RBSE Class 8 Social Science Important Questions Civics Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 8 Social Science Important Questions Civics Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism Important Questions and Answers.

RBSE Class 8 Social Science Important Questions Civics Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1. 
Hitler committed atrocities in Germany on
(a) Jews 
(b) Muslims
(c) Hindus 
(d) Christians 
Answer:
(a) Jews 

Question 2. 
Which country had a shortage of workers in the 1960s?
(a) India 
(b) France
(c) America 
(d) Israel 
Answer:
(b) France

Question 3. 
Where in schools do children take the first ‘oath of loyalty in the morning?
(a) China 
(b) India
(c) Pakistan
(d) the United States of America 
Answer:
(d) the United States of America 

Question 4. 
The method of Indian Secularism is
(a) keeping the state away from religion.
(b) adopting the policy of non-interference.
(c) interfering in religion.
(d) all of the above. 
Answer:
(d) all of the above.

Question 5. 
In India, the example of the state distancing itself from religion is
(a) not supporting any religion by the state.
(b) to make laws to stop untouchability.
(c) to interfere in religious personal laws for an equal share in the property of the parents.
(d) None of these.
Answer:
(a) not to support any religion by the state.

Question 6. 
In which country was a law passed in 2004 banning students from wearing any conspicuous religious or political sign or symbols such as the Islamic headscarf, Jewish skullcap, or Christian cross?
(a) China 
(b) England
(c) France 
(d) India 
Answer:
(c) France

Fill in the blanks

Question 1.
...............killed several millions of people in Germany only on the basis of religion.
Answer:
Hitler

Question 2
...............refers to the separation of religion from the state.
Answer:
Secularism

Question3.
The Indian constitution grants the right to.................... to set up their own school or colleges. 
Answer:
religious communities

Question 4.
In the United States of America, oaths taken in schools include the word ...............
Answer:
‘Under God’
 
Question 5.
In Indian secularism, the state maintains a................distance from religion.
Answer:
principled

State True or False

Question 1. 
In Saudi Arabia, non-Muslims are not allowed to build temples and churches.
Answer:
True

Question 2. 
In India, religious festivals are celebrated in government schools.
Answer:
False
 
Question 3. 
On the basis of ideals laid down in the constitution, the .state cannot interfere in matters of any religion.
Answer:
False 

 
Question 4. 
The Indian constitution assures its citizens of fundamental rights.
Answer:
True

Question 5. 
To prevent religious supremacy, there is a third way of Indian secularism - intervention.
Answer:
True

Match Correctly

(a)	(b)
Atrocities on Jews	Saudi Arabia
Muslim and Christian minorities are treated badly	India
Non-Muslims are not  allowed to build temples and church	Israel
Sikhs are exempted from wearing helmets	United States of  America
Pledge of Allegiance in schools	Germany

Answer:

(a)	(b)
Atrocities on Jews	Germany
Muslim and Christian minorities are treated badly	Israel
Non-Muslims are not  allowed to build temples and church	Saudi Arabia
Sikhs are exempted from wearing helmets	India
‘Pledge of Allegiance in schools	United States of  America

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
When do incidents of discrimination, exclusion, and persecution with minor communities increases more?
Answer: 
Such incidents of discrimination, exclusion, and persecution are further aggravated when the state gives authoritative recognition to one religion in place of other religions.

Question 2. 
What is secularism?
Answer: 
The concept of keeping religion separate from the state is called secularism.

Question 3. 
What is the basic principle of secularism? 
Answer: 
The basic principle of secularism is that any kind of domination related to religion should end.

Question 4. 
In India, does the rule of not conducting any religious programs apply in private schools?
Answer: 
No, the rule of not conducting any religious programs does not apply in private schools in India.

Question 5. 
Explain the policy of Indian secularism. 
Answer: 
In India, the state keeps itself away from religion and adopts a policy of non-interference in religious matters.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
Explain the understanding of secularism.
Answer: 
Understanding of secularism:
“Understanding of secularism means that no one should be discriminated against on the grounds of their religious practices and beliefs. All forms of domination related to religion should end. Members of one religious community either persecute or discriminate against members of other religious communities. These acts of discrimination take place more easily when one religion is given official recognition by the state at the expense of other religions. Therefore, ’the first requirement for secularism is to keep religion separate from State power.

Question 2. 
Why is it important to keep religion separate from the state?
Answer: 
The most important aspect of secularism is the separation of religion from the state. This is very necessary for a democratic country. As

1. The tyranny of the majority and the violation of Fundamental Rights can result in one reason why it is important to separate the state and religion in democratic societies.
2.  Another reason that it is important to separate religion from the state in democratic societies is that we also need to protect the freedom of individuals to exit from their religion, embrace another religion or have the freedom to interpret religious teachings differently.

Question 3. 
What is Indian secularism?
Answer: 
The Indian Constitution mandates that the Indian State be secular. According to the Constitution, only a secular State can realize its objectives to ensure the following :

1. that one religious community does not dominate another;
2. that some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community;
3. that the State does not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals.

Question 4. 
What is the main difference between Indian secularism and secularism practiced in the United States of America?
Answer: 
There is one significant way in which Indian secularism differs from the dominant understanding of secularism as practiced in the United States of America. This is because unlike the strict separation between religion and the State in American secularism, in Indian secularism the state can intervene in religious affairs. For example, the Indian constitution intervened in Hindu religious practices in order to abolish untouchability.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
What does the Indian state do to stop religious domination?
Answer: 
The Indian state works in various ways to prevent or stop religious domination
(i) Distancing from religion:
The Indian states use a strategy of distancing themselves from religion. The Indian state is not ruled by a religious group and nor does it support any one religion. In India, government spaces like law courts, police stations, government schools, and offices are not supposed to display or promote any one religion.

(ii) Strategy of non-interference:
This means that in order to respect the sentiments of all religions and not interfere with religious practices, the state makes certain exceptions for particular religious communities. For example, the Indian state recognizes that wearing a pagri (turban) is central to a Sikh’s religious practice and in order not to interfere with this, allows an exception in the law.

(iii) Strategy of intervention:
The third way in which Indian secularism works to prevent domination is through a strategy of intervention. The state can intervene in religious matters to prevent infringement of Fundamental Rights as these Fundamental Rights are based on the principles of secularism. The intervention of the state can also be in the form of support. For example, to provide limited financial support to schools and colleges of religious communities.