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UNDERSTANDING
SOCIAL SCIENCE
MEANING,SCOPE AND RELEVANCE
INDIAN PERSPECTIVE
Social Science: Key definitions by Scholars and
Authors
James High: Defined it as "bodies of learning and study which recognizes the simultaneous and
mutual action of physical and non-physical stimuli which produce social relation".
Meaning- Social Science studies how different factors affect human relationships.
Charles Beard: Described it as a "body of knowledge and thought pertaining to human affairs
as distinguished from sticks, stones, stars and physical objects.”
Meaning- It studies human life and activities, not physical objects.
Social Science is a systemic study of human society and the
relationship between the individual and society, social institutions,
and organisations.
It draws its content from the disciplines of History, Geography,
Political Science, and Economics, to provide an interdisciplinary
understanding of society and its functions.
At the heart of Social Science education lies an understanding
of the world, the diverse concerns of human society, and
participating in it as empathetic and responsible citizens.
Source: National Curriculum Framework for
School Education (NCF-SE) 2023
SOCIAL SCIENCE & ASPECTS
OF HUMAN LIFE
PEOPLE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS
◦ Family Life
◦ Community Living
◦ Social Customs
◦ Religious and Cultural Practices
◦ Roles and Responsibilities
◦ Behaviour
SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS
o Government
o Law
o Courts
o Police
o Markets
o Banks
SCOPE OF SOCIAL
SCIENCEINTERRELATION
AMONG
HISTORY
GEOGRAPH
Y
ECONOMICS
POLITICAL
SCIENCE
The scope of Social Science refers to the wide range of questions and areas it studies in order
to understand human life in society.
At the school level, Social Science is commonly organized around four core disciplines:
Geography History
Political Science Economics
Geography as a
discipline
Geography studies the Earth as the home of human beings.
It helps us understand landforms, climate, rivers, soils, forests, and resources.
Geography helps us see that human life is closely linked to physical conditions. (Dependency of
agriculture on various landforms.)
Helps understand environmental challenges such as floods, earthquake
etc. It encourages the importance of sustainability.
History as a discipline
History helps us understand how society has changed over time and why the present is shaped the way it is.
History explores:
*Major events and changes
*Movements for freedom
*People and their lives in different periods
*Social and cultural developments
and justice
*The rise and fall of institutions
and ideas
History is important because it helps us understand that today’s society did not appear suddenly.
It tells that India’s diversity isn’t its weakness, but the strength that shapes the society.
Political Science as a
discipline
Political Science studies how societies are governed.
It focuses on government institutions, laws, rights, duties, and the ways in which
people participate in public life.
Political Science is closely linked to daily life.
Political Science also supports inclusivity and equity by discussing equality before law,
protection of rights, and the responsibility of the state to support all citizens, especially
those who are underprivileged.
Economics as a discipline
Economics studies how people and societies manage resources and make choices.
Economics helps us understand how goods and services are produced,
distributed, and consumed, and how people earn a living.
Economics also shows why equity matters. If some people have very limited
access to education, healthcare , or jobs, they may remain trapped in
poverty.
Aids in taking valuable economic decisions.
RELEVANCE
OF SOCIAL
SCIENCE
SOCIETY
GOVERNANCE
ECONOMY
ENVIRONMENT
Every society has different groups and different ways of
living. Social Science helps us understand how these
differences develop and how people learn to live
together.
Government decisions influence
schools, hospitals, roads,
law and order, and public welfare
schemes. Social Science helps
students understand how these
decisions are taken and how
citizens can engage with them.
Most families make daily economic choices. Social
Science helps students understand such choices not
only at the family level but also at the level of society.
Human beings depend on the
environment for survival and
development.
Social Science helps us
understand how human activity
affects
the environment, and how
environmental changes affect
human life.
DIVERSITY
INCLUSIVITY
SUSTAINABILITY
EQUITY
GUIDING VALUES IN SOCIAL SCIENCE
Recognising and respecting differences among
people.
Ensuring that everyone feels welcomed, respected,
and able to participate fully in shared spaces.
Using resources wisely so that both present and future
generations can meet their needs.
It means fairness in opportunities and outcomes.
UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL SCIENCE IN INDIAN
PERSPECTIVE
When we study Social Science from an Indian Perspective, we try to understand India as it is,
with its unique experiences and realities.
India is often described as plural and diverse, but diversity is not only a description of culture.
It also shapes questions of language policy, access to public services, employment, and
representation.
A grounded understanding of India therefore involves recognising diversity while also examining
how equality and dignity can be protected in daily life and in public systems.
Indian secularism is often discussed as distinctive because it focuses on protecting religious
freedom while ensuring that the state treats all faiths fairly in a diverse democracy.
The Constitution
- a guiding framework for public
life
India’s Constitution is central to understanding public life because it defines the ideals of justice,
liberty, equality, and fraternity
It sets out how institutions should function in a democracy.
The Fundamental Duties include developing scientific temper,
humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
The past and making of modern India
To understand India today, we need to understand how the past shaped present institutions and
identities.
Colonial rule influenced land revenue systems, education, transport, industries, and patterns of
inequality.
The freedom struggle shaped ideas of rights, justice, and citizenship and helped create
a commitment to democratic governance.
Governance from the village to the nation
Understanding governance in India means understanding how decisions are made
and implemented at different levels and how people participate as citizens.
Local self-government is especially important because it brings decision making closer to
people’s daily needs such as drinking water, sanitation, local roads, and village or ward
planning.
Environments and Livelihood
Nature shapes livelihoods in powerful ways in India.
Monsoons influence agriculture, rivers support irrigation and transport, and forests support
both biodiversity and local economies.
Economic life and development
Economic life shapes our daily choices because livelihoods, inequality, and development
affect what we can afford and what opportunities we can access.
Work in India ranges from agriculture and fishing to crafts, factories, construction,
transport, retail, and services, with many people depending on seasonal or informal jobs and
uncertain incomes.
Development can improve roads, electricity, digital access, healthcare, and employment, but its
benefits are not shared equally across regions and social groups
CONCLUSION
An Indian perspective encourages us to connect disciplines rather than keeping them separate.
A single issue such as migration, drought, unemployment, or urban overcrowding
involves geography, history, economics, and political institutions at the same time.
It also encourages us to judge choices using constitutional values, respect for diversity,
inclusivity, sustainability, and equity.
In this way, the subject becomes a tool for understanding our own lives and our country, and
for developing the habit of thinking carefully, fairly, and responsibly about society and
public decisions.
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