ICSE 2016 History and Civics Question Paper Solved for Class 10

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ICSE Class 10 History and Civics Question Paper 2016 Solved

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

Question 1.
(a) What is meant by ‘Residuary Powers ’ of the Parliament? [1]
Answer:
Matters which are not included in the division of powers are known as residuary powers.

(b) What is the normal term of office of the Lok Sabha ? [ 1]
Answer:
Five years.

(c) State any one subject wherein the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha enjoy co-equal powers in legislation of laws. [1]
Answer:
In the election of the President and the Vice-President.

(d) Who presides over the meeting of the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Vice-President of India ? [ 1 ]
Answer:
Deputy Chairman.

(e) By whom and on whose advice are the Council of Ministers appointed ? [1]
Answer:
The Council of Ministers is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

(f) Name the official procedure by which the President can be removed. [1]
Answer:
The President can be removed from his office for violation of the Constitution by Impeachment.

(g) Mention any one important occasion when the President addresses a Joint Session of Parliament. [ 1 ]
Answer:
Both the Houses of Parliament are jointly addressed by the President on the first session after the General Elections. The President in this session expounds government’s internal and external policies.

(h) Name the highest Civil Court in a District. [ 1 ]
Answer:
The District Judge’s court is the highest civil court of a district.

(i) What is meant by the term ‘Judicial Review’of the High court ? [1]
Answer:
The High Court exercises the power of Judicial Review to judge the validity of a State law or the Central law.

(j) What is meant by ‘Lok Adalat ’? [ 1 ]
Answer:
A Lok Adalat means “People’s Court”. It encourages the settlement of disputes through compromise between two parties.

Question 2.
(a) What impact did the uprising of 1857 have on the Mughal Rule ? [2]
Answer:
The Mughal empire which had lost its prestige was completely wiped out. Last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was tried for treason and exiled to Burma.

(b) Name the Presidents who presided over the first two Sessions of the Indian National Congress. [2]
Answer:
(b) 1st session was presided by W.C. Bannerjee.
2nd session was presided by Dadabhai Naoroji.

(c) State two reasons given by Lord Curzon to justify the Partition of Bengal. [2]
Answer:
(i) The government regarded the size of province of Bengal to be too large to be administered by a single Provincial Government. So, it wanted to relieve the government of Bengal of a part of the administrative burden and ensure more efficient administration in the outlying districts.

(ii) The government desired to promote the development of backward Assam (ruled by a Chief Commissioner) by enlarging its jurisdiction so as to provide it with an outlet to the sea.

(d) Name the famous Pad that demonstrated the unity between the Congress and the Muslim League. When was it signed ? [2]
Answer:
Lucknow Pact, 1916.

(e) Why was the Congress session held at Lahore in 1929 significant to the National Movement? [2]
Answer:

The resolution for complete Independence was passed.
It was also decided that 26th January would be observed as the Independence Day all over the country every year.

(f) Mention any two contributions of the INA to the National Movement. [2]
Answer:
(i) INA and Subhas Chandra Bose : Subhas Chandra Bose officially took charge of the Indian National Army in 1943. The soldiers of the INA fought valiantly along with the Japanese forces and reached upto Imphal and Manipur.
On October 21, 1943 Subhas Chandra announced the formation of the Provisional Government of free India and declared war against the allies. Andaman and Nicobar Islands were handed over to the INA by Japan. ‘Delhi Chalo’ and ‘ Jai Hind’ became the battle cry of the INA.

(ii) INA’s victories in South-East Asia: It was the IN A which hoisted Tri-colour flag for the first time on the liberated Indian soil on March 19, 1944. The INA along with Japanese forces continued to hold Burma for almost a year.

(g) Why was Mountbatten’s Plan finally accepted by the Congress ? [2]
Answer:
1. Non-Cooperative attitude of the League: The League had joined the Congress to obstruct the working of the Congress and not to cooperate with it.

2. 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.

3. To get rid of undemocratic Procedures: The leaders felt that constitution of separate electorate and other undemocratic procedures would weaken the democracy. So to get rid of these, partition was a must.

4. Immediate end of the British rule: All the people and leaders were so fed up with the British rule that they wanted to get rid of their rule immediately and were ready to pay any price. Hence, partition was a price for immediate independence.

(h) What made Japan surrender to the Allies in August 1945? [2]
Answer:
Japan conquered Thailand, Malaya, Burma and Philippines and was still fighting against America in the Pacific. Inspite of many warnings Japan refused to surrender. To show its supremacy, America dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima on 6th August 1945, and another on 9th August on Nagasaki within a few seconds, 80,000 lives were lost and 70,000 were seriously wounded. Japanese lost all hopes of winning the war and officially surrendered on 15th August. All territories acquired or seized by Japan since 1895 were taken away.

(i) ate the fullforms of the following agencies of the United Nations: [2]
UNICEF and UNESCO.
Answer:
UNICEF: United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.
UNESCO: United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

(j) Give any two examples of Human Rights violations. [2]
Answer:

The policy of apartheid in South Africa under which the black were ill-treated.
Ideology of Talibans in Afghanistan.

Part – II (50 MARKS)|
Section-A
(Attempt any two questions from this Section)

Question 3.
With reference to the Union Legislature, answer the following questions:
(a) How is the Speaker of the Lok Sabha elected? State two Disciplinary Functions of the Speaker. [3]
Answer:
After General Elections, when a new Lok Sabha is constituted, the Speaker is elected by the members of the Sabha in their first meeting. The Speaker is mostly elected unanimously. The leader of the majority party, after consulting the leaders of opposition, proposes the name of the candidate for the office of Speaker. The leader of opposition seconds the name so proposed. The election to the office of the Speaker takes place only when the majority party and other parties disagree over the issue. Sh. G.V. Mavlankar was the first Speaker of the first Lok Sabha.

Disciplinary Functions:

The speaker maintains order in the house. He may name a member for suspension for a specified period, if he disregards the authority of the Chair. In case of grave disorder, he may adjourn the House.
If a word or words used in the debate are indecent or unparliamentary, he may remove such words from the proceedings of the House.
The Speaker decides whether there is a Prima facie case regarding breach of privilege or contempt of the House.
Under the Anti-Defection Act of 1985, the Speaker is vested with the power relating to the disqualification of a member of the Lok Sabha who is debarred from holding any public office till elected again.

(A) Explain two conditions under which a member of Parliament can be disqualified under the Anti-Defection Law. [3]
Answer:
Anti Defection Law:

If he voluntarily relinquishes his membership of such political party or votes or abstains from voting in the House contrary to the directions of the party.
An independent member of Parliament or a State Legislature will be disqualified if he joins any political party after his elections.

(c) Give reasons to justify why the Lok Sabha is considered to be more powerful than the Rajya Sabha. [4]
Answer:
The Lok Sabha is more powerful than the Rajya Sabha. This is because :
1. Introduction of Bill : No money bill can be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. When the money bill is sent to the Rajya Sabha, it cannot reject it. It can give its suggestions within 14 days. If it does not send the bill within 14 days, the Bill is deemed to have been passed.

2. Joint Sitting : If there is deadlock between the two Houses, the President calls a joint sitting of the two Houses. As the members of the Lok Sabha are almost double than that of the Rajya Sabha, in the joint sitting the will of the Lok Sabha prevails.

Question 4.
The President of India is the Constitutional Head of the Indian Republic. In this context, answer the following questions:
(a) How is the President elected ? [3]
Answer:
(a) The President is elected indirectly through an electoral college. Ordinary citizens play no part in this election.

Electoral College
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. The name of a Presidential candidate must be proposed by 50 members and seconded by another 50 members of the Electoral College.

(b) Mention three types of Emergencies that the President is empowered to proclaim. [3]
Answer:
(b) The President possesses three types of Emergency Powers e.g.,
(a) National Emergency caused by war, external aggression or armed rebellion inside the country. (Article – 352);
(b) Constitutional Emergency caused by the break down of the constitutional machinery in a State (Article – 356); and
(c) Financial Emergency caused by a threat to financial stability of India (Article – 360).

(c) Explain briefly any four ‘Executive Powers’ of the President. [4]
Answer:
The Constitution lays down that “the Executive powers of the Union shall be vested in the President”. His executive powers extend to all the subjects on which the Parliament can make laws. It includes the following :
(i) Administrative Head : The administration of the country runs in his name. All orders are issued in his name. All officials are his subordinates. He is the head of the Union administration.

(ii) Appoints and dismisses the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers: He appoints the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha as the Prime Minister and on his advice, he appoints other ministers in the Council of Ministers and distribute their portfolios. The Prime Minister and the Ministers submit their resignation to him, if required.

(iii) Appoints and dismisses High Officials: The President appoints and removes dignitaries like the Attorney General of India, the Comptroller and the Auditor General of India, the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts, the State Governors, the Ambassadors and the High Commissioners. He also appoints the Chairman.and members of the Union Public Service Commission, Planning Commission, Finance Commission, and the Election Commission of India.

(iv) Controls State Governments : The President has the power to issue such directions to the State Governments as he may think necessary from time to time. During an emergency on account of failure of Constitutional machinery in a State, the control of the President upon that State is complete through the Governor, who is appointed by the President, and to whom he is responsible.

(v) Power to Administer Union Territories: Every Union Territory in India is under the President and it is administered by him. He exercises this power through an administrator, appointed by him.

Question 5.
The Supreme Court has an extensive jurisdiction. In the
light of this statement, answer the following questions:
(a) What are the qualifications of the Judges of the Supreme Court ? [3]
Answer:
A Judge of the Supreme Court must be a citizen of India, and have the following other qualifications :

Must have been a Judge of one or more High Courts for five consecutive years, or
Be an advocate of one or more High Courts for ten consecutive years, or
Be a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the President.

(b) (i) Explain the composition of the Supreme Court.
(ii) How are the Judges of the Supreme Court appointed? [3]
Answer:
(i) At the commencement of the Constitution, there were eight Judges, including the Chief Justice, in the Supreme Court. The Parliament can increase or decrease the number of judges as and when required. In accordance with the Act of 2008, the Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of India and not more than thirty other judges. A Constitutional Bench of seven Judges is required to determine the Constitutional validity of laws of the Centre or the States. For every other cause, appeal or matter, the bench consists of not less than three Judges.

(ii) Every judge of the Supreme Court is appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice and such other Judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts as he may deem necessary for this purpose’.

(c) Explain the cases in which the Supreme Court enjoys
Original Jurisdiction. [4]
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 :
1. Interpretation of the Constitution in case of a dispute between the Union Government and one or more States.

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

3. The Supreme Court has the exclusive j urisdiction to determine the Constitutional Validity of the Union laws. Such cases are debated by a majority of the full Constitutional Bench of seven Judges.

4. 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.

5. 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.

Section – B
(Attempt any three questions from this Section)

Question 6.
Explain the Causes of the Great Revolt of 1857, with
reference to the following:
(a) Any three Political Causes. [3]
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’.
Lord Dalhousie stopped the pension of Nana Saheb.
The kingdom of Oudh was annexed in 1856 on the ground that it was not being managed well.

(b) Any three Military Causes. [3]
Answer:

The Indian soldiers were given low salaries.
The Indian soldiers could not rise to a rank higher than that of a Subedar.
The Indian soldiers were considered inferior and were ill-treated.
The General Service Enlistment Act 1856 provided that all recruits to the Bengal Army should be ready for service anywhere. This Act caused great alarm in the minds of the Hindu soldiers, as to travel across the sea was forbidden as per Hindu religious beliefs.
The affair of greased cartridges forced the soldiers to revolt against the Britishers.

An Act was passed in 1720 which prohibited the use of Indian silk and calicoes in England. This was done to reduce the popularity of Indian textile products in England.
Heavy duties on Indian products were imposed whereas British products were imported without any duties.
The Industrial Revolution gave a final blow to the Indian industries which were mostly cottage industries.
The trade and commerce of the country were monopolized by the East India Company.

Question 7.
Through various National Movements, Gandhiji mobilised public support to win freedom for India. In this context, state the following:
(a) Any three causes for Gandhi to launch the Non-Cooperation Movement. [3]
Answer:
(i) Failure of Montague-Chelmsford Reforms: The Congress considered “the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms to be inadequate, unsatisfactory and disappointing”. Even whatever reforms were introduced, they failed to have any impact on the administration.

(ii) The Rowlatt Act: The Rowlatt Act was passed to crush any movement. The Act gave enormous powers to the police to arrest any person without any reason, search any place without a warrant and imprison anyone without a trial. The Act came to be known as “Black Act”.

(iii) The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre : The protest movement against the Rowlatt Act was very strong in Punjab. To check the movement, two Congress leaders, Dr. Satya Pal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew were arrested. To protest against the arrests, a public meeting was held on 13 th April in Jallianwala Bagh where General Dyer opened fire at the public without giving any warning in which more than 1,000 people were killed. This incident shook the whole world.

(iv) The Khilafat Movement: The Khilafat Movement was organized by the famous Ali brothers, Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali, and others in protest against the injustice done to Turkey after the war. The Congress leaders joined in the Khilafat agitation and helped in organizing it throughout the country.

(b) The name given to the uprising of1942. Two reasons for launching this mass uprising. [3]
Answer:
(b) Quit India Movement:
(i) Failure of the Cripps Mission : The failure of the Cripps Mission left no meeting ground between the Congress and the government. It was clear from the proposals that the government was not willing to grant independence in the near future. The Indians were also not happy at the proposals of Cripps Mission because proposals contained within them provisions which could divide India into hundreds of independent provinces.

(ii) War Situation : There was every possibility that India might be attacked by Japan and the Indians were helpless because they had no power or means to resist the attack. So, the Indian leaders felt that the situation called for complete independence. Gandhiji also felt that an orderly and peaceful withdrawal of the British could save India from internal anarchy and external aggression.

(iii) Internal Anarchy : The communal situation was worsening day by day. The Muslim League was demanding a separate state i.e., Pakistan. This had spoiled the communal situation.

(c) The impact of the Non-Cooperation Movement in India’s freedom struggle. [4]
Answer:
(i) Establishment of New Educational Institutions:
The Non-Cooperation Movement gave a boost to the Indian Education System. A new programme of national education was started. Institutions such as the Jama Millia and the Kashi Vidyapeeth were established.

(ii) 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 wider in its scope. It was no longer limited to only few educated urban people.

(iii) Unity : This was the first major Movement in which the Hindus and the Muslims participated as one, and scenes of fratemality (friendly relations) were witnessed all over the country.

(iv) Change in the Character of the Congress: The Movement had a great impact on the working of the Congress. The Congress decided to use the weapons of Satyagraha and Non-Cooperation on wider scale.

Question 8.
The Partition of Bengal and the Formation of the Muslim League were two important events that had its impact on the National Struggle for Independence. In this context, explain the following:
(a) Impact of Swadeshi and Boycott movements as part of the Anti-Partition Movement. [3]
Answer:
(i) Impetus to Indian Industries: This movement provided a great impetus to both the cottage and large-scale Indian industries, due to an increased demand of Swadeshi goods.

(ii) Decline in Import of Foreign Goods : The Boycott was directed against British goods, particularly cloth, shoes, perfumes, soaps, toys, china ware etc. The import of some of these items fell by 75% or more. In 1906 A.D., the demand of imported cotton-twist and yam had fallen by about one crore rupees.

(b) Any three factors leading to the formation of the Muslim League. [3]
Answer:
1. After the revolt of 1857 and the partition of Bengal, the Britishers saw the unity between the Hindus and Muslims. To check the growth of nationalism, they encouraged the formation of Muslim League.

2. The working of Indian National Congress also gave a setback to the British government. They wanted to create an organisation which could check the popularity of the Congress.

3. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was a great social reformer and an educationist. He worked as a guiding force for the Muslims to form a separate organisation.

(c) Objectives of the Muslim League. [4]
Answer:
(i) To promote amongst the Muslims of India, the feeling of loyalty to the British Government and to remove any misconception that may arise as to the intentions of the government with regard to any of its measures.

(ii) To protect and advance the political rights and ihterests of the Muslims of India and to represent their needs and aspirations to the government.

(iii) To prevent the rise among Muslims of India of any feelings of hostility towards other communities without adversely affecting the objects of the League.

Question 9.
(a) Identify the leader in the picture. Give two examples to state that the leader followed an expansionist policy. [3]
Answer:
Mussolini
Mussolini used to proclaim, “Italy must expand or perish.” He wanted to acquire colonies for the countiy to satisfy nationalist urge and for the economic interests. He annexed Ethiopia (Abyssinia) in 1936 and also Albenia.

(b) State three factors that led to the rise of Fascism. [3]
Answer:
1. First World War: The war had caused a great economic strain on Italy’s economy:

Thousands of soldiers, discharged from army, were unemployed after the war.
There was a steep price rise and inflation in the country.
There were frequent strikes as the workers were dissatisfied which led to reduction in production.

2. Political instability : In 1919, a Parliamentary Government, based on male adult franchise, was introduced in Italy for the first time. But the electorates failed to give a clear majority to any political party. There came series of short-lived coalition governments in Italy, with neither consistency nor continuity in the policies. These governments were unable to deal effectively with the frequent strikes and riots in the country.

3. Mistreatment after the War: Italy had joined the First World War on the side of Britain and France in 1915. She hoped to get large territories such as Trentino, Triesto, Istria, Fiume, Coastal regions of Dalmatia, Albania and some parts of Germany and Turkey after their victory. But the Paris Peace Treaties gave her nothing from the defeated German and Turkish empires. So among the Italians a feeling developed that they “had won the war, but lost the peace”. Italians felt badly cheated by their War-time Allies.

Both Mussolini and Hitler aimed at restoring the status and dignity of their nations amongst the community of nations by making them strong powers.
Both wanted to solve the after-war problems of their countries and relieve the people of the economic crisis and develop their economies.
Both aimed at providing strong, stable and efficient government. They promised this to their people.
Both wanted to undo the injustice done to their respective countries by the Treaty of Versailles and other Peace Treaties after the end of war.

Question 10.
With reference to the United Nations and its related Agencies, answer the following questions:
(a) Explain any three functions of the WHO. [3]
Answer:
1. Research Work: The WHO promotes and coordinates research in the field of health by financing research projects in many countries. Its research activities include nutritious food, environmental safety, mental health, control of specific diseases like cancer, heart-attack etc.

2. Standardisation of Medicines: It sets international standards with respect to biological and pharmaceutical products. It also provides essential drugs to developing countries.

3. To Eradicate Diseases: Many deadly diseases like smallpox, measles, diptheria, polio, T.B. have been brought under control with the help of the WHO. It tries to prevent the spread of diseases to other countries by checking the disease at the source.

(b) State the composition of the International Court of Justice. [3]
Answer:

It is composed of 15 judges elected for a 9-year term.
The judges are elected by both Security Council and General Assembly by a majority vote.
To maintain the continuity, one-third of the court i.e, five judges, are elected every three years.
The court elects its President and Vice-President for three years! It also has power to appoint its Registrar.

(c) State any four functions ofthe General Assembly. [4]
Answer:
1. Financial Functions: The General Assembly considers and approves the budget of the UNO and also determines the amount of funds to be contributed by the different members in accordance with their capacities.

2. Electoral Functions: It elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of Trusteeship, Economic and Social Council. It also elects the judges of International Court of Justice and to appoint on the recommendations of the Security Council, the Secretary General of the United Nations.

3. Supervisory Functions: The General Assembly regulates the working of other organs and agencies of the UNO. It can bring changes in the working of any of its agencies, if required.

4. Other Functions: The General Assembly makes recommendations to promote international co-operation, human rights and fundamental freedom for all. It also helps in promoting international cooperation and friendship. Under the Uniting for Peace Resolution, if the Security Council is unable to reach a decision the General Assembly can deal with the problem.