CBSE Class 8 Social Science Chapter 17 Confronting Marginalisation — 20 MCQs with Answers

Marginalised communities include groups such as Dalits, Adivasis, and religious minorities who have historically faced social, economic and political exclusion. NCERT Chapter 17 opens with real-life examples of discrimination in education, employment and public spaces. MCQs in this section test your grasp of who constitutes marginalised groups and why they remain vulnerable despite constitutional guarantees. Being able to identify correct examples of marginalisation — denial of temple entry, lack of land rights, or exclusion from water sources — is fundamental. Questions also probe the link between poverty, illiteracy and marginalisation, a recurring theme in CBSE assessments.

The Indian Constitution provides several safeguards to protect marginalised communities. Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Article 17 abolishes untouchability and makes its practice punishable by law. Article 46 directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. MCQs here check whether students can match articles to their provisions, identify which fundamental right protects whom, and apply constitutional clauses to hypothetical situations. Understanding the difference between Fundamental Rights (Part III) and Directive Principles (Part IV) is also tested, as is knowledge of special laws like the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Chapter 17 highlights people's movements that confronted marginalisation. The Tawa Matsya Sangh in Madhya Pradesh fought for the fishing rights of displaced forest dwellers against private contractors. The anti-liquor movement led by women in Andhra Pradesh (Nellore) challenged the social and economic exploitation caused by alcohol abuse. MCQs on these movements test recall of key facts: who organised the movement, what they demanded, and what outcomes they achieved. You should know the year the Tawa Matsya Sangh was formed (1994) and that it succeeded in securing fishing rights for local communities. Application questions might ask you to identify which fundamental right (freedom of association under Article 19) enables such collective action.

Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes) are among India's most marginalised communities, often living in forest areas with limited access to education, healthcare and political power. The chapter discusses how colonial forest laws and post-independence policies further alienated Adivasis from their traditional lands. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 was enacted to correct historical injustices by recognising community rights over forest resources. MCQs probe your knowledge of this Act, the term 'Adivasi', and the relationship between displacement (due to dams, mining) and marginalisation. You may encounter assertion-reason questions linking constitutional safeguards with actual implementation challenges.

Chapter 17 includes data from the Sachar Committee Report (2005), which revealed that Muslims in India lag behind in education, employment and economic indicators. Despite constitutional equality, Muslims face social discrimination, stereotyping and inadequate representation in government jobs and higher education. MCQs test whether students can recall key facts: the Sachar Committee was set up to examine the social, economic and educational status of Muslims; it found lower literacy rates and higher dropout rates among Muslim children. Questions may also ask about government schemes (like pre-matric scholarships) or the role of minority educational institutions under Article 30.

Manual scavenging — the practice of manually cleaning dry latrines and sewers — is one of the most dehumanising forms of caste-based discrimination. Despite being prohibited by the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, the practice persists in parts of India. Most manual scavengers are Dalits. MCQs may ask about the year of the Act, the caste groups affected, or constitutional provisions (Article 17 abolishing untouchability, Article 21 guaranteeing dignity). Some questions test application: if a municipality employs manual scavengers, which law is violated? Others are assertion-reason format: 'Assertion: Manual scavenging violates human dignity. Reason: It is a caste-based occupation.' Both are true and the reason explains the assertion.

MCQs in CBSE Class 8 Social Science carry one mark each and appear in Section A of the term exam question paper. Speed and accuracy are critical because you have roughly 30-40 seconds per MCQ. Start by reading the question stem carefully; underline keywords like 'NOT', 'EXCEPT', or 'INCORRECT' to avoid silly mistakes. Eliminate obviously wrong options first — this improves your odds if you must guess. For assertion-reason questions, evaluate the assertion independently, then the reason, and finally check if the reason explains the assertion. Always rely on NCERT language: if an option uses a term not in the textbook (like 'untouchables' instead of 'Dalits' where the book says Dalits), be cautious. In 2025, many CBSE schools report that Chapter 17 MCQs focus on constitutional articles and case studies like Tawa Matsya Sangh, so revise those sections thoroughly. If time permits, review all MCQs once before moving to subjective sections; a single mark can make the difference between an A1 and an A2 grade.

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