I85PREP
⌘ K
Odisha BSE Madhyama Social Science study materials
Odisha BSE Madhyama Social Science study resources

Odisha BSE Madhyama Social Science practice questions

One question at a time. Build your Odisha BSE Madhyama Social Science understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Social Science

Which latitude passes through the middle of Odisha and is also called the Tropic of Cancer?

  1. 66°30′ N
  2. 82°30′ E
  3. 23°30′ N Correct answer.
  4. 0° latitude

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer lies at 23°30′ north latitude and crosses the state of Odisha roughly through its middle. It marks the northern limit of the region where the sun can be directly overhead. The other values describe the Arctic Circle, the Equator, and a line of longitude rather than this latitude.

Question 2Social Science

The Eastern Ghats in Odisha are locally known by which name?

  1. Garhjat hills Correct answer.
  2. Aravalli range
  3. Vindhya range
  4. Malwa plateau

Explanation

The hill tracts of the Eastern Ghats within Odisha are called the Garhjat hills, a name linked to the many erstwhile princely garhs of the region. These hills run in a broken belt from the north-west towards the south. The Aravalli, Malwa and Vindhya features belong to western and central India.

Question 3Social Science

Which river forms the famous delta region of coastal Odisha before draining into the Bay of Bengal?

  1. Godavari
  2. Mahanadi Correct answer.
  3. Narmada
  4. Tapti

Explanation

The Mahanadi rises in the Chhattisgarh highlands and builds a large delta in coastal Odisha before entering the Bay of Bengal. Its distributaries support dense agriculture in districts such as Cuttack and Kendrapara. The Godavari delta lies mainly in Andhra Pradesh, while the Narmada and Tapti flow west into the Arabian Sea.

Question 4Social Science

Which soil type covers much of the coastal plains of Odisha and supports paddy cultivation?

  1. Laterite soil
  2. Black cotton soil
  3. Alluvial soil Correct answer.
  4. Desert soil

Explanation

Alluvial soil is deposited by rivers and is found across the coastal plains of Odisha, where it supports rice cultivation. It is generally fertile and rich in potash and lime but may be deficient in nitrogen. Black cotton soil belongs to the Deccan trap region, laterite develops on leached uplands, and desert soil occurs in arid Rajasthan.

Question 5Social Science

The Odisha Legislative Assembly currently has how many elected members?

  1. 120
  2. 162
  3. 147 Correct answer.
  4. 90

Explanation

The Odisha Legislative Assembly, known as the Vidhan Sabha, has 147 elected members representing single-member constituencies. The state is divided into these constituencies for assembly elections held every five years. The other numbers do not match the current strength of the House.

Question 6Social Science

In the Indian federal system, which level of government is responsible for subjects such as police and public health in Odisha?

  1. The Union government alone
  2. Only the district collector
  3. The state government Correct answer.
  4. Only the Panchayati Raj institutions

Explanation

Police and public health appear in the State List of the Seventh Schedule, so the state government legislates and administers them. The Union List covers subjects such as defence and currency. Panchayats and collectors implement policies but do not hold the constitutional power to legislate on State List subjects.

Question 7Social Science

Which of these is an example of a primary sector activity in the Odisha economy?

  1. Banking services
  2. Paddy cultivation Correct answer.
  3. Rice milling
  4. Software development

Explanation

Primary activities directly use natural resources, and paddy cultivation is a classic example because it draws on land, water and soil. Banking and software belong to the tertiary or service sector. Rice milling is a manufacturing process and therefore falls in the secondary sector.

Question 8Social Science

Which of the following is a literary source useful for studying the history of ancient Kalinga?

  1. Fossil remains at a site
  2. Hathigumpha inscription
  3. Rock edicts of Ashoka
  4. Arthashastra of Kautilya Correct answer.

Explanation

The Arthashastra is a written treatise on statecraft and economy, so it counts as a literary source. Inscriptions such as the Hathigumpha record and Ashokan edicts are epigraphic sources carved on stone. Fossils are archaeological or material remains rather than texts.

Question 9Social Science

A student compares rainfall data for coastal and interior districts of Odisha. Which conclusion best follows from the monsoon pattern of the state?

  1. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year across the state.
  2. Coastal districts receive most rain from the south-west monsoon between June and September. Correct answer.
  3. Coastal districts receive most rain from winter western disturbances.
  4. Interior districts receive most rain in December from retreating winds.

Explanation

Odisha lies in the path of the south-west monsoon, which brings the bulk of annual rainfall between June and September, and coastal districts benefit strongly from it. Winter rainfall from western disturbances is small and mainly affects northern India. Rainfall is highly seasonal, not evenly spread through the year.

Question 10Social Science

Why do the rivers of Odisha's coastal plain often cause floods during the monsoon?

  1. Their lower courses are gentle and silted, so discharge exceeds channel capacity. Correct answer.
  2. They carry little sediment and cut narrow valleys.
  3. They flow through deep gorges with steep gradients.
  4. They remain dry for most of the year and overflow suddenly.

Explanation

In the coastal plain the gradient becomes very gentle, channels carry heavy silt loads and the delta distributaries drain slowly. When monsoon discharge rises sharply, the rivers spill over their banks. Steep gorges and narrow valleys describe upland courses, not the flood-prone lower plain.

Question 11Social Science

Which statement correctly distinguishes a notified tribe from other social groups for constitutional benefits in Odisha?

  1. Scheduled Tribe status is determined by the constitutional list notified for the state. Correct answer.
  2. Scheduled Tribe status is granted by the district collector on request.
  3. Any person living in a forest area is treated as a Scheduled Tribe.
  4. Scheduled Tribe status depends on the language a family speaks at home.

Explanation

Article 342 empowers the President to notify the list of Scheduled Tribes for each state, and only communities on that list receive the associated benefits. Residence in a forest, language or administrative discretion does not by itself confer the status. This legal definition is why the list is state-specific.

Question 12Social Science

Which feature best explains why iron and steel industries developed in the Sundargarh region of Odisha?

  1. Abundant marine fisheries along the coast
  2. Proximity to iron ore, coal and water supply Correct answer.
  3. A cold dry climate suited to steel making
  4. Large oil reserves in the district

Explanation

Heavy industry locates near bulky raw materials to reduce transport costs, and Sundargarh has iron ore, coal and water within reach. The region also has rail links that help move finished steel. Fisheries, climate and oil reserves are not the locational factors behind steel plants there.

Question 13Social Science

Which of these best illustrates the working of decentralised democracy in an Odisha village?

  1. The Gram Sabha approving a list of local works Correct answer.
  2. The High Court hearing a writ petition
  3. The state assembly passing the annual budget
  4. The Reserve Bank fixing the interest rate

Explanation

The Gram Sabha is the assembly of all adult villagers and is the foundation of Panchayati Raj, so approving local works there is a direct example of decentralised democracy. The assembly budget, court hearings and monetary policy are functions of higher or separate institutions. Decentralisation means decisions taken at the local level by local people.

Question 14Social Science

A farmer in western Odisha grows a single cash crop and borrows at high interest each season. Which change would most reduce this vulnerability?

  1. Diversifying crops and using institutional credit Correct answer.
  2. Borrowing more from informal moneylenders
  3. Growing only the same crop on a larger area
  4. Selling the entire harvest immediately after harvest

Explanation

Crop diversification spreads risk across different yields and prices, while institutional credit such as cooperative or bank loans costs less than moneylender interest. Together they reduce the chance of distress. Expanding a single crop deepens risk, and informal borrowing raises the debt burden.

Question 15Social Science

Which body conducts elections to the Odisha Legislative Assembly?

  1. The Planning Commission
  2. The Finance Commission
  3. The Election Commission of India Correct answer.
  4. The NITI Aayog

Explanation

The Election Commission of India is the constitutional authority that supervises, directs and controls elections to Parliament, state legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President. The Planning Commission was replaced by NITI Aayog and had no electoral role. Finance Commissions deal with tax devolution.

Question 16Social Science

Which of these is the correct sequence of the three tiers of the Panchayati Raj system in Odisha?

  1. Gram Panchayat, Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti
  2. Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad, Gram Panchayat
  3. Zilla Parishad, Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti
  4. Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad Correct answer.

Explanation

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment established a three-tier structure that rises from the village to the block and then the district. The Gram Panchayat is at the base, the Panchayat Samiti at the intermediate block level, and the Zilla Parishad at the district level. The other sequences place the tiers in the wrong order.

Question 17Social Science

Which statement about the contribution of the secondary sector to Odisha's economy is most accurate?

  1. It covers manufacturing that processes raw materials into goods. Correct answer.
  2. It consists mainly of transport and trade services.
  3. It includes mining of raw ore directly from the ground.
  4. It refers only to government administration.

Explanation

The secondary sector converts raw materials into manufactured goods, as in steel plants, cement works and rice mills. Mining of ore belongs to the primary sector because it extracts a natural resource. Transport, trade and administration are service activities of the tertiary sector.

Question 18Social Science

Under the Indian Constitution, which fundamental right is available only to citizens and not to foreigners?

  1. Right against exploitation of children
  2. Right to freedom of speech and expression Correct answer.
  3. Right to life and personal liberty
  4. Right to equality before the law

Explanation

Article 19 freedoms, including speech and expression, are available only to citizens. Equality before the law under Article 14, life and liberty under Article 21, and the Article 23 and 24 protections against exploitation apply to all persons. This distinction is a common point of constitutional analysis.

Question 19Social Science

Which pair correctly matches an Odisha dynasty with its best-known ruler?

  1. Sunga dynasty - Harshavardhana
  2. Ganga dynasty - Anantavarman Chodaganga Correct answer.
  3. Gupta dynasty - Ashoka
  4. Maurya dynasty - Kharavela

Explanation

Anantavarman Chodaganga belonged to the Ganga dynasty and is associated with major temple building in Odisha. Kharavela was a Mahameghavahana ruler of Kalinga, not a Maurya. Ashoka was a Maurya emperor, and Harshavardhana ruled in northern India under the Pushyabhuti line.

Question 20Social Science

Which reasoning best explains why Odisha is vulnerable to tropical cyclones between October and December?

  1. Snowfall in the Eastern Ghats cools the coastal air.
  2. The Himalayan ranges deflect monsoon winds towards the coast.
  3. Cold continental air moves south and creates low pressure over the sea.
  4. Warm sea surface temperatures over the Bay of Bengal feed low-pressure systems. Correct answer.

Explanation

Cyclones draw energy from warm, moist air over the sea, and the Bay of Bengal remains warm after the south-west monsoon, so low-pressure systems intensify and move towards the coast. Odisha's long coastline lies in their path. Cold continental air and Himalayan deflection do not create these post-monsoon storms.

Question 21Social Science

Read the situation: a village panchayat wants to build a check dam to recharge groundwater. Which combination of resources would it most likely use?

  1. Only the district collector's personal funds
  2. Only foreign aid and private donations
  3. Funds from its own revenue and a state rural development scheme Correct answer.
  4. Only fines collected from villagers

Explanation

Panchayats combine their own revenue with state and central schemes such as rural employment or watershed programmes to take up local works. These funds are tied to approved plans and social audit. Foreign aid, personal funds of officials and fines alone cannot finance such works.

Question 22Social Science

Which analysis of the Odisha coast's physical setting best explains the state's repeated flood and cyclone damage?

  1. High mountain ranges along the coast block storm surges.
  2. A long deltaic coastline, low relief and many distributaries concentrate floodwater. Correct answer.
  3. An inland location far from the sea protects the state.
  4. A short, rocky coastline with no rivers reduces flood risk.

Explanation

Odisha has a long low-lying deltaic coast with numerous distributaries and heavy monsoon discharge, so floodwater spreads widely and storm surges travel far inland. The gentle relief offers little natural barrier. A rocky inland setting would reduce exposure, which is the opposite of the state's geography.

Question 23Social Science

A historian compares the Hathigumpha inscription with Ashokan rock edicts to reconstruct early Kalinga history. Which limitation must be kept in mind?

  1. Inscriptions were written by foreign travellers alone.
  2. Inscriptions describe only the climate of the region.
  3. Inscriptions record only the king's viewpoint and may exaggerate achievements. Correct answer.
  4. Inscriptions are modern forgeries with no historical value.

Explanation

Royal inscriptions are commissioned texts that present the ruler's own account, so they may praise achievements and omit failures. Historians therefore cross-check them with other inscriptions, coins, texts and archaeology. Dismissing inscriptions as forgeries or as mere climate records ignores their genuine value as evidence.

Question 24Social Science

Which comparison of the roles of the Governor and the Chief Minister of Odisha is correct?

  1. The Chief Minister is appointed by the President for a fixed term.
  2. The Governor is the elected head of the state government.
  3. The Chief Minister is appointed by the Chief Justice of the High Court.
  4. The Governor is the constitutional head, while the Chief Minister heads the elected government. Correct answer.

Explanation

The Governor is appointed by the President as the constitutional head of the state, while the Chief Minister leads the party or coalition with a majority in the assembly and heads the real executive. The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor, not by the President or the Chief Justice. The Governor is not elected by the people.

Question 25Social Science

A district in Odisha has rich iron ore but few manufacturing units and high unemployment. Which policy approach best uses this resource for local development?

  1. Rely only on agriculture and ignore mineral resources
  2. Set up value-adding industries and skill training locally Correct answer.
  3. Ban all mining activity permanently
  4. Export all ore and import finished steel

Explanation

Value addition through local processing creates jobs and higher returns than exporting raw ore, while skill training connects residents to those jobs. Exporting ore and importing finished goods keeps the higher value abroad. A permanent mining ban or ignoring minerals forgoes the resource base entirely.

Question 26Social Science

Which soil type covers most of the coastal plains of Odisha and supports paddy cultivation?

  1. Black cotton soil
  2. Desert sandy soil
  3. Laterite soil
  4. Alluvial soil Correct answer.

Explanation

Alluvial soil is deposited by rivers such as the Mahanadi, Brahmani and Baitarani across the coastal plains, and its fertility and water retention make it the main soil for paddy. Black cotton soil belongs to the Deccan lava region, laterite forms on high-rainfall uplands, and desert soil does not occur in Odisha.

Question 27Social Science

The Mahanadi river enters the Bay of Bengal after branching into distributaries. What is the name of its delta region in Odisha?

  1. The Konkan plain near Mumbai
  2. The Sundarbans of the Ganga delta
  3. The Narmada valley near Bharuch
  4. The Mahanadi delta near Paradeep and False Point Correct answer.

Explanation

The Mahanadi builds a large delta in coastal Odisha, reaching the sea near False Point and the port area of Paradeep. The Konkan plain, Sundarbans and Narmada valley are associated with other rivers and states, so they cannot describe the Mahanadi's mouth.

Question 28Social Science

Which festival of coastal Odisha is dedicated to the worship of Lord Jagannath and involves the ceremonial pulling of chariots?

  1. Makar Sankranti
  2. Rath Yatra Correct answer.
  3. Bali Jatra
  4. Nuakhai

Explanation

Rath Yatra at Puri is the chariot festival of Jagannath, in which the deities are drawn on huge wooden chariots by devotees. Bali Jatra commemorates ancient maritime trade, Nuakhai is an agricultural harvest festival of western Odisha, and Makar Sankranti is a solar festival observed across India.

Question 29Social Science

Which language is recognised as the official language of Odisha and is written in the Odia script?

  1. Santali
  2. Odia Correct answer.
  3. Bengali
  4. Telugu

Explanation

Odia is the official language of Odisha and is written in its own script; it received classical language status from the Government of India. Bengali, Telugu and Santali are spoken by communities in and around Odisha but are not the state's official language.

Question 30Social Science

In the Indian Constitution, which list contains subjects on which only the Union Parliament can legislate, such as defence and foreign affairs?

  1. Union List Correct answer.
  2. Concurrent List
  3. State List
  4. Residuary List

Explanation

The Seventh Schedule divides powers into the Union, State and Concurrent Lists. Defence, foreign affairs, currency and railways are Union List subjects, so only Parliament legislates on them. The State List covers local subjects, the Concurrent List is shared, and residuary powers rest with the Union.

Question 31Social Science

Which of these is a renewable source of energy that Odisha can harness along its coast?

  1. Wind energy Correct answer.
  2. Petroleum
  3. Coal
  4. Natural gas

Explanation

Wind is a renewable resource, and Odisha's long coastline offers steady sea breezes suitable for wind power. Coal, natural gas and petroleum are fossil fuels formed over millions of years and are exhausted once used, so they are non-renewable.

Question 32Social Science

Which of the following is a Directive Principle of State Policy in the Indian Constitution?

  1. Abolition of untouchability
  2. Promoting the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Correct answer.
  3. Right to equality before the law
  4. Right to constitutional remedies

Explanation

Directive Principles are non-justiciable guidelines in Part IV that direct state policy, including the promotion of educational and economic interests of weaker sections. Abolition of untouchability, equality before law and constitutional remedies are enforceable Fundamental Rights in Part III.

Question 33Social Science

The Odisha Legislative Assembly is a unicameral legislature. What does unicameral mean?

  1. It is nominated by the Governor
  2. It has only one house Correct answer.
  3. It has two houses
  4. It is elected for life

Explanation

A unicameral legislature consists of a single house, which in Odisha is the Legislative Assembly. Bicameral legislatures have two houses, and members of the Odisha Assembly are elected for a fixed term rather than nominated for life.

Question 34Social Science

A student reads that the British annexed Odisha in stages during the nineteenth century. Which event of 1803 gave the British control over the coastal region of Odisha?

  1. The Second Anglo-Maratha War Correct answer.
  2. The Third Carnatic War
  3. The Revolt of 1857
  4. The Battle of Plassey

Explanation

During the Second Anglo-Maratha War the British defeated the Bhonsle Marathas and took over the coastal tracts of Odisha, including Cuttack, in 1803. Plassey established Company power in Bengal, 1857 was a later uprising, and the Carnatic Wars were fought in south India.

Question 35Social Science

Which of these describes the main function of a Gram Sabha under the Panchayati Raj system?

  1. It collects income tax from village residents
  2. It hears criminal cases and awards punishments
  3. It is the assembly of all registered voters of a village who approve plans and accounts Correct answer.
  4. It appoints the District Collector

Explanation

The Gram Sabha consists of all persons registered as voters in a village panchayat area and exercises functions such as approving plans, budgets and audit reports. Hearing criminal cases belongs to courts, income tax is collected by the Union government, and the District Collector is appointed by the state government.

Question 36Social Science

Which of these is a characteristic of a market economy?

  1. Prices are mainly decided by the forces of demand and supply Correct answer.
  2. Occupations are decided only by birth
  3. Trade is limited to the local village
  4. The state fixes all prices and production targets

Explanation

In a market economy, private producers and consumers interact and prices emerge from demand and supply. State-fixed prices and production targets describe a planned economy, hereditary occupation is a feature of the caste-based traditional order, and local-only trade describes a subsistence economy.

Question 37Social Science

Which state of India lies immediately to the south of Odisha, sharing the border along the Eastern Ghats?

  1. Andhra Pradesh Correct answer.
  2. Jharkhand
  3. West Bengal
  4. Chhattisgarh

Explanation

Odisha's southern neighbour is Andhra Pradesh, whose border runs through the Eastern Ghats. West Bengal lies to the north-east, Jharkhand to the north, and Chhattisgarh to the west of Odisha.

Question 38Social Science

A family in a drought-prone block of Odisha receives guaranteed wage employment for a fixed number of days on public works. Which scheme provides this?

  1. Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme
  2. Mid-Day Meal scheme
  3. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
  4. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Correct answer.

Explanation

MGNREGS gives rural households a legal guarantee of wage employment on public works, which also creates durable assets such as ponds and roads. Ayushman Bharat provides health cover, Jan Dhan Yojana promotes bank accounts, and the Mid-Day Meal scheme supplies cooked meals in schools.

Question 39Social Science

Which of these best explains why the Eastern Ghats in Odisha are more dissected than the Western Ghats?

  1. They are cut by several large rivers flowing east to the Bay of Bengal Correct answer.
  2. They are lower than sea level
  3. They are formed of loose desert sand
  4. They receive no rainfall at all

Explanation

Rivers such as the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani and Subarnarekha cut across the Eastern Ghats on their way to the Bay of Bengal, carving broad valleys and breaking the range into detached blocks. The Eastern Ghats do receive monsoon rain, are rocky rather than sandy, and lie well above sea level.

Question 40Social Science

Which feature of the Odisha coast makes it a favourable site for a major port such as Paradip?

  1. Permanent snow cover
  2. Absence of any river nearby
  3. A high mountain range along the shoreline
  4. A deep natural harbour approach and a hinterland rich in minerals Correct answer.

Explanation

Paradip combines a sheltered, deep enough approach for large vessels with a hinterland that produces iron ore, coal and other bulk cargo. Coastal Odisha has no mountain range on the shore, no snow, and is in fact crossed by several rivers, so the other options are false.

Question 41Social Science

Which of these is the correct meaning of 'adult franchise' as used in Indian elections?

  1. Every citizen aged 18 or above has the right to vote Correct answer.
  2. Voting is compulsory for all citizens
  3. Only graduates may vote
  4. Only property owners may vote

Explanation

Adult franchise means the right to vote is given to all citizens who have attained the age of 18, without conditions of property, education or sex. Property and graduate qualifications were colonial restrictions, and voting in India is a right, not a legal duty.

Question 42Social Science

A village has a large number of small farmers who each own less than one hectare. Which step would most directly raise their bargaining power in the market?

  1. Borrowing from moneylenders at high interest
  2. Switching entirely to subsistence farming
  3. Forming a farmer producer organisation to sell collectively Correct answer.
  4. Each farmer selling alone at the village gate

Explanation

Collective marketing through a farmer producer organisation increases volumes, reduces transport and storage costs, and gives smallholders stronger bargaining power with buyers. Selling alone, high-interest borrowing and pure subsistence farming each leave the farmer weaker and more dependent.

Question 43Social Science

Which of these is the best example of a 'public good' provided by the government in Odisha?

  1. A privately run taxi service
  2. A shop selling branded clothes
  3. A privately owned mobile phone
  4. Street lighting on a village road Correct answer.

Explanation

Public goods are non-excludable and non-rival, so one person's use does not reduce availability to others; street lighting fits this because all passers-by benefit. A mobile phone, branded clothing and a taxi are private goods that can be bought and withheld from non-payers.

Question 44Social Science

Which of these best explains the role of the Opposition in a state legislature such as the Odisha Assembly?

  1. It questions the government, debates policy and holds the executive accountable Correct answer.
  2. It conducts elections to the Assembly
  3. It approves the state budget without any debate
  4. It appoints the Chief Minister

Explanation

The Opposition uses Question Hour, debates and motions to scrutinise government action and represent alternative views, which is central to accountability in a democracy. The Chief Minister is chosen by the majority party, elections are conducted by the Election Commission, and the budget is debated rather than passed silently.

Question 45Social Science

A student notes that the same amount of rainfall causes a severe flood in one coastal district but only minor flooding in another. Which factor best explains this difference?

  1. Differences in the local language spoken
  2. Differences in the length of the school year
  3. Differences in drainage capacity, embankment condition and land use Correct answer.
  4. Differences in the number of elected representatives

Explanation

Flood severity depends on how quickly water drains away, which is shaped by channel capacity, the state of embankments, siltation and land use such as urban paving. School calendars, representation and language have no physical effect on how water flows across a district.

Question 46Social Science

Which of these best describes the significance of the Bali Jatra festival in Odisha's history?

  1. It commemorates the ancient maritime trade voyages of Odia sailors to Southeast Asia Correct answer.
  2. It marks the end of the British rule in Odisha
  3. It is a festival of the mining industry
  4. It celebrates the construction of the Hirakud dam

Explanation

Bali Jatra, held at Cuttack on the Mahanadi, recalls the old maritime trade links between Kalinga and islands of Southeast Asia such as Bali, Java and Sumatra. It has no connection with the end of British rule, the Hirakud dam or mining.

Question 47Social Science

A historian has two sources on the Kalinga war: Ashoka's own edicts and a later Buddhist chronicle. Which statement best reflects sound historical method?

  1. The edicts are contemporary evidence and should be weighed against the later chronicle's religious purpose Correct answer.
  2. The later chronicle must be rejected because it is not in stone
  3. Only the chronicle matters because it was written later
  4. Both sources must be accepted as equally exact in every detail

Explanation

Historians judge sources by how close they are to the event and by the purpose of the author. Ashoka's edicts are contemporary royal records, while a later Buddhist chronicle may embellish events for religious instruction, so the two must be compared critically rather than accepted or rejected wholesale.

Question 48Social Science

Which reasoning best explains why Odisha's mineral-rich districts may still show low industrial development?

  1. Minerals automatically create factories wherever they are found
  2. Industrial growth depends only on the number of schools in a district
  3. Districts with minerals always have the highest employment
  4. Ore is largely exported or sent out as raw material while local processing and infrastructure remain limited Correct answer.

Explanation

Mining can generate wealth without local industrialisation if the ore is shipped out for processing elsewhere and if power, transport and skilled labour are inadequate. Minerals do not automatically create factories, schooling alone does not determine industry, and mineral districts often show displacement and unemployment rather than guaranteed jobs.

Question 49Social Science

A state government wants to reduce regional inequality between coastal and southern Odisha. Which approach is most consistent with balanced regional planning?

  1. Leaving development entirely to market forces without any planning
  2. Withdrawing transport links from backward districts
  3. Concentrating all new industry in the already developed coastal belt
  4. Directing investment in infrastructure and industry to lagging districts with locally suited livelihoods Correct answer.

Explanation

Balanced regional planning deliberately channels public investment towards lagging regions and matches projects to local resources so that growth spreads. Concentrating industry in developed areas, removing transport links or relying only on markets tends to widen existing disparities.

Question 50Social Science

Which of these best explains why the Western Odisha districts experience hotter summers and greater drought risk than the coastal districts?

  1. They lie below sea level
  2. They are surrounded by the Bay of Bengal on all sides
  3. They are located at a higher latitude than the coast
  4. They lie inland, away from the moderating influence of the sea, and receive less moisture-bearing wind Correct answer.

Explanation

The sea moderates coastal temperatures and supplies moisture, whereas inland western Odisha heats up more in summer and depends on uncertain monsoon rain, raising drought risk. Latitude does not differ enough to explain the contrast, and these districts are inland rather than sea-girt or below sea level.