NCERT Class 12 Sociology Social Change and Development in India: Chapter 8 — Social Movements
This chapter, "Social Change and Development in India," from NCERT Class 12 Sociology, explores the profound impact of social movements on shaping the world. It highlights how rights like the eight-hour workday, equal pay, and social security were hard-won through workers' struggles. The chapter also delves into the "Right to Vote" (Universal Adult Franchise) as a significant constitutional guarantee in India, contrasting it with colonial rule and the limited suffrage in Britain. It discusses the Chartism movement for parliamentary representation and the long fight for women's suffrage. An activity encourages students to compare their rights with their grandmothers', emphasizing the importance of remembering past struggles for present-day rights. The chapter touches upon various global movements, including those against caste and gender discrimination, nationalist movements, socialist movements, the US Civil Rights Movement, and the anti-apartheid struggle, all of which have fundamentally altered societies.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | Sociology |
| Book | Social Change and Development in India |
| Chapter | Chapter 8 — Social Movements |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 370 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the role of social movements in achieving rights and social change.
- Analyze the historical context and significance of universal adult franchise.
- Compare the rights and opportunities of different generations.
- Recognize the impact of global social and political movements.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Universal adult franchise | The right of every adult citizen to vote, regardless of property, income, sex, social status, etc. |
| Social movements | Organized efforts by a large group of people to achieve a particular goal, typically a social or political one. |
| Suffrage | The right to vote in political elections. |
| Suffragettes | Women who campaigned for the right to vote in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| Colonial rule | The imposition of political control by one country over another territory and its people. |
| Social security | Government or private programs providing financial or other assistance to individuals and families in need. |
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Practice questions
- What are some rights that were gained through social movements? Answer: Rights such as an eight-hour workday, equal pay for men and women, social security, and pension were gained through social movements.
- What is universal adult franchise? Answer: Universal adult franchise is the right of every adult citizen to vote.
- What was the goal of the Chartism movement in England? Answer: The Chartism movement aimed for parliamentary representation and universal male suffrage.
- Why is it important to recall the struggles of the past? Answer: It is important to recall past struggles to understand how the rights we enjoy today became possible.
Practice MCQs
Q1. The holiday of weekends is a result of:
Explanation: The text states that the weekend holiday is the outcome of a long struggle by workers for better working conditions and rights.
Q2. Universal adult franchise means:
Explanation: Universal adult franchise is defined as the right of every adult to vote, as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.
Q3. In Britain, voting rights were initially limited to:
Explanation: The text mentions that even in Britain, voting rights were limited to property-owning men initially.
Q4. The suffragettes were activists who fought for:
Explanation: Suffragettes were women activists who took up the cause of all adult women's right to vote.
Q5. The US Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s fought for:
Explanation: The chapter mentions the US Civil Rights Movement fought for equal rights for Blacks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the significance of social movements mentioned in the chapter?
Social movements have shaped the world by achieving rights such as the eight-hour workday, equal pay, social security, and the right to vote.
What does 'universal adult franchise' mean in the Indian context?
It means that every adult citizen in India has the right to vote, a right guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.
How did voting rights evolve in Britain according to the text?
Initially, voting rights in Britain were limited to property-owning men. It took until after World War I for all men over 21 and certain categories of women to gain the right to vote.
Who were the suffragettes?
Suffragettes were women activists who campaigned vigorously for the right of all adult women to vote.
Besides voting rights, what other struggles are mentioned as having changed the world?
The chapter mentions struggles against caste and gender discrimination, nationalist movements, socialist movements, the US Civil Rights Movement, and the anti-apartheid struggle.
Why is it important to compare one's life with that of their grandmother?
Comparing lives helps students appreciate the rights they take for granted and understand the historical struggles that made these rights possible.
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Topics covered
NCERT Class 12 Sociology — Social Change and Development in India — Chapter 8 — Social Movements. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.