CBSE EXAMINATION PAPER-2023

Answer: In the 19th century, many Europeans fled to America primarily due to poverty, hunger, and lack of job opportunities in their home countries. The rapid population growth resulted in more people than available jobs, causing overcrowded cities and poor living conditions. Religious conflicts and persecution also forced many to leave. America and Australia had a shortage of labour, attracting Europeans in search of better job opportunities and land ownership, especially younger sons who would not inherit property in Europe.

Answer: There is a pressing need to use non-conventional energy resources because the consumption of conventional fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas is increasing rapidly, leading to potential shortages and rising prices. This dependence creates insecurity in energy supply, which negatively affects the national economy. Furthermore, burning fossil fuels causes serious environmental problems like pollution and climate change. Therefore, using renewable sources like solar, wind, tidal, and biomass energy is essential for sustainable development, energy security, and protecting the environment.

Answer: Two effective ways to create more employment in the rural sector are: first, promoting industrial development, especially small and medium industries in rural and backward areas, which can provide jobs to surplus agricultural laborers; second, improving the tertiary sector by encouraging services such as healthcare, education, and rural infrastructure development, which create various job opportunities. Both these methods help in reducing poverty and migration by providing alternative employment to rural people.

Answer: The Non-Co-operation Movement had significant effects on the Indian economy. Firstly, there was a widespread boycott of foreign goods, especially British-made products. People stopped buying foreign cloth and instead promoted indigenous goods, which led to the growth of local industries. Secondly, the movement led to the closure of liquor shops and boycotting of foreign goods, which affected British trade and revenue adversely. Thirdly, many professionals like lawyers gave up their practices in government courts, which disrupted the administrative and legal systems tied to the colonial economy. These actions shook the British economic control and encouraged the idea of self-reliance and swaraj, aiming at economic independence.

Answer: The Rowlatt Act of 1919 was strongly opposed by the Indian people as it curtailed fundamental rights and increased police powers. Mahatma Gandhi led a nationwide satyagraha, calling for a day of non-violent protest and prayer on 6th April 1919, which included hartals (strikes). Satyagraha Sabhas were formed to organize the movement, showing united resistance. Large-scale demonstrations and hartals took place in many cities, despite harsh government repression. The protests eventually led to tragic events like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which further intensified the opposition to British rule.

Answer: Pipelines have become a crucial mode of transportation in India, especially for carrying crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas. They connect oil and gas fields with refineries, fertilizer factories, and power plants, facilitating smooth and efficient transport over long distances. Pipeline transport is cost-effective after the initial high investment in construction, as running costs are low. Additionally, pipelines enable the development of industries in far inland areas, which would otherwise be difficult to support. India’s network of pipelines has grown significantly, supporting the expansion of the gas market and contributing to the country’s energy infrastructure. Moreover, pipelines can transport solids in slurry form, further enhancing their utility. Overall, pipelines provide a safe, reliable, and environment-friendly mode of transport essential for India’s industrial growth and energy security.

Answer: The flexibility in labour laws in India allows businesses, especially local and foreign companies, to cut costs by employing workers for longer hours at lower wages. While this may help companies increase profits, it often leads to poor working conditions for workers. Many workers, particularly in the unorganised sector, face lower safety standards and fewer benefits such as housing and healthcare. This flexibility often results in exploitation, making workers vulnerable to harsh conditions and inadequate protection of their rights. Therefore, despite economic benefits for companies, workers suffer from lack of adequate protection and poorer quality of work life, highlighting the need for stronger and better-enforced labour laws in India.

Answer: The two sectors based on the ownership of resources are the Public Sector and the Private Sector. In the Public Sector, the government owns most of the assets and is responsible for delivering services to the people. Examples include government-owned industries like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Steel Authority of India Limited. In the Private Sector, individuals or groups own and operate businesses or industries. Examples include TISCO, Bajaj Auto Ltd., and Dabur Industries. The private sector aims at earning profits and operates independently from the government. Both sectors play important roles in the economy by providing goods, services, and employment opportunities.

Answer:

The unification of Italy was a complex process that took place during the 19th century, resulting in the consolidation of various independent states and kingdoms into a single nation. Before unification, Italy was divided into several small states such as the Kingdom of Sardinia, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Papal States, and others, as shown in the map of Italian states in 1858.

One of the key figures in the unification was Count Camillo di Cavour, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia. He worked through diplomacy and alliances, notably with France, to expel Austrian influence from northern Italy. Another important figure was Giuseppe Garibaldi, who led volunteer forces known as the Red Shirts to conquer southern Italy.

The unification process began with the Kingdom of Sardinia expanding its territory by annexing Lombardy in 1859. By 1860, most of central and northern Italy had joined the kingdom after Cavour’s diplomatic and military activities and Garibaldi’s southern campaign. The Kingdom of Italy was officially proclaimed in 1861, with Victor Emmanuel II as the king.

The last region to join Italy was Veneto in 1866 and Rome in 1870, completing the unification. Most of the Italian states joined between 1859 and 1861, marking the largest phase of unification. People in these regions initially identified more with their local states but gradually developed a shared Italian identity as unification progressed.

Thus, through a combination of wars, diplomacy, popular movements, and political strategy, Italy was unified into a single nation by 1870.

Answer:

Manufacturing industries play a vital role in the economic growth and development of a country. They help in modernizing agriculture by providing agricultural tools like irrigation pumps, fertilizers, and insecticides, which increase productivity. Manufacturing reduces the overdependence on agriculture by creating jobs in the secondary and tertiary sectors, thus offering alternative employment opportunities.

Manufacturing involves converting raw materials into finished goods of higher value, such as making paper from wood, sugar from sugarcane, iron and steel from iron ore, and aluminum from bauxite. This transformation adds value to the product and boosts the economy. It also encourages the development of backward and tribal areas by establishing industries there, thereby promoting balanced regional development.

The export of manufactured goods enhances trade and commerce and brings in much-needed foreign exchange, improving the country's economic strength. Prosperous countries are those that diversify and increase their manufacturing capacities, making the nation self-reliant and strong. Hence, manufacturing industries are considered the backbone of development and economic progress.

Answer: Industrial pollution is a major cause of environmental degradation, affecting air, water, and soil quality. To reduce industrial pollution, several measures can be taken. First, industries should minimize the use of water in their processes by reusing and recycling water multiple times, which reduces wastewater discharge. Second, rainwater harvesting can be adopted to meet water requirements, decreasing reliance on freshwater sources. Third, air pollution can be reduced by fitting smoke stacks with devices like electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters, and scrubbers to capture particulate matter. Fourth, industries should switch to cleaner fuels like oil or gas instead of coal to reduce smoke emissions. Fifth, proper storage and limited quantity of toxic substances are essential to prevent accidental releases that can harm the environment. Additionally, industries should improve fire warning and firefighting systems to handle emergencies effectively. Separating industrial areas from densely populated residential zones also helps in reducing human exposure to pollutants. These measures collectively help in controlling pollution and protecting the environment from further degradation.

Answer: Political parties in India face several challenges that affect their performance and the overall democratic process. First, there is a lack of internal democracy within parties, where power is often concentrated in the hands of a few leaders, and regular internal elections or organizational meetings are not held. Second, political parties often depend heavily on a few leaders or families, leading to dynastic politics and limiting opportunities for new leaders. Third, parties face financial constraints and often rely on undisclosed sources of funding, which affects transparency. Fourth, small parties and independent candidates suffer a major disadvantage compared to larger parties in terms of resources and visibility, reducing genuine political competition. Fifth, political parties sometimes fail to present clear policies and focus more on winning elections than working towards social welfare. These challenges contribute to popular dissatisfaction and weaken the democratic process, making it essential for parties to implement reforms and strengthen their internal structures to be effective instruments of democracy.

Answer: Political parties perform several important functions in a democracy. First, they contest elections by selecting candidates to represent them and compete for government positions. Second, political parties form and run the government when they win elections, making policies and decisions on behalf of the people. Third, they provide a link between the government and the public by communicating people’s needs and opinions to the government and explaining government policies to the public. Fourth, parties play a key role in opposition by critiquing and restraining the ruling party to ensure accountability and prevent misuse of power. Fifth, political parties help in forming public opinion by educating voters about political issues and encouraging participation in the political process. These functions make political parties an essential part of any representative democracy as they organize political activity, express different views, and help maintain a balance of power in society.

Answer: Credit plays both positive and negative roles depending on the situation. On the positive side, credit helps individuals and businesses meet their financial needs and supports economic activities. For example, Salim needed credit to purchase raw materials and meet his working capital requirements. This credit allowed him to complete production on time and increase his earnings. Therefore, credit acted as a helpful financial tool enabling growth and timely production. However, credit can also have negative effects if misused or if excessive interest rates are involved. Take the case of Swapna who borrowed from informal sources at very high interest rates. She struggled to repay the loan as the cost kept increasing, making her worse off financially. This shows that credit can become a burden and worsen the borrower’s situation if repayment is difficult or if the terms are unfavorable. Thus, while credit supports business and personal needs, it must be managed carefully to avoid negative consequences. Borrowers should choose appropriate sources of credit and understand repayment terms to benefit positively from loans.

Answer: Collateral is an asset owned by a borrower that is pledged to a lender as a security for a repayment of a loan. Examples of collateral include land titles, buildings, vehicles, livestock, and bank deposits. If the borrower fails to repay the loan, the lender has the right to sell the collateral to recover the loan amount. Banks usually require collateral to minimize the risk of default. However, many poor people do not have valuable assets to offer as collateral, which makes it difficult for them to get loans from banks. This requirement prevents them from accessing formal credit despite needing funds for various purposes. In contrast, informal moneylenders often do not demand collateral and lend based on personal trust but charge very high interest rates, which can trap the poor in cycles of debt. To overcome this problem, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) provide an alternate solution by enabling poor borrowers to get timely loans without collateral and at reasonable interest rates. Therefore, the requirement of collateral is a major barrier for the poor to access bank loans and improve their economic conditions.