Social Studies PYQs

The correct answer is ​Brazillian current

Key Points

Brazilian Current

• The Brazil Current is a warm water current that flows south along the Brazilian south coast to the mouth of the Río de la Plata.
• The Brazil Current is a weak western boundary current carrying warm subtropical water, which runs south along the coast of Brazil from about 9°S to about 38°S and is generally confined to the upper 600m of the water column.
• The Brazil Current transports warm subtropical water (SST values of 22º to 28ºC, yellow to orange colors) southward, while the Malvinas/Falkland Current transports cold Antarctic water (SST values of 6º to 12ºC, cyan to dark blue colors) northward.
• These two ocean currents are seen to converge several hundred kilometers off the coast of Argentina — the exact location of this Brazil/Malvinas convergence zone changes with the seasons.

Hence, Brazil currently has a warming influence on the neighboring coast.

​

Additional Information

Drakensberg mountain is located in South Africa.

• It is the highest mountain range in South Africa.
• It accounts for 3,482 meters above sea level.
• Its length is about 1,000km from South-West to North-East.
• The lower layer of the mountain range consists of sandstone.
• A thick layer of basalt is found over the range.
• The climate of the region is wet and cool at a high elevation.

In our solar system, all the planets have natural satellites except Mercury and Venus.

Key Points

• Venus and the planet Mercury are the only two planets that don't have a single natural moon orbiting them.
• Mercury is the first planet from the sun in the solar system as well as the smallest planet among the eight planets.
• Named after the Roman god Mercury, the planet also has the shortest orbital period around the sun due to its closeness to the sun.
• As stated earlier, the planet does not have any known natural satellites.
• Just like Mercury, Venus also does not have any known natural satellites.
• Venus is the second innermost planet from the sun in the solar system.
• The planet has an orbital period of about 243 days although its orbital direction is unlike most of the other planets.

Hence, the correct answer is Mercury.

Important Points

• Satellite 
• A satellite is an object that moves around a larger object. But usually, when someone says satellite, they are talking about a man-made satellite.
• Man-made satellites are machines made by people. These machines are launched into space and orbit Earth or another body in space. Ex - Moon, sputnik -1, etc.
• Natural Satellite
• A natural satellite is an object that orbits a planet or other body larger than itself and which is not man-made. Ex- Earth has a moon as a natural satellite.

Additional Information 

This is the chart of the planet with their natural satellite number-

Key Points

• Silvasa is the capital of Dadar and Nagar Haveli
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a union territory of India.
• It is the economic center of the region, which is predominantly agricultural and produces rice, pulses (legumes), and fruit crops.

Additional Information

• Kavaratti is the capital of Lakshadweep,
• Pondicherry is the capital of Puducherry.
• Itanagar is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh

The correct answer is Black Soil.

Key Points

Black Soil.

• Black Soil or Regur Soil, found extensively over the Deccan Plateau which includes parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Tamilnadu is ideal for cotton cultivation.
• It requires little irrigation as it has a high water-retaining capacity.
• It swells and becomes sticky when wet and shrinks when dry. Self-plowing is a characteristic of the black soil as it develops wide cracks when dried.

Additional information

 Soil.

• It develops on crystalline igneous rocks.
• It founds in the area of low rainfall such as in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan Plateau
• This has a reddish colour due to a wide diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
• It is suitable for crops like wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, and pulses.

 Laterite Soil.

• It developed in areas with high temperatures and high rainfall.
• Due to high rainfall, lime and silica leached away, and iron oxide and aluminium are left behind.
• As it lacks organic matters, nitrogen, phosphate, and calcium it is not suitable for cultivation but applications of fertilizers are required to make it fertile.
• It is found in the parts of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Odisha.

Alluvial soil:

• Alluvial soil is mainly found in Northern Plains.
• These soils are widespread in the Northern Plains and valleys.
• They are depositional soils, formed mainly due to silt deposited by Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra Rivers.
• When the river overflows, this soil is deposited on the riverbanks.
• In the Upper and Middle Ganga Plain, two types of alluvial soils have developed, namely, Khadar (New alluvium) and Bhangar (Old alluvium).

A Rift-valley is formed due to faulting.

The cracks in the surface of the earth are found where faulting takes place. A fault is a planar fracture (crack) in a volume of the earth’s crust, across which there has been significant displacement of a block of crust. 

Key PointsRift Valley system

• Tension causes the central portion to be let down between two adjacent fault blocks forming a graben or rift valley, which will have steep walls.
• The East African Rift Valley system is the best example.
• In general, large-scale block mountains and rift valleys are due to tension rather than compression.

Block Mountains

• Block mountains may originate when the middle block moves downward or the side blocks move upward.
• A rift valley forms while the surrounding blocks stand higher as block mountains.

Additional Information

The correct answer is At the night of a full moon.

Key Points

Lunar Eclipse:

• The eclipse of the moon, it occurs when the Earth comes in between the sun and the moon.
• As a result, the earth blocks sunlight from reaching the moon and casts its shadow over the moon.
• It generally occurs on a full moon night.
• We can see about three Lunar Eclipses in a year.
• Depending on the positions of the sun, moon, and earth Lunar Eclipses can be of two kinds: 
• Partial Eclipse - when only part of the moon is covered by the earth's shadow.
• Total Eclipse - when the earth passes directly in front of the moon and casts its full shadow on the moon.

Additional Information

Key PointsUnited Nations Organisation (UNO):

• The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries.
• The countries were committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, and promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights.
• It was established with an aim of preventing future wars, succeeding the ineffective League of Nations.
• On 25 April 1945, 50 governments met in San Francisco for a conference and started drafting the UN Charter, which was adopted on 25 June 1945 and took effect on 24 October 1945, when the UN began operations.
• The UN is headquartered on international territory in New York City and has other main offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and The Hague.

The main purpose of establishment:

• To keep peace throughout the world;
• To develop friendly relations among nations;
• To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease, and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms;
• To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals

Hence, United Nations Organisation was established on 24 October 1945.

Panchayati Raj Institution or PRI is a system of local self-government in rural areas of the Indian subcontinent.

• Local Self Government helps in the management of local affairs.
• Such local bodies have representatives who have been elected by the local people and hence have a better understanding of grass-root level issues.
• Thus, the minimum age that a person should have for contesting elections is 21 years.
• The 73^rd Amendment added Part IX in the constitution of India and was titled “The Panchayats”.
• Furthermore, Part IXA of the constitution, titled “The Municipalities”, was added by the 74^th Amendment.

Thus, we can say that the minimum age limit for the membership of Gram Panchayats is 21 years.

Keshwananda Bharati Case formed the Basic Structure of the Constitution of India.

Important Points

• Keshwanand Bharati Case established the doctrine of the constitution that provides safeguards for the basic structure of the Indian Constitution from Parliamentary amendments.
• The parliamentary amendments cannot alter the fundamental or the basic structure of the Indian Constitution.

Hence, we can conclude that the Supreme Court of India enunciated the Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution in the Keshwanand Bharati Case.

Additional Information

• Keshwananda Bharati was the head of the Edneer Mutt in Kerala.
• He filed a case challenging the Kerala government's attempts to acquire the Mutt's property.
• He argued that this act of the government violated his fundamental right to property.

The correct answer is option 4, i.e, Supreme Court.

• The appointment of Ad-hoc judges in the Supreme court is driven by the judicial system of France.
• Article 127 provides for the appointment of an ad-hoc judge in the Supreme Court.
• Ad-hoc judges can be appointed in the Supreme Court by the Chief Justice of India.
• It is the duty of the judge as appointed to attend the sittings of the Supreme Court in priority to other duties of his duties.
• When there is a lack of quorum of the permanent judges to hold or continue any session of the Supreme Court.

The correct answer is Speaker of Lok Sabha.

Key Points

• The Speaker decides whether a bill is a money bill or not. A money bill can be introduced only in Lok Sabha.
• President’s recommendation is needed to introduce them.
• No provision for a joint sitting of both the houses to resolve the deadlock.
• It cannot be amended or rejected by the Rajya Sabha.
• Rajya Sabha has only 14 days to give suggestions regarding any changes in a bill.

Additional Information

• Article 110 of the Constitution deals with the Money Bills.
• It states that a bill is deemed to be a money bill if it contains ‘only’ provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters:
• The imposition, abolition, remission, alteration, or regulation of any tax.
• The regulation of the borrowing of money by the Union government.
• The custody of the Consolidated Fund of India or the contingency fund of India, the payment of money into or the withdrawal of money from any such fund.
• Declaration of any expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or increasing the amount of any such expenditure.

To understand an abstract concept like education, one is required to explicate its meaning or nature from the point of view of the functions such concepts perform or the contexts in which such concepts are appropriately used.

• Etymologically, the word "Education" is derived from the Latin words "educare", "educere" and "educantum".

Important Points

The nature of education may be enumerated as under:

• Education is both unipolar as well as bipolar in nature.
• According to John Adams education has two aspects: the Teacher and the Child hence it is bipolar in nature.
• John Adams opines that education is a bipolar process because there is a constant interaction between the teacher and the taught or educator and educand.
• John Dewey, defined, education as a tripolar process.
• The Tripolar process of education considers that the development of the child takes place in and through the society, in which the teacher and the child live together.
• Thus, it is society that will determine the aims, contents, and methods of teaching.
• In this way, the process of education contains three poles, namely-(1) The Teacher, (2) The child, and (3) The society.
• The tripolar process of education is a systematic and continuous process.
• It takes place throughout life and no matter at what stage is a child or the learner is, education can take place and it affects his/her growth accordingly through a systematic institution and regulation.

Hence, it is clear that John Adams opines that education is a bipolar process because there is a constant interaction between the teacher and the taught or educator and educand.

Social Studies is the study of relations and interrelations, historical, geographical, and social. It establishes the relationship between present and past, local and distant, and personal and national lives, and also with the lives and cultures of other men and women in different parts of the world.

Key Points

Social Science at Upper Primary Level:

• Social Science must link a child's life at school with life outside the classroom.
• It helps to initiate the learner into a study of India’s past, with references to contemporary developments in other parts of the world.
• It includes disciplines of History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, and Sociology.
• The objective of teaching the social sciences is to develop an understanding of the earth as the habitat of humankind and other forms of life.

Hence, it becomes clear that the Philosophy subject is not included in social science at the upper primary level.

Additional Information 

Aims of Social Science Education at the Upper Primary Level:

• To provide practical knowledge of the subject matter content.
• Relating education to the everyday experiences of learners.
• To provide the latest knowledge to develop scientific knowledge, scientific appreciation, and scientific temper among the students.

The teaching method is a way to put theory into practice. The process of interpreting the world of knowledge to a pupil's mind is called the method of teaching.

• It helps a teacher to understand "what to teach", "how to teach", "how to approach it". It includes both strategies and techniques of teaching and involves the choice of what is to be taught.

Key Points

Lecture method: 

• It is one of the oldest methods of teaching which is based on the principle of idealism.
• It is a teacher and information-centered approach which only aims at giving knowledge to the students by theoretical approach.
• In this method, the stress is given to make the students gain their knowledge by abstractions which are effective to some extent in higher classes.
• It is not good for average and below-average students and starts from abstract. It is used to provide an overview of larger content or subject matter.
• The teacher tries to clear the content of the textbook i.e., reading content is made more clear as the teacher explains it in detail by giving examples from real-life.
• It develops the self-study habits in students as they usually don't satisfy with the teaching methodology of their teacher and they tend to study the concerned topic on their own to clear their conceptual understanding.
• This method does not cater to the problem of individual differences and gives short-term learnings i.e., whether a child is a slow-learner or gifted, the teacher will teach all equally without giving them proper opportunities to learn at their natural pace.
• It saves time and power as the teacher just has to explain the content in detail by giving proper explanations whereas time and energy will be more consumed in the conduction of activity-based learning.
• It does not develop the reasoning and thinking power of students as the teacher becomes an orator rather than a teacher and students remain inactive as the teacher explains and the students passively observe and listen to their teacher.

Hence, it could be concluded that the development of reasoning and thinking power is not a quality of the Lecture method.

A blackboard (also known as a chalkboard) is a reusable writing surface on which text or drawings are made with sticks of calcium sulfate or calcium carbonate, known, when used for this purpose, as chalk.

Important Points

The major advantages of using a blackboard include:

• It is easily available as it is of low cost, and easy to maintain.
• Writing information on a chalkboard helps teachers to take visible cues from students.
• The teacher should stand at an angle of 45° while writing on a blackboard as standing at this angle he will be able to keep an eye on the students and can immediately address students' body language and facial expressions that suggest confusion about the material.
• A chalkboard is an important teaching aid because it is a mirror through which students visualize the teacher's mind.
• For example, the way of explaining, illustrating, and teaching as a whole. Thus, it stands as a visual testimony of the teacher's work and expression.
• Disadvantages of Chalkboard 
• It can cause misconceptions or misunderstandings if it is not used properly.
• Chalkboard work can be messy (dirty).
• The chalkboard is that the information written on the board is temporary.
• We can't illustrate maps, chemical reactions, mathematical formulas, and complex diagrams on board.

Thus, it is clear that the teacher must stand at an angle of 45° while writing on a blackboard.

Social Studies is the study of relations and interrelations, historical, geographical, and social. It establishes the relationship between present and past, local and distant, and personal and national lives, and also with the lives and cultures of other men and women in different parts of the world.

• Social science helps to initiate the learner into a study of her/ his own region, state, and country in the global context.
• Social Science as a discipline has the unique capability of being able to look at both developmental and normative issues of society.
• The teaching of Social Study requires the use of non-textual sources like diagrams, maps, etc. It studies human behavior and enhances vision or perspective about society.

Important Points 

Aim of Social Study Teaching: It aims at enabling the students to adjust to their social environment which includes the family community state and nation and in fact the entire humanity.

• Social Science is the study of people and their interactions with one another.
• It aims the development of national integrity and international understanding.
• It aims to make a good citizen and development of cultural heritage.
• It also aims at enabling the students to adjust to their social environment which includes the family community state and nation and in fact the entire humanity
• It covers the study of communities at all levels, local, regional, national, and international with a focus on man and his social environment.

Hence, it becomes clear that all the given options are the aims of social study teaching.

The Triratna is a Buddhist symbol, thought to visually represent the Three Jewels of Buddhism i.e., the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha.

• The ‘Triratnas’ in Buddhism
• Triratna in Sanskrit, Three Jewels.
• Pali Ti-Ratana, also called Threefold Refuge, in Buddhism.
• The Triratna comprises:

1. The Buddha
2. The dharma-doctrine, or teaching
3. The sangha -the monastic order, or community

• One becomes a Buddhist by saying the words “I go to the Buddha for refuge, I go to the Doctrine for refuge, I go to the Order for refuge.”

Therefore, Buddhism believes in 'Triratna'.

The drama 'Malati Madhava' was written by the playwright Bhavabhuti.

• Bhavabhuti was a scholar of 8^th Century India.
• His plays and poetry were written in Sanskrit.
• His plays Mahavircharita, Malatimadhava, and Uttararamcharita were some of his remarkable plays.
• The drama Malati Madhav was set in the city of Padmavati based on the romance between Malati and Madhava.

Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed the Jantar Mantar.

Key Points

Jantar-Mantar, Delhi:

• Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, is one of the five observatories built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in the year 1724.
• This time observatory was built after Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah allotted the task of re-examining the calendar and astronomical records to Maharaja Jai Singh II.
• There are a total 5 Jantar Mantars.
• They are located at Kaipur, Delhi,Mathura, Ujjain and Varanasi.
• The Janatar Mantar at Jaipur is the Largest among all.
• These Jantar Manatars were the Astronomical Observatories of Maharaja Jai Singh II.
• Sawai Raja Pratap Singh had constructed the Hawa Mahal at Jaipur.
• Akbar built the Buland Darawaja at Fatehpur Sikri.
• Shah Jahan Built the Taj mahal, Red fort etc.

Hence,Jantar Mantar located in New Delhi is built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur.