knowledge as disadvantaged children lack good cognitive development, phonological awareness, etc.

Hence, it could be concluded that a teacher can effectively respond to the needs of children from 'disadvantaged sections' of society by reflecting on the school system and herself about various ways in which biases and stereotypes surface.

Additional Information

Characteristic of children belonging from Disadvantaged Sections:

• Poor academic performance, high drop-out rates
• Emotional Deprivation and lack of adequate nurturance
• Reading and other learning disabilities and adjustment problems
• They are not exposed to a wide variety of experiences and facilities
• They have separation anxiety and face difficulty in adjusting to society

Discrimination is an act of making a difference between human beings based on group, classes, colour and communities. In the context of school or classroom, it refers to the process of treating learners unfairly on the basis of their characteristics.

Here, many teachers use only the lecture method to teach is not an example of discrimination at upper primary level as Lecture method is an old & traditional method of teaching.

• This method is helpful in imparting a large amount of factual information within a short period.
• In the lecture method, the teacher is an active participant and the students are passive listeners.
• The class listens, writes, and notes facts and the ideas for remembering and to think them over later.
• The lecture method is a one-way method thus only relevant in concepts dealing with theoretical understanding.
• In practical implementation of concepts dealing with learning by doing, the lecture methods become inconsequential.

​Hence, it could be concluded that many teachers use only the lecture method to teach is not an example of discrimination at the upper primary level.

Learning Disability: It is a neurological disorder that affects the way one receives and processes information. It has nothing to do with the intelligence of an individual.

• Learning disabilities can be lifelong conditions that can affect one's experience at school, work, daily routine and social situations.
• A learning disability is not a problem with intelligence or motivation.

A few of the Learning Disabilities are:

Characteristics of a Child with Learning Disability: Children with learning disabilities experience difficulty in learning and using certain skills namely reading, writing, listening, and mathematics calculations. Children can also face difficulty in reading fluently and reversing words because of learning disabilities.

Hence, from the above-mentioned points, it becomes clear that difficulty in reading fluently and reversing words is a characteristic of a child with a learning disability.

Questioning refers to the most effective strategy to arise curiosity and inquisitiveness too. Asking questions makes the classroom's ambiance more interactive.

Key Points

In the class, questioning by students should be encouraged as it could enhance their cognitive competencies in the following ways:

• Questions take learning forward by interactions and lead to conceptual clarity.
• Questions inspire learners to look out for information that aligns with their pursuits and might consequently promote lifelong learning.
• Asking questions allows learners to link between various pieces of information which can assist them in structuring essays and debates.
• Questioning boosts their confidence-up, makes them able to put forth their views, and helps the children to make the best of their educational experiences.​

​Hence, it could be concluded that children should be encouraged to ask questions in the class as questions take learning forward by interactions and lead to conceptual clarity.

Assessment is a process of collecting, receiving, and using data for the purpose of improvement in the learning process. It is integral to the teaching-learning process which helps in facilitating student learning and improving instructions.

Assessment facilitates mapping different dimensions of a child’s development holistically to provide a more authentic picture to help the child, teacher, and hence the system.

Assessing conceptual change and students' alternative solutions through several different methods of assessment will be a suitable practice to bring out the best in students as it will help the teacher in:

• collecting relevant information on student learning.
• making reliable decisions about educational planning.
• determining the effectiveness of the learning process or program.
• promoting a learner-friendly environment to optimize student learning.
• assessing both scholastic and co-scholastic aspects of students' growth.
• laying emphasis on thought processes and de-emphasizing memorization.

Therefore, from the above-mentioned points, it is clear that assessing conceptual change and students' alternative solutions through several different methods of assessment will be a suitable practice to bring out the best in students.

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory of Learning:

• Vygotsky was a Russian psychologist who believed that social interactions play a key role in development. According to him, learning occurs when children interact with people and the environment.
• He explains this with the concept of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), which refers to a range of tasks that a child can achieve only with assistance from a more skilled adult or peer called the More Knowledgeable Other (MKO). Adult assistance is provided wherever necessary which is called Scaffolding.
• Vygotsky embedded in this theory, the concept of 'private speech' which is a kind of speech directed to self with no communicative function. Children use private speech to guide their actions by speaking themselves.

Scaffolding:

• It refers to a technique that provides the right kind of support in the right amount at the right time to increase a child’s competence.
• In other words, it is a means by which a child's 'zone width' (or potential for new learning) can be assessed. i.e. scaffolding helps with providing support to learners in their initial phase of learning, which is in the right amount and gradually decreases as the learner progresses.
• Scaffolding to a child would change depending on the level of the child's performance.
• As children are given assistance or shown how to perform certain tasks, they use this information as a guide on how to perform these tasks and eventually learn to perform them independently.
• Scaffolding helps a learner to move from a Zone of Actual Development to Zone of Proximal Development and finally reach to Zone of Desired Development, with the help of a more experienced person like peers, elders in the family, or teachers.

Hence, from the above-mentioned points, it becomes clear that amount and type of scaffolding to a child would change depending on the level of the child's performance.

Error: When a student can’t master a topic, he/she is vulnerable to make errors. Errors are nothing but incorrectness made by a student during learning. 

As an upper primary school mathematics teacher one should believe that students' errors provide insights into their thinking as student’s errors:

• are a significant step in the teaching-learning process.
• give insight into students' conceptual mistakes and basic knowledge.
• are considered as a part of the teaching-learning process as it helps to understand the child.
• help the teacher to be aware of learners' learning styles, to cater to them according to their needs.

Hence, it could be concluded that as an upper primary school mathematics teacher one should believe that students' errors provide insights into their thinking.

Reasons for errors and misconceptions:

• Lack of interest & knowledge
• Misunderstanding of concept
• Missing out on important points or steps
• Inability to grasp the central idea or concept
• Forgetting related previously assimilated knowledge​

Failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable aim and may be viewed as the opposite of success. There are many cognitive, physical, intellectual, scholastical, emotional, and cultural causes for the failure of students.

A child's failure is a reflection on the system and its inability to respond to the child as:

• children are like clay, the way the system mold them the shape they acquire.
• children fail because teaching is not done in a way that is meaningful to them
• every child has the potential to excel provided that they are given proper guidance.
• the school system does not take care of the needs and interests of every student.

Other Reasons for the Failure of Students in Schools are:

• lack of adequate practice
• Teaching through incorrect teaching methods
• Non-coordination between teaching and learning
• Not being compatible with the school environment

Hence, it becomes clear that a child's failure is a reflection on the system and its inability to respond to the child.

The correct answer is option 1 i.e Size.

A map is a representation or a drawing of the earth’s surface or a part of it drawn on a flat surface according to a scale. There are three Components of Maps – distance, direction, and symbol.

Distance:

• Maps are drawn to reduced scales.
• But this reduction is done very carefully so that the distance between the places is real.
• Therefore, a scale is chosen for this purpose which is the ratio between the actual distance on the ground and the distance shown on the map.
• When a large distance is shown in the map it is called a small scale map and vise versa.

Direction:

• Most maps contain an arrow marked with the letter ‘N’ at the upper right-hand corner.
• This arrow shows the north direction. It is called the north line.
• When the user knows the north, he/she can find out other directions, for example east, west and south.
• There are four major directions, North, South, East, and West They are called cardinal points.
• The other four intermediate directions are north-east (NE), southeast(SE), south-west (SW), and north-west (NW).

Symbol:

• It is the third important component of a map.
• It is not possible to draw on a map the actual shape and size of different features such as buildings, roads, bridges, trees, railway lines, or a well.
• So, they are shown by using certain letters, shades, colors, pictures, and lines.
• With the use of these symbols, maps can be drawn easily and are simple to read.
• There is an international agreement regarding the use of these symbols.
• These are called conventional symbols. Some of the conventional symbols.

The correct answer is 23.5 degrees.

• The tilt of the Earth or the Axial Inclination is about 23.49 Degree i.e the Earth's Axis from North to South leans with the plane of its orbit, the Ecliptic around the Sun, and always points in the same direction.

Key Points

• In other words, the North Pole of the Earth makes an angle of about 66.5 degrees to the orbital plane around the Sun.
• Some assume our planet’s changing distance from the sun causes the change in the seasons.
• That’s logical, but not the case for Earth. Instead, Earth has seasons because our planet’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees relative to our orbital plane – the plane of Earth’s orbit around the sun.
• The tilt in the axis of the Earth is called its obliquity by scientists.

Additional Information

• This Fundamental and Unique arrangement makes it possible for unequal distribution of light and heat from the Sun and every part of the surface of the Earth gets the sunrays, more or less throughout the year.
• Our seasons change due to our planet’s angle of tilt – 23.5 degrees – relative to our orbit around the sun.
• If Earth did not tilt at all but instead orbited exactly upright with respect to our orbit around the sun, there would be minor variations in temperature throughout each year as Earth moved slightly closer to the sun and then slightly farther away.
• And there would be temperature differences from Earth’s equatorial region to the poles.
• But, without Earth’s tilt, we’d lack Earth’s wonderful seasonal changes and our association of them with the various times of the year.

A three-tier structure of the Indian administration for rural development is called Panchayati Raj. The aim of the Panchayati Raj is to develop local self-governments in districts, zones and villages.

Important Points

• There are three levels in the Panchayati Raj which are as follows:
• Gram Panchayat or Village Level Panchayat
• Panchayat Samiti or Janpad Panchayat or Block Level Panchayat
• Zila Parishad or District Level Panchayat
• Janpad panchayat - 
• ​This is the local government body at the tehsil or taluka or block level.
• All the villages under a tehsil (block) form the Development Block.
• The Block Panchayat works as a link between the Gram Panchayat and the Zila Parishad.

Thus, we can conclude that the 'Janpad Panchayat' has many Gram Panchayats under it.

Additional Information

The Zila Parishad makes the top tier of the Panchayati Raj system.

• It is headed by an officer from the IAS (Indian Administrative Service) cadre.
• Its function is to look after the working of all the Panchayat Samiti and Gram Panchayats under the district.
• It also executes various welfare programmes in the district.

Advertisements aim to induce consumers into buying a particular product or service. It helps in creating brands or an image of a product.

Important Points

Social advertising is the use of advertising to inform the public about a social issue or to influence their behaviour.

• While social advertising campaigns are often successful in raising awareness, they are typically unsuccessful in producing long-term behaviour change of the type that can be achieved through the use of social marketing.
• Social advertising may, however, form a part of a social marketing intervention.
• Social advertising makes people understand what the government does. [can be both central and state govt]
• Social advertising is advertising that relies on social information or networks in generating, targeting, and delivering marketing communications.
• Many current examples of social advertising use a particular Interpretation service to collect social information, establish and maintain relationships with consumers, and for delivering communications.
• For example, the advertising platforms provided by Google, Twitter, and Facebook involve targeting and presenting ads based on relationships articulated on those same services.
• Social advertising can be part of a broader social media marketing strategy designed to connect with consumers.

From the above, it is clear that statement A is true and Statement B is false.

The correct answer is option 3, i.e Andhra Pradesh.

Important Points

Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile, produced in Isfahan and Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

• Only natural dyes are used in Kalamkari and it involves twenty-three steps.
• There are two distinctive styles of kalamkari art in India - Srikalahasti style and the Machilipatnam style.
• The Srikalahasti style of Kalamkari(Kalankari), wherein the "kalam" or pen is used for freehand drawing of the subject and filling in the colours, is entirely hand worked.
• This style flowered around temples and their patronage and so had an almost religious identity - scrolls, temple hangings, chariot banners and the like, depicted deities and scenes taken from the Hindu epics - Ramayana, Mahabharata, Purana and the mythological classics.
• This style owes its present status to Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay who popularized the art as the first Chairperson of the All India Handicrafts Board.

The correct answer is All of the above.

Important Points

Tribes of Uttarakhand mainly comprise five major groups namely Jaunsari tribe, Tharu tribe, Raji tribe, Buksa tribe, and Bhotiyas.

• In terms of population, the Tharu tribe is the largest tribal group in the state.
• Tribes of Uttarakhand represent the ethnic groups residing in the state.
• Every district of Uttarakhand has more or less a moderate percentage of the tribal population.
• In the state of Uttarakhand, the main concentration of the tribal population is in rural areas.
• As per records, around 94.50 per cent of the total tribal population resides in rural areas and the remaining percentage of the tribal population lives in urban centres.
• These tribes of Uttarakhand have been scheduled in the Constitution of India.

Additional Information

• Historical records suggest that the tribes of Uttarakhand are the earliest settlers of this region of North India.
• In the past, their main concentrations were confined to remote hilly and forested areas.
• The tribes of Uttarakhand have retained their age-old traditional ways of living.
• They represent the distinctive culture and traits of primitive life.
• Their traditional norms and socio-cultural practices determine their ethnicity.
• Officially Uttarakhand is home to as many as five tribes that have been scheduled in the Constitution of India, more than four decades back in 1967.

Techniques of making silk were first invented in China around 7000 years ago.

• While the methods remained a closely guarded secret for thousands of years, some people from China who went to distant lands on foot, horseback, and on camels, carried silk with them.
• The paths they followed came to be known as the Silk Route.

Important Points

Kushanas:

• ​The best-known of the rulers who controlled the Silk Route was the Kushanas, who ruled over central Asia and north-west India around 2000 years ago.
• Their two major centres of power were Peshawar and Mathura. Taxila was also included in their kingdom.
• During their rule, a branch of the Silk Route extended from Central Asia down to the seaports at the mouth of the river Indus, from where silk was shipped westwards to the Roman Empire.

Thus, it is clear that Kushanas was best known for controlling the 'Silk Route' around 2000 years ago.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e have their independent armed forces, not get protection by the Company, but still pay towards its maintenance.

Important Points

The Subsidiary Alliance System :

• It was a “Non-Intervention Policy” used by Lord Wellesley who was the Governor-General (1798-1805) to establish the British Empire in India.
• According to this system, every ruler in India had to accept to pay a subsidy to the British for the maintenance of the British army.
• In a subsidiary alliance, princely rulers were not allowed to make any negotiations and treaties with any other ruler.
• They were also not allowed to have an independent armed force.
• They were to be protected by the East India Company but had to pay for the subsidiary forces that the company was to maintain for protection. If Indian rulers failed to make the payment, part of their territory was taken away as a penalty.
• For example, the Nawab (ruler) of Awadh was forced to give over half of his territory to the company in 1801, the reason provided by the British officer was Maladministration. Hyderabad was also forced to cede territories on similar grounds.

Thus, it is clear that option 1 is correct.

Additional Information

Terms

• An Indian ruler entering into a subsidiary alliance with the British would accept British forces within his territory and to pay for their maintenance.
• The ruler would accept a British official (resident) in his state.
• The ruler who entered into a subsidiary alliance would not join any alliance with any other power or declare war against any power without the permission of the British.
• The ruler would dismiss any Europeans other than the British and avoid employing new ones.
• The ruler would let the British rule in any conflict with any other state.
• The ruler would acknowledge the East India Company as the paramount power in India.
• The ruler would have his state be protected by the Company from external dangers and internal disorders.
• If the rulers failed to make the payments that were required by the alliance, part of their territory would be taken away as a penalty.

Option 1 is not correct, i.e The Ahom state was divided into clans called Paiks.

Important Points

Ahoms:

• The Ahom kingdom was a late medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam.
• It is well known for maintaining its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisted Mughal expansion in Northeast India.
• Established by Sukaphaa, a Tai prince from Mong Mao, it began as mong in the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra based on wet-rice agriculture.
• It expanded suddenly under Suhungmung in the 16^th century and became multi-ethnic in character, casting a profound effect on the political and social life of the entire Brahmaputra valley.
• The kingdom became weaker with the rise of the Moamoria rebellion and subsequently fell to repeated Burmese invasions of Assam.
• With the defeat of the Burmese after the First Anglo-Burmese War and the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826, control of the kingdom passed into the hands of East India Company.
• Paik officials- 
• The Ahom kingdom was dependent on the Paik system, a form of corvee labour, reorganized in 1608 by Momai Tamuli Barbarua. Every common subject was a paik, and four paiks formed a got.
• At any time of the year, one of the paiks in the got rendered direct service to the king, as the others in his got tended to his fields.
• The Paik system was administered by the Paik officials: Bora was in charge of 20 paiks, a Saikia of 100, and a Hazarika of 1000.
• A Rajkhowa commanded three thousand and a Phukan commanded six thousand paiks.
• Lesser governors were called Rajkhowas, and some of them were:
• Bacha
• Darrang
• Solaguri
• Abhaypur
• The dependent kings or vassals were also called Raja. Except for the Raja of Rani, all paid an annual tribute. These Rajas were required to meet the needs for resources and paiks when the need arose, as during the time of war.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e writing of a saint's biography.

Important Points

Hagiography is a biography of a saint or religious leader.

• It often praises the saint’s achievements, and may not always be literally accurate.
• They are important because they tell us about the beliefs of the followers of that particular tradition of a clan.
• Hagiographic works, especially those of the Middle Ages, can incorporate a record of institutional and local history, and evidence of popular cults, customs, and traditions.
• However, when referring to modern, non-ecclesiastical works, the term hagiography is often used as a pejorative reference to biographies and histories whose authors are perceived to be uncritical of or reverential toward their subject.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e Savanna.

GRASSLANDS - 

• Tropical grasslands: These occur on either side of the equator and extend to the tropics.
• This vegetation grows in areas of moderate to low amount of rainfall.
• The grass can grow very tall, about 3 to 4 meters in height. Savannah grasslands of Africa are of this type.
• Elephants, zebras, giraffes, deer, leopards are common in tropical grasslands.
• Grasslands are known by different names in different regions.

Tropical Grasslands

• East Africa- Savanna
• Brazil- Campos
• Venezuela- Llanos

Temperate Grasslands

• Argentina- Pampas
• N. America- Prairie
• S. Africa- Veld
• C. Asia- Steppe
• Australia- Down

Overview

• Agricultural Development refers to efforts made to increase farm production in order to meet the growing demand of the increasing population.
• The ultimate aim of agricultural development is to increase food security.
• Food security means availability, accessibility, and affordability of food to all people at all times.
• Poor households are more vulnerable to food insecurity whenever there is a problem with the production or distribution of food crops.
• Food security depends on the Public Distribution System (PDS) and government vigilance and action at times, when this security is threatened.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e Both A and B are true.

What is food security?

• Food is as essential for living as air is for breathing.
• But food security means something more than getting two square meals.
• Food security has the following dimensions:
• availability of food means food production within the country, food imports, and the previous years' stock stored in government granaries.
• accessibility means food is within reach of every person.
• affordability implies that an individual has enough money to buy sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet one's dietary needs.

Thus, food security is ensured in a country only if

• enough food is available for all the persons
• all persons have the capacity to buy food of acceptable quality and
• there is no barrier to access to food.

The correct answer is firewood.

Fossil fuels:

• Fossil fuels were formed from the dead remains of living organisms millions of years ago
• Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are fossil fuels. 
• These were formed from the dead remains of living organisms (fossils).
• So, these are all known as fossil fuels.

Coal is one of the fuels used to cook food.

• Earlier, it was used in railway engines to produce steam to run the engine.
• It is also used in thermal power plants to produce electricity. Coal is also used as fuel in various industries.

Petroleum was formed from organisms living in the sea.

• As these organisms died, their bodies settled at the bottom of the sea and got covered with layers of sand and clay.
• Over millions of years, the absence of air, high temperature, and high pressure transformed the dead organisms into petroleum and natural gas.
• A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.

​Natural Gas: 

• Composed mostly of methane, natural gas is generally considered either conventional or unconventional, depending on where it’s found underground.
• Conventional natural gas is located in porous and permeable rock beds or mixed into oil reservoirs and can be accessed via standard drilling.

Unlike coal or crude oil, wood does not remain of a prehistoric organism, and therefore it is not fossil fuel - it's just fuel.

The term Tsunami has been derived from the Japanese term Tsu meaning 'harbor' and nami meaning 'waves'.

• Tsunamis are popularly called tidal waves but they actually have nothing to do with the tides.
• These waves which often affect distant shores originate by rapid displacement of water from the lake or the sea either by seismic activity, landslides, volcanic eruptions, or large meteoroid impacts.
• Seawater is displaced with a violent motion and swells up, ultimately surging overland with great destructive power.
• The effects of a tsunami can be unnoticeable or even destructive.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e Tsunami.

1. Volcanoes are openings or vents where lava, tephra (small rocks), and steam erupt onto the Earth's surface.
2. Tides are very long-period waves that move through the oceans response in  to the forces exerted by the moon and sun.
3. An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves.

The Earth is divided into four main layers: the solid crust on the outside, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core.

The Core -

• The earthquake wave velocities helped in understanding the existence of the core of the earth.
• The core-mantle boundary is located at the depth of 2,900 km.
• The outer core is in a liquid state while the inner core is in a solid state**.**
• The density of material at the mantle core boundary is around 5 g/cm³ and at the centre of the earth at 6,300 km, the density value is approximately 13g/cm³.
• The core is made up of very heavy material mainly constituted by nickel and iron.
• It is sometimes referred to as the nife layer.

The correct answer is option 4, i.e Nickel and Iron.

The correct answer is option 4, i.e Flood plain.

Key Points

Floodplains - 

• Deposition develops a floodplain and erosion makes the valley.
• Floodplain is a major landform of river deposition.
• Large-sized materials are deposited first when the stream channel breaks into a gentle slope.
• Thus, normally, fine-sized materials like sand, silt, and clay are carried by relatively slow-moving waters in gentler channels usually found in the plains and deposited over the bed when the waters spill over the banks during flooding above the bed.
• A river bed made of river deposits is an active floodplain.
• The floodplain above the bank is an inactive floodplain.
• Inactive floodplain above the banks basically contains two types of deposits
• flood deposits and
• channel deposits.
• In plains, channels shift laterally and change their courses occasionally leaving cut-off courses that get filled up gradually.
• Such areas over flood plains built up by abandoned or cut-off channels contain coarse deposits.
• The flood deposits of spilled waters carry relatively finer materials like silt and clay. The floodplains in a delta are called delta plains.

Additional Information

Meander:

• Meander loops develop over original gentle surfaces in the initial stages of development of streams and the same loops get entrenched into the rocks normally due to erosion or slow, continued uplift of the land over which they start.
• Streams meander move freely over vast floodplains showing natural levees, oxbow lakes, etc.
• Divides are broad and flat with lakes, swamps, and marshes Waterfalls and rapids may exist where local hard rock bodies are exposed.

The correct answer is option 4, i.e Over 5.0.

The Richter scale - 

• It was developed in the 1930s and is most effective for large-scale earthquakes that are of moderate intensity.
• The Richter scale is a base-10 logarithmic scale, meaning that each order of magnitude is 10 times more intensive than the last one. In other words, a two is 10 times more intense than a one and a three is 100 times greater.
• In the case of the Richter scale, the increase is in wave amplitude. That is, the wave amplitude in a level 6 earthquake is 10 times greater than in a level 5 earthquake, and the amplitude increases 100 times between a level 7 earthquake and a level 9 earthquake. The amount of energy released increases 31.7 times between whole number values.
• The Richter scale measures the maximum amplitude of seismic waves as they reach seismographs.
• This scale is expressed with a logarithmic scale.
• Thus, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale would be 10 times larger than an earthquake that measures 6.0.
• Very large earthquakes that measure more than 7.0 on the Richter scale often cannot be measured precisely using this method because the energy released has a lower frequency but a broader range of power.
• For this reason, scientists now utilize more precise and advanced measurement methods.

Earthquakes below a 2.0 on the Richter scale can barely be felt. Those earthquakes over 5.0 may cause things to fall. And all those above 7 on the Richter scale are considered as major earthquakes.

Important Points

​Intensity: 

• Intensity measures the strength of shaking produced by the earthquake at a certain location.
• The intensity measured by the Modified Mercalli scale is assigned numbers between I and XII based on the amount of damage and reports received from eyewitnesses.
• At level I, vibrations are extremely minor, possibly felt by only a few people.
• Level II involves vibrations on the upper floors of buildings with suspended objects swinging slightly.
• At level V, everyone feels vibrations. Objects fall off shelves and are overturned.
• Level VIII involves significant damage to even strong and well-designed structures.
• Brick buildings are often destroyed, and heavy objects become overturned.
• At the highest XII level, most structures are destroyed and objects become airborne.

The correct answer is option 2, i.e Oil Painting.

Important Points

• European artists brought with them the idea of realism.
• This was a belief that artists had to observe carefully and depict faithfully what the eye saw.
• What the artist produced was expected to look real and lifelike.
• European artists also brought with them the technique of oil painting – a technique with which Indian artists were not very familiar.
• Oil painting enabled artists to produce images that looked real.

Additional Information

• Thomas Daniell and his nephew William Daniell were the most famous of the artists who painted within this tradition.
• They came to India in 1785 and stayed for seven years, journeying from Calcutta to northern and southern India.
• They produced some of the most evocative picturesque landscapes of Britain’s newly conquered territories in India.
• Their large oil paintings on canvas were regularly exhibited to select audiences in Britain, and their albums of engravings were eagerly bought up by a British public keen to know about Britain’s empire.
• Often, middle-class Indian artists set up printing presses and produced prints for a wide market.
• They were trained in British art schools in new methods of life study, oil painting, and printmaking.
• One of the most successful of these presses that were set up in late-nineteenth-century Calcutta was the Calcutta art studio.
• Ravi Varma belonged to the family of the Maharajas of Travancore in Kerala and was addressed as Raja.
• He mastered the Western art of oil painting and real-life study but painted themes from Indian mythology.
• He dramatized on canvas, scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, drawing on the theatrical performances of mythological stories that he witnessed during his tour of the Bombay Presidency.

The correct answer is option 2, i.e associations of craftspersons and merchants.

Important Points

Crafts and craftspersons - ​

• The manufacture of cloth was important. There were famous centres such as Varanasi in the north, and Madurai in the south.
• Both men and women worked in these centres.
• Many craftspersons and merchants now formed associations known as shrenis.
• These shrenis of craftsperson provided training.
• Procured raw material, and distributed the finished product.
• The shrenis of merchants organised the trade.
• Shrenis also served as banks, where rich men and women deposited money.
• This was invested, and part of the interest was returned or used to support religious institutions such as monasteries.

The correct answer is 1, i.e Both A and B are true.

Important Points

There are several ways of finding out about the past.

• One is to search for and read books that were written long ago.
• These are called manuscripts because they were written by hand (this comes from the Latin word ‘manu’, meaning hand).
• These were usually written on palm leaves, or on the specially prepared bark of a tree known as the birch, which grows in the Himalayas.
• Over the years, many manuscripts were eaten away by insects, some were destroyed.
• The palm leaves were cut into pages and tied together to make books.
• A birch bark manuscript has survived, often preserved in temples and monasteries.
• These books dealt with all kinds of subjects: religious beliefs and practices, the lives of kings, medicine, and science.
• Inscriptions.
• These are writings on relatively hard surfaces such as stone or metal. Sometimes, kings got their orders inscribed so that people could see, read, and obey them.
• There are other kinds of inscriptions as well, where men and women (including kings and queens) recorded what they did.
• For example, kings often kept records of victories in battles.

Thus, both statements A and B are true.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e Persian.

Important Points

The language of administration under the Delhi Sultans was Persian.

• We can say this because much literature of that time was written in Persian language.
• ​The Delhi Sultanate literature began with the rise of Persian speaking people to the throne of the Sultanate of Delhi, naturally resulted in the spread of the Persian language in India.
• It was the official language and soon literary works in the language began to appear.
• Initially, Persian literature talked about topics that were familiar to those from Persia.

Additional Information

• Gradually however as more Indians learnt the language, the literary works began to have a more Indian theme.
• Amir Khusrau was a noted writer of the period, who was one of the first writers to write Persian literature about events concerning India.
• His inspiration came from events he saw around, his work soon grew to be appreciated and he became a court poet

Buddhism as a religion and philosophy encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices largely based on the teachings of Buddha.

Important Points

Bodhisattvas.

• These were supposed to be persons who had attained enlightenment.
• Once they attained enlightenment, they could live in complete isolation and meditate in peace. However, instead of doing that, they remained in the world to teach and help other people.
• The worship of Bodhisattvas became very popular and spread throughout Central Asia, China, and later to Korea and Japan.

Thus, the correct answer is option 1.

Additional Information

• Mahayana Buddhism:
• After the death of Buddha, a group evolved who believed that compassion for all humanity was an important part of the path, and that teaching is fully available to all.
• Those who followed the newly expanded ideals called themselves Mahayana meaning the big raft.
• In Mahayana Buddhism, all practicing Buddhists are apprentice Bodhisattvas.
• In Mahayana countries, images of the Buddha are set up in the temples and homes as an object of worship.
• Hinayana Buddhism:
• From about 100 years after the death of the Buddha, there had been a movement towards embracing the style of Buddhism.
• The early monks concentrated on personal enlightenment, seeking spiritual answers for themselves, and teaching others the way of enlightenment.
• But the information was severely limited to the lay community as it was assumed only minks could achieve Buddhahood.
• This section came to be known as Hinayana or also known as Theravada.
• Theravada means the way of elders.
• Milindapanha:
• The Milindapanha, or "Milinda's Questions," is an important early Buddhist text that usually is not included in the Pali Canon.
• Even so, the Milindapanha is cherished because it addresses many of Buddhism's most difficult doctrines with wit and clarity.
• The Milindapanha presents a dialogue between King Menander I (Milinda in Pali) and an enlightened Buddhist monk named Nagasena.
• Menander- I was an Indo-Greek king thought to have ruled from about 160 to 130 BCE.
• He was a king of Bactria, an ancient kingdom that took in what is now Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, plus a small part of Pakistan.

Option 1 is not correct, i.e They should be between 25 and 70 years of age.

Important Points

• The following qualifications were necessary to become a member of a committee of the sabha in the Chola empire:
• One should be the owner of the land from which land revenue is collected.
• One should have his own home.
• One should be aged between 35 years to 70 years of age.

Additional Information

 Inscriptions and texts

• The working of a sabha according to the Uttaramerur inscription:
• All those who wish to become members of the sabha should be owners of the land from which land revenue is collected.
• They should have their own homes.
• They should be between 35 and 70 years of age.
• They should have knowledge of the Vedas.
• They should be well-versed in administrative matters and honest.
• If anyone has been a member of any committee in the last three years, he cannot become a member of another committee.
• Anyone who has not submitted his accounts, as well as those of his relatives, cannot contest the election.

The correct answer is option 3, i.e it curbed Fundamental Rights like Freedom of expression and strengthened police powers.

Important Points

Emboldened with this success, Gandhiji in 1919 decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919).

• This Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of the Indian members.
• It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.

Thus, we can say that it curbed Fundamental Rights like Freedom of expression and strengthened police powers.

Additional Information

• Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws, which would start with a hartal on 6 April.
• Rallies were organized in various cities, workers went on strike in railway workshops, and shops were closed down.
• Alarmed by the popular upsurge, and scared that lines of communication such as the railways and telegraph would be disrupted, the British administration decided to clamp down on nationalists.
• Local leaders were picked up from Amritsar, and Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi.

The correct answer is Arthashastra.

Important Points

Chanakya was an Indian teacher, philosopher, economist and royal advisor.

• He was also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta.
• He authored Indian political thoughts**, Arthashastra,** and kept his ideas in this book.
• It is an old Indian discourse on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy, written in Sanskrit.
• It had a wide influence on Sanskrit literature.
• Arthashastra entails the science (sastra) of wealth/earth/polity (artha). 'Artha' however is a bit wider and an all-embracing term with different meanings.
• In a simple way, 'Arthashastra' can be explained as 'science and art of politics and diplomacy'.
• This treatise is divided into 15 sections dealing with virtually every topic concerned with the running of a state, taxation, law, diplomacy, military strategy, economics, bureaucracy etc.
• The book is a masterwork that includes an array of topics like statecraft, politics, strategy, selection and training of employees, leadership skills, legal systems, accounting systems, taxation, fiscal policies, civil rules, internal and foreign trade etc.
• Arthashastra backs rational ethic to the conduct of the affairs of the state.
• The emphasis is on the systematisation of law and uniformity of law throughout the empire.

Thus, many of Chanakya's ideas were written in a book called the Arthashastra.

The correct answer is option 3, i.e the place where the image of the chief deity was installed.

Important Points

The basic form of the Hindu temple comprises the following:

• sanctum (garbhagriha literally ‘womb house), which was a small cubicle with a single entrance and grew into a larger chamber in time.
• The garbhagriha is made to house the main icon which is itself the focus of much ritual attention.
• the entrance to the temple which may be a portico or collonaded hall that incorporates space for a large number of worshippers and is known as a mandapa.
• freestanding temples tend to have a mountain-like spire, which can take the shape of a curving shikhar in North India and a pyramidal tower, called a vimana, in South India.
• the vahan, i.e., the mount or vehicle of the temple’s main deity along with a standard pillar or dhvaj is placed axially before the sanctum.

Thus, option 3 is correct.

The correct answer is option 4, i.e Prairies.

• THE PRAIRIES - 
• The temperate grasslands of North America are known as the Prairies.
• It is a region of flat, gently sloping or hilly land.
• For the most part, prairies are treeless but, near the low lying plains, flanking river valleys, woodlands can be found.
• Tallgrass, up to two metres high, dominates the landscape.
• It is actually a “sea of grass”.
• The prairies are bound by the Rocky Mountains in the West and the Great Lakes in the East.
• Prairies cover parts of the United States of America and parts of Canada.
• In the USA, the area is drained by the tributaries of Mississippi and the Canadian prairies are drained by the tributaries of Saskatchewan Rivers.
• The grasslands of Prairies were the home of native Americans often called “Red Indians”.
• They were the actual inhabitants of the continent.
• The Prairies were home of other tribes also like the Apache, the Crow, the Cree and the Pawnee.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e Pisciculture.

Pisciculture:

• Fishes are a valuable and easily accessible source of food, rich in protein, highly nutritious, and easily digestible.

• As aquatic animals, they are abundantly available from the sea, rivers, lakes, ponds, and marshes.

• Aquaculture is the production of useful aquatic plants and animals such as fishes, prawns, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, molluscs by the proper utilization of small and large bodies of water.

• Pisciculture is the production and breeding of fishes by men in ponds.

• Horticulture - the art or practice of garden cultivation and management.

• Sericulture - the production of silk and the rearing of silkworms for this purpose.

• Viticulture (from the Latin word for vine) or winegrowing, is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of horticulture.

The correct answer is option 2, i.e Arctic ocean and the pacific ocean.

A strait is a narrow passage of water that connects two large water bodies.

Bering Strait:

• Bering strait connects the Arctic Ocean with the Bering Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
• The narrow sea between the Bering strait connects the Arctic ocean and the East Pacific ocean near the countries of the USA (Alaska state) and Russia.
• In other terms, it can also be said that this strait connects Asia to America.
• It has been named after famous explorer Vitus Bering.
• The Bering Strait is a relatively shallow passage averaging 100 to 165 feet (30 to 50 meters) in depth.
• During the Ice Age, the sea level fell by several hundred feet, making the strait into a land bridge between the continents of Asia and North America, over which a considerable migration of plants and animals occurred.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e Direct rays of the Sun fall on the equator and at this position, none of the poles is tilted towards the Sun.

Equinox:

• On 21^st March and 23^rd September, direct rays of the sun fall on the equator.
• At this position, neither of the poles is tilted towards the sun; so, the whole earth experiences equal days and equal nights.
• This is called an equinox.
• On 23^rd September, it is autumn season in the Northern Hemisphere and spring season in the Southern Hemisphere.
• The opposite is the case on 21^st March when it is spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Thus, there are days and nights and changes in the seasons because of the rotation and revolution of the earth respectively.

Mistake Points

Social Science is a branch of Science that deals with human behavior and social relationships, which rely primarily on empirical approaches. It is about people and the societies in which they live.

Language is a means of communication and a storehouse of knowledge, it is an instrument of thinking as well as a source of delight. Language is very essential in the teaching process.

Important Points

Neutral and sensitive language should be used in Social Science teaching as the use of neutral and sensitive language will:

• banish gender bias language to be used in the classroom.
• ensure the successful inclusion of every category of children.
• significantly promote the sense of 'gender equality' in learners.
• make learners understand the importance of cohesion and unity.
• write-off the negative effect of gender differences from the classroom.

Hence, it could be concluded that neutral and sensitive language should be used in Social Science teaching.

NOTE: Remaining options are irrelevant in the context as they could lead to sense of insecurity, low self-esteem, and anxiety in learners.

Projects refer to a series of task that needs to be done by a group of students in order to achieve a particular goal. Projects are purpose-oriented and provide a rich experience to the pupils.

Projects on democratic institutions could be done to show that they can be analyzed to identify features and challenges as project is a discovery approach which focuses upon:

• emphasizing the active involvement of learners.
• promoting the use of critical and imaginative thinking.
• making learners apply theoretical knowledge practically and effectively.
• ensuring mutual corporation of group of peers to complete a specific project.
• enabling students to acquire knowledge by discovering the facts themselves.

Hence, it could be concluded that projects on democratic institutions could be done to show that they can be analyzed to identify features and challenges.

Assessment is a process of collecting, receiving, and using data for the purpose of improvement in the learning process. There are two main types of assessments which include 'summative' and 'formative' assessment.

Important Points

Summative assessment is inappropriate for monitoring the progress of the teaching-learning process as "Summative Assessment", commonly known as  "Assessment of Learning" is a type of assessment which:

• measures, certifies, and reports the level of students' learning by assessing them at the end of the term.
• produces an accurate description of student's potential and achievement to promote them to the next grades.
• summarises students' learning and measures success level that has been achieved at the end of the learning process.

Hence, it could be concluded that 'summative assessment' is inappropriate for monitoring the progress of the teaching-learning process.

Hint

• Formative assessment: It is a type of assessment which refers to monitor learners' progress throughout the teaching-learning process to diagnose learner's learning difficulties.

Teaching aids refer to the aids which are used by the teachers to facilitate meaningful learning. Diagrams, videos, maps, charts, etc are examples of common teaching aids.

• Diagrams are useful to clarify and elucidate the verbal description of an event of history or a geographical phenomenon or political strategy. It helps to simplify complex ideas and a good supplement to the narrative method.
• There are several kinds of diagrams used in teaching social science and 'Pie diagram' is one of them. Pie diagrams refer to a circular graph, divided into slices which are used to display data and information in an easy way.

Important Points

• Pie diagrams are useful for showing a particular amount in relation to the whole as:
• pie slices are proportional to the fraction of the whole in each category.
• pie slices are used to illustrate relative sizes of data or numerical proportions.
• pie slices are helpful to show a comparison between the most and least popular items.
• pie slices accurately showing how each item of data contributes to the complete picture.

Hence, it could be concluded that pie diagrams are useful for showing a particular amount in relation to the whole.

For example, The following pie chart gives information about the distribution of the population (in%) of India in different geographical zones.

In this pie diagram, we can see that the whole population is divided into different geographical slices showing a particular amount in relation to the whole.

History is a narrative account of the past. It is the story of changing human cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles and helps to build up a sense about what could happen in the future.

In NCERT, class VI history book, we can see that a young boy or a girl introduces the chapter. These children are from different geographical areas and each has a different set of questions. 

Important Points

Here the strategy has been adopted by the textbook makers to inculcate a spirit of inquiry and discovery in students as by seeing a young girl or boy, students will relate themselves to them and will be intrinsically motivated to:

• learn on their own.
• discover and explore.
• develop scientific temper.
• improve observation skills.
• apply theoretical knowledge.
• assimilate practical knowledge.

Hence, it could be concluded that the above-mentioned strategy has been adopted by the textbook makers to inculcate a spirit of inquiry and discovery in students.

In the above-mentioned situation, 'historical imagination' is being encouraged as here the teacher wants the pupils to imagine the reign of Alauddin Khilji or Muhammad bin Tughlaq and the conditions of peasants along with their inability to pay taxes.

Important Points

In history, letting the imagination dwell on the past allows students to get as close as possible to live in another age. It is also beneficial in:

• helping learners in building up a sense about what could happen in the future.
• encouraging learners to imagine living in the past and relate to the experiences.
• making learners understand historical diversity and continuous process of development.
• providing learners an opportunity to better understand the world by comparing it with the past.
• enabling students to compare and contrast different time periods and how changes take place with time.
• allowing pupils to link pieces of information into a logical picture and to understand its significance in a wider context.

Hence, it could be concluded that in the above question 'historical imagination' is being encouraged.

Social Science is a branch of Science that deals with human behavior and social relationships, which rely primarily on empirical approaches. It is about people and the societies in which they live.

• Social science is a harmonious blending of various subjects like geography, economics, history, etc. In other words, it draws inter-related information from various disciplines or subjects of study and integrates these meaningfully to give a new insight into the exact nature of social life.
• At the upper primary stage, Geography and Economics together can help in developing a perspective on issues of environment, resources, and development.

Key Points

Let's Understand in Brief:

• GEOGRAPHY
• provides relevant details regarding space/place where living things (including humans) live.
• provides information regarding the natural and physical resources needed for proper sustenance.
• ECONOMICS 
• helps students to understand the environmental cost of economic growth and development.
• provide insight regarding productive resources that are scarce and the basic need and wants of human beings.

Hence, it could be concluded that at the upper primary stage, Geography and Economics together can help in developing a perspective on issues of environment, resources, and development.

Evaluation refers to a process of making value judgments based on both qualitative and quantitative data collected over a period of time. CCE describes two different types of evaluation which include 'formative' and 'summative' evaluation.

Key Points

'Formative evaluation' is a type of evaluation which refers to monitor the child's progress throughout the teaching-learning process. Oral testing, anecdotal records, portfolios, class test, etc are the tools of formative evaluation.

Formative evaluation is conducted during the teaching-learning process as it emphasizes:

• identifying the learning difficulties of students during the instructional procedure.
• improving students' academic achievements and encouraging motivation levels.
• diagnosing and removing the learning difficulties of students with appropriate strategies.
• enhancing students' learning experiences and identifying deficiencies of the teaching process.

Hence, it could be concluded that formative evaluation is conducted during the teaching-learning process.

NOTE: Summative evaluation refers to a type of evaluation that measures, certifies, and reports the level of student learning by assessing them at the end of the session or unit.

Before directly jumping to the answers it would be helpful to be familiar with the terms first in the context of the classroom.

Key Points

Let's Understand in Brief:

• Biases: It refers to a tendency of differentiating learners on the basis of their ability and skills.
• Prejudice: It refers to an unreasonable opinion or negative attitude for a specific group of learners.
• Discrimination: It refers to the process of treating learners unfairly on the basis of their characteristics.

Important Points

Biases, discrimination, and prejudices in the classroom could be avoided by discussing different dimensions of social realities as it will make learners:

• understand the different aspects of society and life.
• assimilate lifelong learning skills through social interaction.
• respect other's perspectives, culture, religion, language, etc.
• realize that biases, discrimination, and prejudice are social evils.

Hence, it could be concluded that biases, discrimination, and prejudices in the classroom could be avoided by discussing different dimensions of social realities.

History is a narrative account of the past. It is the story of changing human cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles and helps to build up a sense about what could happen in the future.

Key Points

In the above-mentioned situation, ‘B’ should highlight the similarities and changes in different time periods as it will:

• help learners in building up a sense about what could happen in the future.
• encourage learners to imagine living in the past and relate to the experiences.
• make learners understand historical diversity and continuous process of development.
• provide learners an opportunity to better understand the world by comparing it with the past.
• enable students to compare and contrast different time periods and how changes take place with time.

Hence, it could be concluded that ‘B’ should highlight the similarities and changes in different time periods while teaching a lesson on the history of a region.

Evaluation refers to a continuous process of making value judgements based on both qualitative and quantitative data collected over a period of time. 

• Improving teaching-learning processes is one of the main purposes of evaluation as it focuses on determining the effectiveness of the learning process to make reliable decisions about educational planning.

Key PointsOther purposes of evaluation:

• To enhance learning through diagnostic and remedial teaching.
• To assess both scholastic and co-scholastic aspects of learning.
• To improve academic achievements and students' motivation level.
• To find and diagnose learner's diverse learning needs for effective learning.
• To evaluate learner's achievement to bring improvement for meaningful learning.

Hence, it could be concluded that the purpose of evaluation is 'to improve teaching-learning process'.

Films refer to the stories which are created by the combined impact of both images and sounds. Films are used as an audiovisual aid in the teaching-learning process.

• Historical films are fictional in nature that show past events within a historical period. It could be a biopic, epic drama, etc.
• Historical films are useful in social science teaching as they bring alive various dimensions of a specific social setting.

Important Points

Historical films bring the world into the classroom by:

• providing a comparative perspective of various cultures.
• maximizing learning with the help of the auditory and visual systems.
• giving students a chance to make connections to the historical era the movie takes place.
• offering students possibilities to expand their personal thoughts instead of memorizing facts.
• making students practice their higher-level thinking skills in discovering the ideas behind historical facts.
• providing students with a historical inquiry skill, by which they question, evaluate, and compare different interpretations of historical events. ​

Hence, it could be concluded that historical films are useful in Social Science teaching for bringing alive various dimensions of a specific social setting.

Social Science: It refers to a branch of Science that deals with human behaviour and social relationships, which rely primarily on empirical approaches.

Key Points

Social Science textbook: It refers to a tool to be used in the Social Science teaching process to facilitate effective learning. It organizes the subject matter in a meaningful and logical way.

An avenue for further enquiry should be the outlook towards Social Science textbooks as textbooks are the important pedagogical tool of teaching which:

• improve learner's ability of problem-solving and decision making.
• support children to construct knowledge through active participation.
• guide children to discover and explore new and innovative ideas actively.
• introduce concepts through contexts to ensure facilitation of contextual learning.
• make learning productive by working as a reliable and authentic source of learning.

Hence, it could be concluded that an avenue for further enquiry should be the outlook towards Social Science textbooks.

Additional Information

Other characteristics of Social Science textbooks:

• Comprehensible inputs.
• Adequate subject matter.
• Use of suitable language.
• Interesting and attractive.
• Age-appropriate materials.
• Inclusion of hands-on experiences.

The correct answer is option 4, i.e Madhya Pradesh.

Important Points  

• In 1994, the government gave the rights for fishing in the Tawa reservoir to private contractors.
• These contractors drove the local people away and got cheap labour from outside.
• The contractors began to threaten the villagers, who did not want to leave, by bringing in hoodlums.
• The villagers stood united and decided that it was time to set up an organisation and do something to protect their rights.
• The newly formed Tawa Matsya Sangh (TMS) organised rallies and a chakka jam (road blockade), demanding their right to continue fishing for their livelihood.
• In response to their protests, the government created a committee to assess the issue.
• The committee recommended that fishing rights be granted to the villagers for their livelihood.
• In 1996, the Madhya Pradesh government decided to give to the people displaced by the Tawa dam the fishing rights for the reservoir.
• A five-year lease agreement was signed two months later.
• On January 2, 1997, people from 33 villages of Tawa started the new year with the first catch.

Option 1 is not correct, i.e Confessions made in police custody can be used as evidence against the accused.

Important Points

Our Constitution guarantees certain rights to the arrested person.

• The first part of Article 22 provides specific rights to persons under punitive detention.
• Punitive detention is the detention of a person after trial and conviction to punish him for an offence committed by him.
• These rights are,
• The right to be informed of the grounds of arrest.
• The right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner.
• To be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest (excluding the holidays and time taken during the journey).
• Further, the period of detention cannot be beyond what is authorized by the magistrate.
• It may be noted that aforesaid safeguards are not available to:
• Alien enemies; and
• Persons arrested or detained under preventive detention law.

Thus, we can conclude that Confessions made in police custody can be used as evidence against the accused is not guaranteed under Article 22 of the Constitution.

The correct answer is elected by the people.

Important Points

• A Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is a representative, elected by the voters of an electoral district (constituency) to the legislature of the State government in the Indian system of government.
• From each constituency, the people elect one representative who then becomes a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
• Each state is divided into a specific number of Assembly constituencies.
• In this case, the elected representative is called the Member of Legislative Assembly or an MLA.
• Each Parliamentary constituency has several assembly constituencies.

Thus, we can conclude that the members of the Legislative Assembly are elected by the people.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e Power sharing between two or more political parties after elections when no party has been able to get a clear majority. 

Important Points

• A coalition government is a type of government where two or more political parties join together in parliament/ assembly to run the government and agree on a policy program.
• A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate.
• The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament.
• A coalition government might also be created in a time of national difficulty or crisis, for example during wartime, to give a government the high degree of perceived political legitimacy it desires and also playing a role in diminishing internal political strife.
• In such times, parties have formed all-party coalitions (national unity governments, grand coalitions).
• If a coalition collapses a confidence vote is held or a motion of no confidence is taken.
• A coalition government is oftentimes considered a very weak form of government because there is no majority party.

Social Science is a branch of Science that deals with human behavior and social relationships, which rely primarily on empirical approaches.

Key Points

At the upper primary stage, Social Science comprises of 'Geography', 'History', 'Political Science', and 'Economics' as the aims of teaching Social Science at upper primary level includes:

• encouraging the learners into a study of their own region, state and country in the global context.
• developing an understanding about the earth as the habitat of humankind and other forms of life.
• introducing the learner to the functioning and dynamics of social and political institutions and processes of the country.
• initiating the learner into a study of India's past, with references to contemporary developments in other parts of the world.

Hen ce, it could be concluded that at the upper primary stage, Social Science comprises of 'History', 'Economics', 'Geography', and 'Political Scienc e'.

Social Science: It refers to a branch of Science that deals with human behavior and social relationships, which rely primarily on empirical approaches. 

Key Points

Position paper: It is a detailed report that presents the author's opinion and attitude about a particular issue. It explains and examines the author's position on an issue through inductive reasoning.

NCF 2005 has published a position paper on the teaching of Social Science which emphasizes respecting different opinions and examining ideas and practices as Social Science is a subject which emphasizes upon: 

• enhancing visions and perspectives about society.
• studying human behaviour and making socially bonded person.
• drawing attention towards different people, cultures, and communities.
• developing an active, accountable, and reflective contributor of the society,
• respecting the diversity in cultural practices and assimilating norms of society.
• making children learn to respect differences of opinion, lifestyle, and cultural practices,
• appreciating values enshrined in the Indian constitution such as justice, liberty, equality, etc.​

Hence, it could be concluded that the position paper on teaching of Social Science emphasizes 'respecting different opinions and examining ideas and practices'.

• Social Science: It is a branch of Science that deals with human behavior and social relationships, which rely primarily on empirical approaches.
• Social Science Textbook: It is a tool to be used in the Social Science teaching-learning process to facilitate effective and meaningful learning.

Key Points

Maps and diagrams in a Social Science Textbook are relevant as they clarify concepts effectively.

Let's understand in brief:

Hence, it could be concluded that maps and diagrams in a Social Science Textbook are relevant as they clarify concepts effectively.

Case study refers to a research approach, commonly used in Social Science to investigate and analyze an individual, group, community, or phenomenon to explore the causes of basic principles.

Case study describes an individual's situation in detail. Then, it identifies the key issues of the case to analyze using relevant theoretical concepts. At last, recommend a course of action for that particular case

Key Points

A case study of a social movement given to a class for discussion should incorporate:

• background to the movement as it will help learners to analyze the movement in its real context.
• objective of the movement as it will make learners able to express their thoughts based on real objectives.
• problem areas of the movement as it will motivate learners to produce ideas to short out the problems immediately.

NOTE: Solution to the movement is correct in the context as it will just make learners aware of the solution which is not much important for discussion in comparison of other mentioned elements.

Hence, it could be concluded that a case study of a social movement given to a class for discussion need not incorporate solutions to the movement.

Resources refer to anything which can be used to satisfy a need. There are different kinds of resources which are basically classified into three groups including human resources, capital resources, and natural resources.

• Human Resources refer to the set of people who plays a vital role in contributing to productivity to maintain the economy of the country. It also makes other resources useful and convenient for the use of people.
• While teaching Human Resources to class VIII students, the teacher should like to promote the importance of people as human resources are the most important resources.
• It will help children to understand the importance of human resources in:
• policy-making and planning.​
• implementing laws and rules.
• promoting economic activities.
• taking immediate action regarding tasks.
• turning things into resources by skills and abilities.

Hence, it could be concluded that while teaching Human Resources to class VIII students, the importance of people as a resource should be promoted by the teacher.

Option 4 is not correct, i.e Gram Panchayat elects its Panchayat Secretary.

Important Points

• The 73^rd Constitutional Amendment act of 1992 institutionalised the Panchayati Raj system in India.
• The Gram Panchayat - 
• The Gram Panchayat meets regularly and one of its main tasks is to implement development programs for all villages that come under it.
• The work of the Gram Panchayat has to be approved by the Gram Sabha.
• In some states, Gram Sabhas form committees like construction and development committees.
• These committees include some members of the Gram Sabha and some from the Gram Panchayat who work together to carry out specific tasks.
• The work of a Gram Panchayat includes - 
• The construction and maintenance of water sources, roads, drainage, school buildings, and other common property resources.
• Levying and collecting local taxes.
• Executing government schemes related to generating employment in the village.
• The Secretary of the panchayat is a non-elected representative which is appointed by the state government, to oversee panchayat activities.

​Hence option 4 is not correct.

The correct answer is option 2, i.e Harassing a woman for dowry.

Important Points

• The case of the dowry death falls within the ‘crime against society’ and is a violation of criminal law.
• In addition to criminal law, the legal system also deals with civil law cases.

Option 2 is not correct, i.e The judicial system provides a mechanism for resolving disputes between citizens, between citizens and the government, but not between two State governments.

Important Points

• Judicial Review:
• As the final interpreter of the Constitution, the judiciary also has the power to strike down particular laws passed by the Parliament if it believes that these are a violation of the basic structure of the Constitution. This is called judicial review.
• Dispute Resolution:
• The judicial system provides a mechanism for resolving disputes between citizens, between citizens and the government, between two state governments and between the centre and state governments.

Additional Information

• Other branches of government – the legislature and the executive – cannot interfere in the work of the judiciary.
• The courts are not under the government and do not act on their behalf
• It is the independence of the judiciary that allows the courts to play a central role in ensuring that there is no misuse of power by the legislature and the executive. It also plays a crucial role in protecting the Fundamental Rights of citizens because anyone can approach the courts if they believe that their rights have been violated.

The correct answer is allows citizens to approach the court if they believe that any of their Fundamental Rights have been violated by the State.

• Article 32 of the Indian constitution confers the right to constitutional remedies. 
• It contains provisions of the right to move the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court shall have the power to issue directions or orders or writs for the enforcement of fundamental rights.
• High Courts are also entitled to enforce these provisions under Article 226.

Important Points

If rights are like guarantees, they are of no use if there is no one to honour them.

• The fundamental rights in the Constitution are important because they are enforceable.
• We have a right to seek the enforcement of fundamental rights.
• This is called the Right to Constitutional Remedies.
• This itself is a Fundamental Right.
• This right makes other rights effective.
• It is possible that sometimes our rights may be violated by fellow citizens, private bodies or by the government.
• When any of our rights are violated we can seek a remedy through courts.
• If it is a Fundamental Right we can directly approach the Supreme Court or the High Court of a state.
• That is why Dr Ambedkar called the Right to Constitutional Remedies, ‘the heart'.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e to demand equal rights and address racial discrimination for all African-American citizens.

• The civil Rights Movement in the USA (1954-1968) refers to a set of events and reform movements aimed at abolishing legal racial discrimination against African-Americans.
• Led by Martin Luther King Jr., this movement practised non-violent methods of civil disobedience against racially and discriminatory laws and practices.
• African-American, Afro-American, Black American or Black are the terms used to refer mainly to the descendants of Africans who were brought into America as slaves between the 17^th century and early 19^th century.
• The Black Power movement emerged in 1966 and lasted till 1975, which was a more militant anti-racist movement, advocating even violence if necessary to end racism in the US.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e In matters dealing with finances, the government does not require Parliament's approval.

Important Points

Apart from lawmaking, the Parliament is engaged in many other functions.

• Financial Function:
• The government is spending a lot of money on various matters.
• Every government raises resources through taxation.
• However, in a democracy, the legislature controls taxation and the way in which money is used by the government.
• If the Government of India proposes to introduce any new tax, it has to get the approval of the Parliament.
• The financial powers of the Parliament involve the grant of resources to the government to implement its programmes.
• The government has to give an account to the legislature about the money it has spent and the resources that it wishes to raise.
• The legislature also ensures that the government does not misspend or overspend.
• This is done through the budget and annual financial statements.

Additional Information

• The first slot of the parliamentary sitting is slotted for the Question Hour. 
• ​During this time, the member asks questions and the minister usually gives answers.
• The questions are of three kinds: starred, unstarred and short notice.
• The parliament of India consists of three parts: President, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• The parliament is the representative of the people and has immense power to make laws.

Social Science is a branch of Science that deals with human behaviour and social relationships, which rely primarily on empirical approaches.

Key Points

While teaching Social Science, a teacher must attempt to focus upon facts, values and patterns as teaching of Social Science focuses upon making student:

• assimilate norms, beliefs, cultures and values of society.
• knowledgeable about culture, civilization and social behaviour.
• grow up better to become responsible and socially bonded citizen.
• understand the society and respect the diversity in cultural practices.
• develop an awareness of connections between all elements that shape society.

Hence, it could be concluded that while teaching Social Science, a teacher must attempt to focus upon facts, values and patterns.

Textbook refers to a tool to be used in the teaching process to facilitate effective learning. It organizes the subject matter in a meaningful and logical way. It offers a balanced, chronological presentation of information. In textbooks layout of each lesson is carefully spelled out in detail. It offers prepared units of work and provides all the plans and lessons that a teacher needs to cover.

Key Points

In the above-mentioned situation, the teacher should provide a variety of supplementary materials as supplementary materials are the instructional materials which:

• enables learners to understand or assimilate information from a given text.
• makes learning easy by providing additional information related to the concept.
• intensifies the process of education and also increases motivation and activity of pupils.
• helps teachers in making presentation concrete, effective, interesting, meaningful, and inspirational.

Hence, it could be concluded that if the prescribed Social Science textbook is difficult for the students the teacher should provide a variety of supplementary materials.

• The teacher should avoid dictating the summary of each lesson because it won't allow for a deeper understanding of a subject. Moreover, it won't connect new knowledge with previous knowledge.
• The teacher should avoid using the question-answer technique because students will not be able to answer correctly as they won't understand the difficult concept of the Social Science textbook.

The correct answer is option 3.

Explanation-

• It is mentioned that "And the children, the little children of the Indian villages, how they tore my heart; thin, big-bellied, and all with huge dark eyes! I wondered that any Englishman could look at them and not excuse himself. Three hundred years of English occupation and rule, and could there be children like this? yes, and millions of them!"
• Clearly, it explains the poor condition of children in villages due to lack of food.

The correct answer is option 1.

Explanation-

• It is mentioned that "**The town and cities were frothing with unhappy young men, cultured and well educated, who could find no jobs and were not allowed by the old super-structure of the empire to create them."
• Clearly, no other option is correct.

The correct answer is option 2.

Explanation-

• It is mentioned that *"*The town and cities were frothing with unhappy young men, cultured and well educated, who could find no jobs and were not allowed by the old super-structure of the empire to create them."
• Clearly, all other options except option 2 highlight the situation in the cities.

The correct answer is option 1.

Explanation-

• It is mentioned that "Only the Russian peasant I had seen years before could compare with the Indian villager, although that Russian was a very different creature and inferior in many ways."
• Clearly, option 1 is the most appropriate answer.