NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science (Exploring Society) Chapter 13: The Story of Indian Farming
These Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 13 solutions cover The Story of Indian Farming from Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), the new NCF-2023 textbook for the 2026–27 session. The chapter belongs to the theme India and the World: Land and the People and explains the main characteristics of Indian agriculture, how farming is linked to climate, soil and water, the three cropping seasons — kharif, rabi and zaid — the six major soil types of India, traditional and modern irrigation, seeds, the Green Revolution, sustainable farming and the challenges farmers face today. Below you get step-by-step answers to all Questions and activities, clear notes on key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.
Class: 7Subject: Social ScienceBook: Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2)Chapter: 13Theme: India and the World: Land and the PeopleSession: 2026–27
Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 13 – Overview
Chapter 13, The Story of Indian Farming, traces agriculture from prehistory to the present. It explains that farming — the preparation of soil, cultivation of plants, rearing of livestock and growing of trees — is one of humankind’s oldest occupations and that agriculture and allied activities contribute a little over 18 per cent of India’s GDP and employ about 46 per cent of its working population (2022–23). Archaeology shows rice in the Ganga Plain by the 7th–8th millennium BCE and barley/wheat among the Harappans, while ancient texts such as the Arthaśhāstra, Kṛiṣhi Parāśhara and Vṛikṣhāyurveda record deep agricultural knowledge. The chapter then shows how climate, soil and water decide what grows where, describing India’s seven climates and 15 agroclimatic zones, the role of the monsoons, the three cropping seasons (kharif, rabi, zaid), six major soil types, rain-fed versus irrigated farming, seeds, the Green Revolution and its limits, and the need to blend traditional wisdom with modern innovation for sustainable agriculture — while farmers face challenges of small landholdings, climate change and debt.
Key Terms & Concepts
Agriculture and allied activities: broadly includes farming, animal husbandry (raising livestock), forestry and horticulture, plus beekeeping (apiculture), fisheries, rearing of silkworms (sericulture) and fibre production such as cotton and hemp. The word agriculture comes from Latin — agri (field) and cultura (to cultivate).
Threshing: removing the edible grain from the straw or husk, manually or using a machine.
Intercropping: the practice of growing two or more different crops simultaneously (seen at the Harappan site of Kalibangan around 2800 BCE).
Grafting: a technique that joins one plant with another to grow as a single plant, combining desirable traits like pest resistance or sweetness of fruit.
Agroclimatic zones: India is divided into 15 such zones by combining climate, soil, terrain and vegetation — for example the Upper Gangetic Plain Region and the Western Dry Region.
Cropping seasons: the three seasons of Indian agriculture — kharif (monsoon crops, sown Jun–Jul: rice, maize, jowar, bajra, cotton, groundnut, sugarcane), rabi (winter crops, sown around Oct–Nov: wheat, barley, gram, peas, mustard) and zaid (summer crops: watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, pumpkin). The terms are of Arabic origin, used since Mughal times; earlier names were kedāra, haimana and graiṣhmika.
Soil & humus: soil is the thin upper layer of the Earth’s crust that supports plant life, formed over a century to several millennia. Humus is the dark organic matter formed by decomposition of plant and animal matter; it is rich in nutrients and retains moisture. Weathering is the breaking down of rocks into soil particles by physical, chemical or biological means.
Six major soil types of India: alluvial, black (cotton) soil, red soil, laterite soil, desert soil and mountain / alpine soil.
Rain-fed vs irrigated agriculture: rain-fed farming relies entirely on rainfall; irrigated farming uses artificial methods such as canals, wells, phad systems, bamboo drip irrigation, and modern drip and sprinkler irrigation.
Green Revolution: a turning point in the 1960s–70s (associated with M.S. Swaminathan) introducing high-yielding seed varieties (HYV), increased irrigation, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and machinery — making India self-sufficient in food but causing soil and water degradation.
Sustainable agriculture: combining the productivity of modern methods with traditional wisdom (Indian Knowledge Systems), e.g. organic farming, neem-based pesticides, panchagavya and beejamrit. Sikkim is the world’s first 100% organic state.
Landholding & hectare: a landholding is an area of land a person owns; India’s average is about three-fourths of a hectare (1 hectare = 10,000 square metres). Other terms: soil conservation, terracing, afforestation, hydroponics and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana crop-insurance scheme.
“The Big Questions” — Answered
The chapter opens with three Big Questions. Here are concise, exam-ready answers based on the chapter.
1. What are the main characteristics of Indian agriculture?
ANSWERIndian agriculture is a vibrant blend of traditional and modern practices with very diverse crops and deep cultural roots. It is one of the oldest occupations and still employs about 46 per cent of working people (2022–23). It depends heavily on the monsoons and on climate, soil and water, so crops differ from region to region. Farming follows three cropping seasons — kharif, rabi and zaid — and includes allied activities like livestock rearing, forestry and horticulture. Landholdings are mostly small (about three-fourths of a hectare on average), and more than 75 per cent of farm workers are women.
2. How are farming, climate, soil, and water interrelated?
ANSWERWhat grows where and when depends on all three. Climate (India has seven climate types and 15 agroclimatic zones) decides temperature, rainfall and seasons, which is why rice grows where rain is plentiful and wheat where it is cooler and drier. Soil provides nutrients, water and support — alluvial soil suits wheat and rice, black soil suits cotton, and so on. Water, from the monsoons or from irrigation, is essential because no crop can grow without it. Together they form a single system: a change in one (such as a failed monsoon) directly affects farming.
3. How can traditional practices and contemporary ones complement each other?
ANSWERTraditional methods (crop rotation, multiple cropping, contour ploughing, organic manure, terrace farming, phad and bamboo drip irrigation) work in harmony with Nature and are sustainable, but may give lower yields. Modern methods (HYV seeds, machinery, drip and sprinkler irrigation) are highly productive but can harm soil and water. The two complement each other in sustainable agriculture — for example using modern drip irrigation to save water, neem-based pesticides instead of chemicals, and ICAR-validated traditional practices (over 85% of which modern science confirmed) to keep soil healthy while still producing enough food.
“Questions and activities” — Full Solutions
All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Questions and activities section. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.
1. Why do farmers in Kerala grow rice while farmers in Punjab grow mostly wheat? What would happen if they swapped?
ANSWERCrops grow according to the local climate, soil and water. Kerala lies in the tropical wet western coastal strip; it receives heavy rainfall from both the southwest and northeast monsoons and has warm, moist conditions and water-retaining soil — ideal for rice, which needs plenty of water and warmth. Punjab lies in the subtropical northern plains with cooler winters, fertile alluvial soil and less standing water; these conditions suit wheat, a rabi crop that needs cool weather and moderate water.If they swapped: growing wheat in Kerala’s very wet, warm climate would be difficult, as too much rain and heat can damage the crop and reduce yields. Growing rice in Punjab would need huge amounts of irrigation water, draining groundwater and raising costs. So each crop does best where Nature suits it; swapping would lower production and waste resources.
2. Match the following:
ANSWER
Column A
Column B (correct match)
(a) Kharif crops
(ii) Crops grown during the monsoon
(b) Rabi crops
(i) Crops during the winter
(c) Alluvial soil
(v) Soil rich in nutrients deposited by rivers
(d) Terrace farming
(vi) Method of farming on hillsides
(e) Alpine soil
(iii) Thin, rough, and rocky soil found in mountainous regions
3. Why do certain crops thrive in specific regions?
ANSWERCertain crops thrive in specific regions because the growing of crops depends on several natural factors — the soil, the climate, the availability of water, the terrain and the season. India’s varied geography gives different regions different amounts of sunshine, rainfall and temperature (seven climate types and 15 agroclimatic zones), and different soils.A crop grows best where these factors match its needs: rice thrives in warm, wet regions with water-holding soil; wheat in cooler plains with fertile alluvial soil; tea in the hilly Northeast and Nilgiris; saffron in the cool Kashmir valley; and cotton in black soil. When the climate, soil and water of a region suit a crop, it gives a good harvest there — which is why crops are region-specific.
4. How has modern technology helped farmers?
ANSWERModern technology has made farming faster, easier and more productive in several ways:Machinery: tractors, harvesters, threshing machines and transplanters reduce hard manual labour and speed up ploughing, sowing, harvesting and threshing.Better seeds: the Green Revolution introduced high-yielding varieties (HYV) of seeds that give bigger harvests and resist pests, helping India become self-sufficient in food.Efficient irrigation: drip and sprinkler irrigation deliver water directly and efficiently, saving water in areas where groundwater is decreasing.New methods and information: greenhouses, hydroponics, drones to assess soil moisture, weather forecasts, cold storages and digital access to markets help farmers grow more and get better prices. Overall, technology has increased yields and ensured a more stable food supply.
5. Why is sustainable agriculture important? Write a short note on this.
ANSWERSustainable agriculture is important because it protects the land, water and environment so that farming can continue for future generations. The highly productive methods of the Green Revolution, while ensuring food security, also caused serious harm — impoverishment of the soil, depletion of groundwater, contamination of soil and water by chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and damage to human and animal health and to creatures like bees that are needed for pollination.Sustainable agriculture, inspired by Indian Knowledge Systems, blends the productivity of modern methods with the wisdom of traditional practices. Examples include organic farming (using compost, seed cake and animal manure instead of chemicals), neem-based pesticides, crop rotation, efficient drip irrigation and biofertilisers like panchagavya and beejamrit. Sikkim, the world’s first 100% organic state, shows it can be done. Such farming keeps soil healthy, conserves water, reduces pollution and still meets our food needs — that is why it is essential.
6. Name some challenges that farmers face today. What might be their impact for people?
ANSWERChallenges Indian farmers face today:1. Small landholdings — land gets divided among family members over generations, so the average holding is only about three-fourths of a hectare, giving little income and making machines hard to use.2. Climate change — unpredictable weather, untimely rains, droughts and heavy rainfall raise the risk of crop destruction.3. Non-affordability of modern equipment — machines designed for large farms are expensive to buy or rent.4. Debt and market problems — loans taken in hard times become a debt trap, and farmers may struggle to get fair prices for produce.Impact on people: these challenges cause heavy losses and hardship; many farmers (as many as 2,300 a day by some estimates) are compelled to abandon agriculture. This threatens farmers’ livelihoods, can reduce food production, raise food prices and affect the food security of the whole country.
7. Have a debate in class on the topic “Traditional irrigation methods are better than modern ones.”
ANSWER (activity — debate points)This is a classroom debate, so you should prepare points for both sides. A model framework:For the motion (traditional methods better): systems like phad canals, bamboo drip irrigation, tanks, khadin and small rainwater ponds are community-based, low-cost, repairable locally, work in harmony with Nature, recharge groundwater and have lasted for centuries (e.g. the 1,800-year-old Kallanai anicut).Against the motion (modern methods better): drip and sprinkler irrigation deliver water very precisely and efficiently, reduce waste where groundwater is falling, can irrigate large areas and low-rainfall regions, and increase yields for a growing population.Balanced conclusion: the best path combines both — using modern efficiency with traditional, sustainable wisdom. (Conduct the debate in class with your teacher’s guidance.)
8. Write a short essay describing what farming might be like when you are 60 years old. You could also draw / paint a picture to illustrate what you envision.
ANSWER (activity — model essay)This is a creative writing/drawing activity; write your own vision. A model answer: “When I am 60, I imagine farming will be smarter and greener. Drones and sensors will check soil moisture and the health of crops, and drip irrigation will use every drop of water carefully because water will be precious. Many farms will be organic, using panchagavya, compost and neem instead of harmful chemicals, so the soil and rivers stay healthy. Small farmers will use compact machines made for tiny plots, and may grow vegetables in greenhouses or by hydroponics in cities. Farmers will get weather alerts and fair prices on their phones, and traditional wisdom — crop rotation, terrace farming, ṛitu chakra — will blend with technology. I hope farming will once again be respected as the backbone of India.” (Add your own drawing/painting of this future farm.)
9. Form small groups and discuss the issues affecting the Ganga basin. Prepare a presentation proposing your solutions and their rationale (your reasons). Share and discuss in class. Your teacher will guide you in this exercise.
ANSWER (activity — discussion points)This is a group project; work with your teacher. Key issues and possible solutions to discuss:Issues: the Ganga, which feeds over 500 million people, is under stress — global warming is melting Himalayan glaciers at an unprecedented rate, too much water is diverted for irrigation, agriculture and industry pump out huge amounts of groundwater, and hundreds of dams interfere with the river’s natural flow, so parts of it are no longer navigable in summer.Proposed solutions (with reasons): use efficient drip/sprinkler irrigation and water-harvesting to reduce water demand; control industrial pollution and treat waste so water stays clean; recharge groundwater through ponds and afforestation; regulate dams to maintain natural flow; and act on climate change to slow glacier melt. Rationale: a healthy Ganga is essential for the food, water and livelihoods of millions, so saving it protects both people and farming. (Prepare and present this in class.)
10. Looking at the crops listed in the section ‘Echoes from the Past’, which ones do you find in use in your home? What conclusion can you draw from your observations?
ANSWER (activity — observation)This is an observation activity, so list the crops you actually use; a model answer: The section ‘Echoes from the Past’ lists crops such as rice, barley, wheat, millets, oilseeds (sesame, mustard, linseed, castor), legumes (green gram, black gram, fenugreek), fibre crops (cotton, hemp, jute) and fruits (grapes, dates, jujube, jackfruit, mango, mulberry, black plum). In most Indian homes we still use many of these every day — rice, wheat, mustard oil, sesame, several pulses and fruits like mango and jackfruit.Conclusion: the crops grown by our ancestors thousands of years ago are still part of our daily food. This shows the remarkable continuity of Indian agriculture and food culture — the knowledge of farming has been passed down for millennia, linking us directly to the farmers of prehistory and the Harappans. (Write your own list and conclusion.)
Extra Practice Questions
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. What does the term ‘agriculture and allied activities’ include?
ANSWERIt broadly includes agriculture (farming), livestock-related activities (animal husbandry), forestry and horticulture, along with beekeeping (apiculture), fisheries, rearing of silkworms and preparing silk yarn, and fibre production such as cotton and hemp. Together they contribute a little over 18 per cent of India’s GDP (2022–23).
Q2. Name the three cropping seasons of India and give one crop of each.
ANSWERThe three cropping seasons are kharif (monsoon crops, e.g. rice), rabi (winter crops, e.g. wheat) and zaid (summer crops, e.g. watermelon). These Arabic terms have been in use since Mughal times; earlier they were called kedāra, haimana and graiṣhmika.
Q3. What are the six major soil types of India?
ANSWERIndia’s soils are classified into six major types: alluvial soil, black (cotton) soil, red soil, laterite soil, desert soil, and mountain / alpine soil. Alluvial soil is rich in nutrients deposited by rivers, black soil holds moisture and suits cotton, and alpine soil is thin, rough and rocky.
Q4. What is the difference between rain-fed and irrigated agriculture?
ANSWERRain-fed agriculture relies entirely on rainfall and is common where the monsoon gives enough rain, but it faces droughts and unpredictable monsoons. Irrigated agriculture uses artificial methods — canals, wells, drip and sprinkler irrigation — to supply water, enabling farming even in low-rainfall areas and increasing yields.
Q5. What was the Green Revolution and who is called its architect?
ANSWERThe Green Revolution was a turning point in the 1960s and 1970s that introduced high-yielding varieties (HYV) of seeds, increased irrigation, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and mechanised equipment. It greatly increased wheat and rice production and made India self-sufficient in food. M.S. Swaminathan, a Bharat Ratna recipient, is called the architect of the Green Revolution.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q1. Describe the rhythm of the three cropping seasons — kharif, rabi and zaid — with their crops.
ANSWERIndian agriculture follows three cropping seasons that farmers have observed for centuries, ensuring a year-round supply of food. Kharif crops are monsoon crops, sown around June–July with the southwest monsoon and harvested in autumn; they need hot weather and heavy rainfall and include rice, maize, jowar, bajra, groundnut, sugarcane and cotton. Rabi crops are winter crops, sown around October–November and harvested in spring; they need cool weather and less water and include wheat, barley, gram, peas and mustard. Zaid crops are short summer crops grown between rabi and kharif, including watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber and pumpkin. The terms are Arabic and have been used since Mughal times (earlier kedāra, haimana, graiṣhmika). Each season has its own challenge — kharif depends on the timely arrival of the monsoon, and excessive rainfall can destroy the crop.
Q2. Explain how ancient Indian texts and archaeology reveal a long, rich history of farming in India.
ANSWERThe story of Indian farming goes back to prehistory. Archaeology shows rice grains in the Ganga Plain as early as the 7th–8th millennium BCE, and barley and millets at Mehrgarh in the 7th millennium BCE; later, barley and wheat were the staple crops of the Harappans, with rice present at several sites by the 3rd millennium BCE. Animals like cattle, sheep, goats and fowl were domesticated from about 3500 BCE, and intercropping is evidenced at Kalibangan around 2800 BCE. Ancient texts add a wealth of knowledge: the Vedas mention yava (barley), godhūma (wheat) and vrīhi (rice); Kauṭilya’s Arthaśhāstra covers land and seed preparation and rainfall; Kṛiṣhi Parāśhara praises the diligent farmer; and Surapāla’s Vṛikṣhāyurveda and Varāhamihira’s Bṛihatsamhitā give methods for seed treatment, watering and even grafting still used today. Together, archaeology and texts show that Indians mastered farming, irrigation and plant care thousands of years ago.
Q3. Discuss the trade-off between traditional and modern farming methods and why a balance is needed.
ANSWERWhen we compare traditional and modern methods, a clear trade-off appears. Modern techniques such as those of the Green Revolution — HYV seeds, machinery, chemical fertilisers and pesticides — are highly productive and can produce large amounts of food quickly, which helped India become self-sufficient. But they have harmful long-term effects: impoverishment of the soil, depletion of groundwater, contamination of soil and water by chemicals, harm to bees and other creatures, and risks to human and animal health. Traditional methods such as crop rotation, multiple cropping, contour ploughing, organic manure, terrace farming and traditional irrigation are more resilient and sustainable because they work in harmony with Nature — but they may give lower yields. The challenge today is therefore to find a balance: use modern innovations to meet our food needs while adopting the sustainable practices of our ancestors, as in organic farming and neem-based pesticides. ICAR has even found that over 85% of documented traditional practices were validated by modern science.
MCQs & Assertion–Reason
1. The word ‘agriculture’ comes from Latin words meaning:
(a) water and land (b) field and to cultivate (c) seed and harvest (d) soil and rain
2. Approximately what percentage of India’s working population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities (2022–23)?
(a) 18% (b) 36% (c) 46% (d) 75%
3. Wheat, barley, gram and mustard are examples of:
For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.
A-R 1. Assertion: Farmers in Kerala grow rice while farmers in Punjab grow mostly wheat.
Reason: The crops grown in a region depend on its climate, soil and availability of water.
A-R 2. Assertion: The Green Revolution had no harmful effects on the environment.
Reason: The Green Revolution led to depletion of groundwater and contamination of soil and water by chemicals.
A-R 3. Assertion: Kharif crops are dependent on the timely arrival of the monsoon.
Reason: Kharif is the monsoon cropping season, with crops sown at the start of the rains.
A-R 4. Assertion: The average size of landholdings in India is decreasing.
Reason: Land gets divided among family members over generations.
A-R 5. Assertion: Sustainable agriculture combines modern productivity with traditional wisdom.
Reason: Traditional methods like crop rotation and organic manure work in harmony with Nature.
Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(D), 3-(A), 4-(A), 5-(A).
Exam Tips & Common Mistakes
How to score full marks in this chapter
Memorise the three cropping seasons (kharif/rabi/zaid) with two crops each, and the six soil types. For “why a crop grows in a region” questions, always link to climate, soil, water and terrain. Learn the key figures — agriculture is ~18% of GDP and employs ~46% of workers, average landholding ~¾ of a hectare, India has 15 agroclimatic zones and 7 climate types. Use the textbook’s own examples — Kallanai anicut, phad and bamboo drip irrigation, panchagavya/beejamrit, Sikkim organic state, M.S. Swaminathan and the Green Revolution — to show you have studied the chapter. For activity questions (debate, essay, Ganga project), write structured points; do not leave them blank.
Common mistakes to avoid
Mixing up kharif (monsoon/summer-sown) and rabi (winter) crops — rice is kharif, wheat is rabi.
Forgetting the third season, zaid (summer crops like watermelon and cucumber).
Confusing weathering (rocks breaking into soil) with humus (organic matter in soil).
Calling the Green Revolution wholly good — note its harms (soil, groundwater, chemical pollution, health).
Listing fewer than six soil types, or inventing soil names not in the textbook.
Leaving the match-the-following or activity questions incomplete — attempt every part.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chapter 13 of Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society about?
Chapter 13, The Story of Indian Farming, traces agriculture from prehistory to today. It explains the main characteristics of Indian agriculture, how farming is linked to climate, soil and water, the three cropping seasons (kharif, rabi, zaid), the six major soil types, traditional and modern irrigation, seeds, the Green Revolution and its limits, sustainable farming, and the challenges farmers face such as small landholdings, climate change and debt.
What are the three cropping seasons of India?
The three cropping seasons are kharif (monsoon crops such as rice, maize, bajra and cotton, sown around June–July), rabi (winter crops such as wheat, barley, gram and mustard, sown around October–November), and zaid (short summer crops such as watermelon, muskmelon and cucumber). These Arabic terms have been used since Mughal times.
What is the exercise heading for Chapter 13 of Exploring Society Part 2?
The end-of-chapter exercise in Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2) Chapter 13 is headed Questions and activities and contains 10 questions, all answered step by step on this page, along with the chapter’s three Big Questions.
