1. James Mill, a Scottish economist divided the Indian history into three periods-Hindu, Muslim and British.
2. This division had its own problem. Before the British came to India, Hindu and Muslim despots ruled the country. It is difficult to refer to any period of history as ‘Hindu’ or ‘Muslim’ because a variety of faiths existed simultaneously in these periods.
3. An age can’t be characterised only through the religion of the rulers of the time and to do so is to suggest that the lives and practices of the others do not really matter.
4. We should remember that even rulers in ancient India did not all share the same faith.

There is one significant way in which Indian Secularism differs from others. Unlike the strict separation between religion and the State in other countries like the United State of America in the Indian type of Secularism, the State can intervene in religious affairs. The Indian Constitution permits the State to intervene in religious matters like the practice of untouchability and inheritance laws to establish the Fundamental Right of equality.

We continue to associate history with a string of dates because the events occur in a chronological order and that helps to study the cause and effect relationship.

Dandi March was a 24-day non-violent march led by Mahatma Gandhi. New Delhi: On March 12, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi embarked a historic Salt March from Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat's Ahmedabad to the village of Dandi in the state's coastal area to protest against the steep tax the British levied on salt.

A democratic country needs a Constitution, because the Constitution serves several purposes. A Constitution help serve as a set of rules and principles that all persons in a country can agree upon as the basis of the way in which they want the country to be governed.

Mahalwari system was introduced in 1833 during the period of William Bentick. It was introduced in Central Province, North-West Frontier, Agra, Punjab, Gangetic Valley, etc of British India. The Mahalwari system had many provisions of both the Zamindari System and Ryotwari System.

Some of the major functions of the parliament are as follows:
1. Legislative Functions: The Parliament makes laws on all subjects listed in the Union List. It can also make laws on subjects listed under the Concurrent List. In case there is any conflict or overlapping in the provisions existing in the Union and State enactment, the Union law prevails. In cases when an emergency has been declared, the Union Parliament can also make laws on subjects that fall within the State List.

2. Financial Control: Union Parliament has exclusive powers to provide ways and means through which revenue has to be raised for public services. To that end it imposes taxes and also ensures that the money sanctioned for expenditure to various departments of the government has been spent for the authorized purposes.
3. Providing and exercising control over Cabinet: Our Parliamentary system blends the legislative and the executive organs of the State in as much as the executive power is wielded by a group of Members of the Legislature who command majority in the Lok Sabha.
4. Critical Assessment of the Work of the Cabinet: The Parliament provides the forum through which is ensured that the Cabinet remains in power only as long as it commands majority support in the Lok Sabha which comprises elected representatives of the people. It is one of the most important functions of the Parliament to bring about discussions and critical assessments of the performance of the government departments.

The debates ensure that the weaknesses in terms of performance are brought to light and the Ministers and through them the entire executive machinery is kept on toes.

5. Role of opposition:The existence of opposition also ensures that the nation gets to know about the alternative points of view.

6. An organ of information: Parliament is the most powerful organ so far information about the functioning of the government is concerned. The information provided in the Houses is authoritative and Ministers are bound to provide information on matters of government when so desired by the members.

7. Constitutional Functions: The power to amend the Constitution vests with the Parliament. Constitutional amendments have to be passed by each house by a majority of total membership as well as by two-third majority of members present in voting. In some cases amendments need ratification from half of the Legislative assemblies of the States.

8. Judicial Functions: Parliament has the exclusive powers to impeach the President and remove judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court’s through a prescribed procedure. Parliament can also punish a person for contempt or defamation of the House.

9. Elective functions: Elected members of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha Constitute the Electoral College for the election of the Vice-President. Along with elected members of the State Legislatures they form the Electoral College for election to the office of the President. The Parliament can also by legislation create new States or make changes in the existing boundaries of the States.

Periodize means to divide (a portion of time) into periods.

A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for detailed public disclosure of an invention. An invention is a solution to a specific technological problem and is a product or a process.Patents are a form of intellectual property.

Social science helps us understand, create, and engage with the institutions that shape our lives.