NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science (Civics – Social and Political Life – III)
The NCERT Solutions in English Language for Class 8 Social Science (Civics – Social and Political Life – III) Chapter – 2 (Understanding Secularism) has been provided here to help the students in solving the questions from this exercise.
Civics (Social and Political Life – III)
- Chapter – 1 — The Indian Constitution
- Chapter – 3 — Why Do We Need A Parliament?
- Chapter – 4 — Understanding Laws
- Chapter – 5 — Judiciary
- Chapter – 6 — Understanding Our Criminal Justice System
- Chapter – 7 — Understanding Marginalisation
- Chapter – 8 — Confronting Marginalisation
- Chapter – 9 — Public Facilities
- Chapter – 10 — Law and Social Justice
Chapter – 2 (Understanding Secularism)
1. List the different types of religious practices that you find in your neighbourhood. This could be different forms of prayer, worship of different gods, sacred sites, different kinds of religious music and singing, etc. Does this indicate freedom of religious practice?
Answer –
| Religion | Different forms of prayer | Worship of different Gods | Sacred sites |
Different kinds of religious music & singing |
| Hindu | Pooja, Meditation |
Krishna, Ram, Shiva, Vishnu, etc | Haridwar, Pryag | Bhajan, Kirtan |
| Muslim | Namaj | Allah | Mecca, Madina, Ajmer | Qawwali, Ajan |
| Sikh | Ardas, Matha tek | Guru Nanak | Golden Temple Amritsar, Hemkunt Sahib | Shabad kirtan |
| Christian | Prayer, Meditation | Jesus, Mother Mary | Jerusalem, Rome | Holy song, Hymns Carols |
2. Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practise infanticide? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer – The government will definitely intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practice in infanticide, Ample reasons can be given in support of the answer: No religion teaches us to kill any living being. Kindness is the root of all religions. Even the law of our country also declares that killing a human being is illegal. It is also against human rights.
3. Complete the following table.
| Objective | Why is it important | Example of a violation of this objective |
| One religious community does not dominate another | ||
| The state does not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals | ||
| That some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community |
Answer –
| Objective | Why is it important | Example of a violation of this objective |
| One religious community does not dominate another | To maintain Harmony. To avoid discrimination. |
In Hindu schools, in the case of admission of Muslim children, there is more resistance. |
| The state does not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals | Because we are citizens of a secular state, where all religions are equal in the eyes of laws. | Religious festivals are celebrated in private schools. Demolition of temples in Kashmir Valley. |
| That some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community | Allow freedom in equal measure. | In many circumstances in Hinduism, the lower Hindu caste is being dominated by upper-caste Hindu till today. |
4. Look up the annual calendar of holidays of your school. How many of them pertain to different religions? What does this indicate?
Answer – Many holidays on a school’s calendar pertain to different religions. This indicates that India is a secular country where religious freedom is granted to its citizens and all religions are equally respected.
5. Find out some examples of different views within the same religion.
Answer – Some examples of different views within the same religion are as follows:
| Religion | Different views |
| Hindu | Arya Samaj, Sanatan Dharm, etc. |
| Jainism | Shwetamber, Digambar |
| Buddhist | Mahayan, Hinyan |
| Sikh | Sant Nirankari, Khalsa, Radhaswami |
| Muslims | Shiya, Sunni, Ahmadia, Vora, etc. |
| Christian | Roman Catholic, Luthern Church, Orthodox, Protestant |
6. The Indian State both keeps away from religion as well as intervenes in religion. This idea can be quite confusing. Discuss this once again in class using examples from the chapter as well as those that you might have come up with.
Answer – Indian State keeps away from religion because if the major religious group has access to State power then it could be easily applicable the power and financial resources against the persons of other religions. The majority could quite easily prevent minorities from practicing their religions.
