ICSE 2014 History and Civics Question Paper Solved for Class 10

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ICSE Class 10 History and Civics Question Paper 2014 Solved

Part – I (30 Marks)
Attempt all questions from this Part

Question 1.
(a) Who administers the oath of office to the Council of Ministers ? [1]
Answer:
The President

(b) Why is the Rajya Sabha called a ‘Permanent house ? [1]
Answer:
The Rajya Sabha is a Permanent House, hence it cannot be dissolved. Each member is elected for a term of six years. l/3rd of its total members retire at the end of every two years, and the equal number of new members are elected to fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of 1/3rd members.

Summer Session (Feb-May)
Monsoon Session (July-Sept.)
Winter Session (Nov.-Dee.)

(d) State the composition of the Electoral College in the election of the President ofIndia. [ 1 ]
Answer:
The joint body of elected M.Ps and M.L.As (i.e. elected members of both the Houses of the Parliament and elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of States) which elects the President, is known as the Electoral College. It is a temporary body which is dissolved immediately after the election of the President is over. Nominated M.Ps and nominated M.L.As have no hand in electing the President.

(e) What is an ‘Ordinance’? When can it be passed? [1]
Answer:
An Ordinance is a Presidential decree having authority of law.
The President can issue an Ordinance:

When the President is satisfied that immmediate necessary legislative action is required.
When the Parliament is not in session.

(f) Mention one way by which the authority of the Prime Minister can be checked? [1]
Answer:
India has a well established democratic system for the past 67 years. The presence of the opposition in the Parliament, with its leader keeps him under check.

(g) What is understood by the term ‘Individual Responsibility’ in a Parliamentary Democracy? [1]
Answer:
If a minister has taken a departmental decision independently in the best interest of the department, then he is individually responsible to the President, practically to the Prime Minister who can ask him to resign from his office. The concerned Minister acts accordingly.

(h) What is meant by a ‘Single Integrated Judicial System ’ as provided in the Indian Constitution? [1]
Answer:

All the courts enforce the state as well as laws made by the Union Parliament.
There are no separate sets of law and a single civil and criminal system operates through out the country,

(i) What is the ‘Appellate Jurisdiction’ of the High Court [1]
Answer:
Appellate Jurisdiction means that the High Court has the power to accept appeals against the decision of District Court in civil as well as criminal matters.

(j) State one point of distinction between the District Judge and the Session Judge. [1]
Answer:

District Judge	Session Judge
District Judge deals in civil cases.	Session Judge deals in criminal cases.

Question 2.
(a) State any two political causes responsible for the First War of Independence. [2]
Answer:

Lord Dalhousie’s policy of annexation and the Doctrine of Lapse made the Indian rulers angry and insecure. The prominent states which fell victim to the Doctrine were : Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur.
Lord Canning declared that Bahadur Shah’s successor would not be allowed to use the imperial title, i.e. the ‘King’.

(b) What was the role of the press in promoting nationalistic sentiments amongst the Indians? [2]
Answer:

It played an important role in the campaigns for social reforms and to influence activities of the state.
It played an important role in the growth of National Movement.
Press criticized the unjust policies of the British government in India. They spread the message of patriotism and liberal ideals of liberty, equality, etc. There were other dailies which voiced.

Lala Lajpat Rai emphasised the importance of education in moulding the character of people.
Through his writings he preached radical nationalism, inspired the Indian youth and kindled the fire of patriotism in them.

(d) What were the two basic reasons responsible for the Surat Split in 1907 between the Early Nationalists and the Assertive Nationalists ? [2]
Answer:
To placate the Assertive Nationalists the Calcutta session of the Congress in 1906 A.D. adopted “Swaraj ” as its goal and passed resolutions supporting Swadeshi and Boycott and National education. But the moderate section in the Congress did not like this development. The Radicals wanted to extend the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement to rest of India but the Moderates wanted to confine it to Bengal.

(e) Mention any one provision each of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed in 1931. [2]
Answer:

Withdrawal of all ordinances issued by the British Government imposing curbs on the activities of the Indian National Congress.
Release of prisoners arrested for participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

(f) State two important objectives of the Indian National Army. [2]
Answer:

The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance.
To establish an Interim Government.

(g) Name the three members of the Cabinet Mission. [2]
Answer:

Lord Pethick- Lawrence,
Sir Stafford Cripps
Mr. A.V Alexander.

(h) Mention any two terms of the Treaty of Versailles signed on June 28, 1919. [2]
Answer:

Germany was declared guilty of war and was compelled to pay 33 billion dollars as war indemnity to the victor nations.
Germany had to evacuate the places she had captured during the war.

(i) State two factors which were responsible for the failure of the League of Nations. [2]
Answer:

Actually, the League of Nations had no power to act on its own initative to preserve peace in the world.
The USA did not become its member, because the USA Senate did not ratify the Covenant of the League of Nations.

(j) Mention two functions of the General Assembly. [2]
Answer:

It considers and approves the budget of the United Nations.
It appoints the Secretary-General upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

Question 3.
With reference to the Indian Parliament, explain the following:
(a) The tenure of the members ofthe Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. [2]
Answer:
Lok Sabha: The term of the Lok Sabha is five years. But it can be dissolved earlier by the President if a motion expressing the No-Confidence in the Government is moved and passed by the opposition.

Rajya Sabha: The Rajya Sabha is a permanent House. It cannot be dissolved. Each member has a term of six years. One third of its total number of members retire at the end of every two years, and the equal number of new members are elected or nominated to fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of l/3rd members. Thus, the Rajya Sabha continues to exist, though its members retire when they complete their six years tenure. They can also be re-elected or renominated.

(b) The composition of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. [4]
Answer:
Lok Sabha:
The Lok Sabha is composed of representatives of the people chosen by direct election on the basis of adult suffrage. The maximum strength of the House envisaged by the Constitution is about 552,530 members to represent the States, 20 members to represent the Union Territories and not more than two members of the Anglo-Indian Community to be nominated by the President, if, in his opinion, that community is not adequately represented in the House. The total elected membership is distributed among the States roughly on population basis.

Rajya Sabha:
The strength of the Rajya Sabha is fixed at 250 members. There are two categories of members: First, the elected members; and second, the nominated members.

Elected Members:
There are 238 elected members, who represent the 28 States and the Union Territories, including the National Capital Territory, Delhi. Seats are allotted to them on the basis of their population. For example, Uttar Pradesh, with a population of nearly 16 crores is represented in the Rajya Sabha by 31 members, which is the largest. Goa, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura send only one member each to the Rajya Sabha.

Nominated Members:
The President nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha. These are eminent persons from the fields of Literature, Science, Art and Social Service. They are nominated for six years, with a provision that one-third (i.e., 4 out of 12) shall retire after eveiy two years. These nominations are made by the President on the advice and recommendations of the Prime Minister.

(c) Its powers to make laws on subjects mentioned in the [4]
(i) Union List
(ii) Concurrent List.
Answer:
(i) Union List: The Parliament has exclusive powers to make laws on the 97 subjects in the Union List, including important subjects like Defence, Foreign Policy, Communications, etc.

(ii) Concurrent List: The Legislative Assembly and Parliament can make laws on 47 subjects listed in the Concurrent List. If there is any conflict between the Union Parliament and the State Legislature on any law over this list, the Union Law will prevail.

Question 4.
The Cabinet holds a pivotal position in the working of the Indian Parliamentary Government In this context discuss the following:
(a) The formation of the Cabinet. [2]
Answer:

Cabinet is the most important part of the government.
Cabinet is consisted of the most senior leaders of the ruling party.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister. They hold the charge of the most important portfolios like Defence, Home, Finance, Foreign affairs, etc.

(b) Any two administrative powers of the Cabinet. [4]
Answer:

The whole administration of the state is run by the ministers.
Every minister is incharge of one particular department and is also responsible to the Lok Sabha for running the administration of that department. He has to answer the questions of the members of Parliament relating to his department.
The Ministers also enforce properly the laws made by the Parliament.
The President appoints the Attorney General of India, Governor of a state, Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commissioners, Judges of Supreme Court, High Courts and other high dignitaries of the state on the advice of the Cabinet.

The sessions of the Parliament are summoned by the President on the advice of the Cabinet. The initiative in this matter is taken by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. The Cabinet decides dates for holding sessions and for proroguing the Parliament.
The special address that the President delivers to the Parliament is prepared by the Cabinet and the President simply reads it.
The Cabinet gets the bills drafted. The members of the Council of Ministers introduce, explain and defend the bills in the Parliament and get them passed.
The President issues ordinances at the instance of the Cabinet.

Question5
With reference to the Supreme Court, explain its functions stated below:
(a) Original Jurisdiction. [3]
Answer:
Original Jurisdiction means the authority and power of the Supreme Court to hear a case in the first instance directly. The original and exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court extends to the following cases:
(i) Interpretation of the Constitution in case of a dispute between the Union Government and one or more States.

(ii) Interpretation of the Constitution in case of dispute between two or more States interests, relating to some justiciable right.

(iii) The Supreme Court has the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the Constitutional Validity of the Union laws. Such cases are debated by a majority of the full Constitutional Bench of seven Judges.

(iv) The Supreme Court has a special jurisdiction and responsibility for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
It can issue writs of Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Quo-warranto and Certiorari for this and other purposes. As such a citizen can resort directly for such relief to the Supreme Court for the enforcement of his Fundamental Rights, without first resorting to a High Court.

(v) The Supreme Court has also the exclusive and original jurisdiction to inquire into and decide all doubts and disputes in connection with the election of the President and Vice-President of India.

(b) Advisory Function. [3]
Answer:
The President may seek Supreme Court’s opinion or advice on a question of law or fact, which is of public importance in the opinion of the President, whether it has actually arisen or is likely to arise. The Supreme Court may give its opinion, after such hearing as it may think fit. It is done by a Bench of five judges, by a majority vote. The opinion of the Supreme Court is pronounced in the open court. But the opinion of the Supreme Court is riot binding on the President, as it is not a judicial decision or pronouncement. It is only a consultative view. It must be noted that the Supreme Court is also not bound to give its advisory opinion when a reference is made to it by the President. The Supreme Court can decline to give its opinion. Usually, its opinion is rejected by all courts and tribunals.

(c) As a guardian of Fundamental Rights. [4]
Answer:
The Supreme Court is the guardian of the Fundamental Rights. A citizen, whose fundamental right has been violated by any individual, government or institution, may move the Supreme Court for the protection of his fundamental right, A writ is a legal instrument to enforce obedience to the orders of a court. It is a form of written command or order from a judicial authority asking a particular person or official to act or not to act in a particular way. The Constitution empowers the Supreme Coin! and High Courts to issue the following writs of Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition and Certiorari. Out of all these writ of Habeas Corpus is very important.

Writ of Habeas Corpus : Habeas Corpus (Latin: means that you have the body) is a writ through which a person can seek relief from unlawful detention (i.e., held in police custody or prison) of himself or another person.

Section-B
Attempt any three questions from this Section

Question 6
The establishment of the Indian National Congress led to the development of the National Movement in India. In this context answer the following:
(a) When was the Indian National Congress established ?
Who presided over its first session? [2]
Answer:
1885. W.C. Bannerjee.

(b) What were the four aims of the Congress ? [4]
Answer:

To enable national workers from all parts of India to become personally known to each other.
To end all racial, religious and provincial prejudices and to promote a feeling of national unity among all the patriots of the country. To promote friendly relations between the Hindus and the Muslims.
To formulate popular opinion on vital Indian problems and to present these before the government.
To create, train and organize a strong body of public opinion in the country.

(c) Mention four basic beliefs of the Early Nationalists. [4]
Answer:
1. The English were just and freedom loving people. They had an abiding faith in the British sense of justice and fairplay and believed in loyalty to the British crown.

2. So they believed that simply by presenting and pleading their case before the British Parliament and the British people, justice would be done and their grievances would be redressed.

3. The Congress was proud of its British connections and looked to England for inspiration and guidance, (z’v) They recognised the benefits of the English rule, especially the English language and modem means of transport and communication. They also tried to purge the society of its evils like sati, child marriage, untouchability, etc.

Question 7.
In the Nagpur session, 1920, the Congress ratified the resolution to launch the Non-Cooperation movement under the leadership of Gandhiji. In this context:
(a) What do you understand by the term Non-Cooperation? [2]
Answer:
It was a movement launched by Gandhiji in 1920 over the question of the injustice done to Turkey, the repression in Punjab and for Swaraj. It is called the Non-Cooperation Movement because of the methods adopted in the movement.

(b) What were the objectives which the movement sought to achieve ? [3]
Answer:

Redressal of the wrongs committed in Punjab that entailed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the atrocities related to the martial laws.
Restoring the old status of the Sultan of Turkey.
Accomplishment of Swaraj.
In September, 1920, a special session of the Congress, presided over by Lala Lajpat Rai was convened at Calcutta that sought to approve the scheme.

(c) Explain the impact of the Non-Cooperation movement in India s struggle for freedom. [5]
Answer:
1. New Direction to Freedom Movement: It can be said without any doubt that the Non-Cooperation Movement and the role played by Gandhi in it took the Indian freedom movement to new heights. It was responsible for creating a new political fervour among the people and taught the Indian fearlessness. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Swarajya found popular expression and a patriotic zeal gripped the entire nation. The weapon of passive resistance or satyagraha, that Gandhi gave to the nation, emerged as the greatest asset of the Indians.

An important programme of the Non-Cooperation Movement was the removal of untouchability, poverty and the promotion of Khadi. Under the guidance of Gandhi, charkha and Indian handloom products gained back their glory. Many weavers were employed. The freedom struggle assumed an all India character under his leadership. It gave a sense of unity – like common language (Hindi), national uniform (Khadi) and national activity (spinning). It continued with the constructive programme. It undermined the power and prestige of the British government.

2. Mass Movement: The Movement gave rise to the sentiments of nationalism on a wider scale. When thousands and thousands of people walked together shoulder to shoulder and resisted the British for months, the National Movement naturally became quite wide in its scope. It was no longer limited to only an educated urban people. All sections of society- peasants, workers, students, women and oppressed people participated in the movement. Many local revolts like the revolt against taluqdars in Awadh, and Akali Dal movement merged into it and provided the movement a wide base.

3. Hindu-Muslim Unity: The Movement fostered Hindu-Muslim unity which could be seen in the merger of the Khilafat Movement with this Movement. It provided an opportunity to the Congress to bring the urban Muslims into the National Movement.

Question 8
With reference to the picture given above answer the following:

(a) Identify the Viceroy in the picture. [1]
Answer:
Lord Mountbatten.

(b) Why was he sent to India? [2]
Answer:
The British Prime Minister, announced on February 20, 1947, in the House of Commons that Britain would withdraw from India and transfer power to reponsible Indians by 30th June 1948. Even if Indian leaders failed to come to an agreement by that time, the British would withdraw and hand over power to some form of Central government or in some areas to the existing Provincial governments. It would not accept the forcing of unwilling provinces into a United Indian government.

For the purpose of taking necessary steps in that direction Lord Wavell was recalled and Lord Mountbatten was appointed the new Viceroy. Lord Mountbatten assumed office on March 24, 1947.

(c) How did he plan to solve the communal problem existing in India ? [2]
Answer:
Lord Mountbatten lost no time in holding negotiations with the party leaders. Nehru, Patel, Azad, Liaqat Ali, Baldev Singh and others. In the course of his talks with them, Mountbatten was convinced that there was absolutely no possibility of an agreed solution on the basis of the Cabinet Mission Plan and that the partition of India was inevitable. He was successful in convincing both Patel and Nehru and other Congress leaders to the same view.

(d) Why did the Congress accept the Plan? State three reasons to justify its acceptance. [5]
Answer:
(i) Non-Cooperative attitude of the League: The League had joined the interim government to obstruct the working of the Congress and not to cooperate with it.

(ii) Communal Riots: The large scale communal riots that engulfed, the whole country convinced all that the only solution to the communal problem lay in the partition of India. These riots were the outcome of “Direct Action” Day by the League.

(iii) To get rid of Undemocratic Procedures: The leaders felt that the Constitution of separate electorate, British policy of Divide and Rule and other undemocratic procedures would weaken the democracy. So to get rid of these, partition was a must.

Question 9.
With reference to the causes of the Second World War answer the following:
(a) (i) Explain how the ideologies of Fascism and Nazism led to the Second World War. [3]
(ii) How did the Japanese invasion of China create conditions for the outbreak of the war ? [3]
Answer:
(i) Both Nazism and Fascism believed in the principle of the ‘survival of the fittest ’which is the law of life. The strongest alone have the right to survive and rule. Both believed in the principle of expansion. Hitler believed that nation became great only by defeating other nations in war. Both Hitler and Mussolini pursued an expansionist policy abroad. In May, 1936 Italian troops captured Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. Hitler also captured Austria, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Norway, Luxemberg. Holland and Belgium and Paris too, fell to the Nazis.

(ii) In Asia, Japan harboured expansionist desires. It attacked China in 1931 and annexed Manchuria. China appealed to the League of Nations to declare sanctions against Japan, Britain and France leading, members of the League ignored the appeal. In 1933, Japan left the League of Nations and started occupying the British and American properties in China. Britain and France followed the policy of appeasement under which they ignored aggressive policy of Japan, thinking that Japanese could be used to weaken China. The Japanese were determined to dominate the Far East. America warned Japan of the dire consequences but Japan ignored. She joined “Rome-Berlin-Tokyo” Axis. She also attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbour.
The League of Nations failed to check these nations in their aggressive policies of territorial annexation.

(b) Explain the consequences of the war with reference to the formation of the United Nations. [4]
Answer:
Mankind looked for a better, a happier and a peaceful world after it had witnessed the nuclear holocaust and the widespread destruction and death in the Second World War. To save the coming generations from the scourge of War, the United Nations Organization (U.N.O.) was established on October 24,1945, with its headquarters at New York (U.S.A.). Peace, human dignity, justice, human brotherhood, cooperation, etc. are the main objectives of the U.N.O. It is the largest world organisation, and has 192 member-States, and it has done a commendable job in almost all spheres of life. We can say that the U.N.O. is the great gift of the World War II to save and serve mankind.

Question 10
With reference to the Non-Aligned Movement, explain the
following:
(a) ‘Non-Alignment’ [2]
Answer:
Non-Alignment is the international policy of a sovereign state according to which it does not align itself with any of the power blocks and at the same time actively participates in the world affairs to promote international peace, harmony and cooperation.

(b) Two factors responsible for its formation. [4]
Answer:
(i) Global tension caused by Cold War: Most of the newly independent countries of Asia and Africa realised that the division of the world into two power blocs was not in their larger interest and this might endanger world peace. These nations felt that by maintaining distance from both the super powers they would put off the danger of another war.

(ii) Struggle against imperialism: The newly independent nations opted for non-alignment because most of these countries remained under big powers for a long period of time. They wanted to enjoy their newly acquired freedom and the power that had come with it.

(c) Role of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. [4]
Answer:
(i) Asian-Relations Conference, 1947: India with Nehru as her Interim P.M. convened the Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi in March, 1947. He laid down the basic principle of Non-Alignment, when he said, “We have no design against any body ours is the great design of promoting peace and progress all over the world”.

(ii) Enunciation of Panchsheel, 1954 : Later in 1954, Nehru along with the Chinese Premier, Chon-Enlai, enunciated the five Principles of Peaceful co-existence, popularly known as Panchsheel. These principles provided the firm basis on which friendly relations between nations could be maintained, as well as economic development and peace in the world secured. Panchsheel became the bed-rock of the NAM, later on. This was Nehru’s singular contribution to international relations.

(iii) Nehru’s Role in the Belgrade Conference, 1961: The first formal NAM Summit/Conference was held, from September 1 to 6 in 1961 at Belgrade in Yugoslavia, in which 25 nations participated. This conference adopted a 27-Points Declaration, in preparing which Nehru is said to have played a crucial role. In the Belgrade Conference, he laid emphasis on the following principles :
(a) negotiation for peace,
(b) disarmament,
(c) ending colonialism and imperialism in all its forms,
(d) condemnation of racial discrimination being practised in South Africa or else where,
(e) stress on socio-economic development of Afro-Asian nations on the basis of mutual benefit and equality. The Belgrade Summit also made an appeal to Super-Powers to help in maintaining peace and security in the world. The Conference also invited other Afro-Asian and Latin American nation to join the NAM. Jawaharlal Nehru, Marshall Tito and Colonel Nasser were the most prominent leaders of the NAM at Belgrade. The Trio carried a great influence.