Grade-8, SST, The Indian Constitution and the Need for the Law

 

EXERCISES

 1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

(a) Without laws our lives will become chaotic.

(b) A constitution is a set of fundamental laws according to which a state or country is governed.

(c) The Indian Constitution came into effect on 26th January 1950

(d) Dissent means disagreement with an existing law or policy.

(e) The Salt Satyagraha was a part of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

 

2. Choose the correct answer.

(a) The country which has the longest constitution in the world is

(i) the USA.

(ii) England.

(iii) France.

(iv) India.

Answer-  (iv) India

(b) The Dowry Prohibition Act was passed in

(i) 1960.

(ii) 1961.

(iii) 1962.

(iv) 1966.

Answer- (ii) 1961

(c) Which of the following statements regarding the Constitution is incorrect?

(i) It provides a framework of laws.

(ii) It guards the fundamental rights of the people.

(iii) It is less important than statute law.

(iv) It regulates the functioning of the government.

Answer- (iii) It is less important than statute law

(d) The Dandi March centred around the issue of

(i) cloth.

(ii) salt.

(iii) jobs.

(iv) water.

Answer- (ii) salt

(e) The anti-liquor campaign in the 1990s took place in

(i) Manipur

(ii) Karnataka.

(iii) Goa.

(iv) Andhra Pradesh.

Answer- (iv) Andhra Pradesh

 

3. Match the rows.

Column A	Column B
(a) 1950 (b) Dowry (c) Constitution  (d) Dandi March (e) Anti liquor campaign	(1) supreme law (2) India adopted the constitution  (3) Satyagraha  (4) Empowerment of women (5) Harrassment of women

 

Answer-

(a) 1950 - (2) India adopted the constitution

(b) Dowry - (5) Harassment of women

(c) Constitution - (1) supreme law

(d) Dandi March - (3) Satyagraha

(e) Anti liquor campaign - (4) Empowerment of women

 

4. Write true or false. Correct the false sentences in your notebook.

(a) Life would be orderly without regulations.

False - Life would be chaotic without regulations.

(b) The Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

True

(c) Civil Disobedience means following every law.

False - Civil Disobedience means refusing to obey certain laws, demands, or commands of the government.

(d) Under the British rule, Indians had a monopoly on the manufacture of salt.

False - Under British rule, the British had a monopoly on the manufacture of salt.

(e) The anti-liquor campaign was led largely by men.

False - The anti-liquor campaign was led largely by women.

 

5. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

(a) What is a constitution?

Answer- A constitution is a set of fundamental laws that govern a country.

(b) What does the Indian Constitution declare about the Union of India?

Answer- The Indian Constitution declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic.

(c) Why was the Dowry Prohibition Act passed?

Answer- The Dowry Prohibition Act was passed to stop the mistreatment of brides and the practice of dowry.

(d) What do you understand by dissent?

Answer- Dissent is the act of disagreeing or protesting against something, especially a law or policy.

(e) Why was the anti-liquor campaign significant?

Answer- The anti-liquor campaign was significant because it empowered women and showed how people can mobilize for change.

 

6. Answer the following questions in four or five sentences.

(a) Explain the importance of a constitution.

Answer- A constitution is incredibly important because it sets the foundation for a fair and just society. It outlines the powers of the government, protects the rights of citizens, and establishes the framework for making laws. Without a constitution, there would be no clear rules about how a country is run, which could lead to abuse of power and unequal treatment.

 

(b) Why do we need laws in society?

Answer- Laws are essential for a functioning society. They provide a sense of order and predictability, ensuring everyone knows what is expected of them. Laws protect people's rights and safety, and deter crime by setting consequences for wrongdoings. They also promote fairness by ensuring everyone is treated equally under the law.

 

(c) Why is dissent important?

Answer- Dissent is crucial because it allows people to challenge the status quo and advocate for positive change. By speaking up against unjust laws or policies, people can bring attention to problems and work towards solutions. Dissent can also prevent stagnation and ensure that laws continue to reflect the needs of the changing society.

 

(d) What was the Salt Law? Why did Gandhiji choose to break it?

Answer- The Salt Law, enacted by the British in India, gave them a monopoly on the production and sale of salt, a basic necessity. This law heavily taxed salt, making it expensive for ordinary Indians. Gandhiji saw the Salt Law as a symbol of British oppression and its unfair treatment of the Indian people. He chose to break the Salt Law through his Salt Satyagraha, a non-violent protest where he and his followers made their own salt, highlighting the injustice of the law.

 

(e) Write a note on the importance of the anti-liquor campaign.

Answer- The anti-liquor campaign is significant for several reasons. It showed the power of people, particularly women, to come together and advocate for change. It addressed a serious social issue - the negative impacts of alcohol abuse on families and communities. The success of the campaign demonstrates that peaceful protest can be an effective tool to influence policy and improve lives.

 

Additional Questions

Q1. What is a constitution, and why is it important?

Answer: A constitution is a set of fundamental laws and basic principles according to which a state or country is governed. It is important because it outlines the powers and limits of the government, the process of law-making, and the rights and duties of citizens, forming the basic guidelines for the functioning of any democracy.

Q2. What does the Constitution of India declare the Union of India to be?

Answer: The Constitution of India declares the Union of India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic.

Q3. Why are laws essential in our lives?

Answer: Laws are essential because they ensure a safe and fair environment, prevent domination by the rich and powerful, and ensure that violations are punished, thereby maintaining order in society.

Q4. What is dowry?

Answer: Dowry is the money or gifts given by the bride's family to the groom's family at the time of marriage. It is illegal in India.

Q5. What led to the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 in India?

Answer: The increasing number of dowry-related deaths led to the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961. The Act makes the offering and receiving of dowry a crime, punishable by a fine and imprisonment for a period of no less than five years.

Q6. How does the constitution help ensure fair laws?

Answer: The constitution sets the limits of what laws governments can make. This helps ensure laws are fair and don't take away people's rights.

Q7. Explain the concept of judicial review in India.

Answer: Judicial review in India is the power of the Supreme Court to evaluate laws passed by the legislature and declare them unconstitutional if they go against the principles or the spirit of the Constitution. This ensures that the government does not enact laws that violate the rights of the people.

Q8. What does dissent mean?

Answer: Dissent means to disagree or protest against something.

Q9. Why is dissent sometimes important?

Answer: Dissent is important because it allows people to speak up against unfair laws that violate their rights. This can lead to positive changes in the law.

Q10. What was the Salt Satyagraha and why was it significant?

Answer: The Salt Satyagraha was a non-violent protest led by Gandhiji in 1930 against the British salt tax. It was significant because it highlighted the repressive nature of British laws and mobilized mass support for India's independence movement by targeting a basic necessity of life.

Q11. What impact did the Anti-liquor Campaign in Andhra Pradesh have?

Answer: The Anti-liquor Campaign in Andhra Pradesh, initiated by women in 1991, led to a statewide ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in 1995. Although the ban was partially lifted in 1997, the movement empowered local women and demonstrated the potential for grassroots activism to address important social issues.

Q12. Why was the woman in the case study being mistreated, and what did her in-laws want?

Answer: The woman in the case study was being mistreated by her in-laws for dowry. Her in-laws wanted more dowry from her family, leading to her harassment and eventual attempted murder.

Q13. Suggest three ways to stop the practice of taking and giving dowry.

Answer: Three ways to stop the practice of taking and giving dowry are:

1.    Strict enforcement of the Dowry Prohibition Act with severe penalties for violators.

2.    Public awareness campaigns to educate people about the harmful effects of dowry.

3.    Encouraging and supporting marriage practices that do not involve dowry through community initiatives and incentives.

Q14. Do you think Gandhiji was wrong in breaking the Salt Law? Why or why not?

Answer: No, Gandhiji was not wrong in breaking the Salt Law because his actions were a form of civil disobedience against an unjust law imposed by the British colonial government. His non-violent protest aimed to highlight the oppressive nature of British rule and mobilize the Indian population towards the cause of independence.

Q15. Imagine that you were given the option of introducing a new law. What would you like it to focus on and why?

Answer: (Example) I would introduce a law that focuses on environmental protection, specifically targeting plastic pollution. This law would ban single-use plastics, encourage the use of biodegradable materials, and mandate recycling programs. The reason for this focus is to address the growing environmental crisis caused by plastic waste, which harms wildlife, ecosystems, and human health. By implementing such a law, we can reduce pollution, conserve natural resources, and promote sustainable living practices.