Understanding Markets Class 7 Notes | NCERT Social Science Chapter 12

Ch 12: Understanding Markets | बाज़ारों की समझ (Class 7 Social Science – NCERT)


Understanding Markets (English Notes)

A market is a place where buyers and sellers come together to exchange goods and services. However, a market does not always mean a physical place. It can also be online platforms, weekly markets, shopping malls, or even a telephone-based exchange.

Markets play a very important role in our daily life. Almost everything we use—food, clothes, books, medicines—comes to us through markets. Without markets, producers and consumers would not be able to meet each other easily.

What is a Market?

A market is any system where buying and selling take place. It includes:

  • Buyers who want to purchase goods or services
  • Sellers who offer goods or services
  • A medium of exchange (mostly money)

For example, a vegetable seller selling tomatoes and customers buying them form a market transaction.

Types of Markets

1. Weekly Markets

Weekly markets are held once or twice a week. Examples include haat bazaars and local vegetable markets. Prices are usually lower because sellers do not have to pay high rent.

2. Neighbourhood Markets

These markets include grocery shops, medical stores, and small shops near our homes. They provide convenience and often offer credit to regular customers.

3. Shopping Complexes and Malls

These markets sell branded goods at fixed prices. They are usually expensive due to high maintenance and advertising costs.

4. Online Markets

Online markets allow buying and selling through the internet. Examples include e-commerce websites. Goods are delivered at home.

How Prices are Decided

Prices depend on several factors such as demand, supply, competition, and cost of production. In weekly markets, prices are flexible and can be negotiated. In malls, prices are fixed.

When demand is high and supply is low, prices increase. When supply is high and demand is low, prices decrease.

Role of Middlemen

Middlemen are people who help move goods from producers to consumers. They include wholesalers, retailers, and transporters.

While middlemen make goods easily available, they also increase prices because each middleman adds their own profit.

Markets and Equality

Markets do not treat everyone equally. Big companies can advertise and sell at higher prices, while small producers often struggle to survive.

Poor consumers have fewer choices and often depend on local markets, while rich consumers can shop in malls or online.

Market and Government Control

The government controls markets to protect consumers and producers. It fixes minimum prices for farmers, checks false advertising, and ensures quality standards.

Examples include ration shops and consumer protection laws.


बाज़ारों की समझ (Hindi Notes)

बाज़ार वह स्थान या व्यवस्था है जहाँ वस्तुओं और सेवाओं का क्रय-विक्रय होता है। बाज़ार केवल एक जगह नहीं होता, बल्कि यह साप्ताहिक बाज़ार, दुकानें, मॉल और ऑनलाइन प्लेटफ़ॉर्म भी हो सकता है।

हमारे दैनिक जीवन में बाज़ार की बहुत महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका है। भोजन, कपड़े, दवाइयाँ, किताबें—सब कुछ बाज़ार के माध्यम से ही हमें मिलता है।

बाज़ार क्या है?

जहाँ खरीदार और विक्रेता आपस में लेन-देन करते हैं, वही बाज़ार कहलाता है। इसके तीन मुख्य तत्व हैं:

  • खरीदार
  • विक्रेता
  • मुद्रा (पैसा)

बाज़ार के प्रकार

1. साप्ताहिक बाज़ार

ये बाज़ार सप्ताह में एक या दो दिन लगते हैं। यहाँ वस्तुएँ सस्ती होती हैं क्योंकि दुकानदारों को किराया नहीं देना पड़ता।

2. पड़ोस के बाज़ार

घर के पास स्थित दुकानें जैसे किराना, मेडिकल स्टोर आदि। ये उधार भी देते हैं।

3. मॉल और शॉपिंग कॉम्प्लेक्स

यहाँ ब्रांडेड सामान निश्चित मूल्य पर मिलता है। कीमतें अधिक होती हैं।

4. ऑनलाइन बाज़ार

इंटरनेट के माध्यम से होने वाला बाज़ार। सामान घर तक पहुँचाया जाता है।

मूल्य कैसे तय होते हैं?

मूल्य मांग और आपूर्ति पर निर्भर करता है। साप्ताहिक बाज़ार में मोल-भाव होता है, जबकि मॉल में मूल्य तय होता है।

बिचौलियों की भूमिका

बिचौलिए किसान और उपभोक्ता के बीच का काम करते हैं। ये कीमत बढ़ा सकते हैं।

बाज़ार और असमानता

हर व्यक्ति के लिए बाज़ार समान नहीं होता। अमीरों के पास अधिक विकल्प होते हैं, गरीबों के पास सीमित।

सरकार की भूमिका

सरकार बाज़ार को नियंत्रित करती है ताकि उपभोक्ताओं और उत्पादकों की रक्षा हो सके।


Questions & Answers

MCQs (10)

  1. What is a market?
    A. Only a shop
    B. Place of buying and selling ✔
    C. Only online site
    D. Factory
  2. Which market sells cheapest goods?
    A. Mall
    B. Online
    C. Weekly market ✔
    D. Showroom
  3. Fixed prices are found in:
    A. Weekly market
    B. Neighbourhood shop
    C. Mall ✔
    D. Haat
  4. Middlemen connect:
    A. Buyer to buyer
    B. Producer to consumer ✔
    C. Shop to shop
    D. None
  5. Online market needs:
    A. Road
    B. Internet ✔
    C. Field
    D. Godown

True / False (10)

  1. Markets exist only in cities – False
  2. Prices are negotiable in weekly markets – True
  3. Malls sell cheap goods – False
  4. Government controls markets – True
  5. Online markets deliver at home – True

Short Answer Questions (10)

Q1. What is a market?
A. A system where buying and selling take place.

Q2. Name two types of markets.
A. Weekly market and neighbourhood market.

Q3. Why are weekly markets cheap?
A. Low costs and no rent.

Q4. Who are middlemen?
A. People connecting producers and consumers.

Q5. How does government help consumers?
A. By controlling prices and quality.

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