ICSE Class 10 History and Civics Syllabus

History and Civics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for History and Civics in ICSE Class 10, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Total History and Civics Class 10

   9 topics

   • The Union Legislature
   • The Union Executive
   • The Judiciary
   • The Indian National Movement (1857-1917)
   • Mass Phase of the National Movement (1915-1947)
   • Contemporary World - The World War I
   • Contemporary World - The World War II
   • The United Nations
   • Human Rights

History and Civics flashcards for ICSE Class 10

21 of 51 cards from the History and Civics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the Union Legislature in India called, and what are its two houses?

   The Union Legislature is called Parliament. Its two houses are the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), along with the President.

2. What is the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha as per the Constitution?

   550 members — up to 530 from states and up to 20 from Union Territories. (Earlier provision for 2 nominated Anglo-Indians was removed by the 104th Amendment.)

3. What is the normal term of the Lok Sabha and how can it be extended?

   5 years. It can be extended by one year at a time during a National Emergency, but the extension cannot continue beyond 6 months after the emergency ends.

4. What is the maximum strength and composition of the Rajya Sabha?

   250 members — up to 238 elected representatives of states and UTs, and 12 members nominated by the President for expertise in art, literature, science and social service.

5. Why is the Rajya Sabha called a 'permanent house'?

   Because it is never fully dissolved; one-third of its members retire every two years, so it has continuous existence. Each member has a 6-year term.

6. What is a Money Bill and which house has supremacy over it?

   A bill dealing only with taxation, government borrowing or the Consolidated Fund. The Lok Sabha has supremacy — a Money Bill can originate only in the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha can only suggest changes within 14 days, which the Lok Sabha may reject.

7. Who certifies whether a bill is a Money Bill?

   The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, whose decision is final.

8. What is a Quorum in Parliament?

   The minimum number of members required to be present to conduct business — one-tenth of the total membership of the house.

9. What is the Question Hour and Zero Hour in Parliament?

   Question Hour (first hour of a sitting) is when members ask questions to ministers. Zero Hour (immediately after Question Hour, around noon) is when members raise urgent matters of public importance without prior notice.

10. Differentiate between a Starred and an Unstarred Question in Parliament.

    A Starred Question requires an oral answer and allows supplementary questions. An Unstarred Question requires a written answer and does not allow supplementary questions.

11. Who is the head of the Union Executive, and who is the real head of government?

    The President is the nominal/constitutional head of the Union Executive; the Prime Minister is the real head of government and leader of the Council of Ministers.

12. What are the qualifications to become President of India?

    Must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years old, qualified to be a member of the Lok Sabha, and must not hold any office of profit under the government.

13. How is the President of India elected?

    Indirectly, by an Electoral College of elected members of both houses of Parliament and elected members of State Legislative Assemblies, through proportional representation by single transferable vote.

14. What is the term of the President, and what is the procedure to remove the President?

    5 years. The President can be removed by impeachment for violation of the Constitution, initiated by either house with a 14-day notice and passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses.

15. What is a Pocket Veto of the President?

    When the President neither approves nor rejects a bill nor returns it, but simply keeps it pending indefinitely, thereby preventing it from becoming law.

16. Name the three types of emergencies the President can declare and the relevant Articles.

    National Emergency (Article 352), State Emergency / President's Rule (Article 356), and Financial Emergency (Article 360).

17. How is the Prime Minister appointed?

    The President appoints the leader of the majority party (or coalition) in the Lok Sabha as Prime Minister.

18. What is the principle of 'collective responsibility' of the Council of Ministers?

    The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha; if a no-confidence motion is passed against the Council, the entire ministry must resign.

19. Distinguish between Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers.

    Cabinet Ministers head important ministries and attend Cabinet meetings; Ministers of State assist or hold independent charge of departments but are not Cabinet members; Deputy Ministers assist senior ministers and do not hold independent charge.

20. What is the structure of the Indian Judiciary?

    A single integrated hierarchy: the Supreme Court at the top, High Courts at the state level, and subordinate (district and lower) courts below them.

21. What is the present composition (strength) of the Supreme Court of India?

    One Chief Justice of India and a maximum of 33 other judges (34 judges in total).

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