ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The Great Uprising of 1857

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The Great Uprising of 1857

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

APlusTopper.com provides step by step solutions for ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics. You can download the History and Civics ICSE Solutions for Class 8 with Free PDF download option. History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions all questions are solved and explained by expert teachers as per ICSE board guidelines.

ICSE Solutions Class 8 History & Civics GeographyBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

Time To Learn
I. Fill in the blanks:

  1. By his policy of Doctrine of Lapse Lord Dalhousie annexed Nagpur and Jhansi.
  2. Rani Laxmibai captured Gwalior with Tantya Tope’s help.
  3. In Lucknow Hazrat Mahal led the revolt.
  4. The rebels proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as the emperor of India.

II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 1
Answer:
Column A                                          Column B
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 2

III. State whether the following statements are True or False:

  1. Awadh was annexed on the ground of malad-ministration.
    True
  2. The British supported Sati.
    False.
  3. The Indian soldiers were given lesser salary as compared to their British counterparts.
     True.
  4. The Revolt of 1857 did not involve the masses.
    True.

IV. Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
How were the economic policies of the British responsible for the Revolt of 1857?
Answer:
The British had changed the entire economic structure of India.

  1. Introduction of the new land revenue system which allowed the government to confiscate land and accept revenue in cash caused and suffering to the Indian peasants.
  2. Due to Industrial Revolution markets were flooded with machine made goods. Indian Industries could not compete with them and thus declined.
  3. When an Indian state was annexed, the administration was replaced by the company. This created unemployment and caused resentment.

Question 2.
Discuss the social and religious causes responsible for the Revolt of 1857.
Answer:

  1. British advocated many reforms such as abolition of Sati, female infanticide, child marriage, widow remarriage. This caused discontent all over. These reforms were interpreted by Indians as interference in their religious and social customs.
  2. Introduction of Railways and telegraph was viewed with fear and suspicion.
  3. Introduction of western Education was viewed as an attack on Indian social and religious customs.
  4. Policy of racial discrimination practiced by British led to anger and resentment.

Question 3.
Why do you think the Revolt of 1857 failed? Discuss four, causes for its failure.
Answer:

  1. Though it was wide spread it failed to involve all sections of the population.
  2. The revolt did not involve the masses. Only those people joined revolt who had been adversely affected by the British. Scindia, Holkar, Raja of Jodhpur did not join it. Instead they supported the British. Merchants, western educated middle class did not join it.
  3. The British soldiers were better equipped. Indians had outdated weapons. The British had experienced and competent Generals. Indian leaders lacked this expertise.
  4. The revolutionaries did not have enough resources. The British were stronger financially and militarily.
  5. The revolt was not planned and organised.
  6. The British had the advantage of post and telegraph. This helped them to communicate and exchange messages, plan strategies and act immediately.

Question 4.
Discuss the nature of the Uprising/Revolt of 1857.
Answer:
There are divergent view regarding the nature of the outbreak of 1857. British historians have called it a Mutiny – confined to the army which did not command the support of the people at large.
Same view was held by .contemporary Indians like Munshi Jiwan Lai, Moinuddin, (Both eye witnesses at Delhi) and Durgadas Bandopadhyaya. Others have described it as racial struggle for supremacy between the Black and White. Some describe it as a struggle between oriental and occidental civilisation and culture.
A few have described it as Hindu-Muslim conspiracy to overthrow the British rule. Some Indian have called it a “well planned struggle” and as “the first war of Indian Independence”.

V. Give reasons why:

1. State of Awadh was annexed by the British.
Ans. The state of Awadh was annexed on account of malad­ministration.

2. Indian artisans, weavers and craftsmen lost their means of livelihood.
Ans. With the coming of Industrial Revolution markets were flooded with machine made goods. Indian Industries could not compete

3.The Indian sepoys refused to bite the cartridges of the Enfield rifle.
Ans. The Indian sepoys refused to bite the cartridges of the Enfield rifle as it was rumoured that these cartridges were greased with the fat of cows and pigs. This enraged the Hindus and Muslims as the cow is a holy animal of Hindus and the pig is considered taboo for the Muslims.

VI. Picture Study –
The picture shows the revolt of 1857
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 3

Question 1.
How far were the greased catridges responsible for the Revolt?
Answer:
It was an immediate cause which supplied the spark to ignite diy firewood awaiting to be ignited. Other causes like oppressive economic policy, aggressive annexation policy, religious social interference by the British were already there waiting to be triggered into Revolt. This was provided by the rumour that cartridges were greased with the fat of cow and pig and hence this enraged the Hindus and Muslims.

Question 2.
Give your opinion as to how the Revolt would have been successful.
Answer:
It would have been successful if it had been well organised and well planned or if it had involved the masses. It would have been successful if merchants, educated middle class and zamindars had supported it and the Indian soldiers had better weapons and goods generals.

Additional Questions

EXERCISES
A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. Dalhousie annexed the states of Satara, Nagpur, and Jhansi on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse.
  2. Prior to the outbreak of the Revolt, Bahadur Shah Zafar lived in Delhi as a Pensioner of the British.
  3. The Revolt of 1857 started as a Mutiny of the sepoys.
  4. The immediate cause of the Revolt was the issue of the greased cartridges.
  5. The Revolt ended the rule of the English East India Company.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 4

Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 5

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 6

C. Choose the correct answer:

1. When Awadh/Nagpur/Jhansi was annexed, the estates of the zamindars and talukdars were confiscated by the British.
Ans. When Awadh was annexed, the estates of the zamindars and talukdars were confiscated by the British.

2. The rumour regarding greased cartidges started in Madras/ Calcutta/Delhi.
Ans. The rumour regarding greased cartidges started in Calcutta.

3. Mangal Pandey was a sepoy at Barrackpore/Nagpur/Satara, who refused to use the greased cartidges in 1857.
Ans. Mangal Pandey was a sepoy at Barrackpore, who refused to use the greased cartidges in 1857.

4.The Revolt in Lucknow/Meerut/Kanpur was led by Nana Saheb.
Ans. The Revolt in Kanpur was led by Nana Saheb.

5. Nana Saheb/Hazrat Mahal/Rani Lakshmibai led the Revolt in Lucknow.
Ans. Hazrat Mahal led the Revolt in Lucknow.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. Indian rulers were quite satisfied with Lord Dalhousie’s expansionist policies.
    False.
    Correct: Indian rulers were dissatisfied with Lord Dalhousies expansionist policies.
  2. Peasants benefitted from the land revenue system of the British.
    False.
    Correct : Peasants were not benefitted from the land revenue system of the British.
  3. Social reforms such as the abolition of sati and female infanticide, and the Widow Remarriage Act caused deep resentment among the orthodox sections of society.
    True.
  4. The Doctrine of Lapse was abolished after the Revolt.
    True
  5. The Revolt of 1857 had come as a shock to the British.
    True.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:
Question 1.
Why did Rani of Jhansi become a staunch enemy of the British?
Answer:
Dalhousie annexed the states of Satara, Nagpur and Jhansi by applying the Doctrine of Lapse. The annexation transformed the courageous Rani of Jhansi into a staunch enemy of the British.

Question 2.
Why did Nana Saheb fight against the British during the Revolt of 1857?
Answer:
Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II (a pensioner of the British), was denied a pension after his father’s death. Nana Saheb became one of the leaders of the Revolt.

Question 3.
Why did the zamindars and talukdars became sworn enemies of the British?
Answer:
When Awadh was annexed, the estates of the zamindars and talukdars were confiscated by the British. They became sworn enemies of British rule.

Question 4.
What happened to the nawab’s army when Awadh was annexed?
Answer:
After the annexation of Awadh, the nawab’s army was disbanded. The soldiers lost their means of livelihood and their bitterness against the British increased.

Question 5.
When and where did the Revolt of 1857 begin?
Answer:
May 10, 1857 was a Sunday. The British officers at the Meerut cantonment in North India were preparing to attend church, while many other British soldiers were off duty.

Question 6.
Name any two main centres of Revolt.
Answer:
The important centres of the Revolt were Meerut, Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Jhansi.

Question 7.
What step was taken by the British to reorganize the army after the Revolt?
Answer:
The army was reorganized and strengthened. The number of British soldiers was increased and the artillery placed exclusively under their control.

Question 8.
Mention any two important results of the Revolt.
Answer:
Results of the Revolt 1857

  1. The rule of the English East India Company came to an end.
  2. Treaties with Indian states would be honoured.
  3. The British government would not interfere in the social and religious customs of the people.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
In the context of the Revolt of 1857, answer the following questions:

  1. Mention any three political causes of the Revolt.
  2. Mention the three economic factors that led to the outbreak of the great Revolt.
  3. Explain briefly any four social and religious causes that led to the Revolt of 1857.

Answer:
(a) Political Causes:

  1. Dalhousie annexed the states of Satara, Nagpur and Jhansi by applying the Doctrine of Lapse. The annexation transformed the courageous Rani into a staunch enemy of the British.
  2. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II (pensioner of the British), was denied a pension after his father’s death. Nana Saheb became one of the leaders of the Revolt.
  3. Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Mughal Emperor, lived in Delhi as a pensioner of the British. Dalhousie announced that Bahadur’s successor would not be allowed to stay on in the historic Red Fort. He would have to move to a place near the Qutb Minar, on the outskirts of Delhi. This was a great blow to the dignity of the Mughal emperor and deeply hurt the sentiments of the Muslims.
  4. (The annexation of Awadh, on grounds of maladministration, outraged the people of India, in general, and Awadh, in particular. Awadh had always been a triendly. faithful and subordinate ally. The Nawab of Awadh was exiled to Calcutta.
  5. The British showed no respect for the treaties they had signed with the Indians. Treaties were broken whenever it suited them to do so. This created a sense of fear and insecurity among the rulers of subordinate states. The axe could fall on them anywhere, at any time.

(b) Economic Causes:

  1. The land revenue system, introduced by the British, caused great hardship and misery among the peasants. Under the zamindari system, for instance, the peasants were oppressed by the Zamindars and exploited by the moneylenders. If the cultivators failed to pay the land revenue to the Zamindars or return the loans to the moneylenders on time, they were often flogged, tortured or jailed. The impoverishment of the peasantry led to numerous famines.
  2. Landlords also suffered from a sense of insecurity. Thousands of jagirs were confiscated by Bentinck and Dalhousie when they were unable to produce written title deeds of ownership.
  3. The interests of the Indian economy was sacrificed for the interests of British trade and industry. This led to the utter collapse of traditional handicraft industries. Indian artisans and craftspersons were ruined.
  4. The annexation of Indian states was followed by large- scale unemployment and economic distress. When Awadh was annexed, the administration was replaced by Company Administration. As such, hundreds of court officials and their subordinates lost their means of livelihood.

(c) Social and Religious Causes:

  1. Social reforms such as the abolition of sati, and female infanticide, the Widow Remarriage Act and the introduction of women ‘s education caused deep resentment among the orthodox sections of society.
  2. The efforts of the missionaries to convert people to Christianity caused great alarm. Some of the missionaries ridiculed the religious beliefs and practices of the Hindus and Muslims in their effort to convert people to their faith. This hurt the religious sentiments of the people.
  3. The introduction of Western education undermined the position and importance of the Pundits and Maulvis and was seen as an attack on ancient traditions and values. The office of the Inspector of Schools in Patna was referred to as the ‘shaitane dafitar’.
  4. The introduction of the railways and posts and telegraphs aroused grave doubts and fears, especially among the simple, backward villagers. They thought that the telegraph system was a form of Western magic. They grew fearful of the intentions of the British
  5. The British judicial system introduced the principle of equality. This was regarded as a threat to the existing caste norms and privileges of the upper classes.
  6. The British looked down upon the Indians and followed a policy of racial discrimination. They made no effort to interact socially with the Indians. They were convinced of the superiority of the European race and treated the Indians with great contempt.

Question 2.
In the context of the military causes of the Revolt of 1857, answer the following questions:

  1. Mention any three grievances that the sepoys had against their British masters.
  2. How did the Act passed in 1856 by the British hurt the sentiments of the Hindu sepoys?
  3. Explain the immediate cause of the great Revolt?

Answer:
(a)
The sepoys had numerous grievances against the British-masters:

  1. The sepoys had helped the British to establish their empire in India but they were neither appreciated nor rewarded for their efforts. On the contrary, they were treated with great contempt by the British officers.
  2. There was grave discrimination between the Indian sepoy and his British counterpart. A capable and dedicated sepoy could not rise above the post of subedar.
  3. In 1856, an Act was passed which made it compulsory for all new recruits to serve overseas if required. This hurt the sentiments of the Hindus because they belived that overseas travel would lead to a loss of caste. The sepoys interpreted the regulation as another attack on their caste and religion.
  4. After the annexation of Awadh, the Nawab’s army was disbanded. The soldiers lost their means of livelihood and their bitterness against the British increased.
  5. The Indian soldiers greatly outnumbered the British soldiers. In 1856, the number of sepoys in the British army was more than five times that of the British soldiers. This emboldened the sepoys to take up arms against their foreign masters.

(b)
In 1856, an Act was passed which made it compulsory for all new recruits to serve overseas if required. This hurt the sentiments of the Hindus because they believed that overseas travel would lead to a loss of caste. The sepoys interpreted the regulation as another attack on their caste and religion.
(c)
In January 1857, a rumour started at the Dum Dum cantonment (in Calcutta) that the cartridges, which the British had introduced, were greased with cow fat and pig lard. The rumour spread like wildfire among the Hindu and Muslim sepoys. They were convinced that the government was deliberately trying to defile their religion. A wave of indignation and anger swept through all the military stations. On 29 march 1857 Mangal Pandey, a sepoy at Barrackpore refused to use the cartridge and attacked his senior officers. He was hanged to death.

Question 3.
In the context of the Revolt of 1857, briefly discuss:

  1. The decline of the Mughal dynasty
  2. Any four results of the Revolt of 1857
  3. Nature of the Revolt of 1857

Answer:
(a)
On 11 May 1857, Bahadur Shah Zafar was persuaded to accept the leadership of the Revolt. He was proclaimed the emperor of Hindustan. There was jubilation all around. The restoration of the Mughal empire was proclaimed with the booming of guns.
The success of the Revolt proved to be shortlived. British reinforcements arrived from Punjab, and Delhi was recovered in September 1857.
Bahadur Shah Zafar was taken prisoner, tried and exiled to Rangoon. The royal princes (two sons and one grandson of Bahadur Shah Zafar) were shot and and their bodies displayed on the streets. The once great dynasty of the Mughals finally came to an end.
(b)
Results of the Revolt 1857

  1. The rule of the English East India Company came to an end.
  2. India came under the direct rule of the British Parliament and the Queen of England.
  3. Queen Victoria issued a Proclamation promising to look after the welfare of the Indian people.
  4. Treaties with Indian states would be honoured.
  5. A general pardon was granted to all the rebels, except those who had killed British subjects.
  6. The British government would not interfere in the social and religious customs of the people.
  7. Indians would be given opportunities to be associated with the administration. High posts in government services would be given on the basis of merit, not race.
  8. The army was reorganized and strengthened. The number of British soldiers was increased and the artillery placed exclusively under their control.

(c)
Nature of the Revolt of 1857

  1. The Revolt was the outcome of the accumulated grievances of different sections of people and not the sepoys alone.
  2. Those who joined the Revolt had different reasons and different motives but they were all united in their hatred of British rule and their determination to overthrow it.
  3. It had wide popular support of various sections of society.
  4. The struggle created a strong bonding and a sense of unity between the Hindus and the Muslims. They fought shoulder to shoulder, as single brethren against a common enemy.
  5. Of the estimated 1,50,000 people killed in the Revolt, 1,00,000 were civilians.

G Picture study:

This is the picture of the queen who led the Revolt in Central India
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 7

  1. Identify the queen.
    Ans. Rani Laxmi Bai
  2. Name the city where she led the Revolt.
    Ans. Jhansi
  3. What were the economic causes of the Revolt of 1857?
    Ans. Refer Answer F-l (b) above
  4. What was the major outcome of the Revolt of 1857?
    Ans. Refer Answer F-3 (b) above.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – Traders to Rulers (II)

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – Traders to Rulers (II)

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

APlusTopper.com provides step by step solutions for ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics. You can download the History and Civics ICSE Solutions for Class 8 with Free PDF download option. History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions all questions are solved and explained by expert teachers as per ICSE board guidelines.

ICSE Solutions Class 8 History & Civics GeographyBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

Time To Learn
I. Fill in the blanks:

  1. The British had to face the challenge of the rulers of Hyderabad and Mysore, Marathas after the conquest of Bengal.
  2. The new Nizam of Hyderabad, Salabat Jung initially had cordial relations with the English.
  3. Lord Wellesley made the Nizam of Hyderabad enter the Subsidiary Alliance system.
  4. The English fought four wars with rulers of Mysore, known as Anglo-Mysore wars.
  5. It took the British 43 years to defeat the Marathas in three Anglo-Maratha wars.
  6. Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh on basis of misgovernance.

II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B:
Column A                                 Column B
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 1
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 2
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 3

III. State whether the following statements are True or False:

  1. The Subsidiary Alliance system was started by Lord Cornwallis.
    False.
  2. The capture of the port of Mahe by the British led to the Second Anglo-Mysore War in 1780
    True.
  3. Tipu won a great battle against his three enemies, the English, Nizam and the Marathas in 1792
    False.
  4. The war of succession among the Marathas in 1772 gave a chance to the English to interfere in Maratha politics.
    True.
  5. The Second Anglo-Maratha war was fought when Lord Wellesley was the Governor General of India.
    True.
  6. Jhansi and Nagpur were annexed under the pretext of misgovernance.
    False.

IV. Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
What were the results of the First Anglo-Mysore War?
Answer:
The Marathas, the Nizam and the British marched towards Mysore. But Hyder won over the Marathas and the Nizam. The British were isolated. Haider won after some setbacks. He forced the British to sign a peace treaty in 1769, according to which both Haider and the British agreed to help each other in case of any attack by a third power.

Question 2.
How did the British force win the Third Anglo-Mysore War?
Answer:
In the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-1792) the company won the support of two other powers – the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas. Tipu Sultan was completely defeated by these three joint powers and was forced to sign the Treaty of Seringapattam in 1792. According to the terms of this treaty Tipu had to surrender half of his territories which were to be shared between the British, the Nizam and the Marathas. Tipu also had to pay a war indemnity of ruppees 3.3 crore. Two of his sons were taken hostages.

Question 3.
What were the causes of the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War? What were its results?
Answer:
The Treaty of Seringapattam was short lived. Lord Wellesley, the Governor General wanted the ruler of Mysore, Tipu to accept the Subsidiary Alliance but Tipu refused to do so. Tipu sought French help. The British feared that the French might land in support of Tipu. So in 1799, the British went to war against Tipu. The Nizam joined the British but the Marathas remained neutral and the French support never came. Tipu was killed in the battle on 4th May 1799.

Question 4.
Name the four different centres of Maratha power.
Answer:
The four different centres of Maratha power were Bhonsle at Nagpur, Scindia at Gwalior, Peshwa at Pune and Holkar at Indore.

Question 5.
What were the causes and results of the First Anglo-Maratha War? When was it fought?
Answer:
In 1772, a war of succession followed for the seat of Peshwaship after the death of Peshwa Madhav Rao I between Raghoba and Madhav Rao II. The English sided with Raghoba. Marathas led by Nana Phadnavis supported Madhav Rao II. An indecisive war broke out and continued for seven years. It ended in 1782 with the signing of the Treaty of Salbai. Under this Madhav Rao II was recognised as Peshwa and the Marathas had to cede Salsette. Peace prevailed between the Marathas and the British for 20 years.

Question 6.
Who was the Governor-General of India during the Second Anglo-Maratha War? What was the significance of this battle?
Answer:
The Second Anglo-Maratha War was fought when Lord Wellesley was the Governor General of India. In 1803 Baji Rao II signed with the English East India Company a Subsidiary Alliance known as Treaty of Bassein. As a result the English installed Baji Rao II at Pune and helped to drive out the Holkars. The Maratha chiefs Scindia and Bhonsle refused to accept the system of Subsidiary Alliance and declared war against the British. But the British defeated the combined forces of Scindia and Bhonsle. They were forced to enter into the Subsidiary Alliance with the English. They ceded the territories of Ahmednagar, Broach, Cuttack and Balasore. This war gave a blow to the power and prestige of the Marathas.

Question 7.
Why was the Third Anglo-Maratha War fought? What were its results?
Answer:
The Third Anglo Maratha War was fought in (AD 1817-1818) because the Maratha chiefs were feeling humiliated after signing the Subsidiary Alliance with the British. Peshwa Baji Rao II began to make plans to unite the Marathas against the British. This war was fought during the Governor Generalship of Marquess Hastings. When Lord Hastings became aware of Baji Rao’s plans he forced him to sign the Treaty of Pune in 1817. According to it, Konkan was ceded and Baji Rao II renounced Maratha leadership. Scindia was forced to sign the Treaty of Gwalior and provide help to the British against the Pindaris.

The Marathas made their last attempt to regain their old prestige and independence. They declared war against English. Baji Rao II raised a huge army and attacked the British Residency at Poona in 1817. The war continued for about two years. Finally the Marathas were defeated and large parts of their territories were annexed by the British.

The Third Anglo – Maratha War led to the abolition of Peshwa’s hereditary office. The Maratha dream of building a Hindu empire was completely shattered and the British emerged as the unchallenged power in India.

Question 8.
State very briefly why the Marathas failed against the British.
Answer:
The Marathas were inferior to the English in material sources, military organisation, diplomacy and leadership. The Maratha state was despotic and feudal. It was a loose confederation of different powers – the Holkar, Bhonsle, Scindhia – headed by the Peshwa. The Marathas were careless about military intelligence whereas the British had superior espionage system. The Marathas did not possess any national sentiment. The internal jealously and selfish treachery among them triumphed over national interest. The Marathas lacked men of talent and leadership in later years. They were in disarray in all aspects.

Question 9.
Explain the doctrine of Lapse. Name the other methods used by Lord Dalhousie to expand the British power in India.
Answer:
According to Doctrine of Lapse if the ruler of a dependent state died without leaving a natural heir the state would automatically pass over to the British. The Doctrine of Lapse did not recognise adopted children as rightful heirs. Satara, Jaitpur, Baghat, Udaipur, Sambhalpur, Jhansi and Nagpur were annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse. Punjab was annexed through war. Awadh was annexed by Dalhousie on the basis of misgovemance.

V. Word Hunt

Given below is a grid. Look for names of places which Dalhousie annexed. You have to look vertically, horizontally and diagonally. In total there are 8 places. After you have found out these places, write down why these were annexed.
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 4
VI. Picture Study –

This is a picture depicting the first Anglo-Sikh War.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 5

Question 1.
What was the political condition of Punjab after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh?
Answer:
After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh there was a state of political instability in the Punjab. For six years there was conflict among various claimants to the throne.

Question 2.
When was the first Anglo-Sikh war fought?
Answer:
First Anglo Sikh War was fought in December 1845.

Question 3.
What were the causes and results of the First Anglo-Sikh War?
Answer:
The mother of the minor son of Ranjit Singh, Maharani Jindan Kaur instigated the Khalsa against the British. This led to the first Anglo-Sikh War.
The Sikhs were defeated and had to sign the Treaty of Lahore in 1846. The Sikhs lost territory and had to keep British Resident.

Additional Questions

Rise of British Power in Bengal

 A. Fill the in the blanks:

  1. Madras, Bombay and Calcutta became the headquarters of the British settlements in the southern, western and eastern regions, respectively.
  2. In 1717, the Mughal emperor granted the United East India Company the right to carry on duty-free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  3. The French East India Company was established in 1664 C.E.
  4. The British and the French fought the Carnatic Wars in India to establish their monopoly in trade.
  5. Bengal in the 18th century was the richest and the most fertile province in India.
  6. In 1757 Robert Clive recovered Calcutta which had been captured by Siraj-ud-Daulah in 1756.
  7. Mir Jafar was deposed because he was unable to meet the demands of the British.
  8. In 1765, Awadh was returned to Shuja-ud-Daulah but Kora and Allahabad were taken away and given to Shah Alam II.
  9. Shah Alam II granted the Company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa in 1765.
  10. Warren Hastings deposed and pensioned off the Nawab of Bengal and brought Bengal under the direct, and complete control of the Company.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 12

Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 7

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
The English East India Company was established in the year 1600/1700/1800 CE.
Answer:
The English East India Company was established in the year 1600.

Question 2.
The English East India Company set up its first factory in Surat/Agra/Broach.
Answer:
The English East India Company set up its first factory in Surat.

Question 3.
The largest and the most prosperous European settlement in Bengal was the British settlement at Calcutta/Burdwan/ Murshidabad.
Answer:
The largest and the most prosperous European settlement in Bengal was the British settlement at Calcutta.

Question 4.
Alivardi Khan was succeeded by Mir Qasim/Siraj-ud- Daulah/Shuja-ud-Daula.
Answer:
Alivardi Khan was succeeded by Siraj-ud-Daulah.

Question 5.
Robert Clive hatched a plot with Mir Jafar/Mir Qasim/ Alivardi Khan to replace Siraj-ud-Daulah.
Answer:
Robert Clive hatched a plot with Mir Jafar to replace Siraj- ud-Daulah.

Question 6.
The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757/1764/1772.
Answer:
The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757.

Question 7.
The Dual Government in Bengal was introduced by Robert Clive/Warren Hastings/Lord Cornwallis.
Answer:
The Dual Government in Bengal was introduced by Robert Clive.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. The Carnatic Wars were fought between the British and the French.
    True.
  2. The employees of the Company were entitled to both private trade as well as duty-free trade.
    False.
    Correct: The employees of the Company were permitted to carry on private trade but they were not entitled to the Company’s privilege of duty-free trade.
  3. The English East India Company was given the right to issue passes or dastaks for the free movement of their goods.
    True.
  4. The British army was defeated in the Battle of Buxar.
    False
    Correct : The British army won in the Battle of Buxar.
  5. The Treaty of Allahabad was signed between the British Company and Mir Qasim.
     False.
    Correct: The Treaty of Allahabad was signed between the British and Shuja-ud-Daulah.
  6. Warren Hastings laid the foundation of an organized system of government in Bengal.
    True.

 Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
Who granted the English East India Company the exclusive right to trade with the East ?
Answer:
The Queen of England, Elizabeth I, granted the Company the exclusive right to trade with the East.

Question 2.
Name the British trading settlements in
(a) Madras  (b)Calcutta
Answer:
(a)
Madras was given to the British by a local ruler. They established a trading settlement which they fortified and named Fort St. George.
(b)
Calcutta In 1690 CE, a British trading settlement was established and fortified in Calcutta. It was named Fort William.

Question 3.
What important right did the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar grant the English East India Company ?
Answer:
In 1717, the Mughal Emperor, Farrukhsiyar, granted the Company the right to carry on duty-free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (now Odisha). The Company made enormous profits.

Question 4.
Why were European traders attracted to the Bengal province inthe 18th century?
Answer:
Bengal was the richest and the most fertile province in India at that time. It was known as the paradise of the earth and this province attracted traders from many European countries.

Question 5.
What privileges did the farman of 1717 confer on the English East India Company?
Answer:
By the ‘Farman” of 1717, the English East India company was granted the right to carry on duty-free trade in Bengal. They were allowed to export and import goods from and to Bengal without paying any taxes to the government. They were given the right to issue passes or dastaks for the free movement of their goods.

Question 6.
Why did the farman of 1717 become a bone of contention between the nawabs of Bengal and the British Company?
Answer:
The Nawabs of Bengal wanted British company to pay taxes on trade like the Indians. But the Britishers refused to do so. This created conflict between both the parties and resulted in wars between both of them.

Question 7.
Why did the British fortify their trade settlement in Calcutta?
Answer:
Siraj-ud-Daulah ordered the British to pay taxes to him like all other Indian merchants. The British refused to do so. This angered the young nawab. In anticipation of a war with the French, who had a trading settlement in Chandemagore, the British began to fortify Calcutta.

Question 8.
Why did Siraj-ud-Daulah attack Calcutta in 1756?
Answer:
When the Britishers tried to fortify Calcutta, Siraj-ud-Daulah ordered both the British and the French to dismantle their fortifycations and not to fight private wars on his territory. The French agreed but the British refused. This enraged the Nawab and he attacked Calcutta with a large army and captured Fort William.

Question 9.
What important trading right was granted to the English East India Company after its victory in the Battle of Plassey?
Answer:

  1. The English East India Company was granted the undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  2. The Company was given the zamindari of the 24 Parganas.

Question 10.
State the political significance of the Battle of Buxar.
Answer:

  1. It gave them political influence and control over Awadh and the Mughal emperor.
  2. It laid the foundation of British rule in India.

Question 11.
Name the Indian signatories of the Treaty of Allahabad.
Answer:
Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II

Question 12.
In which year was the Dual Government abolished and by whom?
Answer:
In 1772, Warren Hastings abolished the Dual Government.

F.Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
The Battle of Plassey was a major turning point in the history of India. In this context answer the following questions:
(a) Give an account of the events leading from the conspiracy to replace Siraj-ud-Daulah to his eventual defeat in the Battle of Plassey.
(b)State the results of the Battle of Plassey.
(c) Why is this battle considered a major turning point in the history of India?
Answer:
(a)
A major part of the nawab’s army under the command of Mir Jafar did not take any part in the battle. Realizing that he had been betrayed, the nawab fled from the battlefield. He was captured and put to death.
(b)
Results of Battle of Plasey:

  1. The English East India company was granted the undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  2. The Company w’as given the zamindari of the 24 parganas.
  3. Mir Jafar paid the Company and its officials over 300 lakh rupees.

(c)
The Battle of Plassey was a major turning point in the histoiy of India.

  1. It paved the way for the establishment of British rule in Bengal and, eventually, the rest of India.
  2. It transformed a trading company into a political power.

It provided the British the vast resources of Bengal, which helped them to win the Third camatic war and other expeditions in India.

Question 2.
Mir Qasim was a competent ruler, determined to free himself from foreign control. In this context answer the following:
(a) What steps did Mir Qasim take to strengthen his position? Why did he abolish all duties on internal trade?
(b) Trace the events from the outbreak of war (1763) between Mir Qasim and the British up to the Battle of Buxar in 1764.
(c) Explain the importance of the Battle of Buxar.
Answer:
(a)
To strengthen his position, Mir Qasim improved the financial position of Bengal and raised a modern, disciplined and well-equipped army trained by the Europeans.The employers of the company misused their trade privileges. They sold their duty-free trade points to Indian merchants who also used them to carry on duty-free trade. This deprived the Nawab fo large revenues. To put an end to the corrupt practices of the British, Mir Qasim abolished all duties on internal trade.

(b)
The employees of the Company misused their trade privileges. They sold their duty-free trade permits to Indian merchants who also used them to carry on duty-free trade. This deprived the nawab of large revenues and was unfair to those local merchants who had to pay heavy duties.
To put an end to the corrupt practices of the British, Mir Qasim abolished all duties on internal trade. This made the British furious. They refused to accept an equal status with the Indian merchants.
In 1763, war broke out between Mir Qasim and the British. The nawab was defeated. Mir Jafar was reinstated on the throne.
Mir Qasim was determined to recover his throne. He escaped to Awadh, where he formed an alliance with Shuja-ud- Daulah, the nawab of Awadh, and the Mughal emperor, Shah Alam II.
The combined forces of the three allies clashed with the Company’s troops at Buxar in 1764, and were decisively defeated by the British.

(c)

  1. The victory of the British in the Battle of Buxar firmly established them as masters of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  2. It gave them political influence and control over Awadh and the Mughal emperor.
  3. It laid the foundation of British rule in India.
  4.  At this time, Robert Clive returned to India as the governor of Bengal.

Question 3.
With reference to the Treaty of Allahabad and its impact,answer the following:
(a) Mention the terms of agreement between Robert Clive and Shuja-ud-Daulah in this treaty.
(b) Explain how the treaty between Robert Clive and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II legalized the English East India’s Company’s control over Bengal.
(c) Give an account of the events that followed the death of Mir Jafar, leading to the establishment of the Company as the real ruler of Bengal.
Answer:
(a)

  1. Awadh was returned to Shuja-ud-Daulah. However, the two districts of Kora and Allahabad were taken away from the Nawab.
  2. The nawab of Awadh had to pay a war indemnity of 50 lakh rupees to the Company.
  3. The British agreed to defend the nawab of Awadh against his enemies. The nawab would have to pay for the cost of the British troops. Awadh became a buffer state between the British possessions in Bengal and the Marathas.

(b)
The British gave Shah Alam II the districts of Kora and Allahabad and an annual pension of 26 lakh rupees. In return, the emperor (the nominal head of the Mughal empire) granted the Company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, e., the right to collect revenue from these provinces and judge civil cases. The Company’s control over Bengal was made legal.
(c)
After Mir Jafar’s death in 1765, his son was made-the nawab of Bengal. He had to sign a treaty with Clive,according to which he had to disband most of his army. He also had to transfer the ‘Nizamat’ powers (general administration and criminal justice) to a deputy nawab appointed by the British. The deputy nawab could not be dismissed by the nawab. The nawab was given an allowance of 53 lakh rupees which was subsequently reduced. Thus, the English East India Company became the real ruler of Bengal from 1765.

Question 4.
With reference to the establishment of Dual Government in Bengal (1765-72) answer the following:

(a) Why was the government introduced in Bengal by Robert Clive referred to as ‘Dual Government’?
(b) What were the advantages and disadvantages of this system for the Company and the nawab respectively?
(c) The evils of the Dual Government led to the collapse of the administration and the economy. Explain.
Answer:
(a)
Robert Clive introduced Dual Government in Bengal in 1765. Bengal now had two masters-the nawab and the Company. The Nawab was responsible for general administration, maintenance of law and order and justice (i.e., criminal cases). The Company had military power and the right to collect and use the revenue of Bengal. This arrangement was known as Dual Government.
(b)
The Company enjoyed power without any responsibilities. The nawab, on the other hand, was burdened with the responsibility of administration without the resources necessary for running it efficiently e., responsibility without power.The revenue was collected by Indian officials appointed by the Company. The greed, corruption and oppression of these officials reduced the peasants to conditions of utter misery. The Company took no interest in the welfare of the people.
(c)
The conditions of the people worsened when Bengal was hit by a terrible famine in which one third of the population perished. Nobody cared, neither the Company nor the nawab, who in any case had neither the authority nor the resources to lessen the miseries of the people. The Company, through its power to nominate the deputy nawab, only interfered in the general administration without assuming any responsibility.The evils of the Dual Government began to manifest themselves. The administration and economy collapsed. In 1772, the Court of Directors of the Company appointed Warren Hastings as the Governor of Bengal. In 1773, by the Regulating Act, he was made the Governor General of British territories in India. The Governor General was now the most important functionary of the East India Company.

G  Picture Study.

This picture portrays a momentous event in 1765, involving a British Governor and a Mughal emperor wherein the Mughal emperor is conveying the grant of the Diwani to the governor.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 8

  1. Identify the Mughal emperor and the British governor
    Ans. Mughal Emperor – Shuja-ud-Daulah, British Governor – Robert Clive
  2. What is the significance of this grant of the Diwani?
    Ans. The significance of granting the company the Diwani i.e. the right to collect revenue from these provinces and judge civil cases.
  3. Give a brief account of the battle that preceded this event. When did it take place?
    Ans. Battle of Buxar in 1764.
  4. What is the importance of this battle?
    Ans. Mir Qasim was defeated and Mir Jafar was reinstated on the throne.

Additional Questions

Expansion of British Power in India
EXERCISES
A. Fill the in the blanks:

  1. The five centres of Maratha power were:
    Ans.
    The five centres of Maratha power were:

    • The Sindhias of Gwalior
    • The Holkars of Indore
    • The Bhonsle family of Nagpur
    • The Gaekwad family of Baroda
    • The Peshwa of Poona (Pune)
  2. The Governors-General during the First and Second Anglo- Maratha Wars were Warren Hastings and Lord Wellesley, respectively.
  3. The Second Anglo-Maratha War was a severe blow to the Sindhia and Bhonsle of the Marathas.
  4. Lord Dalhousie adopted three methods to make the British the paramount power in India.
  5. Jhansi was annexed by Dalhousie on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse.
  6. Dalhousie annexed Awadh on the grounds of Maladministration or Misgovernment.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 9
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 10

C. Choose the correct answer:

  1. The First Anglo-Maratha War was fought during the Governor-Generalship of Lord Cornwallis/Lord Wellesley/ Warren Hastings.
    Ans. The First Anglo-Maratha War was fought during the Governor- Generalship of Warren Hastings.
  2. The Maratha chiefs were united under the leadership of Nana Phadnavis/Baji Rao II/Madhav Rao II during the First Anglo-Maratha War.
    Ans. The Maratha chiefs were united under the leadership of Nana Phadnavis during the First Anglo-Maratha War.
  3. After the Third Anglo-Maratha War the British placed a descendant of Shivaji on the throne of Nagpur/Satara/Jhansi.
    Ans. After the Third Anglo-Maratha War the British placed a descendant of Shivaji on the throne of Satara.
  4. Punjab was annexed by Lord Minto/Lord Dalhousie/Lord Wellesley in 1849.
    Ans. Punjab was annexed by Lord Dalhousie in 1849.
  5. The widespread resentment against annexations expressed itself in the Revolt of 1849/1861/1857.
    Ans. The widespread resentment against annexations expressed itself in the Revolt of 1857

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. After Hyder Ali’s death, his son Tipu Sultan continued the Anglo-Maratha Wars.
    True.
  2. The Subsidiary Alliance system was used by the British to bring Indian rulers under British control without any war.
    True.
  3. The Subsidiary Alliance proved very advantageous for the Indians.
    False.
    Correct : The Subsidiary Alliance proved very advantageous for the British.
  4. The adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II was denied the pension that his father used to get from the British.
    True.
  5. By 1856, the English East India Company had brought the whole of India under its control.
    True.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
What was the main objective of the Subsidiary Alliance system?
Answer:
The subsidiary Alliance system was a method perfected by Lord Wellesley to subjugate Indian powers without the cost and bother/ trouble of war.Any Indian ruler whose security was threatened was encouraged to seek help from and enter into an alliance with the British, who promised to protect the ruler from external attacks and internal revolts. The Indian ruler had to accept certain terms and conditions.                            ‘

Question 2.
What happened when the administration of a subsidiary state collapsed?
Answer:
When the administration collapsed, the British used it as an excuse for annexing the kingdom on grounds of misgovemment.

Question 3.
Why did Peshwa Baji Rao II sign the Subsidiary Alliance?
Answer:
In 1802, Peshwa baji Rao II, supported by Sindhia, was defeated by Holkar. Baji Rao II fled to Bassein where he signed the Subsidiary Treaty as a price for British protection and support. He was escorted back to Poona by British soldiers.

Question 4.
Why was Wellesley recalled from India during the Second Anglo-Maratha War?
Answer:
Wellesley was recalled from India because the government in England was unhappy with the enormous expenditure involved in Wellesley’s policy of wars and expansion.

Question 5.
How did the Subsidiary Alliance impact the
(a) economy
(b) administration in Awadh?
Answer:
(a)
Awadh had signed a Subsidiary Alliance with Wellesley. He had to protect the nawab from external invasions and internal rebellions. It made the nawabs complacent and unconcerned about the affairs of the state. The payement of annual subsidies to the Company exhausted the state treasury
(b)
When the administration was on the verge of collapse, Dalhousie struck. He brought charges of misgovemment or maladministration against the nawab. On those grounds he deposed the nawab and annexed Awadh in 1856.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
With reference to the Subsidiary Alliance System perfected by Lord Wellesley, answer the following:
(a) Why did Indian rulers sign the Subsidiary Alliance? State two important military terms and conditions imposed on the Indian rulers by this treaty.
(b) The Subsidiary Alliance proved very beneficial for the British. Explain.
(c) Discuss the disastrous effects of the Subsidiary Alliance on the Indian states.
Answer:
(a)
Indian ruler whose security was threatened was encouraged to seek help from and enter into an alliance with the British,who promised to protect the ruler from external attacks and internal revolts. The Indian rulers had to accept certain terms and condition in return for
British protection under the Subsidiary Alliance like:

  1. British troops would be permanently placed in the territory of the Subsidiary state.
  2. The ruler would have to pay for the maintenance of the troops.
  3. He could not employ any europeans in his service or dismiss those who were already there.
  4. He could not form an alliance with any other power or declare war against any power without the permission of the British.
  5. He would acknowledge the British Company as the paramount power.

(b)
The Subsidiary Alliance proved very advantageous for the British like.

  1. The British maintained large armies at the expense of the Indian rulers.
  2. The British acquired valuable territories as subsidiary payment. This led to the expansion of the
  3. British empire in India and an increase in its resources.
  4. The influence of European rivals, especially the French, was excluded from the courts of the Indian rulers.
  5. The British controlled the foreign policy of the Subsidiary states.

(c)
The Subsidiary Alliance System had great effect on the subsidiary state like:

  1. British troops would be permanently placed in the territory of the Subsidiary state.
  2. The ruler would have to pay for the maintenance of the troops.
  3. He could not employ any Europeans in his service or dismiss those who were already there.
  4. He could not form an alliance with any other power or declare war against any power without the permission of the British.     ‘
  5. He would acknowledge the British Company as the paramount power.ses or dastaks for the free movement of their goods.

Question 2.
Dalhousie was a great expansionist and adopted a number of methods to build an all-India empire. In this context, answer the following questions:
(a) Mention the various methods adopted by Dalhousie and the territories annexed on the basis of these methods.
(b) Under what circumstances did a subordinate state automatically ‘lapse’ and pass into the hands of the British? How did the rulers react to this policy?
(c) Why did Nana Saheb become one of the leaders of the Revolt of 1857?
Answer:
(a)
Dalhousie adopted a number of methods to give the final touches to the work of empire-building in India. The methods he adopted were:

  1.  War-Punjab.
  2. Doctrine of Lapse-Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur.
  3. Annexation on grounds of maladministration-Awadh.

(b)
Lord Dalhousie brought several subordinate states under the direct rule of the Company by annexing them on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse. According to the Doctrine of Lapse, all subordinate states (subsidiary states and states created by the British) where the rulers died without a natural male heir would automatically ‘lapse’, e., pass into the hands of the British. Rulers without heirs could not adopt sons, according to the age-old Hindu and Islamic traditions, without the permission of the Company.
(c)
Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, inherited his father’s personal property but was not given the pension that had been paid to his father. Nana Saheb became one of the important leaders of the Revolt of 1857.

Question 3.
With reference to the annexation of Awadh discuss:
(a) The effects of the Subsidiary Alliance on the administration in Awadh
(b)The political scenario in India by 1856
(c) Any three factors responsible for the success of the British over their Indian rivals
Answer:
(a)
Awadh had signed Subsidiary Alliance with Wellesley. He had to protect the nawab from external invasions and internal rebellions. It made the nawabs complacent and unconcerned about the affairs of the state. The payement of annual subsidies to the Company exhausted the state treasury. When the administration was on the verge of collapse, Dalhousie struck. He brought charges of misgovemment or maladministration against the nawab. On these grounds he deposed the nawab and annexed Awadh in 1856.
(b)
By 1856 the English East India Company had brought the whole of India under its control of the British. The British had eliminated all their rivals and established themselves as the paramount power in India.
(c)
The factors responsible for the success of the British are:

  1. Lack of unity among Indian rulers.
  2. Lack of organized and efficient administration in Indian states.
  3. Superior military resources of the company.
  4. Superior economic resources of the company.
  5. Naval supremacy of the British.

G Picture study:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 11

  1. Name the Governor General.
    Ans. Lord Dalhousie
  2. What was the method adopted by him to subjugate the Indian territories ?
    Ans. Governor General Dalhousie was a great imperialist who annexed several states on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse.
  3. Mention the terms and conditions under this method.
    Ans. According to the Doctrine of Lapse, all subordinate states
    (subsidiary states and states created by the British) where the rulers died without a natural male heir would automatically ‘lapse’, i.e. pass into the hands of the British. Rulers without heirs could not adopt sons, according to the age-old Hindu and Islamic traditions, without the permission of the Company.
  4. Did this method have any advantage for the Indian rulers? Why ?
    Ans. The annexation of these states caused widespread resentment among the Indian rulers and became a potent factor responsible for the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – India in the Eighteenth Century

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – India in the Eighteenth Century

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Time To Learn
I. Fill in the blanks:

  1. Murshid Quli Khan became the independent ruler of Bengal and shifted his capital to Murshidabad.
  2. Chin Qilich Khan founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty in AD 1724.
  3. Haider Ali was the ruler of Mysore.
  4. Banda Bahadur was the leader of the Sikhs after the death of Guru Govind Singh.
  5. Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa.

II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 1
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 2

Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 3

III. State whether the following statements are True or False:

  1. The office of the Peshwas was always hereditary.
    False.
  2. In the Third Battle of Panipat, the Marathas fought with the Rajputs and the Jats.
    False.
  3. The later Mughal kings were able rulers.
    False.
  4. Safdar Jung was the first Nizam of Hyderabad.
    False.
  5. Jai Singh built an observatory (Jantar Mantar) and Pink City (Jaipur).
    True.

 IV. Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
Write in brief the causes that led to the downfall of the Mughal empire.
Answer:
Causes that led to the downfall of Mughal Empire were
(a)
Weak successors: After Aurangzeb’s death the Mugh empire started declining. His successors were weak are were toys in the hands of nobles and Governors. The lacked the administrative skills of their predecessors.
(b)
Internal Rivalry: The nobles and Governors belonged different groups and were always engaged in const? struggle for power. This hampered the growth of the emp
(c)
Crisis in Jagirdari and Mansabdari system: The Mugh introduced the Jagirdari and the mansabdari systems , smooth running of their administration but they only prov to be the cause of the decline of their empire.
(d)
Invasion of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali:
Duri the reign of Mohammad Shah two foreign invasions crippl the Mughal empire. They invaded India and weakened tl Mughal Empire.

Question 2.
When and between whom was the Third Battle of Panipa fought? What were its results?
Answer:
The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan invader and Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. The Peshwa suffered a crushing defeat and this put an end to the Maratha power.

Question 3.
Name the first independent Nawab of Bengal. What were his achievements?
Answer:
Murshid Quli Khan became the first independent Nawab of Bengal. He established an efficient administration and effectively organised the revenue system. He also started the new system of land revenue collection, on the basis of contracts, known as Ijara system. He reorganised the zamindari for which he is will remembered in the history of Bengal.

Question 4.
When was the Battle of Plassey fought? What effect did it have on the position of the English East India Company?
Answer:
The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 between the British and Siraj-ud-daulah in which the English defeated the army of Siraj-ud-daulah. From then onwards the English East India Company functioned as king makers in Bengal politics. Finally,the English established their full sway in 1765 when Robert Clive set up the Dual Government in Bengal.

Question 5.
Who was Haider All? Discuss his achievements.
Answer:
Hyder All was the ruler of Mysore. He started his career as an ordinary soldier in the Mysore army. He won many battles against the Marathas, the Nizam of Hyderabad and routed his enemies in two consecutive Anglo-Mysore Wars.

Question 6.
Which ruler was known as the Tiger of Mysore?
Answer:
Tipu Sultan, the son and heir of Haider Ah and ruler of Mysore is known as ‘Tiger of Mysore.

V. Tell me why

Question 1.
The consequence of the Third Battle of Panipat was n advantageous for the British.
Answer:
The Marathas had established a Maratha Kingdom during the reign of Aurangzeb. They were very powerful and with time and with the decline of the Mughals would have proved worthy , opponents to the emerging British empire but the third Battle of Panipat (1761) sealed their fate. Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan . invader gave a crushing defeat to the forces of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. It put an end to the Maratha power and their dream of ruling India. Thus, the way was proved for the British East India Company to gain power and become supreme.

Question 2.
Independent states were formed in the 18th century.
Answer:
The later Mughal rulers were so weak that they could not hold the provinces of the empire together. These provinces were under Governors who were always engaged in wars. Gradually, they took advantage of the situation of misrule and misgovemance by the central authority and declared independence.Thus, Bengal, Hyderabad, Awadh Rohikhand became independent one after the other.

VI. Pictury study – This is a picture of a great ruler of Punjab.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 4

Question 1.
Identify him.
Answer:
Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Question 2.
How did the unite the Sikhs in Punjab?
Answer:
Maharaja Ranjit Singh brought the whole area west of River Sutlej under his control and established the Sikh kingdom in Punjab. He signed the Treaty of Amritsar (1809) with the British which confirmed his conquests and established his sovereignty over the terrioty west of Satluj. It was only after his death in 1839 that the British gained control over the Punjab.

Additional Questions

EXERCISES
A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. During the first half of the 18th century, the great Mughal empire decayed and disintegrated.
    The Mughal emperors who ruled India after the death of Aurangzeb are known as the later Mughals.
  2. There were four groups of nobles in the Mughal court.
  3. Nadir Shah looted and plundered Delhi He carried away immense treasures including the priceless Kohinoor and the Peacock Throne.
  4. Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan, repeatedly attacked the Mughal empire.
  5. Bahadur Shah Zafar, was defeated in the Revolt of 1857 and exiled to Rangoon by the British.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 5
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 6
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 7

C. Choose the correct answer:

  1. Aurangzeb/Akbar/Shah Jahan followed a policy of religious intolerance.
    Ans. Aurangzeb followed a policy of religious intolerance.
  2. The military campaign in the Deccan led by Shah Jahan/ Aurangzeb/Akbar ruined the Mughal empire financially
    Ans. The military campaign in the Deccan led by Aurangzeb ruined the Mughal empire financially.
  3. The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan/Persia/Iraq shattered the power and prestige of the Mughal empire.
    Ans. The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan shattered the power and prestige of the Mughal empire.
  4. The Mughal empire lasted for over 3/5/6
    Ans. The Mughal empire lasted for over 3 centuries.
  5. The British ruled over India for a 100 years/nearly 200 years/ 300 years.
    Ans. The British ruled over India for nearly 200 years.

D. State whether the following are true or false.

  1. Bahadur Shah ascended the throne after the death of Aurangzeb.
    True.
  2. The Mughal court was united and stable.
    False
    Correct:- The Mughal court was divided and unstable.
  3. The Mughal officers were given jagirs as payments for their services.
    True.
  4. The Mughal rulers did not have a navy.
    True.
  5. The successors of Aurangzeb were very strong and efficient.
    False.
    Correct: The successors of Aurangzeb were very weak and unefficient.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
When did the transition from the Medieval to the Modern Period begin in India?
Answer:
The transition from the Medieval to the Modem Priod began with the decline of the Mughal empire in the first half of the 18th century.

Question 2.
Name the first and the last emperors in the line of the Later Mughals.
Answer:
Bahadur Shah first in the line of emperors referred to as the Later Mughals. Bahadur Shah Zafar last emperor in the line of the Later Mughals.

Question 3.
Name any two rival groups of nobles in the Mughal court.
Answer:

  1. The Iranis hailed from Persia
  2. Turanis hailed fromTransoxiana.

Question 4.
Mention any two reasons for the failure of the mansabdari system.
Answer:
Mansabdars had to maintain a fixed number of troops. They were given jagirs as the payment for doing so. Later, an increase in the number of mansabs and a shortage of jagirs led to corruption and inefficiency in the system.

Question 5.
What was the economic impact of the Mughal wars of succession?
Answer:
After the death of a Mughal ruler, generally there were wars of succession among rival claimants to the throne. These wars proved very costly and destructive. They drained the resources of the empire and made it instable and weak.

Question 6.
How did Aurangzeb’s religious policy affect the relationship between the Mughals and the Rajputs?
Answer:
Aurangzeb’s policy of religious intolerance shook the foundations of the empire and resulted in the following:

  • The costly, long-drawn and ruinous Deccan campaign.
  • Numerous wars with the Sikhs, the Marathas, the Jats and the Rajputs.
  • Loss of support of the loyal Rajputs who had earlier contributed greatly to the stability of the Mughal empire but now became its bitter foes.

Question 7.
What led to the drain on the royal treasury during Shah Jahan’s reign?
Answer:
The enormous sums of money spent by Shah Jahan on magnificent monuments like the Taj Mahal had drained the royal treasury.

Question 8.
Which Mughal emperor assumed leadership of the Revolt of 1857? What happened to him after the Revolt?
Answer:
Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last of the Mughals, assumed leadership of the rebels in the Revolt of 1857 against the British. He was defeated and exiled to Rangoon where he died. The Mughal empire came to an inglorious end.

F. Answer the following questions briefly.

Question 1.
Several factors were responsible for the decline of the Mughal empire. In this context answer the following questions:
(a).How did court politics undermine the authority and prestige of the Mughal empire?
(b).To what extent was the jagirdari crisis responsible for a further decline of the power of the emperor?(c).How did the wars of succession destabilize the Mughal empire?
Answer:
(a).
There were four groups of nobles in the Mughal court- Iranis, Turanis, Afghans and Hindustanis. The Iranis hailed from Persia, the Turanis hailed from Transoxiana, and the Afghans came from the mountainous border regions across the river Indus. The Mughal court was a house sharply divided from within. This resulted in a constant struggle for power among these groups. Their mutual jealousies and rivalries caused great harm to the Mughal administration and undermined the prestige and authority of the Mughal emperor.
(b)
The Mughal officers were given jagirs as payment for their services. Towards the end of the 17th century, there were very few jagirs left. To satisfy the demands of the newly recruited officers, crown lands were converted to jagir lands and given to the nobles. This led to a loss of revenue for the royal treasury and a further decline in the power of the emperor.
(c)
After the death of a Mughal ruler, generally there were wars of succession among rival claimants to the throne. These wars proved very costly and destructive. They drained the resources of the empire and made it instable and weak.

Question 2.
With reference to the decline and disintegration of
(a) The Mughal empire discuss the following:
(b) The breakdown of the mansabdari system The weaknesses
(c) of the Mughal army Aurangzeb’s religioius policy
Answer:
(a) Under this system, mansabdars had to maintain a fixed number of troops. They were given jagirs as the payment for doing so. Later, an increase in the number of mansabs and a shortage of jagirs led to corruption and inefficiency in the system.

(b) 
The Mughal army also failed to keep pace with the time. The Mughal rulers did not have a navy and made no efforts to establish one. Their equipment and techniques of warfare were obsolete and ineffective. Nothing was done to reform, modernize and strengthen the army.

(c) 
His policy of religious intolerance shook the foundations of the empire and resulted in the following:

  1. The costly, long-drawn and ruinous Deccan campaign.
  2. Numerous wars with the Sikhs, the Marathas, the Jats and the Rajputs.
  3. Loss of support of the loyal Rajputs who had earlier contributed greatly to the stability of the Mughal empire but now became its bitter foes.

Question 3.
To what extent were the following factors responsible for the eventual collapse of the Mughal empire?
(a) Economic bankruptcy (b) Foreign invasions (c) Weak successors
Answer:
(a) Economic bankruptcy: A major cause of the disintegration of the Mughal empire was its economic bankruptcy. The enormous sums of money spent by Shah jahan on magnificent monuments like the Taj Mahal had drained the royal treasury. Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaign was a financial disaster that ruined the empire and made its collapse inevitable.

(b)Foreign invasions:
The invasions of Nadir Shah, the ruler of Persia (Iran), and Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan, shattered the power and prestige of the Mughals. Nadir Shah looted and plundered Delhi and carried away valuable treasures, including the priceless Kohinoor Diamond and the Peacock Throne. Ahmad Shad Abdali plundered northern India repeatedly.

(c) Weak successors:
Aurangzeb ruled over a vast empire which he controlled with an iron hand. His successors were pleasure-loving, weak and inefficient. They were puppets in the hands of powerful, ambitious nobles who controlled the administration. The provincial governors took advantage of the weak government at the centre and set up independent kingdoms in the Mughal provinces. This led to the break-up and collapse of the empire.

G. Picture Study:

This is a portrait of the last of the Later Mughals.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 8

Question 1.
Identify the Mughal emperor represented in this picture.
Answer:
Bahadur Shah Zafar.

Question 2.
What part did he play in the Revolt of 1857?
Answer:
Role of Bahadur Shah Zafar in the Revolt of 1857:
As the Indian rebellion of 1857 spread, sepoy regiments seized Delhi. Seeking a figure that could unite all Indians, Hindu and Muslim alike, Most rebelling Indian kings and the Indian regiments accepted Zafar as the Emperorof India. Under whom the smaller Indian kingdom would unite until the British were defeated. Zafar was the least threatening and least ambitious of monarchs, and the legacy of the Mughal Empire was more acceptable a uniting force to most allied kings than the domination of any other Indian kingdom.

Question 3.
What happened to the Mughal empire after his death?
Answer:
The Mughal Empire came to an inglorious end.

Question 4.
Mention any four reasons for the decline of the Mughal empire Explain any two reasons.
Answer:
(a) Politics in the Mughal court
(b) Weak Military organization and Administration
(c) Aurangzeb’s Bankruptcy
(d) Foreign Invasions

  • Politics in the Mughal court: There were four groups of nobles in the Mughal court Iranis, Turanis, Afghans and Hindustanis. The Iranis hailed from Persia, the Turanis hailed from Transoxiana, and Afghans came from the mountainous border regions across the Indus. The Mughal court was a house sharply divided from within. This resulted in a constant struggle for power among these groups. Their mutual jealousies and rivalries caused great harm to the Mughal administration and undermined the prestige and authority of the Mughal Emperor.
  • Economic Bankruptcy: A major cause of the disintegration of the Mughal Empire was its economic bankruptcy. The enormous sums of money spent by Shah Jahan on magnificent monuments like the Taj Mahal had drained the royal treasury. Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaign was a financial disaster that ruined the empire and made its collapse inevitable.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – Impact of British Rule on India

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – Impact of British Rule on India

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Time To Learn
I. Fill in the blanks
:

  1. The British domination of India brought many changes in the cultural, educational and social life of India.
  2. The Indian villages were self sufficient village communities before the coming of the British.
  3. The British charged revenue in cash instead of kind.
  4. The three kinds of land settlements made by the British were Permanent settlement (b) Ryotwari settlement and (c) Mahalwari settlement
  5. A new class of landholders called Zamindars came into existence during this time.
  6. Lord Macaulay, is known as the founder of British system of education in India.

II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B:
Column A                                                                    Column B

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Impact of British Rule on India 1
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Impact of British Rule on India 2
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Impact of British Rule on India 3

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Impact of British Rule on India 4

III. State whether the following statements are True or False:

  1. The British rule resulted in the destruction of Indian industry, trade and handicrafts.
    True.
  2. The important centres for Indian goods were Dhaka, Benaras, Lucknow, Multan, Ahmadabad, etc.
    True.
  3. The British greatly developed Indian agriculture.
    False.
  4. Lord Cornwallis intoduced the Permanent Land Settlement in India.
    True.
  5. The first railway line was built during Lord Dalhousie’s time.
    True.
  6. The British took interest in building up transport and communication system to help them in trade and military affairs.
    True.
  7. The English took great interest in Indian culture and promoted it
    False.
  8. The English took interest in education of Indians only because they needed low paid, English speaking clerks.
    True.
  9. The new education policy benefitted only the upper and th middle class.
    True.
  10. The Company promoted education of girls and technical education.
    False.

IV. Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
Mention the social evils prevalent in India during British rule.
Answer:
Inhuman practice of Sati was prevalent in many parts of the country. Female infanticide prevailed in some parts of the country. The practice of sacrificing little children to please gods and goddesses was another major evil. Widows were not allowed to remarry. Child marriage and polygamy were other social evils prevalent in society.

Question 2.
Why did India’s foreign trade decline during the British rule?
Answer:
India traded in wool, silk, textiles, metal craft like vessels and ornaments, objects in gold, silver, copper, steel and iron. British trade policies led to the drain of wealth from India. Indian trade, industries and handicrafts declined. Indian artisans lost support of kings and nobles. The British wanted India to become a supplier of raw materials and an importer of finished goods.

Question 3.
During the British rule, “India was a loser both ways – as a buyer and also a seller.” Explain.
Answer:
The British exploited India’s resources, bought raw materials from India at nominal rates to be exported to England, and dumped their machine made goods in the Indian markets. Thus, India was a loser both ways as a buyer and also as a seller.

Question 4.
Why did the English East India Company feel the need for educational; reforms?
Answer:
The first objective of education in India was to form a class of interpreters between the British rulers and the millions of Indians they governed. The second objective was to create a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour but British in taste, opinion, morals and intellect. The third objective was to obtain a cheap supply of clerks for holding subordinate posts in administration and British business concerns.                     ‘

Question 5.
Who was Lord Macaulay? Why did he recommend the system of British education in India?
Answer:
Lord Macaualy is considered the founder of the British system of education in India. He was the law member of the council of Lord William Bentinck, the Governor General of India.Macaulay recommended

  1. English shoud be the medium of instruction in schools
  2. Indians should be taught sciences and western literature. He had a very poor opinion of traditional Indian learning which he thought was inferior to European learning.

According to him, “single shelf of a good European library was worth native literature of India and Arabia.”

Question 6.
What were the main objectives of British education in India? Mention the steps recommended to implement the policy.
Answer:
There were three main objectives of education in India according to Lord Macaulay. The first objective was to form a class of interpreters between the British rulers and the millions of Indians they governed.
The second objective was to create a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour but British in taste, opinion, morals and intellect.
The third objective was to obtain a cheap supply of clerks for holding subordinate posts in administration and British business concerns.
In 1835, Bentinck agreed to Macaulay’s view and made English the medium of instruction. In 1844 the government declared their intention to employ only English educated Indians. In 1854, Wood’s Despatch was accepted and implemented. New Universities were set up in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Question 7.
Describe the recommendations in Wood’s Despatch and their effects.
Answer:
(a)
It declared that the aim to Government’s educational policy was the teaching of Western education “The education which we desire to see extended in India”, wrote Wood in the Despatch, “is that which has for its object the diffusion of the improved arts, science, philosophy and literature of Europe, in short of European knowledge.”

  1. As to the medium of instruction, it declared that for higher education. English language was the most perfect medium of education. It also emphasised the importance of vernacular languages.
  2. It proposed setting up of vernacular primary schools in villages Anglo-Vernacular high schools and an affiliated college at district level.
  3. It recommended a grants-in-aid to encourage private enterprise.
  4. A department of public instruction under the charge of a Director in each of the five provinces to review progress of education.
  5. Universities on the model of London University were set up in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras.
  6. The Despatch emphasised the importance of vocational Instruction and need for establishing technical schools and colleges.
  7. Teachers Training institutions on the model then prevalent in England were recommended.
  8. The Despatch gave frank and cordial support for fostering the education of women.

Question 8.
Discuss various aspects of the drain of wealth.
Answer:
The British exported to Britain part of India’s wealth and resources for which India got no adequate economic or material return. This ‘Economic Drain’was peculiar to British rule. Previously the rulers had spent the revenue they extracted from the people inside the country. But the British spent part of the taxes and income they derived from the Indian people not in India but in Britain, their home country.
The drain of wealth from Bengal began in 1757 when company’s servants began to carry home immense fortunes extorted from Indian rulers, zamindars, merchants and the common people. They sent home nearly £ 6 million between 1758 and 1765. This was more than four times than total land revenue collection of the Nawab of Bengal in 1765.
In 1765 the company acquired the Diwani of Bengal and thus gained control over its revenues. The company began to purchase Indian goods out of the revenue of Bengal and to export them.
From 1765 to 1770 the company sent out nearly £4 million worth of goods or about 33 percent of the net revenue of the net revenue of Bengal. The drain took the form of an excess of India’s exports over its imports for which India got no return. The drain went on increasing after 1858.

V. Picture Study –
(A) Look at the picture.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Impact of British Rule on India 5

1.Which important development does the picture depict?
Ans. In 1853 the first Railway line was opened between Bombay and Thane.

Write a short note on its development in India.
Ans. Railway lines were developed to transport raw’ material to factories and finished goods from factories to markets. The Indians benefitted from railways. Travel and transportation became quicker, easier and cheaper.

How did it prove to be a boon for the Indians?
Ans. The railways brought Indians of all castes and religions together. They later united against the English and joined hands to fight against them.

(B) This is the picture of a Governor-General.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Impact of British Rule on India 6

1.Identify him.
Ans. Lord William Bentinck.

2.What do you understand by ‘Sati’? Who put an end to this practice and why?
Ans. Sati was an inhuman practice of widow immolation at the funeral pyre of her husband. It was prevalent in many parts of India specially in Bengal. Lord William Bentinck abolished Sati in 1829.

3.Mention four social reforms introduced by the British.
Ans.

  1. Abolition of Sati.
  2. Abolition of female infanticide.
  3. Abolition of sacrificing little children to please gods and goddesses.

A strong movement in support of widow remarriage. Lord Dalhousie passed a law which allowed widows to remarry

Additional Questions

EXERCISES
A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. The Bengal famine of 1770 was one of the most terrible famines in human history.
  2. A large share of revenue collected by the Company in India had to be paid to the British government as home charges.
  3. Under the Mahalwari system the revenue settlement was made with the village as a whole.
  4. To eliminate competition from India’s traditional industries the British transfonned India into a supplier of raw material and a market for british products.
  5. Before the advent of the British the Indian craftspeople operated at two levels—the rural and the urban levels.
  6. Before the advent of the British the Indian textile industry was the finest and the largest in the world.
  7. After the Battle of Plassey the Company used its political power to destroy the Indian handicraft industry and promote British industries.
  8. With the spread of the Industrial Revolution in England, Indian markets were flooded with cheap, machine made textiles of British mills.
  9. By 1850, India became a major importer of english textiles.
  10. Lord Dalhousie introduced the railway system in India in 1853.
  11. The Grand Trunk Road from Calcutta to Peshawar was reconstructed by the British in the 19th century.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Impact of British Rule on India 7
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Impact of British Rule on India 8
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Impact of British Rule on India 10

C. Choose the correct answer:

1. The Treaty of Allahabad/Madras/Benaras granted the English East India Company the right to collect revenue from Bihar, Bengal and Orissa.
Ans. The Treaty of Allahabad granted the English East India Company the right to collect revenue from Eihar, Bengal and Orissa.

2. To remove the defect of the revenue system Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent settlement/Ryotwari system/ Mahalwari system in 1793.
Ans. To remove the defect of the revenue system Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent settlement in 1793.

3. The Ryotwari system of revenue collection was introduced in Madras/Calcutta/Bombay presidency.
Ans. The Ryotwari system of revenue collection was introduced in Madras presidency.

4. The Charter Act of 1813, directed the Company to spend 1/ 10/15 lakh rupees on the education of Indians.
Ans. The Charter Act of 1813, directed the Company to spend 1 lakh rupees on the education of Indians.

5.The first railway line was from Bombay to Poona/Thana/ Calcutta.
Ans. The first railway line was from Bombay to Thana.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. Before the advent of the British more than 95 per cent of Indians lived in villages.
    True.
  2. The Indian peasants were satisfied with the Company’s revenue collection methods.
     False.
  3. The Permanent Settlement assured the Company a fixed revenue at a fixed time even during natural calamities.
    True.
  4. Lord Macaulay insisted that Western education should be imparted through the medium of the vernacular languages.
    False.
    Correct : Lord Macaulay insisted that Western education should be imparted through the medium of the English.
  5. The development of transport and communication systems did not benefit Indians in any way.
    False.
    Correct : The development of transport and communication systems benefit Indians in unexpected ways.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
Why did the Indian peasants begin to grow cash crops ?
Answer:
Since revenue payments had to be paid in cash, the peasants began to grow cash crops like jute, cotton, sugarcane etc., which could be sold for ready cash in the markets.

Question 2.
How did the Company utilize the revenues from Bengal ?
Answer:
The revenue from Bengal was used to cover as salaries of officials and to finance the trading activities of the company. Raw materials for England’s growing industries were bought with the revenues collected from Bengal.

Question 3.
What were the drawbacks of Warren Hastings’s five-year revenue settlement ?
Answer:
The new zamindars, unsure of retaining the contract at the next auction, had no permanent interest in the land and did nothing to improve it. The peasants were fleeced to meet the revenue targets.

Question 4.
What was the significance of the Charter Act of 1813 in the context of British educational policy in India?
Answer:
The Charter Act of 1813 directed the Company to spend 1 lakh rupees on the education of Indians. This was the first step taken by the British rulers towards the encouragement of the study of literature and science in India. The Charter Act, however, did not lay down any specific guidelines.

Question 5.
In what way would westernized Indians help to promote the interests of British manufacturers?
Answer:

  1. The British system of education produced English-speaking Indian graduates who helped their British masters to run the empire.
  2. It also created a class of Indians who were Westernized to the extent that they rejected Indian culture and patronized anything and everything that was British including British goods.

Question 6.
How did knowledge of contemporary nationalist movements in Europe inspire the Indians?
Answer:
Knowledge of contemporary nationalist movements in Europe fired the Indians with an intense desire to build a new India progressive, strong, prosperous and united.

Question 7.
Mention any two positive effects of the introduction of English in the Indian educational system.
Answer:
Western education, however, impacted Indian society in a way the British could never have imagined.

  1. It aroused in them an awareness of the evil effects of foreign rule.
  2. The teachings of modem European philosophers instilled in them an admiration for democratic institutions.

Question 8.
Which section of Indians gained from the British commercial policies ?
Answer:
Indian Steel, Urban Centres specialized in gold and silver ornaments, cooper, brassware, and crafts people.

Question 9.
How would the improved transport and communication system benefit the Indian later ?
Answer:
The transport and communication system, however, would ultimately benefit Indians in unexpected ways. Besides stimulating trade and commerce it would bring the people of India closer to one another and infuse in them a sense of unity and nationalism—a development that would have far-reaching effects on India’s future.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
In the context of Permanent Settlement of Bengal answer the following:
(a) Explain the special features of the Permanent Settlement.
(b) What are its advantages ?
(c) Briefly describe its disavantages
Answer:
(a) The system had two special features:
Permanent ownership of land

  1. The zamindars, collectors of land revenue, were made permanent legal owners of the land from which they collected the land tax. The tax collector became the landlord.
  2. The zamindar’s ownership rights became hereditary and he was given the freedom to sell or mortgage his land.
  3. The cultivators of the land became the tenants of the zamindar and lost their ancestral rights. They had to pay a rent to the zamindar who could increase the rent as and when they wanted to.

Fixed Revenue

  1. The land revenue was fixed on a permanent basis. The Company could not make any further demands on the zamindars.
  2. The zamindar had to pay the land revenue once a year on a spe ­cific date. If he failed to pay on time, his lands were confiscated and sold.

(b) Advantages

  1. The Company was assured of a fixed revenue at a fixed time even during natural calamities.
  2. The collection of revenue was simpler and cheaper. The zamindars replaced hundreds of paid tax officials.
  3. The British won the support and loyalty of the powerful and priviledged class of zamindars that they had created.
  4. As permanent owners of the lands, the zamindars took several steps to increase agricultural production whose benefits they would enjoy.

(c) Disadvantages

  1. The cultivators were left at the mercy of the zamindar, who ex­ploited and oppressed them, increased their rents and evicted them from the land when they unable to pay the high rents. This led to widespread poverty and misery of the cultivators.
  2. Since the revenue was fixed, the government would not get a share of increasing returns form the land.
  3. This system gave rise to a class of absentee landlords. These zamindars preferred to live in cities and towns and sublet their land to tenants at high rates. These tenants in turn sublet it to other tenants. As this process continued, the rent rates increased with each successive layer. The entire burden of paying the enhanced rates had to be borne by the actual cultivator—the last tenant.

Question 2.
With reference to Ryotwari and Mahalwari systems answer the following:
(a) Explain the features of the Ryotwari system.
(b) What were the features of the Ryotwari system.
(c) What were the fundamental changes introduced by these systems in the traditional land system of the country ?
Answer:
(a)
The features of Ryotwari system were:

  1. The cultivator (ryot) was recognized as the owner of his land as long as he paid the land revenue.
  2. The revenue was paid directly by the cultivator to the rev­enue officials.
  3. The revenue was fixed for 30 years after which it could be revised.
  4. Collection of revenue was rigid. There was no remission of revenue even when the crops failed.

(b)
‘Mahal’ means a group of villages. Under this system land was collectively owned by the villagers. The revenue settle­ment was made with the village as a whole. The talukdar or head of the mahal collected the revenue and handed it over to the British collectors.

(c)
The Zamindari and Ryotwari systems introduced fundamen­tal changes in the traditional land systems of the country. Land became a commodity — a new form of property — which could be bought, sold and mortgaged as and when the need arose. The stability and continuity of the Indian villages were shaken and the traditional structure of rural society began to disintegrate.

Question 3.
The first century of British rule resulted in the decay and destruction of traditional India trade and industry. Explain this statement with reference to the following:
(a) Political powers of the Company
(b) Collapse of ruling dynasties and ruling courts
(c) Decline of modern India industries.
Answer:
(a) After the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the company used its political power to destroy the Indian handicraft industry and promote British industries. The Indian weavers were forced to sell their products to the Company at very low prices. To add to their miseries, they were compelled to buy interior raw cotton at high prices from the Company officials who bought it from the Indian farmers at low rates.

(b) 
With the establishment and expansion of the British empire in India, the royal courts and the nobility of the ruling dynas­ties, (including the Mughals) collapsed one by one. The craftspersons and artisans were deprived of royal patronage and Indian handicrafts suffered a severe setback.

(c) 
The British government also obstructed the growth of mod­ern Indian industries to keep the country underdeveloped and economically backward. Almost everything of daily use like needles, pins, sewing machines, thread, soaps, biscuits, cycles, medicines, paper, etc. were imported from England.

Question 4.
The Charter Act of 1813 passed by the British Parliament was the first major step to introduce changes in the Indian system of education. In this context discuss:
(a) The general directives issued to the Company in the Charter Act of 1813 and its inherent weakness
(b) The Great Debate over the content and medium of education
(c) The introduction and spread of Western education
Answer:
(a) The Charter Act of 1813 directed the Company to spend 1 lakh rupees on the education of Indians. This was the first step taken by the British rulers towards the encouragement of the study of literature and science in India. The Charter Act, however.- did not lay down any specific guidelines. The money sanctioned for the education project lay untouched for 2 decades while a great controversy raged over the content and medium of education.

(b) 
One group favoured the promotion of traditional Indian learning through the medium of classical (Sanskrit and Persian) and regional language. This group was known as the Orientalists. The other group led by Lord Macaulay (Law Member of the Governor General’s Council) insisted that Western education should be introduced and imparted.

(c) 
The government began to set up English medium schools and colleges for the education of a limited number of Indians. In 1844, English became the official language and the government announced that Indians educated in British schools would be given jobs in government services. This helped the spread of English education in India.

Question 5.
The Wood’s Despatch introduced further changes in the Indian educational system. With reference to the above statement, answer the following questions:
(a) What was the purpose behind the introduction of Western education in India?
(b) How did the introduction of Western education benefit the British?
(c) Explain how

  1. Western education and
  2. The English language led to the rise of a spirit of nationalism among the Indians.

Answer:
(a)  The purpose behind the introduction of Western education in India.

  1. The primary motive of the British government was to create a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but British in taste, opinions, morals and intellect. The class of Indians could be employed, on low salaries, as clerks in the Civil Service.
  2. This would greatly reduce the heavy expenditure involved in running the administration. Employing theBritish in these posts was very expensive and difficult.
  3. Westernized Indians, it was hoped, would create a demand for British goods and promote the interests of British manufacturers.
  4. Western education would inculcate in the Indians a sense of admiration and respect for British rule. This would strengthen the foundations of the British empire in India.

(b) The introduction and spread of Western education in India benefited the British like:

  1. The British system of education produced English­speaking Indian graduates who helped their British masters to run the empire.
  2. It also created a class of Indians who were Westernized to the extent that they rejected Indian culture and patronized anything and everything that was British including British goods.

(c) Western education, however, impacted Indian society in a way the British could never have imagined.

  1. It aroused in them an awareness of the evil effects of foreign rule.
  2. The teachings of modern European philosophers instilled in them an admiration for democratic institutions.

Question 6.
With reference to the transport and communication system in India, answer the following questions:
(a) Why and how did the British develop proper transport and communication facilities in India?
(b) How did the railways serve the interests of the British?
(c) Explain how the improved transport and communication system proved beneficial for Indians.
Answer:
(a)

  1. The transport and communication system in India in the 18th century was very backward. The British realized the importance of developing proper
    communication facilities to consolidate their position in India and promote their industrial and commercial growth.
  2. Steps were taken to link all the major cities, ports, agricultural centres and markets through an elaborate network of roads, canals and railways. Metalled roads, steamships and trains were introduced.

(b)
The railways ensured quick transfer of troops and ammunition during revolts and other disturbances and the easy tranportation of raw materials and manufactured goods.
(c)
The transport and communication system, however, whould ultimately benefit Indians in unexpected ways. Besides stimulating trade and commerce it would bring the people of India closer to one another and infuse in them a sense of unity and nationalism. A development that would have far-reaching effects on India’s independence.The improved communication system established by the British benefited the Indians in unexpected ways. Besides stimulating trade and commerce it brought the people of India closer to one another and infused in them a sense of unity and nationalism which had far-reaching effects on Indian’s future.

G Picture Study:

This is the picture of an Indian nationalist.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Impact of British Rule on India 9

1. Identify the person.
Answer.
DadabhaiNaoroji.

2.What did he think about the British rule in India ?
Answer.
Dadabhai Naoroji one of the early nationalist of India, described British rule as an ‘everlasting….foreign invasion that was utterly though gradually destroying the country’.

3.Explain any three ways in which he felt that the Indian economy was being exploited by the British.
Answer.

  1. A greater part of the salaries of British officials and employees of the Company (paid out of Indian revenues) was deposited in England as savings.
  2. Material resources like cotton, jute, indigo, tea, coffee, etc. were transported to England.
  3. Goods purchased in India with revenues drawn from the country were sent to England.
  4. Huge sums of money which the officials received as bribes and gifts were sent out of the country.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The Union Executive

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The Union Executive

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Time To Learn
I. Fill in the blanks:

  1. A person to be appointed a minister must be a member of either House of Parliament.
  2. The Prime Minister decides the business to be carried on by the Cabinet.
  3. The Vice President is elected for a period of five years.
  4. The Prime Minister distributes portfolios among the ministers.
  5. The public servants constitute the permanent executives.

II. Match the contents of Column A with that of Column B : Column A
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Union Executive 1
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Union Executive 2
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Union Executive 3

III. Tick mark (✓) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones :

  1. The Prime Minister is the vital link between the President and the Cabinet.
  2. The Prime Minister acts on the advice of the President.
     X
  3. A money bill cannot be introduced without the President’s authority.
  4. The President can appoint anyone as the Prime Minister.
     X
  5. Most of the Civil Servants at the Centre are selected by the Union Public Service Commission.

IV. Answer the following:

Question 1.
Who is the Chief Executive of the Indian Union? Who votes for him?
Answer:
The Chief Executive of the Indian Union is the President. The elected members of both the Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies elect the President.

Question 2.
State two executive and two judicial powers of the President.Under what circumstances can the President proclaim a state of emergency?
Answer:
Two Executive powers of the President are:

  1. He appoints the Prime Minister and Union Minister.
  2. He appoints state Governors, the Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court, the Comptroller and Auditor-General, the Attorney General and members of the Union Public service Commission.

Two Judicial powers of the President are:

  1. He can pardon, remit or suspend a sentence of punishment given by a court martial or death sentence passed by the court.
  2. He is not answerable to any law court for the exercise of his powers, except in case of impeachment in Parliament.

The President can declare emergency if:

  1. Security of India is threatened.
  2. There is a break down of the constitutional machinery in a state.
  3. The financial stability of the country is threatened.

Question 3.
What are the two main functions of the Cabinet?
Answer:
The two main functions of the Cabinet are:

  1. All important decisions are taken by the cabinet ministers.
  2. Cabinet formulates the policies and programmes of the government.

Question 4.
Name the three categories of the union ministers.
Answer:
The three categories of Ministers are:

  1. Cabinet Ministers
  2.  Minister of State
  3. Deputy Ministers

Question 5.
What is the position of the Prime Minister? Mention his powers.
Answer:
Leader of the political party or parties securing absolute majority in the Lok Sabha.

  1. Leader of the Lok Sabha.
  2. Manages the affairs of the country both internal as well as extrenal.
  3. He is the chief spokesperson of the Government.
  4. Selects other ministers.
  5. Distributes portfolios.
  6. Can demand the resignation of any minister.
  7. Advises the President on various appointments to important posts.
  8. Presides over cabinet meetings.

Question 6.
Do you think the President of India should be directly elected by the people? Why/why not?
Answer:
We have a system of government in which the Prime Minister is the most important person in the government of the country, the President is only a nominal Head. If the President was to be elected then he too would be equally important was powerful. Then there would be a clash of powers. So, in my opinion it is preferable that the President should not be directly elected by the people.

V. Explain the following statements:

Question 1.
“The President is a nominal head.”
Answer:
It means that in our system of government, it is the Prime Minister who runs the government under a parliamentary from of government. The President is a constitutional head of the Indian Union. He is only a nominal head. The government is run by the Prime Minister and his council of Ministers. The real executive power vests in the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.

Question 2.
“All the ministers, including the Prime Minister, swim and sink together.”
Answer:
The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are directly responsible to the Lok Sabha. If a vote of no confidence is passed against one minister, the whole Council of ministers including the Prime Minister has to resign.

Additional Questions

EXERCISES
A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. The President can be removed from office by a procedure known as Impeachment.
  2. The President appoints the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court.
  3. The President can call a joint session of the Parliament if there is a deadlock regarding a bill.
  4. The Cabinet is the inner core of the Council of Ministers. The Cabinet Ministers hold important portfolios.
  5. The Prime Minister is the link between the President, the people and the Parliament.

B. Name the following:

  1. The current Prime Minister of India
    Ans. Narendra Modi
  2. The current Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha –
    Ans. Mohammad Hamid Ansari
  3. The current Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces
    Ans. Pranab Mukherjee
  4. The current ministers in charge of (a) Defence (b) External Affairs (c) Finance (d) Health
    Ans.
    (a) Defence Minister – Manohar Parrikar
    (b) External Affairs – Sushma Swaraj
    (c) Finance Minister – Arun Jaitley
    (d) Health Minister – Jagat Prakash Nadda

C. Choose the correct answer:

  1. The President/Prime Minister/Vice President is the nominal head of the government of India.
    Ans. The President is the nominal head of the government of India.
  2. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Administrative Service/Defense Forces/Indian Foreign Service.
    Ans. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Defense Forces.
  3. The Vice-President is the Chairperson of the Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha/Vidhan Sabha.
    Ans. The Vice-President is the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
  4. After the elections, the President appoints the leader of the majority party as the Vice President/Speaker/Prime Minister.
    Ans. After the elections, the President appoints the leader of the majority party as the Prime Minister.
  5. The Council of Ministers is the real executive but the administration is carried on in the name of the Prime Minister/President/Vice-President. ”
    Ans. The Council of Ministers is the real executive but the administration is carried on in the name of the Prime Minister.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. The President is elected for a term of 4 years.
    False.
    Correct : The President is elected for a term of 5 years.
  1. The President can pardon a death sentence.
    True.
  1. The President can declare war or conclude peace.
    True.
  1. The Prime Minister choose the Cabinet Ministers.
    True.
  1. Civil servants belong to the majority party in Parliament.
    False.
    Correct : Civil servants belong to the minority party in Parliament.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
Who is the real executive head in a parliamentary form of government?
Answer:
The parliamentary system of government makes the Prime Minister the real head of the Indian government.

Question 2.
Name the body that elects the President of India.
Answer:
An Electoral College elects the President.

Question 3.
Name any two officials appointed by the President?
Answer:
The President appoints the State Governors, the Comptroller Auditor General, the Attorney General and Chief Commissioners of the Union Territories.

Question 4.
What is an ordinance?
Answer:
Ordinances are executive orders which are issued when the Parliament is not in session.

Question 5.
What can the President do when the security of the country is threatened by external aggression or armed rebellion?
Answer:
If the security of the country is threatened by external aggression or armed rebellion, National Emergency is declared.

Question 6.
Whose advice is the President bound to follow in carrying out his/her functions?
Answer:
Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers advice the President in the exercise of his/her functions. He/she is bound to follow this advice.

Question 7.
Who is the head of the Council of Ministers?
Answer:
The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers.

Question 8.
When two or more political parties form the government, what is it called?
Answer:
When two or more parties usually agree to work together and form the government. This is known as a Coalition Government.

Question 9.
What is meant by allotment of portfolios?
Answer:
The Prime Minister allots each minister in the Council a separate department or portfolio to handle. This is called allotment of portfolios. Hence, we have a Minister of Communication, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, etc.

Question 10.
What happens when a vote of no-confidence is passed against any one Cabinet Minister?
Answer:
If a vote of no-confidence is passed against any one Cabinet Minister, the whole Council of Ministers has to resign immediately.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:
Question 1.
In the context of the President of India, answer the following questions:
(a) Mention the qualifications required for the post of the President.
(b) How is the President elected ?
(c) How can the services of the President be terminated ?
Answer:
(a) Qualifications for the post of the President are:

  1. They must be citizens of India.
  2. They must be at least 35 years of age.
  3. They must have all the qualifications necessary to be a member of the Lok Sabha.
  4. They should not hold an office of profit under the Central,the state or the local governament

(b) The President is elected indirectly. An electoral college elects the President. The electoral college consists of the following members:

  1. The elected members of both Houses of Parliament.
  2. The elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies.

(c) The President can be impeached by the Parliament. Impeachment is a procedure by which the Parliament can remove the President if he/she is found guilty of violating the Constitution, of treason or of corruption.

Question 2.
With reference to the powers of the President, discuss:
(a) Any four executive powers
(b) Military powers
(c) Any four legislative powers
Answer:
(a) Executive powers: The President appoints the Prime Minister who is the leader of the Majority party or coalition parties or single largest party in the Lok Sabha. The President appoints the Union Ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister.

(b) Military powers: The President is the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces. He or she can declare war or conclude peace. All important treaties and contracts are made in the President’s name.

(c) Legislative powers:

  1. The President can summon or prorogue the Parliament. He/she addresses the opening session of the Parliament every year. The President’s address is a statement of the government’s policy.
  2. The President can also dissolve the Lok Sabha and order fresh elections.
  3. He/she can call a joint session of both Houses of Parliament if there is a deadlock regarding a bill.
  4. Each bill passed by the Parliament has to receive the President’s assent in order to become a law. The President may send the bill back to the Parliament if he/she does not approve, but if it is passed a second time, he/she is obliged to sign it and give his/her assent.
  5. The President nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha and two Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha.
  6. When the Parliament is not in session, the President can issue ordinances. Ordinances are like laws and are valid for only 6 weeks after the Parliament meets again.

Question 3.
The President is an integral part of the Parliament. In this context explain the following:
(a) The financial powers of the President
(b) The judicial powers of the President
(C) The emergency powers of the President.
Answer:
(a) The financial powers of the President:

  1. The Budget is presented to the Parliament in the name of the President.
  2. All money bills are introduced in the Parliament with the President’s permission.

(b) The judicial powers of the President:

  1. The President has the power to grant pardon, to remit, reduce or suspend the sentence of a person convicted of any offence. He can also pardon a death sentence.
  2. He/she is not answerable to any court of law for his/ her actions, except if he/she is impeached by the Parliament.

(c) The emergency powers of the President:

  1.  The President can declare Emergency if the security of the country is threatened by external aggression or armed rebellion.
  2. If the administrative machinery of a state breaks down, Presidential Rule is imposed in that state.
  3. If the financial stability of the country is threatened, a Financial Emergency can be declared by him.

Question 4.
With reference to the functions of the Parliament, explain the following:
(a) Law-making functions
(b) Control over the executive
(c) Judicial functions
Answer
(a) Law making functions of the Parliament:

  1. The Parliament can frame new laws or modify existing ones on any subject in the Union or Concurrent List.
  2. In some cases the Parliament can also pass laws on subjects under the State List.
  3. Only the Parliament can initiate a Bill to amend the Constitution.

(b) Control over the Council of Ministers:

  1. The Parliament keeps a watch over the government. The Council of Ministers is directly responsible and answerable to the Lok Sabha for its policies and actions.
  2. The Council of Ministers has to resign immediately if a vote of no-confidence is passed against it by the Lok Sabha.
  3. The Members of Parliament can discuss government policies and question the ministers. Hence, they can exercise a check on the working of the government.
  4. The Parliament can move an adjournment motion to discuss and focus on any matter of public importance which requires immediate and urgent attention from the government, for instance, natural disasters such as earthquakes and unforeseen situations such as police firing or terrorist attacks, etc.

(c) Judicial functions of the Parliament: The Parliament can impeach or remove the President, the Vice-President and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts if any of them violate the Constitution or misuse their authority.

Question 5.
Discuss the powers and position of the Prime Minister with reference to his relationship with the following:
(a) Parliament
(b) the President
(c) the Council of Ministers.
Answer:
(a)
The parliamentary system of government makes the Prime Minister the real head of the Indian government. It is the Prime Minister who actually exercises all the powers vested in the President. This is because of the following reasons:
The Prime Minister is the elected head of the country.The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party or the largest coalition in the Parliament.
(b)
The Prime Minister advises the President in the discharge of his/her functions and informs him/her about the decisions taken by the Cabinet. The advice of the Prime Minister is binding on the President.
The Council of Ministers:

  1. The Prime Minister selects the members of the Council of Ministers.
  2. He/she distributes portfolios among the ministers and presides over Cabinet meetings.
  3. He/she coordinates the working of the different departments and is the vital link between the President and the Cabinet.
  4. He/she can expand the Cabinet and also demand the resignation of any minister.

Question 6.
In the context of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, explain the following:
(a) Appointment of the Prime Minister
(b) Formation of the Council of Ministers
(c) The Cabinet
Answer:
(a)
According to the constitution, The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of India. In actual practice, however, the choice of the President in the appointment of Prime Minister is limited. He appoints only that person as Prime Minister who is the leader of the party or coalition of parties having an absolute majority in House of the people.
In case no party has an absolute majority in house of the people, the president can appoint any person as Prime Minister who, is his opinion, is able to form a stable government.The person to be apointed as Prime Minister must be member of either house of parliament.
(b)
The Prime Minister selects a number of ministers according to his/her preference and submits a list to the President. When the President approves and appoints the Ministers on the list, the Council of Ministers is formed.The Council of Ministers has three ranks within if

  1. Cabinet Ministers,
  2. Ministers of State and
  3. Deputy Ministers.

(c)
All ministers of the Council have to be members of either House of Parliament. In case a non-member is selected, he/ she has to be elected to either House within 6 months from the date of appointment.The Cabinet is the inner core of the council of Ministers. The Cabinet Ministers hold the most important portfolios and make the most important decision and policies. The Cabinet Ministers hold the highest ranks and have the greatest responsibility. They holds the real executive power of the Indian government and is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Cabinet can remain in office as long as it enjoys the confidence of a majority in the Lok Sabha. If a vote of no­confidence is passed against any one Cabinet Minister, the whole Council of Ministers has to resign immediately. The entire Council has to answer for the shortcomings or failure on the part of any one minister.

G Picture study:

Until 1950, the building in the picture was known as ‘Viceroy’s House’, and served as the residence of the Governor General of India.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Union Executive 4

  1. Identify the building. Whose official residence is it now?
    Ans. Rashtrapati Bhavan, President of India.
  2. How is he or she elected?
    Ans. The President is elected indirectly by the elected members of the Legislature as he or she is a nominal (de jure) and not the de facto head. An Electoral college elects the President. The Electoral College elects the President. The Electoral College consists of the following members:

    1. The elected members of both Houses of Parliament.
    2. The elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies
  3. What is his/her term of office?
    Ans. The President is elected for a period of 5 years. He or she can be re-elected after his or her term.
  4. Mention two powers each held by this person of with reference to the following:
    (a) Financial power (b) Judicial Power
    Answer:
    (a) Financial power:
  1. The Budget is presented to the Parliament in the name of the President.
  2. All money bills are introduced in the Parliament with the President’s permission.
    (b) Judicial Power:
  3. The President has the power to grant pardon, to remit, reduce or suspend the sentence of a person convicted of any offence. He can also pardon a death sentence.
  4. He/she is not answerable to any court of law for his/ her actions, except if he/she is impeached by the Parliament.