NCERT Class 4 Environmental Studies Looking Around(EVS): Chapter 17 — Nandita in Mumbai
This chapter, 'Nandita in Mumbai', from NCERT's Class 4 Environmental Studies book 'Looking Around', narrates the experience of a young girl who moves to Mumbai with her mother for treatment. She describes her initial feelings about the crowded city, the train station, and her uncle's (Mama's) house, which is a single room shared by the entire family. The chapter highlights the challenges of living in a crowded urban environment, particularly the scarcity of water and the daily struggle to collect it from a public tap. It contrasts this with the girl's village home, which, though also having one room, has separate areas for cooking and bathing and a courtyard. The narrative emphasizes the importance of water and the conflicts that arise due to its shortage, a common issue in densely populated areas. This chapter helps students understand diverse living conditions and resource management in cities.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 4 |
| Subject | Environmental Studies |
| Book | Looking Around(EVS) |
| Chapter | Chapter 17 — Nandita in Mumbai |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 265 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the challenges of living in a big city.
- Recognize the importance of water and the issues related to its scarcity.
- Compare different living conditions in villages and cities.
- Learn about family structures and shared living spaces.
- Develop empathy for people facing resource challenges.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Treatment | Medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury. |
| Crowded | Full of people or things, packed closely together. |
| Huts | Small, simple shelters or houses. |
| Narrow | Of limited width. |
| Courtyard | An unroofed area that is completely or mostly enclosed by the walls of a building. |
| Public-tap | A tap providing water for general use by the public. |
| Scarcity | The state of being scarce or in short supply; shortage. |
The complete chapter text is read in the official NCERT PDF viewer below (streamed from ncert.nic.in). This page provides NCERT Help study material — summary, vocabulary, practice questions, and FAQs — not a full reproduction of the textbook.
Read chapter online
This PDF is loaded from the official NCERT website (ncert.nic.in). Use the page buttons below to read — download is disabled on NCERT Help.
Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.
Practice questions
- Why did Nandita and her mother come to Mumbai? Answer: They came to Mumbai for the mother's treatment.
- Describe Mama's house in Mumbai. Answer: Mama's house is a single room where Mama, Mami, their two daughters, their son, and now Nandita and her mother live. They sit, sleep, cook, and wash all in this one room.
- What problem do Nandita, Mami, and Seema face every morning? Answer: They have to go to a public tap early in the morning to fill water, and there are often fights for water if they are late.
- How is Nandita's village house different from her Mama's house in Mumbai? Answer: Nandita's village house also has only one room, but they have separate places for cooking and bathing, and a courtyard outside. In Mumbai, everything happens in one room.
Frequently asked questions
What is 'Mama' and 'Mami' in Hindi?
Mama is the mother's brother, and Mami is the mother's brother's wife.
What is the main problem faced by people living in crowded areas like Mumbai?
A major problem is the scarcity of resources, such as water, and the difficulty in managing daily needs in limited space.
How does the chapter contrast village and city life?
The chapter shows that while a village house might have only one room, it often has separate spaces for activities and outdoor areas like courtyards. City living, especially in crowded conditions, means all activities happen in a single room.
What does the chapter teach about water?
It teaches that water is a precious resource, and its shortage can lead to conflicts and daily struggles, especially in densely populated urban areas.
Why is it important to get up early in the morning in Nandita's situation?
It is important to get up early to collect water from the public tap before it runs out or before fights start.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 4 Environmental Studies — Looking Around(EVS) — Chapter 17 — Nandita in Mumbai. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.