CBSE Important Questions for Class 8 Social Science Understanding Secularism - 2025-26

Refer to Page 1 - 3 for 1 Mark Questions in the PDF

Very Short Answer Questions: 1 Mark

1. Fill in the blanks- 

(i) The state can also support during _______. 

Ans: Interventions - State intervention can also take the form of assistance. Religious communities in India have the right to establish their own schools and colleges under the Indian Constitution. It also provides them with non-preferred cash assistance.

(ii) Secularism regards detachment of religion from the_________. 

Ans: State - The term 'secularism' refers to the separation of religious and state power.

(iii) A country should function_______. 

Ans: Democratically - Democracy is a form of governance in which all adult citizens, directly or through freely chosen representatives, exercise authority and civic responsibility.

(iv) No religious group can rule on India as its ________. India is a country of multiple religions. 

Ans: Discriminative - In spite of certain legal inequities, India will remain secular by law as long as the right to life and the right to equality are not weakened.

2. State true and false. 

(i) After the amendment of Hindu succession act girls can inherit father’s property. 

Ans: True - Daughters have the same title to their father's self-acquired property as sons, according to the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act 2005, if he dies intestate, that is, without a will. All lawful heirs will receive an equal share of the estate.

(ii) The first republic day was celebrated on 26 January 1950. 

Ans: True - The Indian republic and its constitution were formally established on January 26, 1950. In 1965, Hindi was declared the national language of India on this day in history.

(iii) The laws are made and pass in the parliament. 

Ans: True - A Bill is a draught statute that becomes law after both Houses of Parliament pass it and the President signs it. Bills are the vehicles through which all legislative initiatives are presented to Parliament.

(iv) The constitution of India deals equally with its people without any discrimination. 

Ans: True - “The State shall not deny to any individual within the territory of India equality before the law or equal protection of the laws,” according to Article 14 of the constitution. This means that everyone living on Indian soil has the same legal rights as everyone else. That equals will receive equal treatment.

3. Match the following:-

Ans: 

1. Diwali, Holi, Sankranti - Makar Sankranti, Shivratri, Holi, Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, and Diwali are among the most prominent Hindu festivals. They are commemorated in various ways across the country.

2. Eid, Ramdan - Though Muslims celebrate a variety of festivals, Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha are the two most important. Other Muslim holidays and festivals include Muharram, Eid-ul-Zuha, and others.

3. Lohri, Guru Parv - Sikhism, also known as Sikhi, is an Indian Dharmic religion that began at the end of the 15th century CE in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent.

4. Good Friday, Easter, Christmas - Christianity is an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on Jesus of Nazareth's life and teachings. With 2.4 billion adherents, it is the world's largest religion.

4. Choose the correct option 

(i) Protection of women from domestic violence came into force in ______. 

1. 1990 

2. 2006 

3. 2001 

4. 2005 

Ans: (d) 2005 - The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005 was passed by India's Parliament to protect women from domestic violence.

(ii) A bill becomes an act after the assent of _______. 

1. President 

2. Prime Minister 

3. Supreme Court 

4. Speaker 

Ans: (a) President - Article 368 of the Constitution states that the President may not withhold a constitutional amendment bill that has been legally passed by Parliament. If the President signs the bill, it is published in The Gazette of India and becomes an act on the day of the President's signature. The law is dropped if he refuses to sign it, which is known as absolute veto.

5. Define the Following 

(i) Coercion 

Ans: Coercion is a term used to describe the practise of forcing or oppressing somebody to perform something.

(ii) Majority 

Ans: The phrase "majority" refers to the people who make up the majority of a particular demographic.

Refer to Page 4 for 2 Marks Questions in the PDF

Short Answer Questions 2 Marks 

6. What are the different kinds of religious singing that you hear more often? 

Ans: Below is a list of the various sorts of religious music and singing that I hear in my neighbourhood. Bhajans, Gurubani, Kirtan, Mass, and Namaj are some of the terms used to describe Bhajans.

7. Why does a country need laws? 

Ans: A country requires laws for the reasons listed below:-

1. Preventing people from being subjected to unjust social and cultural practises.

2. To promote social equality, as some people in society discriminate against those from lower social classes and castes.

8. What is the most important feature of state? 

Ans: The most significant aspect of state power is secularism. A democratically run country should function.

9. What is a controversial law? 

Ans: The most significant aspect of state power is secularism. A democratically run country should function.

10. How can on criticize the unpopular laws? 

Ans: There are a variety of methods that can be utilised to criticise controversial policies. Social media, newspapers, television, protests, and so on are all examples.

Refer to Page 4-6 for 3 Marks Questions in the PDF

Short Answer Question 3 Marks

11. Define Secularism. 

Ans: People in India have the freedom to follow their religious beliefs and rituals as they see fit under the Indian Constitution. India likewise chose a strategy of splitting the power of religion and the authority of the state, in keeping with the principle of religious freedom for all. The term "secularism" refers to the separation of religion from the state.

12. Why is it necessary that one religious community not dominate over other? Give one example of its violation. 

Ans: It is critical that one religion group does not dominate the others in order to maintain societal harmony. A Christian family living in a predominantly Hindu neighbourhood is not permitted to have prayer meetings at home.

13. How the laws are made by the government? 

Ans: When the government determines that something needs to be implemented inside the country for the benefit of its residents, it creates a law and has it passed by both chambers of parliament. Finally, the President's signature is required for this bill to become an act.

14. Can the states of India intervene in the matters of religious affairs? 

Ans: India's states do not meddle with religious concerns, beliefs, or practises. However, when one religious community infringes on the rights of other religious communities to exercise their religious practises and affairs, and attempts to disrupt societal order, the state steps in.

15. Define Indian Secularism. 

Ans: The following points can help you understand Indian secularism. 

1. In India, one religion does not have a disproportionate influence over other religions.

2. Some religious communities' groups do not dominate another religious community's group.

3. The state ensures the security of all religious countries and does not impose one religion over another.

16. Why should a group of religious community not dominate another group of same religious community? Give an example. 

Ans: A religious community's group should not be able to control another religious community's group. Establishing a sense of equality in society is critical. People from the tribal caste are not permitted to access the shrine grounds.

Refer to Page 6-7 for 5 Marks Questions in the PDF

Long Answer Questions 5 Marks

16. Will the government intervene if it finds out that some religious groups are practising female infanticide in the name of their religion? 

Ans: If a religious group claims that their faith enables them to conduct female infanticide, the government will intervene, as it is the government's responsibility to ensure that there is no gender discrimination and that both female and male children have equal rights to live. As a result, because every kid has the right to live on this planet, the state has the authority to intervene in any religious practise that infringes the Fundamental Rights of the female child.

17. Why is it important that the government not take anyone’s religious freedom? Give any example of its violation. 

Ans: It is critical that the state does not impose any particular religion or limit an individual's religious freedom, as this is a violation of the fundamental right to freedom of religion. The destruction of the Babri Masjid was in direct contravention to Muslims' religious convictions and wounded their feelings. This resulted in a massive bloodbath across India. This is why every administration must strive for religious unity across the board.

18. Why did the laws enforce by the government often confusing? 

Ans: India is a diverse country, with each region having its own set of values and ideals. As a result, the Indian Constitution must make difficult decisions about the extent of influence and control it can use over religions and religious beliefs. As a result, the Constitution contains several ideals. In India, laws explain concepts in a variety of ways, which are perceived by people in a variety of ways. In some instances, India's legal system is obligated to respond differently. For example, the state enables people to practise their religion freely; nevertheless, there are laws against discrimination based on caste or creed, though there is a provision to divide religion into castes. Interference like this causes a lot of problems.

19. Why was the Hindu succession act enacted? 

Ans: Prior to the Hindu succession laws, only the family's son was eligible to inherit his father's property. Many cases of discrimination in families for their parents' land acquisition were brought before the courts. In 2005, the government passed the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act to combat gender inequality. Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs were among those who were subjected to this. The statute made it possible to have a comprehensive system of inheritance and succession that was free of discrimination.

20. Separating religions from the state is necessary, why? Give your views. 

Ans: The most significant aspect of state power is secularism. A democratically run country should function. Almost every country on the planet has multiple religions practising their own cultures and residing there. Within each of these religious groups, there will very certainly be a majority. If the majority religious group gets control of the government, it can readily utilise its position to discriminate against and persecute people of various faiths. Religious minority may face prejudice, oppression, and even death as a result of the majority's oppression. Minorities could easily be denied the right to practise their religion by the majority. Any form of religious dominance is a breach of the rights that a democratic society guarantees to every individual, regardless of their religion.

Important Questions for Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism - Important Topics and Subtopics

Some of the important topics of Class 8 Social and Political Life Chapter 2 are as follows:

• Happenings of Jewish State of Israel

• Meaning of Secularism

• History provides on the ground of religion

• What is the freedom to interpret

• Untouchability

• Treatment of Non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia

• Objectives of Secular State

• Work of Indian State to prevent Religious Domination

These topics are mandatory to be studied by the CBSE Class 8 students as this will help them greatly in understanding chapter 2.

CBSE Class 8 Social Science Social and Political Life Chapter 2 - Understanding Secularism - Extra Practice Questions 

In order to prepare more efficiently for your CBSE Class 8 Social Science exams, you can take up these additional questions which are curated exclusively for your practice:

Solve the Following Questions:

1. What do you mean by ‘secularism’ as per the Indian context?

2. Which act has been banned by the Constitution of India completely?

3. Give the definition of coercion.

4. Name the types of strategies on which Indian secularism works.

5. Who had prosecuted the Jews?

Thus, we have given the important questions and answers to Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism. We also have shared how the salient features of the study material help Class 8 CBSE students in their exams. Moreover, the important topic coverage is also listed down.

Further, the students are required to download the free PDF and use them to their advantage.

Conclusion

Vedantu's Important Questions for CBSE Class 8 Social Science - Social and Political Life Chapter 2 - Understanding Secularism, offers valuable resources to enhance students' understanding of secularism in society. By providing a comprehensive set of questions and explanations, Vedantu empowers learners to delve deeper into the subject matter. The platform's commitment to academic excellence enables students to grasp the significance of secularism in fostering a harmonious and inclusive society. Through interactive learning experiences, Vedantu equips learners with the necessary knowledge and critical thinking skills to navigate the complexities of secularism in a diverse world. By utilizing these resources, students can develop a deeper appreciation for the principles and practices of secularism, contributing to their overall academic growth and social awareness.

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