Indian National Movement 1919-1947

E-2- Estimate the role of Mahatma Gandhi in the Indian freedom struggle.
Answer- The role of Mahatma Gandhi in the independence struggle can be summed up as follows:-

a) He converted the nationalist movements into the mass movement by including the grievances
of common people in them.
b) He used Satyagraha against the British empire as he knew that violence would never succeed
against the British.
c) He gave the Indians the mantra of Non-cooperation.
d) His most important contribution was to bring the depressed classes of Indian society at par
with others.
e) Encouraging Indians to make their own fabric by spinning charkha, Mahatma Gandhi guided
them towards making their economy self-reliant.

E-5- Why did Gandhiji merge the Khilafat issue with the Non- Cooperation Movement?
Answer- Gandhi merged the two movements as he found an opportunity here to bring Hindu and
Muslims together for a common goal.

India After Independence

E-1- Analyse the role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the integration of Indian states.
Answer- Following points throw light on the role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the integration of
Indian states:

a) He was given the humongous task of integrating the many princely states and British
provinces after the departure of the British.
b) Before 15 August 1947, Sardar Patel was successful in integrating every state under the Indian
Union, except 3 princely states.
c) Junagadh accepted the integration in India after the plebiscite. Indian troops marching in
Junagadh under Sardar Patel’s order speeded the process.
d) The state of Jammu and Kashmir accepted to be a part of India, to save themselves from the
Pathan invasion.
e) The Nizam of Hyderabad continued to refuse till the very end. Atlast in 1948, Nizam
surrendered when Indian troops marched into Hyderabad.
 Law and Social Justice
D. Answer the following questions briefly.
1. What do the many government schemes and policies aim to achieve?
Answer- Many government schemes and policies aim to achieve equality of opportunity and thus
ensure social justice.

2. What is the basis of the laws that have been discussed in this chapter?
Answer- Many of the laws that are being enacted have their basis in the Fundamental Rights
guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. For instance, the Right against Exploitation says that no one
can be forced to work for low wages or be under bondage. Similarly, the Constitution lays down that
no child below the age of 14 shall be employed to work in any factory or mines or any other
hazardous employment.

3. Why do multinational companies set up business enterprises in India?

Answer- Many multinational companies set up business enterprises in India due to several factors
like
# availability of a large number of cheap labour
# cheaper production costs
# and absence of stringent labour and environment laws.

4. Mention some places where children cannot be employed.

Answer- Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 prohibits employment of children
below the age of 14 years in sectors and factories which are considered hazardous.
Children cannot be employed in-
a) the transport sector which covers passenger, goods or mail railway.
b) They cannot be employed in any catering establishment at a railway station.
c) Children cannot be employed in a fireworks industry or in any industry which deals with
inflammable or explosive substances.
d) They also cannot work in plastic or fibreglass workshops, in automobile workshops and
garages.

5. Why is it important to enforce laws?

Answer- As the law-maker and enforcer, the government is supposed to ensure that safety laws are
implemented. It is also the duty of the government to ensure that the Right to Life guaranteed under
Article 21 of the Constitution is not violated.

E. Answer the following questions in detail.

1. Why is the role of law vital in ensuring social justice in India?
Answer- Social justice is an important element of the Constitution of India. Its role is vital because:-
a) The Preamble along with the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles mandates that
the state should secure a social order for the promotion of people’s welfare.
b) Social justice is founded on the principles of human rights and equality, alongwith the principle
of economic equality.
c) The government wants to ensure that there is justice for all cross sections of society.
d) As with the law on minimum wages, which is meant to protect workers, there are also laws
that protect the interests of producers and consumers in the market. These laws ensure that
the relations are governed in a manner that is not exploitative.
 e) Through making, enforcing and upholding these laws, the government can control the
activities of individuals or private companies so as to ensure social justice.

2. Why is labour easily available in India?

Answer- The reasons are as follows:
a) India has a high rate of population growth as well as unemployment. So labour is very easily
available.
b) It is more in the unorganised sector, where unskilled work is required. The work involved here
is often very risky and the people who hire these labourers are out to just make profit.

3. How can it be said that the Equal Remuneration Act is against gender discrimination?
Answer- The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 came about as a way to remove gender discrimination
in the following ways:
a) This act provides for the payment of equal remuneration to men and women workers.
b) It also provides for ending discrimination against women in the matter of employment.
c) According to the act, the basic wage or salary and any additional emoluments payable, to a
person employed should be paid up in full.

4. What does the Right to Education cover?

Answer-
a) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education aims at providing free and
compulsory education to all Indian children who are in the age group of 6-14 years.
b) According to this act, children falling within this category will have 8 years of elementary
education, near his or her neighbourhood.
c) The act also states that if the parents are not in a position to bear the cost of the child
accessing school, then it will be borne by the State which shall have the responsibility of
enrolling the child as well as ensuring attendance and completion of 8 years of schooling.
d) Under this act, no child can be denied admission for want of documents. No child will be
turned away on account of the admission cycle being over, nor will any admission test be
taken.

5. Why have laws been made for the protection of the environment?
Answer- Laws protecting the environment were made for the following reasons-
a) In 1984, there were very few laws protecting the environment in India, and there was hardly
any enforcement of these laws.
b) The environment was treated as a 'free' entity and any industry could pollute the air and water
without any restriction. Health of people was also disregarded.
c) The Bhopal disaster brought the issue of environment to the forefront. Several thousands of
persons who were not associated with the factory in any way were greatly affected, because
of the poisonous gases that leaked from the plant.
d) This made people realise that the existing laws, though weak, only covered the individual
workers and not persons who might be injured due to industrial accidents.
e) In response to the pressure from environmental activists and others, the Indian government
introduced new laws on the environment.
f) Henceforth, the polluter was to be held accountable for the damage done to the environment.
The environment is something that people over generations will share, and it could not be
destroyed merely for industrial development.