Social Science History Our Past Class 6 Chapter 1 Questions and Answers - Free PDF Download
FAQs on NCERT Solutions For Class 6 Social Science History Our Past Chapter 1 Introduction: What, Where, How and When? - 2025-26
1. What key topics are covered in the NCERT Solutions for Class 6 History Chapter 1, 'What, Where, How and When?'
The solutions for this chapter provide detailed answers for key concepts including:
- How to find out about the past using different sources.
- Where early people lived, such as along the banks of the Narmada river and in the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills.
- The origin of the names India and Bharat.
- Understanding historical sources like manuscripts and inscriptions.
- The meaning of dates, including an explanation of BC and AD.
2. How do the NCERT Solutions explain the difference between manuscripts and inscriptions for Class 6 students?
The NCERT Solutions clarify that manuscripts are old books or documents written by hand, typically on palm leaf or the bark of a birch tree. In contrast, inscriptions are writings engraved on hard surfaces like stone or metal. The solutions help students answer questions by highlighting that manuscripts were fragile, while inscriptions are more durable sources of our past.
3. How should a student answer a question on the origin of the name 'India' based on NCERT Chapter 1?
Based on the NCERT textbook, the correct answer should explain that the word 'India' comes from the river Indus, which is called 'Sindhu' in Sanskrit. The Iranians and the Greeks who came through the northwest referred to the Indus as the 'Hindos' or the 'Indos'. The land to the east of this river was then called India. This step-by-step explanation is crucial for a full-marks answer.
4. What is the correct way to explain the terms BC and AD as per the CBSE pattern for Class 6 History?
For a complete answer, students should explain that these are systems for dating events.
- BC stands for 'Before Christ' and refers to the years before the birth of Jesus Christ. These dates are counted backwards.
- AD stands for 'Anno Domini', a Latin phrase meaning 'in the year of the Lord'. It refers to the years after the birth of Christ.
5. Why does the NCERT History textbook for Class 6 use the title 'Our Pasts' (in plural)?
The title 'Our Pasts' is used to emphasize that history is not a single story about one group of people like kings and queens. Instead, there were many different 'pasts' for different groups of people. For example, the life of a herder was very different from the life of a merchant, and an artisan's past was different from a king's. The NCERT solutions guide students to understand that history is diverse and includes the stories of ordinary people as well.
6. How do the NCERT Solutions for this chapter help in solving the textbook exercises effectively?
The NCERT Solutions for Class 6 History Chapter 1 provide step-by-step answers to all the questions in the textbook exercises. They break down complex questions into simple, easy-to-understand points. This helps students learn the correct method for framing answers, use the right historical terms, and ensure their responses align with the CBSE/NCERT guidelines for the 2025-26 session.
7. What are the main types of sources historians use to study the past, as explained in Chapter 1?
As explained in the solutions for Chapter 1, historians use two primary types of sources. The first is archaeological sources, which include objects like tools, weapons, pots, buildings, and coins, as well as inscriptions. The second is literary sources, which mainly consist of handwritten manuscripts that include religious texts, epics, poems, and plays.
8. What is a common mistake students might make when answering questions about early human settlements from this chapter?
A common mistake is providing a vague answer about where people lived. The NCERT solutions for Chapter 1 guide students to be specific. For a correct answer, one should mention precise locations from the textbook, such as the banks of the Narmada river (where early hunter-gatherers lived), the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills (early agricultural sites), and the Garo hills and Vindhyas.
9. How can using the NCERT Solutions for Chapter 1 build a strong foundation for higher classes?
By thoroughly understanding the NCERT solutions for this introductory chapter, students grasp fundamental concepts like sources, timelines (BC/AD), and the diversity of the past. This foundational knowledge is crucial because all future chapters in Class 6 and beyond build upon these core ideas. Mastering how to interpret sources and frame answers correctly in Chapter 1 prepares students for more complex historical topics later on.






















