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PSEB Matric Social Science study materials
PSEB Matric Social Science study resources

PSEB Matric Social Science practice questions

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Question 1Social Science

Which latitude is the Tropic of Cancer, the northern limit of the region where the Sun can be directly overhead?

  1. 66.5° N
  2. 45° N
  3. 0°
  4. 23.5° N Correct answer.

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer lies at 23.5° N, matching the tilt of Earth's axis. Between this line and the Tropic of Capricorn the Sun is directly overhead at some point in the year.

Question 2Social Science

Which process is chiefly responsible for the formation of the alluvial plains of Punjab?

  1. Volcanic lava flows
  2. Deposition of silt by rivers Correct answer.
  3. Wind erosion of sandstone
  4. Glacial scouring of valleys

Explanation

Rivers carrying sediment from the Himalayas slow down on the plains and drop their load as fertile silt. Repeated deposition over long periods builds flat alluvial plains.

Question 3Social Science

The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 allocated which rivers mainly to India for unrestricted use?

  1. Jhelum, Ravi and Chenab
  2. Ravi, Beas and Sutlej Correct answer.
  3. Indus, Jhelum and Chenab
  4. Indus, Sutlej and Beas

Explanation

Under the treaty the eastern rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej were assigned largely to India, while the western rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab went mainly to Pakistan with limited Indian use.

Question 4Social Science

Which body of the United Nations has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security?

  1. General Assembly
  2. Economic and Social Council
  3. Security Council Correct answer.
  4. International Court of Justice

Explanation

The UN Charter gives the Security Council the main responsibility for international peace and security, including the power to impose sanctions. The General Assembly debates issues but does not enforce decisions in the same way.

Question 5Social Science

In the Indian Constitution, which Fundamental Right was described by Dr B. R. Ambedkar as the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution?

  1. Right against Exploitation
  2. Right to Equality
  3. Right to Constitutional Remedies Correct answer.
  4. Right to Freedom

Explanation

Article 32, the Right to Constitutional Remedies, lets citizens move the Supreme Court for enforcement of Fundamental Rights. Ambedkar called this provision the heart and soul of the Constitution because it protects all other rights.

Question 6Social Science

A farmer in a Punjab village grows wheat in winter and cotton in summer on the same field. Which term best describes this practice?

  1. Plantation agriculture
  2. Shifting cultivation
  3. Subsistence gathering
  4. Multiple cropping Correct answer.

Explanation

Growing two or more crops on the same land in one year is multiple cropping. Wheat as a rabi crop and cotton as a kharif crop fit this pattern exactly.

Question 7Social Science

Which factor most directly determines the local time of a place on Earth?

  1. Its longitude Correct answer.
  2. Its altitude
  3. Its latitude
  4. Its distance from the sea

Explanation

Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours, so each 15° of longitude corresponds to one hour of local time. Longitude therefore fixes the Sun-based local time of a place.

Question 8Social Science

Which soil type, rich in iron and aluminium oxides, is typically red in colour?

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

Explanation

Laterite soil forms under heavy rainfall where leaching removes silica and leaves iron and aluminium oxides, giving a red colour. It is common in warm, wet regions.

Question 9Social Science

The Green Revolution in India during the 1960s and 1970s was mainly associated with which change?

  1. Use of high-yielding seed varieties with irrigation and fertiliser Correct answer.
  2. Expansion of jute exports
  3. Mechanisation of coal mining
  4. Introduction of canal navigation

Explanation

The Green Revolution raised foodgrain output by combining high-yielding wheat and rice varieties with assured irrigation, fertiliser and pesticides. Punjab was a major beneficiary of this package.

Question 10Social Science

Which of these is a renewable source of energy?

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

Explanation

Wind is continuously replenished by natural processes, so it counts as renewable. Coal, petroleum and natural gas are fossil fuels formed over millions of years and are exhaustible.

Question 11Social Science

Which Mughal emperor built the Grand Trunk Road's network of sarais and is associated with the policy of sulh-i kul (universal peace)?

  1. Shah Jahan
  2. Akbar Correct answer.
  3. Aurangzeb
  4. Babur

Explanation

Akbar promoted sulh-i kul, a policy of tolerance towards all religious communities, and strengthened roads and resting places for travellers. His reign is noted for administrative integration.

Question 12Social Science

The Battle of Plassey in 1757 was fought between the forces of the British East India Company and which ruler?

  1. Tipu Sultan of Mysore
  2. Ranjit Singh of Punjab
  3. Bahadur Shah Zafar
  4. Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal Correct answer.

Explanation

Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, at Plassey in 1757. The victory gave the Company control over Bengal's revenues and marked a turning point in its rise.

Question 13Social Science

Which event is widely taken as the immediate trigger for the Revolt of 1857?

  1. Passing of the Doctrine of Lapse
  2. Introduction of greased cartridges for the new Enfield rifle Correct answer.
  3. Annexation of Awadh in 1856
  4. Abolition of sati in 1829

Explanation

The rumour that new rifle cartridges were greased with animal fat offended both Hindu and Muslim sepoys, and their refusal to bite them sparked the uprising at Meerut. Discontent had been building, but this was the immediate spark.

Question 14Social Science

Under the Government of India Act 1919, which system introduced separate electorates and dyarchy in the provinces?

  1. Pitt's India Act
  2. Indian Councils Act 1909
  3. Montagu-Chelmsford reforms Correct answer.
  4. Regulating Act

Explanation

The Act of 1919, based on the Montagu-Chelmsford Report, introduced dyarchy in the provinces, dividing subjects into transferred and reserved. It also extended separate electorates to more communities.

Question 15Social Science

Who founded the Ghadar Party in 1913 in the United States to work for India's freedom?

  1. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
  2. Lala Har Dayal Correct answer.
  3. Subhas Chandra Bose
  4. Mahatma Gandhi

Explanation

Lala Har Dayal helped found the Ghadar Party among Indian immigrants on the west coast of North America. The party published the paper Ghadar and planned an armed uprising in India.

Question 16Social Science

Which is the most populous state of India according to the 2011 Census?

  1. Bihar
  2. Uttar Pradesh Correct answer.
  3. Maharashtra
  4. West Bengal

Explanation

Uttar Pradesh recorded about 199.8 million people in the 2011 Census, the highest of any state. Maharashtra and Bihar followed in that order.

Question 17Social Science

A country has a high birth rate and a high death rate with a slowly growing population. Which stage of the demographic transition does this describe?

  1. Early expanding stage Correct answer.
  2. Declining stage
  3. Late expanding stage
  4. Low stationary stage

Explanation

In the early expanding stage both birth and death rates are high, so natural increase is slow. Population growth accelerates only when death rates fall while birth rates stay high.

Question 18Social Science

Which of these is a direct source of information about a historical event?

  1. A modern historical novel
  2. A coin issued by the ruler of that period Correct answer.
  3. A documentary film made recently
  4. A school textbook printed last year

Explanation

A coin minted in the period is a primary source created at the time of the event. Secondary sources interpret events after they occur and depend on primary evidence.

Question 19Social Science

Which of the following best describes the role of the Election Commission of India?

  1. It passes laws on electoral reform in Parliament
  2. It appoints the Prime Minister
  3. It conducts elections and enforces the model code of conduct Correct answer.
  4. It decides which party forms the government after results

Explanation

The Election Commission is a constitutional body that supervises elections, prepares electoral rolls and enforces the model code of conduct. It does not decide who governs or legislate.

Question 20Social Science

In a democracy, the principle of 'one person, one vote, one value' is best protected by which feature?

  1. Reservation of seats for certain groups
  2. Equal size of electoral constituencies based on population Correct answer.
  3. A written constitution
  4. A multi-party system

Explanation

If constituencies have roughly equal populations, each vote carries similar weight in electing a representative. This is the practical meaning of equal value for every vote.

Question 21Social Science

Which of these is a non-conventional source of energy that uses the heat of the Earth's interior?

  1. Tidal energy
  2. Nuclear energy
  3. Biogas
  4. Geothermal energy Correct answer.

Explanation

Geothermal energy taps the heat stored beneath the Earth's surface, for example from hot springs and steam reservoirs. It is distinct from tidal, biomass and nuclear sources.

Question 22Social Science

Which of the following was a major consequence of the partition of India in 1947?

  1. Introduction of the Green Revolution
  2. Large-scale migration of people across new borders Correct answer.
  3. End of the British Empire worldwide
  4. Establishment of the United Nations

Explanation

Partition created India and Pakistan and triggered the movement of millions of people across the new borders. It also produced widespread communal violence and refugee resettlement.

Question 23Social Science

Which of these is the main purpose of a watershed development programme in rural India?

  1. Promoting industrial exports
  2. Increasing urban housing supply
  3. Conserving rainwater and soil within a drainage basin Correct answer.
  4. Expanding railway electrification

Explanation

Watershed development treats a drainage basin as a unit and works to harvest rainwater, check soil erosion and recharge groundwater. This supports agriculture in rain-fed areas.

Question 24Social Science

A candidate wins a constituency with 35 per cent of the votes while three rivals split the rest. Which feature of the electoral system does this illustrate?

  1. First-past-the-post can produce a winner without a majority Correct answer.
  2. Coalition government is compulsory
  3. Universal adult franchise is violated
  4. Proportional representation always gives a majority

Explanation

Under first-past-the-post, the candidate with the most votes wins even without crossing 50 per cent. This is common when several rivals divide the remaining votes, and it can distort the link between vote share and seats.

Question 25Social Science

Which of the following best explains why the western part of Rajasthan is arid while Kerala receives heavy rainfall?

  1. Differences in the number of rivers only
  2. Differences in the length of the day
  3. Differences in monsoon winds and the presence of the Aravalli hills Correct answer.
  4. Differences in longitude only

Explanation

The south-west monsoon strikes the Western Ghats and the Kerala coast first, giving heavy rain, while the Aravallis lie parallel to the Arabian Sea branch and fail to force moisture inland. The desert of western Rajasthan therefore remains dry.

Question 26Social Science

Which latitude is taken as the standard meridian for Indian Standard Time?

  1. 82°30′ E Correct answer.
  2. 75°00′ E
  3. 68°7′ E
  4. 90°00′ E

Explanation

Indian Standard Time is based on the meridian of 82°30′ E longitude, which passes near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. This single meridian is used so that the whole country keeps one uniform clock time, even though India spans roughly 68°7′ E to 97°25′ E.

Question 27Social Science

The Tropic of Cancer passes through which of these Indian states?

  1. Punjab
  2. Tamil Nadu
  3. Rajasthan Correct answer.
  4. Kerala

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer at about 23°30′ N crosses India roughly through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. Rajasthan therefore lies on this line, while the other states listed lie clearly north or south of it.

Question 28Social Science

Which Himalayan river is known for carrying the largest volume of water and forming the Sundarbans delta together with the Brahmaputra?

  1. The Narmada
  2. The Godavari
  3. The Indus
  4. The Ganga Correct answer.

Explanation

The Ganga, joined by the Brahmaputra, forms the world's largest delta in Bengal, where the Sundarbans mangrove forest lies. The Ganga is a perennial Himalayan river fed by snowmelt and monsoon rain, giving it a very large discharge.

Question 29Social Science

Which crop is a kharif crop sown with the arrival of the monsoon?

  1. Gram
  2. Rice Correct answer.
  3. Wheat
  4. Mustard

Explanation

Kharif crops are sown in the rainy season, roughly June to July, and harvested in autumn. Rice, maize, jowar, bajra and cotton are typical kharif crops, while wheat, mustard and gram are rabi crops grown in winter.

Question 30Social Science

Which Article of the Indian Constitution guarantees the Right to Constitutional Remedies?

  1. Article 32 Correct answer.
  2. Article 21
  3. Article 19
  4. Article 14

Explanation

Article 32 gives a person the right to move the Supreme Court directly for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights through writs such as habeas corpus and mandamus. Dr. Ambedkar called it the heart and soul of the Constitution because it makes other rights enforceable.

Question 31Social Science

In the Indian Parliament, who presides over the sittings of the Lok Sabha?

  1. The President
  2. The Chief Justice of India
  3. The Vice-President
  4. The Speaker Correct answer.

Explanation

The Speaker is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha and presides over its sittings, maintaining order and deciding on points of procedure. The Vice-President presides over the Rajya Sabha, and the President is not a member of either House.

Question 32Social Science

Which type of farming is practised on small plots using simple tools and mainly to feed the farmer's own family?

  1. Extensive farming
  2. Plantation farming
  3. Commercial farming
  4. Subsistence farming Correct answer.

Explanation

Subsistence farming is carried out on small holdings with family labour and simple implements, and most of the produce is consumed by the farmer's household. Commercial and plantation farming, by contrast, are organised to sell produce in markets.

Question 33Social Science

Which of these minerals is the main ore of aluminium?

  1. Bauxite Correct answer.
  2. Haematite
  3. Mica
  4. Magnetite

Explanation

Bauxite is the principal ore from which aluminium is extracted by refining and smelting. Haematite and magnetite are iron ores, and mica is a non-metallic mineral used for insulation.

Question 34Social Science

A village panchayat wants to build a check dam to raise groundwater levels in its dry area. Which measure does this represent?

  1. Coastal embankment construction
  2. Rainwater harvesting and watershed treatment Correct answer.
  3. Crop rotation with legumes
  4. Industrial effluent treatment

Explanation

A check dam slows the flow of runoff, allowing water to percolate into the soil and recharge wells, which is a watershed and rainwater-harvesting measure. It works on the local water table rather than on industrial waste, crop nutrients or coastal flooding.

Question 35Social Science

Why do the Himalayan rivers carry much more water in the monsoon than in winter?

  1. They flow entirely through arid regions with low evaporation
  2. They are dammed completely during the winter months
  3. They receive heavy monsoon rainfall and additional snowmelt in summer Correct answer.
  4. They are fed only by groundwater throughout the year

Explanation

Himalayan rivers are perennial because they combine monsoon rainfall with snow and glacier melt, and both increase during the warm, wet season. This dual supply explains the strong seasonal rise in discharge compared with peninsular rivers that depend mainly on rainfall.

Question 36Social Science

A region has hot dry summers, mild winters and rainfall brought mainly by western disturbances. Which natural vegetation is most typical of it?

  1. Mangrove forest
  2. Tropical evergreen forest
  3. Thorn forest and scrub Correct answer.
  4. Alpine vegetation

Explanation

Thorn forests and scrub grow in areas of low rainfall, such as parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the Deccan, where plants like acacia and cactus survive drought. Evergreen forests need heavy rain, mangroves need tidal coasts, and alpine vegetation occurs at high altitude.

Question 37Social Science

Which of these was a key demand of the Indian National Congress at its session of 1906 in Calcutta?

  1. Continuation of the Rowlatt Act
  2. Swaraj, or self-rule, as the goal of the Congress Correct answer.
  3. Immediate partition of Bengal
  4. Withdrawal of Indians from the civil services

Explanation

At the Calcutta session of 1906, under the presidentship of Dadabhai Naoroji, the Congress declared swaraj as its goal, reflecting the rising influence of the assertive nationalists. This demand for self-rule became a central theme of later movements.

Question 38Social Science

Why did Mahatma Gandhi choose salt as the symbol of the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930?

  1. Salt manufacture was already controlled by Indian industrialists
  2. Salt was used by every household, so the tax on it could unite all classes against British rule Correct answer.
  3. Salt was produced only in Gujarat and had no wider importance
  4. Salt was a luxury item consumed mainly by the urban rich

Explanation

The government held a monopoly on salt production and levied a tax on a commodity that every household needed, rich or poor. By making salt at Dandi, Gandhi turned an everyday necessity into a symbol of defiance that could involve ordinary people across regions and classes.

Question 39Social Science

Which feature of the Indian Constitution distributes powers between the Union and the States through three lists?

  1. The Seventh Schedule Correct answer.
  2. The Fundamental Duties
  3. The Preamble
  4. The Directive Principles

Explanation

The Seventh Schedule contains the Union List, State List and Concurrent List, which divide legislative subjects between the Centre and the states. This federal division of powers is a key feature of the Constitution.

Question 40Social Science

A bill passed by both Houses of Parliament still requires which step before it becomes law?

  1. A fresh vote in the state legislature
  2. Approval by the Supreme Court
  3. Ratification by the Election Commission
  4. Assent of the President Correct answer.

Explanation

After a bill is passed by both Houses, it is sent to the President, whose assent makes it an Act. The President may return a non-money bill for reconsideration, but once it is passed again, assent is normally given.

Question 41Social Science

In a country where the government is formed by the party with a majority in the legislature, which system of government is being described?

  1. Parliamentary system Correct answer.
  2. Direct democracy
  3. Presidential system
  4. Monarchical system without a legislature

Explanation

In a parliamentary system the executive is drawn from and accountable to the legislature, and the leader of the majority party becomes the head of government. India follows this system, in contrast to a presidential system where the head of state is elected separately and is not responsible to the legislature.

Question 42Social Science

Which of these is the best example of a primary activity?

  1. Providing banking services
  2. Selling clothes in a shop
  3. Weaving cloth in a mill
  4. Mining coal from the earth Correct answer.

Explanation

Primary activities directly use natural resources, such as mining, fishing, agriculture and forestry. Weaving is a secondary manufacturing activity, while retail trade and banking are tertiary services.

Question 43Social Science

Which of these best explains why the Ganga plain is densely populated?

  1. The region is covered by dense evergreen forest and lacks roads
  2. The region is a high plateau with a cool climate
  3. The region receives almost no rainfall
  4. Fertile alluvial soil and abundant water support intensive agriculture Correct answer.

Explanation

The Ganga plain has deep alluvial soils, plentiful water from rivers and a favourable climate, which allow intensive farming and support large settlements. These physical advantages have attracted dense population for centuries.

Question 44Social Science

Which of the following describes the main function of the Reserve Bank of India?

  1. Collecting land revenue for state governments
  2. Framing the annual Union Budget
  3. Conducting elections to state assemblies
  4. Issuing currency and regulating the banking system Correct answer.

Explanation

The RBI is India's central bank; it issues currency, manages monetary policy and supervises banks. The Union Budget is prepared by the government, land revenue is a state matter, and elections are run by the Election Commission.

Question 45Social Science

A farmer sells his crop through a regulated market where the government ensures fair weighing and pricing. Which consumer protection does this mainly support?

  1. Protection against air pollution
  2. Protection against cybercrime
  3. Protection against workplace accidents
  4. Protection against unfair trade practices in agricultural marketing Correct answer.

Explanation

Regulated markets with standard weights and transparent auctions protect producers from exploitation by traders. This is a form of consumer and producer protection against unfair trade practices in the marketing chain.

Question 46Social Science

Why is a federal system with a strong centre sometimes described as 'quasi-federal' in India?

  1. The judiciary has no power to interpret the Constitution
  2. The states can secede from the Union at will
  3. The Union has powers such as appointing governors and issuing directions to states in certain situations Correct answer.
  4. The Constitution provides no division of powers at all

Explanation

India has a division of powers, but the Union also holds integrating features such as appointing governors, emergency provisions and directions to states, so it is often called quasi-federal. These features tilt the balance towards the Centre while retaining federal principles.

Question 47Social Science

A company sets up a factory that discharges untreated dyes into a river used by downstream villages. Which legal route can the affected villagers take?

  1. File a case in the Election Commission
  2. Approach the Reserve Bank of India for compensation
  3. Move the state legislature to cancel the factory's private ownership
  4. Approach the National Green Tribunal for relief against environmental damage Correct answer.

Explanation

The National Green Tribunal was set up in 2010 to hear environmental disputes and provide speedy remedies, including compensation and orders to stop pollution. It is the specialised forum for cases of this kind, alongside general courts.

Question 48Social Science

Which of these explains why shifting cultivation leads to soil degradation over time?

  1. It replaces forests with permanent orchards
  2. Repeated clearing and burning reduces vegetation cover and exposes soil to erosion Correct answer.
  3. It adds large amounts of chemical fertiliser to the soil
  4. It permanently irrigates fields and waterlogs the soil

Explanation

Shifting cultivation involves clearing and burning vegetation, cropping for a few years and then moving on. When fallow periods shorten because of population pressure, the soil loses organic matter and is exposed to erosion and leaching.

Question 49Social Science

Which of these best describes the difference between a census and a sample survey in the study of population?

  1. A census counts every person, while a sample survey studies a representative part of the population Correct answer.
  2. A census is conducted every year, while a sample survey is conducted once a decade
  3. A census uses no questionnaires, while a sample survey always uses interviews
  4. A census studies only urban areas, while a sample survey studies only rural areas

Explanation

A census aims to enumerate every individual in the population, as India's decennial census does, giving complete but costly data. A sample survey collects data from a selected representative group and uses statistical methods to infer results about the whole population.

Question 50Social Science

A state government wants to increase the share of non-conventional energy in its grid. Which combination best serves this aim?

  1. Large hydel dams and nuclear reactors
  2. Coal-fired thermal plants and diesel generators
  3. Kerosene lamps and firewood stoves
  4. Solar photovoltaic parks and wind farms Correct answer.

Explanation

Non-conventional sources include solar, wind, tidal, geothermal and biogas energy, which are renewable and cleaner than fossil fuels. Solar parks and wind farms therefore directly raise the non-conventional share of a grid.