NCERT Class 8 Social Science Social And Political Life: Chapter 8 — Law and Social Justice
Chapter 8 of NCERT's Social And Political Life for Class 8, titled 'Law and Social Justice,' explores the role of laws in preventing exploitation in markets. It revisits the 'Story of a shirt' to illustrate how producers, workers, and consumers can face unfair practices. The chapter highlights the importance of government-made laws to minimize such exploitation. It specifically discusses the law on minimum wages, ensuring workers are paid fairly and not underpaid. The text prompts readers to investigate minimum wage rates in their state and consider their adequacy. It also touches upon laws protecting producers and consumers, aiming for non-exploitative market relations. The chapter uses the example of textile mills in Ahmedabad facing competition from power looms to show unsatisfactory working conditions. This chapter helps students understand how legal frameworks contribute to social justice in economic activities.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 8 |
| Subject | Social Science |
| Book | Social And Political Life |
| Chapter | Chapter 8 — Law and Social Justice |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 3 minutes |
| Word count | 425 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the need for laws to prevent exploitation in markets.
- Identify the role of government in creating laws for social justice.
- Explain the concept and importance of minimum wages for workers.
- Recognize how laws protect the interests of producers and consumers.
- Analyze unfair market practices and their legal implications.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Exploitation | The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work. |
| Chain of markets | A series of intermediaries linking producers to consumers. |
| Producer | A person or company that makes goods or provides services. |
| Consumer | A person who purchases goods and services for personal use. |
| Minimum wage | The lowest remuneration that employers must legally pay their workers. |
| Contractor | A person or company that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labor to complete a job. |
| Power looms | Mechanical looms powered by electricity or other sources, often used in small industrial units. |
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Practice questions
- Why does the government make laws related to markets? Answer: The government makes laws to protect people from exploitation by unfair practices in the market, ensuring fair treatment for workers, producers, and consumers.
- What is the purpose of a law on minimum wages? Answer: A law on minimum wages is meant to protect workers by ensuring they are paid a fair amount and not underpaid by their employers.
- Who are the main parties involved in market relations that laws aim to protect? Answer: The main parties are workers, consumers, and producers.
- What challenges did textile mills face in Ahmedabad during the 1980s and 1990s? Answer: Textile mills faced greater competition from power looms, leading to the closure of many mills.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main theme of Chapter 8, 'Law and Social Justice'?
The chapter discusses how laws are made to prevent exploitation and ensure fairness for workers, producers, and consumers in markets.
Why is the 'Story of a shirt' mentioned in this chapter?
It's used to illustrate how various people involved in producing a product, like a shirt, can face exploitation at different stages of the market chain.
What is minimum wage and why is it important?
Minimum wage is the lowest wage an employer can legally pay a worker. It's important to protect workers from being paid unfairly low wages.
Besides workers, who else do market laws protect?
Market laws also protect the interests of producers and consumers.
What are power looms and what issues are associated with them?
Power looms are small, mechanized units. The chapter notes that working conditions in them are often unsatisfactory.
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Topics covered
NCERT Class 8 Social Science — Social And Political Life — Chapter 8 — Law and Social Justice. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.