Odisha BSE Madhyama Social Science flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Fundamental Rights

Guaranteed in Part III, Articles 12–35, of the Indian Constitution. They protect citizens against arbitrary state action and are enforceable through writs in the Supreme Court and High Courts.

Directive Principles

Part IV, Articles 36–51, sets social and economic goals for the state. They are not enforceable in courts but guide law-making and are fundamental in governance.

Preamble

Opening statement of the Constitution declaring India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. Words 'socialist' and 'secular' were inserted by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.

42nd Amendment

Passed in 1976 during the Emergency, it added Fundamental Duties, inserted 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble, and is often called the Mini-Constitution for its wide changes.

Rajya Sabha

The Council of States, the upper house of Parliament. Members are elected indirectly by state legislators; the maximum strength is 250, of whom 12 are nominated by the President.

Money Bill

A bill dealing only with taxation, borrowing, or the Consolidated Fund. It can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha, with the President's recommendation, and the Rajya Sabha has 14 days to suggest changes.

73rd Amendment

Enacted in 1992, it gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions, mandating three-tier structures, five-year terms, and reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women.

Odisha formation day

Odisha became a separate province on 1 April 1936, carved out after the movement led by Madhusudan Das and others. The date is observed as Utkal Divas.

Utkal Sammilani

Association founded in 1903 to demand a separate province for Odia-speaking people. It campaigned for the unification of Odia tracts and contributed to the creation of Odisha in 1936.

Kalinga war

Fought around 261 BCE between Emperor Ashoka and Kalinga. The bloodshed led Ashoka to embrace Buddhism and spread Dhamma through rock and pillar edicts.

Hathigumpha inscription

A rock-cut inscription in the Udayagiri caves near Bhubaneswar, recording the reign of King Kharavela of the Mahameghavahana dynasty. It is a key source for early Odisha history.

Mahatma Gandhi

Leader of the Indian freedom struggle who used non-violence and satyagraha. He led the Champaran, Kheda, and Quit India movements and was assassinated in 1948.

Non-Cooperation Movement

Launched by Gandhi in 1920, it urged Indians to boycott British schools, courts, and titles. It was withdrawn in 1922 after the Chauri Chaura violence.

Dandi March

Gandhi's 1930 march to Dandi to make salt in defiance of the salt law. It launched the Civil Disobedience Movement and drew mass participation across India.

Quit India Movement

Started in August 1942 with Gandhi's call for immediate British withdrawal. It was marked by mass protests and the slogan 'Do or Die'.

Latitude

Angular distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees from 0° at the equator to 90° at each pole. One degree of latitude is about 111 km everywhere.

Longitude

Angular distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured from 0° to 180°. Lines of longitude converge at the poles, so the distance between them decreases with latitude.

IST meridian

Indian Standard Time is based on 82°30'E longitude, which passes near Mirzapur. IST is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Tropic of Cancer

Latitude 23°30'N, the northern limit of the sun's overhead passage. It passes through Odisha, and the state lies in the tropical and sub-tropical belt.

Southwest monsoon

Seasonal wind bringing rain from June to September, driven by differential heating of land and sea. It provides most of India's annual rainfall, including Odisha's.

Mahanadi

A major east-flowing river rising in Chhattisgarh and draining into the Bay of Bengal. It is Odisha's lifeline, with the Hirakud Dam built across it.

Chilika Lake

A brackish-water lagoon on the Odisha coast, connected to the Bay of Bengal. It is famous for migratory birds and Irrawaddy dolphins and is a Ramsar site.

Hirakud Dam

Built across the Mahanadi near Sambalpur, it is one of India's longest dams. It controls floods, generates hydropower, and irrigates large areas of Odisha.

Cyclone

A violent tropical storm with low central pressure and spiralling winds. Odisha's long coastline makes it highly vulnerable, as seen in the 1999 super cyclone.

Soil erosion

Loss of topsoil by wind or water. In Odisha it is worsened by deforestation, shifting cultivation, and heavy rainfall on slopes, reducing farm productivity.

Green Revolution

A 1960s strategy using high-yielding seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation to raise food output. It transformed wheat and rice production in India and reduced famine risk.

Primary sector

Economic activities directly using natural resources, such as farming, fishing, and mining. It employs a large share of India's workforce but contributes a smaller share of GDP.

Human Development Index

A composite measure of average achievement in health, education, and income. It ranks countries on life expectancy, schooling, and per capita income.

Census

A periodic count of a country's population, recording size, distribution, and characteristics. India conducts it every ten years; the 2011 Census was the most recent completed round.

Scheduled Castes and Tribes

Groups listed in the Constitution for protective measures. Reservation of seats in legislatures, education, and government jobs aims to correct historical discrimination.

Panchayati Raj

A three-tier system of local self-government at village, block, and district levels. It was given constitutional status by the 73rd Amendment in 1992.

Consumer rights

Legal protections for buyers of goods and services, including safety, information, and redress. India's Consumer Protection Act, 2019, created consumer commissions and rules on misleading ads.