CLASS: VIII

SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSIGNMENT

CHAPTER-1(C) THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION
1. Fill in the blanks:1. Between December 1946 and November 1949, the _constituent assembly_
drafted a constitution for Independent India.
2. The Constitution of India guarantees universal adult suffrage for all
_adult citizens_.
3. No child below the age of _______can be made to work in any factory
or mine.
4. _Dr. BR Ambedkar_ is known as the Father of the Indian
Constitution.
5. In 1934, the Indian Nation Congress made the demand for
_Constituent_ Assembly.
2. Answer the following questions:1. What is Right to Equality?
2. What does the word state refer to?
3. What do you mean by a secular state?
4. What do you mean by the term sovereign?
5. Name and explain the three branches of the government.
6. Name the key features of Indian Constitution. Elaborate them in 2-3 lines.
7. The Constitution is necessary for the functioning of a democratic government.
Explain.
8. Distinguish between state and government.
9. In which year was democracy established in Nepal and when was it finally
declared as federal democratic republic?
DO YOU KNOW?

The Indian Constitution

The Constitution of India is the Supreme Law of India. It lays down the
framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure,
procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out
fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. It is the
longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world, containing 444
articles in 22 parts, 12 schedules and 118 amendments. Besides the Hindi
version, there is an official English translation. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is widely known
as the father of the Indian Constitution.

Class: VIII
SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSIGNMENT
CHAPTER-2(G) LAND, SOIL, WATER, NATURAL VEGETATION AND
WILDLIFE RESOURCES
1. Fill in the blanks:1. The percentage of fresh water on the earth is_2.7 %_.
2. Private land is owned by a/an _individual__.
3. Forests are broadly classified as _evergreen_ and _deciduous_ depending on
when they shed their leaves.
4. Soil erosion and _depletion_ are the major threats to soil as a resource.
5. It takes hundreds of years to make just one centimetre of _soil_.
2. Answer the following:1. What are the three most important natural resources on the earth? Land, soil
and water.
2. What is required to make the soil fertile? Right mix of minerals and
organic matter.
3. Why is the earth called the water planet? Three-fourths of the earths
surface is covered with water. Therefore appropriately it is called the
water planet.
4. How is a bird like vulture important for the ecosystem?
Vulture feeds on dead animals as it is a scavenger. Therefore it helps
converting the flesh of dead animals into organic matter.
5. What is the distinguishing feature between evergreen and deciduous forests?
Evergreen forests do not shed their leaves simultaneously in any
season of the year while deciduous forests shed their leaves in a
particular season to conserve loss of moisture through transpiration.
6. What is rain water harvesting? Rain water harvesting is collecting rain
water for later use.
3. Give reason:1. People and their demands are ever growing.
Population is growing at fast pace and so are the demands of people.
Ever growing population needs land to live and set industries. People
need more space for building houses and industries but the availability
of land is limited. The quality of land also differs from place to place.
So, people started encroaching the common lands to build up
commercial areas, housing complexes in the urban areas and to expand
the agricultural land to rural areas.
2. Forests are our wealth.
Plants give shelter to the animals and together they maintain the
ecosystem. Changes of climate and human interferences can cause the
loss of natural habitats for the plants and animals. Many species have
become vulnerable or endangered and some are on the verge of
extinction. Therefore if forests keep on vanishing it will affect the whole
ecosystem.

3. Fresh water is the most precious substance on the earth.

Fresh water accounts for only about 2.7 per cent. Nearly 70 per cent of
this occurs as ice sheets and glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland and
mountain regions. Due to their location they are inaccessible. Only 1
per cent of freshwater is available and fit for human use. Fresh water is
therefore, the most precious substance on earth. Water can neither be
added nor subtracted from the earth. Its total volume remains constant.

IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING PICTURES:1.

______________________________________

2.

-----------------------------------------------

3.

________________________________

CHAPTER-2(H) FROM TRADE TO TERRITORY

1. Fill in the blanks:1. British territories were broadly divided into administrative units called
______________.
2. ______ and _________ were two famous Maratha soldiers and statesmen of the
late 18th century.
3. After the Battle of ______, the Company appointed Residents in Indian states.
4. The first English factory was set up on the banks of the river____ in 1651.
5. The first Anglo-Maratha war ended with the Treaty of _______.
2. Answer the following questions:1. Who was the ruler of England in 1660?
2. What caused huge loss of revenue in Bengal?
3. Why did the Battle of Plassey become famous?
4. Who were the Residents?
5. Name the two rulers under whose leadership Mysore became powerful.
6. What was the result of the second Anglo-Maratha war?
7. What was Lord Dalhousies Doctrine of Lapse?
8. What constituted the Mughal army?
9. Who were called the nabobs?
10. Why did the company want a puppet ruler?
11. Whom did the company install in place of Mir Jafar?
12. Which kingdoms were annexed according to the Doctrine of Lapse?
13. What happened in the Battle of Seringapatam?
14. Why was trade carried on with arms?
15. How did the Company purchase Indian goods?

DO YOU KNOW?
British East India Company
British East India Company was a joint-stock company that was

originally formed to do business with the East Indies. But eventually,

the company ended up doing business primarily with the Indian
subcontinent and China. It is commonly said that in the history of the
world there is no more wonderful story than that of the advent of the
British Empire in India. History says that it was not the result of
deliberate design. East India Company was unique as it started its
humble beginning as the mere trading company and later took over
political interest and changed to the ruler of the entire country.
Foundation of British East India Company
The British East India Company was in fact the venture of some of the
influential businessmen of London who acquired the Crown`s charter
for special permission to trade in spices in the East Indies (presently
South Asia) and the permission was granted for a period of 15 years.
The East India Company started with a capital of 72,000 pounds and
had around 125 shareholders. One Governor and 24 directors who
constituted the Court of Directors led it.