CBSE Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Chapter 8 – Unity in Diversity, or ‘Many in the One’

Class 6 Social Science Chapter 8 Unity in Diversity, or 'Many in the One' is part of the new NCERT textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond. It shows students how India has hundreds of languages, many religions, different foods, dresses and festivals, and yet all these different parts fit together as one country. Students learn that this variety is not a weakness but a strength, and that shared ideas, stories and values connect people across regions.

These CBSE important questions for Class 6 Social Science Chapter 8 cover source-based questions on traditional clothing, regional food, festivals and languages, assertion-reason questions on the epics, harvest festivals and the sari, and long answers on how festivals and textiles show unity in diversity. Every question has a clear step-by-step answer in simple English, so students can practise on their own, parents can check the answers, and teachers can use them for class tests.

Q1. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:
India's traditional clothing varies across states. From sarees and dhotis to lehengas and lungis, each attire represents the heritage of its region. Yet, traditional clothing is celebrated and appreciated all over the country.
a. How does traditional clothing highlight the diversity of India?
b. Why is it important to appreciate traditional attire from different regions?
c. Describe one traditional outfit from your state and its cultural significance.

Answer: a. Traditional clothing shows the diversity of India because every state has its own styles, fabrics and patterns. For example, people in Gujarat wear colourful ghagras, while in Kerala people wear simple and elegant kasavu sarees. These differences reflect the cultural heritage of each region.
b. Appreciating the traditional dress of other regions shows respect for their culture and history. It helps us learn about the rich heritage of our country and brings people closer together.
c. A common traditional outfit is the saree for women and the dhoti for men. The saree is often made of silk and worn at festivals and weddings. It stands for grace and tradition, and the dhoti stands for simplicity and cultural pride. (Students can describe the outfit of their own state.)

Q2. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:
Indian cuisine is as diverse as its culture. Each region has its unique dishes and flavours, such as dosa from the southern part of India, biryani from Hyderabad and rajma-chawal from the northern part of India. Despite these differences, food is a unifying factor for the country.
a. How does regional cuisine reflect the diversity of India?
b. Why do you think food is considered a unifying factor in Indian culture?
c. Share an example of a dish from your region and how it is different from dishes in other parts of India.

Answer: a. Each region has its own ingredients, ways of cooking and flavours. The south is known for spicy dosas and idlis, while the north is famous for rich gravies and breads like naan. These differences show how food depends on the local climate, crops and culture.
b. Food unites people because everyone enjoys dishes from other regions, and festivals are celebrated with food. During Eid, Diwali or Christmas, people of all religions share food, which brings them closer and helps them understand each other's traditions.
c. For example, poha is a light dish made from flattened rice that is popular in central India. It is different from parathas of the north, which are made from wheat. This shows how food changes with what is grown locally. (Students can give a dish from their own region.)

Q3. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:
Festivals like Diwali, Eid, Christmas and Pongal are celebrated across India, each reflecting the culture of its people. These festivals are an opportunity for people from different religions and communities to come together and celebrate.
a. How do festivals bring people from different communities together?
b. Why is it important to celebrate festivals of different religions in India?
c. Describe one festival you have celebrated with friends or neighbours apart from the festivals that you celebrate with your family.

Answer: a. Festivals give people a chance to share joy and traditions. People visit one another, exchange sweets and join in the celebrations, which builds friendship and understanding between different religions and cultures.
b. Celebrating the festivals of other religions shows respect for their beliefs and promotes harmony. It helps people learn about other cultures and creates a feeling of unity even when they follow different traditions.
c. For example, a student may have celebrated Eid with friends, sharing dishes like biryani and sweets. This is a wonderful way to learn about different customs and enjoy a festival together. (Students can write about their own experience.)

Q4. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:
India has 22 official languages and hundreds of regional dialects. While people speak different languages, many words and ideas are shared across regions. This linguistic diversity shows how language connects people even when they are different.
a. Why is it important to preserve India's linguistic diversity?
b. How do shared words across languages promote understanding among Indians?
c. What challenges might arise from having so many languages in one country?

Answer: a. Every language carries the culture, history and identity of its people. When we protect these languages, we also protect the stories, traditions and knowledge of the different communities of India.
b. Many Indian languages share words, especially words that come from Sanskrit. These shared words make it easier for people from different regions to talk to and understand one another, which creates a feeling of being connected.
c. People may find it hard to communicate if they do not share a language. Preparing school books and government papers in many languages is also more work. Using a link language such as Hindi or English along with the regional languages helps to solve this.

Q5. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:
India is a country with numerous languages, religions and traditions. People from different regions have their unique ways of living, celebrating festivals and following customs, yet they live together peacefully. This diversity is seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
a. How does cultural diversity strengthen the unity of India?
b. Why is it important for people in India to respect one another's customs and traditions?
c. Give an example of how people from different backgrounds celebrate together in India.

Answer: a. Cultural diversity lets people learn from one another and respect each other's differences. It shows that people with different languages, religions and traditions can live together peacefully and work for common goals.
b. Respecting each other's customs helps people understand one another better and builds trust. This brings peace and unity in society, even when people hold different beliefs.
c. During Diwali, neighbours of different religions exchange sweets and join in lighting lamps. During Christmas, people visit each other and share the joy of the festival no matter what their religion is.

Q6. Read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct option.
How do India's epics contribute to unity?
Assertion (A): The Ramayana and Mahabharata have regional adaptations.
Reason (R): These epics address universal values like dharma and justice.
(a) A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (a) A and R are correct, and R explains A.
The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are retold in many regional languages and styles across India, so A is true. People everywhere adopt them because they speak of values such as dharma (right conduct), truth and justice, which matter to all. So R is true and it explains why the epics are shared across regions.

Q7. Read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct option.
Why is India known for its rich culinary heritage?
Assertion (A): Indian cuisine uses staple grains like rice, wheat and millets.
Reason (R): These grains are grown only in specific regions of India.
(a) A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
Rice, wheat and millets are indeed the staple grains of Indian food, so A is correct. But these grains are grown in many parts of the country, not only in a few regions, so R is wrong.

Q8. Read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct option.
How do festivals demonstrate unity in diversity?
Assertion (A): Festivals like Makar Sankranti are celebrated with different names across India.
Reason (R): They mark the harvest season, which is important to all communities.
(a) A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (a) A and R are correct, and R explains A.
Makar Sankranti is called Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri in Punjab, Bihu in Assam and Uttarayan in Gujarat, so A is correct. All these festivals celebrate the harvest, which matters to every farming community, and that is why the same festival is kept everywhere under different names. So R correctly explains A.

Q9. Read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct option.
How does the sari reflect India's unity in diversity?
Assertion (A): The sari is worn in many ways across India.
Reason (R): It represents a single traditional garment common to all Indian women.
(a) A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
The sari is draped in many different styles in different regions, so A is correct. But the sari is not the only traditional dress of Indian women; many regions have other garments such as the ghagra-choli, mekhela chador or salwar-kameez. So R is wrong.

Q10. Read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct option.
Why is India often described as a land of 'Unity in Diversity'?
Assertion (A): India has a variety of languages, religions and festivals.
Reason (R): These differences create divisions that weaken the nation's unity.
(a) A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
India does have many languages, religions and festivals, so A is correct. But these differences do not weaken the country. They are a strength, because people of different backgrounds live together and learn from one another. So R is wrong.

Q11. What is the role of festivals in bridging cultural gaps and promoting unity among different communities in India? Give examples.

Answer: Festivals in India bring together people of all communities. Diwali, Holi, Eid and other festivals are enjoyed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Muslims, Christians and others in a spirit of togetherness.
• During Diwali, people light up their homes and streets, burst crackers and exchange sweets and greetings with their neighbours.
• Holi welcomes spring, and people of every community spread colours to share joy.
• During Eid, people go for prayers and then celebrate with special food and sweets, which are shared with non-Muslim friends too.
Through such festivals, communities learn about each other's customs and traditions. This builds harmony, understanding and respect for different beliefs.

Q12. What does the diversity in Indian textiles and clothing signify about Indian culture?

Answer: Indian textiles and dresses show enormous variety. Take the sari alone: there are many kinds depending on the fabric, the weave, the design and the region it comes from. Some saris are of silk, others of cotton. Designs may be woven or printed, and the motifs change from region to region, showing the local culture and traditions. The sari is also draped in different ways in different parts of India.
So one garment, the sari, appears in hundreds of forms across the country. This is a perfect example of the idea of 'unity in diversity': many different expressions of one shared culture.

Related Study Material on Extramarks

Q.1 Read the following passage and answer the following questions.
The most famous Kushana ruler was Kanishka, who ruled around 1900 years ago. He organised a Buddhist council, where scholars met and discussed important matters. Ashvaghosha, a poet who composed a biography of the Buddha, the Buddhacharita, lived in his court. Ashvaghosha and other Buddhist scholars now began writing in Sanskrit.
I) What was the contribution of Kanishka to Buddhism (2 marks)
II) Who was Ashvaghosha (3 marks)

Marks:1

Ans

I) Kanishka, the best-known ruler of the Kushana dynasty, organized a Buddhist council. This was a council where many scholars discussed over crucial and significant matters related to Buddhist religion.
II) Ashvaghosha was a poet who composed the very famous work, Buddhacharita (Buddhas biography). He is known to have lived in the court of the most famous Kushana ruler, Kanishka. He, along with some other Buddhist scholars, started writing their works in Sanskrit.

Q.2 This is an image of Vishnu discovered in Eran. Answer the following questions related to this picture:

1. Which deities were worshipped during the Bhakti period
2. In this picture, Vishnu is depicted as which animal
3. Why did Vishnu take the shape of an animal
4. In which state is Eran located

Marks:4

Ans

1. Shiva, Vishnu and goddesses such as Durga were worshipped during the Bhakti period.
2. In this picture, Vishnu is depicted as Varaha or boar.
3. Vishnu took the form of a boar in order to rescue the earth, which had sunk into water.
4. Eran is located in Madhya Pradesh.

Q.3 Read the passage and answer the questions given below: Xuan Zang, and other pilgrims spent time studying in Nalanda (Bihar), the most famous Buddhist monastery of the period. This is how he describes it:

“The teachers are men of the highest ability and talent. They follow the teachings of the Buddha in all sincerity. The rules of the monastery are strict, and everyone has to follow them. Discussions are held throughout the day, and the old and the young mutually help one another. Learned men from different cities come here to settle their doubts. The gatekeeper asks new entrants difficult questions. They are allowed to enter only after they have been able to answer these. Seven or eight out of every ten are not able to answer.”

1. Name one foreign traveller who visited the Buddhist Monastery at Nalanda

2. Was it easy to enter the Buddhist Monastery at Nalanda

3. Who taught in this Monastery [1 + 2+ 1 = 4]

Marks:4

Ans

1. Xuan Zang visited and studied in the Buddhist Monastery at Nalanda.

2. It was very difficult to enter this Monastery. New entrants were asked difficult questions by the gatekeeper. Only those who gave correct answer were allowed to enter. Mostly seven or eight out of ten were not able to answer the questions asked by them.

3. Men of the highest ability and talent taught in this Monastery.

Q.4 Name the travelers who came to India to visit Buddhist places.

Marks:3

Ans

As traders journeyed to distant places in caravans and ships, pilgrims also joined and travelled with them. Very famous Chinese Buddhist pilgrims were Fa Xian, who came to the subcontinent about 1600 years ago. Another popular pilgrim from China was Xuan Zang who visited about 1400 years ago.

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