NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Political Science Politics in India Since Independence
NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Political Science Politics in India Since Independence
NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Political Science Politics in India Since Independence
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(a) Partition of India was the outcome of the “two-nation theory”.
(b) Punjab and Bengal were the two provinces diided on the basis of religion.
(c) East Pakistan and West Pakistan were not contiguous.
border. p.
(d) The scheme of Partition included a plan for transfer of population across the
Answer: (d) The scheme of partition included a plan for transfer of population across
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the border.
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3. Take a current political map of India (showing outlines of states) and mark the
location of the following Princely States,
(a) Junagadh (b) Manipur
(c) Mysore (d) Gwalior.
Answer: Please see the Map attached at the end of the chapter. The places are
marked as 3(a), 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d).
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4. Here are two opinions:
Bismay: “The merger with the Indian State was an extension of democracy to the
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people of the Princely States.” Inderpreet: “I am not so sure, there was force
being used. Democracy comes by creating consensus. ”
What is your opinion in the light of accession of Princely States and the
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responses of the people in these parts?
Answer: Accession of Princely States and merger with Indian union was to expand
democracy all over the country because princely states never enjoyed their political
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rights. Indian government central government used force to extend democracy to some
extent as this was mandatory to have a uniform base in the country.
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5. Read the following very different statements made in August 1947: “Today you
have worn on your heads a crown of thorns. The seat of power is a nasty thing.
You have to remain ever wakeful on that seat… you have to he more humble and
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6. What are the reasons being used by Nehru for keeping India secular? Do you
think these reasons were only ethical and sentimental? Or were there some
prudential reasons as well?
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7. Bring out two major differences between the challenge of nation building for
eastern and western regions of the country at the time of Independence.
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Answer: The two major differences between eastern (Bengal) and Western (Punjab)
regions can be summed up as follows:
1. These regions were the Muslim majority provinces to be joined. Hence, it was
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decided that new country Pakistan will comprise two territories i.e. West and East
Pakistan.
2. Secondly, there was a problem of minorities on both sides of border (East and West).
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Lakhs of Hindus and Sikhs in areas of Pakistan and Muslims on the Indian side of
Punjab and Bengal found themselves trapped with no option except to leave their
homes.
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8. What was the task of the States Reorganisation Commission? What was its
most salient recommendation?
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10. Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
“In the history of nation-building only the Soviet experiment bears comparison
with the Indian. There too, a sense of unity had to be forged between many
diverse ethnic groups, religious, linguistic communities and social classes. The
scale-geographic as well as demographic was comparably massive. The raw
material the state had to work with was equally unpropitious: a people divided by
faith and driven by debt and disease.”
—Ramachandra Guha
(a) List the commonalities that the author mentions between India and Soviet
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Union and give one example for each of these from India.
(b) The author does not talk about dissimilarities between the two experiments.
Can you mention two dissimilarities?
p.
(c) In retrospect which of these two experiments worked better and why?
Answer: (a) Commonalities between India and Soviet Union:
(i) Both the nations shaped the nation on linguistic basis.
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(ii) To promote welfare motives, the economic and technological developments took
place in India also.
(iii) States were divided on the grounds of geographical boundary and strength of
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1. Name the leader who played a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of
princely states to join the Indian Union.
Answer: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
4. Which two languages were spoken in Bombay state before it was divided in
1960?
Answer: Gujarati and Marathi
5. Name any four princely states that resisted their merger with the Indian Union?
Answer: Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Manipur.
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Answer: 565 princely states.
p.
Answer: Princely states were ruled by princes who employed some form of control over
their internal affairs under the supremacy of the British.
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8. What was the basis of the report of States Reorganisation Commission?
Answer: States Reorganisation Commission Report was based on the distribution of
boundaries of states on language basis to reflect linguistic aspects.
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Answer: States were reorganised on linguistic basis in India in 1956 to maintain unity
and integrity of the nation to avoid violence and conflicts among the people.
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11. Name the states which decided to remain independent in place of joining
India.
Answer: Travancore, Junagadh, Hyderabad and Bhopal decided to remain
independent.
13. Name the movement which demanded the separate province for Andhra
region.
Answer: The Vishalandhra movement demanded that Telugu speaking areas should be
separated from Madras Province of which they were a part and be made into a separate
Andhra Province.
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16. What is WSF?
Answer: WSF is the World Social Forum, a global platform to bring together a wide
p.
coalition of human rights activists, environmentalists and women activists.
2. Mention any two challenges that India faced just after independence.
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3. Name the original states from which the following states were carved out.
(a) Meghalaya (b) Gujarat
Answer: (a) Assam (1972) (b) Bombay (1960)
4. Explain the role played by Sardar Patel in the integration of princely states into
the Indian Union.
Answer. Sardar Patel negotiated with the rulers of princely states and diplomatically
merged most of them into the Indian Union i.e. there were 26 small states in today’s
Orissa and 14 big states and 119 small states in today’s Gujarat.
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2. The government wanted to accommodate plurality by adopting flexible approach in
dealing with the demand of the region.
3. The central government was so much concerned towards integration and
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consolidation of territorial boundaries of Indian nation.
8. Which interests were hidden behind the conflicts between Hindus and Muslims
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at the time of independence?
Answer: Hindu and Muslim communities bear some political interests at the time of
independence:
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1. Muslim League demanded a separate nation for Muslims to protect the interests of
Muslims only.
2. There were some Hindu organisations also which made efforts to look after the
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9. “India got independence under very difficult circumstances rather than any
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2. Describe briefly any four problems faced in the process of partition of India.
Answer: The process of partition had been started in 1940 when Muslim League
Propounded Two Nation Theory. This process involved various problems:
1. Areas were supposed to be distributed on the basis of religions majority i.e. Muslim
majority areas built Pakistani territory and rest stayed with India. It created communal
riots in country.
2. No single belt of muslim majority was the part of British India. They were
concentrated in East and West. Hence, it was decided that Pakistan will comprise two
territories namely East and West Pakistan separated by long expansion of India
territory.
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3. All muslim majority areas did not want to be merged with Pakistan
i. e. it was opposed in NWFP. But ultimately NW.FP was made to merge with Pakistan.
4. Another problem belonged to minorities on both sides of border
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i. e. Lakhs of Hindus and Muslims and Sikhs from both the sides were left with no option
except to leave their homes.
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3. Name the states divided on the basis of sub-regional culture.
Answer: In the late 20th century, some states sub-regions raised the voice for separate
states accommodating their regional culture on the ground of complaints of regional
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4. Explain three challenges which independent India faced during the process of
Nation Building.
Answer: India had to face many challenges immediately after she got independence,
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5. What problems were involved at the integration of princely states during nation
building?
Answer: Integration of princely states possessed many difficulties in front of nation
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builders:
1. British announced to lapse of British
Paramountcy over princely states with the end of their rule over India.
2. British government took the view that all these states were free to join either India or
Pakistan or remain independent willfully. It became a hindrance for unity of nation.
3. Ruler of Travancore declared the states an independent one.
4. Nizam of Hyderabad and Bhopal also followed Travancore.
5. These responses created a possibility of division of country in place of unity and
democracy.
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1. The peasants in Telangana region particularly rose voice against him.
2. Women also joined the movement in large number.
3. The communist and Hyderabad congress were in the forefront of movement.
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4. Nizam responded by unleashing a Razakars paramilitary force on people.
5. Ultimately, the central government had to order the army to tackle and in 1948, Indian
army moved in control the Nizam’s forces.
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All the above mentioned situations led to an accession of Hyderabad.
nation building?
Answer: In the initial years it was felt that linguistic states may foster separatism and
create pressures on newly founded nation. But India considered democracy and
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of all regions.
3. Linguistic reorganisation provided a uniform base to the nation and strengthened
unity of nation.
4. Linguistic states promoted the principle of unity in diversity, a distinct feature of
nation.
1. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the following questions:
The interim government took a firm stance against the possible division of India
into smaller principalities of different sizes. The Muslim League opposed the
Indian National Congress and took the view that the States should be free to
adopt any course they liked. Sardar Patel, India’s Deputy Prime Minister and the
Home Minister during the crucial period, immediately after Independence, played
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a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of Princely States in bringing most of
them into the Indian Union.
Questions
1. Which government has been referred to as the interim government?
2. Why did the Muslim League oppose the Indian National Congress?
3. What makes the role of Sardar Patel a historic one? Explain.
Answer:
1. The Indian National Congress has been referred to as the interim government.
2. The Muslim League opposed the Indian National Congress because it was of the
view that the states should be free to adopt any course they liked.
3. Sardar Patel was India’s Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Minister during the
crucial period immediately following Independence. He negotiated with the rulers of
princely states firmly but diplomatically and brought most of them into the Indian Union.
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2. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
We should begin to work in that spirit and in course of time all these angularities
of the majority and minority communities, the Hindu community and the Muslim
p.
community-because even as regards Muslims you have Pathans, Punjabis, Shias,
Sunnis and so on and among the Hindus you have Brahmins, Vaishnavas,
Khatris, also Bengalees, Madrasis, and so on-will vanish. … You are free; you are
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free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other
place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste
or creed-that has nothing to do with the business of the State.
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Questions
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1. Do you think that Jinnah’s statement contradicts the theory which was the
basis of creation of Pakistan? Justify your answer.
2. What is the essence of Jinnah’s statement in this passage?
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3. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
We have a Muslim minority who are so large in numbers that they cannot, even if
they want, go anywhere else. That is a basic fact about which there can be no
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argument.. Whatever the provocation from Pakistan and whatever the indignities
and horrors inflicted on non-Muslims there, we have got to deal with this minority
in a civilised manner. We must give them security and the rights of citizens in a
democratic state. If we fail to do so, we shall have a festering sore which will
eventually poison the whole body politic and probably destroy it.
—Jawaharlal Nehru
Questions
1. Why did Jawaharlal Nehru want to deal with the muslim minority in a civilised
way?
2. Why this minority should be given the security and rights-on the same footing
as 20 all others in a democratic system?
3. If this minority was not provided security and rights what kind of scenario is
envisaged?
Answer:
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1. Because India adopted democracy which commit equal rights and opportunities to
each and every human being in place of dividing them.
2. It was argued by Jawaharlal Nehru not only for ethical and sentimental reasons but
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prudential reasons also to realise long cherished goals and principles as socialism,
equality, and fraternity.
3. If this minority was not provided security and rights it may effect:
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1. Basic nature of democratic system.
2. It is against secular nature of India.
3. It may effect India’s foreign policy also.
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1. What forced the Union Government of India to appoint the State Reorganisation
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Commission in 1953? Mention its two main recommendations. Name any four
new states formed after 1956.
Answer: 1. State Reorganisation Commission was appointed in 1953 by central
Government to rearrange the boundaries of states.
2. Its main recommendations were to organise states on language basis as well as the
boundaries of state could reflect the linguistic aspects also.
3. The Madras province under British India created following linguistic states:
(a) Andhra Pradesh (Telugu)
(b) Tamilnadu (Tamil)
(c) Kerala (Malayalam)
(d) Karnataka (Kannad)
4. The state Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956 which created 14 states and 6
Union territories.
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2. Explain any three challenges faced by India at the time of its independence.
Answer: India had to face many challenges immediately after she got independence,
which can be summed up as follows:
1. Challenge to Shape a Nation: India was divided among various states at the time of
independence. Hence a great challenge arose to unify and integrate country into one
bond. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel took upon himself to integrate these states either
wishfully or diplomatically to be completed into different stages.
2. To Establish Democratic Set up: India constituted representative democracy based
on parliamentary form of government and it was a great challenge to develop these
democratic practices in the nation.
3. To Ensure Development and Well Being of the Society: Indian polity made herself to
achieve welfare goals with the evolvement of effective economic policies and
eradication of poverty and unemployment.
3. How did the reorganisation of states take place in India after its independence?
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Explain.
Answer: 1. In the initial years it was felt that linguistic states may foster seperatism and
create pressures on newly founded nation, but India considered democracy and
p.
federalism by making a favour to linguistic states only.
2. State Reorganisation Commission was appointed in 1953 central Government to
rearrange the boundaries of states.
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3. Its main recommendations were to organise states on language basis as well as the
boundaries of states could reflect the linguistic aspects also.
4. The State Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956 which created 14 states and 6
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union territories.
5. Linguistic states enhanced democratic practices.
6. Linguistic states reduced separatist attitude by accepting the regional and linguistic
claims of all regions.
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Answer: 1. In the name of religion, people of one community killed and mained people
of the other community. Cities like Lahore, Kolkata and Amritsar were titled as
communal zones.
2. People went through social sufferings also be forced to abandon their homes
especially minorities, who took shelter in refugee camps.
3. To preserve the honour of family, many women were killed even many children were
separated from their family and if crossed borders, they did not have any home.
4. The partition did not only divide property, assets or liabilities but also the government
employees and the railways etc.
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Picture/Map Based Questions [5 Marks]
Al. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
p.
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Questions
1. What does this picture represent?
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2. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions
1. Identify the person in the centre of the cartoon and mention the challenge
surrounding him.
2. What does the picture actually refer?
3. How did India avoid all these conflicts?
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Answer:
1. The person is the first Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawahar Lai Nehru, who faced the
first and foremost challenge of integration of princely states and formation of linguistic
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states.
2. The picture refers the problem of reorganisation of states on linguistic basis with the
fear of disintegration in the country.
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3. India identified and respected regional demands of the people and enhanced
democracy by providing some autonomy to the states also.
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B. On a political outline map of India locate and label the following and symbolise
them as indicated:
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p.
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Questions
1. Name and mark the original state from . which the following states were carved
out.
(a) Gujarat (b) Meghalaya (c) Haryana (d) Chhattisgarh
2. Name and mark the countries reorganised on religious grounds.
3. Demarcated boundaries of these countries by geographical zones.
Answer:
1. (a) Gujarat (from Bombay)
(b) Meghalaya (from Assam)
(c) Haryana (from Punjab)
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p.
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p.
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3. Four statements regarding one-party dominance are given below. Mark each of
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4. If Bharatiya Jana Sangh of the Communist Party of India had formed the
government after the first election, in which respects would the policies of the
government have been different? Specify three differences each for both the
parties.
Answer: 1. Bharatiya Jana Sangh:
The policies of Bharatiya Jana Sangh were based on the principles as follows:
(a) It replaced secular concept by the ideology of one country, one culture and one
nation.
(b) No cultural and educational rights as this party opposed the granting of concessions
to religious and cultural minorities.
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(c) It focused on the reunity of India and Pakistan under the concept of Akhand Bharat.
2. Communist Party of India:
Communist Party of India would have been different on the principles as follows:
(а) It worked for proportional representation in the govern-ment.
(б) This party followed communist ideology in various policies.
(c) It emphasised on a control over electronic mass media by an autonomous body or
corporation.
5. In what sense was the Congress an ideological coalition? Mention the various
ideological currents present within the Congress.
Answer: The Congress Party became a social and ideological coalition for it merged
different social groups along with their identity holding different beliefs:
1. It accommodated the revolutionary, conservative, pacifist, radical, extremist and
moderates and the rights and the left with all other shades of the centre.
2. Congress became a platform for numerous groups, interests and even political
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parties to take part in the national movement.
Ideological currents present within the Congress:
(a) In pre-independence days, many organisations and parties with their own
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constitutions and organisational structures were allowed to exist within the Congress.
(b) Some of these like “Congress Socialist Party” later separated from the Congress and
became on opposition party.
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6. Did the prevalence of a ‘one-party dominant system’ affect adversely the
democratic nature of Indian politics?
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Answer: No, the prevalence of one party dominance system did not affect adversely
the democratic nature of Indian politics because:
1. The key role of Congress in the freedom struggle gave it a head start over others.
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7. Bring out three differences each between Socialist Parties and the Communist
Party and between Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Swatantra Party.
Answer: 1. Differences between Socialist Parties and Communist Party:
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2. Differences between Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Swatantra Party:
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8. What would you consider as the main differences between Mexico and India
under one party domination?
Answer: There was a difference between one party domination in India and Mexico. In
Mexico, this was a one party system only not dominance because:
1. In India, the Congress party dominated on behalf of popular consensus but
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) (in Spanish) ruled on behalf of perfect
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dictatorship.
2. In India, free and fair elections took place, where the losing of election was also fair
but it Mexico, elections were based on malpractices, dominated by PRI.
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other political groups and sought to make of it a cohesive and disciplined
political party. He … sought to take the Congress away from its all-embracing
character and turn it into a close-knit party of disciplined cadres. He looked more
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for discipline than for took too romantic a view of “eariging on the movement,”
Patel’s idea of transforming the Congress into strictly political party with a single
ideology and tight discipline showed an equal lack of understanding of the
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eclectic role that the Congress, as a government, was to be called upon to
perform in the decades to follow.”
(а) Why does the author think that Congress should not have been a cohesive
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(c) Why does the author say that Gandhi’s view about Congress future was
romantic?
Answer: (a) Because she wanted to take the Congress away from its all embracing
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one nation?
Answer: Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
2. Which political party of India had leaders like A.K. Gopalan, E.M.S.
Namboodiripad, and S.A. Dange?
Answer: Communist Party of India.
4. In which year was the Election Commission of India set up and who was the
first chief Election Commissioner of India?
Answer: 25 January 1950, Sukumar Sen.
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5. Name the founder president of the Congress Socialist Party. What name was
given to this party after 1948?
Answer: The founder president of the Congress Socialist Party was Acharya Narendra
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Dev and after 1955 it came to be known as Socialist Party.
7. When and why was the electronic voting machine used in India for the first
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time?
Answer: The electronic voting machine was used in India in 1990 for first time for more
accuracy and fair dealing while counting as well as it helps to check Booth capturing
and other malpractices.
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9. Define faction.
Answer: Faction are the groups formed inside the party i.e. coalitions made in
Congress created various factions which were based on either ideological
considerations or personal ambitions.
1. How did the dominance of Congress Party in the first three general elections
help in establishing a democratic set-up in India?
Answer: The first general election was the first big test of democracy in a poor and
illiterate country. Till then democracy had existed only in the prosperous countries. By
that time many countries in Europe had not given voting rights to all women. In this
context India’s experiment with universal adult franchise appeared very bold and risky.
India’s general election of 1952 became a landmark in the history of democracy all over
the world. It was no longer possible to argue that democratic elections could not be held
on conditions of poverty or lack of education. It proved that democracy could be
practised anywhere in the world. The next two general elections strengthened
democratic set-up in India.
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Answer: 1. Bharatiya Jana Sangh laid emphasis on ideology of one country, one
culture and one nation.
2. Bharatiya Jana Sangh called for reunity of India and Pakistan in Akhand Bharat.
p.
3. Explain the major difference of ideology between that of Congress and the
Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
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Answer: The major difference of ideology between Congress and the Bharatiya Jana
Sangh was that Bharatiya Jana Sangh emphasised on one party country. One culture,
one nation i.e. a Hindu nation or Hindutva whereas Congress formed ideological and
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2. This party was against land ceilings in agriculture and opposed to cooperative
farming.
5. How has the method of voting changed from the first General Election of 1952
to the General Election of 2004?
Answer: 1. In the first General Election a box was placed inside each polling booth for
each candidate with the election symbol of the candidate. Each voter was given a blank
ballot paper to drop into the box, they wanted to vote for.
2. After first two elections, this method was changed. Now ballot paper carried the
names and symbols of candidates and the voter stamped against the name of
candidate to vote for.
3. In 2004, Electronic Voting Machine were introduced to press the button according to
choice of the voter containing the name of candidate and symbol of political party.
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7. “India’s experiment with universal adult franchise appeared very bold and
risky”. Justify the statement.
Answer: Because:
1. Country’s vast size and electorates made these elections unusual.
2. The year 1952, it was a big test for poor and illiterate country.
3. Till then, democracy had been existed only in the prosperous countries mainly in
Europe and North America where everyone was almost literate.
8. Mention the aims and goals of Socialist Party of India. Why the party could not
prove itself as an effective alternative to the Congress?
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Answer: Aims and goals of socialist party of India:
1. The Socialist Party believed in the ideology of democratic socialism to be
distinguished from Congress and Communists both.
p.
2. It criticised Congress for ignoring the workers and peasants.
It became difficult for socialist party to prove itself as an effective alternative to
Congress because Congress Party declared its goal to be the socialist pattern of society
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in 1955.
9. What were the reasons for dominance of one party system in India?
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10. How did India’s first general elections of 1952 become a landmark in the
history of democracy all over the world?
Answer: Because:
1. These elections were competitive among various parties.
2. The participation of people was encouraging also.
3. The results were declared in a very fair manner, even to be accepted by the losers in
a fair manner.
4. This experiment of India, proved the critics wrong also.
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2. How was one party dominance of India different from the other examples of
one party dominance in the world?
p.
Or
Examine the comparative analysis of nature of Congress dominance.
Answer: India is not the only country to have dominance of one party but we have
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some other examples also for the same. But the dominance of one party in India does
not compromise democratic spirit of constitution whereas other nations have
compromised it:
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1. In countries like China, Cuba and Syria are permitted to be ruled by one party only by
the constitutional provisions.
2. Myanmar, Belarus, Egypt also experience one party system due to legal and military
measurer.
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continued doing this even after Independence. That is why, even if a group was
not happy with the position of the party or with its share of power, it would
remain inside the party and fight the other groups rather than leaving the party
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and becoming an ‘opposition’.
Questions
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1. What do you mean by a faction?
2. How did coalition-like character affect the nature of Congress Party?
3. How did Congress avoided to increase number of ‘opposition’?
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Answer:
1. Factions are the groups formed inside the party based on either ideological
considerations or on personal ambitions and rivalries.
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2. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
The socialists believed in the ideology of democratic socialism which
distinguished them both from the Congress as well as from the Communists.
They criticised the Congress for favouring capitalists and landlords and for
ignoring the workers and the peasants. But the socialists faced a dilemma when
in 1955 the Congress declared its goal to be the socialist pattern of society. Thus
it became difficult for the socialists to present themselves as an effective
alternative to the Congress. Some of them, led by Rammanohar Lohia, increased
their distance from and criticism of the Congress party. Some others like Asoka
Mehta advocated a limited cooperation with the Congress.
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Questions
1. Mention the ideology of Socialists.
2. Name some leaders of the Socialist Party.
3. Why did it become difficult for socialists to present themselves as an effective
alternative to the Congress?
Answer:
1. Socialists believed in the ideology of democratic socialism to be distinguished from
Congress as well as from Communists.
2. Ram Manohar Lohia, Ashok Mehta and Acharya Narendra Dev, Jayaprakash
Narayan etc.
3. Because in 1955, Congress declared its goal to be the socialist pattern of society.
1. Describe the various steps taken to hold the first general elections in India.
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How far these elections were successful?
Answer: The first general elections had to be postponed twice and finally held from
October 1951 to February 1952:
p.
1. These elections were referred to as 1952 elections because most parts of country
voted in January 1952.
2. It took six months for campaigning, polling and counting to be completed.
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3. Elections were competitive because there were on an average more than four
candidates for each seat.
4. The level of participation was en-couraging to vote out in the election.
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5. The results were declared and accepted as fair even by losers to prove critics wrong.
These elections were successful:
1. The losing of the parties was also accepted as fair.
2. These elections became a landmark in the history of democracy.
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3. It was no longer possible to argue that democratic elections could not be held in
conditions of poverty or lack of education. Instead, it can be practised anywhere in the
world.
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3. How was the one party dominance in India different from the one party system
in Mexico? In your opinion which of the two political systems is better and why?
Answer: There was a difference between one party domination in India and Mexico. In
Mexico, this was a one party system only not dominance because:
1. In India, the Congress Party dominated on behalf of popular consensus but
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) (in Spanish) ruled on behalf of perfect
dictatorship.
2. In India, free and fair elections took place, where the losing of election was also fair
but in Mexico, elections were based on malpractices, dominated by PRI.
In our opinion one party dominance like India is better because this sort of dominance:
1. Accommodates social diversities.
2. Encourage large number of participation.
3. Ensures democratic spirit as well as maintains the same.
4. Bear respect even for opposition.
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4. How did opposition parties emerge in India? What was their importance?
Answer: Some of the diverse opposition parties had come into existence before the
first general elections in 1952 as non-Congress parties which succeeded to gain only a
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taken of representation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. These parties maintained a
democratic character of the system:
1. These offered a criticism based on principles to keep ruling party under check.
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2. These parties groomed the leaders also to play a crucial role in shaping the country.
3. In the early years, these was a lot of respect between leaders of Congress and
opposition parties i.e. interim government included even opposition leaders like Dr.
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A. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
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Questions
1. What does the cartoon represent?
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Bl. In the outline political map of India given below, five States have been marked
as A, B, C, D and E. With the help of the information given below, identify them
and write their correct names in your answer book along with the serial number
of the information used and the related alphabet in the map.
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Questions
(i) The State to which C. Rajagopalachari, the first Indian Governor-General of
India, belonged.
(ii) The State where the first non-Congress Government was formed by E.M.S.
Namboodiripad.
(iii) The State to which Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, the Union Minister for Food and
Agriculture (1952-54) belonged.
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(iv) The State which faced the most acute food crisis in 1965-1967.
(v) The State which led the country to White Revolution through Dairy
Cooperative Movement.
Answer:
A — (iv) Bihar B — (iii) Uttar Pradesh C — (v) Gujarat D — (i) Tamil Nadu C — (a)
Kerala
2. On a political outline map of India locate and label the following and symbolise
them as indicated:
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Questions
1. Two states where Congress was not in power at some point during 1952-67.
2. Two states where the Congress remained in power through this period.
Answer:
1. (i) Jammu & Kashmir (ii) Kerala
2. (i) Uttar Pradesh (ii) Maharashtra
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2. Which of the following ideas did not form part of the early phase of India’s
development policy?
(a) Planning
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(b) Liberalisation
(c) Cooperative farming
(d) Self sufficiency
Answer: (b) Liberalisation.
5. What were the major differences in the approach towards development at the
time of Independence? Has the debate been resolved?
Answer. At the time of independence, development was about becoming more like the
industrialised countries of the West, to be involved with the break down of traditional
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6. What was the major thrust of the First Five Year Plan? In which ways did the
Second Plan differ from the first one?
p.
Answer: The First Five Year Plan was commenced in 1951 to be drafted by Young
Economist
K.N. Roy with the emphasis on poverty alleviation. Its main thrusts were as follows:
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1. To invest in dams and irrigation to improve agricultural sector with the urgent
attention.
2. Huge allocations were made for large scale projects like Bhakra-Nangal Dam.
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(b) Second Five Year Plan wanted to bring quick structural transformation in all possible
directions in place of slow and steady growth like First Five Year Plan.
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7. What was the Green Revolution? Mention two positive and two negative
consequences of the Green Revolution.
Answer: Green Revolution was introduced to bring about revolutionary changes in
agriculture especially in foodgrains like wheat and rice to increase production through
high yielding varieties of seeds, fertilisers and scientific irrigation—
1. The government offered high yielding varieties of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and
better irrigation facilities at subsidised prices to farmers.
2. The government fixed the prices also to purchase the produce of farmers at a given
price.
Positive Consequences:
(i) In many parts, the stark contrast between the poor peasantry and the landlords
produced conditions favourable for left wing organisations to organise the poor
peasants.
(ii) It resulted in the rise of what is called the ‘Middle peasant sections’ who were
farmers with medium size holdings who benefitted from the changes and soon emerged
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8. State the main arguments in the debate that ensued between industrialisation
and agricultural development at the time of the Second Five Year Plan.
Answer: At the time of Second Five Year Plan, some controversial issues rose in
reference of relevancy of agriculture over industry.
1. Second Five Year Plan emphasised on industry in place of agriculture or rural India.
2. J.C. Kumarappa, a Gandhian Economist proposed an alternative blueprint to
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emphasise on rural industrialisation.
3. Bharatiya Lok Dal leader, Chaudhary Charan Singh also commented that the
planning leading to creation of prosperity in Urban and industrial sections at the cost of
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rural welfare. Others debated that without an increase in industrial sector poverty could
not be alleviated:
(i) India planning did not have an agrarian strategy to boost the production of food
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grains.
(ii) It also proposed programmes of community development and spent large sums on
irrigation project and failure was not that of policy but of its non¬implementation
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9. “Indian policy makers made a mistake by emphasising the role of state in the
economy. India could have developed much better if private sector was allowed a
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free play right from the beginning”. Give arguments for or against this
proposition.
Answer: No, the above statement is not perfectly true because state’s intervention was
mandatory to regulate country’s economy
after independence immediately. Indian did not follow either capitalist model of
development or socialist model completely. Instead she adopted the model of‘mixed
economy’ to be criticised from the right and the left:
(i) Private sector lacked enough space and stimulus to grow.
(ii) Licensing and permits for investment in private sector created hurdles for private
capital accumulation.
(iii) The state control beyond the limits led to inefficiency and corruption. State control
was emphasised:
1. State helped the private sector to make profits by intervening only in those areas
where the private sector was not prepared to go.
2. Instead of helping the poor, the states intervention ended up creating a new class
that enjoyed the privileges of higher salaries without much account-ability.
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Answer: (a) The author is talking about contradiction regarding adoption of
development models either socialist or capitalist. Political implications of this
contradiction may result the differences among party members itself and government
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can issue licensing and permits in more complicated manner.
(b) Congress was pursuing this policy as a sole criterion of achieving maximum
increased in production. Yes, it was related to the nature of opposition parties to be
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pursued liberal economic policies and incentives to private investment.
(c) No, there was not a contradiction between the central leadership of the Congress
Party and its state level leaders because state emphasised on states’ ownership,
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regulation and control over key sectors improve productivity whereas control leadership
pursued liberal economic policies and incentives to private investment.
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Answer: P.C. Mahalanobis to initiate Second Five Year Plan to support industrialisation
and positive role of public sector.
3. What is ‘Development’?
Answer: Development refers to the process of improving living standard of country
people and economic level in reference of industrialisation and modernisation to be
judged by the improvements in the quality of life.
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administrative and educational background.
p.
7. Mention the various interests associated with Orissa Reserved Iron Resource.
Answer: The reserved iron resource of Orissa is an important investment destination
due to rise a global demand of Iron. The state government signed Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with both international and domestic steel makers in order to
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bring in capital investment and employment opportunities.
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8. What are the key conflicts associated with Orissa reserved Iron Resources?
Answer: 1. These iron resources lie in some most underdeveloped and predominant
tribal districts.
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2. Tribal population feared that the setting up of industries would mean displacement
from their name and livelihood.
3. The environmentalist feared to be polluted the environment due to mining and
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industrial activities.
1. Differentiate between the main objectives of the First and Second Five Year
Plans.
Answer: 1. Objectives of First Five Year Plan:
(a) It focused on land reforms for the development in rural areas.
(b) It aimed to increase level of National Income.
2. The First Five Year Plan differed from the Second Five Year Plan:
(a) The second five year plan stressed on heavy industrialisation.
(b) Second five year plan wanted to bring quick structural transformations in all possible
directions in place of slow and steady growth like first five year plan.
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development aims at public sector and planning to establish egalitarian society.
p.
Answer: Decentralized planning is designed to involve the peoples through voluntary
citizens organisation in making plans at the panchayats, blocs and districts level. Its
example is the ‘Kerala Model’.
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4. Highlight the two areas on which the First Five Year Plan focused.
Answer: The first five year plan was commenced in 1951 to be drafted by young
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economist K.N. Raj with the emphasis on poverty alleviation. Its main thrusts were as
follows:
1. To invest in dams and irrigation to improve agricultural sector with the urgent
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attention.
2. Huge allocations were made for large scale projects like Bhakra-Nangal Dam.
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5. Which are the two models of development? Which model of development was
adopted by India?
Answer: Two models of development are the capitalist and socialist models of
development, India adopted the elements from both these models together to be known
as “Mixed Economy”.
6. What were the fears of tribal population of Orissa and environmentalist about
setting up industries in tribal areas?
Answer: 1. These iron resources lie in some most underdeveloped and predominant
tribal districts.
2. Tribal population feared that the setting up of industries would mean displacement
from their home and livelihood.
3. The environmentalists feared to be polluted the environment due to mining and
industrial activities.
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9. Which state was prone to food crisis in the early years of independence?
Answer: Bihar was prone to food crisis in the early years of independence
1. It was due to a near famine situation.
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2. The food shortage was very much acute in all districts of Bihar.
3. Food shortage led to acute and widespread malnutrition.
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4. The zoning policies of government prohibited trade of food across states, which
reduced availability of food in Bihar.
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commission.
13. Which methods were used to implement the development process in a mixed
economy?
Answer: 1. Planning and governmental regulation to control economy.
2. Licensing, subsidies, progressive taxing, price control and reforfhs etc. were also
implemented.
3. To make a significant role of public sector.
4. To ensure a political democracy.
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planning set by government.
2. ‘State own’ means of production to aim social welfare and ‘private own’ means of
production to be regulated by states.
p.
15. How did Indian lay down the foundation of future economic growth?
Answer: 1. Some of the largest developmental projects in India’s history were
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undertaken during this period to include mega dams like Bhakra- Nangal and Hirakud
for irrigation and power generation.
2. Heavy industries were started in the public sector like steel plants, oil refineries,
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1. Explain any two merits and two demerits each of the Green Revolution.
Answer: Two Merits of the Green Revolution:
(i) The Green Revolution ensured food sufficiency in the country. In many parts, the
stark contrast between the poor peasantry and the landlords produced conditions
favourable for left wing organisations to organise the poor peasants.
(ii) The Green Revolution resulted in the rise of middle peasant sections.
These were farmers with medium size holding, who benefited from the changes and
soon emerged politically influential in many parts of the country.
Two Demerits of the Green Revolution:
(i) The Green Revolution delivered only moderate agricultural growth and raised the
availability of food in the country but also increased polarisation between classes and
regions.
(ii) Some regions like Punjab, Haryana and Western UP became agriculturally
prosperous while others remained backward.
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3. How was Planning Commission of India : set up? Mention its scope of work.
Answer:Planning Commission was set up as:
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1. It consists Prime Minister as its chairman.
2. Some ministers or incharges of economic portfolios.
3.The members of planning commission have a high public image alongwith an
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administrative and educational background.
Its scope of work:
1. To bring socio-economic change.
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7. What do you know about land reforms in India during planning period?
Answer: 1. Zamindari system was abolished to release land from big landlord who were
least interested in agriculture.
2. Lands were consolidated to bring small pieces together to increase the farm size.
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Drawbacks:
1. Despite a ‘ceiling’, people with excess land managed to violate the laws.
2. The tenants, who worked on
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someoneelse’s land were given greater legal security which rarely implemented.
3. Landowners were very powerful and wielded considerable political influence.
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8. What is meant by White Revolution in Gujarat?
Answer: The White Revolution in Gujarat was started by ‘Varghese Kurien’ known as
milkman of India to launch Gujarat Cooperative Milk and Marketing Federation Ltd.,
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1. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
It was in Bihar that the food-crisis was most acutely felt as the state faced a near-
famine situation. The food shortage was significant in all districts of Bihar, with 9
districts producing less than half of their normal output. Five of these districts, in
fact, produced less than one- third of what they produced normally. Food
deprivation subsequently led to acute and widespread malnutrition. It was
estimated that the calorie intake dropped from 2200 per capital per day to as low
as 1200 in many regions of the
state (as against the requirement of2450 per day for the average person.). Death
rate in Bihar in 1987 was 34% higher than the number of deaths that occurred in
the following year. Food prices also hit a high in Bihar during the year, even when
comp
states. For wheat and rice the prices in the state were twice or more than their
prices in more prosperous Punjab. The government had ‘honing” policies that
prohibited tra.de of food across states* tins reduced the availability of food in
Bihar dramatically. In situations such as this, the poorest sections of the so. .
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most.
Questions
1. What is food-crisis?
2. What were the reasons of food crisis in Bihar?
3. What do you understand by ‘Zoning’ policies of government?
Answer:
1. When any state or country face the problem of insufficiency of food in the region or
food shortage is known as food crisis.
2. (i) Famine situation occurred there.
(ii) Food prices also hit a high in Bihar than other states.
(iii) Government policies of‘Zoning1 also caused it.
3. Zoning policies of government prohibit trade of food across the states which reduced
the availability of food in Bihar.
2.Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
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Decentralized Planning: It is not necessary that all planning always lias to be
centralised; nor is it that planning is only about big industries and large projects.
The ‘Kerala model’ is the name given to the path of planning and development
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charted by the Stats of Kerala .There has been a focus model on education,
health, land reforms, effective food distribution, and poverty alleviation. Despite
low per capita incomes,
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and a relatively weak industrial base, Kerala achieved nearly total literacy,long life
expectency ,low infant and female mortality, low birth .rates and Mgb access to
medical care. Between 1987 and 1991, the government launched the New
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agriculture especially in foodgrains like wheat and rice to increase food production
through high yielding varieties of seeds, fertilisers and scientific irrigation. Positive
Consequences:
1. In many parts, the stark contrast between the poor peasantry and the landlords
produced conditions favourable for left wing organisations to organise the poor
peasants.
It resulted in the rise of what is called the ‘Middle Peasant Sections’
who were farmers with medium size holdings who benefitted from the changes and
soon emerged politically influential in many parts of country. Negative Consequences:
(i) This created a stark contrast between the poor peasantry and the landlords.
(ii) It delivered only a moderate agricultural growth i.e. a rise in rice and wheat
production by raising availability of foodgrains in country. On the other hand it increased
polarisation between the classes and regions like Northern States i. e. Punjab, Haryana,
West-U.P. became agriculturally rich but others remained backward.
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2. Explain the main arguments in the debate that ensued between
industrialisation agricultural development at the time of second five year plan.
Answer: At the time of second five year plan, some controversial issues rose in
p.
reference of relevancy of agriculture over industry:
1. Second five year plan emphasised on industry in place of agriculture or rural India.
2. J.C. Kumarappa, a Gandhian Economist proposed an alternative blueprint to
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emphasise on rural industrialisation.
3. Bharatiya Lok Dal leader, Chaudhary Charan Singh also commented that the
planning was leading to creation of prosperity in Urban and industrial sections at the
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3. Besides they also argued that even if the government had spent more money on
agriculture, it would not have solved the massive problems of rural poverty.
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Al. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
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Questions
1. What message does the cartoon convey?
2. Name the person who is making efforts to balance both the sectors.
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3. How was both these sectors balanced?
Answer:
1. Cartoon is trying to make balance between the private and public sector to maintain
the growth of an economy adopted by India.
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2. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
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p.
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Questions
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B. On a political outline map of India locate and label the following and symbolise
them as indicated:
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p.
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Questions
1. The state prone to food crisis during independence days!
2. The state adopted decentralisation.
3. The state where people protested against POSCO plants.
4. The state where White Revolution took place.
Answer:
1. Bihar 2. Kerala
3. Orissa 4. Gujarat
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independence? State any two reasons with examples to support your reading.
Answer. 1. India decided to conduct its foreign relations with respect to sovereignty of
other nations and maintain peace and security through mutual cooperation to be
reflected in the Directive Principles of State Policy on Article 51 of constitution
2. India always advocated the policy of Non-alignment, made efforts to reduce cold war
tensions and contributed human resources to UN peace keeping operations.
3. Hence, India took independent stand and got assistance from members of both the
blocs.
5. Identify any two aspects of India’s foreign policy that you would like to retain
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and two that you would like to change, if you were to become a decision maker.
Give reasons to support your position.
Answer: Two Aspects to be Supported:
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1. India always maintained her dignity and image of a peace loving country by taking
initiatives to bring about equality and understanding among the nations i.e. India
supported to end Korean War in 1953, French rule in China, US role in Vietnam.
2. India’s initiatives for Non-alignment are also appreciable for the maintenance of
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mutual understanding and security. During post cold war era also, NAM had become an
effective tool to make the Security Council more effective and democratic.
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7.India’s foreign policy was built around the principles of peace and cooperation.
But India fought three wars in a space of ten years between 1962 and 1971. Would
you say that this was a failure of the foreign policy? Or
would you say that this was a result of international situation? Give reasons to
support your answer.
Answer: No, this was not the failure of foreign policy but this was a result of
international situation:
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1. The Chinese Invasion 1962:
(a) Serious conflict arose when China annexed Tibet in 1950 and removed a historical
buffer between two nation, and India did not oppose this openly.
p.
(b) India grew uneasy, when China began to suppress Tibetan Culture.
(c) Another border dispute arose when China claimed Aksai Chin area and NEFA (much
of the state in Arunachal Pradesh) within the Indian territory.
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(id) Despite long term correspondence and discussions, these issues have not been
resolved even by top leaders of country.
(e) Hence, India had to indulge in the conflict.
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Agreement signed between Indian Prime Minister Lai Bahadur Shastri and Pakistan’s
General Ayub Khan.
(c) The 1965 War added to India’s already difficult economic situation.
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Hence, India had to extend moral and material support to the freedom struggle in
Bangladesh.
(e) A full scale war between India and Pakistan in December 1971 broke out, when
p.
Pakistan attacked on Punjab and Rajasthan to be retaliated an attack from India. if)
Within ten days the Indian army surrounded Dhakan and Pakistan had to surrender with
Bangladesh as a free country, India declared a unilateral ceasefire and Shimla
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Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan in 1972.
(g) Most people in India saw this moment as a glory of India and a dear sign of India’s
growing military powers.
On the above mentioned reference, we may conclude “Yes’. India’s foreign Policy
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reflects her desire to be an important regional power which was revealed during the
Bangladesh war of 1971. Yes, India’s foreign policy reflects her desire to be an
important regional power which was revealed during the Bangladesh war of 1971.
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9. How does political leadership of a nation affect its foreign policy? Explain this
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It means trying to view things, as far as possible, not from the military point of
view, though that has to come in sometimes, but independently, and trying to
maintain friendly relations with all countries”.
—-Jawaharlal Nehru
(a) Why does Nehru want to keep off military blocs?
(b) Do you think that the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty violated the principle of
non-alignment? Give reasons for your answer,
(c) If there were no military blocs, do you think non-alignment would have been
unnecessary?
Answer: (a) Nehru wanted to keep off military blocs to maintain friendly and peaceful
relation with all nations of world as well as to maintain India’s uniqueness at
international stage.
(b) No, the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty did not violate non-alignment because it was
not to maintain military relations but to maintain diplomatic friendly relations. .
(c) NAM emphasises on disarmament, decolonisation and terrorism except staying
away from military blocs.
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Very Short Answer Type Questions [ 1 Mark]
p.
1. What is foreign policy?
Answer: Foreign policy of a nation reflects ^systematic statements of national interests
alongwith the interplay of domestic and external factors.
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2. I n which context India started participating in the world affairs as an
independent nation state?
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2. Which two differences between India and China led to an army conflict in 1962?
Answer: (i) Serious conflict arose when China annexed Tibet in 1950 and removed a
historical buffer between two nation and India did not oppose this openly. (ii) Another
border dispute arose when China claimed Aksai Chin Area and NEFA (much of the
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state in Arunachal Pradesh) within the . Indian territory.
3. Highlight the contribution made by Pt. J.L. Nehru to the foreign policy of India.
(ii) India always maintained her dignity and image of peace loving country by taking
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initiatives to bring about equality and understanding among nations i.e. to end Korean
war in 1953, French rule in China etc.
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4. Mention any two/four Directive Principles of State Policy for the promotion of
international peace and security.
Answer: The Article 51 of Indian Constitution deals with the “Directive Principles of
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(iii) Foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in the dealings of
organised people with one another.
(iv) Encourage settlement of international dispute by arbitration.
8. In the Post Cold War Era what is the nature of India’s foreign policy in terms of
shifting alliances in world politics?
Answer: In the Post Cold War Era India’s foreign policy had shifted to more pro-US
in
stance with the disintegration of USSR:
1. At present India’s foreign policy rather more emphasizes on economic interests in
place of military.
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2. Every Indo-Pak relations have also witnessed many new developments.
3. Efforts are being made to restore normal relations with other countries through
cultural exchange.
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9. Arrange the following events in the correct chronological sequence from the
earlier to the latest:
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3. Describe any two major issues of conflict between India and Pakistan leading
to war of 1971.
Answer: Issues of conflict between India and Pakistan leading to War in 1971:
p.
1. A serious armed struggle arose between India and Pakistan in December 1971 when
Pakistan attacked on Punjab and Rajasthan. In turn India had to retaliated a war against
Pakistan.
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2. India had to bear 80 lakh refugees who fled from East Pakistan to take shelter in
India. Hence, India had to extend moral and material support to freedom struggle in
Bangladesh against Pakistan.
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4. What was Tibet issue? How did it cause tension between India and China?
Explain.
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Answer: 1. From the very beginning of independence time to time, China has claimed
its administrative control over Tibet.
2. In 1950, China took over control of Tibet. Large sections of Tibetan population
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non-alignment policy to pursue its national interests within international context.
p.
Picture/Map Based Questions [5 Marks]
A. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
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Question.
1. What message does this cartoon convey?
2. Which year is being shown here?
Answer:
1. This cartoon conveys message on Indo-China tensions to be resolved.
2. 1962, Chinese invasion.
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many states.
(c) Congress lost majority in the Lok Sabha but formed a coalition government with the
support of some other parties.
4. Which of the following statement about the Grand Alliance of 1971 is correct?
The Grand Alliance …
(а) was formed by non-Communist, non-Congress parties.
(b) had a clear political and ideological programme.
(c) was formed by all non-Congress parties.
Answer: (a) was formed by non-Communist, non-Congress parties.
5. How should a political party resolve its internal differences? Here are some
suggestions. Think of each and list out their advantages and shortcomings?
(a) Follow the footsteps of the party president
(b) Listen to the majority group
(c) Secret ballot voting on every issue
(d) Consult the senior and experienced leaders of the party
Answer: (a) Advantage: If the party follows the footsteps of the party president, there
will be discipline and unity within the party.
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Shortcoming: The party president can take its decision without taking into consideration
the views of its party members. So, the inner democracy may get weakened.
(b) Advantage: If the party listens to the majority group, there will be more confidence
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among the party members and inner democracy will be strengthened.
Shortcoming: If the party listens to the majority group, factionalism may increase in the
party. One faction may try to back another faction to gather support.
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(c) Advantage: Secret ballot voting is an appropriate system. It is more democratic.
Through it, any member can express his views.
Shortcoming: Sometimes, the party members may vote through secret ballot by ignoring
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the whip of the party issued by the party president. It may prove fatal to the party.
(d) Advantage: The novice and less experienced candidates will be benefited if they
consult the senior and experienced leaders of the party and also follow their guidelines.
Shortcoming: If the party members only consult the senior and experienced leaders and
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follow their guidelines, their hold will get strengthened in the party.
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6. State which of these were reasons for the defeat of the Congress in 1967. Give
reasons for your answer?
(a) The absence of a charismatic leader in the Congress party.
(b) Split within the Congress party.
(c) Increased mobilisation of regional, ethnic and communal groups.
(d) Increasing unity among non-Congress parties.
(e) Internal differences within the Congress party.
Answer: (a) It may not be the reason of the defeat of Congress party. Because there
were so many experienced and charismatic leaders in the party.
(b) It was one of the main reasons of the defeat of Congress party. Now party was split
into two groups. Syndicate had strong hold over the Congress party while Indira
supporters were more inclined to their leader. One group was in support of capitalism
and liberalisation while others opposed it.
(c) Due to the emergence of the Akali Dal in Punjab, D.M.K. in Tamil Nadu got and
other regional parties, Congress setback. The party could not get majority at the centre
and had to be deprived of power in various states.
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(d) There was no unity among non-Congress parties. So the non-Congress parties got
benefit in other provinces.
(e) Internal differences within the party were one of the major causes of its defeat.
7. What were the factors which led to the popularity of Indira Gandhi’s
Government in the early 1970s?
Answer: Because:
1. Socialist credentials became main projects during this period.
2. Indira Gandhi campaigned to implement land reform legislations and land ceiling
legislations.
3. She ended her dependence on other
political parties by strengthening her party’s position and recommended the dissolution
of Lok Sabha in December’ 1970.
4. The crisis in East Pakistan and Indo- Pak war to establish Bangladesh as an
independent one, also enhanced the popularity of Indira Gandhi.
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5. Indira Gandhi’s government was not accepted only as a protector of the poor and
underprivileged but as a strong government also.
6. Congress became popular among different social sections and restored dominance
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again.
8. What does the term ‘syndicate’ mean in the context of the Congress party of
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the . sixties? What role did the Syndicate play in the Congress party?
Answer: Syndicate was a group of powerful and influential leaders from within the
Congress:
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1. Syndicate was led by K. Kamraj, former chief minister of Tamilnadu and the then
president of Congress party. It also includes some powerful leaders like S.K. Patil, S.
Nijalingappa, N. Sanjeeva Reddy and Atulya Ghosh.
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2. In the sixties, Syndicate played a decisive role by installing both Lai Bahadur Shastri
and Indira Gandhi as a Prime Minister.
3. Syndicate played decisive say in Indira Gandhi’s first council of Ministers and
Sm
9. Discuss the major issue which led to the formal split of the Congress Party in
1969.
Answer: The formal split in Congress took place in 1969 on the issue of nomination of
the candidate during presidential elections:
1. Despite, Indira Gandhi’s reservations, the Syndicate nominated Neelam Sanjeeva
Reddy, as the official Congress candidate for ensuing Presidential elections.
2. Indira Gandhi retaliated the situation by encouraging Mr. V.V. Giri, the then Vice-
President, to be nominated as an independent candidate.
3. During election, the then Congress President S. Nijalingappa issued a whip asking all
Congress MPs. MLAs to vote for N. Sanjeeva Reddy.
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4. On the other hand, after silently supporting V.V. Giri, the Prime Minister Mrs Indira
Gandhi openly called for a conscience vote to vote the way they want.
5. Elections went in favour of V.V. Giri due to this diplomatic effort and N. Sanjeeva
Reddy was defeated.
6. The defeat of N. Sanjeeva Reddy, the formal Congress candidate, formalised the split
of party into two:
(a) Congress (O), i.e. organisation
led by syndicate, known as Old Congress.
(b) Congress (R) i.e. requisitionists led by Indira Gandhi, known as New Congress.
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politics turned political ideology … into a mere electoral discourse, use of various
slogans not meant to be translated into government policies…. During its great
electoral victories in early 1970s, amidst the celebration, the Congress party as a
p.
political organisation died
—Sudipta Kaviraj
(a) What according to the author is the difference between the strategies of Nehru
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and Indira Gandhi?
(b) Why does the author say that the Congress party ‘died’ in the seventies?
(c) In what way, did the change in the Congress party affect other political parties
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also?
Answer: (a) According to author, main difference between the strategies of Nehru and
Indira Gandhi is that Jawahar Lai Nehru led the Congress into federal, democratic and
ideological nature whereas Indira Gandhi converted it into highly centralised and
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undemocratic party.
(b) Congress party died in the seventies due to changed nature of Congress, the new
populist politics turned political ideology into a mere electoral discourage and the use of
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1. Which major factor was responsible for the dramatic victory of Indira Gandhi in
1971 elections?
Answer: Although the Congress’s position was very weak in the electroal contest of
1971, it had something that its big opponents lacked—it had an issue, an agenda and a
positive slogan: Garibi Hatao in contrast to opposition’s Indira Hatao. This proved to be
a major factor responsible for the dramatic victory of Indira Gandhi.
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2. Who represented Congress (O) and Congress (R) after the split of Congress
Party?
Answer: Congress (O) was represented by K. Kamraj, former Chief Minister of
Tamilnadu and the then President of Congress Party whereas Congress (R) was led by
Indira Gandhi.
4. In 1966, who contested against Indira Gandhi for the post of Prime Minister
from among Congress MPs?
Answer: Morarji Desai, earlier Chief Minister of Bombay State.
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5. What was the Slogan of Indira Gandhi during the elections of 1971?
Answer: ‘Garibi Hatao’.
p.
6. After the death of Lai Bahadur Shastri which two leaders of Congress Party
contested against each other to become leader of Congress parliamentary party?
Answer: Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi.
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7. Name the leaders who gave the following slogans.
1. Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan
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2. Garibi Hatao
Answer: 1. Lai Bahadur Shastri
2. Indira Gandhi
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8. Which theoretical argument did Ram j Manohar Lohia give in defence on non-
Congressism?
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Answer: “Congress rule was undemocratic and opposed to the interest of ordinary poor
people, therefore, the coming together of the non-Congress parties was necessary for
reclaiming democracy for the people”.
10. When and where was the first non- j Congress state government formed after
India’s independence?
Answer: Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in 1967.
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ll. Why are the results of 1967 elections in India called Political Earthquake?
Answer: Because it jolted the Congress at both the central and state levels as
Congress did not get majority in Congress ruled states.
12. What challenges were faced by India between 1964 to 1966 during Prime-
ministership of Lai Bahadur Shastri?
Answer: 1. Economic crisis due to Indo-China War 1962 and Indo-Pak War 1965.
2. Failed Monsoons, drought, serious food crisis presented a grave challenge.
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14. Why were 1960s, called as the dangerous decade?
Answer: Due to some unresolved problems like poverty, inequality, communal and
regional divisions led a failure of democratic projects or disintegration of country.
2. He changed his party thrice in fortnight from Congress to United Front back to
Congress and then within nine hours to United Front again.
3. This incident later became a political joke and develop the culture of defection in
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2. Why did senior Congress leader support Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister after
the death of Lai Bahadur Shastri?
Answer: Because:
1. Indira Gandhi was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru and she had been Congress
president in the past and had also been Union Minister for Information in Shastri
Cabinet.
2. The senior leaders presumed that her administrative and political inexperience would
compel her to dependent on them for support and guidance.
4. Why did Indira Gandhi government devalue the Indian Rupee in 1967?
Answer: Indira Gandhi government devalued Indian rupee to check economic crisis of
1967. Consequently, one US dollar could be purchased for less than ? 5 after
devaluation, it cost more than ? 7.
1. The economic situation triggered a price rise.
2. People started protest against increase in prices of essential commodities and
unemployment etc.
3. The Communist and Socialist parties launched struggle to avail greater equality.
in
the party’s MPs.
3. Thus, a peaceful transition of power despite intense competition for leadership was
seen as a sign of maturity of India’s democracy.
p.
6. What was the status of SVD in the new era of coalition?
Answer: The elections of 1967 brought the coalitions when no single party got the
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majority and joint legislator parties called ‘Samyukt Vidhayak Dal’ came together to form
government to support non-Congress government:
1. The SVD government in Bihar included two socialist parties—SSP and PSP along-
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regional divisions and the was speculations that all these could lead to a failure of the
democratic project or even disintegration of country.
l. Explain any two reasons for the popularity of Indira Gandhi during 1971
elections.
Or
Analyse any three factors which enhanced popularity of Indira Gandhi in the early
1970s.
Answer: Because:
1. Indira Gandhi campaigned to implement land reforms legislations and land ceiling
legislation during elections.
2. She ended her dependence on other political parties by strengthening her party’s
position and recommended the dissolution of Lok Sabha in December 1970.
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3. The crisis in East Pakistan and Indo- Pak war to establish Bangladesh as an
independent one, also enhanced the popularity of Indira Gandhi.
2. What does ‘defection’ stand for in Indian politics? Highlight any two demerits
of this practice?
Answer: Defection refers to an elected representative leaves the party on whose
symbol he/she is elected and joins another party. This culture developed in Indian
Politics after 1967 elections.
Its two demerits were as follows:
1. It played an important role in making and unmaking of government frequently.
2. The constant realignments and shifting political loyalties in this period gave rise to the
expression “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram”.
3. Why was the year 1967 considered a landmark year in India’s political and
electoral history? Explain.
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Answer: The fourth general election was held in 1967 for the first time without Nehru:
1. The election verdict was not in favour of Congress and results jolted the Congress
both at the national and state levels.
p.
2. Half the ministers in Indira Gandhi’s cabinet were defeated including K. Kamraj in
Tamilnadu, S.K. Patil in Maharashtra, Atulya Ghosh in West Bengal, K.B. Sahay in
Bihar.
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3. Congress did not lose majority in seven states only but two other states also
prevented it to form government due to defections.
4. For the first time any non-Congress party secured majority in any state and in other
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4. These election results were called as a ‘Political Earthquake’.4. How can we see
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5. What is meant by ‘Privy Purses’? Why did Indira Gandhi insist on abolishing
them in 1970?
Answer:‘Privy Purses’ was the form of grant in heredity given to the rulers and their
families:
1. The grant or ‘Privy Purse’ was measured on the basis of extent revenue and potential
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of the merging state in the assurance given at the time of integration of princely states.
2. Privy purses were criticised, the privileges given to princely states at the time of
accession, integration and consolidation were protested.
3. Hence, some leaders like Indira Gandhi insisted on abolishing the privy purses
because hereditary privileges were not constant with the principle of equality, social and
economic justice laid down in the constitution.
4. Hence in the elections of 1971, Indira Gandhi made this a major election issue and
got a lot of public support
and alongwith massive victory in 1971 election, the constitution was amended to
remove legal obstacles for abolition of privy purses.
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1. In contrast to this, Indira Gandhi put forward a positive slogan ‘Garibi Hatoa’.
2. By this, she generated a support base among poors, minorities, landlors labourers,
dalits, women and unemployed bye youth.
p.
3. Except it, she focused on the growth of public sector, imposition of ceiling on rural
land holdings and urban property, removal of disparity etc.
4. Thus, the slogan of Garibi Hatao and programmes became the part of Indira Gandhi’s
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political strategy of building an independent nationwide political support base during the
electoral contest of 1971.
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into existence to make matters worse for Indira Gandhi.
p.
2. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
The defeat of the official Congress candidate formalised the split in the party. The
Congress President expelled the Prime Minister from the party; she claimed that
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her group was the real Congress. By November 1969, the Congress group led by
the ‘syndicate’ came to be referred to as the Congress (Organisation) and the
group led by Indira Gandhi came to be called the Congress (Requisitionists).
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These two parties were also described as Old Congress and New Congress.
Indira Gandhi projected the split as an ideological divide between socialists and
conservatives, between the pro-poor and the pro-rich.
Questions
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Answer:
1. The defeat of official candidate during presidential elections in 1969.
2. Congress (O) i.e. Organisation led by syndicate known as old Congress, Congress
(R) i.e. requisitionists led by Indira Gandhi known as new Congress.
3. Indira Gandhi projected the split as an ideological divide between socialists and
conservatives, between pro-rich and pro-poor.
3. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
But does it mean that the Congress system was restored? What Indira Gandhi
had done was not a revival of the old Congress party. In many ways she had re-
invented the party. The party occupied a similar position in terms of its popularity
as in the past. But it was a different kind of a party. It relied entirely on the
popularity of the supreme leader. It had a somewhat weak organisational
structure. This
Congress party now did not have many factions. Thus it could not accommodate
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all kind of options and interests .While it won elections,it depends more on some
social groups: the poor, the women, Dalits, Adivasis and the minorities.It was a
new congress system by changing the nature of the congress system itself.
Questions
1. Had Indira Gandhi revived Congress?
2. How did Indira Gandhi restore the Congress system?
3. Why did Congress not have all kinds of opinions and interests?
Answer:
1. No, whatever had been done by Indira Gandhi, was not a revival of old Congress
system but it was a re¬invention of party.
2. Indira Gandhi restored the Congress system changing the nature of Congress system
itself, to be dependent more on poor, women, dalits, adivasis and minorities.
3. It had a somewhat weak organisational structure and it did not have many factions
also to accommodate all kinds of opinions and interests.
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Long Answer Type Questions [6 Marks]
l. Analyse any three major factors which led the popularity of Indira Gandhi’s
Government in the early 1970s.
p.
Answer: (i) The fifth general elections to Lok Sabha were held in February 1971. The
electoral contest appeared to be loaded against Congress (R). After all, the new
Congress was just one faction of an already weak party. Everyone believed that the real
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organizational strength of the Congress Party was under the command of Congress (O).
To make i matters worse for Indira Gandhi, all the major non-Communist, non Congress
opposition parties formed an electoral alliance known as the Grand Alliance. Yet the
new Congress had something that its big opponents lacked — it had an issue, an
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agenda and a positive slogan. The Grand Alliance did not have a coherent political
programme. Indira Gandhi said that the opposition alliance had only one common
programme Indira Hatao (Remove Indira). In contrast to this, she put forward a positive
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and abolition of princely privileges. Thus, the slogan Garibi Hatao and the programmes
that followed it were part of Indira Gandhi’s political strategy of building an Independent
nationwide political support base. As a result, she won 352 seats with about 44 per cent
of the popular votes on its own in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971.
(iii) Soon after the 1971 Lok Sabha election, a major political and military crises broke
out in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The 1971 elections were followed by the crisis
in East Pakistan and the Indo- Pak war leading to the establishment of Bangladesh.
These events added to the popularity of Indira Gandhi. Even the opposition leaders
admired her statesmanship.
2. Examine the three main reasons responsible for the split in Congress during
1969.
Or
Describe the various aspects of presidential election of 1969.
Answer: The formal split in Congress took place in 1969 on the issue of nomination of
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in
3. Which six factors contributed to the popularity of Indira Gandhi’s government
in the decade of 1970s?
p.
Answer: Because:
1. Socialist credentials became main projects during this period.
2. Indira Gandhi campaigned to implement land reform legislation and land ceiling
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legislations.
3. She ended her dependence on other political parties by strengthening her party’s
position and recommended the dissolution of Lok Sabha in December 1970.
tP
4. The crisis in East Pakistan and Indo- Pak war to establish Bangladesh as an
independent one, also enhanced the popularity of Indira Gandhi.
5. Indira Gandhi and her government was not accepted only as a protector of the poor
and under privileged but as a strong government also.
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6. Congress became popular among different social sections and restored dominance
again.
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4. Examine the grave economic crisis prior to fourth general election of 1967.
Assess the electoral verdict also.
Answer: Indira Gandhi government devalued Indian rupee to check economic crisis of
1967. Consequently, one US dollar could be purchased for less than ? 5 after
devaluation, it cost more than ? 7.
1. The economic situation triggered a price rise.
2. People started protest against increase in prices of essential commodities and
unemployment etc.
3. The Communist and Socialist parties launched struggle to avail greater equality.
The fourth general election was held in 1967 for the first time without Nehru:
1. The election verdict was not in favour of Congress and results jolted the Congress
both at the national and state levels.
2. Half the ministers in Indira Gandhi’s cabinet were defeated including K. Kamraj in
Tamilnadu, S.K. Patil in Maharashtra, Atulya Ghosh in West Bengal, K.B. Sahay in
Bihar.
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3. Congress did not lose only majority in seven states but two other states also
prevented it to form government due to defections.
4. For the first time any non-Congress party secured majority in any state and in other
eight states different non-Congress parties formed the coalitions.
5. These election results were called as a ‘Political Earthquake’.
1. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
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Questions
1. What is meant by ‘Keep Right, No Left Turn”?
p.
2. In the picture what does the following stand for:
(а) LD (b) BKS
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(c) SSP (d) BKD
3. What is a hung assembly?
Answer:
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1. United Front Party was formed on the basis of non-Communist ideology and
supposed to follow the ‘rightist’ only.
2. (a) Lok Dal
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2. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
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Questions
1. Which year is being referred by cartoon?
2. Who is being commented by the phrase ‘Aya Ram Gaya Ram’?
Answer:
1. 1967
2. Haryana’s MLA ‘Gaya LaP who changed the party thrice in a fortnight from Congress
to United Front, back to Congress and then within nine hours to United Front again.
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p.
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Questions
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(b) The Railway Strike of 1974
(c) The Naxalite Movement
(d) The Allahabad High Court verdict
(e) The findings of the Shah Commission Report
Answer: (c) The Naxalite Movement p.
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3. Match the following:
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Sm
4. What were the reasons which led to the mid-term elections in 1980?
Answer: 1. Janata party lacked direction, leadership and a common programme.
2. Janata party government could not bring a fundamental change in policies pursued
by Congress.
3. There was a split in Janata Party and the government led by Morarji Desai which lost
its majority in less than 18 months.
4. Charan Singh government was formed due to support of Congress party which later
decided to withdraw its support resulting resignation of Charan Singh government within
four months.
5. All the above mentioned reasons led midterm elections of 1980, which defeated
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Janata Party and again Congress led by Indira Gandhi came back to power by winning
353 seats.
5. The Shah Commission was appointed in 1977 by the Janata Party Government.
Why was it appointed and what were its findings?
Answer: The Shah commission was appointed in May 1977 by Janata Party
government which was headed by J.C. Shah, retired chief justice of Supreme Court of
India to look into the matters of:
1. Allegations of abuse of authority, excesses and malpractices as well as actions taken
in the name of emergency proclaimed on 25 June 1975.
2. The Commission performed to examine various evidences to give testimonies even
including Indira Gandhi to appear before Commission, but she refused to answer any
questions.
Findings of Shah Commission:
(a) It found many ‘excesses’ committed during Emergency.
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(b) Under preventive detention laws nearly one lakh eleven thousand people were
arrested.
(c) Press censorship took place without any proper legal sanctions.
p.
(d) Even general manager of Delhi Power Supply Corporation received verbal orders
from the officers of the Lt. Governor of Delhi to cut electricity to all newspapers press at
2 a.m. on 26 June 1975.
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6. What reasons did the Government give for declaring a National Emergency in
1975?
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(iii) The government decided a grave crisis to be arisen to proclaim emergency to bring
law and order, restore efficiency and implement pro-poor welfare programmes.
(iv) The President Fakhruddin Adi Ahmad proclaimed emergency which became the
most controversial episode in Indian Politics.
7. The 1977 elections for the first time saw the Opposition coming into power at
the Centre. What would you consider as the reasons for this development?
Answer: The 1977 elections were evolved as a shock to everyone as Congress party
was defeated for the very first time and opposition party came into power:
1. The opposition adopted the slogan ‘Save democracy’ against imposition of
emergency earlier.
2. The opposition campaigned non- democratic character of rule which provided various
excesses.
3. The opposition party highlighted the preventive detention and press censorship to
favour public opinion.
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in
informed on grounds to arrested persons.
4. In April 1976, finally it was proved that the government could take away citizen’s right
to life and liberty by overruling of high courts under supreme court and accept
p.
government’s plea.
(b) Impact on Relationship between the Executive and Judiciary:
1. The Parliament brought in many new changes in Constitution which made an
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amendment declaring that elections of Prime Minister, President and Vice¬President
could not be challenged in the court.
2. The forty-second amendment (42nd) was also passed to bring a series of changes in
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3. Various fundamental rights were also suspended including even Right to move to
court for restoration of Fundamental Rights.
4. Kannada writer Shivarama Karanth awarded with Padma Bhushan and Hindi writer
Fanishwarnath Tlenu with Padmashri returned their awards in protest against
suspension of democracy.
5. Newspapers mainly Indian Express, and the statesman protested against censorship
by leaving blank spaces where news items were censored.
(d) Working of Police and Bureaucracy:
Refer Part (a) + (b) of the same question.
9. In what way did the imposition of Emergency affect the party system in India?
Elaborate your answer with examples.
Answer: 1. Due to absolute majority to party in power, leadership even dared to
suspend democratic process.
2. The constitution makers presumed to be abide by laws and democratic orders,
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hence, wide and open ended powers were given to the government during emergency.
3. A tension and differences arose between institution based democracy and
democracy based on spontaneous popular participation.
4. It was attributed to incapability of party system to incorporate aspirations of the
people.
5. For the first time, opposition parties came together to form a new party ‘Janata Party’
not to divide the non-Congress votes.
6. 1977 elections brought an end to one party dominance and created coalition
government.
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The Janata Party also went
through major convulsions David
Butler, Ashok Lahiri and Prannoy Roy.
p.
—Partha Chatterjee
(a) What made the party system in India look like a two-party system in 1977?
(b) Many more than two parties existed in 1977. Why then are the authors
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describing this period as close to a two-party system?
(c) What caused splits in Congress and the Janata Party?
Answer: (a) The imposition of emergency in 1977 and political crisis made the party
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(c) Split in Congress: Congress splitted on the issues of presidential elections in 1969.
Split in Janata Party: On tensions among three leaders Morarji Desai, Charan Singh
and Jagjivan Ram for leadership in 1979.
Sm
1. Mention the main reason for the defeat of Congress party in the elections 1977.
Answer: The opposition party adopted the slogan ‘Save democracy’ against the
imposition of emergency.
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eradication of bonded labour, land redistribution, workers participation in management
etc.
p.
8. Who became the symbol of restoration of democracy?
Answer: Jayaprakash Narayan, leader of Janata Party.
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9. Mention the Historic decision given by the court in famous Kesavananda
Bharati Case.
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Answer: That there are some basic features of constitution not to be amended by
parliament at all. It led to a crisis between the government and judiciary.
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10. What was the controversy regarding the appointment of the chief justice A.N.
Ray in 1973?
Answer: It became political controversial because in this appointment the government
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set aside the seniority of three judges who had given ruling against the stand of
government.
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government headed by S.C. Shah, retired chief justice of Supreme Court of India to look
into the matter of:
1. Allegations of abuse of authority.
2. Excesses and malpractices.
p.
3. Actions taken in the name of emergency proclaimed on 25 June 1975.
The government appeared before commission against various evidences but she
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refused to answer any question.
Answer: The ‘Naxalites’ were the Marxist and Leninist Agricultural workers of Andhra
Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and adjoining areas who organised massive agitations
against economic injustice and inequality and demanded redistribution of land to
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cultivators.
Sm
1. Explain the reasons for students movement of 1974 in Bihar and the role
played by Jayaprakash Narayan in this movement.
Answer: Reasons for Student’s Movement of 1974:
Students organised movement against:
1. Rising prices of food grains, cooking oil and other essential commodities.
2. Corruption in high places.
Assess Role played by Jai Prakash Narayan:
Satyagraha was organised by Jayaprakash Narayan for Indira Gandhi’s resignation, he
appealed to people not to obey illegal and immoral orders by a massive demonstration
on 25 June 1975. All these changed the political mood of the country against Congress.
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in April11976 it was proved that the
government could take away citizens’ right to life and liberty by overruling of high courts
under supreme courts and accepted government’s plea.
p.
2. The forth-second Amendment was also passed to bring a series of changes in
constitution.
3. It affected the functioning of mass media also as press censorship took place which
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banned freedom of press and newspapers, which were supposed to prior approval
before they publish any material.
4. Despite of filing many petitions government claimed it not to be necessary to be
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Answer: The emergency brought out weaknesses and strengths both to India’s
democracy:
1. First lesson was felt that it was extremely difficult to do away with democracy in India.
Sm
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6. How far do you agree that the government had misused its emergency powers
during 1975-77? Explain.
Answer: No, the government hence misused its ‘Emergency Powers’. But it said that it
wanted to use the emergency:
1. To bring law and order into society.
p.
2. To restore efficiency into administration and system.
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3. To implement the pro-poor welfare programmes.
7. How did emergency of 1975 benefit the Indian democratic set up?
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Answer: 1. Between the elections of 1977 and 1980, Congress identified itself with
particulars ideology, claiming to be only socialist and pro-poor party.
2. The concept of non-Congressism was created among opposition parties.
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4. The emergency tensed between institution based democracy and democracy based
on spontaneous popular participation for which party system was to be blamed.
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June 1975 to invoke Article 352 of constitution.
2. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi recommended to impose emergency to president
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad.
p.
3. Emergency was one of the most controversial episode which possessed different
virus regarding to impose emergency.
4. Emergency practically suspended the democratic functioning.
5. ‘Shah Commission’ exposed many excesses committed during emergency.
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6. Emergency highlighted some hidden matters over constitutional battle between the
parliament and judiciary.
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7. Tensions or conflicts had been arisen between institution based democracy and
popular participation of people.
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1. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
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(ii) All the powers are concentrated in the hands of Union government.
(iii) The government also gets power to restrict all or any of Fundamental Rights during
emergency.
2. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
There were many acts of dissent and resistance to the Emergency. Many political
workers who were not arrested in the first wave, went ‘underground’ and
organised protests against the government. Newspapers like the Indian Express
and the Statesman protested against censorship by leaving blank spaces where
news items had been censored. Magazines like the Seminar and the Mainstream
chose to close down rather than submit to censorship. Many journalists were
arrested for writing against the Emergency. Many underground newsletters and
leaflets were published to bypass censorship. Kannada writer Shivarama
Karanth, awarded with Padma Bhushan, and Hindi writer Fanishwarnath Renu,
awarded with Padma Shri, returned their awards in protest against the
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suspension of democracy. By and large, though, such open acts of defiance and
resistance were rare.
Questions
p.
1. Why did people began to protest against government?
2. How did newspapers protest against censorship?
3. How did writers protest against the emergency?
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4. Which magazines protested against censorship?
Answer:
1. Against imposition of emergency.
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2. Newspaper like Indian Express and the Statesman protested against censorship by
leaving blank spaces where news items had been censored.
3. Kannada writer Shivarama Karanth awarded with Padma Bhushan and Hindi writer
Fanishwarnath Renu awarded with Padma Shri returned their awards in protest against
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suspension of democracy.
4. Magazines like ‘Seminar’ and ‘Mainstream’ chose to close down rather than submit to
censorship.
Sm
individuals. This is in response to the inability of the judiciary to protect civil liberties
effectively during the emergency. Many civil liberties organizations came up after this
experience.
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1. The parliament brought in many new changes in constitution which made an
amendment declaring that election of Prime Minister, President and Vice¬president
could not be challenged in the court.
p.
2. The forty-second amendment (42nd) was also passed to bring a series of changes in
constitution like duration of legislatures, elections can be postponed by one year during
an emergency.
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(c) Functioning of Mass Media:
1. Press censorship took place
which banned freedom of press is newspapers were supposed to seek prior approval
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4. Kannada writer Shivarama Karnata awarded with Padma Bhushan and Hindi writer
Fanishwarnath Renu with Padmashri returned their awards on protest against
suspension of democracy.
Sm
5. Newspapers mainly Indian Express, and the Statesman protested against censorship
by leaving blank editorial column.
3. Examine any six reasons for the imposition of emergency in India in 1975.
Or
Analyse any three reasons for imposing emergency on 25 June 1975. Did the
government misuse its emergency powers? Give any three arguments in support
of answers.
Answer: (i) Emergency was proclaimed in response to petition filed by Raj Narayan to
declare Indira Gandhi’s election invalid.
(ii) On June 25, 1975, the government declared the threat of internal disturbances to
invoke Article 352 of constitution.
(iii) Article 352 can declare emergency on ground of either internal or external
disturbances.
(iv) The government decided a grave crisis to be arisen to proclaim emergency to bring
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law and order, restore efficiency and implement pro-poor Welfare Programmes.
(v) The President FakhruddinAli Ahmad proclaimed emergency which became the most
controversial episode in Indian politics.
(vi) Power politics became personalised and governmental authority was converted into
personalization
4. Assess any three happenings which were responsible for the downfall of
Congress Party in the 1977 elections.
Or
‘The 1977 elections for the first time saw the opposition coming to power at the
centre’. Examine any six reasons for this change.
Answer: The 1977 elections were evolved as a shock to everyone as Congress Party
was defeated for the very first time and opposition party came into power:
1. The opposition adopted the slogan ‘save democracy’ against imposition of
emergency earlier.
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2. The opposition campaigned non- democratic character of rule which provided various
excesses.
3. The opposition party highlighted the preventive detention and press censorship to
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favour public opinion.
4. Janata Party also ensured not to divide non-Congress votes.
5. Middle section of North India was moving away from Congress for whom Janata
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Party became a platform.
6. Hence, elections of 1977 emerged many other factors instead about emergency only.
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2. Janata Party and its allies won 330 seats out of 542 seats.
3. Congress lost from the states of Bihar, U.P., Haryana, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh.
4. Janata Party was formed of coalitions under the leadership of Jayaprakash
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Narayana.
5. Janata Party called this election as a referendum on emergency.
6. Opposition party realised not to divide the votes to enjoy the power under one
umbrella.
7. All these indicated a tough time for Congress ahead.
party politics.
3. These movements retained associations or relations alongwith the political parties
either as an individual or as an organisations.
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Questions
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1. What was the slogan of Janata Party to campaign in elections?
2. Identify the person who is sitting on ground holding the slogan.
3. Against which practices Jayaprakash Narayana agitated?
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Answer:
1. Save Democracy.
2. Jayaprakash Narayan.
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2. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
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Question.
1. When did cartoon appear in the newspaper and why?
2. Identify the person behind Indira Gandhi.
3. Identify what does the ‘Political Crisis’ stand for. Explain.
Answer:
1. This cartoon appeared few days before the declaration of emergency to capture the
sense of impending political crisis.
2. The then Congress president D.K. Barooah.
3. Political crisis in 1977 made the party system in India look like a two party system i.e.
Congress and non¬Congress to end one party dominance and emergence of non-
Congress party Janata Party as an umbrella for others.
3. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
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Questions
1. What situation does the picture refer to?
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1. Appearance of Indira Gandhi before Commission but refused to answer any question.
2. Shah Commission’s report about emergency.
3. (i) There were many excesses committed
during emergency.
(ii) Several restrictions were put on the press sometimes without legal sanction.
(iii) Many people were arrested under preventive detention law.
(iv) Even general manager of Delhi Power Supply Corporation received verbal orders
from the officers of Lt. Governor of Delhi to cut electricity to all newspaper presses at 2
a.m. on 26 June 1975.
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2. Some of the statements below are incorrect. Identify the incorrect statements
and rewrite those with necessary correction.
(а) Social movements are hampering the functioning of India’s democracy.
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(b) The main strength of social movements lies in their mass base across social
sections.
(c) Social movements in India emerged because there were many issues that
political parties did not address.
3. Identify the reasons which led to the Chipko Movement in U.P. in early 1970s.
What was the impact of this movement?
Answer: 1. The Chipko movement began in two or three villages of Uttarakhand on
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refusal of permission to villages to fell ash trees for making agricultural tools and allotted
the same land to
sports manufacturers for commercial uses.
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Answer: Bharatiya Kisan Union was one of the leading farmers’ movement to protest
against the policies of process of liberalisation of Indian economy:
Issues addressed by BKU:
1. Higher government floor prices for sugarcane and wheat,
2. Guaranteed supply of electricity at reasonable rates.
3. To wave off repayments due on loan to farmers.
4. To provide government pension to farmers.
5. Abolition of restrictions on the inter¬state movement of farm produce. Highlighted the
plight of farmers:
1. BKUconductedrallies, demonstrations, and Jail Bharo agilations.
2. These protests involved thousands 20 over lakhs farmers from western UPs adjoining
regions.
3. BKU operated as a pressure group in politics with its strength of sheer members.
Extent of Success:
1. BKU became the most successful social movements.
2. It sustained for a longtime due to clan networks among its members.
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3. These networks mobilised funds, resources and activities of BKU.
4. An outcome of political bargaining powers by its members.
5. BKU farmers dominated regional electoral politics also.
p.
5. The anti-arrack movement in Andhra Pradesh drew the attention of the country
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to some serious issues. What were these issues?
Answer: 1. Anti-arrack movement was the movement of rural women in Andhra
Pradesh to protest against alcoholism, mafias and government.
2. This movement had its roots in “adult literacy drive” where women complained of
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increased consumption of locally brewed alcohol arrack by men in their families to effect
on rural economy also.
3. Women in Nellore came together in spontaneous local initiatives to protest against
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7. Why did the Narmada Bachao Aandolan oppose the dam projects in the
Narmada Valley?
Answer: Narmada Bachao Aandolan was a collective local organisation’s movement to
save river Narmada which opposed the construction of multi-purpose dam „ “The
Narmada Sagar Project” and questioned the ongoing developmental projects in country:
1. Narmada Bachao Aandolan linked its opposition to Sardar Sarovar Project with larger
issues concerning the nature of ongoing developmental projects, efficiency of model of
in
development that the country followed and about what constituted public interest in a
democracy.
2. It demanded that there should be a cost benefit analysis of the major developmental
p.
projects due to construction of dam submerged around 245 villages to require two and a
half lakh population to be relocated.
3. The movement demanded proper rehabilitation of all those to be effected from the
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construction of these projects.
4. This movement also questioned the nature of decision making process to be in
framing of mega scale development projects.
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5. Movement also insisted that local communities must have a say in such decision
making alongwith an effective control over natural resources.
6. Hence, NBA achieved a comprehensive National Rehabilitation Policy formed by
government in 2003.
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social justice.
p.
…., nearly all ‘new social movements’ have emerged as corrective to new
maladies – environmental degradation, violation of the status of women,
destruction of tribal cultures and the undermining of human rights – none of
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which are in and by themselves transformative of the social order.
They are in that way quite different from revolutionary ideologies of the past. But
their weakness lies in their being so heavily fragmented
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…a large part of the space occupied by the new social movements seem to be
suffering from … various characteristics which have prevented them from being
relevant to the truly oppressed and the poor in the form of a solid unified
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movement of the people. They are too fragmented, reactive, ad hocish, providing
no comprehensive framework of basic social change. Their being anti-this or that
(anti-West, anti-capitalist, anti-development, etc.) does not make them any more
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Answer: Anti-arrack movement was the movement of rural women from Andhra
Pradesh to fight against alcoholism, mafias and government during this periods.
8. In the poem what does the term “Pilgrims of darkness” signify? To whom the
poet has referred as the liberator?
Answer: It signifies Dalit Communities who had experienced brutal caste injustices. The
poet refers to Dr. Ambedkar as their liberator as well as ‘Sun flower giving Fakir’.
9. Who wrote the poem on Dalit? What does the poem signify?
Answer: The Marathi poet Namdeo Dhsal wrote poem on Dalit during the decade of
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seventies which expresses the anguish that the Dalit masses continued to face even
after twenty years of Independence.
11. What strategies were used by Narmada Bachao Aandolan to put forward its
demands?
Answer: 1. Mobilisation of support at international level.
2. Appeals to judiciary.
3. ‘Public rallies.
4. Forms of Satyagraha to convince people.
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Very Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks]
p.
1. What was the main demand of Chipko movement?
Answer: 1. The villagers demanded that no forest exploiting contracts should be given
to outsiders.
2. Local communities should have effective control over natural resources like water,
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land and forests.
3. They also demanded the government to provide low cost materials to small industries
and ensure development of region without disturbing ecological
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– balance.
4. This movement took up economic issues of landless forest workers and asked for
guarantees of minimum wages.
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Maharashtra:
1. These groups mainly fought against the perpetual caste based inequalities and
material injustices that Dalits faced inspite of constitutional guarantees of equality and
justice.
2. Dalits faced collective atrocities over minor symbolic issues of caste pride. Hence,
they demanded effective implementation of reservations and other such policies of
social just.
Ans. 1. The villagers demanded that no forest exploiting contracts should be given to
outsiders.
2. Local communities should have effective control over natural resources like water,
land and forests.
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8. List any four activities conducted by Bharatiya Kisan Union to pressurize the
state for accepting its demands.
p.
Answer: 1. BKU conducted rallies, demonstrations and Jail Bharo agitations.
2. These protests involved thousands so over lakhs farmers from western UP’s
adjoining regions.
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3. BKU operated as a pressure group in politics with its strength of sheer members.
9. Which action of the government of India threatened the fish workers’ lives in a
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the local fishworkers who came together on a national level platform in the form of
organisation ‘National Fishworkers Forum’ needed by fishworkers from Kerala.
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10. In what ways social movement raised various issues about the model of
economic development of India at the time of independence?
Answer: 1. Chipko movement brought about the issues of ecological depletion.
2. The BKU farmers organisation complained a neglect of agricultural sector.
3. Dalits led mass struggle against social and material conditions.
4. Anti-arrack movement focused on negative fallouts of what was considered
development.
engaged. These villagers protested against the practices of commercial logging that the
government had permitted. They used a novel tactic for their protest— that of hugging
the trees to prevent them from being cut down. The struggle soon spread across many
parts of the Uttarakhand region.
(ii) Women’s active participation in the Chipko agitation was a very novel aspect of the
movement. The forest contractors of the region usually doubled up as suppliers of
alcohol to men. Women held sustained agitations against the habit of alcoholism and
broadened the agenda of the movement to cover other social issues. The movement
achieved a victory when the government issued a ban on felling of trees in the
Himalayan region for fifteen years, until the green cover was fully restored.
2. Where and when was the organisation ‘Dalit Panthers’ formed? Describe any
three of its activities.
Answer: Dalit Panthers denotes to a militant organisation of Dalit Youth to be formed in
1972 in Maharasthra.
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Its activities can be summed up as follows:
1. These groups mainly fought against the perpetual caste based inequalities and
material injustices that Dalits faced in spite of constitutional guarantees of equality and
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justice.
2. Dalits faced collective atrocities over minor symbolic issues of caste pride.
3. They demanded effective implementation of reservations and other such policies of
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social justice.
3. What are popular movements? Explain any three issues related to women
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3. This right has been expanded to cover various services provided by government i.e.,
if any purchased product is defective it can be -asked for replacement.
4. This right gives political actors incentives to good things to help to control corruption.
5. What was Narmada Bachao Aandolan? What was criticism against it?
Answer: Narmada Bachao Aandolan linked its opposition to Sardar Sarovar Project
with larger issues concerning the nature of ongoing development projects with the .
dreams of cost benefit analysis due to construction of dams submerged around 245
villages to require two and a half lakh population to be relocated.
Its criticism:
1. The obstruction to the process of development.
2. Denial to the access to water to many people.
3. Hurdle to economic development.
6. “Movement are not only about collective assertions or only about rallies and
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protests but something else as well”. Justify.
Answer: Though movements are the result of collective assertions, still these are
associated with a “Gradual process of coming together of people” with common
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intentions, common problem, demands and common expectations. These movements
make people aware also by performing educative role towards expansions of
democracy.
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Passage Based Questions [5 Marks]
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1. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
Sardar Sarovar Project is a multipurpose mega-scale dam. Its advocates say that
it would benefit huge areas of Gujarat and the three adjoining states in terms of
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availability of drinking water and water for irrigation, generation of electricity and
increase in agricultural production. Many more subsidiary benefits like effective
flood and drought control in the region were linked to the success of this dam. In
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the process of construction of the dam 245 villages from these States were
expected to get submerged. It required relocation of around two and a half lakh
people from these villages. Issues of relocation and proper rehabilitation of the
project- affected people were first raised by local activist groups. It wrns around
1988-89 that the issues crystallised under the banner of the NBA – a loose
collective of local voluntary organisations.
Questions
1. Why is Sardar Sarovar Project mentioned as multipurpose mega scale dam?
2. Why was it opposed by villagers?
3. Name the organisation which led the movement against this project.
4. What was the main demand of Local Activist Groups?
Answer:
1. Because it fulfilled the various purposes together as to benefit huge areas of Gujarat
and three adjoining states:
1. Availability of drinking water
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2. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
Movements are not only about collective assertions or only about rallies and
protests. They involve a gradual process of coming together of people with
similar problems, similar demands and similar expectations. But then movements
are also about making people aware of their rights and the expectations that they
can have from democratic institutions. Social movements in India have been
involved in these educative tasks for a long time and have thus contributed to
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expansion of democracy rather than causing disruptions.
Questions
1. What is the importance of popular movements in democracy?
p.
2. How do popular movements help the
government?
3. What factors make the people come together in a particular movement?
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Answer:
1. Popular movements make people aware of their rights and expectations which can
be drawn from democratic institutions.
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2. Popular movements let the government be aware of the similar demands, similar
problems and expectations of
people through an educative task for expansion of democracy rather than disrupting it.
3. Similar problems, similar demands, and similar expectations of the same
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group/people.
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2. What was Narmada Bachao Aandolan? What were its main issues? What
democratic strategies did it use to put forward its demands?
Answer: 1. Narmada Bachao Aandolan linked its opposition to Sardar Sarovar project
with larger issues concerning the nature of ongoing developmental projects, efficacy of
model of development that the country followed and what constituted public interest in a
democracy.
2. It demanded that there should be a cost benefit analysis of the major developmental
projects due to construction of dam submerged around 245 villages to require two a half
lakh population to be relocated.
in
3. The movement demanded proper rehabilitation of all those to be affected from the
construction of these projects.
4. This movement also questioned the nature of decision making process to be in
p.
forming of mega scale development projects.
5. Movement also insisted that local communities must have a say in such decision
making alongwith an effective control over natural resources.
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6. Hence, NBA achieved a compreh ensive National Rehabilitation Policy formed by
government in 2003.
Democratic strategies used by it:
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3. What is meant by Chipko movement? When did it start and where? What is the
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4. Mention any three social movements of India. Explain their main objectives.
Answer: 1. The Chipko Movement:
(a) It raised the issues of ecological and economic exploitation.
(b) Active participation of women was a novel aspect of the movement.
(c) The villagers protested against the practices of logging to be permitted by the
government.
2. Anti-Arrack movement:
(a) This movement focused on issues of sexual violence against women either within
family or outside.
(b) Women joined the campaign against dowry and demanded personal and property
laws based on gender equality.
(c) These campaigns contributed a great deal in increasing social awareness as well as
shifted from legal reforms to open social confrontations.
3. Narmada Bachao Aandolan:
(a) Narmada Bachao Aandolan linked its opposition to Sardar Sarovar Project with
larger issues concerning the nature of ongoing developmental projects.
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(b) It demanded cost benefit analysis of major developmental projects to relocate the
people suffered from construction of dams.
(c) This movement also questioned the nature of decision making process to be in
framing of mega scale development projects.
p.
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in
p.
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Questions
1 .The state where Anti-Arrack movement started in October 1992.
2. The state where Dalit Panthers Organisation was active.
3. The state related with Chipko movement.
4. The states associated with Narmada Bachao Aandolan.
Answer:
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Maharashtra
3. Uttarakhand
4. (a) Gujarat (b) Madhya Pradesh
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Answer: (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i).
p.
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2. Regional aspirations of the people of North-East get expressed in different
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Answer: Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh (See the Map at the end of the
Chapter).
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3. What were the main provisions of the Punjab accord? In what way can they be
the basis for further tensions between the Punjab and its neighbouring States?
Answer: Punjab Accord was an agreement signed between the then Prime Minister
Rajiv Gandhi and Harchand Singh Longowal, the then President of Akali Dal in 1985 to
be known as ‘Rajiv Gandhi Longowal Accord’ also to create normalcy in Punjab:
1. Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab.
2. To appoint a separate commission to resolve border dispute between Punjab and
Haryana.
3. To set up a tribunal to settle down the sharing of Ravi-Beas river water among
Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
4. To provide agreement for compen-sation to better treatment to those affected by
militancy in Punjab.
5. To withdraw the Armed forces special power Act ip Punjab.
But, peace could not be established easily in Punjab and resulted as follows:
(a) It led to many excesses by police and violation of human rights.
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in
3. Akali Dal launched a movement on the distribution of water between Punjab and its
neighbouring states.
4. Movement went into the hands of extremist elements from moderate Akalis and
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converted into armed insurgency for which Anandpur Sahib Resolution considered
responsible.
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5. Explain the internal divisions of the State of Jammu and Kashmir and describe
how these lead to multiple regional aspirations in that State.
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir comprised of three regions:
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1. Kashmir region is Kashmir valley consisting Kashmiri speaking and mostly Muslim
with a Kashmiri speaking Hindu minority.
2. Jammu region consists of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and speakers of various
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6. What are the various positions on the issue of regional autonomy for Kashmir?
Which of these do you think are justifiable? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: On the issue of regional autonomy for Kashmir, the following positions are
states as:
1. Kashmiris were promised to make accession on reference of people after situation
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created by tribal invasion, becomes normal. But it has not been fulfilled, hence, it
generated the demand for “Plebiscite”.
2. Sometimes, it was felt that special federal status guaranteed by Article 370 has been
eroded practically which led the demand for restoration of autonomy or “Greater State
Autonomy”.
3. It is felt that democracy, which is practised in rest of India has not been similarly
institutionalised in Jammu and Kashmir.
We prefer the first position because ‘Plebiscite’ provides better opportunity to people of
J & K to protect and sustain their regional autonomy in a very democratic manner.
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natural resources like tea, coal and oil.
3. It was felt that these were drained out of state without any commensurate benefit to
the people.
p.
8. All regional movements need not lead to separatist demands. Explain by giving
examples from this chapter.
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Answer: Because:
1. Regional aspirations are part of democratic politics.
2. Expression of regional issues is not an abnormal phenomenon.
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5. Its examples are in eighties, military erupted in Punjab, problems persisted in the
North-East, students agitated in Assam and Kashmir valley was on the boil.
6. The government of India settled down some negotiations with these regional
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9. Regional demands from different parts of India exemplify the principle of unity
with diversity. Do you agree? Give reasons.
Answer: Yes, we agree with the statement because India adopted a democratic
approach on these regional aspirations in place of considering them as anti-national:
1. India’s democratic politics allows people and groups to address the people on the
basis of their regional identity, aspiration, and specific regional problems.
2. India’s democratic politics focus on regional issues and problems to receive adequate
attention and accommodation in the policy making process, i.e. regional aspirations of
Assam, Punjab and North-East, Kashmir etc.
3. Its examples are in eighties, military erupted in Punjab, problems persisted in the
North-East, students agitated in Assam and Kashmir valley was on the boil.
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4. The government of India settled down some negotiations with these regional
aspirations to reduce tensions in many regions.
5. Mizoram is an example of political settlement to resolve the problem of separation
effectively.
It can be concluded that regional aspirations do not encourage separation but these
respect diversity to retain unity in the nation.
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—Sanjib Baruah
(a) Which unity is the poet talking about?
(b) Why were some States of North¬East created separately out of the erstwhile
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State of Assam?
(c) Do you think that the same theme of unity could apply to all the regions of
India? Why?
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Answer: (a) The poet is talking about the Unity of Assamese.
(b) Because these states face that Assamese government was imposing Assamese
language on them. Hence, regional aspirations began.
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(c) Yes, same theme of unity could apply to all regions of India because Indian
government deals with all these regional aspirations with respect to accommodate
regional diversities.
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1. Name the three social and political regions of the Northern most state of India.
Answer: Names of the three social and political regions of the Northern most state of
India—
(i) Jammu (ii) Kashmir (iii) Ladakh
5. Jammu and Kashmir state comprised of which three social and political
regions?
Answer: Kashmir, Jammu and Laddakh regions.
7. What is the significance of Article 370? Ans. Article 370 signifies special status
of Kashmir:
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Answer: 1. To give greater autonomy to J & K.
2. To specify that state has its own constitution.
3. All provisions of constitution are not applicable to state.
p.
8. Which Prime Minister expressed regret over violence against Sikhs after Indira
Gandhi’s death?
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Answer: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005 after twenty years in Parliament to
regret over the killings of Sikhs.
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sisters.
1. What does the special status given to J & K under Article 370 mean?
Answer: Article 370 signifies special status of Kashmir:
1. To give greater autonomy to J & K.
2. To specify that state has its own constitution.
3. All provisions of constitution are not applicable to state.
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Answer: The accord between Rajiv Gandhi and Laldenga of 1986 granted full fledged
statehood with special powers to Mizoram. Even MNF (Mizo National Front) agreed to
give up secessionists struggle.
p.
5. What was the role of Congress in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir?
Answer: Congress dominated the politics of J & K between 1953 to 1974 in the
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following manner:
1. National Conference remained iconic power with the active support of Congress for
sometime but later merged with the Congress.
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4. In 1974, Indira Gandhi reached an agreement with Sheikh Abdullah and he became
the Chief Minister of State.
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3. The same feelings formed the hostility of local population to Chakma refugees in
Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
1. What was the main outcome of Rajiv Gandhi-Longowal accord in July 1985?
Answer: 1. Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab.
2. A separate commission to be appointed to resolve border dispute between Punjab
and Haryana.
3. A tribunal to be set up to settle down the sharing of Ravi-Beas river water among
Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
4. To withdraw the Armed forces special power Act in Punjab.
2. What was Goa problem? How was Goa liberated and how did it become part of
Indian Union?
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Answer. 1. Goa was under Portuguese alongwith Daman and Diu since 16th century.
2. We expected freedom in 1947 but Portugal refused to withdraw but the people of Goa
wanted to merge with motherland.
Problem’.
p.
3. People of Goa suppressed from religious conversions and civil rights known as ‘Goa
4. In 1961, with in two days Goa, Daman and Diu were liberated from Portugal rule
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under ‘Operation Vijay’ by Government of India.
5. Goa became part of India and in 1987, it attained the status of ‘State Position’.
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4. State one similarity and one difference between the crisis in Punjab and Assam
during 1980s.
Answer: Similarity- It was regional aspirations given to prior importance and solving the
crisis through democratic negotiations. Differences- In Punjab, Akali Dal started the
movement for formation of ‘Punjabi Sabha’ whereas in Assam, the crisis was against
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the people who were seen as outsiders or migrants who were considered to be
competitors to employment opportunities.
in
Union-territory.
3. Goa was granted statehood in 1987.
Assamese into a minority. There were other economic issues too. There was
widespread poverty and unemployment in Assam despite the existence of natural
resources like oil, tea and coal. It was felt that these were drained out of the State
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2. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
The best way to respond to regional aspirations is through democratic
negotiations rather than through suppression. Look at the situation in the
eighties-militancy had erupted in Punjab: problems were persisting in the North-
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East: students in Assam were agitating; Kashmir valley was on the boil. Instead
of treating these as simple law and order problems, the Government of India
reached negotiated settlement with regional movements. This produced a
reconciliation which reduced the tensions existing in many regions. The example
of Mizoram shows how political settlement can resolve the problem of separatism
effectively.
Questions
1. How are regional aspirations dangerous for the unity of country?
2. What is meant by democratic negotiations?
3. Who was leading agitation in Assam?
4. What steps were taken by government of India to respond regional
aspirations?
Answer:
1. It creates the problem of separatism in the country.
2. Democratic negotiations respect the demand of regional aspirations in place of
suppression.
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3. The students.
4. (i) Reached negotiated settlement with
regional movements.
p.
(ii) Produced a reconciliation to reduce the tensions existing in many regions.
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Long Answer Type Questions [6 Marks]
Indian Union.
3. The movement of secession gained popular support after Assam government failed
to respond
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Answer: Because:
1. Regional aspirations are part of democratic politics.
2. Expression of regional issues is not an abnormal phenomenon.
3. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland have regional aspirations in United Kingdom.
4. Regional movements are responded through democratic negotiations rather than
suppression.
5. Its examples are in eighties, militancy erupted in Punjab, problems persisted in the
North-East, students agitated in Assam and Kashmir Valley was on the boil.
6. The government of India settled down some negotiations with these
regional aspirations to reduce tensions in many regions.
7. Mizoram is an example of political settlement to resolve the problem of separation
effectively.
3. What were the main provisions of Punjab Accord of 1985? How has peace been
restored on seewar lines in Punjab?
in
Answer: Punjab Accord was an agreement signed between the then Prime Minister
Rajiv Gandhi and Harchand Singh Longowal, the then President of Akali Dal in 1985 to
be known as ‘Rajiv Gandhi Longowal Accord’ also to create normalcy in Punjab:
p.
1. Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab.
2. To appoint a separate commission to resolve border dispute between Punjab and
Haryana.
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3. A tribunal to be set up to settle down sharing of Ravi-Beas river water among Punjab,
Haryana and Rajasthan.
4. To withdraw the Armed forces special power Act in Punjab.
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Questions
1. The 22nd State of India due to its merger.
2. The state out of which the states of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh
were created.
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(b) Formation of Janata Dal (1989)
(c) Mandal Recommendations and Anti Reservation Stir (1990)
(d) The demolition of Babri Masjid (1992)
(e) The formation of NDA government (1997)
(g) Formation of UPA government (2004)
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2. Match the following:
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3. State the main issues in Indian politics in the period after 1989. What different
configurations of political parties these differences lead to?
Answer: In the decade of eighties, the country witnessed five main developments which
had a long lasting impact on politics:
1. End of Congress system.
2. Mandal issues
3. New Economic Reforms
4. Babri Masjid Issues
5. Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi 1989 elections led to defeat of Congress and emerged
the era of ‘Multi Party- System’ when no single party secured majority in Lok Sabha
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elections since 1989. It led the era of coalition government also when regional parties
played an crucial role in forming a ruling alliance.
Since 1989, there have been nine governments at the centre either coalition
government or minority government supported by other parties. In this phase,
government could be formed only with the participation of many regional parties.
The nineties also saw the emergence of powerful parties to represent Dalits and
backward classes and regional assertions as well.
4. “In the new era of coalition politics, political parties are not aligning or
realigning on the basis of ideology.” What arguments would you put forward to
support or oppose this statement?
Answer: The statement is justified because in the new era of coalition politics the
emphasis on pragmatic considerations rather than ideological positions and political
alliance without ideological agreement:
1. Coalition politics has shifted the focus from ideological differences to power sharing
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arrangements.
2. Most parties of NDA did not agree with the ‘Hindutva’ ideology of B JP still they came
together to form government and remained in power also for full term.
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5. Trace the emergence of BJP as a significant force in post-Emergency politics.
Answer: The major trends in the electoral performance of BJP since 1989 can be
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traced as follows:
1. In the elections of 1989, the National front under V.P. Singh came to power
supported by left front and BJP from outside because they wanted to keep the
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Congress out of power. Due to Mandal Commission Report and implementation of its
recommendations forced BJP to reconsider its support and finally withdrew it. Thus, in
November 1990, the rule of National Front came to an end.
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2. In 1996 BJP minority government was formed for a short period. In June 1996 BJP
failed to get majority support in the vote of confidence and thus collapsed.
3. From March 1998 to October 1999, BJP and others formed alliances NDA (National
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Democratic Alliance) under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The regional Parties
demanded more share in the government to extend their support.
4. The political competition during nineties and divided between the coalition led by BJP
and coalition led by Congress.
party even during the period since 1989. But it lost the kind of centrality it earlier
enjoyed in the party system.
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criticism of policies and practices of ruling party keeping it under a strict check.
2. By keeping democratic political alternative alive, these parties prevented the
resentment with the system from turning anti-democratic.
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On the basis of above mentioned features it is justifiable to have a two party system
which have following advantages:
1. India has arrived at more competitive politics.
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2. Political parties act within the spheres of consensus.
3. -New forms, vision, pathways of development have been identified.
4. Issues like poverty, displacement, minimum wages, livelihood and social security are
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1. Name two alliances/fronts that formed the government at the centre in 1989 and
1996 respectively.
Answer: National front-1989,United front-1996.
2. Mention any two incidents of violence against minority community which are a
threat to democracy.
Answer: 1. Violent anti-Mandal protest
2. Godhra incident
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3. What is the difference between a coalition party and coalition in Congress
system?
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Answer: Coalition party government refers government of more than two regional and
political parties whereas coalition in Congress system refers to encouragement of
various factions inside the party with different ideologies.
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4. Which organisation took up the cause of Bahujans?
Answer: The Backward and Minority Classes Employees Federation (BAMCEF) took
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various steps and strong position in favour of political power to Bahujans including SCs,
STs, OBCs and minorities.
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3. What was change in electoral performance of Congress party and BJP from
1984¬2004?
Answer: 1. In the elections of 1989, Congress secured 197 seats but did not get
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majority. Therefore, it decided to sit in opposition.
2. The National Front under V.P. Singh came to power supported by left front and BJP
from outside.
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3. The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991 led to emergence of Congress as the
single largest party and formed the government supported by AIADMK.
4. In 1996, BJP minority government was formed for short period. Later in June 1996
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5. From March 1998 to October 1999, BJP and other parties formed alliances NDA
(National Democratic Alliance) under the leadership of Atal Behari Vajpayee and
regional parties demanded more share in government to extend its support.
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6. In the elections of May 2004, Congress and its allies formed UPA (United
Progressive Alliance) and came to power and Manmohan Singh became Prime
Minister.
4. When was India’s New Economic Policy launched? Who was its chief
architect?
Answer: It was launched in 1991 as the structure adjustment programme and it was
started by the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao:
1. India’s New Economic Policy was launched by the then Finance Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh.
2. The economic changes first became visible in 1991 and radically changed the
direction that Indian Economy had pursued since independence towards liberalised and
open economy.
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2. Parties in alliance with BJP—NDA (National Democratic Alliance).
3. Left front parties (Left Parties).
4. Other parties not to be part of the rest (Others).
(i) Agreement on new economic policies: While many groups are opposed to the new
economic policies, most political parties are in support of the new economic policies.
Most parties believe that these policies would lead the country to prosperity and a status
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need to be accepted. As a result, all political parties now support reservation of seats for
the ‘backward classes’ in education and employment. Political parties are also willing to
ensure that the OBCs get adequate share of power.
(iii) Acceptance of the role of state level parties in governance of the country: The
distinction between state level and national level parties is fast becoming less important.
State level parties are showing power at the national level and have played a central
role in the country’s politics of last twenty years or so.
(iv) Emphasis on pragmatic considerations rather than ideological positions and political
alliances without ideological agreement:
Coalition politics has shifted the focus of political parties from ideological differences to
power sharing arrangements. Thus, most parties of the NDA did not agree with the
‘Hindutva’ ideology of the BJP. Yet, they came together to form a government and
remained in power for a full term.
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2. When and why did a long phase of coalition politics begin in India?
Answer: The era of coalitions could be seen after 1989 elections onwards. The
Congress was the largest party but did not achieve a single majority, hence it decided to
act as opposition party. This led to National Front (Alliance of Janata Dal and other
regional parties). It received major support from BJP and left front. BJP and left front did
not join the government but gave support from outside. The coalition era had many PMs
and some of them held office for short duration.
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classes in education and employment and even to ensure the OBCs to get adequate
share of power.
3. Role of state level parties was accepted in the governance of country.
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4. Coalition politics has shifted the focus of political parties from ideological differences
to power sharing arrangements. Hence most of the NDA did not agree the Hindutva
ideology of BJP, still they came together to form a government and remained in power
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for full term.
Answer: 1. The Anti-Muslim Riots took place at a station called Godhara in 2002.
2. A fire took place on a bogey full of kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya.
3. The hand of Muslims was suspected behind this fire.
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4. Widespread violence took place against muslims in which nearly 1100, mostly
muslims were killed.
5. Human Right commission criticised Gujarat government’s role in failing to control
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Questions
1. What is meant by coalition politics?
2. Name any two regional political parties which were a part of coalition
government.
3. Write the full form of NDA.
4. What does a minority government mean?
Answer:
1. Coalition politics does not have maj ority even to a single party but parties may enter
into an alliance or get support of other parties to form government.
2. NDA and United front.
3. National Democratic Alliance.
4. Minority governments are supported by other parties which did not join the
government.
2. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
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Infact the BSP, under Kanshi Ram’s leadership was envisaged as an organisation
based on pragmatic politics. It derived confidence from the fact that the Bahujans
(SC, ST, OBC and religious minorities) constituted the majority of the population,
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and were a formidable political force on the strength of their numbers.
Questions
1. Which organisation was formed by Kanshi Ram?
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2. Name any two religious minorities.
3. Why are Bahujans considered a formidable political forces?
Answer:
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1. In 2014 elections, people have voted for a stable government at the Centre. Do
you think that the era of coalition has ended? Support your answer with suitable
arguments.
Answer: After Independence, Congress party came in power. It ruled over the country
as a democratic government till 1977. One after the other the government was
represented by the Congress Prime Ministers like Nehru, Shastri and then Mrs. Indira
Gandhi. It was due to some political upheaval; a state Emergency was declared in
1975. During Emergency all the opposition leaders were jailed and their constitutional
powers were seized. It made all the opposition leaders unite and form first united party
in the name of Janata Party which came in power in 1977. The general election held
soon after the Emergency. Though it couldn’t last long, but it started a new concept of
rule in India. One after the other, India saw many governments ruled by alliance group,
except a few single-party-led government. But with the elections of 1989, a long phase
of coalition politics began in India. Since then there have been nine governments at the
centre all of which have either been coalition government or minority government
supported by other parties which did not join the government. The National Front
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government in 1989, the United Front government in 1996 and 1997, the NDA
government in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and then UPA government in 2004 and 2009 and
again BJP-led NDA government in 2014 have been the coalition governments in India.
In none
of these governments any one single party had the number enough to form the
government at its own. But in 2014, there was a change in the pattern. BJP could gain
284 seats in the Lok Sabha election which was sufficient to form the government at its
own -which required to only 272. But as the election was fought with a pre-poll alliance
by NDA led by BJP. So the present government was formed with Narendra Modi, the
leader of BJP.
This election shows that people are again turning to the single party government at the
centre which may be stable. People have experienced the lack of stability, lack of policy
decision and lack of proper development in the government ruled by the coalition group.
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appeared to have emerged among most parties. Explain any three points.(or)
Examine growing consensus over the crucial issues.
Answer: In the midst of severe competition and conflicts, a consensus appears to have
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emerged among most parties consisting of following four elements:
1. Most political parties were in support of new economic policies to lead the country to
prosperity and a status of economic power in the world.
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2. All political parties supported reservation of seats for backward classes in education
and employment and even to ensure the OBCS to get adequate share of power.
3. Role of state level parties was accepted in the governance of country.
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4. Coalition politics has shifted the focus of political parties from ideological differences
to power sharing arrangements. Hence most of the NDA did not agree with the Hindutva
ideology of BJP, still they come together to form a government and remained in power
for full term.
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3. What was Mandal Commission? Did it try to solve the problems of other
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2. Many Welfare Schemes have also been launched as Swarnima National Backward
classes Finance and Development Corporation.
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Questions
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. Describe the role of such government in Indian Democratic set up.
3. What does this statement “Support the government from outside” mean?
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Answer:
1. A puppet government showing example of coalition government.
2. It plays negative and positive role both. In a negative way, it provides unstable form
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of government.
In a positive way, it provides opportuni¬ties to regional parties also in forming ruling
alliances.
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2. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
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Questions
1. What does the picture indicate?
2. Which party is being referred to as one party dominance?
3. Identify female character in the cartoon.
Answer:
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1. It depicts change from one party dominance to a multi-party alliance system.
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2. Congress.
3. Mrs. Indira Gandhi.
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