Grade XI- Humanities
Cartoon based Questions
Ch-1 Constitution: Why and How
1. Read the cartoon given below and answer the questions that follow:
Question:
Does this always happen in any constitution-making?
Answer:
No, this does not happen in all Constitution-making if the representatives in Constituent
Assembly are elected either directly or indirectly from all sections of society, the attempt of
framing the Constitution would be successful.
2. Read the cartoon given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions:
(i) Can you identify what these different groups stand for?
(ii) Who do you think prevailed in this balancing act?
Answers:
(i) The cartoon refers to different religions, cultures, castes and regions having different
preferences, i.e. liberal nationalists and radical nationalists.
(ii) Both the songs ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ were accepted as national
heritage. The first is our national anthem and the second is our national song. All the Indians
show respect and sing both the songs. Despite so many diversities of languages customs,
cultures, festivals the whole country has the same respect for national song and the tricolour.
They balance the diversity of India.
3. Read the cartoon given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions:
(i)What do these different people stand for?
(ii) Compare the conflict depicted here with that depicted in earlier cartoons for the
European Union and India.
(iii) Name any one country that provides citizenship based on ethinicity?
Answers:
(i) The cartoon refers to three different ethnic groups in Iraq, i.e. Shiites, Sunnis, Kurdis. The
above groups stand for their own philosophies, ideologies and interests.
(ii) The Iraqi people expect to frame a new Constitution and to be accepted by all ethnic
groups of Iraq. In the European Union, the attempt of the people failed but in India, the same
attempt got success.
(iii) Germany, Israel
4. Read the cartoon given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions:
(i) Why does the cartoonist describe the new Iraqi Constitution as the castle of cards?
(ii) Would this description apply to the Indian Constitution?
Answers:
(i) Because it is being prepared by pro-US. The people as well as the Constituent
Assembly of Iraq is not representing all ethnic groups of the country. Hence, the Constitution
is imposed and will be scattered as a castle of cards.
(ii) This description does not apply to the Indian Constitution because:
Indian Constitution is not imposed on Indians, but it was framed from among
different shades of opinion after a long discussions and debates.
It was adopted by people will fully.
It is a living document to be amended from time to time at par aspirations of
people.
Ch- 3 Election and Representation
1. Read the cartoon given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions;
1. They say elections are carnival of democracy. But this cartoon depicts chaos instead.
Is this true of elections always?
2. Is it good for democracy?
Answers:
1. No, this is not true of elections always. Generally, maximum elections are conducted
peacefully in a democratic way.
2. It is not good for democracy to conduct elections in chaotic lawlessness. This is harmful to
destroy democracy only because most of the people will not go to the polling booth
themselves
2. Read the cartoon given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions:
1. These members of the ruling party are trying to listen to the ‘tiny’ opposition! Was
this the effect of our electoral system?
2. What does the cartoon represent?
Answers:
1. Yes, in the beginning, there was only one political party that dominated in the Lok Sabha
or the Rajya Sabha. The opposition was not so popular to play any role, they were only the
nominated representatives in both the houses of parliament.
2. The cartoon represents the role played by opposition party and the ruling party is making
efforts to hear its voice.
3. Read the cartoon given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions:
1. Why is the Universal Adult Franchise compared to an elephant?
2. Is it unmanageable?
3. Or is it like the story in which everyone describes the elephant only by its parts?
Answers:
1. An elephant is of a giant size and in such a manner, all adult of a country (above 18 years)
prepare a very big electoral vote.
2. Yes, it is quiet difficult to manage such a big group, but it is not unmanageable as since
1952, our election commission has been managing it successfully till date.
3. Yes, in India, such a huge group of adult voters in different areas, belonging to different
castes are described by every political party in different groups or sections or interests.
Except elections of Lok Sabha, different elections are conducted by Election Commission in
different phases also.
4. Read the cartoon given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. The Netaji is afraid of EC. Why do leaders fear the Election Commission?
2. Is this good for democracy?
Answers
1. The leaders fear the Election commission because they want to win the election by hook or
crook but the election commission keeps check on them not to try money or muscle power to
win by issuing a code of conduct on them.
2. Yes, this is good for democracy to ensure free and fair elections as Election Commission
enjoys several rights, powers and functions being an autonomous body of country.
5. Read the cartoon given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions:
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. Should a person accused of a serious crime be barred from contesting an election?
Answers:
1. The cartoon shows the image of a criminal turned politician facing the public.
2. A person accused of a serious crime should be barred from contesting elections because:
He or she can threaten the voters and candidates, contesting elections.
He or she can use money or muscle power.
The group that believes in bullet and not in ballot.
Ch-4 Executive
1. Read the cartoon given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions:
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. What message does the cartoon convey?
3. Who appoints the P.M and the Council of Ministers?
Answers:
1. The cartoon represents the Council of Ministers led by the Prime Minister.
2. The cartoon conveys the message that the Prime Minister is the head of the council of
ministers which is sometimes bound by the words of the Prime Minister.
3. The President of India
Questions:
1. Why do people want to be ministers?
2. This cartoon seems to suggest that it is only for perks and status! Then why is there
competition for some portfolios?
Answers:
1. The people want to be minister for gaining the advantages of the perks and status.
2. There is competition for some portfolios for better status, more power and for more extra
earning and more importance among people and leaders.
3. Read the cartoon (NCERT Textbook, page 93) given below and answer the questions
that follow:
Questions
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. The Chief Minister is not happy after winning the confidence motion! Can you
imagine why this is so?
Answers
1. The cartoon represents the need of a confidence vote by the members of the Legislative
Assembly for the Chief Minister at the state level.
2. Because after the Chief Minister gets the confidence vote of the members, he is bound by
the limitations set by members in place of the independent decision taken by himself or he
has to make some compromises also to compensate the confidence vote of members.
Chapter 5 Legislature Picture-Based Questions
1. Read the cartoon (NCERT Textbook, page 108) given below and answer the
questions that follow:
Questions:
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. How does Parliament control over executive financially?
3. What are the financial powers of the Parliament?
Answers:
1. The cartoon represents the sanction of Money Bill to the different ministries.
2. Every government raises resources through taxation and the legislature controls
taxation. If the Government introduces any new tax it has to get the approval of the
Lok Sabha.
3. The financial powers of the Parliament are as follows:
Grant of resources to the government to implement its programmes.
The government has to give an account to the legislature about the
money it has spent and resources that it wishes to raise.
It also ensures that the government does not misspend or overspend
through the budget and annual financial statement.
2. Read the cartoon (NCERT Textbook, page 113) given below and answer the
questions that follow:
Questions:
1. What does the cartoon refer to?
2. In case of disagreement, how is the proposed bill resolved?
3. On whose recommendation the Joint Session of Parliament is called and who
presides it?
Answers:
1. Cartoon refers to an individual discussion among members on a bill.
2. Through the joint session of Parliament
3. On the Recommendation of the President of India the Joint Session of Parliament
is called and it is precided by the speaker of the Lok Sabha.
.
3. Read the cartoon (NCERT Textbook, page 120) given below and answer the
questions that follow:
Questions:
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. Why do you think such situation occurs?
3. Who takes the final decision on all such cases?
Answers:
1. Some members or ministers have been ordered to go out of the Parliament.
2. This situation occurs only when a member decides to leave the party after getting
elected or on the matter of misconduct by the member within the Parliament.
3. The presiding officer of the House takes the final decision on all such cases.
Chapter 6 Judiciary Picture-Based Questions
1. Read the cartoon (NCERT Textbook, page 135) given below and answer the
questions that follow:
Questions:
1. What is the cartoon about?
2. What message is being conveyed through the cartoon?
3. What are the instruments of Judicial Activism?
Answers:
1. The cartoon is about Judicial Activism.
2. The cartoon conveys that the judiciary has ruled that bandhs and hartals are
illegal.
3. Public Interest Litigation or Social Action Litigation to file complaints of those who
cannot reach the court and initiated by others such as an NGO a group of lawyers or
a lawyer for their grievances.
Chapter 7 Federalism Picture-Based Questions
1. Read the cartoon (NCERT Textbook, page 165) given below and answer the
questions that follow:
Questions:
1. Identify the person making an appeal.
2. What appeal is being made by him?
3. What message does the cartoon convey?
Answers:
1. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
2. To show greater tolerance towards other languages also.
3. Autonomy demands may be related to cultural and linguistic issues raised by
certain states because some states feel that there is a domination of Hindi speaking
areas over others.
2. Read the cartoon (NCERT Textbook, page 167) given below and answer the
questions that follow:
Questions:
1. What message does the cartoon convey?
2. How did it happen?
3. When was the states reorganization commission set up and which state was
given the first statehood based on lagunage?
Answers:
1. Demand for new states based on the languages.
2. During the national movement, it was decided that as far as possible states would
be created on the basis of common cultural and linguistic identity.
3. In December 1953, Andhra Pradesh.
Chapter 10 Philosophy of The Constitution Picture-Based Questions
1. Read the cartoon (NCERT Textbook, page 225) given below and answer the
questions that follow:
Questions:
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. Who is playing the role of ‘Umpire’?
3. Why democracy has been referred to as umpire?
Answers:
1. Cartoon represents the different groups and sections playing together.
2. Democracy is playing the role of ‘Umpire’.
3. Democracy refers to the involvement of people. Hence everyone has been given
the due representation in the Constitution to avoid conflicts together.
