Explore topic-wise InterviewSolutions in Current Affairs.

Jute is used in shopping bags, carpets and rugs, backing for linoleum floor covering, chair coverings and environmentally friendly coffins. 

Jute is also useful as a geotextile fabric laid over soil to stabilise it against landslides and to control erosion or weeds.

The fibres obtained from plants and animals are called natural fibres For, 

Ex: Cotton from cotton balls, jute from jute plant, silk from cocoon of silkworm and from hair of animals like sheep or goat.

Column I                               Column II
1. Scouring                           (e) Cleaning sheared skin
2. Mulberry leaves                (c) Food of silk worm
3. Yak                                   (b) Wool yielding animal
4. Cocoon                             (a) Yields silk fibres

It appears that in those days people used the bark and big leaves of trees or animal skin and furs in place of clothes.

• It is a process of social transformation. 
• It develops new attitudes, new values, and social relationships. There is a shift to secular and rational values from spiritual-religious values. 
• It has paved a way for developing a scientific temperament. Emphasis has been set on the need for empirical evidence in support of given arguments.
• It encompasses social, economic, political, religious, and intellectual changes. There is a willingness to receive new ideas, to examine daily events, literature, culture, art, customs, beliefs from a critical point of view. 
• Modernisation is a current term of an old process of social change.

The list of a good drape in a skirt are:

(1) fluid drape, 

(2) moderate drape

(1) fluid drape: Think a slinky wrap dress, or that Summer maxi skirt that makes you feel like a goddess. Fabric with fluid drape does what it sounds like – it is so silky soft that it almost moves like a liquid.

(2) moderate drape: Moderate drape just might be the most versatile type of drape, suitable for a variety of projects. Think of your favorite A-line skirt. These fabrics don’t fall straight down, but they don’t fall away from the body very much either.

Sex ratio refers to the number of females per thousand males in a given area at a Vspecified period of time. 

• This ratio is an important indicator of gender balance in population. 

• Historically there were more females than males in most countries of the world. This phenomena occurred due to two reasons: 

(i) Girl babies enjoy better immune system and resistant to diseases in comparison of male child. 

(ii) Females live longer than males in most of the societies. 

• The ratio between female babies and male babies is roughly 1050 female to 1000 male. 

• In India sex ratio is declining significantly and continuously for more than a century. From 972 female per thousand males at the turn of 20th century the sex ratio declined to 933 at the turn of 21st century. 

• The state level child sex ratio is alarming. As many as 6 states and union territories have a child sex ratio as low child sex ratio of 793. The highest child sex ratio of 986 is found in Sikkim. 

Sex ratio seems to be declining in countries like India, China and South Korea. In India, parents still prefer male child. This is basically due to social and cultural reasons. Being agricultural society the village population preferred male child to look after the land. The reason of preference of male child is definitely not linked with economic reasons. The states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh and Maharashtra are most prosperous states of India and should have highest child sex ratio, but things are just different. The census of 2001 reveals that these are states with the lowest sex ratios i.e., 950 female babies per 1000 male babies. This data is a reliable evidence that selective abortion in these states is not due to poverty, ignorance or lack of resource. Predisposing factors for low child sex ratio in India: 

• Religious or Cultural Beliefs: Belief that only son is entitled to perform funeral and related rituals of his parents. Only son is the waaris of family. In the absence of male child jthe.uansli will not continue. 

• Economic Reasons: The main occupation of Indian society is agriculture. Villagers have a thinking that landed property cannot be given to girls because after marriage they will go to another village, town or city. Neither girl child can get her share of load nor she can take care of the land. 

• Lack of Awareness: People in Indian society having ignorant conservation attitude are still not ready to give equal status to daughter because they think that during old age they will be dependent on the son. Only he will share food, house, customs and responsibilities. 

Implications of child sex ratio: Low child sex ratio, if continues, will have serious implications on our social network, particularly the Institution of marriage. It will also cause severe law and order problem related to women.

• The term modernisation was coined by Daniel Lerner. 
• Modernisation is the process where there is the use of scientific and rational thinking that is deep-seated. 
• Modernisation has led to changes in values, beliefs, and norms. 
• Modernisation is a process of transformation from traditional society to technological modern society.
• It is a notion of rationalism and the ability to provide scientific and logical explanations for any phenomenon. 
• Being ‘Modern’ means not only using modern devices or gadgets but also openness to receive new ideas, examine alternatives, find new pathways, use creative ways to solve problems, do critical thinking, etc. 

Examples: 

• Acceptance of rational scientific outlook 
• Individualism 
• Secularism.

Social maps are provided by our parent siblings, relatives and neighbour. It may be specific and partial. It provides us only with common sense or unlearnt or perceivable knowledge which may or may not be real.

A proper use and application of reflexivity is essential for drawing other kinds of maps. It is sociological perspective that teaches us the procedure of drawing social maps, wholesome and exclusive.

Sociologists and social anthropologists have adopted the term function from biological sciences where it has been used for certain organic processes necessary for the maintenance of the organisms. 

Basic functions necessary for continuity and survival of any society are : 

(i) Recruitment of members 

(ii) Socialization 

(iii) Production and distribution of goods and services and preservation of order

The problems of India are linguistic identity, regionalism, demand for separate states and terrorism etc. create hindrances in the way of national integration. Due to these problems, usually strikes, riots and mutual fights take place, which have posed a severe threat to national unity and integration.

Sociology can show us what we look like to others. It can teach us how to look at ourselves from outside, so to speak. It is called “Self-reflexivity’ or sometimes just “Reflexivity.

Community that provides us the language and cultural values through which we comprehend the world. It is based on birth and belongings and never on some form of acquired qualification or accomplishment. Birth based identity is called ascriptive because this does not involve any choice on the part of the individual’s concerned. It is actually worthless and discriminating. These ascriptive identities are very hard to shake off because irrespective of our efforts to disown them, others may continue to identify us by those very markers of belonging. 

Such ascriptive identity is the most deterrant to self-realisation. Expanding and overlapping circles of community ties i.e. family, kinship, caste, ethnicity, language, region or religion give meaning to our world and give us sense of identity, of who we are. 

When we understand the Indian society and its structure, we get a social map. We will ourselves be able to determine our place in it. A social map is as useful as a geographical map. A social map helps us to see ourselves in relation to others and x our position. For example, imagine that we are living in Arunachal Pradesh. If we look into the Indian geographical map we will know that our State is in the North-East Region. When we compare it with big States like UP, MP, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan we will know that our State is small.

But when we compare it with small states like Manipur, Goa, Haryana, and Punjab we will know our State is comparatively bigger. If you are looking at a map showing the physical features, you will be able to compare Arunachal Pradesh with other States. It will tell us that whether it is a hilly area or a forest area and in what natural resources it is rich. A geographical map determines the place and nature of our area. But a social map tells us our position in the society. Our social group, language, race, religion, race, and tribe – all these will be included in the social map.

Sociology teaches us to look at the world from different perspectives (sides). It is not only our perspectives that are important, but also the perspectives of others. From each viewpoint, we see only a part of the whole. In short with just one perspective we will not get a full picture of the world. 

When we compare the different views of people about the world, we get a reasonable picture of the entire thing. Each viewpoint of others tells us what is hidden from our own viewpoint.

Kautilya was of the opinion that the king should try to increase his income more and more due to the conditions generated from time to time and for the smooth management of the state. All the functions of the king depend on the state treasury. If the King’s treasury will be empty, then how will various tasks be accomplished?

Kautilya had said that the king should levy different types of taxes to increase his income, such as land tax, municipal tax, house tax, sales tax, employment tax, tax on drugs, import export etc. The king’s income from various taxes, business, etc. should be spent on the development of the state and public welfare, and the treasurer should keep an account of the state’s income and expenditure. If the income is more than the expenditure, then it should be shown in the fund.

The King should also make adequate arrangements for inspection of income expenditure, and the name of the accountant should be mentioned in the income register. He must also arrange to punish the state’s accountant for misconduct or malpractices.

According to him, not entering the income received in the register, not writing the regular tax in the register and refusing to acknowledge the savings, are the three types of embezzlement. According to Kautilya, a penalty of 12 times the loss thus incurred to the state treasury, should be imposed on the officials who harm the treasury by,embezzlement.

It is clear from the above explanation that Kautilya’s tax system had the qualities of equality, diversity, warning of greedy conduct, jurisprudence and he also gave the provision for welfare work from the income received.

(a) In between 321 To 300 BC

Kautilya had included in the main items of public expenditure, religious work, wages and pension payments, organization of military force, arrangement of factories, labour wages, expenditure on agriculture, construction of roads, construction of canals, establishment of educational institutions, expenditure on the protection of forests, expenditure on animals, management of the state building works, etc. Kautilya was biased towards proper control over public expenditure. There was also a provision to punish the accountants for irregularities in state expenditure.

Gowadhayaksha was appointed for the care of cattle, buffalo, etc. in the ‘Arthashastra’ of Kautilya.

Correct Answer is: (b) 1/5 part

Correct Answer is: (a) Wealth

(d) Sansthadhyaksha

According to Kautilya, to encourage qualified and good farmers, the grants on loan should be given by the King. Simultaneously, farmers should be provided limited financial assistance to prevent health hazards and mortality.

According to Kautilya, after calculating the state’s income and expenditure well, the balance that remains is called Savings.

According to Kautilya, savings are of two types

1. Obtained saving is that which is present and deposited in the treasury 

2. Committed saving is that which is to be deposited in the treasury.

According to Kautilya, import of arms, horses and food was free of charge and taxfree.

Kautilya has a view that a farmer’s servant should take share of foodgrains, a dairy owner’s employee should take share of ghee, and a trader’s employee can take share of things traded by him upto 1/10th part. For determining the salaries of the state employees, the need of state, religion, and ethics, serviceable wages, loyalty to the state, quality of job, performance of the work, etc should be kept in mind. But in any case, the king should not spend more than quarter of his income on the head of wages.

Kautilya’s directive was to provide loans to the fresh growers for food, seeds, bulls etc. and collect the amount lent after harvesting of crops. He arranged for grant on loans to encourage good farmers.

The crew underwent their basic sail training courses in Mumbai at the Indian Naval Waterman ship Training Centre (INWTC), and at various schools in the southern naval base in Kochi. They even sailed on INSV Mhadei up and down to Mauritius in 2016 and 2017 and also to Cape Town in December 2016.

As the boat was old, it had minor leaks and repairs. They also ran out of water and food soon.

It refers to laws passed to promote social justice, social welfare, desirable social change, as well as protection of vulnerable and weaker sections of Indian society.

The increase in the number of reformative groups enabled Indians to exert pressure upon the British government, for passing laws against prevalent social evils. Concerns and problems of people and administration get recognized through academic research, scientific studies, media, advocacy groups, and interest groups. Laws are enacted accordingly.

It may be noted that laws by themselves cannot transform society, but they provided hope to those who were victims of injustice oppression, exploitation, and abuse.

Example: 

Some significant legislation include 

• 1829 – The Sati Prohibition Act 
• 1843 – The Indian Slavery Act
• 1856 – The Hindu Widow Remarriage Act 
• 1872 – The Civil (or Special) Marriage ACT 
• 1929 – The Child Marriage Restraint Act

(i) English medium of instruction: Education in the English language was introduced by the British in India. The increased economic and cultural influence of globalisation has spread English, as has the rapid spread of the Internet and other technologies. As a result of this, in many states throughout Indian society where English is not the predominant language, there are English-medium schools. Also in higher education, due to the recent trend towards internationalization an increasing number of degree courses, are being taught through the medium of English.

(ii) Lowering the age for voting: The present day youth are literate and enlightened and the lowering of the voting age has provided the unrepresented youth of the country an opportunity to express their feelings and opinions and help them become a part of the political process. It has increased the political participation of the people and the creation of public opinion.

(iii) Social Legislation: It refers to laws passed to promote social justice, social protection of vulnerable and weaker sections of Indian society. Concerns and problems of people and administration get recognized through academic research, scientific studies, media, advocacy groups, and interest groups.

Laws are made by the Indian Parliament. Several laws related to civil and criminal matters have been enacted, which may be amended or repealed. The problems of differences in caste, sex, religion, poverty, terrorism are serious and therefore, the impetus is given to enactment and enforcement of laws.

For example, 

The untouchability offense act 1955, is enacted and enforced to curb the problem of practice untouchability, to eradicate gender inequality the government has passed various legislations. The Special Marriage Act 1954, The Hindu Dowry Prohibition Act 1961. Prohibition of early marriage and fixing the minimum age of marriage under the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929, and the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, have lengthened the period of education for girls.

Now the position of women is far better as a result of the enactment of laws. Similarly, the distinction between touchable and untouchable is not much felt in modern times.

(iv) Transport and Communication: Transport facilitates trade and commerce by carrying goods from the areas of production to that of consumption. Goods from the areas that have surplus are shifted to those areas which are deficient in those items. Movement of people from one place to another place in search of job, education, and emergency through transport facility. Communication keeps us informed about the world’s events and trends. It has brought in positive changes in the life of the people and thereby enhancing their economic conditions.

Kautilya gave importance to artha among artha, dharma and Kaama in his Arthashastra. His idea was that the basis of happiness lay in religion and the root of religion is artha, and artha’s basis is the king. According to them, both dharma and kaama rely on Artha. Kautilya has held the money earned in the proper manner as justified. He said, “Wealth is the only thing in the world, religion and work are subject to wealth.”

During the ancient period, Hindu society was divided into four Varna’s namely: The Kshatriyas learned the art of warfare and administration. Vaishyas studied trade and commerce and Shudras learned agriculture and animal husbandry.

The Brahmanas stayed in the school until they attained mastery of the four Vedas. The first three varnas began to call themselves the upper varnas. They became the ‘twice-born (dvija) because they were entitled to the initiation ceremony (upanayana)

In the beginning, there was flexibility and fluidity with respect to occupation. It was only towards the end of the Vedic period that Varna turned into a rigid jati (caste) hierarchy based on the ideology of purity and pollution. Notions of purity and pollution continue to be followed in everyday practices such as food and water intake, dressing, occupation, worship, social interactions, travel, etc. Thus, the flexible varna system was converted into a rigid caste system.

Example: 

• Brahmin – priests, teachers, intellectuals 
• Kshatriya – rulers, and warriors 
• Vaishya – merchants’ traders, farmers 
• Shudra – menial work

(c) Prathana Samaj – Aatmaram Pandurang

Law of karma is also known as the law of cause and effect.

The society in the Early Vedic period was less rigid with respect to occupation-based divisions.

Ashramvyavastha referred to the four stages in the life of a Hindu.

Ahimsa and tapas are integral components of the Jain way of life.

A social movement is a mass movement and a collective attempt of people to bring about a change or to resist any change. In the 21^st century, India, Industrialisation, and urbanisation technological advancements, and ongoing democratization have allowed people to push for change collectively, and question the legitimacy of the existing order. Social movements can be defined as collective challenges based on common purposes.

The emancipation of women, the spread of mass education, the removal of untouchability, the equality of opportunity for both the sexes and the growth of secularism are some examples of cultural drift which have led to the emergence of social movements today.

Changing society is, to some extent, disorganized because changes in different parts of society do not take place simultaneously. One part changes more rapidly than the other, thereby producing numerous lags. When there is an absence of social justice and a threat to the environmental system, social movements emerge.

For example, 

Meira Paibi struggle in Manipur was for the safety and well-being of their community. They have shifted their focus from anti-alcoholism to human rights. Women played a major role in this movement. Meria Paibi led a boycott of elections and used relay hunger strikes as means to fight for their rights. Irom Sharmila had been on hunger strike for nearly 16 years.

They were trained for almost three years to undertake this voyage.

In the Later Vedic period, the caste system and Brahminic supremacy became entrenched. Caste groups became rigid with the passage of time. The varna system now turned into an oppressive Jati (caste) system.

In all this, women became doubly oppressed. Jainism and Buddhism are perceived as “protest religions”. Both these religious traditions opened their doors to all sections of society.

The right to salvation was no longer limited to a particular stratum of society. Understandably, Buddhism with its fewer rigid rules and regulations in comparison to Jainism was embraced by many.

Gautama Buddha permitted women to join his monastic community and to fully participate in it. Buddhist doctrines do not differentiate between women and men, since everyone, regardless of gender, status or age, is subject to old age, illness, and mortality, thus suffering applies to all.

Several Jain nuns have played a very active part in the abolition of sati practice, abolition of slavery of women, and in the prohibition of animal sacrifices.

Jainism, being a religion of religious equality, is devoted to recognizing the rights of all living creatures. Jainism and Buddhism opposed the caste system in India. Thus, Jainism and Buddhism provided hope to all people.

(i) Widow remarriage was permitted in the Early Vedic period.

(ii) The Atharva Veda states that “all classes have an equal right to study the Veda”.

(iii) Those who never married and continued studying and imparting education throughout their lives were known as Brahmavadinis.

(iv) Magadha had gained prominence and formed the base of the Mauryan Empire.

(v) The Great Bath is one indicator of the collective life of the Harrapan people.

(vi) Little Traditions include folk art, folklore, and the religious traditions of the local people.

(vii) The period c.500 BCE to c.200 BCE is considered the period of Second urbanization’.

(i) The Portuguese entered India for trade in the 16th century CE.

(ii) The implementation of the Judiciary system during the time of the British was carried out on a secular basis.

(iii) The Wahabi Movement was the Initiative of Syed Waliullah.

(iv) The Constituent Assembly of India was founded on 6th December 1946.

(v) The Female Infanticide Prevention Act was passed in the year 1872.

(vi) e Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was enacted in the year 1985.

(vii) The economic growth of India until recently was guided by Planned Development, through twelve Five-Year Plans till 2017.

During circumnavigation, the crew picked up some hobbies and kept posting pictures of delicacies like golgappas and cakes. They also read books when the weather was pleasant and did some quilling and craft work. While team leader Joshi read comics and the Ramayana during her journey, Swathi loved cooking and so indulged in baking. Swathi also liked crafting I a lot and made some lampshades. They were always entertained being in a group of six. They watched movies and sometimes listened to music. They made parathas, baked cakes and breads, and even made halwa and rasgullas!

The Sangham period is the period of history of ancient peninsular India.