POLITICAL SCIENCE BOOK II CH-1

Q.1 What are the three challenges India faced at the time of independence?
Ans: Broadly, independent India faced three kinds of challenges.
1. The first challenge was to shape a nation that was united, yet accommodative of the diversity in
our society. India was a land of continental size and diversity. Its people spoke different
languages and followed different cultures and religions. At that time it was widely believed that
a country full of such kinds of diversity could not remain together for long.
2. The second challenge was to establish democracy. You have already studied the Indian
Constitution. You know that the Constitution granted fundamental rights and extended the right
to vote to every citizen. India adopted representative democracy based on the parliamentary
form of government.
3. The third challenge was to ensure the development and wellbeing of the entire society and not
only of some sections. Here again the Constitution clearly laid down the principle of equality
and special protection to socially disadvantaged groups and religious and cultural communities.
Q.2 Describe the problems in the process of partition of India in 1947.
Ans: It was decided that what was till then known as ‘India’ would be divided into two countries, ‘India’
and ‘Pakistan’.
1. First of all, there was no single belt of Muslim majority areas in British India. There were two
areas of concentration, one in the west and one in the east. There was no way these two parts
could be joined.
2. Secondly, not all Muslim majority areas wanted to be in Pakistan. Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, the
undisputed leader of the North Western Frontier Province and known as ‘Frontier Gandhi’, was
staunchly opposed to the two-nation theory.
3. The third problem was that two of the Muslim majority provinces of British India, Punjab and
Bengal, had very large areas where the non-Muslims were in majority.
4. This was related to the fourth and the most intractable of all the problems of partition. This was
the problem of ‘minorities’ on both sides of the border. Lakhs of Hindus and Sikhs in the areas
that were now in Pakistan and an equally large number of Muslims on the Indian side were
trapped.

Q.3 Describe the consequences(effects) of partition of India.

Ans: 1. The year 1947 was the year of one of the largest, most abrupt, unplanned and tragic transfer of
population that human history has known.
2. There were killings and atrocities on both sides of the border. In the name of religion people of one
community ruthlessly killed and maimed people of the other community. Cities like Lahore, Amritsar
and Kolkata became divided into ‘communal zones’.
3. Forced to abandon their homes and move across borders, people went through immense sufferings.
Minorities on both sides of the border fled their home and often secured temporary shelter in ‘refugee
camps’.
4. They travelled to the other side of the new border by all sorts of means, often by foot. Even during
this journey they were often attacked, killed or raped.
5. Thousands of women were abducted. They were made to convert to the religion of the abductor and
were forced into marriage. In many cases women were killed by their own family members to preserve
the ‘family honour’.
6. For lakhs of these ‘refugees’ the country’s freedom meant life in ‘refugee camps’, for months and
sometimes for years.
7. It is estimated that the Partition forced about 80 lakh people to migrate across the new border.
Between five to ten lakh people were killed in partition related violence.
Q.4 What is the problem of the integration of princely states during the independence of India? How
this problem was resolved by the Indian government?
Ans: 1. Just before Independence it was announced by the British that with the end of their rule over
India, paramountcy of the British crown over Princely States would also end. This meant that all these
states, as many as 565 in all, would become legally independent.
2. The British government took the view that all these states were free to join either India or Pakistan
or remain independent if they so wished. This was a very serious problem and could threaten the very
existence of a united India.
3. Sardar Patel was India’s Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Minister during the crucial period
immediately following Independence. He played a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of princely
states firmly but diplomatically and bringing most of them into the Indian Union.
4. The government’s approach was guided by three considerations.
a) Firstly, the people of most of the princely states clearly wanted to become part of the Indian union.
b) Secondly, the government was prepared to be flexible in giving autonomy to some regions. The idea
was to accommodate plurality and adopt a flexible approach in dealing with the demands of the
regions.
c) Thirdly, in the backdrop of partition which brought into focus the contest over demarcation of
territory, the integration and consolidation of the territorial boundaries of the nation had assumed
supreme importance.
Q.5 What is instrument of accession? Which four princely states do not sign this at the time of
Independence of India?
Ans: Before 15 August 1947, peaceful negotiations had brought almost all Princely states (561) whose
territories were contiguous to the new boundaries of India, into the Indian Union. The rulers of most of
the states signed a document called the ‘Instrument of Accession’ which meant that their state agreed
to become a part of the Union of India. Accession of the Princely States of Junagadh, Hyderabad,
Kashmir and Manipur proved more difficult than the rest.
Q.6 How the issue of Junagarh, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Manipur is resolved?
Ans: 1. Junagarh: The issue of Junagarh was resolved after a plebiscite confirmed people’s desire to join
India.
2. Hyderabad: The Nizam responded by unleashing a para-military force known as the Razakars on the
people. The central government had to order the army to tackle the situation. In September 1948,
Indian army moved in to control the Nizam’s forces.
3. Manipur: the Maharaja of Manipur, Bodhachandra Singh, signed the Instrument of Accession with
the Indian government on the assurance that the internal autonomy of Manipur would be maintained.
The Government of India succeeded in persuading the Maharaja into signing a Merger Agreement in
September 1949.
4. Kashmir: In October 1947, Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators from its side to capture Kashmir. This
forced the Maharaja Hari Singh to ask for Indian military help. India extended the military support and
drove back the infiltrators from Kashmir valley, but only after the Maharaja had signed an ‘Instrument
of Accession’ with the Government of India.
Q.7 How the reorganisation of states on the basis of language carried out after independence in
India?
Ans: 1. Our leaders felt that carving out states on the basis of language might lead to disruption and
disintegration. It was also felt that this would draw attention away from other social and economic
challenges that the country faced. The central leadership decided to postpone matters.
2. This decision of the national leadership was challenged by the local leaders and the people.
Protests began in the Telugu speaking areas of the old Madras province, which included present
day Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.
3. The Vishalandhra movement (as the movement for a separate Andhra was called) demanded
that the Telugu speaking areas should be separated from the Madras province of which they
were a part and be made into a separate Andhra province. Potti Sriramulu, a Congress leader
and a veteran Gandhian, went on an indefinite fast that led to his death after 56 days. This
caused great unrest and resulted in violent outbursts in Andhra region.
 4. Finally, the Prime Minister announced the formation of a separate Andhra state in December
1952. These struggles forced the Central Government into appointing a States Reorganisation
Commission in 1953 to look into the question of redrawing of the boundaries of states.
Q.8 What is the outcome of the State Reorganisation commission of 1953?
Ans: The Commission in its report accepted that the boundaries of the state should reflect the
boundaries of different languages. On the basis of its report the States Reorganisation Act was passed
in 1956. This led to the creation of 14 states and six union territories.
Q.9 What are the concerns for creating linguistic states in India? How these are resolved?
Ans: 1. One of the most important concerns in the early years was that demands for separate states
would endanger the unity of the country.
2. It was felt that linguistic states may foster separatism and create pressures on the newly founded
nation.
3. But the leadership, under popular pressure, finally made a choice in favour of linguistic states. It was
hoped that if we accept the regional and linguistic claims of all regions, the threat of division and
separatism would be reduced.
4. Besides, the accommodation of regional demands and the formation of linguistic states were also
seen as more democratic.

POLITICAL SCIENCE CHAPTER – 2

Q.1 What are the challenges faced by the Election Commission of India for conducting first general
elections?
Ans: 1. But the Election Commission discovered that it was not going to be easy to hold a free and fair
election in a country of India’s size.
2.Holding an election required delimitation or drawing the boundaries of the electoral constituencies.
3. It also required preparing the electoral rolls, or the list of all the citizens eligible to vote. Both these
tasks took a lot of time.
4. When the first draft of the rolls was published, it was discovered that the names of nearly 40 lakh
women were not recorded in the list.
5. No election on this scale had ever been conducted in the world before. At that time there were 17
crore eligible voters, who had to elect about 3,200 MLAs and 489 Members of Lok Sabha.
6. Only 15 per cent of these eligible voters were literate. Therefore, the Election Commission had to
think of some special method of voting. The Election Commission trained over 3 lakh officers and
polling staff to conduct the elections.
Q.2 Why Congress party dominated the first three general elections?
Ans: 1. The Congress party, as it was popularly known, had inherited the legacy of the national
movement. 2. It was the only party then to have an organisation spread all over the country.
3.And finally, in Jawaharlal Nehru, the party had the most popular and charismatic leader in Indian
politics. 4. He led the Congress campaign and toured through the country. When the final results were
declared, the extent of the victory of the Congress did surprise many.
Q.3 Name main political parties of India and their founders.
Ans: The major parties formed are:
1. The Communist Party of India (CPI) – 1925- S.A. Dange and A. K. Gopalan
2. The Republican party of India – B R Ambedkar
3. Socialist Party – 1948 - Jayaprakash Narayan, Achyut Patwardhan, Asoka Mehta, Acharya
Narendra Dev
4. Bhartiya Jan Sangha – 1951- Shayama Prasad Mukherjee and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
5. Congress – 1885- A O Hume

POLITICAL SCIENCE CH-3

Q.1 What are the two ideas of planned development? India adopted which one?
Ans: On the eve of Independence, India had before it, two models of modern development:
1. The liberal-capitalist model as in much of Europe and the US and the socialist model as in the
USSR.
2. There were many in India then who were deeply impressed by the Soviet model of
development. These included not just the leaders of the Communist Party of India, but also
those of the Socialist Party and leaders like Nehru within the Congress.
3. There were very few supporters of the American style capitalist development. There were
debates among them.
4. For some, industrialisation seemed to be the preferred path. For others, the development of
agriculture and in particular alleviation of rural poverty was the priority. Finally India adopted
Mixed model of economic development.
Q.2 What was the Bombay plan?
Ans: A section of the big industrialists got together in 1944 and drafted a joint proposal for setting
up a planned economy in the country. It was called the Bombay Plan. The Bombay Plan wanted the
state to take major initiatives in industrial and other economic investments.
Q.3 What is Planning commission?
Ans: Planning for development was the most obvious choice for the country after Independence.
Soon after India became independent, the Planning Commission came into being in 1950. The
Prime Minister was its Chairperson. It became the most influential and central machinery for
deciding what path and strategy India would adopt for its development.
Q.4 What is the Five Year Plan concept of development?
Ans: As in the USSR, the Planning Commission of India opted for five year plans (FYP).
1. The idea is very simple: the Government of India prepares a document that has a plan for all its
income and expenditure for the next five years.
2. Accordingly, the budget of the central and all the State governments is divided into two parts:
‘non-plan’ budget that is spent on routine items on a yearly basis and ‘plan’ budget that is spent
on a five year basis as per the priorities fixed by the plan.
3. A five year plan has the advantage of permitting the government to focus on the larger picture
and make long-term intervention in the economy.
4. The draft of the First Five Year Plan and then the actual Plan Document, released in December
1951, generated a lot of excitement in the country and focused on agrarian sector.
5. The excitement with planning reached its peak with the launching of the Second Five Year Plan
in 1956 with the development of industrial sector and continued somewhat till the Third Five
Year Plan in 1961.
Q.5 What is National Development Council?
Ans: The National Development Council (NDC) or Rashtriya Vikas Parishad is the apex body for
decision creating and deliberations on development matters in India, presided over by the Prime
Minister. It was set up on 6 August 1952 under the chairmanship of India’s first Prime Minister
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to strengthen and mobilize the effort and resources of the nation in
support of the Five Year Plans made by Planning Commission.

Q.6 What is NITI Ayog?

Ans: 1. NITI Aayog was constituted in place of Planning Commission on 1 January 2015 with the
objective of providing the necessary and technical advice to the Union Government regarding policy
making at the Central and State levels.
2. The Prime Minister of India is the ex-officio Chairman of NITI Aayog and he appoints the Vice
Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
3. The first Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog was Arvind Panagariya. Shri Suman Bery is the current
Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
4. To harmonize the interests of national security and economic policy and to prepare strategic and
long-term framework of policy and program, NITI Aayog acts as a think tank of the Union
Government. 5. By adopting a ‘Bottom-Up Approach’, the NITI Aayog acts in the spirit of
cooperative federalism as it ensures equal participation of all states in the country.
 CHAPTER -4
Q.1 Describe the role of Nehru in formulating India’s foreign policy.
Ans: 1. The first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru played a crucial role in setting the national
agenda. Thus, both as the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, he exercised profound influence
in the formulation and implementation of India’s foreign policy from 1946 to 1964.
2. The three major objectives of Nehru’s foreign policy were to preserve the hard-earned
sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, and promote rapid economic development. Nehru wished
to achieve these objectives through the strategy of Non-alignment.
Q.2 Describe the policy of Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) of India.
Ans: 1. The foreign policy of independent India pursued the dream of a peaceful world by
advocating the policy of non-alignment, by reducing Cold War tensions and by contributing human
resources to the UN peacekeeping operations.
2. India wanted to keep away from the military alliances led by US and Soviet Union against each
other. India advocated non-alignment as the ideal foreign policy approach.
3. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Nehru had been an ardent advocate of Asian unity. Under his
leadership, India convened the Asian Relations Conference in March 1947, five months ahead of
attaining its independence.
4. India made earnest efforts for the early realisation of freedom of Indonesia from the Dutch
colonial regime by convening an international conference in 1949 to support its freedom struggle.
India was a staunch supporter of the decolonisation process and firmly opposed racism, especially
apartheid in South Africa.
5. The AfroAsian conference held in the Indonesian city of Bandung in 1955, commonly known as
the Bandung Conference, marked the zenith of India’s engagement with the newly independent
Asian and African nations.
6. The Bandung Conference later led to the establishment of the NAM. The First Summit of the
NAM was held in Belgrade in September 1961. Nehru was a co-founder of the NAM. Other founding
member nations were Indonesia, Ghana, Yugoslavia and Egypt.
Q.3 What is Panchsheel agreement between India and China?
Ans: The joint enunciation of Panchsheel, the Five Principles of Peace and Coexistence, by the
Indian Prime Minister Nehru and the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai on 29 April 1954 was a step in the
direction of stronger relationship between the two countries. Indian and Chinese leaders visited
each other’s country and were greeted by large and friendly crowds.
Q.4 Why China invaded India in 1962?
Ans: 1. The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, sought and obtained political asylum in India in
1959. China alleged that the government of India was allowing anti-China activities to take place
from within India.
2. A boundary dispute had surfaced between India and China was about the western and the
eastern end of the long border. China claimed two areas within the Indian territory: Aksai-chin area
in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir and much of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in what
was then called NEFA (North Eastern Frontier Agency).
3. Between 1957 and 1959, the Chinese occupied the Aksai-chin area and built a strategic road
there.
4. China launched a swift and massive invasion in October 1962 on both the disputed regions. The
first attack lasted one week and Chinese forces captured some key areas in Arunachal Pradesh. The
second wave of attack came next month. Finally, China declared a unilateral ceasefire and its troops
withdrew to where they were before the invasion began.
Q.5 Describe the four wars between India and Pakistan.
Ans: 1. A proxy war broke out between the Indian and Pakistani armies in Jammu and Kashmir
during 1947 itself. But this did not turn into a full war. The issue was then referred to the UN.
2. In April 1965 Pakistan launched armed attacks in the Rann of Kutch area of Gujarat and in Jammu
and Kashmir.In order to ease the pressure on the Kashmir front, Shastri ordered Indian troops to
launch a counter-offensive on the Punjab border. In a fierce battle, the Indian army reached close to
Lahore.
3. A full-scale war between India and Pakistan broke out in December 1971. Pakistani aircrafts
attacked Punjab and Rajasthan, while the army moved on the Jammu and Kashmir front. India
retaliated with an attack and within ten days the Indian army had surrounded Dhaka from three
sides and the Pakistani army of about 90,000 had to surrender.
4. In the early part of 1999 several points on the Indian side of the LoC in the Mashkoh, Dras, Kaksar
and Batalik areas were occupied by forces claiming to be Mujahideens. Suspecting involvement of
the Pakistan Army, Indian forces started reacting to this occupation. This led to a confrontation
between the two countries. This is known as the Kargil conflict.
Q.6 Describe India’s nuclear policy.
Ans: 1. In the late 1940s under the guidance of Homi J. Bhabha. India wanted to generate atomic
energy for peaceful purposes. Nehru was against nuclear weapons. So he pleaded with the
superpowers for comprehensive nuclear disarmament.
2. However, the nuclear arsenal kept rising. When India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974, it
was termed as peaceful explosion. India argued that it was committed to the policy of using nuclear
power only for peaceful purposes.
3. India conducted a series of nuclear tests in May 1998, demonstrating its capacity to use nuclear
energy for military purposes.
4. India's nuclear policy has always been peace-oriented, whose clear impression is reflected in the
policy of No First Use. Butin view of contemporary regional security challenges, the present
government has made it clear that the policy of no first use can be reviewed and changed in
consonance with India's regional and national security.

CH- 5
Q.1 What are the political challenges faced by India after the death of Nehru in 1964?
Ans: 1. In a newly independent country like India, this situation gave rise to a more serious
question that after Nehru, who would lead the country.
2. The second question arose from the serious doubts that many outsiders had about whether
India’s democratic experiment will survive after Nehru.
3. there were doubts if the new leadership would be able to handle the multiple crises that awaited
a solution.
Q.2 Why the decade of 1960s is known as dangerous decade for India?
Ans: The 1960s were labelled as the ‘dangerous decade’ due to following reasons:
1. Death of Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1964
2. Indo-China war of 1962 in which India lost many areas.
3. India-Pakistan war of 1965
4. Death of Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent in 1966
5. Internal conflict in Congress party and dominance of syndicate
6. Problems of unemployment, poverty and regional movements
Q.3 What are the two challenges faced by Lala Bahadur Shastri as Prime Minister of India?
Ans: Shastri was the country’s Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966. During Shastri’s brief Prime
Ministership, the country faced two major challenges.
1. While India was still recovering from the economic implications of the war with China, failed
monsoons, drought and serious food crisis presented a grave challenge.
2. the country also faced a war with Pakistan in 1965. Shastri’s famous slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’,
symbolised the country’s resolve to face both these challenges.
 Q.4 What is non-Congressism?
Ans: Opposition parties from 1967 were in the forefront of organising public protests and
pressurising the government. Parties opposed to the Congress realised that the division of their
votes kept the Congress in power. Thus, parties that were entirely different and disparate in their
programmes and ideology got together to form anti-Congress fronts in some states and entered
into electoral adjustments of sharing seats in others.
Q.5 What is Coalition? From which year this trend started in India?
Ans: When two or more political parties come together to contest election and forms the government
is known as coalition.
1. The elections of 1967 brought into picture the phenomenon of coalitions. Since no single party
had got majority, various non-Congress parties came together to form joint legislative parties
(called Samyukt Vidhayak Dal in Hindi) that supported non-Congress governments.
2. That is why these governments came to be described as SVD governments. These governments
were formed in Bihar and Punjab.
Q.6 What is Syndicate in the Congress party?
Ans: Syndicate was the informal name given to a group of Congress leaders who were in control of
the party’s organisation. It was led by K. Kamraj, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and then the
president of the Congress party. It included powerful State leaders like S. K. Patil of Bombay city
(later named as Mumbai), S. Nijalingappa of Mysore (later Karnataka), N. Sanjeeva Reddy of Andhra
Pradesh and Atulya Ghosh of West Bengal. Both Lal Bahadur Shastri and later Indira Gandhi owed
their position to the support received from the Syndicate.
Q.7 How the President election of 1969 provided a moral victory to Indira Gandhi against
Syndicate?
Ans: 1. In 1969 after President Zakir Hussain’s death, the post of President of the India fell vacant
that year. The ‘syndicate’ managed to nominate N. Sanjeeva Reddy, as the official Congress
candidate for the ensuing Presidential elections. Indira Gandhi retaliated by encouraging the then
Vice-President, V.V. Giri, to file his nomination as an independent candidate.
2.She also announced several big and popular policy measures like the nationalisation of fourteen
leading private banks and the abolition of the ‘privy purse’ or the special privileges given to former
princes.
3.The election ultimately resulted in the victory of V.V. Giri, the independent candidate, and the
defeat of Sanjeeva Reddy, the official Congress candidate. 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).
Q.8 What is Privy Purse? When did Indira Gandhi abolished this?
Ans: This integration of princely states was preceded by an assurance that after the dissolution of
princely rule, the then rulers’ families would be allowed to retain certain private property, and given
a grant in heredity or government allowance, measured on the basis of the extent, revenue and
potential of the merging state. This grant was called the privy purse.
in the 1971 election, the Constitution was amended to remove legal obstacles for abolition of ‘privy
purse’.

CH-6
Q.1 What are factors responsible for the background of Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in
1975?
Ans: A) Economic context:
1. In the elections of 1971, Congress had given the slogan of garibi hatao (remove poverty).
However, the social and economic condition in the country did not improve much after 1971-72.
 2. The Bangladesh crisis had put a heavy strain on India’s economy. About eight million people
crossed over the East Pakistan border into India.
3. In the international market, oil prices increased manifold during this period. This led to an all-
round increase in prices of commodities.
4. Industrial growth was low and unemployment was very high, particularly in the rural areas.
5. Monsoons failed in 1972- 1973. This resulted in a sharp decline in agricultural productivity. Food
grain output declined by 8 per cent.
B) Popular movement against government:
1. In January 1974 students in Gujarat started an agitation against rising prices of food grains,
cooking oil and other essential commodities, and against corruption in high places. The students’
protest was joined by major opposition parties and became widespread leading to the imposition of
President’s rule in the state.
2. In March 1974 students came together in Bihar to protest against rising prices, food scarcity,
unemployment and corruption. After a point they invited Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), who had given
up active politics and was involved in social work, to lead the student movement. Jayaprakash
Narayan demanded the dismissal of the Congress government in Bihar and gave a call for total
revolution in the social, economic and political spheres.
3. the employees of India’s largest public sector undertaking went on a strike in May 1974. The
strike by the Railway employees added to the atmosphere of labour unrest under George
Fernandes of Bihar.
C) Conflict with Judiciary: Three constitutional issues had emerged.
1.Can the Parliament abridge Fundamental Rights? The Supreme Court said it cannot.
2. Secondly, can the Parliament curtail the right to property by making an amendment? Again, the
Court said that Parliament cannot amend the Constitution in such a manner that rights are
curtailed. 3. Thirdly, the Parliament amended the Constitution saying that it can abridge
Fundamental Rights for giving effect to Directive Principles. But the Supreme Court rejected this
provision also. This led to a crisis as far as the relations between the government and the judiciary
were concerned.
4. in 1973, the government set aside the seniority of three judges and appointed Justice A. N. Ray
as the Chief Justice of India. The appointment became politically controversial.
D) Judgement of Allahabad High Court:
1. On 12 June 1975, Justice Jagmohan Lal Sinha of the Allahabad High Court passed a judgment
declaring Indira Gandhi’s election to the Lok Sabha invalid.
2. This order came on an election petition filed by Raj Narain, a socialist leader and a candidate who
had contested against her in 1971.
3. in Delhi’s Ramlila grounds on 25 June 1975. Jayaprakash announced a nationwide satyagraha for
her resignation.
4. On 25 June 1975, the government declared that there was a threat of internal disturbances and
therefore, it invoked Article 352 of the Constitution.
Q.2 What are the consequences or effects of the Emergency of 1975?
Ans: 1. This brought the agitation to an abrupt stop; strikes were banned; many opposition leaders
were put in jail; the political situation became very quiet though tense.
2.Deciding to use its special powers under Emergency provisions, the government suspended the
freedom of the Press. Newspapers were asked to get prior approval for all material to be published.
This is known as press censorship.
3. Most importantly, under the provisions of Emergency, the various Fundamental Rights of citizens
stood suspended, including the right of citizens to move the Court for restoring their Fundamental
Rights.
4. The government made extensive use of preventive detention. Under this provision, people are
arrested and detained not because they have committed any offence, but on the apprehension that
they may commit an offence.
5. an amendment was made declaring that elections of Prime Minister, President and VicePresident
could not be challenged in the Court. The forty-second amendment was also passed during the
Emergency.
6. the duration of the legislatures in the country was extended from five to six years. This change was
not only for the Emergency period, but was intended to be of a permanent nature.
Q.3 What lessons people of India learned from Emergency?
Ans: 1. One lesson of Emergency is that it is extremely difficult to do away with democracy in India.
2.Secondly, it brought out some ambiguities regarding the Emergency provision in the Constitution
that have been rectified since. Now, ‘internal’ Emergency can be proclaimed only on the grounds of
‘armed rebellion’.
3. Thirdly, the Emergency made everyone more aware of the value of civil liberties. The Courts too,
have taken an active role after the Emergency in protecting the civil liberties of the individuals.
Q.4 How politics after emergency from 1975 to 1977 changed in India?
Ans: In January 1977, after eighteen months of Emergency, the government decided to hold elections.
1. Accordingly, all the leaders and activists were released from jails. Elections were held in March
1977. This left the opposition with very little time, but political developments took place very
rapidly.
2. The major opposition parties had already been coming closer in the pre-Emergency period. Now
they came together on the eve of the elections and formed a new party, known as the Janata
Party and gave slogan ‘save democarcy’.
3. The new party accepted the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan. Some leaders of the Congress
who were opposed to the Emergency also joined this new party.
4. For the first time since Independence, the Congress party was defeated in the Lok Sabha
elections. The Congress could win only 154 seats in the Lok Sabha. Its share of popular votes fell
to less than 35 per cent. The Janata Party and its allies won 330 out of the 542 seats in the Lok
Sabha; and Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister of India.

CH-7

Q.1 What is Indian approach of accommodating diversity in the process of nation building?
Ans: – 1. the Indian nation shall not deny the rights of different regions and linguistic groups to retain
their own culture.
2.We decided to live a united social life without losing the distinctiveness of the numerous cultures that
constituted it. Indian nationalism sought to balance the principles of unity and diversity.
3.India adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity. Democracy allows the political
expressions of regional aspirations and does not look upon them as anti-national.
4. Besides, democratic politics allows parties and groups to address the people on the basis of their
regional identity, aspiration and specific regional problems.
Q.2 What are the root problems of Jammu and Kashmir?
Ans: 1. Before 1947, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was a Princely State. Its ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh did
not want to merge either with India or Pakistan but to have an independent status for his state.
2. The Pakistani leaders thought that Kashmir region ‘belonged’ to Pakistan, since the majority
population of the State was Muslim.
3. The popular movement in the State, led by Sheikh Abdullah of the National Conference, wanted
to get rid of the Maharaja, but was against joining Pakistan.
 4. In October 1947, Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators from its side to capture Kashmir. This forced the
Maharaja to ask for Indian military help and signed instrument of assession.
Q.3 What are the three-step process recommended by UNO to resolve Jammu Kashmir issue?
Ans: The issue was taken to the United Nations Organisation, which in its resolution dated 21 April 1948
recommended a three-step process to resolve the issue.
1. Firstly, Pakistan had to withdraw its entire nationalities, who entered into Kashmir.
2. Secondly, India needed to progressively reduce its forces so as to maintain law and order.
3. Thirdly, a plebiscite was to be conducted in a free and impartial manner.
Q.4 What is Anandpur Sahib resolution?
Ans: In a resolution passed at their conference at Anandpur Sahib in 1973.
1. The Anandpur Sahib Resolution asserted regional autonomy and wanted to redefine centre-
state relationship in the country.
2. The resolution also spoke of the aspirations of the Sikh qaum (community or nation) and
declared its goal as attaining the bolbala (dominance or hegemony) of the Sikhs.
3. The Resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism in India.
Q.5 What is s the Rajiv Gandhi - Longowal Accord?
Ans: In July 1985, Rajiv Gandhi reached an agreement with Harchand Singh Longowal, then the
President of the Akali Dal.
1. This agreement, known as the Rajiv Gandhi - Longowal Accord or the Punjab Accord, was a step
towards bringing normalcy to Punjab.
2. It was agreed that Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab, a separate commission would be
appointed to resolve the border dispute between Punjab and Haryana, and
3. a tribunal would be set up to decide the sharing of Ravi-Beas river water among Punjab,
Haryana and Rajasthan.
4. The agreement also provided for compensation to and better treatment of those affected by the
militancy in Punjab and the withdrawal of the application of Armed Forces Special Powers Act in
Punjab.
Q.6 What are the three issues that dominated the politics of North- East India?
Ans: Three issues dominate the politics of North-East: demands for autonomy, movements for
secession, and opposition to ‘outsiders’.
Q.7 What is Rajiv Gandhi – Lal Denga agreement of 1986?
Ans: In 1986 a peace agreement was signed between Rajiv Gandhi and Laldenga.
1. As per this accord Mizoram was granted full-fledged statehood with special powers.
2. The MNF(Mizo National Front) agreed to give up secessionist struggle.
3. Laldenga took over as the Chief Minister. This accord proved a turning point in the history of
Mizoram.
4. Today, Mizoram is one of the most peaceful places in the region and has taken big strides in
literacy and development.
Q.8 Describe the movement against outsiders of Assam from 1979 to 1985?
Ans: The Assam Movement from 1979 to 1985 is the movements against ‘outsiders’.
1. The Assamese suspected that there were huge numbers of illegal Bengali Muslim settlers from
Bangladesh.
2. They felt that unless these foreign nationals are detected and deported they would reduce the
indigenous Assamese into a minority.
3. There were other economic issues too. There was widespread poverty and unemployment in
Assam.
4. The movement was against illegal migrations, against domination of Bengalis and other
outsiders, and against faulty voters’ register that included the names of lakhs of immigrants.
The movement demanded that all outsiders who had entered the State after 1951 should be
sent back.
Q.9 What is Rajiv Gandhi and AASU leaders accord of 1985?
Ans: the Rajiv Gandhi-led government entered into negotiations with the AASU leaders, leading to the
signing of an accord in 1985. According to this agreement those foreigners who migrated into Assam
during and after Bangladesh war and since, were to be identified and deported.
Q.10 What is Dravidian Movement?
Ans: 1. This was one of the first regional movements in Indian politics.
2.Though some sections of this movement had ambitions of creating a Dravida nation, the movement
did not take to arms.
3.The Dravidian movement led to the formation of Dravidar Kazhagam [DK] under the leadership of
Tamil social reformer E.V. Ramasami ‘Periyar’.
4.The organisation strongly opposed the Brahmins’ dominance and affirmed regional pride against the
political, economic and cultural domination of the North.
Q.11 What are various lessons we can draw from the accommodation and national integration?
Ans: 1. First and the most elementary lesson is that regional aspirations are very much a part of
democratic politics. A large and diverse democracy like India must deal with regional aspirations on a
regular basis. Nation building is an ongoing process
2.The second lesson is that the best way to respond to regional aspirations is through democratic
negotiations rather than through suppression.
3. The third lesson is about the significance of power sharing. It is not sufficient to have a formal
democratic structure. Besides that, groups and parties from the region need to be given share in power
at the State level.
4. The fourth lesson is that regional imbalance in economic development contributes to the feeling of
regional discrimination. Regional imbalance is a fact of India’s development experience.

CH-8
Q.1 What are the five political developments that country witnessed in the 1990s?
Ans: 1. First the most crucial development of this period was the defeat of the Congress party in the
elections held in 1989. But the elections of 1989 marked the end of what political scientists have called
the ‘Congress system’.
2. Second development was the rise of the ‘Mandal issue’ in national politics. The new National Front
government in 1990, to implement the recommendation of the Mandal Commission that jobs in central
government should be reserved for the Other Backward Classes.
3. The new economic reforms started by Rajiv Gandhi, these changes first became very visible in 1991
and radically changed the direction that the Indian economy had pursued since Independence.
4. Fourth, the centuries old legal and political dispute over the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya
started influencing the politics of India which gave birth to various political changes.
5. Fifth, the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991 led to a change in leadership of the Congress
party. He was assassinated by a Sri Lankan Tamil linked to the LTTE when he was on an election
campaign tour in Tamil Nadu.
Q.2 What is Coalition politics? What are the various coalition groups emerged in Politics?
Ans: When two or more political parties come together to contest elections and form the government
it is known as coalition. The major coalition governments in India are:
1. National front: From 1989- 1991, led by Janta Party. It gave two PM, V.P. Singh and Chandra
Shekhar.
2. United Front: From 1996- 1998, led by Janta Party. It gave two PM, H.D. Deve gouda and I.K.
Gujral.
 3. National Democratic Alliance(NDA)- I,II,III,IV,V- Led by BJP- Two PM -A.B.Bajpai and Narendra
Modi
4. UPA( United Democratic Alliance)- 2004-2014- PM was Manmohan Singh.
Q.3 What is Mandal Commission? What are its recommendations?
Ans: The central government appointed a Commission in 1978 to look into and recommend ways to
improve the conditions of the backward classes. This was the second time since Independence that the
government had appointed such a commission. Therefore, this commission was officially known as the
Second Backward Classes Commission. Popularly, the commission is known as the Mandal Commission,
after the name of its Chairperson, Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal.
The Commission did a survey and found that these backward castes had a very low presence in both
educational institutions and in employment in public services. It therefore recommended reserving 27
per cent of seats in educational institutions and government jobs for these groups. The Mandal
Commission also made many other recommendations, like, land reform, to improve the conditions of
the OBCs.
Q.4 What is BAMCEF?
Ans: In 1978 the Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) was formed.
This organisation was not an ordinary trade union of government employees. It took a strong position
in favour of political power to the ‘bahujan’ – the SC, ST, OBC and minorities. It was out of this that the
subsequent Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti and later the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) emerged
under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.
Q.5 What is the contribution of Sardar Patel in the process of national integration?
Ans: 1. The first deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, emerged as a
major leader of the freedom movement after the Kheda Satyagraha (1918) and the Bardoli Satyagraha (1928).

2.Sardar Patel undertook the daunting tasks of uniting all 565 princely states of India. Known as an ‘Iron Man’ of
India, Patel's approach to the question of the merger of princely states into independent India.

3. Sardar Patel faced key challenges of integration from three states, viz., Hyderabad, Junagarh and Kashmir.
It was under his leadership that Indian forces compelled Hyderabad and Junagarh to merge with India

4. Sardar Patel's opinion on Kashmir was different from other leaders. Like Hyderabad, he also wanted Kashmir’s
integration with India through military operations.

Q.6 Describe the Total Revolution of Jay Prakash Narayan.

Ans: 1.Jaya Prakash Narayan is known for three key contributions: Fight against Corruption, Principle of
Communitarian Socialism and Championing of ‘Total Revolution’.

2.Jaya Prakash Narayan was the first leader in post-independence India who undertook a tirade against
corruption through the participation of youth, particularly in Gujarat and Bihar.

3.Based on the above principles, Jaya Prakash Narayan advocated transformation of individual, society and state
through his call for ‘Total Revolution’.

4.His call for total revolution sought to encompass moral, cultural, economic, political, educational and ecological
transformations.

Q.7 Describe the idea of Democratic Socialism of Ram Manohar Lohiya.

Ans: 1.Ram Manohar Lohia has been one of the main proponents of socialism in India. He championed the idea
of ‘Democratic Socialism’ while associating his socialism with democracy.

2.Lohia considered both capitalism and communism equally irrelevant for Indian society. His principle of
Democratic Socialism has two objectives - the economic objective in form of food and housing. And the non-
economic objective in form of democracy and freedom.

3.Lohia advocated Chouburja Rajneeti in which he opines four pillars of politics as well as socialism: Centre,
Region, District and Village – all are linked with each other.

4.The Party of Socialism according to Lohia should have three symbols, viz., Spade [prepared to make efforts],
Vote [power of voting], and Prison [Willingness to make sacrifices].

Q.8 What is the idea of integral humanism of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya?

Ans: The philosophy presented by him is called 'Integral Humanism' which was intended to present an
'indigenous socio-economic model' in which human being remains at the centre of development. The aim of
Integral Humanism is to ensure dignified life for every human being while balancing the needs of the individual
and society.

The philosophy of Integral Humanism is based on the following three principles:

 Primacy of whole, not part  Supremacy of Dharma  Autonomy of Society

Q.9 Describe the three democratic upsurges of Independent India.

Ans: 1. The ‘First Democratic Upsurge’ could be attributed from the 1950s till 1970s which was based on the
participation of Indian adult voters to the democratic politics both at the Centre and in states.

2.During the 1980’s, the increasing political participation of the lower classes of the society such as SCs, STs and
OBCs has been interpreted as ‘Second Democratic Upsurge’. This participation has made Indian politics more
accommodative and accessible for these classes.
3. The era of Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization from the early 1990s is attributed to the emergence
of a competitive market society encompassing all important sectors of economy, society and polity thus paving
way for the ‘Third Democratic Upsurge’.