Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Social And Political Life Chapter 1

Important Questions Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1

Politics at the municipal, state, national, and international levels are the main study themes in political science. Political science is committed to advancing modes of research that support citizenship and understanding the institutions, behaviours, and relationships that constitute public life. The first chapter of Class 8 Social Science and Political life is The Indian Constitution. Students will learn about the Indian Constitution and how it has developed to provide a healthy government structure for the country’s people in this chapter of NCERT Civics for Class 8. In this chapter, the author discusses how important the Constitution is to a democracy. Chapter 1 Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Important Questions help students grasp the root of the chapter. Students can easily access all this and more on the Extramarks website.

With a subject such as political science, students become aware of the functioning of their nation. We at Extramarks understand the importance of solving questions. Social Science experts from Extramarks have designed the Social Science and Political Life Class 8 Chapter 1 Important Questions after a lot of hard work and research from numerous sources, such as the NCERT Textbook, NCERT, other reference books, past exam papers, and so on. Social Science experts at Extramarks have developed step-by-step solutions to help students better understand each chapter. Students can register with Extramarks and access Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1 Important Questions.

Apart from Important Questions Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1, materials like NCERT Solutions, CBSE revision notes, past year question papers, and NCERT books, students can easily find much more on the Extramarks website.

Important Questions Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1- with Solutions

The Social Science faculty of Extramarks has produced an entire list of Important Questions Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1 from many sources. Students will learn about the Indian Constitution and how it has developed to provide a healthy government structure for the country’s people in this chapter of NCERT Civics for Class 8. In this chapter, the author discusses how important the Constitution is to a democracy. These questions and solutions help students better comprehend the Indian Constitution.

Q1. What would happen if there were no restrictions on the power of elected representatives?

Answer. In a democracy, it is up to the people to choose the government’s representatives. However, there is always a tiny chance that leaders would abuse their position of power and exploit it wrongly. Because of this, the Constitution includes safeguards to protect the nation from such abuse of power.

Q2. Write short notes on the separation of powers and federalism.

Answer 2. Separation of Power:

  • The Constitution calls for the separation of powers to prevent elected officials from abusing their authority. Each governmental branch has its own set of authorities. This assures that the three branches of government—Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary—have an equal amount of authority.
  • To maintain openness and a balance of power among the three, each branch of government has a right to hold the others in check.

Federalism:

  • Federalism indicates that there are several tiers of the national government. India maintains a three-tiered administration to meet its population’s different religious and cultural makeup.
  • A central government and component entities at the regional, state and municipal levels are necessary to accommodate these differences.
  • We have three levels of government: the Panchayati Raj at the local level, the Central Government at the national level, and State Governments at the regional level.

Q3. Why did the constitution grant elected officials only limited authority?

Answer 3. If there were no limitations on elected officials’ authority, they might have the opportunity to abuse their position of power. Using their position of authority, they can prove to be corrupt or indulge excessively in the affairs of the populace, which might lead to unrest and discontent among the populace. The Indian Constitution, therefore, offers protections against this abuse of authority. The Constitution puts out guidelines and precepts that protect citizens from this kind of abuse.

Q4. The column on the left lists some of the key features of the Indian Constitution. In the other column, write two sentences, in your own words, on why you think this feature is important:

Answer 4. Federalism: It is important because, in a nation like India, individuals live at various socioeconomic levels, making it impossible for a single level of authority to control them all. So it’s crucial to create governments at various levels. Village governance is the responsibility of the Panchayati Raj, state governance is the state’s responsibility, and national government is the responsibility of the Central Government.

Separation of Powers: The legislative, executive and judicial branches are the three branches of government. These organs each have unique abilities and perform different jobs. According to the Constitution, each of these organs should exercise distinct powers to prevent any one branch of government from abusing its authority.

Fundamental Rights: Every nation’s citizen is granted a set of rights known as the Fundamental Rights under the Constitution. These liberties include freedom, equality, protection from exploitation, freedom of religion, access to cultural and educational opportunities, and constitutional remedies. These rights guarantee every person of the nation the right to be treated equally, free from prejudice based on caste, culture, or religion, equal access to quality education, and equal treatment in front of the law.

Parliamentary Form of Government: A democratic government is one in which the population has the power to choose its leaders. Every citizen of the nation/country, regardless of their caste, colour, creed, or religion, will be able to vote under universal adult suffrage, which means that everyone will be granted the right to vote when the Constitution is written.

Q5. In Nepal, who is in charge of the executive power?

Answer. The King and the Council of Ministers held complete executive authority over the Kingdom under Nepal’s Constitution of 1990. However, when the Nepali Constitution was enacted in 2015, the Prime Minister’s Cabinet took over as the country’s executive branch.

Unlike the 1990s Constitution, which was a monarchy type of government, the 2015 Constitution was based on a democratic system of government. This helped the people leave the previous Constitution in favour of a new type of government that upheld their goals and succeeded in preserving their spirit and togetherness.

Q6. Why does a democratic country need a constitution?

Answer 6. A democratic nation needs a constitution for several reasons, including:

  • The Constitution lists the fundamental principles we as citizens strive to live in our nation.
  • It reveals the underlying makeup of civilization.
  • To describe the characteristics of the nation’s political system.
  • It outlines a set of guidelines based on which individuals from various cultures and religions can live in harmony with one another.

Q7. Why does the Constitution matter in a democratic nation?

Answer 7. The body of laws, or “law of the land,” that governs a nation or region is called its Constitution. It makes it possible for issues to be managed effectively.

  • The ideals outlined in the Constitution serve as the foundation for the type of government that the citizens would like or strive for.
  • The Constitution provides information about the pillars around which society is built.
  • Additionally, the Constitution outlines the ideas and values that its inhabitants feel their nation should uphold.

Q8. In each of the following situations, identify the minority. Write one reason why you think it is important to respect the views of the minority in each of these situations.

  1. Of 30 teachers, 20 are male.
  2. In a city, 5 percent of people are Buddhists.
  3. In a factory mess for all employees, 80 percent are vegetarians.
  4. In a class of 50 students, 40 belong to more well-off families.

Answer 8. The following are the answers to the above situations:

  1. The ten female teachers working at this school make up the minority. It is important to keep the viewpoint of the female teachers in mind since, although being a minority, their opinions are very significant, and no choice taken with the views of the majority in mind should make the female teachers uncomfortable.
  2. The city’s 5% Buddhist population is the minority in this case. Their opinions ought to be respected. They should never be insulted simply because they are a minority group with distinct religious views. Any choice should be made considering the Buddhist population’s religious sentiments.
  3. The 20% of non-vegetarians eating at the factory mess constitute the minority here. Both vegetarians and non-vegetarians must be catered for in the meals prepared at the factory mess.
  4. Ten children in this situation do not come from wealthy households, making them the minority. It’s important to consider their perspectives since they might be unable to contribute to the many costs the school requires, and they shouldn’t feel ashamed of that.

Q9. What does the phrase “fundamental rights” mean?

Answer 9. The rights protected by Part III of the Indian Constitution are known as fundamental rights. Individuals have been granted certain rights to safeguard their interests. Every citizen of the nation is entitled to these fundamental rights. The following are the six fundamental rights:

  • Right to Equality: According to this fundamental right, everyone living on Indian territory has the same legal standing.
  • Right to Freedom: The freedom of speech and expression is a part of this fundamental right. It also covers the rights to life and freedom.
  • Right against Exploitation: This right guards against forced labour and human trafficking. Additionally, it forbids placing kids under 14 in dangerous occupations.
  • Right to freedom of Religion: The Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to practise and spread any religion.
  • Cultural and Educational Rights: The Constitution has measures that safeguard citizens’ cultural rights and minority groups against discrimination.
  • Right to Constitutional Remedies: The Constitution offers several remedies, instructions, and writs to enforce certain rights.

Q10. How can leaders exploit their authority in a democracy?

Answer 10. Leaders may exploit their position to further their agendas. For instance, a political figure or minister might use their position to accomplish corrupt goals without answering to anyone. Many of us have probably seen or witnessed instances where a politician’s relative violates traffic laws and then improperly utilises the person’s name and authority to be freed and avoid paying the fee.

Q11. Look at the wording of the two documents given below. The first column is from the 1990 Nepal Constitution. The second column is from the more recent Constitution of Nepal.

“ 1990 Constitution of Nepal Part 7: Executive

Article 35: Executive Power: The executive power of the kingdom of Nepal shall be vested in his Majesty and the Council of Ministers.”

“ 2015 Constitution of Nepal Part 7: Federal Executive

Article 75: Executive Power: The Executive Power of Nepal shall, under this Constitution and law, be vested in the Council of Ministers.” 

What is the difference in who exercises ‘Executive Power’ in the two Constitutions of Nepal given above?

Answer 11. According to Article 35 of Nepal’s Constitution from 1990, the King of the nation and the Ministers he appoints are in charge of setting the policies and managing the country.

However, Article 75 of the 2015 Constitution of Nepal specifies that the Ministers’ oversight and the laws listed in the Constitution shall serve as the basis for the country’s regulations, governance, and administration.

Q12. Describe the constitution-making process in India in brief.

Answer 12. On the 26th of November 1949, the Constituent Assembly approved the Indian Constitution, which went into force on January 26, 1950. The Indian Constitution took nearly three years to draft, from December 1946 to November 1949. It is the Constitution with the most words. Dr B. R. Ambedkar, often known as the “Father of the Indian Constitution,” served as chairman of the Constituent Assembly and was also tasked with drafting the Constitution.

Q13. What is arbitrary?

Answer 13. Arbitrary refers to a scenario in which nothing is predetermined, and the final decision is up to the individual. In a monarchical system of governance, the King or ruler exercises autocratic control, following arbitrary norms.

Q14. Explain the right against exploitation.

Answer 14. Articles 23 and 24 of the Indian Constitution grant citizens the fundamental right to be treated with dignity and protect against exploitation. Forced labour and human trafficking are forbidden. Additionally, it stipulates that no kid under the age of fourteen may be employed in a mine, factory, or any other dangerous job.

Q15. Using Nepal as an example, explain how the Constitution helps in serving as a collection of regulations and values that all citizens of a nation can agree upon.

Answer 15. A country’s Constitution helps in giving a set of guidelines and precepts that all citizens may accept as the foundation for how they want the nation to be run. In addition to the style of government, they all concur on a set of principles that they all think the nation should uphold.

Nepal’s examples illustrate the significance of the concept mentioned above.

Nepal shares India’s northern border. Nepal was a monarchy up until quite recently. The former Constitution of Nepal, which was approved in 1990, reflected the King’s supreme power.

In Nepal, a people’s movement worked for decades to bring about democracy; in 2006, they ended the King’s reign. Now that Nepal is a democracy, it drafted a new Constitution in 2015.

The people of Nepal didn’t want to stick with the previous Constitution because it doesn’t represent the values of the nation they want Nepal to be.

To enter a new society, Nepal reformed its foundational laws as it transitions from a monarchical to a democratic administration. Because of this, the citizens of Nepal now live and abide by the new Constitution that they passed in 2015.

Q16. The Indian National Movement: What Was It?

Answer 16. Tons of men and women banded together to oppose the British during the Indian National Movement, which began in the 19th century. The ultimate goal of the Indian National Movement’s actions was to remove British rule from India.

Indian National Congress has been a key player in the Indian National Movement. There have been several movement leaders over the years, including Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and others.

Q17. How can we claim that the Constitution protects us from ourselves?

Answer 17. Although it may sound strange, we occasionally have strong opinions that may conflict with the country’s interests as a whole. The Constitution serves as a safeguard against this.

The Constitution also helps shield us from actions that could negatively impact the greater principles upon which the nation is founded. A sound constitution forbids these impulses from altering their underlying framework.

Q18. What type of political system does a nation’s Constitution define?

Answer 18. The political system of a nation is described in its Constitution. Similar to nations that have embraced a democratic style of governance or polity, the Constitution is essential in outlining certain key principles that direct social decision-making. According to Nepal’s first Constitution, the monarch and his council of ministers would control the nation. This demonstrates how a country’s political structure is defined by its Constitution.

The section given above of Important Questions Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1 covers all the chapter’s important concepts.

Benefits of Solving Important Questions Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1

Political Science is a subject that makes students aware of the working of their nations. Students may find this information to be vast and challenging to remember. To help students, they are encouraged to go through Extramarks Important Questions Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1. Students gather confidence by answering the important questions and going over their solutions. 

  • Important Questions Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1 covers the concepts of the entire chapter- The Indian Constitution.
  • Students can entirely rely upon these important questions as they are made following all the guidelines laid by CBSE.
  • These solutions help students save time while preparing for the upcoming examination and cover the entire chapter.

Extramarks provides comprehensive learning solutions for students from Class 1 to Class 12. Our website has abundant resources, along with important questions and solutions. Students can easily click on the links given below to access some of these resources:

Q.1 Soon after taking over Khurda, the British followed a policy of resuming service tenures. It bitterly affected the lives of the ex-militia of the state, the Paiks.
1) What did Buxi Jagadbandhu do once the British took over (3 marks)
2) What did the British do to oppose the Paiks (2 marks)

Marks:5
Ans

1)Buxi Jagabandhu, the military commander of the deposed king held land under his name which was taken by the British under the inability to pay the revenue. He was practically penniless when he initiated the idea of revolt. Paiks, an ex-militia of the kingdom, were also fed up by the increasing demands for revenue. Thus, on April 14, 1817, Buxi Jagabandhu led a force of five thousand Paiks and Kandh tribal warriors to Puri, where they took the city and began the battle against the British.

2) The British saw the angry Paiks coming towards them and applied Martial law when things were out of their control. The rebellion did not stop at all, even the king was captured. As a result, the British employed harder measures, and hundreds of Paiks were slain or fled to the adjacent jungles, under Major-General Martindell’s command.

Q.2 An era of oppressive foreign rule in Odisha paved the way for a serious armed uprising in 1817.
1) What was the settlement made between the British and the throne of Khurda (3 marks)
2) What did the British do after capturing Khurda (2 marks)

Marks:5
Ans

1) Khurda, a kingdom in Odisha, was a well-off state under Raja Birakishore Dev. He had signed off a huge part of his land and ceded the superintendence of the Jagannath temple to the Marathas. Later when the Anglo-Maratha conflict started to take root, the kings son Mukunda Dev II saw this as a great opportunity to take back what was duly his. So, they entered into negotiation with the British.
2) After the negotiations between Khurda and the British, finally, the British occupied Odisha. They changed their sides and did not give back to Khurda what they had agreed upon. Mukunda Dev II got only the superintendent rights of the Jagannath temple.

Q.3 What new changes were introduced by the Act introduced in 1858

Marks:5
Ans

Once the rebellion of 1857 calmed down and the British took the next steps; their next move was to transfer the power to the British crown.
As a result, in 1858, the British Parliament approved a new statute under which the authorities were delegated. And substantial changes occurred, such as the appointment of a member of the British government as Secretary of State for India, and the renaming of the Governor-General as Viceroy.
Second, an assurance was given to the kingdoms that their kingdoms would not be annexed and they could pass on their thrones to their descendants.
Third, the proportion of Indian men in the armed forces was to be cut and Europeans were to be preferred to avoid any rebellions in the future.
Fourth, Muslims were in the light of suspicion thus their properties were confiscated.
Fifth, religious sentiments were not to be hurt and duly respected, and lastly, landlords and zamindars were given security of their rights.

Q.4 What changes were made in the position of Governor-General after 1858

Marks:3
Ans

In 1858, after recovering control of Delhi and regional cities, the British Parliament approved an Act transferring the powers of the East India Company to the British crown to better handle Indian affairs.
One of the first things done was changing the title of Governor-General to Viceroy, who was a personal representative of the Crown.
Viceroy was going to be the direct man responsible for the rule of the Crown in India.

Q.5 Read the passage given below and answer the following questions.
Just as victories against the British had earlier encouraged rebellion, the defeat of rebel forces encouraged desertions. The British also tried their best to win back the loyalty of the people. They announced rewards for loyal landholders would be allowed to continue to enjoy traditional rights over their lands. Those who had rebelled were told that if they submitted to the British, and if they had not killed any white people, they would remain safe and their rights and claims to land would not be denied. Nevertheless, hundreds of sepoys, rebels, nawabs and rajas were tried and hanged.

1) What did the British do to win back the loyalty of people (1 mark)
2) Were all the rebels hanged to death (1 mark)
3) What adverse effect did the defeat of the rebel forces have on people (1 mark)

Marks:3
Ans

1) The British announced rewards for landholders who had been loyal towards them and allowed them to enjoy their traditional rights over their lands to win back peoples loyalty. They also eased punishments for people who hadnt killed any white men.
2) No, the rebels who submitted to the British and hadnt killed any white men werent hanged and were given back their rights on their lands.
3) The defeat of the rebel forces led to desertions which implied that many people left the cause and the forces.

Q.6 Name regional centers and their course of rebellion

Marks:3
Ans

Rebels did not cease fighting once Delhi was recaptured; they maintained their war in their regional circles. But, in the end, Lucknow was taken in 1858, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi was killed in June 1858, Rani Avantibai of Kheri was badly defeated and embraced death when cornered by the British, and Tantia Tope had escaped to the jungles of central India and continued his guerilla warfare with the help of tribal and peasant leaders.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 is titled “The Indian Constitution.” As implied by the chapter’s title, it discusses important aspects of the Indian Constitution. The importance of a constitution and the need for a written constitution will be taught to students. The fundamental elements of the Indian Constitution will also be covered in class. There are several concepts in this chapter that can get assessed in exams. Extramarks provides Important Questions Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1. Students can refer to these and get a grasp of the entire chapter.

The Constitution is a document comprising many rules and regulations to run a country smoothly. It lays forward the principles for governing a nation. The longest Constitution in the world is, interestingly, that of India. The whole first chapter is centred on several parts of the Indian Constitution. However, not all these concepts are covered in the NCERT textbook exercises. So that they may better prepare for exams, students can read Extramarks Important Questions Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1.

The father of the Indian Constitution is usually referred to as Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. He served as the committee’s chairman when it drafted the Indian Constitution. He was a sociopolitical reformer who loathed the caste system. As he worked to eradicate inequality in the nation, he played an important part in creating the Indian Constitution. He put up a lot of effort into promoting the Dalit cause. He was the only one to answer all the parliament’s constitutional questions. To know more about this, refer to Extramarks Important Questions Class 8 Social Science and Political Life Chapter 1.