NIOS Social Science Class 10 Chapter 24 Solutions
INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.1
1. Fill in the blanks:
(a) A nation is a country ……………………….
Ans: with a unified socio-economic and political structure
(b) National integration is the awareness of a ………………………. amongst the citizens of a country.
Ans: a common identity
(c) This kind of integration is very important in the building of ……………………….
Ans: a strong and prosperous nation
(d) In India all the major religions of the world such as ………………………. are practiced.
Ans: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism
2. Why is national integration needed?
Ans: National integration is essential for any nation with socio-cultural, religious, linguistic and geographical diversities. And for a country like India, it is still more necessary. India is a very large country. A unique feature of our country is that all the major religions of the world are practised here. There are more than one thousand languages. Despite all these differences, India is one political entity. We have to co-exist with each other peacefully. This is possible only when national integration is realised in the true sense of the term.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.2
1. Fill in the blanks:
(a) During the British rule India became geographically united, but it was not a …………………….. and …………………….. nation.
Ans: united integrated
(b) It was during the freedom movement that the feelings and sentiments of …………………….. emerged.
Ans: nationhood
(c) During the freedom struggle people belonging to different …………………….. joined hands to drive out the British power from India.
Ans: regions, religions, cultures, communities
(d) The Indian National Congress was formed in ……………………..
Ans: 1885
2. Do you think that the Constitution of India lays great emphasis on national integration? How?
Ans: The Constitution of India lays great emphasis on national integration. Its Preamble includes unity and integrity of the nation as a major objective. It also states that every citizen has the fundamental duty to uphold and protect the unity and integrity of India. It has made provisions for a centralised federation and opted for a strong central government.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.3
1. What is communalism?
Ans: Communalism is generated when individuals belonging to one religion develop excessive affinity to their religion and hatred towards other religions. This kind of feeling promotes religious fundamentalism and fanaticism and proves to be dangerous for the unity and integrity of the country.
2. Do you agree that regionalism may be justified? State reasons.
Ans: Regionalism may be reasonable if the demands are based on genuine grievances of the regions that have been denied fair shares of projects and industries in the overall structure of development. Those may also be related to the continued neglect of a particular region. Despite over six decades of planned development, all regions in our country have not been developed in the desired manner.
3. Why do non-Hindi speaking States oppose Hindi as the Official language?
Ans: Because most of the people do not know Hindi. However, there are non-Hindi speaking States where Hindi is being promoted. It is necessary that Hindi-speaking States also promote non-Hindi languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Bengali or Assamese in their respective areas.
4. Why is extremism a threat to national integration?
Ans: Because these movements use violence, create fear in public life, cause loss of lives of government personnel and people and destroy public property. Mostly, the youth participate in such movements. The basic reason for taking up arms by the youth is the continuing state of socio-economic deprivation and exploitation. But the extremist activities have been a threat to law and order and the peaceful living of the people residing in the affected areas.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.4
1. What is the meaning of secularism?
Ans: Secularism implies equality of all religions and religious tolerance. In the state context, it means that India does not have an official state religion. The government must not favour or discriminate against any religion. It must treat all religions with equal respect. In the individual context, it means sarva dharma samabhava, equal respect for all religions. Every person has the right to preach, practice and propagate any religion they choose.
2. What are the provisions in the Constitution that are focused on secularism?
Ans: The Indian Constitution, through its Preamble and particularly through its chapters on Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, has created a secular state based on the principle of equality and non-discrimination.
3. What is the role of a citizen in strengthening India as a secular state?
Ans: Every citizen must treat all religions with the same respect as he/she has for his/her religion. No religion permits individuals to ignore or hate others. If citizens look around themselves, they may find that their friends, classmates, neighbours or nearby residents believe and practice religions that are different from their religion. They belong to various castes. How can they interact with them and be a good friend, classmate or neighbour, if they do not respect their religion and they do not do the same. It is, therefore, essential that all people develop respect towards one another and practice peaceful coexistence.
TERMINAL EXERCISES
1. Define national integration and discuss the contribution made by the national freedom movement to the emergence of national integration.
Ans: National integration is the awareness of a common identity amongst the citizens of a country. It means that though the individuals belong to different communities, castes, religions, cultures and regions and speak different languages, all of them recognize the fact that they are one.
It was during the national freedom movement that the feelings and sentiments of nationhood emerged, and the need for national integration was realized. During that movement, people belonging to different regions, religions, cultures, communities, castes and creeds joined hands to drive out the British power from the soil of India. Since the British rulers had adopted the policy of ‘divide and rule’, the freedom movement was focused on forging unity among the people of the country. The leadership of the movement laid emphasis on equality, liberty, secularism, and socio-economic development. When India became independent, all these formed the main objectives of the new nation.
2. How does the Indian Constitution reflect and promote national integration?
Ans: The Preamble of the Constitution of India includes unity and integrity of the nation as a major objective. It also stipulates that every citizen has the fundamental duty to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. The Constitution reflects respect for the diversity of the country, but it tries to ensure that the unity and integrity are maintained. Which is why it has made provisions for a centralised federation and opted for a strong central government.
3. What are the major challenges to national integration in India?
Ans: The most important challenges to national integration are communalism, regionalism, linguism, and extremism.
- Communalism promotes religious fundamentalism and fanaticism and proves to be dangerous for the unity and integrity of the country. There have been many communal riots in various parts of the country, inflicting immense suffering on the people.
- Regionalism encourages people to promote regional interests even at the cost of national priorities. When regionalism ignores national interests or encourages people to have negative feelings towards the interests of other regions, it becomes harmful. On many occasions, regional protests and demonstrations are based on political considerations. Aggressive regionalism is still more dangerous, as it leads to separatism.
- Linguism: People of India speak nearly 2000 languages and dialects. This plurality has been negatively used on many occasions, particularly in the early decades after independence.
- Extremism: Extremist movements such as the Naxalite or Maoist movement often use violence, create fear in public life, cause loss of lives of government personnel and people and destroy public property. Mostly, the youth participate in such movements. The basic reason for taking up arms by the youth is the continuing state of socio-economic deprivation.
4. What are the factors that promote and strengthen national integration?
Ans: Factors that promote and strengthen national integration are,
- A. Constitutional Provisions:
- The Indian Constitution has accepted socialism, secularism, democracy, liberty, equality, justice and fraternity as the goals of the Indian political system. Citizens have been empowered with fundamental rights, and their fundamental duties have also been prescribed.
- The Directive Principles of State Policy direct the State to promote equitable economic development, eliminate social discrimination, and promote international peace and security.
- Provisions related to various institutions and processes have been geared towards national integration.
- B. Governmental Initiatives: A National Integration Council has been set up to consider issues related to national integration and recommend suitable measures to be taken. A Single Planning Commission prepares plans for the economic development of the entire country, and one Election Commission conducts elections.
- C. National Festivals and Symbols:
- National festivals including Independence Day, Republic Day, and Gandhi Jayanti are celebrated by all Indians and in all parts of the country, regardless of language, religion or culture.
- The National Integration Day on 19 November every year is also known as “Qaumi Ekta Divas”. Moreover, our National Symbols like the National Flag, the National Anthem, and the National Emblem also help to remind us that we all have one identity.
- D. All India Services and Other Factors: The All India Services (IAS, IFS, IPS and others), unified judicial system, postal and communications networks, including radio and television, and the internet promote the unity and integrity of the Indian nation.
5. Define secularism and analyse its importance for the Indian political system.
Ans:
6. Given below are two statements of renowned freedom fighters:
Mahatma Gandhi once said: “I am a Hindu and swear by my religion, I will die for it. But it is my personal affair. The State has nothing to do with it. The State would look after your secular welfare, health, communications, foreign relations, currency and so on, but not your or my religion. That is everybody’s personal concern!!”
Maulana Azad, one of the closest colleagues of Mahatma Gandhi, had said, “I am a Muslim and profoundly conscious of the fact that I have inherited Islam’s glorious traditions of the last thirteen hundred years. I am not prepared to lose even a small part of that legacy…. I am equally proud of the fact that I am an Indian, an essential part of the indivisible unity of Indian nationhood, a vital factor in its total make-up without which its noble edifice will remain incomplete.”
In the light of the above two statements, explain the role of Indian citizens for strengthening secularism and national integration in India?
Ans: All citizens, irrespective of their religious beliefs, are equal in the eyes of the law. No religious instruction is imparted in government or government-aided schools. But the general information about all established world religions may be imparted, without giving any importance to any one religion or the others. In the individual context, it means sarva dharma samabhava, equal respect for all religions. Every person has the right to preach, practice and propagate any religion they choose. Every citizen must treat all religions with the same respect as he/she has for his/her religion. No religion permits individuals to ignore or hate others.
Additional Study Materials
- Chapter 19. Governance at the State Level Textbook Solutions
- Chapter 20. Governance at the Union Level Textbook Solutions
- Chapter 21. Political Parties and Pressure Groups Textbook Solutions
- Chapter 22. People’s Participation in the Democratic Process Textbook Solutions
- Chapter 23. Challenges to Indian Democracy Textbook Solutions
