Tamil Nadu SSLC Social Science flashcards

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

Preamble

The opening statement of the Indian Constitution declaring India a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic securing justice, liberty, equality and fraternity for all citizens.

Fundamental Rights

Basic rights guaranteed in Part III, Articles 12 to 35, of the Constitution, including equality, freedom, protection from exploitation and constitutional remedies.

Directive Principles

Guidelines in Part IV, Articles 36 to 51, directing the state towards social and economic welfare; they are not enforceable in courts.

Fundamental Duties

Eleven duties of citizens listed in Article 51A, inserted by the 42nd Amendment in 1976 on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee.

Article 356

Provision allowing the President to assume the functions of a state government when constitutional machinery fails, commonly called President's rule.

Concurrent List

The Seventh Schedule list of 47 subjects, such as education and forests, on which both Parliament and state legislatures can make laws.

Harappan Civilisation

Bronze Age urban civilisation of the Indus valley, known for planned streets, drainage, baked-brick houses and an undeciphered script; Lothal was its dockyard.

Kalinga War

War fought around 261 BCE in which Ashoka conquered Kalinga; the bloodshed led him to adopt Buddhism and spread the policy of Dhamma.

Brihadeeswarar Temple

Chola temple at Thanjavur built by Rajaraja I and completed around 1010 CE; a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its towering vimana.

Dandi March

Salt Satyagraha begun by Gandhi on 12 March 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, where he broke the salt law on 6 April.

Quit India Movement

Mass movement launched on 8 August 1942 in Bombay demanding immediate British withdrawal; Gandhi gave the slogan 'Do or Die'.

Indian National Congress

Political organisation founded in 1885 in Bombay with W. C. Bonnerjee as first president; it led the national freedom struggle.

GDP

Gross Domestic Product: the money value of all final goods and services produced within a country's borders during one year.

Per capita income

National income divided by total population; it indicates the average income of a person and is used to compare living standards.

Primary sector

Economic sector covering activities that use natural resources directly, such as agriculture, fishing, forestry and mining.

Western Ghats

Mountain range running along India's west coast; its highest peak, Anaimudi, stands at 2,695 metres in Kerala.

Northeast monsoon

Wind system from October to December that brings rain to Tamil Nadu and the Coromandel coast, supplying most of the state's annual rainfall.

Southwest monsoon

Rain-bearing winds from June to September that give India about three-fourths of its annual rainfall, first striking the Kerala coast.

Black soil

Moisture-retentive, clayey soil formed from lava, also called regur; ideal for cotton and found mainly on the Deccan plateau.

Alluvial soil

Fertile soil deposited by rivers in deltas and plains, rich in potash and lime; it supports intensive paddy cultivation.

Cauvery delta

Fertile river delta in Tamil Nadu watered by the Cauvery; it is the state's main rice-growing region and is irrigated by the Grand Anicut.

Earthquake focus

The point inside the Earth where an earthquake originates; seismic waves travel outward from it to the surface.

Epicentre

The point on the Earth's surface directly above the earthquake focus, where shaking is usually strongest.

Contour line

A line on a map joining points of equal elevation above sea level; close spacing shows steep slopes, wide spacing gentle slopes.

Map scale

The ratio between distance on a map and distance on the ground, expressed as a representative fraction, a statement or a linear bar.

Indian Standard Time

The uniform time of India, based on the 82°30'E longitude through Mirzapur, and 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Tropic of Cancer

Latitude 23°30'N that passes through India; it marks the northern limit of the region where the Sun can be directly overhead.

Cyclone

A violent rotating storm of low pressure over warm seas, with winds spiralling inward; the Bay of Bengal coast is highly vulnerable.

Tsunami

A series of huge sea waves generated by undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or landslides; waves can travel hundreds of kilometres per hour.

Sustainable development

Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, balancing economy and environment.

Human Development Index

A composite measure of development using life expectancy, education levels and per capita income, published annually by the United Nations.

Lok Sabha

The lower house of Parliament, whose members are directly elected by the people; it controls the executive through the Council of Ministers.

Judicial review

The power of courts to examine laws and government actions and declare them invalid if they violate the Constitution.