ICSE Class 9 History and Civics Syllabus

Name the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate in order.

Slave (Mamluk), Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid and Lodi dynasties.

Which Delhi Sultan attempted to move the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and introduced token currency?

Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.

Who founded the Mughal Empire and after which battle?

Babur, after defeating Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.

Which Mughal emperor introduced the policy of Sulh-i-Kul and abolished the jizya tax?

Akbar the Great.

Name two famous monuments built during the reign of Shah Jahan.

The Taj Mahal at Agra and the Red Fort (Lal Qila) at Delhi.

What was the Renaissance in European history?

The 14th-16th century revival or 'rebirth' of art, literature and learning in Europe, beginning in Italy and inspired by Greek and Roman classics.

Who began the Protestant Reformation and with what act in 1517?

Martin Luther, by nailing his Ninety-Five Theses to the church door at Wittenberg, protesting the sale of indulgences.

What was the Industrial Revolution and where did it begin?

The shift from hand production to machine-based manufacturing in factories, beginning in England in the mid-18th century.

Name two key inventions of the Industrial Revolution and their inventors.

The Spinning Jenny (James Hargreaves) and the Steam Engine improved by James Watt.

What three ideals were the rallying cry of the French Revolution (1789)?

Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

When did the Constitution of India come into force, and why is the date significant?

26 January 1950; it is celebrated as Republic Day, marking when India became a sovereign republic.

How long did the Constituent Assembly take to frame the Constitution, and who chaired the Drafting Committee?

About 2 years, 11 months and 18 days; Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee.

What does the Preamble declare India to be (the key descriptive words)?

A Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic securing justice, liberty, equality and fraternity to its citizens.

Name any four Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.

Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, and Right to Constitutional Remedies (any four).

Which Fundamental Right did Dr. Ambedkar call the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution?

The Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32), which allows citizens to approach courts to enforce their rights.

What are the Fundamental Duties, and how many are there?

Moral obligations of citizens listed in Article 51A; there are 11 Fundamental Duties (added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976; the 11th added by the 86th Amendment).

What is the purpose of the Directive Principles of State Policy?

They are guidelines (non-justiciable) directing the State to establish social and economic welfare for a just society.

What is universal adult franchise in the Indian electoral system?

The right of every citizen aged 18 and above to vote, regardless of caste, religion, gender, wealth or education.

Which body conducts and supervises elections in India?

The Election Commission of India, an independent constitutional body headed by the Chief Election Commissioner.

What is a constituency in electoral politics?

A specific geographical area whose voters elect one representative to a legislative body.

Differentiate a general election from a by-election.

A general election is held to elect the entire legislature when its term ends; a by-election fills a single seat vacated mid-term.

What is the Model Code of Conduct?

A set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission that political parties and candidates must follow during elections to ensure free and fair polling.

What is meant by Local Self-Government?

The management of local affairs by locally elected bodies, allowing people to govern themselves at the village, town and city level.

Name the three-tier structure of the Panchayati Raj system in rural areas.

Gram Panchayat (village), Panchayat Samiti (block/intermediate) and Zila Parishad (district).

Which Constitutional Amendments gave statutory status to rural and urban local bodies?

The 73rd Amendment (1992) for Panchayati Raj and the 74th Amendment (1992) for urban Municipalities.

What is the Gram Sabha, and who are its members?

The general body of the village consisting of all registered voters of the village; it is the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system.

Name the three types of urban local bodies based on town size.

Nagar Panchayat (transitional/small town), Municipal Council/Municipality (smaller city) and Municipal Corporation (large city).

What is mass media, and name its two broad types?

Means of communication that reach large numbers of people; the two types are print media (newspapers, magazines) and electronic media (radio, TV, internet).

State two important functions of the mass media in a democracy.

To inform and educate the public, and to act as a watchdog by shaping/voicing public opinion (also entertainment and advertising).

When was the United Nations founded, and how many founding members did it have?

The UN was founded on 24 October 1945 with 51 founding member states.

Name the six principal organs of the United Nations.

General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.

How many permanent members does the UN Security Council have, and what special power do they hold?

Five permanent members (USA, UK, Russia, China, France) who hold the veto power.

Match these UN agencies to their work: WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF.

WHO works for global health; UNESCO promotes education, science and culture; UNICEF works for the welfare of children.