Chapter 8 – Law and Social Justice Questions and Answers

Content Structure

A. Exercise questions & answers
B. Additional questions and answers
- Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)
- Fill in the blanks
- True or False
- Match the following
- Short-type questions and answers
- Long-type questions and answers

A. Exercise questions & answers

A. Talk to two workers (For example, construction workers, farm workers, factory workers, workers at any shop) to find out if they are receiving the minimum wages laid down by law.
Ans: Construction and farmers are both workers receiving below the minimum wage.

(i) Construction Worker

He works long hours in the hot sun, lifting heavy materials and building houses.
He wants a higher wage, but if he complains, he might lose his job.

(ii) Farm Worker

She works on a farm, planting and harvesting crops.
She knows she should be paid more, but there are no other jobs available, so she has to accept it.

B. What are the advantages to foreign companies in setting up production in India?
Ans:

Workers in India get paid less money.
Companies save money by not providing good working conditions and safety.
They do not spend much on workers’ houses.

C. Do you think the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy got justice Discuss.
Ans: No, the victims did not receive full justice. Many people died or became sick, and today, many still suffer from health problems. Union Carbide (UC) was responsible for the disaster, but it did not face strict punishment. After the factory was shut down, it left harmful chemicals, polluting the water and soil. As a result, people are still struggling with diseases, disabilities, and lack of support. The victims did not receive enough help, money, or justice.

D. . What do we mean when we speak of law enforcement? Who is responsible for enforcement? Why is enforcement so important?
Ans: Law enforcement means making sure people follow the laws, keeping everyone safe and treated fairly. The government is responsible for this through the police, courts, and officials who ensure that rules are followed.

It keeps order so everyone can live peacefully.
It keeps people safe.
It stops unfair treatment at work, in markets and in daily life.

E. How can laws ensure that markets work in a fair manner? Give two examples to support your answer.
Ans: Laws help make sure that markets are fair so that no one is cheated and everyone is treated equally.

Minimum Wage Law – This law makes sure that workers are paid a fair salary and not too little for their work.
Consumer Protection Law – This law protects buyers from fake, expired, or bad-quality products so they get what they pay for.

F. Imagine yourself to be a worker working in a chemical factory, which has received orders from the government to move to a different site 100 km away from the present location. Write about how your life would change. Read out your responses in the classroom.
Ans: I work in a chemical factory, but now it is moving to a new place, and I have to shift there. This will create many problems for me. I will need a new house, which may not be good for my family. My children’s education will suffer because there is no good school nearby. I may have to send them to a school in another town, which will cost more. If I want my children to continue in their current school, I will have to leave my family behind, which will make me worried. Living in two places will also increase my expenses, making life more difficult for me.

G. Write a paragraph on the various roles of the government that you have read about in this unit.
Ans: The government’s job is to take care of its people and make sure they live a better life. One important way it does this is by providing basic needs like clean water, electricity, public transport, and sanitation for everyone.
The government also makes laws to protect workers. For example, the Minimum Wages Act makes sure that workers are paid a fair salary and not too little. The government enforces these laws so that employers do not cheat workers. By making and following these rules, the government helps stop unfair treatment and makes sure everyone is treated fairly.

H. What are the sources of environmental pollution in your area? Discuss with respect to (a) air; (b) water and (c) soil. What are the steps being taken to reduce the pollution? Can you suggest some other measures?
Ans:
(i) Sources of Pollution

Air Pollution – Smoke from vehicles, factories, and burning waste.

Water Pollution – Sewage, factory waste, and plastic in rivers.

Soil Pollution – Garbage, plastic, and chemicals in the ground.

(ii) Steps taken to reduce pollution

Planting trees to clean the air.
Banning plastic bags to reduce waste.
Using public transport to reduce smoke.
Use bicycles for short trips.
Recycle waste to keep the environment clean.
Stronger rules to stop pollution.

I. How was the environment treated earlier? What has been the change in perception? Discuss.
Ans: Before, people thought the environment was free to use, and factories polluted air and water without rules. This harmed nature and people’s health. The Bhopal gas tragedy made people realize the need to protect the environment. The government made new laws to stop pollution and punish polluters. Now, people understand that the environment must be saved for future generations.
10.

What do you think the famous cartoonist R.K. Laxman is trying to convey in this cartoon? How does it relate to the 2016 law that you read about on page 103?

Ans: The cartoon shows how children from rich and poor families are treated differently. A rich child’s mother feels bad about giving him work, but at the same time, she makes a poor child work hard. This is unfair because all children deserve equal treatment. Child labour is a big problem, as it takes away children’s rights and creates injustice in society.

B. Additional questions and answers

Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)

1. What is it called when a 10-year-old child works in a factory?
(a) Child Labor
(b) Safe Work
(c) Education
(d) Playtime

Ans: (a) Child Labour

2. The government amended the Child Labour Prevention Act.
(a) 2012
(b) 2014
(c) 2016
(d) 2017

Ans: (c) 2016

3. Which type of pollution is created by the cars’ smoke?
(a) Noise Pollution
(b) Air Pollution
(c) Water Pollution
(d) Soil pollution

Ans: (b) Air Pollution

4. When was the child labour law made?
(a) 1986
(b) 2000
(c) 2010
(d) 1995

Ans: (a) 1986

5. The Bhopal gas tragedy took place
(a) On 2 December 1984
(b) On 2 December 1985
(c) On 10 December 1989
(d) On 15 December 1989

Ans: (a) On 2 December 1984

6. Which three parties are involved in a market?
(a) Teacher, Student, Parent
(b) Worker, Consumer, Producer
(c) Doctor, Patient, Nurse
(d) Police, Judge, Lawyer

Ans: (b) Worker, Consumer, Producer

7. Which one of the following is a hazardous industry?
(a) Iron and Steel industry
(b) Textile industry
(c) Sugar industry
(d) Ship-breaking industry

Ans: (d) Ship-breaking industry

8. What is it called when workers are not paid their wages?
(a) Legal
(b) Illegal
(c) Bonus
(d) Promotion

Ans: (b) Illegal

9. Union Carbide was an
(a) American company
(b) English company
(c) French company
(d) Japanese company

Ans: (a) American company

10. What helps to reduce air pollution?
(a) Planting trees
(b) Using more cars
(c) Burning garbage
(d) Cutting trees

Ans: (a) Planting trees

11. What is exploitation?
(a) Treating people unfairly
(b) Helping workers
(c) Giving bonus
(d) Providing a safe workplace

Ans: (a) Treating people unfairly

12. The poisonous gas that leaked from the UC plant was
(a) Methyl–isocyanide
(b) Methyl–alcohol
(c) Methyl–Isocyanate
(d) Ethyl–alcohol

Ans: (c) Methyl–Isocyanate

13. Where did the biggest industrial disaster happen?
(a) Mumbai
(b) Bhopal
(c) Delhi
(d) Chennai

Ans: (b) Bhopal

14. How many people died in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy in the first 3 days?
(a) Less than 8.000
(b) 3,000
(c) Less than 5,000
(d) More than 8,000

Ans: (d) More than 8,000

15. Which gas was released in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy?
(a) Carbon Dioxide
(b) Methane
(c) Methyl Isocyanate (MIC)
(d) Sulfur Dioxide

Ans: (c) Methyl Isocyanate (MIC)

Fill in the blanks

1. Advanced countries are relocating the toxic and hazardous industries to ________ countries to take advantage of the ___________ laws in these countries and keep their own countries ___________.
2. CNG full form is _______________.
3. Emissions from vehicles are a major cause of _________ pollution.
4. The Right Against Exploitation protects people from ________________.
5. A worker has to be paid not less than the ____________ wage by the employer.
6. Child labour prevention means stopping children from _____________.
7. Accidents are common to _________________ sites.
8. The Right Against Exploitation is mentioned in _________ of the Indian Constitution.
9. Pumps at contaminated wells are painted ___________ by the government around the UC factory in Bhopal.
10. The government allowed the MIC unit in 1978 because it needed __________.

Ans:
1. Developing, weaker, safe
2. Compressed Natural Gas
3. Air
4. Unfair treatment and forced labour
5. Minimum
6. Doing hard and dangerous work
7. Construction sites
8. Articles 23 and 24
9. Red
10. Investments

True or False

1. The minimum wages are revised upwards every few years.
Ans: True.

2. Contamination means polluting or making something safe.
Ans: False.

3. After the passing of the Child Labour Prevention Act no child is employed as a domestic worker by anyone.
Ans: False

4. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy happened in 1995.
Ans: False.

5. Children under 14 years are not allowed to work in India.
Ans: True.

6. The victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy got justice within a few years.
Ans: False.

7. Investments do not help businesses grow.
Ans: False.

8. Planting reduces pollution.
Ans: True.

9. In 1984, there were very few laws protecting the environment in India and there was hardly any enforcement of these laws.
Ans: True.

10. Factories do not cause air pollution.
Ans: False.

Match the following

Column A	Column B
(a) Environment was treated as a free entity	1. One worker can easily replace another
(b) The Government	2. Lawmaker and enforcer
(c) Wages should be below a specific minimum	3. 2 December 1984
(d) The worth of an Indian worker	4. Along in Gujrat
(e) Bhopal tragedy	5. Before 1984
(f) Shipbreaking Industry	6. Minimum Wages Act 1948

Ans:

Column A	Column B
(a) Environment was treated as a free entity	5. Before 1984
(b) The Government	2. Lawmaker and enforcer
(c) Wages should be below a specific minimum	6. Minimum Wages Act 1948
(d) The worth of an Indian worker	1. One worker can easily replace another
(e) Bhopal tragedy	3. 2 December 1984
(f) Shipbreaking Industry	4. Alang in Gujarat

Short-type questions and answers

1. What is the Minimum Wages Act?
Ans: The Minimum Wages Act, of 1948 is a law that makes sure workers get fair pay and are not paid too little. It protects workers from low wages and exploitation.

2. What does Article 21 say?
Ans: Article 21 of the Indian Constitution gives every person the right to live safely and with dignity. It protects life and personal freedom.

3. Which three states have made plans to rescue and help child workers?
Ans: Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are three states that have made plans to rescue and help child workers.

4. What is the full form of CNG?
Ans: CNG stands for compressed natural gas.

5. Write the full form of MIC.
Ans: MIC stands for Methyl Isocyanate.

6. Why did Union Carbide(UC) open its factory in India?
Ans: Union Carbide built its factory in India because

A. Fewer expenses meant the company could make more profit.
B. Workers were paid very little wages compared to the USA.
C. Safety rules were not strict, so the company saved money on worker protection.

7. Who are the three main parties in a market?
Ans: The main three parties in markets are The worker, consumer, and producer.

8. Which disaster made people think about pollution?
Ans: The Bhopal gas tragedy made people aware of pollution.

9. What is the worth of Indian workers?
Ans: Indian workers are paid very low wages and can be easily replaced because many people need jobs.

10. What is the role of government in ensuring social justice?
Ans: The government makes rules to protect people and ensures workers get fair pay, stops unfair treatment, and prevents exploitation so that everyone is treated equally.

Long-type questions and answers

1. Explain the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and its impact.
Ans: The world’s worst industrial disaster happened in Bhopal 24 years ago. An American company, Union Carbide (UC), had a factory in Bhopal that made pesticides. On the night of 2nd December 1984, a dangerous gas called methyl-isocyanate (MIC) started leaking from the factory. This gas was highly poisonous and caused serious harm to many people.

Massive Loss of Life – Within three days, over 8,000 people died, and hundreds of thousands were badly injured.
Poor Families Suffered the Most – Most people who got sick were poor workers and their families. Even today, about 50,000 people are too sick to work. Many survivors still have trouble breathing, eye problems, and other health issues. Some babies were born with disabilities because of the poisonous gas.
Company’s Negligence – The disaster was not an accident. Union Carbide (UC) ignored safety rules to save money. Smaller gas leaks had already hurt workers before the disaster, but the company did nothing to fix the problems.
Unfair Compensation – UC was responsible, but they refused to accept blame. The government asked for $3 billion in compensation for the victims, but in 1989, they accepted only $470 million. Survivors protested, but the Supreme Court did not increase the amount.
Pollution Still Exists – After UC closed the factory, they left behind dangerous chemicals that polluted the soil and water. Now, Dow Chemical, the new owner of the factory, refuses to clean up the pollution, and this is still harming people and the environment today.

2. How are workers treated in industries?
or
What challenges do workers face in industries?
Ans:

Cheap Labor in India:
Foreign companies set up factories in India because wages are lower than in developed countries.
Workers work longer hours with fewer benefits.
Cost-Cutting Through Unsafe Conditions:
Companies reduce costs by ignoring safety measures, putting workers at risk.
Neglect of Safety in the Union Carbide (UC) Bhopal Plant:
Between 1980 and 1984, the MIC plant workforce was reduced from 12 to 6 workers.
Safety training was cut from 6 months to just 15 days.
The night-shift worker position was abolished, leaving the plant unmonitored.
Contrast with UC’s U.S. Plant (West Virginia):
The U.S. plant had computerized monitoring and emergency evacuation plans.
The Bhopal plant relied on manual checks and had no evacuation plans.
Ongoing Workplace Dangers:
Even today, many accidents happen in factories, mines, and construction sites because companies continue to prioritize profit over safety.

3. Write the adverse effects of orders on environmental issues given by courts. What can be done to make the environment safe?
Ans: The courts ordered factories in Delhi to close or move because they were polluting the air and the Yamuna River. This helped reduce pollution, but it also caused problems. Many workers lost their jobs, and those who moved had to travel far for work. The new factory locations also became polluted.

To keep both jobs and the environment safe, factories should use cleaner technology. The government should help factories make this change and fine those who pollute. This will protect workers’ jobs and keep the air and water clean for everyone.