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Dwarf Planets Pluto, Ceres and Eris are called dwarf planets because their sizes are much smaller than a normal planet. They also revolve around the sun in their fixed orbit. Pluto was earlier considered as a planet, but its size is so small that now it is considered as a dwarf planet. Pluto Ceres Eris 3. Satellites Satellites are the smaller celestial bodies which revolve around their planets. The word satellite means an attendant or a companion. Like planets, satellites also have no light or heat of their own. Our Earth has only one natural satellite—The Moon. Find out the number of satellites of other planets. Which planet has the largest number of satellites? Human made satellite : It is an artificial body. It is Fact Time designed by scientists to get information about the Universe or for communication. It is carried by a Atmosphere cannot exist on the moon rocket and placed in the orbit around the Earth. because escape velocity of moon is 1.86 m/s whereas escape velocity of gases is Some of the Indian satellites in space are INSAT, IRS, 2.63 m/s. Gases cannot stay there. EDUSAT, etc. Moon The moon moves around the earth in about 27 days and 8 hours. It takes exactly the same time to complete single rotation. As a result, only one side of the moon is visible to us on the earth. Although this cycle is a continuous process, there are eight distinct, traditionally recognised stages (phases). Thus the changes from New Moon to Full Moon and back again are called the phases of the Moon. 1. New Moon : The moon is not visible because the illuminated side of the moon faces away from the earth. It is a New Moon night or Amavasya. 2. Waxing Crescent : The moon appears to be partly, but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. 3. First Quarter : One-half of the moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. 4. Waxing Gibbous : The moon appears to be more than one-half, but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. 5. Full Moon : The moon appears to be completely illuminated by direct sunlight because the illuminated side of the moon faces the earth. It is Full Moon night or Poornima. 6. Waning Gibbous : The moon appears to be more than one-half, but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. 7. Last Quarter : One-half of the moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. Social Studies 6 51

8. Waning Crescent : The moon appears to be partly, but less than one- half illuminated by direct sunlight. But what about the moon during day time, where does it disappear? Why can’t we see the moon and other bright tiny objects? It happens because the light of the sun is so bright that it does not allow us to see the less brighter objects of the night sky. Other Celestial Bodies 4. Asteroids Asteroids are smaller than any of the planets and only a few have a diameter of over 30 km. They are also called planetoids or minor planets. One asteroid called Ida has a tiny Moon of its own. This is the smallest known satellite in the solar system while Ceres is the largest one. 5. Comets Asteroid The celestial objects which revolve around the sun in long elliptical orbits are called comets. When a comet reaches near the sun, it starts glowing and develops a long tail that always streams away from the sun. The most famous comet is the Halley’s comet which was predicted and studied by Edmund Halley. Halley’s comet appears after every 76 years. Halley’s Comet 6. Meteors and Meteorites Meteors are small pieces of rocks which revolve around the sun. Sometimes you have seen shooting stars (bright streaks of light) in the sky, actually they are meteors. Meteors 52 Social Studies 6

The presence of meteors in the sky is known Meteorites only when they enter the earth’s atmosphere because due to friction they burn with bright streaks of light. Some of them are very big so they are not burnt up completely in the sky. They hit the surface of the earth. Such meteors are called meteorites. • Stars have their own light and they are made of gases. • A Galaxy is made of billions of stars. • The sun is mainly made of hydrogen and helium gases. It is the main source of heat and light. • Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are called inner planets. • Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are called outer planets. • Pluto, Ceres and Eris are called dwarf planets. • The small pieces of rocks which move around the sun are called meteoroids. • Comets are beautiful bodies made of dust particles and Frozen gases. • The moon is the only satellite of the Earth. It has no water and air and hence no life. A. Tick () the correct option : 1. The main gases on the sun are: (a) helium (b) Nitrogen (c) hydrogen (d) (a) and (c) (c) Mercury (d) Earth 2. Name the largest planet of the solar system: (c) 76 years (d) 76 months (c) Eris (d) all of these (a) Jupiter (b) Saturn (c) poornima (d) all of these 3. The Halley’s comet is seen after every: 53 (a) 76 days (b) 56 years 4. Which of the following is a dwarf planet? (a) Pluto (b) Ceres 5. Full moon day is also called: (a) amavasya (b) phase of moon B. Fill in the blanks : 1. The colour of Mars is _____________________. 2. Jupiter is named after the ruler of the _____________________. 3. The Earth is a _____________________. 4. Pluto, Ceres and Eris are called _____________________. 5. The earth is also called _____________________ planet. C. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false : 1. Earth is also called the ‘green planet’. Social Studies 6

2. The stars do not have their own light. 3. The dwarf planets are bigger than the normal planets. 4. The sun is the biggest and the brightest of all the stars in the universe. 5. The Saturn is sixth planet from the sun. D. Match the following : Column ‘B’ (a) 64 moons Column ‘A’ (b) 27 moons 1. Neptune (c) The Roman Goddess of love and beauty 2. Mars (d) The Roman God of war 3. Jupiter (e) The Roman God of the sea 4. Uranus 5. Venus E. Distinguish between : 1. Sun and planet. 2. Universe and Galaxy. 3. Full moon and New Moon. 4. Comets and Asteroids. F. Answer these Questions : 1. What are celestial bodies? 2. What is meant by the ‘Solar System’? 3. Why is the earth called a unique and blue planet in the solar system? 4. Explain the planets : Jupiter and Venus. 5. Write a short note on the phases of moon. 6. Name the only natural satellite of earth and write briefly about it. Life Skills & Values • Prepare a model of the Solar System. • Make a project on dwarf planets. 54 Social Studies 6

1 2 motions of the earth In ancient times, people believed that the earth was stationary and other heavenly bodies like the sun and moon moved around it. In the 16th century, Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish astronomer was the first to say that the earth is moving on its axis and also moving around the sun. Earth’s Motion Movement of Earth on its axis The earth exhibits two different kinds of motion. One is rotation around its own axis and another movement is revolution, it revolves around the sun in a fixed orbit. 1. Rotation of the Earth The earth rotates on its axis from west to east. The axis of the earth is an imaginary line which passes through its centre from the North Pole to the South Pole. The axis of the earth is not vertical, it is inclined at an angle of 66 ½° to the plane of the earth’s orbit. The earth takes 24 hours to complete one rotation. Rotation of the earth causes day and night. The surface of the earth that is facing the sun gets the light and called day. The surface of the earth that is opposite to the face of the sun does not get light and called night. Experiment Take a globe and a torch. Keep the globe in a dark room and light the torch. The part of the globe which faces the torch gets light and other half does not have light. Similarly, one half of the earth gets light and other half does not get light. Places near the equator have almost equal days and Fact Time night throughout the year. As we move towards the poles, the length of day and night changes depending At the poles, there are six months of day upon the seasons. and six months of night. 2. Revolution of the Earth The movement of the earth around the sun in a fixed path or orbit is called Revolution. The earth goes around the sun in an elliptical orbit. The earth takes 365 ¼ days to complete one revolution. One year has 365 days, but after every 4 years, one extra day is added Social Studies 6 55

to the month of February forming a leap year with 366 days. It happens because the six hours (¼th of 24 hours) make one day (24 hours) over a span of four years. This surplus day is added to the month of February. Thus, every fourth year, February has 29 days, and such a year (with 366 days) is known as a leap year. Days and Nights The axis of the Earth is tilted at an angle of 66½° one side direction, the northern hemisphere remains inclined Earth’s revolution around the sun. towards the Sun during six months every year. Thus a large part of the northern hemisphere faces the sun during this period and lighted for a longer period. Thus, days are longer than nights in this part. In contrast, the southern hemisphere is away from the sun. Therefore, days are shorter in southern hemisphere. If you draw a circle around the North Pole, you will find, this circle will always be in sunlight, i.e., the North Pole will have no night, but it will have 24 hours day. At the same time, the South Pole will have 24 hours night with no day at all. When the Southern hemisphere is inclined towards the Sun, the south pole will have 24 hours day and no night and the northern hemisphere will have no day and it will have 24 hours night. Only at the equator, the days and nights will be equal. The Changing Seasons A year is usually divided into summer, winter, spring and autumn seasons. Seasons change due to the change in the position of the earth around the sun. If the earth did not orbit the sun, the amount of direct or indirect light each area receives would never change and we would all be stuck in the same seasons forever. On 21st June, as the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, so the sun rays fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. Therefore, these areas receive more heat. Whereas the areas near the poles receive less heat due to the slanting sun rays. The changing seasons are caused by the tilt of the earth and its orbit around the sun. The hemisphere leaning towards the sun receives more direct sunlight while the hemisphere away from the sun receives less direct sunlight thus resulting in cold weather there. This position of the earth is called the Summer Solstice. Christmas is celebrated in Australia in the summer season. On 22nd December, the Tropic of Capricorn receives direct rays of the sun as the South Pole tilts towards it. As the larger portion of the Southern Hemisphere receives the sun lights, it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere with longer days and shorter nights whereas reverse happens in the Northern Hemisphere. This position of the earth is called the Winter Solstice. On 21st March and September 23rd, the earth reaches a place in its orbit where neither the North nor the South Pole leans more towards the sun. On this day, direct rays of the sun fall on the equator. This is called an Equinox. Equinox means equal days and equal nights. In other words Equinox is the position of the earth, when the rays of the sun fall directly on the 56 Social Studies 6

Equator. At this position, neither of the Poles is tilted towards the sun. As a result, the entire earth has equal days and equal nights. On 23rd September, it is autumn season in the Northern Hemisphere and spring season in the Southern Hemisphere. The opposite is the case on 21st March, when it is spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. The poles experience about six months of day and six months of night because of the tilt of the earth on its axis. Because of this tilt, each pole is tilted towards the sun and remains away from the sun for about six months each. When the North Pole is tilted towards the sun, it experiences continuous daylight for six months. It is night for the same time period at the South Pole. These conditions are reversed when the South pole is tilted towards the sun. Fact Time A solstice is the day, when the midday sun shines vertically overhead at one of the tropics, either the tropic of cancer or the tropic of Capricorn and duration of the day is the longest in that hemisphere. Equinox • The earth has two types of motion— rotation and revolution. • Rotation of the earth causes day and night. • Revolution of the earth causes change of seasons. • The earth is inclined at an angle of 66½° to the plane of the earth’s orbit. • The earth takes 24 hours to complete one rotation. • A leap year has 366 days. • A year is usually divided into summer, winter, spring and autumn seasons. Seasons change due to the change in the position of the earth around the Sun. A. Tick () the correct option : 1. Earth’s rotation takes about: (a) 1 week (b) 1 month (c) 365 days (d) 24 hours 2. A leap year has: (a) 365 days (b) 365 days and 6 hours (d) 342 days (c) 366 days 3. The motion of the earth on its axis is: (a) rotation (b) revolution (c) both of these (d) none of these Social Studies 6 57

4. Day and night are caused by: (a) earth’s rotation on its axis (b) the tilt of earth’s axis (c) earth’s revolution around the sun (d) all of these 5. On which date the lengths of days and nights are equal? (a) 21st March (b) 23rd September (c) 21st June (d) both (a) and (b) B. Fill in the blanks : 1. The earth travels around the sun in _____________________ orbit. 2. _____________________ was the first to say that the earth is moving on its axis. 3. _____________________ means equal days and equal nights. 4. The movement of the earth around the sun in a fixed path or orbit is called ___________________. 5. The earth takes _____________________ hours to complete one rotation. C. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false : 1. There are six months of day and six months of night at the equator. 2. There are six main types of seasons. 3. Christmas is celebrated in summer in Australia. 4. We feel winter season in Southern Hemisphere on 22nd December. 5. The earth takes 365 hours to complete one rotation. D. Match the following : Column ‘B’ Column ‘A’ 1. Leap year (a) 21st June 2. Rotation of the Earth (b) 22nd December 3. Summer Solstice (c) 24 hours 4. Winter Solstice (d) 23rd September 5. Autumn season (e) 366 days E. Answer these Questions : 1. What is rotation? Give an activity to show that rotation is the cause of day and night. 2. What is a leap year? 3. What is revolution? 4. Name any four main seasons? 5. What is an equinox? 6. What is Winter Solstice? 7. What is Summer Solstice? 8. Why are the sun rays never vertical on the Arctic Circle? Life Skills & Values • Make a poster showing the rotation of the earth. • Make a project on the causes of seasons. Also write the difference in seasons between Northern 58 Social Studies 6

13 map A map is a two-dimensional scaled representation of Fact Time the Earth’s surface or part of it on a flat surface. They are easy to handle and they can be taken to the field Cartography is the art and science of by explorers or tourists. Maps can give more detailed map making. It also involves production and diverse information on small areas because they of maps. Cartogram is a type of map, can be drawn on large and small scale. Further more, using statistical information. Legend is maps are easily reproduced in large number. For all the key to the symbols used on a map. these reasons, a map is the most important tool of A book of maps is called an atlas. geographic studies. Maps according to scale According to scale, maps are of two types: small scale maps and large scale maps. Small Scale Maps show a very little information but cover a big area. Maps of countries, big cities are small scale maps. Large Scale Maps show more information, but cover a small area. Maps of villages, small cities, colony-schools, etc. are large scale maps. Small Scale Map Types of Maps Large Scale Map 1. Physical Maps : Physical maps show the location of landforms like deserts, mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers, oceans, lakes, etc. These maps are also called Relief maps, as they show the relief features of a country or a region. Social Studies 6 59

Physical maps commonly uses colors to show different relief features. Colors are used to show differences in land elevations. Blue : Water bodies such as lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, reservoirs, etc. Red : Major highways, roads, urban areas, airports, special interest sites, military sites, place names, buildings, borders etc. Yellow : Built-up or urban areas. Green : Plains, parks, golf courses, reservations, forests, orchards, highways. Brown : Mountains, deserts, historical sites, national parks, military reservations or bases, contour (elevation) lines. Black : Roads, railroads, highways, bridges, place names, buildings borders. 2. Political maps : Political maps show the boundaries between different countries and cities, towns, states, etc. 3. Thematic maps : Thematic maps provide us specific information about roads, railways, air routes, locations of mines, industrial centres, crops, rainfall, population, etc. Components of maps : There are three basic concepts to understand the map. 1. Distance 2. Direction 3. Symbols 1. Distance : Maps are drawn according to a scale. Big distances are shown in small units like centimetres, millimetres, etc. which represent the actual distance on the earth. We measure the distance between any two places on the map (in small units) and convert it to the actual distance between the same two places on the ground according to the given scale. The distance between any two places on a map, measured along a straight line, is called the map distance and the distance between the same two places on the ground measured along a straight line, is called the actual or ground distance. We use different types of scales on different types of maps. For example, on small scale map, we use— 1 cm = 1000 km, i.e., 1 cm : 1000 km or 1 cm = 500 km, i.e., 1 cm : 500 km On large scale map we use— 1 cm = 1 km, i.e. 1 cm : 1 km or 1 cm = 200 m, i.e., 1 cm : 200 m Suppose distance between two places on a map is 2.5 cm; and scale is 1 cm : 500 km, then actual distance on ground = 2.5 × 500 km = 1250 km Sometimes a numeric fraction is given as a scale such as Fact Time 1/1,00,000. This is also called representative fraction or RF. A scale is the ratio between the In this ratio, numerator represents the map distance and actual distance on the ground and the denominator represents actual distance on the ground. the distance shown on the map. 60 Social Studies 6

Linear Scale 2. Direction : In order to find, where you are going and how far away it is, you need to know what direction you are going and need to be able to figure out the distance between the place you are and the place you are going to. The easiest way to know the directions is that the earth rotates west to east, so the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. No matter which side one is facing. East is the morning sun and west is the evening sun or night time. A Compass is a device that helps the user to know the direction of a place. Compass The earth actually behaves as a giant magnet with a north magnetic pole and a south magnetic pole. If a magnet is allowed to swing freely on a string, it will eventually line up in a north-south position in alignment with the north and south poles of the earth. Compass is used to find out main directions as its magnetic needle always points towards north-south direction. There are four major directions—North, South, East and West, also called Cardinal points. Other four intermediate directions are north-east (NE), south-east (SE), south-west (SW) and north-west (NW), which help us to locate places more accurately. Cardinal Directions 3. Symbols : Symbols and signs are very important in a map because maps are drawn on a small sheet and it is not practically possible to write the names of things such as road, bridge, river, school, hospital, temple, mountain, etc. on them. Certain symbols and signs are used to show these things. These symbols are called the Conventional Symbols. In a physical map, different colours are used to show different physical features. Cultivated area – Yellow, Grassland – Light green Forests – Dark green, Uncultivated land – Brown Water features – Blue Built up area i.e., – Red village, sites, towns, roads, etc. Sketches Social Studies 6 61

sketch So far we have been talking Temple Market about drawing maps which are accurate, as they have been drawn to specific scales. But we also often draw rough drawings to School Garden locate or show places where we need to go. A rough Sketch of a route diagram, which is drawn without measuring the distance between the various places is called a Sketch. Suppose you have asked a friend to visit your house and he or she does not know, where you live. You may tell him or her, how to reach your place by using certain specific roads or you may draw a sketch to help him or her. Direction and distances are shown in sketches but no scale is used. Plan Plan is an outline of a building or structure. When it details a town or a group of buildings, it is called Layout Plan. A plan shows the accurate length and breadth of each part of the house with minor details. A plan is drawn according to scale. ‘A house plan’ • Maps can be collected together in a book form drawn on a small scale, it is called an atlas. • The science of map making is known as Cartography. • Small scale maps show very little information, but cover a big area. • Large scale maps show more information, but cover a small area. • There are three main types of maps : physical maps, political maps and thematic maps. • Components of maps are distance, direction and symbols. • Sketches are rough drawings to locate or show places where we need to go. They do not have a scale. • A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale. 62 Social Studies 6

A. Tick () the correct option : 1. Physical maps show: (a) rivers (b) mountains (c) plateaus (d) all of these 2. Political maps show: (a) cities (b) towns (c) states (d) all of these 3. A compass is used to: (a) find directions (b) show symbols (d) all of these (c) measure distances 63 4. A scale is necessary: (a) for a map (b) for a plan (d) both (a) and (b) (c) for a sketch 5. Brown colour is used to show: (a) water bodies (b) mountains (c) plains (d) roads B. Fill in the blanks : 1. _____________________ is a science of map-making. 2. The compass is used to find the main _____________________. 3. The four _____________________ are North, South, West and East. 4. The blue colour is used for showing _____________________. 5. Maps of countries, big cities are _____________________ maps. C. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false : 1. A book of maps is called an atlas. 2. Maps are drawn according to scale. 3. There are four main directions. 4. Symbols or signs in a map are very useful. 5. A sketch is drawn with the help of a scale. D. Answer these Questions : 1. What is cartography? 2. What is a scale? 3. Name different types of maps? 4. How are maps useful to us? 5. What is the use of a compass? 6. What is a physical map? 7. What are the components of a map? Explain one of them. 8. What is the difference between a large scale and a small scale map? 9. What are conventional symbols? 10. What is a plan? Give a plan of your house. Life Skills & Values • Make a chart showing common symbols and signs. Social Studies 6

1 4 major domains of the earth Our Earth is a unique planet of the Solar system. The Earth is the only planet where life exists. All life sustaining elements land, water and air are found on the earth. We call them Lithosphere—the solid portion of the earth, the Hydrosphere-water in all its forms and the Atmosphere-the gaseous layer that surrounds the earth. We find land, water and air together in the Biosphere which contains all forms of life. Let us discuss them one by one. 1. Lithosphere The Four domains of the earth The upper surface of the earth which is made of soil and rocks, is called the Lithosphere. Its top layer is known as crust. This crust is thick under continents and thin under oceans. Land covers about 29% of the earth’s surface. The lithosphere includes all types of land masses. The large land masses are called Continents while the large water bodies that surround the continents are called oceans. There are seven continents— i. Asia It is the largest continent and most of it lies in the northen and eastern hemispheres. It extends from 80° North to 10° South latitudes and from 28° East to 170° West longitudes. The Tropic of Cancer passes through this continent. It is joined to the land mass of Europe and thus we use the term Eurasia for this combined land mass. The mountain ranges of the Urals, the Black sea and the Caspian sea separate the two continents. It lies to the west of Asia, but not separated from Asia by any water body. S.No. Continents Area (Million sq km) % of the Earth’s total land area 1. Asia 44.36 29.6 2. Africa 30.32 20.2 3. North America 24.25 16.2 4. South America 17.80 11.8 5. Antarctica 14.24 9.5 6. Europe 10.50 7.0 7. Australia 8.51 5.7 Fact Time • Asia and Europe are combinedly known as Eurasia. • No aquatic animal can live in the Dead Sea because it has about 25.5 percent salt and also nobody can sink in it due to its density. 64 Social Studies 6

ii. Africa It is the second largest continent after Asia. The Equator runs almost through the middle of the continent. A large part of Africa lies in the Northern Hemisphere. It is in south of Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The Sahara Desert, the World’s largest hot desert, is located in Africa. The continent is bound on all sides by oceans and seas. The world’s longest river, the Nile, also flows through Africa. iii. North America Fact Time North America is the third largest continent. It lies entirely in the Northern hemisphere. It Mount Kilimanjaro, which is 5,895 metres extends between 7°N to 83°N latitudes and from above the sea level, is the highest peak in 53° W to 180°W longitudes. It is linked to South Africa. Though it is quite near the equator, it is America by a very narrow strip of land called the always covered with snow. Isthmus of Panama. North America is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the Arctic Ocean in the North and the Isthmus of Panama in the south. North America has ancient plateaus, mountain ranges and extensive plains. The northern part of North America remains under snow cover almost throughout the year. The glacial lakes are also found in this part. iv. South America It is the fourth largest continent which lies in the southern hemisphere. South America extends from 12° North to 55° South latitudes and 35° West to 81° West longitudes. Which two oceans surround it on the east and the west? The equator passes through the mouth of its greatest river, the Amazon. v. Antarctica Antarctica is the fifth largest continent. It is completely in the Southern hemisphere. The south pole lies almost at the centre of this continent. It is covered with thick ice throughout the year, so it is also called white continent. Antarctica is surrounded by the Pacific, the Indian and the Atlantic Oceans. Many countries have set up research stations here. India has also set up two stations here, Maitri and Dakshin Gangotri. Penguin, silver fox, polar bear, etc are the main animals of this region. vi. Europe Europe is the sixth largest continent. It lies to the west of Asia, but not separated from Asia by any water body. It is quite small in size, but has some of the most developed nations in the world. It lies completely in northern hemisphere between 35° North to 75° North latitude. It has the most indented coastline in the world; that’s why it has numerous ports and finest harbours in the world. The Arctic Circle passes through it. It is bounded by water bodies on three side. vii. Australia Australia is the seventh and the smallest continent that lies entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. It is surrounded on all sides by the oceans and seas. It is called an Island Continent. Social Studies 6 65

2. Hydrosphere The domain of water on the earth’s surface is called Hydrosphere. Water bodies cover about 71% of total area of the earth. Water is found in oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, etc. Oceans and seas have about 97% of total water present on the earth, but it is useless for human consumption because it is salty. Fact Time Continents and Oceans of the world • The earth looks blue from space due to presence of too much water on it so it is also called blue Planet. • A large part of the fresh water is in the form of glaciers and ice. Only a very small (0.03 %) amount of water is available for human beings and animals. • The Arctic Ocean is connected with the Pacific ocean by a narrow stretch of shallow water known as Berring Strait. • Australia, New Zealand and other nearby islands together are called Australasia. Importance of oceans • They maintain the temperature of the earth. • They provide a very good transport route and link many countries. • They are source of mineral oils. • They are home of aquatic animals. • Their water is used to make salt. There are four major oceans: 1. The Pacific Ocean 2. The Atlantic Ocean 3. The Indian Ocean 4. The Arctic Ocean 1. The Pacific Ocean : It is the largest ocean. It is spread over one-third of the earth. Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the earth lies under the Pacific ocean. The Pacific Ocean is circular in shape. Asia, Australia, North and South America surround it. 66 Social Studies 6

2. The Atlantic Ocean : The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean. It is ‘S’ shaped. It is surrounded by North America and South America in the west and Europe and Africa in the east. 3. The Indian Ocean : Fact Time It is the only ocean that has been named after our The Atlantic ocean was named after the country India. The shape of this ocean is almost Atlas mountains in north-western Africa. triangular. In the north, it is bound by Asia, in the west by Africa and in the east by Australia. 4. The Arctic Ocean : Fact Time Most of the Arctic Ocean is permanently covered with Some scientists place a vast floating raft of sea ice. Here temperatures are frozen water-glaciers, very low, averaging -30°C in winter and sometimes ice caps and icebergs dropping to -70°C. It is located within the Arctic Circle in its own sphere called and surrounds the North Pole. It is connected with the “Cryosphere.” the Pacific Ocean by narrow stretch of shallow water known as Berring Strait. It is bounded by northern coasts of North America and Eurasia. 3. Atmosphere Composition of Air The Earth is surrounded by a layer of gases called the atmosphere. The atmosphere has many gases like nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases. Every gas has its specific role in the nature and is essential for the existence of life. For example—nitrogen gas is used by plants as a fertilizer, carbon dioxide gas is used by plants for making food, oxygen is necessary for breathing for all living things, etc. About 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% other gases are present in the atmosphere. The atmosphere extends up to a height of about 1600 km. The atmosphere is divided into five layers based on composition, temperature and other properties. 1. Troposphere (sea level - 10 km) 2. Stratosphere (10 km - 50 km) 3. Mesosphere (50 km - 80 km) 4. Thermosphere (80 km - 500 km) 5. Exosphere (above 500 km) Stratosphere contains ozone layer that is called ‘Blanket of the Earth’ because it absorbs ultraviolet rays of the sun which are harmful to us. Green House Gases absorb sunheat during daytime and release during night-time, so temperature of the earth does not fall too much at night. Social Studies 6 67

The Biosphere Biosphere Biosphere includes all living things. In other words, biosphere is the narrow zone of contact between the land, water and air—all necessary for existence of life, so where all these meet they prepare a platform for life. This is known as biosphere. Every living species on the earth is a part of the biosphere. The organisms in the biosphere are broadly divided into plants, human beings, animals and micro-organisms. All these organisms are interconnected and depend on each other for survival. Human beings and animals depend upon plants for their food. Micro-organisms depend on the dead animals and plants, which they convert into nutrients (humus) for plants. Plants absorb these nutrients and make food. So, we can say, all living things depend on each other for their survival. • Our earth is the only planet where life exists. • Three main domains of the earth are lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. • There are seven continents : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia. • There are four major oceans: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. • There are five main layers of the atmosphere. Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere. A. Tick () the correct option : 1. The fourth largest continent is: (a) South America (b) North America (c) Africa (d) Asia 2. Atmosphere is related with: (a) Land masses (b) water bodies (c) gases (d) all of these 3. How much surface of the earth is covered with water? (a) 71% (b) 80 % (c) 59 % (d) 52 % 4. The earth is also called: (a) Red Planet (b) Orange Planet (c) Blue Planet (d) Green Planet 5. Asia is separated from Europe by: (a) Black sea (b) Ural mountains (c) Caspian sea (d) all of these 68 Social Studies 6

B. Fill in the blanks : 1. The second largest continent is _____________________. 2. The deepest part of the earth is _____________________ in the Pacific Ocean. 3. The combined land mass of Asia and Europe is called _____________________. 4. The domain of water on the earth’s surface is called _____________________. 5. The earth is surrounded by a layer of _____________________ called the __________________. C. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false : 1. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean. 2. Biosphere contains land, water and air. 3. Asia is the largest continent. 4. North America is surrounded by the Pacific ocean in the west. 5. Nitrogen gas is used by plants as a fertilizer. D. Match the following : Column ‘B’ (a) Island continent Column ‘A’ (b) Includes all living things 1. Arctic ocean (c) Earth’s solid surface, rocks and soil 2. North America (d) Isthmus 3. Australia (e) Icebergs 4. Biosphere 5. Lithosphere E. Answer these Questions : 1. Name four major domains of the Earth. 2. What is hydrosphere? 3. Which are major continents of the Earth? 4. Explain the third largest continent. 5. What is an atmosphere? 6. What is the importance of oceans? 7. What is Isthmus? 8. Explain the Arctic ocean. 9. Explain the location and features of Asia. 10. What is biosphere? Explain its importance. Life Skills & Values • Cut the outline of the continents, oceans from an outline map of the world and arrange them according to their decreasing sizes. • Make a poster showing biosphere. Social Studies 6 69

1 5 our beautiful country Our country – India is very beautiful. The varied land features on its surface like hills, mountains, valleys, plains, etc add to its beauty. India has an area of about 3.28 million sq km which is about 2.4 % of the total surface area of the world. India is also called a sub-continent because it is a big geographical unit which stands out distinctly from the rest of the continent. Location and Size India is located in the northern hemisphere. It is situated in the southern part of the Asia and located at the head of the Indian ocean. The mainland of India extends between 8°4’N and 37°6’N latitudes and between 68°7’E and 97°25’E longitudes. There is a difference of about 30° between Location of India in Asia its longitudinal extent. So, the time difference between two extreme places of India, i.e., Arunachal Pradesh in the east and Gujarat in the west is about 2 hours. The Tropic of Cancer (23½°N) passes almost half-way through the country. The north-south extent from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari is about 3,200 km while the east-west extent from Arunachal Pradesh to Kuchchh is about 2,900 km. Standard Meridian for the whole country is located at Allahabad at longitude of 82½°E. The local time of the standard meridian is used as the standard time for the whole country. India’s Neighbours You will notice that we share our boundaries with seven countries. These are Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The Island country of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives are located towards the south in the Indian Ocean. Fact Time Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow stretch of water, namely, the Palk Strait. Political Divisions India is a vast country. For administrative purposes, it is divide into 28 states and 7 Union Territories. Social Studies 6 70

Most of the states are formed on the basis of languages. The states are further divided into districts and tehsils. • Rajasthan is the largest state and Goa is the smallest state in area. • Uttar Pradesh has the highest population and maximum number of districts. • Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim have common boundaries with Nepal. • Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are the new states which were created from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh respectively. • Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh have common boundaries with China. • Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal have common boundaries with Bhutan. • Some states share the common boundaries with neighbour countries. • Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Fact Time Kashmir share their boundaries with Pakistan. NCR or National Capital Region of • West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Delhi includes the townships of Noida, Mizoram have common boundaries with Bangladesh. Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgaon. Physical Divisions of India The following are the major physiographic divisions of India. 1. The Northern Mountains 2. The Northern Plains 3. The Great Indian Desert 4. The Peninsular Plateau 5. The Coastal Plains 6. The Island Groups 1. The Northern Mountains The whole northern boundary of India is guarded by several mountain ranges, which run in the shape of an arc. The Karakoram and the Himalayan mountain ranges are located along the northern front of India. These are the highest and young fold mountain ranges. Fact Time Towards the south of the Karakoram range are the Ladakh and the Zaskar ranges. The Indus river in the Kashmir The second highest peak of the region flows between these ranges. world Mt K2 or Mt Godwin Austen is located in Karakoram range. There are three parallel ranges in the Himalaya mountains: (a) The Himadri (the Greater Himalaya) (b) The Himachal (the Lesser Himalaya) (c) The Shivalik (the Outer Himalaya) Social Studies 6 71

i. The Himadri (the greater himalaya) This is the northern most and the highest range of Himalaya. These are highest of all mountains. They run from Indus to Brahmaputra. The highest peak is Mt. Everest (8,848 m). Others are Kanchenjunga, Dhaulagiri and Nanda Devi, etc. ii. The Himachal (the lesser himalaya) The Himachal is to the south of the Himadri. The mountains here are lower than those of the Himadri. This range has many beautiful valleys. The mountains slopes are covered with thick forests of pine, deodar and fir trees. Many beautiful hill stations like Nainital, Mussoorie, Shimla, Srinagar, Kullu Manali, Dharamshala, Darjeeling, etc. are located in this range. Shimla Manali Mussorrie Nainital iii. The Shivalik (the outer himalaya) This is the lowest range of Himalayas. The average height of these ranges is about 1200 metres. It comprises dense forests and land which is suitable for cultivation. 2. The Northern Plains The northern plains lie to the south of the Himalayas. They are formed by the rivers the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmputra. These plains are very fertile because they are made of fine silt brought by the rivers. This fertile silt is called alluvium. The northern plains are broadly divided into two parts. • The Ganga Basin : It covers the largest part of the northern plains. It covers parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan and West Bengal. The Ganga orginates from the Gangotri glacier in the Himalaya mountains and enters the plains at Haridwar. Haridwar Nainital The tributaries of the Ganga such as the Yamuna, the Gomti, the Gandak, the Kosi and the Ghaghara deposit fertile soil in these plains. • The Brahmaputra Valley : It lies in eastern India. The Brahmaputra river originates from Tibet, where it is known as Tsangpo. It enters India through Arunachal Pradesh. From Assam, it enters Bangladesh, where it is called Jamuna. 72 Social Studies 6

3. The Great Indian Desert The Great Indian Desert or the Thar Desert lies towards the western Thar Desert margins of the Aravali Hills. It is a dry, hot and sandy stretch of land. This region receives very low rainfall below 150 mm per year. It has arid climate with low vegetation cover. 4. The Peninsular Plateau To the south of northern plains lies the peninsular plateau. It is triangular in shape and highly uneven. The plateau is rich in minerals like coal and iron-ore. It consists of numerous hill ranges and valleys. Aravalli hills, one of the oldest ranges of the world border it on the north- west side. Peninsular plateau is the oldest part of India known as the Indian plateau. This plateau consists of two broad divisions, namely, the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau. • Central Highlands : The part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river covering a major area of the Malwa Plateau, is known as the Central Highlands. • The Deccan Plateau : It is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. It is higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards. The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the western and the eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau respectively. 5. The Coastal Plains To the west of the Western Ghats and the east of Eastern Ghats lie the coastal plains. The western coastal plains are narrow whereas the eastern coastal plains are broader. The western and the eastern coastal plains meet at Cape Comorin, the southernmost tip of the Indian mainland. Coastal plain of India The northern part of western coastal plain is called the Konkan coast and the southern part is called the Malabar coast. The northern part of the eastern coastal plain is called the Northern Circars and the southern part is called the Coromandel coast. The Mahanadi, the Godawari, the Krishna and the Kaveri rivers have formed fertile deltas along the eastern coastal plains. 6. The Island Groups There are two main group of islands— Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian sea. Andaman Nicobar Islands : These islands lie in the Bay of Bengal. They are 233 in number. The northern islands are known as the Andaman Islands, which are 214 in all while the southern islands are known as the Nicobar Islands, which are 19 in number. Many of these islands are too small and uninhabited. These islands form the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with Port Blair as its capital. Social Studies 6 73

Lakshadweep Islands : These are located in the Arabian Sea. These islands are formed, when the living polyps die and their skeletons are left. Other polyps grow on top of hard skeletons which grow higher and higher, thus coral islands are formed. Corals are skeletons of tiny marine animals called polyps. These islands are 27 in number and about 17 of them are uninhabited. They are smaller in size and less in number then the Andaman and Nicobar Island. These island also form the Union Territory of the Lakshadweep with Kavaratti as its capital. • India is the seventh largest country in the world. • India is located in the Northern hemisphere. • There is a difference of 2 hours between the local time of Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat. • Standard Meridian for whole India is located at Allahabad at longitude of 82½° E. • The Karakoram and the Himalayan mountain ranges are located along the northern front of India. • The second highest peak K2 is located in Karakoram range. • Famous hill stations like Shimla, Dalhousie, Kullu-manali, Nainital, etc are situated in Himachal range. • The Northern plains lie to the south of the Himalayas. • The Indian Desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills. • The Peninsular plateau consists of two broad divisions namely, the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau. • The capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is Port Blair. • The capital of Lakshadweep Islands is Kavaratti. A. Tick () the correct option : 1. The mainland of India extends between: (a) 14°N and 37° N (b) 8°4’ N and 37°6’ N (c) 8°4‘ S and 37°6’ S (d) 7°8’ N and 84° N 2. The smallest state in area is: (a) Goa (b) Gujarat (c) Rajasthan (d) Bihar 3. Mainland of India is divided into: (a) six groups (b) five groups (c) two groups (d) eight groups 4. The Great Indian Desert is also called: (a) Sahara Desert (b) The Thar Desert (c) The Gobi Desert (d) The Coral Desert 5. The Indian Islands in the Arabian Sea are known as: (a) Lakshadweep Islands (b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands (c) Daman and Diu Islands (d) Maldives Islands B. Fill in the blanks : 1. _____________________ is the largest state of India in area. 74 Social Studies 6

2. India is the _____________________ largest country in the world. 3. The height of Mount Everest is _____________________. 4. _____________________ is formed by the joining of the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. 5. The northern part of the eastern coastal plain is called the _____________________. C. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false : 1. India has a total area of about 3.28 million sq km. 2. The Indian peninsula is bounded by the Pacific Ocean. 3. India is divided into 28 states and 7 Union Territories. 4. Madhya Pradesh has the highest population. 5. The Brahmaputra valley lies in eastern India. D. Match the following : Column ‘B’ (a) Smallest state Column ‘A’ (b) Port Blair 1. Lakshadweep (c) Kavaratti 2. Rajasthan (d) Largest state 3. Andaman and Nicobar 4. Goa E. Answer these Questions : 1. What is the location of India? 2. Name the neighbouring countries of India. 3. Name some famous hill stations of Himachal Pradesh. 4. Why are northern plains fertile? 5. Name the states which share boundaries with Bangladesh. 6. Name the major physical divisions of India. 7. What is the outer Himalaya? Explain it. 8. What is penisular plateau? 9. What are coastal plains? 10. Why is Lakshadwep known as a coral island? Life Skills & Values • Make models of mountains, plateaus and plains. • Collect photographs of famous hill stations of India and paste them in your scrap book. • Make a project on the Indian Desert and also write the problems faced by people there. Social Studies 6 75

1 6 UNIT-3 : civics diversity India displays great variety in respect of people’s attire, their mother tongue and the religion they profess. But we are all Indians and none of the differences stands in the way of our nationhood. Our love for the motherland is like the love of a child for its mother. What is Diversity? India is a land of diversity. Here people speak different languages, eat various types of food, celebrate different festivals and practise different religions. India does not have a uniform culture. It has diversity of cultural practices, languages, customs and traditions. All these different people coming from different backgrounds belonging to different religions and cultures make our country diverse and interesting. Diversity in Religions In India, one comes across people of different religions : Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and many others. They have different places of worship and different religious practices. Our constitution gives freedom all the citizen to follow their own faith. All religions are equal before the eyes of law. That’s why, our country is called a Secular Country. Diversity in Dresses Difference in climatic conditions in different regions of India bring diversity in the living styles of people which includes dresses, food habits, festivals, etc. Dresses like sari and salwar-kameez or salwar-suit are most popular dresses of women in India. Punjab Gujarat Rajasthan Kerala Kashmir But their wearing styles are different in different regions. Salwar-kameez with a dupatta in Punjab, ghaghara-kurta with the odhni in Haryana, lehanga- choli in Gujarat, ghaghra-katchli in Rajasthan, munda-blouse in Kerala are the most popular dresses of women in different states of India. Traditional dress of Indian men is dhoti-Kurta or payjama- Fact Time kurta, but style of wearing is different in different parts of India. Churidar kurta with an achkan in Rajasthan, Turban or headgear is generally Churidar payjama with a jackat in Gujarat are some used by men in Rajasthan to protect famous dresses of men in India. their head from extreme heat. Turban is also very famous in India, but its style is different in different states. Kashmiris wear a long woollen kurta called phiran because it is too cold in mountainous regions. Phirans keep them warm. 76 Social Studies 6

Diversity in food habits Different food habits are seen in different regions of the country due to different climatic conditions and food availability. Wheat, pulses, milk are produced more in northern and western parts of India. So, dishes of these food grains are most popular in these regions, but people also eat rice and rice products like idli- dosa, etc. People of southern and eastern parts of the country like to eat rice, fish, coconut, sambhar-dosa, idli, etc. Groundnut, coconut and til oil are mostly used in western and southern India. Spices are the speciality of Indian food. People use cardamom, cloves, pepper, turmeric, chillies, etc. Spices make food tasty and aromatic. Rasogullas, sandesh, shrikhand, burfi, jalebis, ladoos are famous sweets of India. People eat these sweets in different parts of India. Diversity in Festivals and Dance Different types of festivals are celebrated in India, like national festivals, religious festivals, harvest festivals etc. National festivals such as the Republic day, the Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti and important days such as Teacher’s Day, Children’s Day are celebrated throughout the country. Religion does not matter in national festivals which shows unity in diversity. Different festivals are celebrate in different regions Festival at different times. ‘Baisakhi’ in Punjab, ‘Onam’ in Kerala, ‘Bihu’ in Assam, ‘Makar Sankranti’ in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are some examples of our festivals. Dance and Music Culture is an important part of the society of our country. Dance and music are two important aspects of our culture. There are two types of dances in India. Classical dances are very popular in India. Kathak in North India, Kathakali in Kerala, Bhratnatyam in Tamil Nadu, Odissi in Odisha, Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh, etc. Folk dances are simple and mostly based on seasons such as Bhangra in Punjab, Ghoomar in Rajasthan, Bihu in Assam, Garba in Gujarat, etc. Diversity in Languages English is used for official purposes. Each state has its own official language. The languages spoken in India can broadly be classified into two groups on the basis of their origin. The languages spoken in the Southern part of India belong to the Dravidian group whereas the 77 Social Studies 6

languages spoken in Northern part of our country have been derived from Sanskrit and belong to the Bharopy group. Thus, Indian languages have evolved over a period of time assimilating from different ethnic groups. Assames, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Napali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu are the 22 official languages mentioned in the Indian constitution. Unity in Diversity Unity in diversity served as a great source of strength in India during the British rule. People from different backgrounds and culture participated in the struggle for freedom. The freedom fighters namely Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Jawahar Lal Nehru believed in the concept of unity in diversity. During the incidence of Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, the British Army officer General Dyer on Baisakhi Day (13 April, 1919) opened fire without a warning on the unarmed protesters Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, who had gathered to protest against the British. Then women and men from different cultural, regional and religious backgrounds came together to oppose them. They worked together though British wanted to divide the Indians. National symbols of our country are the same throughout the country. They promote the national identity and unity. Our National Flag is called Tri-colour (Tiranga), having three colours— saffron, white and green. Our National Anthem is Jana-Gana-Mana.... Our National ‘Tiranga’ ‘Lion Capital’ Song is Vande- Matram. Our Natioinal Emblem is the ‘Lion Capital’. These are honoured equally by all Indians. • India is a country of diversities. • Language, culture, dance, religion, food habits, etc are very different in India because climate is very different in different regions. • Climatic conditions play an important role in deciding dresses of a particular region. • National festivals are celebrated throughout the country whereas religious and harvest festivals are celebrated according to religions and seasons respectively. • There are 22 official languages in the Indian constitution. 78 Social Studies 6

A. Tick () the correct option : 1. Phiran is a long woollen coat used by: (a) Gujaratis (b) Kashmiris (c) Rajasthanis (d) Punjabis 2. Sambhar-dosa is famous dish of: (a) South India (b) West India (c) North India (d) all of these 3. Bihu is a famous folk dance of: (a) Tamil Nadu (b) Kerala (c) Gujarat (d) Assam 4. Gandhi Jayanti is a: (a) national festival (b) religions festival (c) harvest festival (d) none of these 5. __________ official languages are spoken in India. (a) 100 (b) 48 (c) 22 (d) 16 B. Fill in the blanks : 1. Groundnut, coconut and til oil are mostly used in _____________________ and _______________. 2. Ghoomar is a famous dance in _____________________. 3. Turban is generally used by _____________________. 4. Baisakhi is a famous festival in _____________________. 5. _____________________ is not restricted to Gujarat alone. C. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false : 1. Bengali like to eat dal and rice. 2. Food habits are different in different regions. 3. National festivals are celebrated throughout the country. 4. Onam is a religious festival. 5. Classical dances are very popular in India. D. Match the following : 1. Kathakali (a) Andhra Pradesh 2. Bhratnatyam (b) Assam 3. Ghoomar (c) Tamil Nadu 4. Kuchipudi (d) Kerala 5. Bihu (e) Rajasthan E. Answer these Questions : 1. What is diversity? 2. What is diversity in religions in India? 3. Write about is the dress styls of Indian women and men? 4. Write a short note on classical dances of India. 5. Explain the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre. Life Skills & Values • Prepare a power point presentation slide to show the diversity in India. Social Studies 6 • Make a chart showing examples of ‘Unity in Diversity’ in India. 79

1 7 striving for equality In a country full of diversities, we often come across people, who look different from us, speak different languages, wear different types of clothes, have different food habits, etc. Their opinion, attitudes and thoughts may also be different. We find them strange and unfamiliar. When we do not understand them properly, we usually form a negative opinion about them which results in building up of prejudices. Prejudice Prejudice means to judge other people negatively or see them as an inferior. For example—we think English is the best language and we respect those who can converse well in English and look down upon people who cannot speak English. Even people of different religions, cultures, colours of their skin, clothes they wear, etc. are looked with suspicions. Another difference is visible through their economic background, which further adds to their inequality. People who are poor do not have the resources or money to meet their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter often face discrimination in offices, hospitals, schools, etc. Stereotypes Prejudice or pre-conceived idea leads to the creation of stereotypes. If we generalise all people of a particular group into one image, we create a stereotype. Here are some examples or statements that we hear frequently. For instance— • Villagers are very simple and city folks are cunning. • Girls cry easily. • Fair skinned girls are more beautiful than the dark ones. • People who speak in English are more superior. • Boys are good at games and girls are good in house-hold work. And so on and so forth. Thus, stereotypes can have lasting, damaging impact as they do not allow us to do justice with an individual because we ignore their special skills and unique qualities. It is indeed difficult to overcome prejudice because they have been ingrained strongly in our minds, but we must try to overcome our prejudices by showing tolerance and respect for other cultures. 80 Social Studies 6

Social and Economic Differences Besides various regional, cultural, religious and linguistic diversities, some social and economic differences also prevail in Indian society leading to social and economic inequalities. Social Inequality India also faces the problem of ‘Social Inequality’. The age-old hierarchical caste system is an example of this inequality. A person faces social discriminations in society on account of his birth in a particular caste group; where by, a son of a potter became a potter, a weaver’s son became a weaver. All this killed a person’s enthusiasm and enterprise over a period of time, and create a situation of inequality. People who were deprived of educational opportunities were deprived of good jobs and remained steeped in ignorance and poverty all their lives. Besides social inequality, another type of inequality that prevails in India is ‘Economic Inequality.’ Unequal distribution of wealth among the people in a country has resulted in economic inequality. India is divided into three classes of people according to their economic conditions. These are rich, middle and poor classes. It is the poor class which is not able to fulfil its basic needs, i.e., food, clothes and shelter. Inequality and Discrimination Discrimination means treating a person or group differently than others. Discrimination usually means a worse treatment. This treatment is caused by our prejudices or stereotypes. When we act on prejudices or stereotypes, we prevent others from taking up certain jobs, duties and responsibilities. We stop them from enjoying life like us. For example, many shopkeepers do not employ persons of another community. Also, we usually do not allow our helpers at home to drink tea in the same cups or glasses, which we or our guests use. In both the cases, we practice discrimination. Bases of Discrimination : Discrimination is usually founded on the following reasons: Diversity may cause discrimination. It may be diversity of religion, language or region. Unless people are educated, they make discrimination on the grounds of religion, region and language. It is common for the urban boys to laugh at and tease the simple boys from villages, who join their school in cities. Sometimes, even when we are educated, we may practise discrimination as the whites did against the blacks in South Africa. Cultural Backwardness is also a cause of discrimination. Tribals and people living in remote outstretched regions, and some religious groups also face discrimination because their culture is undervalued. Snake charmers, conjurers (madaris) and acrobats (nuts) face discrimination because they are culturally backward. Though they entertain us, we cannot allow them to share our room and untensils. Economic Diversity : Rich people do not accept the poor easily. They stay away from them. This kind of discrimination is a world phenomenon. Wealthy nations see other wealthy nations and poor nations with different eyes. Poor people face discrimination everywhere— in offices, in hospitals, in schools, etc. 81 Social Studies 6

Nature of work also causes discrimination. Certain kinds of work are valued more than others. For example, teaching is preferred to cutting hair, farming to picking garbage and carpentry to sweeping and cleaning. Activities like cutting hair, picking garbage, sweeping and cleaning are considered to be of inferior nature to the activities of teaching, farming and carpentry. And they are, therefore discriminated against caste based discrimination dominated the Indian social life for quite some time. The Indian social pyramid has the “upper caste” at its top and the ‘untouchables’ at its base. The top and the base truely reflect the numbers of people belonging to the two groups—upper caste and untouchables. Those who belong to upper caste regard themselves superior to those who are untouchables. In India of yesterday, the upper caste discriminated against the untouchables in every walk of life. Untouchables were not allowed to take up jobs other than low menial works. They were not permitted to enter houses, shops and temples where the upper caste had an access. In villages they were not allowed to take water from the village well. Even their children could not sit near the children of other castes in school. Most of all untouchables could not travel in a cart, tanga or bus carrying persons of upper castes. This was indeed a cruel discrimination. Fortunately, it is going away and hopefully it will disappear from the Indian social life. Striving for Equality Along with the struggle for freedom from British rule, people like Dalits, women, tribals and peasants also fought for equality. When India became an Independent nation in 1947, the framers of the Indian Constitution laid special emphasis to ensure that all the people of India are considered equal and to eradicate inequality. Constitutional Steps : In 1947, when India became a free nation, our leaders identified the different kinds of inequality that existed in our country. The persons, who wrote the constitution of India included Dr BR Ambedkar. The discrimination was still fresh in his mind when he was not permitted to hire a cart simply because he was an untouchable. Now, it was the opportunity to make amends for the social inequalities. Dr. B R Ambedkar Our constitution ensures that all people of India are treated equal. It also ensures that everyone of us has equal rights and opportunities. Untouchability has been made a crime and has been legally abolished. It will be of much use for us if we discuss the Right to equality and right to freedom. • Political justice : It means equal participation of every individual to participate in the government. • Equality : Liberty without equality is meaningless. Every citizen of India is treated equally before law and is ensured equal protection. • Liberty : Indian citizens are given freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. 82 Social Studies 6

• Fraternity : It means brotherhood among the people of India. • Untouchability is seen as a crime and has been legally abolished by law. • Government jobs are opened to all people. • The constitution has also placed responsibility on the government to take specific steps to realise this right to equality for poor and other marginal communities. Constitution of India Preamble We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN, SOCIALIST, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLIC and to safeguard to all its citizens. Justice, social, economic and political. Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. Equality status and opportunity and to promote it among them all. Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation. In our Constitution Assembly, this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do Hereby Adopt, Enact And Give to Ourselves this constitution. Fact Time The constituent Assembly took almost three years (two years, eleven months and seventeen days to be precise) to complete its historic task of drafting the constitution for Independent India. During this period, it held eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days. Of these, 114 days were spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution. Untouchables In caste system, communities/groups of people were placed in a sort of ladder where each caste was either above or below the other. Those who placed themselves at the top of this ladder called themselves upper caste and felt superior. The groups, who were placed at the bottom of the ladder were seen as unworthy and called ‘untouchables’. Untouchables were those, whose jobs or lifestyles involved what were seen as polluting activities. Killing for a living, as for instance fishermen, working with hides of dead cattle, contact with human body emission; i.e., sweepers and washerman. Fact Time Mahatma Gandhi–the father of the nation, gave the term ‘Harijan’ (Harijan means ‘Hari ka Jan’; i.e., God’s people) to the untouchables. Mahatma Gandhi used to stay in Harijan colonies. There was no feeling of untouchability in his ashram. He used to dine with people of low castes. The National movement led by Gandhiji provided a common platform to all the people irrespective of their caste or religion. This motivated the upper caste people from discriminating against the untouchables. Until untouchablity was banned, many people were segregated, forbidden access to temples, schools or draw water from well. Some were even unable to move freely in daylight. Now 83 Social Studies 6

laws provide Harijans with educational and vocational privileges and special representation in the Indian Parliament. Mahatma Gandhi, the father of nation, himself faced racial discrimination in South Africa which make him all the more determined to fight against this inhuman practice. Gandhiji left India in 1893 for South Africa. On his arrival at Durban, Mahatma Gandhi he bought a first-class train ticket to Pretoria. At Maritzburg, a white passenger boarded the train and was angry to see Gandhiji (an Asian) in the same compartment. In those days, in South Africa, only white could travel by first class. He reported it to the railway authorities who then asked Gandhiji to move to the van compartment. • Our prejudice is mainly based on religious beliefs, languages, food habits, colors of skin, dresses and regional differences. • Stereotypes prevent us from looking special skills in individuals and stops us from attempting certain things that we might be good at. • Constitution of India ensures that all people of India are treated equal. It has made untouchability a crime and has abolished it legally. • Right to equality and right to liberty are the two fundamental rights which have hit inequality and discrimination to a large extent. • Discrimination exists in India in various forms, but the constitution has tried to curtail it by making provisions for implementation of equality. A. Tick () the correct option : 1. Prejudice means to form: (a) a positive opinion (b) a negative opinion (c) no opinion (d) none of these 2. Discrimination usually means a: (a) worse treatment (b) good treatment (c) sympathetic treatment (d) none of these 3. What are the things that make people prejudiced? (a) Religions beliefs (b) Their colours and dresses (c) Their languages and foods (d) all of these 4. When does discrimination happen? (a) When people act on their prejudices (b) When people act on their stereotypes (c) Both the above (d) None of the above B. Fill in the blanks : 1. Prejudice idea leads to the creation of _____________________. 84 Social Studies 6

2. _____________________ is an example of inequality. 3. _____________________ means treating a person or group differently than others. 4. Discrimination usually means a _____________________. 5. Diversity may cause _____________________. 6. India became an independent nation in _____________________. C. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false : 1. Human beings are born equal and so have a right to be equal. 2. Inequality leads to discrimination. 3. Prejudice does not harm our society. 4. Untouchability is illegal. 5. Our constitution ensures that all people of India are treated equal. D. Match the following : Column ‘A’ Column ‘B’ 1. Stereotype (a) negative opinion 2. Uncomfortable (b) with people different from us 3. Untouchables (c) fixed idea or image 4. Discrimination (d) lower caste 5. Prejudice (e) treat person or group differently than other E. Answer these Questions : 1. Define stereotype. How is it created? Give an example. 2. What is inequality? 3. Throw light on the efforts made to remove inequality from Indian social life. 4. What do you mean by discrimination? 5. Give two examples of diversity in India. 6. Explain the right to equality. 7. Who are called the untouchables in the Indian society and why? Life Skills & Values • Discuss in your class how you can contribute in getting rid of prejudice and discrimination from our society. • Collect information about the makers of Indian constitution and paste their photographs in your scrapbook. 85 Social Studies 6

1 8 government Government is a set of institutions that have the power to make, implement and interpret laws so as to ensure an orderly life. Government consists of group of people who are assigned the task of administering and managing the affairs of the nation. Branches of Government The government has to make laws for the governance of the country. Then the government has to execute or implement these laws. Besides, the government also has to settle disputes and conflicts in the country. The government has three specific branches to perform the above said three kinds of functions. These branches are: (1) Legislative (2) Executive (3) Judiciary Legislative is that branch of a government which has power to make and change laws of a country. In India, the parliament at the centre and the Legislate in the states are law making bodies. Executive is that branch of a government that is concerned with putting decisions, laws etc into effect. The Union Executive is composed of the President, the Prime Minister, his council of Minister’s and Civil servants. The state Executive consists of the Governor, a council of Minister’s headed by a Chief Minister and Civil Servants at the state level. Judiciary is that branch of a government that settles conflicts, disputes and delivers justice to the people. The Supreme court is the highest court of the country. The High court is the highest court in a state. The administration of justice is conducted by two types of courts at the district level—civil courts and criminal courts. Functions of the Government • To protect the life and property of the people. • To enact and enforce rules and regulations. • To run postal, roadways, airways and railway services. • To control market prices. • To maintain law and order in the country. • To protect the country from any sort of internal and external attacks. • To provide relief to the people in case of famine, drought, earthquake, cyclone or other natural calamities. • To provide necessary infrastructure like roads, schools, hospitals, dams, etc. • To maintain good, friendly and peaceful relations with neighbouring countries. • To provide adequate electricity and water to the people. • To remove poverty, unemployment, discrimination and inequality from the country. 86 Social Studies 6

Decision making and Participation Framing laws is the main function of the government. People in democratic countries participate in making laws through their elected representatives. Participation of citizens in the decision-making process of the government, is the foundation of any democratic country. Before making any policy, the government organises debates in the legislature. The views of majority representatives become the collective decision and is accepted by all. Participation is a very important factor for smooth running of a democratic government. Levels of the Government The Local Government : The local level means in your village, town or locality. It means that the local self-government includes Village Panchayat, District Board, Municipality etc. The villagers and the people of towns get a chance to take part in the local self-government of their village or town. It provides basic amenities to the citizens of a village or a town or a city. It plays an important role in a democratic country. The State Government : The state level would mean that covers an entire state like Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. The Central Government : The central (National) level relates to the entire country. In India, we have adopted parliamentary form of government. Various forms of Government These are three main types of government: (i) Monarchy (ii) Dictatorship (iii) Democracy Monarchy : In the ancient and medieval period of history, monarchy or Kingship was the most common form of government whereby a King or Queen formed the government. Monarchial form of government was strengthened by the ‘Divine Rights’ theory which considered kings to be the representatives of God on the earth. The monarch had the absolute right to take Queen Elizabeth-ll of UK Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah decisions. His word was considered law. It was a Sultan of Brunei hereditary form of government in which the King or Queen inherited the throne from their father or mother. Dictatorship : Dictatorship is another form of government in which an individual rules the state without any accountability to the people for his actions. Adolf Hitler of Germany was one 87 Social Studies 6

such dictator, who plunged the world into Second Fact Time World War. The Inter-war period (1919- Dictatorship is an antithesis of democracy. It gives 1939) saw the rise of dictatorship no right to people, tolerates neither opposition in Italy and Germany. nor criticism. It envisages one party rule, controlled by one leader with local authority. The individual, his freedom, his very thinking are controlled by the state. The motto of the dictator is ‘Everything within the state and nothing outside or beyond the state.’ Democracy : It is a form of Government in which the people of a country choose their own Government through elections. Every person has a right to vote the candidate of his own choice. These elected candidates form a Government. Hence, in a democracy, Government is formed by the common people so it works for their welfare. It is the most popular form of Government in the world. People enjoy many rights in a democracy. They have the freedom to express themselves. If people are not satisfied by the working government, they change it at the time of next election. That’s why Abraham Lincoln defined Fact Time democratic government as ‘the Government of the people, by the people and for the people.’ The word democracy has been derived Today, most of the countries are democratic. from a Greek word ‘Demo Kratia’. ‘Demo’ India is also a democratic country. means people and ‘Kratia’ means rule. It means rule of people. Universal Adult Franchise If we go by the definition of democracy, government of the people, by the people and for the people, people are supposed to take part and cast vote in the election of their representatives, who make laws for the country. In fact, a government cannot call itself democratic unless it allows all adults in the country the right to vote. The constitution of India provides that the election to the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly of States shall be on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise, which means “Every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than 18 years of age and is not otherwise disqualified has the right to vote.” History of Universal Adult Franchise Before 1947, only a small number of people were allowed to vote in India. They were wealthy and educated persons and constituted a small minority, but used to decide the fate of the majority. Gandhiji was sad and shocked to see this unfair practice and demanded the voting right for all adults. 88 Social Studies 6

Initially our constitution granted right to vote to all citizens, who were not less than 21 years of age. It went on like this upto 1989 when the age was reduced from 21 years to 18 years. Elsewhere in the world in Europe and USA, women and the poor had to struggle for their voting right. Women had to launch a movement for it, which is called suffrage movement. The women participated in this movement were called suffragettes. They demanded the right to vote for all women. During their struggle, they Fact Time went on hunger strikes and sometimes chained Suffrage movement was popular themselves to railing in public places. Ultimately, in Britain under the leadership of women in the USA and the UK were granted voting Emmeline Pankhurst. right in 1920 and 1928 respectively. • The main functions of the government are to remove poverty, unemployment, discrimination, maintain the situation of law and order, etc. • There are three organs of government : Legislative, Executive and Judiciary. They work together to run a nation. • The three main types of government are : (a) Monarchy (b) Dictatorship (c) Democratic. • There are three levels of Government — Central Government, State Government and Local Government. • Democratic government is the most popular government in the world. • A person who has attained the age of 18 years and is citizen of India, has the right to vote. • Suffragettes were popular in USA and Europe. A. Tick () the correct option : 1. The law making body of the government is the: (a) Legislative (b) Judiciary (c) Executive (d) None of these 2. The organ of the government which protects people against unjust rule is: (a) Executive (b) Legislative (c) Judiciary (d) Executive and Judiciary 3. In an democracy, Government is formed by the: (a) common people (b) king (c) queen (d) none of these 4. A movement started by women to get the right to vote is: (a) Suffrage (b) Universal Adult Franchise (c) Suffrage and Suffragette (d) Suffragette 5. The word ‘Democracy’ is derived from a: (a) Spanish word (b) Greek word (c) German word (d) None of these B. Fill in the blanks : 1. The _____________________ is the highest court of the country. 2. _____________________ is the main function of the government. 89 Social Studies 6

3. _____________________ are the most powerful forms of government in the world. 4. Dictatorship is an _____________________ of democracy. 5. India is a _____________________ country. C. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false : 1. Executive consists of the President, and the Prime Minister. 2. In India, every citizen has equal political rights. 3. The government manages a system of justice. 4. The Civil Court is the highest court in a state. 5. Democracy is the most popular form of government in the world. D. Define the following terms : 1. Government 2. Universal Adult Franchise 3. Monarchy 4. Dictatorship 5. Suffragette E. Answer these Questions : 1. What is a government? 2. Why do we need a government? 3. Differentiate between a Monarchy and a Democracy. 4. Name the different types of government. 5. How are democratic governments more accountable to the people? Life Skills & Values • Collect the symbols and manifestos of different political parties of India. • Make charts, posters, etc depicting various aspects of the democratic way of life. • Just Imagine You are the head of the election committee of your school. Make arrangements to conduct free and fair elections for the school student’s council. 90 Social Studies 6

1 9 rular livelihoods Any work that is done to earn money to live, is called a means of livelihood. Different people have different means of livelihood, depending on—where they live, what skills they develop and what kind of education they receive. Let us now learn about the various means of livelihood available to people living in the rural areas of our country. They are classified into three categories : 1. Primary occupations, relate to agriculture, farming and animal husbandry. 2. Secondary occupations, are related to manufacturing units, self-employment, etc. 3. Tertiary occupation, are service providing jobs like transport, communication, banking, etc. Occupations and Professions in Rural Areas The villagers of India are involved in their basic occupation—agriculture. Though earlier, there used to be primitive methods of carrying on this process; but nowadays, due to innovative methods, farmers are able to grow wheat, rice, lentils, vegetables, fruits and many other crops in order to accomplish the challenging task of feeding themselves families and the nation. The farmers, based on the area of land possessed, have been classified into four sections: 1. Landless Farmers : Some farmers do not have their own land for agriculture. They work on the land of other persons. Some of them take land on lease and some of them work on daily wage basis. 2. Small farmers : Farmers who have agricultural land less than 2 hectares, are small farmers. They cannot produce sufficient crop for survival of their families. Such farmers work on the field of other persons Farmer or go to a city to earn more money. These small farmers borrow money from moneylenders to purchase seeds, fertilizers etc. In any case, if they are not able to return their money, then their land is captured by moneylenders. 3. Middle Farmers : These are the farmers with the land area between two hectares to five hectares. They mostly use common agricultural implements for cultivation and harvesting. However, some hire tractors and threshers for planting and harvesting. 4. Large Farmers : Farmers, those who have agricultural land more than five hectares fall under this category. Most of these farmers employ other persons for cropping and Social Studies 6 91

harvesting. These farmers use modern methods of agriculture and implements such as tractor, harvester, thresher, etc. They live a good life. Community Development Projects • Our government launched the Community Development Programme in 1952 with the aim of developing villages and improving agricultural production. • Branches of many banks have been opened in villages to provide loans on easy terms to the farmers and other residents. • The farmers were provided with the latest technology. • In certain backward areas, our government gave land to landless labourers to make them self-reliant. Animal Husbandry In mountainous regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand. etc, many people live on the slopes of mountains. For a major part of the year, these places are too cold for growing crops. The people who live here, rear sheep and goats and earn their living by selling the wool that they get from these animals. The Gujjars and Bokarwals of Kashmir for examples, are nomadic herders. In summer, they take their herds to graze on the grassy slopes of the mountains and in winter, they come down to the valleys with their herds. In rural areas all over India, cows, buffaloes and goats are commonly reared. These animals are reared mainly for their milk. The milk is sold in villages as well as in cities. In many places, the villagers have formed milk cooperatives. These cooperatives collect milk from the villagers and make sure that it reaches the market. They also see that the villagers get a fair price for it. Besides they provide loans to the villagers and help them to produce and sell butter, ghee and other dairy products. You must be fond of Amul chocolates. Do you know that these and all the other delicious things that are sold under the name Amul are marketed by a cooperative in Gujarat? Many villagers keep bulls for ploughing fields and pulling carts. Bullock-carts are an important form of transport in our villages. Poultry farming is another source of livelihood in villages. Some villagers have formed cooperatives to sell eggs. Fact Time • Amul is the biggest supplier of dairy products in India. • In pasteurisation, milk is heated up to 70°C to 80°C and suddenly chilled and stored at 4°C. This milk is free from harmful bacteria. other occupations People in the village are also engaged in crafts. They are engaged in making baskets, pots, carpets, bricks, etc. Besides, some villagers work as barbers (nai), cobblers (mochi), tailors (darzi), goldsmiths (sonar), blacksmiths (lohar), carpenters (barahi), sellers of betel leaves or paan (panwadis). Most families have followed these occupations over centuries. Some village 92 Social Studies 6

women have taken up nursing and teaching and work in the village dispensary and in the primary schools respectively. Some youngmen have become mechanics and repair cycles. Some of them are shopkeepers selling groceries, seeds, fertilisers, stationery etc. They even sell medicines. In fact, it was very interesting to find one single shop in a village selling all items of daily need. Some women after working in the fields could be seen doing “Phulkari” work, the traditional craft of Punjab. They made suits, sarees, bed sheets in vibrant colours and hues. There is a great demand for ethnic wears in big towns. This is a fine example of how the cottage industry has become a source of income for many people. The people of villages also excelled in metal works and designing statues from wood, stones and a few people made leather shoes called ‘Jutis’. To encourage the rural crafts, the government provides loans and grants to craftsmen. Now, they have a chance to enjoy a decent standard of life. Thus, in a village, both farming and non-farming activities form a source of income. The government further introduced the villagers to the wider economic and political world outside the village via travel, work, education and television. Involvement of government in rural upliftment has led to greater opportunities for village people to earn their livelihood. Thousands of people leave their villages in search of jobs. They are keen on migrating to Canada and Australia in search of better professional opportunities. And the ones, who have gone out want to stay in touch with their family, friends and relatives in their villages. This gave a scope of one more job as many enterprising young men have opened PCO booths and thus earn a living. Computer institutes have also mushroomed and some youngmen and women are earning their livelihood from it. • Agriculture and animal husbandry are called primary occupations. • Self-employment, manufacturing units, industries etc, are called secondary occupations. • Farmers are categorised into four groups—landless farmers, small farmers, medium farmers and large farmers. • Not being able to earn money throughout the year compels people to migrate to other areas in search of better livelihood options. A. Tick () the correct option : 1. Manufacturing units are considered under: (a) primary occupation (b) secondary occupation (d) none of these (c) tertiary occupation 2. In India, the basic occupation of villagers is: (a) agriculture (b) fishing (c) crafting (d) none of these 93 Social Studies 6

3. Who is the biggest supplier of dairy products in India? (a) Parag (b) Madhu Sudan (c) Amul (d) none of these 4. Farmers are categorised into: (a) two groups (b) three groups (c) four groups (d) five groups 5. Farmers which have more than 2 hectares land are called: (a) big farmers (b) medium farmers (c) small farmers (d) all of these B. Fill in the blanks : 1. Small farmers have agricultural land __________ 2 hectares. 2. Big farmers use __________ in agriculture. 3. ‘Phulkari’ work is the traditional craft of __________. 4. Our government launched the Community Development Programme in __________. 5. Agriculture and animal husbandry are called __________ occupations. C. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false : 1. Small farmers produce sufficient crop for surviving their families. 2. Crafting and weaving are some other occupations in rural areas. 3. Women in villages do not work outside their homes. 4. Small farmers often borrow money. D. Match the following : Column ‘A’ Column ‘B’ 1. Small farmers (a) sell butter, ghee and other things 2. Large farmers (b) less than 2 hectares 3. Community Development Programme (c) 5 hectares 4. Cooperatives (d) 1952 E. Answer the following questions : 1. What do you mean by livelihood? 2. What are occupations? 3. When and why was the Community Development Programme launched? 4. What is animal husbandry? 5. What are the various crafts in which rural people are engaged? 6. Differentiate between Middle and Large Farmers. Life Skills & Values • In your scrap book, paste or draw pictures of different occupations carried in Indian villages. • Make a poster showing administrative structure of a district. 94 Social Studies 6

2 0 panchayati raj Panchayati Raj is a system of self government or local government at the village level. Villagers can directly contact Panchayat to solve their problems. Village Panchayat can easily understand the problems of villagers. Panchayati Raj is an effort to establish a true democracy at the village level because people living in villages are given the right of administration and development of villages according to their needs. In our country, the system of Panchayats is very old because India lives in the villages. Panchayat means a group of five persons. Villagers elect a group of five persons by general voting. They settle disputes and look after the problems of the village. The government began programmes for the development of the country, but participation of the people at local level was missing. Therefore, in 1992, the constitution was amended and rules formulated for the Panchayati Raj System. These rules became effective from April, 1993. They are as follows: • It must be a three-tier system—the village level, block level and district level. • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should have reservation in proportion to their population in the area. • A member of a Panchayat should not be less than 21 years of age. • The State Election Commission should hold regular Panchayat elections. • One-third of the total number of seats are reserved for women. • Time-period of Panchayats is five years. Elections must be held within six months if a Panchayat is dissolved due to any reason. • Panchayats at the block level may not be constituted in states having population of less than 20 lakhs. There should be direct election for all the seats in a Panchayat. Structure of the Panchayati Raj The Panchayati Raj is a three-tier system. It works at three levels: Village level Panchayati Raj District level Block level Gram Gram Nayaya Block Samiti Sabha Panchayat Panchayat Zila Parishad 1. Panchayati Raj at Village Level A village has a Gram Sabha, Gram Panchayat and a Nyaya Panchayat to look after the welfare of the residents. Social Studies 6 95

(i) Gram Sabha : Every villager above the age of 18, whose name is on the voter list, is a member of the Gram Sabha. The Gram Sabha elects the members and the head of the Gram Panchayat. The Gram Sabha reviews the work and accounts of the Gram Panchayat. It can also remove corrupt or inefficient members of the Gram Panchayat. In this way, the Gram Sabha allows all adult villagers a say in the decisions that affect their lives. (ii) Gram Panchayat : The members of the Gram Panchayat are elected by the members of the Gram Sabha for a period of five years. The number of members of a Panchayat is not fixed. It depends on the density of population. For Example : It is fixed between 25-30 in UP It is fixed between 6-20 in Haryana It is fixed between 5-9 in Punjab It is fixed between 5-15 in Rajasthan It is fixed between 7-11 in Delhi. Seats are reserved for SC, ST and women in Gram Panchayats. The Sarpanch or Pradhan is the head of the Gram Panchayat, who is elected by the members of the Gram Panchayat. The Sarpanch has power to sign important documents and he co-ordinates the activities of the Panchayat. The Gram Panchayat also elects the Up-Pradhan, who works in the absence of Pradhan. The Gram Panchayat has a Secretary, who is a government employee. His job is to keep account of income and expenditure. He also keeps the records of the meetings and the works done by the Panchayat. Functions of the Gram Panchayat The Gram Panchayat meets regularly to implement the compulsory Developmental Programmes. It performs some compulsory and some optional functions at the village level. Compulsory Functions • Looking after the general sanitation of the village. • Provision of street lighting. • Construction and maintenance of approach roads and dams. • Management of cremation and burial ground. • Provision of drinking water. • Registration of births, deaths and marriages in the village. • Cleanliness of public wells, tanks and other places. • Maintenance of social education centre and Panchayat Ghar and provision of books, radio, television, etc at the Panchayat Ghar. • Checking unauthorised occupation of public land. • The Gram Panchayat also finalizes the list of below poverty line families so that they can benefit from the various developmental scheme. Optional Functions • Providing facilities for medical help to village people. • Holding fairs and cattle shows. 96 Social Studies 6

• Arranging availability of improved seeds, fertilizers, etc. • Providing facilities for treatment of cattle. • Promotion of cottage and small-scale industries. • Organising village sports, maintaing akharas and other social functions. The Panchayat also keeps check over the functions of village functionaries like vaccination, chowkidar or the patwari. The Panchayat can report to higher authorities if they do not perform their functions satisfactorily. Sources of Income • Taxes on Property and land. • Taxes on goods. • Taxes imposed on shops, fairs. • Income from sale of cattle. • Grants from the State Government. (iii) Nyaya Panchayat : The Nyaya Panchayat is the village court. Its members are called panch, and it is headed by a Sarpanch. They are elected by the Gram Sabha. The Nyaya Panchayat hears and decides minor cases. It can fine and punish the guilty within certain limits. It helps villagers to get speedy justice at very little cost. 2. Block Samiti Block Samiti is the link between the Gram Panchayat and the district administration. Block Samiti is formed where the population is more than 20 lakhs. It is a block of 20 to 60 villages. Members of the Block Samiti are elected by the people of the block. Besides the elected members, members of the Lok Shaba, the Rajya Sabha, the Legislative Council, Legislative Assembly and the Sarpanch of villages are also the members of the Block Samiti. Some seats are also reserved for women, SC and ST. Members of a Block Samiti elect a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson. The Chairperson is also known as Block Pramukh. The tenure of Block Samiti is of 5 years. All plans of Block Samiti are implemented with the help of the Block Development Officer who is a government employee. The main function of the BDO is the implementation of developmental plans, prepared by the Block Samiti. Functions of the Block Samiti • Coordinating and supervising the functioning of Panchayats. • Implementation of community development programmes, sponsored by the state government. Social Studies 6 97

• Training of farmers in scientific methods of agriculture and animal husbandry. • Construction of minor bridges, link roads, etc. • Making recommendation for grant under welfare scheme like Jawahar Rozgar Yojana. • Education of the children by establishing and maintaining institutions like schools, industrial training institutes, etc. • Arranging health programmes like mass inocculation (for examples— Pulse Polio), prevention of epidemics and common diseases through preventive measures. • Encouraging growth of cottage industries and traditional crafts. Sources of Income • Taxes on business, trade, etc. • Income from lease of Samiti land for organising fairs, etc. • Grants from the State Government. 3. The District Level : Zila Parishad The Zila Parishad is the third and the highest tier of Panchayati Raj. It comprises of the following members. 1. President of the Panchayat Samitis 2. M.L.As and M.Ps of the area 3. Representatives of the Co-operative societies. 4. Chairman of the Municipal Boards. 5. Representatives of women, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The tenure of a Zila Parishad is 5 years. The members of the Zila Parishad elect a chairman and Vice-chairman from among themselves. Functions of Zila Parishad • To advise the Gram Panchayats and Block Samitis in their function. • To monitor the agricultural production and development works. • To supervise and coordinate the working of Block Samitis with the State Government. • Make the plans for whole district. • To supervise the implementation of projects under the five year plans. Sources of Income • Taxes • Rent from shops and houses. • A large grant is received from the State Government. Achievements and Short-Comings of the Panchayati Raj System. The Panchayati Raj system has brought about substantial improvement in the villages by taking up welfare schemes. It has brought political awakening in the villages. They not only elect their own representatives but also take part in making decisions in the villages. The Panchayati Raj institutions work as training grounds for the people to enable them to 98 Social Studies 6

work as representatives of the people in State Legislature and Parliament. The Panchayats have succeeded in drawing the attention of the government officials to their problems. The system has helped in bringing about a green Revolution in many parts of the country, specially in Punjab and Haryana. Agricultural production has increased a great deal. However, there is the other side of the picture as well. Elections to Panchayati Raj institutions are marked by violence. The panchayats are elected mostly on party or caste basis and hence they do not work impartially. Most of the benefits do not reach the deserving people but are covered by influential people. The Panchayati Raj institutions are not provided with sufficient funds. Their sources of income are very limited. Even the funds sanctioned by the government are misappropriated by the Panchayat. Therefore, to ensure proper implementation of Panchayati Raj in all the states, the ministry of Panchayat Raj looks into all matters relating to Panchayati Raj and its institutions. It awards the best Panchayat, grants funds to backward regions and works for development and training of Panchayats. Fact Time • “Democracy requires every man or woman, to realize his or her responsibility. This is what is meant by Panchayati Raj”. – Mahatma Gandhi. • Rajasthan was the first state to adopt the Panchayati Raj System. The other states followed later on. • The Panchayati Raj system makes democracy strong. • Panchayati Raj is a three-tier system, comprising of Gram Panchayat at the Village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level and Zila Parishad at the district level. • Gram Panchayat looks after the welfare of villages. • The members of Gram Panchayat are elected by Gram Sabha. A sarpanch or pradhan heads the Gram Panchayat. The Gram Panchayat perfoms several compulsory and optional functions. • Nyaya panchayat is the judicial wing of the panchayat and decides (petty) civil cases. • The Block Samiti is the link between Gram Panchayat and Zila Parishad. • The Zila Parishad is the third and highest tier of Panchayati Raj and maintains links with the state government at the district level. • Taxes, rent and grants from the State Government are the main sources of income of Gram Panchayats, Block Samitis and Zila Parishads. A. Tick () the correct option : 1. Panchayati Raj is a system of local government at the: (a) village level (b) city level (c) state level (d) none of these 2. Who is the head of Gram Panchayat? (a) Sarpanch (b) Up-Pradhan (c) Chairman (d) none of these 3. The Panchayati Raj is a: (a) Two-tier system (b) three-tier system (c) four-tier system (d) none of these 99 Social Studies 6

4. The highest tier of Panchayati Raj is: (a) Zila Parishad (b) Block Samiti (c) Gram Sabha (d) none of these (d) 30 years 5. A member of a Panchayat should not be less than: (a) 18 years (b) 21 years (c) 25 years B. Fill in the blanks : 1. In India, the system of _____________________ is very old. 2. _____________________ is the village court. 3. Block Samiti is the link between _____________________. 4. The tenure of Block Samiti is of _____________________ years. 5. Panchayat means a group of _____________________ persons. C. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false : 1. BDO is elected by members of a Gram Panchayat. 2. Block Samiti is the first tier of Panchayati Raj System. 3. Maintaining the health care centres is not the function of the Gram Panchayat. 4. Secretary of a Gram Panchayat is a Government employee. 5. The Panchayati Raj System makes democracy strong. D. Define the following : 1. Gram Sabha 2. Gram Panchayat 3. Block Samiti 4. Zila Parishad 5. Nyaya Panchayat E. Answer these Questions : 1. What is Panchayati Raj System? 2. Name the three bodies of Panchayati Raj at village level. 3. What is a Block Samiti? 4. How is Gram Panchayat formed? 5. What are the various functions of a Gram Panchayat? 6. How is Zila Parishad formed? 7. What are the sources of income of Zila Parishad? 8. What is the function of Nyaya Panchayat? 9. What are the achievements and short-comings of the Panchayati Raj System? Life Skills & Values • Visit a nearby village and see how a Gram Panchayat is formed and what are its functions. Also prepare a report on it. • Make a project on the importance of Panchayati Raj System. 100 Social Studies 6