The below set of MCQs is based on NCERT Class 6 Social Science, Chapter 8 – Unity in Diversity, or ‘Many in the One’. The questions are carefully selected from the chapter where it covers important concepts, examples, diagrams, and summaries from the chapter.
The other chapters MCQs – MCQ Questions & Answers for Class 6 Social Science.
30 MCQ Questions for Class 6 Social Science Chapter 8 Unity in Diversity, or ‘Many in the One’
Question 1: Who described the principle of ‘unity in diversity’ as India’s fundamental course of being?
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Sri Aurobindo
d) Rabindranath Tagore
Answer:
c) Sri Aurobindo – He emphasized that the principle of unity in diversity forms India’s Swabhava and Swadharma.
Question 2: Which national organisation conducted the ‘People of India’ project in the late 20th century?
a) Archaeological Survey of India
b) Anthropological Survey of India
c) National Archives of India
d) Indian Statistical Institute
Answer:
b) Anthropological Survey of India – It studied 4,635 communities across the country.
Question 3: Approximately how many people live in India, according to the chapter?
a) 1.1 billion
b) 1.4 billion
c) 1.2 billion
d) 1.8 billion
Answer:
b) 1.4 billion – India accounts for about 18% of the world’s population.
Question 4: How many languages and scripts were counted in the ‘People of India’ project?
a) 325 languages, 25 scripts
b) 225 languages, 20 scripts
c) 415 languages, 30 scripts
d) 525 languages, 15 scripts
Answer:
a) 325 languages, 25 scripts – The survey documented India’s immense linguistic diversity.
Question 5: What staple grains are commonly consumed across India?
a) Rice, barley, wheat
b) Millets such as bajra, jowar, ragi
c) Pulses like dals and rajma
d) All of the above
Answer:
d) All of the above – These are common staples across diverse regions.
Question 6: Which common spices are mentioned as being used across India?
a) Turmeric, cumin, cardamom, ginger
b) Pepper, saffron, nutmeg, cloves
c) Cinnamon, bay leaf, garlic, mustard seeds
d) Allspice, dill, fenugreek, fennel
Answer:
a) Turmeric, cumin, cardamom, ginger – These spices are widespread across Indian cooking.
Question 7: Which unstitched garment exemplifies both unity and diversity in Indian clothing?
a) Dhoti
b) Kurta
c) Sari
d) Salwar
Answer:
c) Sari – A single type of dress with hundreds of variations across India.
Question 8: The Banarasi, Kanjivaram, and Paithani are famous varieties of what?
a) Wool shawls
b) Silk saris
c) Cotton lungis
d) Embroidered dupattas
Answer:
b) Silk saris – These represent regional weaving traditions.
Question 9: What was the term for the printed cotton that became very popular in Europe in the 17th century?
a) Khadi
b) Muslin
c) Chintz
d) Kalamkari
Answer:
c) Chintz – Its popularity even led to bans on Indian imports in England and France.
Question 10: In which present-day state was the stone relief of a woman in a sari (Fig. 8.2) found?
a) Tamil Nadu
b) Gujarat
c) Bihar
d) Maharashtra
Answer:
c) Bihar – The relief was from ancient Vaiśhali.
Question 11: Makara Sankranti, celebrated in mid-January, is associated with what?
a) Beginning of harvest season
b) End of monsoon
c) Festival of lights
d) Tribal new year
Answer:
a) Beginning of harvest season – Celebrated across India under different names.
Question 12: What is Makara Sankranti called in Tamil Nadu?
a) Bihu
b) Pongal
c) Lohri
d) Maghi
Answer:
b) Pongal – A major harvest festival of Tamil Nadu.
Question 13: What is Makara Sankranti called in Punjab?
a) Lohri/Maghi
b) Khichdi Parv
c) Uttarayan
d) Bihu
Answer:
a) Lohri/Maghi – Celebrated with bonfires and feasts.
Question 14: Which collection of animal stories has been adapted into over 50 languages worldwide?
a) Hitopadesha
b) Panchatantra
c) Jataka Tales
d) Kathasaritsagara
Answer:
b) Panchatantra – Estimated 200 adaptations exist globally.
Question 15: How old is the original Sanskrit text of the Panchatantra?
a) 500 years
b) 1,000 years
c) 1,500 years
d) 2,200 years
Answer:
d) 2,200 years – One of the world’s oldest collections of moral stories.
Question 16: Which two great Indian epics together comprise around 7,000 pages in their original versions?
a) Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita
b) Mahabharata and Ramayana
c) Rigveda and Ramayana
d) Mahabharata and Rigveda
Answer:
b) Mahabharata and Ramayana – India’s longest epic narratives.
Question 17: Who helps the Pandavas in their fight against the Kauravas in the Mahabharata?
a) Rama
b) Krishna
c) Vishnu
d) Arjuna alone
Answer:
b) Krishna – He supports the Pandavas in re-establishing dharma.
Question 18: Who kidnapped Sita in the Ramayana?
a) Ravana
b) Duryodhana
c) Karna
d) Shurpanakha
Answer:
a) Ravana – Rama defeated him to rescue Sita.
Question 19: In which state were around 100 folk versions of the Mahabharata recorded?
a) Karnataka
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Assam
d) Odisha
Answer:
b) Tamil Nadu – A survey documented numerous oral versions.
Question 20: Which tribal groups have preserved their own legends connected with the epics?
a) Bhils, Gonds, Mundas
b) Marathas, Rajputs, Jats
c) Pahadis, Kashmiris, Bengalis
d) Parsis, Sindhis, Jews
Answer:
a) Bhils, Gonds, Mundas – Along with tribes of the Northeast and Himalayas.
Question 21: What is the name of the anthropologist who directed the ‘People of India’ project?
a) Verrier Elwin
b) K.S. Singh
c) B. R. Ambedkar
d) Iravati Karve
Answer:
b) K.S. Singh – He highlighted epic references in local folk traditions.
Question 22: What does the expression ‘unity in diversity’ primarily emphasize?
a) Uniformity in culture
b) Common unity underlying differences
c) Complete absence of variety
d) Only religious harmony
Answer:
b) Common unity underlying differences – Diversity enriches but does not divide.
Question 23: Which classical art forms also demonstrate unity in diversity, as per the chapter?
a) Literature and Music
b) Classical architecture and arts
c) Dance and Drama
d) Sculpture and Painting
Answer:
b) Classical architecture and arts – They combine unity with regional diversity.
Question 24: According to the summary, what does India’s unity do to diversity?
a) Divides it
b) Erases it
c) Celebrates and enriches it
d) Ignores it
Answer:
c) Celebrates and enriches it – Diversity strengthens India’s culture.
Question 25: Which famous poet prayed “that I may never lose the bliss of the touch of the one in the play of the many”?
a) Rabindranath Tagore
b) Subramania Bharati
c) Amir Khusrau
d) Kalidasa
Answer:
a) Rabindranath Tagore – His words open the chapter.
Question 26: Which European countries banned Indian chintz imports to protect their textile industry?
a) England and France
b) Germany and Spain
c) Portugal and Italy
d) Holland and Belgium
Answer:
a) England and France – To safeguard their domestic textile production.
Question 27: What does the chapter describe as the “dense web of cultural interactions” across India and Asia?
a) Trade routes
b) Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata
c) Pilgrimage circuits
d) Folk dances
Answer:
b) Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata – Their versions spread widely across regions.
Question 28: In which region is the ‘Pañcha Pāṇḍavar’ carved stone shrine maintained by Irula tribals?
a) Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
b) Bastar, Chhattisgarh
c) Meghalaya hills
d) Sundarbans, West Bengal
Answer:
a) Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu – Depicting the five Pandava brothers.
Question 29: What was Jawaharlal Nehru’s observation about India’s epics during his travels before Independence?
a) They were hardly known among villagers
b) They were known only by scholars
c) They were deeply engraved in popular memory
d) They had little moral influence
Answer:
c) They were deeply engraved in popular memory – Even illiterate villagers remembered verses and morals.
Question 30: What is the concluding message of the chapter?
a) India suppresses diversity for unity
b) India celebrates diversity as enrichment, with unity as its foundation
c) India is too diverse for unity
d) India prefers uniformity
Answer:
b) India celebrates diversity as enrichment, with unity as its foundation – The essence of “Many in the One.”
Class 6 Social Science Chapter 8 Fill in the Blanks with Answers – Unity in Diversity, or ‘Many in the One’
1. India holds about ___ percent of the world’s population.
Answer:
18 percent
2. The ‘People of India’ project studied ___ communities across all states of the country.
Answer:
4,635 communities
3. The ‘People of India’ project recorded ___ languages using 25 different scripts.
Answer:
325 languages
4. Common staple grains in India include rice, barley, wheat, and millets like ___, ___, and ___.
Answer:
bajra (pearl millet), jowar (sorghum), ragi (finger millet)
5. Among pulses, Indians commonly consume dals such as moong dal, masoor dal, chana dal, and ___.
Answer:
arhar dal (pigeon pea)
6. The four common spices mentioned as used across India are turmeric, cumin, ___, and ___.
Answer:
cardamom, ginger
7. A plain length of cloth worn by women across most of India is called the ___.
Answer:
sari
8. Famous silk saris of India include Banarasi, Kanjivaram, Paithani, Patola, Muga, and ___ silk.
Answer:
Mysore silk
9. The beautiful printed cotton from India that became extremely popular in Europe in the 17th century was called ___.
Answer:
chintz
10. The harvest festival of Pongal in Tamil Nadu is known as ___ in Punjab.
Answer:
Lohri (or Maghi)
11. The Assamese name for the harvest festival celebrated around January 14 is ___.
Answer:
Magh Bihu
12. The collection of animal fables that has been adapted into more than 50 languages worldwide is the ___.
Answer:
Panchatantra
13. The two great Indian epics that together amount to about 7,000 pages in Sanskrit are the ___ and the ___.
Answer:
Ramayana, Mahabharata
14. The tribal group that maintains a shrine of the ‘Pañcha Pāṇḍavar’ stone in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, is the ___ tribe.
Answer:
Irula tribe
15. According to Jawaharlal Nehru, even illiterate villagers in India knew hundreds of verses from the ___ and the ___ by heart.
Answer:
Ramayana, Mahabharata
True or False type Questions for Class 6 Social Science Chapter 8 Unity in Diversity, or ‘Many in the One’
Question 1. India’s population accounts for about 18 percent of the world’s total population. (True/False)
Answer:
True
Question 2. The ‘People of India’ project recorded only 125 languages in use across the country. (True/False)
Answer:
False – It recorded 325 languages using 25 scripts.
Question 3. Common staples such as rice, wheat, and pulses are consumed in almost every region of India. (True/False)
Answer:
True
Question 4. The sari is considered an example of unity in diversity because it is a single dress with countless variations across India. (True/False)
Answer:
True
Question 5. Chintz, a type of Indian printed cotton, was banned in some European countries in the 17th century. (True/False)
Answer:
True – England and France banned it to protect their own textile industries.
Question 6. Makara Sankranti is celebrated on or around January 14 under the same name across all states of India. (True/False)
Answer:
False – It has different names such as Pongal, Lohri, Magh Bihu, etc.
Question 7. The Panchatantra is a collection of animal fables originally written in Sanskrit more than 2,000 years ago. (True/False)
Answer:
True
Question 8. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata have only one single version each, preserved in Sanskrit. (True/False)
Answer:
False – They exist in countless regional and folk versions across India.
Question 9. Tribal communities such as the Bhils, Gonds, and Mundas preserved their own legends linked to the Ramayana and Mahabharata. (True/False)
Answer:
True
Question 10. According to Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s epics were largely unknown to ordinary villagers before Independence. (True/False)
Answer:
False – He observed that even illiterate villagers knew hundreds of verses by heart.
Assertion-Reason Questions for Social Science Chapter 8 Unity in Diversity, or ‘Many in the One’ for Class 6
1. Assertion (A): India is described as a land of “unity in diversity.”
Reason (R): Despite immense differences in landscapes, languages, and traditions, an underlying sense of cultural unity binds the people of India.
Codes
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Answer:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Assertion (A): Staple grains such as rice, wheat, and pulses form the base of Indian diets across regions.
Reason (R): These staples are only grown in southern India due to climatic conditions.
Codes
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Answer:
(c) A is true, but R is false
3. Assertion (A): The sari is considered an example of both unity and diversity in Indian clothing.
Reason (R): It is a single dress worn only in one style across the entire country.
Codes
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Answer:
(c) A is true, but R is false
4. Assertion (A): Festivals like Makara Sankranti highlight India’s cultural unity.
Reason (R): The same festival is celebrated on the same date across India, but under different names such as Pongal, Lohri, and Bihu.
Codes
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Answer:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
5. Assertion (A): The Ramayana and the Mahabharata exist only in their original Sanskrit forms.
Reason (R): These epics have never been adapted into regional languages or folk traditions.
Codes
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Answer:
(d) A is false, but R is true
6. Assertion (A): Indian culture treats diversity as enrichment rather than division.
Reason (R): Diversity in food, clothing, literature, and festivals coexists with an underlying unity of shared values and traditions.
Codes
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Answer:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Class 6 Social Science MCQ
- MCQ on Locating Places on the Earth for Chapter 1
- MCQ on Oceans and Continents for Chapter 2
- MCQ on Landforms and Life for Chapter 3
- MCQ on Timeline and Sources of History for Chapter 4
- MCQ on India, That Is Bharat for Chapter 5
- MCQ on The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation for Chapter 6
- MCQ on India’s Cultural Roots for Chapter 7
- MCQ on Family and Community for Chapter 9
- MCQ on Grassroots Democracy – Part 1 Governance for Chapter 10
- MCQ on Grassroots Democracy – Part 2 Local Government in Rural Areas for Chapter 11
- MCQ on Grassroots Democracy – Part 3 Local Government in Urban Areas for Chapter 12
- MCQ on The Value of Work for Chapter 13
- MCQ on Economic Activities Around Us for Chapter 14
