22 extra multiple-choice questions for Envisioning a New Socio-Economic Order (12th Standard History, Samacheer Kalvi), beyond the ones printed in the textbook — each with the correct option highlighted and a clear, worked explanation. Free to read in English and Tamil.
Q1
What share of India's total Gross Domestic Product did the industry sector account for in 1950?
- A. 13%Correct
- B. 31%
- C. 24%
- D. 6%
Explanation. At Independence the industrial sector was still small: it accounted for only 13% of total GDP in 1950 and could not absorb the surplus labour from agriculture.
Q2
The development strategy of land reforms, public sector heavy industry and Five Year Plans is often called 'Nehruvian Socialism' because Nehru borrowed it from the experience of
- A. the United States
- B. Britain
- C. the Soviet UnionCorrect
- D. Japan
Explanation. These strategies were borrowed from the Soviet experience of rapid economic development. Nehru admired the Soviet Union's success, so the ideology is called Nehruvian Socialism.
Q3
Nearly 80% of India's population depended on agriculture, so that even if many people shifted to other jobs, total farm output would remain the same. This situation is described as
- A. seasonal unemployment
- B. disguised unemploymentCorrect
- C. structural unemployment
- D. educated unemployment
Explanation. The lesson calls it disguised unemployment: the surplus population was not really required to sustain farming, so it was in effect unemployed even while working on the land.
Q4
Match the British land revenue systems with their features.
A. Permanent Settlement - 1. Cultivators paid revenue directly to the government
B. Ryotwari - 2. Village collectively responsible for the revenue
C. Mahalwari - 3. Zamindars responsible for paying the revenue
- A. A-3, B-1, C-2Correct
- B. A-1, B-3, C-2
- C. A-2, B-1, C-3
- D. A-3, B-2, C-1
Explanation. In Bengal and north India the Permanent Settlement made zamindars pay; under ryotwari in south India the ryot paid directly; under mahalwari the village paid collectively.
Q5
Consider the following statements on zamindari abolition.
1. West Bengal, where the Permanent Settlement was first introduced, passed its abolition act only in 1955.
2. Zamindari abolition was completed by 1956.
3. The zamindars received the full compensation amount due to them.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 onlyCorrect
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation. West Bengal passed its act in 1955 and abolition was completed by 1956. Zamindars were actually paid Rs 16,420 lakhs, only about one-fourth of the compensation due, so statement 3 is wrong.
Q6
Assertion (A): After 1972 landowners could keep more land than the ceiling was meant to allow.
Reason (R): After 1972 the ceiling unit was changed from a 'landholder' to a 'family', so each family member could be shown as owning a part of the land.
- A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.Correct
- B. Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
- C. A is true but R is false.
- D. A is false but R is true.
Explanation. Changing the unit to a family let owners claim that each member held a share below the prescribed limit, which is exactly why large holdings escaped the ceiling. R explains A.
Q7
Under the land ceiling laws, about how much land was finally taken over as surplus, and among how many tenants was it distributed?
- A. 62 lakh hectares among 30 lakh tenants
- B. 65 lakh hectares among 55 lakh tenantsCorrect
- C. 55 lakh hectares among 65 lakh tenants
- D. 30 lakh hectares among 62 lakh tenants
Explanation. Only about 65 lakh hectares were taken over as surplus and given to about 55 lakh tenants, a little over 1 hectare each. The 30 lakh/62 lakh figures belong to zamindari abolition.
Q8
After the Green Revolution, India's total rice production rose from 35 million tonnes in 1960-61 to how much in 2011-12?
- A. 94 million tonnes
- B. 104 million tonnesCorrect
- C. 74 million tonnes
- D. 124 million tonnes
Explanation. Rice production rose from 35 million tonnes in 1960-61 to 104 million tonnes in 2011-12, while wheat rose even more impressively, from 11 to 94 million tonnes.
Q9
The surplus food grains bought from farmers by the government were stored in the warehouses of which body and supplied to the people under the Public Distribution System?
- A. Indian Council of Agricultural Research
- B. Food Corporation of IndiaCorrect
- C. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
- D. Planning Commission
Explanation. The government built a large reserve stock by buying surplus grain and storing it in Food Corporation of India (FCI) warehouses; it was then supplied through the PDS for food security.
Q10
Which one of the following was NOT a negative outcome of the Green Revolution mentioned in the lesson?
- A. Wider disparities between well-endowed and less well-endowed regions
- B. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
- C. Environmental problems
- D. A more diversified food basket for all income groupsCorrect
Explanation. Rising milk and egg production diversified the food basket, a positive feature. Regional disparities and excessive chemicals causing environmental problems were the negative outcomes.
Q11
Under the Integrated Rural Development Programme, the subsidy component on the assets provided was highest for which group?
- A. Small farmers
- B. Marginal farmers
- C. Agricultural labourers
- D. Tribal householdsCorrect
Explanation. IRDP subsidies were 25% for small farmers, 33.3% for marginal farmers and agricultural labourers, and 50% for tribal households; banks lent the balance of the asset cost.
Q12
The Integrated Rural Development Programme introduced in 1980 aimed to assist 600 families in each block over five years. In how many blocks was it introduced?
- A. 600
- B. 5011Correct
- C. 1500
- D. 2005
Explanation. IRDP was introduced in all 5011 blocks of the country, with a target of 600 families per block over 1980-1985, reaching a total of 15 million families.
Q13
Which one of the following is NOT a feature of MGNREGA?
- A. It is implemented by the Gram Panchayats.
- B. Work is to be provided within 15 days, or an unemployment allowance is paid.
- C. The work is carried out through contractors to speed up the projects.Correct
- D. One-third of the workers would be women and men and women get the same wage.
Explanation. No contractors are allowed under MGNREGA, so that middlemen cannot cut into wages. Gram Panchayats implement it, work comes within 15 days, and one-third of workers are women.
Q14
Under MGNREGA, the ratio of wages to capital investment in the works should be
- A. 40:60
- B. 50:50
- C. 60:40Correct
- D. 75:25
Explanation. The Act fixes the ratio of wages to capital investment at 60:40, and the work site must be within five kilometres of the applicant's house.
Q15
Under the Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956, the industries that were placed under the monopoly of the state were listed in
- A. Schedule ACorrect
- B. Schedule B
- C. Schedule C
- D. Schedule D
Explanation. The 1956 Resolution, the most definitive policy statement, put Schedule A industries under state monopoly; in Schedule B both state and private units could operate; Schedule C held the rest.
Q16
Consider the following statements on industrial policy.
1. The Policy Statement of 1973 encouraged large industrial houses to start operations in rural and backward areas.
2. The Policy Statement of 1977 was framed by the Janata government to promote rural, village and small scale industries.
3. Bharat Heavy Electricals was first set up in Tiruchirappalli.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 onlyCorrect
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation. The 1973 statement sought to reduce regional imbalances and the short-lived Janata government's 1977 statement promoted small industries. BHEL was first set up in Bhopal, and later in Tiruchirappalli.
Q17
In 2015 the Planning Commission, set up in 1950 to formulate the Five Year Plans, was wound up and replaced by
- A. the Finance Commission
- B. the National Development Council
- C. the NITI AayogCorrect
- D. the Reserve Bank of India
Explanation. Twelve Five Year Plans were made between 1951 and 2017. In 2015 the Planning Commission was wound up and replaced by the NITI Aayog.
Q18
Which Five Year Plan, commonly referred to as the Mahalanobis Plan, stressed the development of heavy industry for economic growth?
- A. First Plan (1951-56)
- B. Second Plan (1956-61)Correct
- C. Fourth Plan (1969-74)
- D. Eighth Plan (1992-97)
Explanation. The Second Plan (1956-61), known as the Mahalanobis Plan, stressed heavy industry; industry's share of plan outlay rose from 6% in the First Plan to about 24%.
Q19
Assertion (A): The First Five Year Plan is said to have focused on developing agriculture.
Reason (R): Agriculture and Irrigation accounted for 31% of the total outlay of the First Plan.
- A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.Correct
- B. Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
- C. A is true but R is false.
- D. A is false but R is true.
Explanation. The First Plan (1951-56) focused on raising agricultural production, which is shown by the 31% share of Agriculture and Irrigation in its outlay; afterwards the share fell to 20-24%.
Q20
India's literacy level rose from 18.3% in 1951 to what level in 2011?
- A. 65%
- B. 74%Correct
- C. 82%
- D. 97%
Explanation. Literacy rose from 18.3% in 1951 to 74% in 2011. Female literacy, at 65%, still lagged behind the male rate of 82%.
Q21
Where was the first Indian Institute of Technology located?
- A. Madras
- B. Bombay
- C. KharagpurCorrect
- D. Kanpur
Explanation. The IITs were set up as centres of excellence in engineering. The first was located in Kharagpur, followed by Delhi, Bombay, Kanpur and Madras (Chennai).
Q22
Match the institutions with their roles.
A. TIFR - 1. Umbrella body for most scientific research institutions
B. CSIR - 2. Nodal agency for nuclear science
C. ICAR - 3. Set up in 1945 on the initiative of Homi J. Bhabha
D. Atomic Energy Commission - 4. Coordinating agency for agricultural research
- A. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2Correct
- B. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
- C. A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
- D. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
Explanation. TIFR was founded in 1945 through Homi J. Bhabha, CSIR is the umbrella for most research institutes, ICAR coordinates agricultural research and the Atomic Energy Commission is the nuclear nodal agency.
