SECOND MID TERM TEST - 2024
Standard X
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Part - I: Choose the correct answer (7 x 1 = 7)
1. When did the Vellore Revolt breakout?
2. Who declared that "Land belongs to God" and collecting rent or tax on it was against divine law?
3. In which session of the Indian National Congress was Non-Cooperation approved?
4. The highest peak in Tamil Nadu is
5. Which is known as Granary of South India?
6. Which of the following country is not the founder member of NAM?
7. Income tax was introduced in India for the first time in the year
Part - II: Answer the following questions in briefly (ANY 5) (5 x 2 = 10)
8. What were the duties of the Palayakkarars?
- To collect revenue (land tax) from the people in their Palayam (territory).
- To maintain law and order and administer justice in their Palayam.
- To maintain their own army and provide military support to the Nayaks when required.
9. Name the territories annexed by the British under the Doctrine of Lapse.
- Satara (1848)
- Jaitpur and Sambalpur (1849)
- Baghat (1850)
- Udaipur (1852)
- Jhansi (1853)
- Nagpur (1854)
10. Name the major islands of Tamil Nadu.
- Pamban Island (Rameswaram Island)
- Krusadai Island
- Nallathanni Theevu
- Shingle Island
- Hare Island (Muyal Theevu)
11. What are the cropping seasons of Tamil Nadu?
- Sornavari (Chithirai Pattam): April - May
- Kuruvai (Adi Pattam): June - July
- Samba (Adi Pattam): July - August
- Navarai: December - January
12. List out the member countries of SAARC.
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- India
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
13. Name the neighbouring countries of India.
- Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwest.
- China, Nepal, and Bhutan in the north.
- Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east.
14. Define tax.
15. What is meant by an industrial cluster?
Part - III: Answer the following questions in detail (ANY 5) (5 x 5 = 25)
16. Account for the outbreak of Vellore Revolt in 1806.
The Vellore Revolt of 1806 was a significant early uprising against the British East India Company. The main causes were:
- Grievances of Indian Sepoys: The sepoys had numerous grievances, including low salaries, poor promotion prospects, and racial discrimination by British officers.
- New Military Regulations: In 1805-1806, the Commander-in-Chief, Sir John Cradock, introduced new regulations. Sepoys were forbidden to wear caste marks or beards on parade.
- The New Turban: The most provocative change was the introduction of a new turban, known as the 'Agnew's Turban'. It had a leather cockade made of animal skin, which offended both Hindu (cow skin) and Muslim (pig skin) sepoys.
- Presence of Tipu Sultan's Family: After the fourth Anglo-Mysore War, Tipu Sultan's sons and family were interned in the Vellore Fort. Their presence served as a rallying point for the rebels, who hoisted the flag of the Mysore Sultanate over the fort.
- Immediate Cause: The strict enforcement of the new dress code acted as the immediate trigger. On 10th July 1806, the sepoys mutinied, killing several British officers and soldiers. The revolt was brutally suppressed within a day.
17. Discuss the causes of the Revolt of 1857.
The Revolt of 1857 was a culmination of various factors that had been building up for a century. The causes can be categorized as follows:
- Political Causes:
- Doctrine of Lapse: Lord Dalhousie's policy of annexing states without a natural heir (e.g., Jhansi, Nagpur) caused widespread resentment among Indian rulers.
- Subsidiary Alliance: This policy effectively took away the sovereignty of Indian states.
- Disrespect to Mughal Emperor: The British showed disrespect to the Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, further angering the Muslims.
- Economic Causes:
- Heavy Taxation: The British imposed heavy taxes on peasants, leading to widespread poverty and famines.
- Destruction of Indian Industries: British policies favored British goods, leading to the decline of Indian handicrafts and textiles.
- Drain of Wealth: India's wealth was systematically drained to Britain.
- Social and Religious Causes:
- Racial Discrimination: Indians were treated as inferiors.
- Interference in Customs: Social reforms like the abolition of Sati and the Widow Remarriage Act were seen as interference in Indian religious and social life.
- Fear of Conversion: The activities of Christian missionaries created fear among Indians that the British were trying to convert them to Christianity.
- Military Causes:
- Poor Service Conditions: Indian sepoys were paid less than their British counterparts and had no chances of promotion.
- General Service Enlistment Act (1856): This act required sepoys to serve overseas, which was against the religious beliefs of many Hindus.
- Immediate Cause:
- Greased Cartridges: The introduction of the new Enfield rifle, whose cartridges were rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat, was the immediate cause. This offended both Hindu and Muslim sepoys and sparked the mutiny.
18. Write an account on river Cauvery.
The Cauvery is one of the major rivers of peninsular India, often called the 'Ganga of the South'.
- Origin: It originates at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri hills of the Western Ghats in Karnataka.
- Course: The river flows in a southeasterly direction for about 800 km through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before draining into the Bay of Bengal.
- Tributaries: Its main tributaries include Harangi, Hemavati, Kabini, Bhavani, Arkavathy, Noyyal, and Amaravati.
- Waterfalls: The river forms two islands, Srirangapatna and Sivasamudram in Karnataka. At Sivasamudram, it forms the famous Hogenakkal waterfalls.
- Dams: Important dams on the river include the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam in Karnataka and the Mettur Dam (Stanley Reservoir) in Tamil Nadu. The Grand Anicut, also known as Kallanai, is an ancient dam built on the Cauvery in Tamil Nadu.
- Delta: In Tamil Nadu, the river forms a wide, fertile delta known as the "Granary of South India". This delta is a major rice-producing region. The river splits into many distributaries, with the northern branch called Coleroon (Kollidam) and the southern branch remaining as Cauvery.
19. a) Distinguish between the following
i) Food crops and non-food crops
| Feature | Food Crops | Non-Food Crops (Cash Crops) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Grown for human consumption. | Grown for commercial purposes, to be sold for profit or used as raw materials in industries. |
| Examples | Rice, Wheat, Millets, Pulses, Maize. | Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane, Tobacco, Oilseeds. |
ii) Surface water and ground water
| Feature | Surface Water | Ground Water |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Water found on the surface of the Earth. | Water that is found beneath the Earth's surface in the soil pore spaces and fractures of rock formations. |
| Sources | Rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and oceans. | Aquifers, wells, and springs. It is replenished by rain and snowmelt that seeps into the ground. |
b) Give reasons: Cities are densely populated than the Villages
Cities are more densely populated than villages due to a combination of "pull" factors attracting people to urban areas and "push" factors driving them away from rural areas.
- Employment Opportunities: Cities are centers of industry, trade, and services, offering a wider range of jobs and higher wages than rural areas.
- Educational Facilities: Cities have better and more numerous schools, colleges, and universities, attracting students and families seeking quality education.
- Healthcare Services: Urban areas provide access to advanced medical facilities, specialized doctors, and hospitals, which are often lacking in villages.
- Infrastructure and Amenities: Cities offer better infrastructure like transport, communication, electricity, and sanitation, as well as amenities like shopping malls, entertainment, and recreational facilities.
- Social Mobility: Cities offer greater opportunities for social and economic advancement compared to the more rigid social structures of villages.
20. Write a detailed note on Non-alignment.
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum of 120 developing world states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. It was founded during the Cold War as an alternative for countries that did not wish to side with either the United States (Western Bloc) or the Soviet Union (Eastern Bloc).
- Origin: The concept was developed at the Asia-Africa Bandung Conference in Indonesia in 1955. The movement was formally established in 1961 at the First Summit Conference in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
- Founding Fathers: The key leaders who founded NAM were Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Sukarno of Indonesia, and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.
- Core Principles (Panchsheel):
- Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
- Mutual non-aggression.
- Mutual non-interference in domestic affairs.
- Equality and mutual benefit.
- Peaceful co-existence.
- Objectives: The main objectives were to promote peace, disarmament, independence, and economic development. NAM sought to create an independent path in world politics that would not result in member states becoming pawns in the struggles between the major powers. It also fought against imperialism, colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign domination.
- Relevance Today: Even after the Cold War, NAM continues to be relevant by focusing on issues like sustainable development, global terrorism, poverty, and advocating for a more equitable international economic order.
21. Trace the reason for the formation of BRICS and write its objectives.
Reason for Formation:
The term "BRIC" was coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill to describe the four fast-growing economies that were projected to collectively dominate the global economy by 2050: Brazil, Russia, India, and China. This economic concept evolved into a formal political grouping. The foreign ministers of the four countries began meeting informally in 2006. The first BRIC summit was held in 2009. South Africa was invited to join in 2010, turning BRIC into BRICS. The formation was driven by a shared desire among these major emerging economies to enhance their cooperation and to have a greater voice in global governance and financial institutions, which they felt were dominated by developed countries.
Objectives of BRICS:
- Economic Cooperation: To promote broad-based economic growth and development among member countries and other developing nations.
- Global Governance Reform: To push for reforms in international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank to give developing countries a greater say.
- Political and Security Cooperation: To contribute to global peace, security, and stability by addressing common challenges through dialogue and cooperation.
- People-to-People Exchange: To foster cultural, academic, and social exchanges among the peoples of the member countries.
- Establishment of New Institutions: A major achievement is the establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) as alternatives to existing international financial institutions.
22. What is black money? Write the causes of black money.
Black Money:
Black money refers to funds earned on the black market on which income and other taxes have not been paid. It can be money that is either illegally obtained (e.g., through corruption, crime) or legally obtained but not declared to tax authorities to evade taxation.
Causes of Black Money:
- High Tax Rates: When tax rates are very high, it creates an incentive for individuals and businesses to conceal their income and evade taxes.
- Complex Tax Laws and Loopholes: Complicated tax regulations and the presence of loopholes can be exploited by tax evaders.
- Corruption: Bribery and corruption among government officials are a major source of black money. Officials may demand bribes for services, which then become undeclared income.
- Informal Economy: A large portion of transactions in the informal or unorganized sector often happens in cash and goes unrecorded, leading to the generation of black money.
- Real Estate Transactions: The real estate sector is notorious for the use of black money, where a part of the property value is often paid in unaccounted cash to evade stamp duty and capital gains tax.
- Illegal Activities: Activities like smuggling, drug trafficking, terrorism financing, and illegal mining are major generators of black money.
23. What are the important characteristics of successful industrial clusters?
Successful industrial clusters exhibit several key characteristics:
- Geographical Proximity: Firms, suppliers, and related institutions are located close to one another, which facilitates easy communication, transportation of goods, and collaboration.
- Specialization: The cluster specializes in a particular industry or a set of related industries (e.g., Tiruppur for knitwear, Silicon Valley for technology). This leads to a deep pool of specialized knowledge and skills.
- Skilled Labour Pool: The concentration of firms in a specific industry attracts and develops a large pool of skilled labor, which benefits all firms in the cluster.
- Strong Supplier Networks: A network of specialized suppliers of raw materials, components, and machinery develops within the cluster, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
- Competition and Cooperation: There is intense competition among firms, which drives innovation and efficiency. At the same time, there is also cooperation through industry associations, joint research, and lobbying for common interests.
- Institutional Support: Successful clusters are often supported by institutions like universities, research centers, and government agencies that provide training, research and development, and policy support.
24. Mark any 5 events from Indian History between 1900-1930.
Five significant events in Indian History between 1900 and 1930 are:
- Partition of Bengal (1905): Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal, ostensibly for administrative reasons, but it was widely seen as a "divide and rule" policy to weaken the nationalist movement. It led to the widespread Swadeshi Movement.
- Lucknow Pact (1916): An agreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League to work together for constitutional reforms. It was a landmark in Hindu-Muslim unity.
- Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919): On April 13, 1919, British troops under General Dyer fired on a peaceful crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, killing hundreds. This event intensified the freedom struggle.
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22): Led by Mahatma Gandhi, it was the first mass movement that urged Indians to boycott British goods, institutions, and government services. It was suspended after the Chauri Chaura incident.
- Lahore Congress Session and Declaration of Purna Swaraj (1929): At this session, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress declared 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) as its goal and decided to celebrate January 26, 1930, as Independence Day.
Part - IV & V: Map Work
25. On the outline map of the India mark the following places:- (4 x 1 = 4)
- i) Delhi: The national capital, located in the north of India.
- ii) Lucknow: The capital city of Uttar Pradesh, located in the central part of the state.
- iii) Gwalior: A major city in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh.
- iv) Barrackpore: A town located on the banks of the Hooghly River, just north of Kolkata in West Bengal.
26. On the outline map of the Tamilnadu mark the following places:- (8 x ½ = 4)
- i) River Palar: A river flowing through the northern districts of Tamil Nadu like Vellore and Kancheepuram.
- ii) Coromandel Coast: The entire eastern coastline of Tamil Nadu, facing the Bay of Bengal.
- iii) Gulf of Mannar: The large shallow bay located between the southeastern tip of India (Ramanathapuram district) and the west coast of Sri Lanka.
- iv) Alluvial soil: Mark the Cauvery delta region (Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam) and other coastal plains.
- v) Cauvery delta region: The fertile triangular region in the eastern part of the state, encompassing districts like Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam.
- vi) Black soil: Mark areas in the western part of Tamil Nadu, such as parts of Coimbatore, Erode, and Tirunelveli districts.
- vii) Evergreen forest: Mark the higher slopes of the Western Ghats, particularly in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai, and Palani hills.
- viii) Mudumalai wild life sanctuary: Located in the Nilgiri district, at the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.
