Practice Questions and Answers: Understanding Marginalisation Class 8 Political Science
FAQs on Understanding Marginalisation Worksheet for CBSE Class 8 Political Science (2025-26)
1. What is meant by the term 'marginalisation' as per the CBSE Class 8 syllabus? For a 2-mark question, what key points should be included?
Marginalisation is the process where a group or community is pushed to the fringe of society and is denied access to resources and opportunities available to the mainstream population. For a 2-mark answer, you should mention that it involves being treated as less important and feeling a sense of disadvantage and powerlessness. An example like Adivasi or minority communities being sidelined would strengthen the answer.
2. What are the most important reasons for the marginalisation of Adivasi communities in India? (3 marks)
According to the Class 8 Political Science curriculum for the 2025-26 session, the key reasons for Adivasi marginalisation are:
- Displacement: Large-scale development projects like dams and mining have forced Adivasis from their traditional forest lands, which are central to their economic and cultural existence.
- Stereotyping: They are often wrongly portrayed as 'exotic', 'primitive', and 'backward', which leads to social discrimination and a lack of integration with mainstream society.
- Loss of Livelihood: Once displaced from forests, they lose access to their primary sources of food, income, and traditional occupations, forcing them into low-wage labour in urban areas.
3. How are minorities defined in the Indian context, and how can they experience marginalisation?
In the Indian context, 'minority' refers to communities that are numerically smaller in relation to the rest of the population. This can be based on religion or language. They can experience marginalisation when the culture, practices, and political influence of the majority community dominate social and political life, potentially leading to the minority group being disadvantaged or excluded from decision-making processes and equal access to opportunities.
4. Explain the social and economic consequences of marginalisation for a community. What would be the key points for a 5-mark question?
For a 5-mark important question, you should detail the interconnected social and economic consequences of marginalisation:
- Social Consequences:
- Social Exclusion: Marginalised groups are often excluded from the social life of the majority, leading to ghettoisation and a lack of social mixing.
- Discrimination: They face prejudice and discrimination in accessing housing, education, and even public spaces.
- Loss of Culture: Constant pressure from the mainstream can lead to the erosion of their unique languages, traditions, and cultural practices.
- Economic Consequences:
- Poverty: Lack of access to resources like land, credit, and education traps them in a cycle of poverty.
- Powerlessness: Economic disadvantage results in a lack of political voice, making it difficult for them to influence policies that affect their lives.
5. What role does stereotyping play in making certain groups feel marginalised?
Stereotyping plays a crucial role by creating a fixed, often negative, image of a particular group in the minds of the majority. When we stereotype a community, for example, by labelling all members as 'primitive' or 'backward', it justifies prejudice and discrimination against them. This prevents people from seeing them as individuals with diverse skills and qualities, leading to their exclusion from jobs, social circles, and opportunities, thus reinforcing their marginalisation.
6. Why is the loss of forest lands more than just an economic loss for Adivasi communities?
The loss of forest lands is more than an economic loss for Adivasis because their relationship with the forest is deeply intertwined with their identity, culture, and spirituality. The forests are not just a source of food and income; they are their traditional homeland, the abode of their ancestors and spirits, and the source of their medicinal knowledge. Losing this land means losing their way of life, their cultural heritage, and their very sense of belonging, which is a far greater loss than just the economic value of the land.
7. How does the experience of marginalisation conflict with the idea of 'Fundamental Rights' guaranteed to every Indian citizen?
The experience of marginalisation directly conflicts with several Fundamental Rights. For instance:
- Article 15 (Prohibition of Discrimination): Marginalisation is often rooted in discrimination based on religion, race, caste, or place of birth, which this article prohibits.
- Article 14 (Equality before Law): Marginalised groups often lack equal access to justice and are treated unequally, violating the principle of equality.
- Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty): For communities like Adivasis, displacement from their lands and livelihoods threatens their very right to a dignified life.
Essentially, marginalisation creates a reality where a citizen cannot fully enjoy the rights that the Constitution promises them.
8. Why can a community that is a majority in one region be considered a marginalised minority in another?
This happens because the concept of 'minority' is relative to a specific context, usually at the national level. A community may form a majority in a particular state (e.g., speakers of a regional language) but be considered a linguistic minority when viewed against the entire country. They might face marginalisation at the national level if their language, culture, or concerns are not adequately represented in national policies, media, or economic opportunities, despite being a majority in their own region.
