Class 6 Civics NCERT Chapter 1 – UNDERSTANDING OF DIVERSITY | Summary, Key Points & Notes for CTET Paper II

Class 6 - Civics NCERT

Chapter 1 – UNDERSTANDING OF DIVERSITY

🌍 Summary

This chapter introduces the idea of diversity in India. It explains how people are different in terms of language, religion, food, festivals, music, dance, and lifestyle. Diversity is our strength and makes India unique. The chapter also discusses how history, geography, and culture shape our differences, and highlights the importance of respecting all communities equally.

🔑 Concept of Diversity

Geography + History shape lifestyles, culture, and religion.
Kerala and Ladakh are different in climate and economy, but both connected to the outside world through trade and religion.
Diversity means differences among people in language, religion, culture, dress, food, and traditions.
These differences make our lives rich, interesting, and unique.
India is known for its unity in diversity — people are different but live together in harmony.
These examples show how interactions with traders brought new religions, ideas, and cultures.

📝 Key Points

Meaning of Diversity – Diversity means differences in people’s way of living, thinking, eating, dressing, etc.
India’s Diversity – India has many languages, religions, festivals, food habits, and customs.
Factors Behind Diversity – Geographical conditions (mountains, deserts, rivers, etc.) and historical influences (invasions, rulers, trade).
Unity in Diversity – Despite differences, Indians share a sense of unity, brotherhood, and common traditions.

Importance for Democracy – Respecting diversity builds equality, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.

🧒 Story of Samir Ek and Samir Do
Samir Ek – a Hindu boy who goes to school and speaks English.
Samir Do – a Muslim boy who sells newspapers and speaks Hindi.
Despite differences, they become friends, showing diversity builds understanding.
The story also shows inequality — not everyone has equal opportunities like education.

⚖️ Difference Between Diversity and Inequality

Diversity = Natural differences (language, religion, food, culture).
Inequality = Unfair differences (unequal resources, opportunities).
Example: Poor children not going to school due to poverty → inequality.
Caste system is another form of inequality in India.

🍛 What Diversity Adds to Our Lives

Helps us learn new languages, foods, and festivals.
Encourages sharing, tolerance, and friendship.
Makes our culture vibrant and creative.

🗺️ Diversity in India

India has many languages, foods, clothes, religions, and festivals.
But people across India share similar emotions and values.

🌍 Causes of Diversity

Historical factors: Migration, trade, invasions, and travelers brought new cultures.
Geographical factors: Climate, land, and location affect food, clothing, and work.
Example: Coastal vs. mountain regions have different lifestyles.

🏔️ Example – Kerala and Ladakh

Aspect	Kerala	Ladakh
Geography	Coastal state (sea and hills)	Cold desert in mountains
Climate	Hot and humid	Very cold, little rainfall
Food	Rice, fish, coconut	Meat, milk, barley
Clothes	Light cotton	Woollen clothes
Work	Farming (spices, rice), fishing, trade	Animal rearing (goats, yaks), wool trade
Religion & Culture	Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism	Buddhism, Islam
Trade Influence	Arab, Chinese, Portuguese traders	Trade route to Tibet

🤝 Unity in Diversity

India’s strength lies in its diversity.
During freedom struggle, people from different backgrounds united against British rule.
The phrase “Unity in Diversity” was given by Jawaharlal Nehru.
National symbols like the flag and anthem show India’s unity.

🕊️ Key Definitions

Diversity: Differences among people in many aspects.
Inequality: Unfair treatment or lack of equal opportunities.
Unity in Diversity: Living together peacefully despite differences.

📝 Key Points with Kerala & Ladakh

Kerala 🌴

Shows religious, cultural, and economic diversity.
Kerala has always been a center of spice trade (pepper, cardamom, cloves).
Traders from Arab, Jewish, and Chinese lands came here for business.
With Arab traders, Islam spread to Kerala.
Later, Christians and Jews also settled here through trade.
People’s lives revolve around fishing, farming, and sea trade.

Ladakh 🏔️

Ladakh is a cold desert with very little farming.
People depend on sheep rearing (pashmina wool).
Traders from Tibet, China, and Central Asia came to Ladakh.
Through these trade connections, Buddhism and Islam reached Ladakh.
It became an important link between India and Central Asia.

🌏 Kerala and Ladakh – Influence of Geography on Lifestyle

1. The food people eat:

Kerala: Being a coastal area, people eat a lot of rice, fish, and coconut-based dishes.
Ladakh: Due to the cold climate and limited farming, people eat barley, wheat, meat, and dairy products to keep warm.

2. The clothes they wear:

Kerala: The climate is hot and humid, so people wear light cotton clothes like mundu and saree.
Ladakh: The weather is extremely cold, so people wear thick woollen clothes made from wool or yak hair to stay warm.

3. The work they do:

Kerala: Many people are engaged in farming (especially rice, coconut, and spices), fishing, and tourism.
Ladakh: People mostly do animal rearing (yaks, goats), handcrafts, and tourism-related work due to limited farming land.

🍛 Foods from Different Parts of India

1. North India

Chole Bhature – Punjab
Rajma Chawal – Himachal Pradesh
Aloo Paratha with curd – Haryana
Rogan Josh – Jammu & Kashmir

2. South India

Masala Dosa – Karnataka
Idli-Sambar – Tamil Nadu
Pesarattu – Andhra Pradesh
Appam with Stew – Kerala

3. East India

Momos – Sikkim
Rasgulla – West Bengal
Litti Chokha – Bihar
Dalma – Odisha

4. West India

Dhokla – Gujarat
Pav Bhaji – Maharashtra
Goan Fish Curry – Goa
Dal Baati Churma – Rajasthan

5. Central India

Poha – Madhya Pradesh
Bhutte Ka Kees – Indore
Sabudana Khichdi – Maharashtra/M.P.

📌 Notes for CTET Paper II

Diversity means “Variety of differences”.
India’s diversity reflects in culture, tradition, languages, art, and food.
Geographical features influence lifestyles (e.g., coastal areas → fish diet, deserts → water conservation practices).
Historical events like invasions and migration enriched Indian culture.
Unity in Diversity is India’s biggest strength.
Kerala → Spice trade, fishing, Arabs brought Islam, Christians came through traders.
Ladakh → Trade with Tibet & Central Asia, Islam & Buddhism spread.
Diversity is not just natural; it is also shaped by human interactions (trade, migration).
India’s greatest strength = Unity in Diversity.

👉 Download NCERT Class 6 Civics Chapter 1 PDF Click Here

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Thursday, August 21, 2025

Class 6 Civics NCERT Chapter 1 – UNDERSTANDING OF DIVERSITY | Summary, Key Points & Notes for CTET Paper II