ICSE Question Bank

ICSE Guess > ICSE Papers > Question Bank > Class X > 1996 > History

General Instructins

1. Attempt all questions from Part I (Compulsory). A total of five questions are to be attempted from Part II, one from Section A, one from Section B, one from Section C, and D one
2. other question from any of the Section A, B, C and D.
3. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets.

PART I
Attempt all questions from this Part.
Civics

Question 1

(a) Mention any two discretionary powers of the Governor of a State. [1]

(b) When can an ordinance be issued by the Governor? Why is an ordinance issued by the Governor regarded as a temporary measure, though it has the same force as an Act of the State Legislature? [2]

(c) What is meant by "collective responsibility" of the Council of Ministers? [1]

(d) Who appoints the Chief Minister of a State? [1]

(e) Mention one of the administrative function of a High Court. [1]

(f) Which is the highest court of justice for criminal cases at the district level? [1]

(g) Who is the Head of a Municipal Corporation? What is his normal term of office? [2]

(h) Name the three tiers of Panchayati Raj. [1]

India's Struggle for Freedom and National Movement

Question 2

(a) Which is called India's First War of Independence? [1]

(b) When and where was the First Session of the Indian National Congress held? [1]

(c) Who founded the 'Servants of Indian Society'? [1]

(d) Who was known as "India's unofficial ambassador in England"? [1]

(e) Who said 'Swaraj is my birthright'? [1]

(f) State two of the objectives of the Muslim League. [1]

(g) Why did Gandhiji suspend the Non-Cooperation Movement? [1]

(h) Who was the British General, responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre? [1]

(i) State any two reasons to justify why the Congress accepted the Mountbatten Plan. [1]

(j) What does the Indian Independence Act, 1947 state about the, Indian Princely States? [1]

World Development Since 1945

Question 3

(a) Who was the person who used the term 'Cold War' for the first time? [1]

(b) State any two principles of the Panch Sheel. [1]

(c) When and where was the first summit of non-aligned countries held? [1]

(d) Define the term 'Disarmament' [1]

(e) Give one example to show that Pandit Nehru worked for world peace through Non-Aligned Movement. [1]

(f) Give two reasons for the need to reduce nuclear weapons. [1]

(g) When and where was the EEC founded? [1]

(h) What is the chief diplomatic officer in a member-country in the Commonwealth called? [1]

(i) Give two of the objectives of OPEC. [1]

(j) Which countries are the members of SAARC? [1]

PART II
A total of five questions are to be attempted from this Part.

Section - A
Civics

Question 4
State the powers of the Governor with reference to the following:

(a) Executive Powers: [5]

(b) Legislative Powers: [5]

Question 5
The Constitution of India provides that there shall be a High Court in each State. With reference to the jurisdiction of High Courts, write short notes on the following:

(a) Power to Issue Writs. [3]

(b) Power of Superintendence. [3]

(c) Court of Record. [4]

Question 6
Local Self-Government is the first nursery for the growth of a representative and democratic government. With reference to this, explain the following:

(a) Which are the local self-governing bodies at the urban level in India? [2]

(b) What are the major functions of a Municipal Corporation? What are its sources of income? [8]

Section - B
India's Struggle for Freedom

Question 7
There are many causes that led to the uprising of 1857, but two activities of the British, given below, were largely responsible for it. Explain in this context:

(a) The Doctrine of Lapse and the Policy of Annexation. [5]

(b) The Economic Exploitation of India by the British. [5]

Question 8
'After 1858, various factors led to the rise of Indian Nationalism'. In this context describe the impact of the following:

(a) Press and Literature. [5]

(b) Socio-Religious Reform Movements of the 19th Century. [5]

Question 9
In pursuance to the British policy of 'Divide and Rule' the British encouraged the formation of the Muslim League, In this context, explain:

(a) Any two events that led to the formation of the Muslim League. [5]

(b) The objectives of the Muslim League. [5]

Question 10
Gandhiji was a guiding farce during India's struggle for freedom. In the light of this statement, explain:

(a) Gandhiji and the Mass Movement. [5]

(b) Gandhiji's views on 'Satyagraha' and 'Swadeshi'. [5]

Question 11
The Quit India Movement in 1942 was the last nail in the coffin of the British Empire in India. In the light of this statement describe:

(a) The reasons for launching of the Quit India Movement; [3]

(b) The spread of the Movement; [3]

(c) The reaction of the British Government. [4]

Question 12
The Cabinet Mission Proposals were an attempt by the British to satisfy the Congress and the League, but in reality they could not please either. In this context, state briefly:

(a) The reasons for the earlier refusal and later acceptance by the Congress to participate in the Interim Government. [3]

(b) The reasons for the League's acceptance and then rejection of the Cabinet Mission Proposals. [3]

(c) The reaction of the Sikhs and of the Scheduled Castes to the Cabinet Mission Proposals. [4]

Section - C
World Development Since 1945

Question 13
Cold War has damaged the world more to day than world had suffered during the Second World War. In the light of this observation, explain:

(a) The origin of the Cold War in the Truman Doctrine. [5]

(b) The meaning and the impact of the Cold War. [5]

Question 14
The Atomic Energy Commission set up by the United Nations in 1946, recommends utilization of the atomic or nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In this context, state how nuclear energy could be used for peaceful purposes in the following areas:

(a) Industries; [3]

(b) Medicines; [3]

(c) Agriculture and Development Projects. [4]

Question 15
With reference to the Association of South East Asian Nations, answer the following questions:

(a) What are the factors that led to the formation of ASEAN? [5]

(b) State any five of the objectives of ASEAN. [5]