NCERT Class 6 Social Science Exploring Society India and Beyond: Chapter 9 — Family and Community
This chapter, "Family and Community," from NCERT's "Exploring Society: India and Beyond" for Class 6 Social Science, introduces the fundamental importance of the family unit in society. It defines family as the most ancient and basic unit of any society. The chapter explores different types of families prevalent in Indian society, distinguishing between joint families, which include multiple generations living together, and nuclear families, typically consisting of a couple and their children. It highlights the rich vocabulary in Indian languages for describing family relationships, emphasizing the deep bonds among cousins who are considered brothers and sisters. The text encourages exploration of family structures within one's neighborhood and comparison within the class, fostering an understanding of societal organization and kinship.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 6 |
| Subject | Social Science |
| Book | Exploring Society India and Beyond |
| Chapter | Chapter 9 — Family and Community |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 299 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the family as the fundamental unit of society.
- Differentiate between joint and nuclear family structures.
- Recognize the diversity of family types in Indian society.
- Appreciate the significance of kinship and relationships within families.
- Explore the concept of community and its role.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Joint family | A family with several generations living together. |
| Nuclear family | A family limited to a couple and their children. |
| Society | A large group of people living together in an organized way. |
| Community | A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. |
| Generations | All the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively. |
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Practice questions
- What is considered the fundamental unit of any society? Answer: The family is considered the fundamental unit of any society.
- Describe a joint family. Answer: A joint family has several generations living together, including grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, and cousins.
- What typically constitutes a nuclear family? Answer: A nuclear family is usually limited to a couple and their children, or sometimes one parent and children.
- How do Indian languages often refer to cousins? Answer: In most Indian languages, cousins are referred to as 'brothers' and 'sisters', emphasizing deep bonds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main topic of Chapter 1 in 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond'?
Chapter 1, 'Family and Community,' discusses the importance of the family unit and introduces the concept of community.
What are the two main types of families discussed in the chapter?
The chapter discusses joint families and nuclear families.
Why are family relationships described as having deep bonds in Indian society?
Indian languages often use terms like 'brother' and 'sister' for cousins, highlighting the deep bonds among all children in the family.
What is a joint family?
A joint family is one where multiple generations, such as grandparents, parents, and children, live together.
What is a nuclear family?
A nuclear family typically consists of a couple and their children.
Which book and class is this chapter from?
This is Chapter 1 from the NCERT Class 6 Social Science book 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond'.
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Topics covered
NCERT Class 6 Social Science — Exploring Society India and Beyond — Chapter 9 — Family and Community. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.