Comprehensive Social Science Review: Natural Resources, History, Civics, and Economics

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts across Geography, History, Civics, and Economics modules.

Resource

Anything from the environment that fulfills human needs, holds value, and is technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable.

Biotic Resources

Natural resources obtained directly from living organisms, such as animals and plants.

Abiotic Resources

Non-living components obtained from nature, such as air, water, soil, and minerals.

Renewable Resources

Resources that are either inexhaustible or can naturally restore and regenerate themselves over time, such as wind, sunlight, water, and soil.

Non-renewable Resources

Exhaustible resources that are entirely used up once consumed and cannot be replaced because their formation takes millions of years, such as coal and petroleum.

Restoration

The natural or human-assisted process of bringing a damaged natural resource back to its original healthy state.

Regeneration

Nature's inherent ability to create new life and conditions that sustain continuous ecological growth.

Natural Resource Curse

A situation where resource-rich regions fail to achieve rapid economic progress due to a lack of processing industries; also known as the 'paradox of plenty'.

Watershed Management

The efficient management, conservation, and recharge of surface and groundwater resources within a watershed unit to balance nature and society.

Bhadla Solar Park

The largest solar park in India, located in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, covering 14,000 acres with a total capacity of 2,245 MW.

Iqta System

An administrative system under the Delhi Sultanate where land was assigned to nobles (iqtadars) for local governance and revenue collection.

Jizya

A special tax imposed on non-Muslim subjects by certain medieval rulers in exchange for protection and exemption from military service.

Sulh-i-Kul

Mughal Emperor Akbar's religious policy promoting 'peace with all', universal religious tolerance, and respect among all faiths.

Mansabdari System

Akbar's administrative system where officers held a specified rank (mansab) and were paid via land assignments called jagirs to maintain designated troops.

Paik System

An administrative and military system in the Ahom kingdom under which every able-bodied man was obligated to serve the state in exchange for land.

Khalsa

A disciplined community of saint-soldiers founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 CE, bound by equality, courage, and strict faith guidelines.

Swarajya

The vision of a sovereign, self-ruled state championing political autonomy, economic development, and cultural revival, pioneered by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Chauth

A 25 per cent tax levied by the Marathas on the annual revenue or produce of territories not directly ruled by them, in exchange for military protection.

Sardeshmukhi

An additional 10 per cent tax collected by the Marathas over and above the 25 per cent chauth tax.

Ashta Pradhan Mandala

The council of eight ministers established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to aid and advise him in state administration.

Bargirs

Maratha cavalrymen who were directly provided with horses, weapons, and equipment by the state treasury.

Shiledars

Independent Maratha cavalry soldiers who provided and maintained their own horses, armor, and combat equipment.

Hundi

A traditional written payment order used by medieval merchant communities to safely transfer money across distant regions without physical cash.

Colonialism

A practice whereby a powerful country extends political authority over weaker nations, exploiting their economic resources and imposing governance systems.

Cartaz System

A mandatory naval permit issued by the Portuguese that forced all merchant vessels sailing in the Arabian Sea to pay for authorization.

Goa Inquisition

A Catholic judicial authority established by the Portuguese in 1560 CE to enforce religious orthodoxy through forced conversions and persecution.

Diwani Rights

The legal rights to collect land revenue and manage civil justice in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, granted to the British East India Company by the Treaty of Allahabad (1765).

Doctrine of Lapse

An annexation policy introduced by Lord Dalhousie dictating that any princely state whose ruler died without a natural male heir would automatically be annexed by the British.

Subsidiary Alliance

An expansionist policy evolved by Lord Wellesley forcing Indian rulers to station British troops in their territory and relinquish independent foreign policy in return for protection.

Drain of Wealth

The continuous, uncompensated transfer of India's financial wealth and resources to Britain, first articulated by Dadabhai Naoroji in 1901.

Universal Adult Franchise

The principle enshrined in Article 326 of the Indian Constitution granting every adult citizen aged 18 years or older the right to vote without discrimination.

Election Commission of India (ECI)

An autonomous constitutional body established in 1950 responsible for administering free, fair, and impartial elections across India.

Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

A set of regulatory guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India to control political parties and candidates during election campaigns.

First-past-the-post System

An electoral method used in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections where the candidate receiving the highest number of votes in a constituency wins.

Single Transferable Vote (STV)

A proportional representation voting system where electors rank candidates by order of preference, used in Rajya Sabha and Presidential elections.

VVPAT

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail; an independent printing device attached to EVMs that provides a printed paper slip confirming a voter's selection.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislative structure comprising two separate chambers or houses, such as the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at the national level in India.

Question Hour

The first hour of every parliamentary session during which Members of Parliament directly question government ministers about their actions and policies.

Factors of Production

The fundamental inputs—land, labour, capital, and entrepreneurship—required to manufacture goods and deliver services.

Human Capital

The cumulative knowledge, health, specialized skills, training, and productivity capabilities embodied within a nation's workforce.

Demographic Dividend

The economic growth advantage achieved when a nation's working-age population is proportionally larger than its non-working dependent population.

Entrepreneurship

The process of identifying economic opportunities, organizing resources, making key operational decisions, innovating, and assuming financial risks to run a business.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

A business framework encouraging companies to operate ethically, safeguard the environment, and contribute positively to social well-being.