1.Analyse any six
consequences of the partition of India in 1947. (HOTS; All India 2016)
Answer:
Muslim League advanced ‘Two-Nation Theory’ which advocated India consisted of not one but two ‘people’, Hindus and
Muslims. That is why Muslim League demanded Pakistan, a separate country for
the Muslims. The two main causes of partition in 1947 were as follows :
·
Political competition between the Congress and the Muslim League.
·
The role of Britishers in dividing the Hindus and Muslims by their
policy of ‘divide and rule’.
The consequences of partition of India in 1947 are as follows:
1. Division of provinces according to majority The
implementation of partition was very difficult because there was no single belt
of Muslims majority in British India. The concentration of Muslims were in
Punjab which was in the West and Bengal which was in East. The problems lied in
these areas as concentration of non-Muslims were more. Therefore, it was
decided that these two provinces would be bifurcated according to the majority
at the district or even lower level.
2. Exploitation of minorities Further there were problems with
the minorities on both side of the borders, they were easily targeted and there
was no option except to leave their own land and homes and go across the
border.
This transfer is said to be most abrupt, largest and unplanned transfer known
in the human history. There were killings and atrocities on both sides of
border in the name of religion. The minorities on both sides fled from their
homes and often secured temporary shelter in refugee camps. Even they were not
safe in refugee camps so, they travelled to the other side by all means
railways, roads and by foot.
3. Exploitation of women During this journey, women were
oftf n attacked and killed. Women were abducted and raped and also forcefully
converted to other religion. Therefore, family members killed their girls and
women. 80 lakh people migrated across the new border and between 5 to 10 lakh
people were killed during partition. Thus, partition of India established the
deep trauma within minds of the citizens.
4. Problem with refugee Those who did manage to cross
the border found that they had no home. For lakhs of these ‘refugees’ the
country’s freedom meant life in ‘refugees camps’, for months and sometimes for
years.
5. Administrative failure There were competing political
interests behind communal conflicts. The Muslim league was formed to protect
the interests of the Muslims in colonial India. It was in the forefront of the
demand for a separate Muslim nation. Similarly there were organisations, which
were trying to organise the Hindus in order to turn India into a Hindu nation.
This situation led to administrative failure in the country.
6. Distribution of financial assets The financial assets and things
like tables, chairs, typewriters, paper-clips, books and also musical
instruments of the police band were divided. The employees of the government
and the railways were also ‘divided’. It was a violent separation of communities
who had hitherto to lived together as neighbours.
2. Explain any three challenges faced by India at the
time of its independence. (Delhi 2014)
Answer:
The major challenges faced by India at the time
of its independence are as follows:
1. To shape a United Nation Immediately after independence, there was a challenge to make India an
unified nation. There were diversities of cultures, languages, religions etc
increased the questions on India’s future.
2. To establish democracy However, India is seventh largest country in
the world and has different values, cultures norms etc. According to the
Constitution, India has adopted the democratic government on the basis of adult
franchise. The challenge was how to maintain democracy.
3. To ensure the development and well-being The Constitution laid down in Fundamental Rights that all
citizens are equal and all of them are free to practise their own religion. In
DPSP laid down welfare state. Although the Preamble of the Constitution laid
down that the Principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity were
adopted to develop the society. However, the challenges were how to overcome
the poverty and how to develop economy of India through the peoples’
participation.
4. Integration of princely states After independence, there were 565 Princely
States. The Independence Act, 1947 says that British India divided into two
nations India and Pakistan. And Princely States may be merged with both the
countries or stayed independent. The British left India with multiple problems.
This was certain and very serious challenge raised in front of India.
3.Describe briefly the
composition and any four functions of the Planning Commission of India. (All
India 2011)
Answer:
Composition of Planning Commission :
·
The Prime Minister of India is the chairman of the commission.
·
The commission has a deputy chairman.
·
The finance minister and planning minister are the ex-officio members of
the commission.
·
The commission has four to seven full time expert members.
Four Functions of the Planning Commission are :
1.
To make an assessment of material, capital and human resources of the country and investigate the possibilities
of augmenting them.
2.
To formulate a plan for the most effective and balanced utilisation of
the country’s resources.
3.
To determine priorities and to define stages in which the plan should be
carried out.
4.
To indicate the factors that retard economic development.
Note: Planning
commission no more exists today. It has been replaced by NITI Aayog (National
Institution for Transforming India).
4.What
was Green Revolution? Mention its any two positive and any two negative
consequences. (Delhi 2012,2008; All India 2011,2008)
Answer:
It was a governmental approach towards reforms in agricultural sectors to
attain rapid growth in production of agriculture. Because Indian agriculture,
which had been stagnant and asleep for centuries needed a revolution and this
government initiative is known as green revolution. Its aim was to – ensure
self-sufficiency in foodgrain production. It took place in Third Five Year
Plan. It had some essentials
·
Use of chemical fertilisers.
·
Use of HYV seeds.
·
Use of better irrigation planning.
·
Use of developed tools for farming.
Positive
Consequences
For merits of Green Revolution the two merits of Green Revolution were :
1.
After launching this revolution, India achieved self-sufficiency in food
production. Poor farmers also get benefit from this revolution.
2.
Due to this, the states of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh
flourished more and here the living standards also improved.
Thus, first socially, then politically and economically the status of
farmers in these states was risen.
Demerit/Negative
Outcomes
1.
This revolution created a valley between poor farmer and richer ones.
Discrimination and exploitation of poor farmers by the landlords became a wide
set practice. Some political parties started politics on it and managed seats
in Assemblies and Lok Sabha elections.
2.
This revolution also increased the power of middleman who worked as
mediators between poor farmers and affluent landlords.
5.Mention
the objectives of Nehru’s foreign policy. What was the strategy through which
he wanted to achieve them? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
Yes, we agree that the foreign policy of independent India has pursued the
dream of a peaceful world. Nehru was Prime Minister as well as Foreign Minister
for two decades after the independence. He was the main architect of the
foreign policy of India.
The two objectives of Nehru’s policy were ;
·
India should follow its own course in world affairs.
·
India should not allow her to be used by any other powerful country.
Strategy
of Nehru
1.
Policy of NAM Nehru was the main founder of Non-Alignment Movement, he
emphasised that to be separate from the two-bloc of powerful states and
developed the peace and disarmament.
2.
Policy towards Afro-Asian Countries Nehru always supported the freedom
movement of African and Asian countries. He organised Asian Relations
Conference held in New Delhi on the 23rd March 1947. He participated in the
Asian-African Conference at Bandung in 1955.
Foreign policy during the time of Shastri, Indira Gandhi and Morarji
Desai India faced war between the period of Shastri and Mrs Gandhi era. Both
maintained the integrity and sovereignty of the country. The foreign policy of
both was focusing on the peace and prosperous development of India as well as
neighbouring states. They both were favouring the concept of Nehru’s
Non-Aligned movement and made good relations with Asian and African countries.
In the era of Morarji Desai when Janta Party came into power. In 1977 its focus
on the NAM and followed the rules and regulation of NAM and its foreign policy
was shifted towards pro-USSR.
6.Explain India’s nuclear
policy. (All India 2014, 2013)
Answer:
India’s nuclear policy is discussed below :
·
Nehru always believed in scientific and technological development for fast
development of India. An important idea of his industrialisation, was starting
of nuclear programme under the guidance of Homi J Bhabha in late 1940s.
·
Nehru was against the nuclear weapon so he emphasised on generating atomic
energy only for peaceful purposes. So, he requested Super powers for
comprehensive nuclear disarmament. Even though the nuclear war heads kept
rising.
·
When Communist China tested its nuclear weapons in October 1964, five countries
having nuclear weapon, US, USSR, UK, France and China (Taiwan was the integral
part of China) and also the five permanent members of the UN Security Council
tried to levy the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1968 on the rest of
the world.
·
During the decade of 1962-1972, when India faced three consecutive wars, many
different parties came to the power from time to time, foreign policy of the
country played only a limited role in party politics.
·
Indian Nuclear Programme India is against the international treaties which
aimed at non-proliferation as the five nuclear states are not restricted from
proliferating nuclear weapons. In 1974, the first nuclear explosion was
undertaken by India. The Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) also denies right
to peaceful nuclear explosions by non-nuclear states.
Thus, India opposed the NPT in 1995 and also denied to sign Comprehensive Test
Ban Treaty (CTBT).
·
India carried out series of nuclear tests in May 1998, showing its capability
to use nuclear energy for military purposes. Pakistan followed soon by
increasing area’s vulnerability to nuclear exchange. The international
committee criticised the nuclear test in Indian subcontinent and wanted to
impose ban over India and Pakistan. But it was subsequently rejected.
The two features of India’s nuclear policy are :
1.
India’s nuclear policy dependable on minimum nuclear deterrence
proclaims ‘no first use’.
2.
This policy reaffirms India’s commitment to global, valid and
non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament guiding to a nuclear weapon free world.
7.Describe
any two advantages and two disadvantages of ‘coalition’ Government in India.
(Delhi 2009)
Answer:
Advantages of coalition are as follows:
1.
Coalition government provides an alternative to form government whenever
there is a case of hung Parliament.
2.
It gives opportunities to small and regional parties to have
representation in governments.
Disadvantages of coalition are as follows :
·
It leads to instability in government as different partners pull the
government differently. And government finds itself unable to take right
decision at right time.
·
It reduces the credibility of office of PM/CM as their tenure depends at
the pleasure of coalition partners. It produces weak government.
8.Explain any three causes
of the split in the Congress Party in 1969. (All India 2015)
Answer:
The six factors responsible for the split of the Congress party in 1969
were as follows:
1.
In 1967 elections, the Congress lost power in many states, the result
proved that the Congress could be defeated at the elections.
2.
The political tension inside Congress over the in settled question of
relation between its ministerial and organisation wings became more pronounce.
3.
Indira Gandhi sidelined from the ‘Syndicate’, a group of powerful and
influential leader within the Congress. She chose her trusted group of advisors
from outside the party.
4.
Indira Gandhi adopted a radical ten-point programme which include social
control of banks, nationalisation of 14 private banks, abolition of the privy
purse and land reforms.
5.
Presidential selection of 1969 bring out factional rivalry between the
Syndicate and Indira Gandhi. In the election, W Giri was elected as president
of India defeating the official candidate N. Sanjeeva Reddy.
6.
This election formalised the split in the Congress Prime Minister was
expelled. There was a vertical split in Congress which created Congress (O) and
Congress (R).
9.Analyse any three lessons learnt from the emergency of
1975. (Delhi 2015)
Answer:
The emergency declared on 25th June, 1975 had a great impact on India’s party
system. Many changes had been made to the Constitution and reality come in front
of people. For consequences/lessons,
Consequences
of emergency were:
·
Fundamental Rights were suspended.
·
The power of Judiciary were limitised.
·
Press was censored.
·
All the power were concentrated in the hands of Union Government.
·
Civil liberties of the citizens were taken away.
Important lessons learnt from emergency are :
1.
Several changes to Constitution came into existence e.g. election of
Prime Minister, President and Vice-President could not be challenged in the
Supreme Court.
2.
Provision of emergency was rectified too internal emerge could only be
proclaimed on the basis of armed rebellion after President’s formal
announcement on the advice of Council of Ministers.
10.What
was the main outcome of the Rajiv Gandhi Longowal Accord in July 1985? (All
India, 2012)
Answer:
The outcomes of Rajiv Gandhi-Longowal Accord were :
·
Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab.
·
A separate commission will be set-up to resolve the border dispute
between Punjab and Haryana.
·
A tribunal would be set up to decide the sharing of Ravi-Beas river
water among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
·
Compensation and better treatment of those affected by the militancy in
Punjab.
·
Withdrawal of the Application of Armed Forces Special Powers Act in
Punjab.
11.Describe
the Assam movement against the outsiders from 1979 to 1985. (All India 2013)
Answer:
Assam
Movement
The Assam, North-Eastern state had seen many changes since independence. States
like Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Predesh had been carved out of it.
The Assamese had a unique culture of their own. But the culture was suspected
to be harmed because of the huge number of immigrants from Bangladesh.
To tackle those immigrants and to avoid the mixing of the culture with those of
outsiders they launched a movement popularly known as the Assam movement.
Yes, the Assam movement was a combination of cultural pride and economic
backwardness. It is justified from the following arguments :
1.
The outsiders had a deep effect on the local economy. The Assam was
suffering from poverty and unemployment because of these immigrants.
2.
In spite of being a part of India, Assam was isolated and developmental
work was not as functional as they were in any other part of the country.
3.
Economy was already at stake but the immigrants made it even worse.
Assamese had to face dual problem of cultural preservation and economic
degradation. All Assam student union formed in 1979 led a struggle against
these immigrates in order to save their culture.
12.Describe
any two advantages and two disadvantages of coalition government in India.
(Delhi 2009)
Answer:
When two or more parties join hands together to form a government is known as
coalition government, e.g UPA, NDA etc.
Two advantages of coalition government are as follows :
·
Dominance of one party is minimised.
·
More than one ideologies come together and gives strength to democracy.
Two disadvantages of coalition government are as follows :
·
It gives unstable government.
·
It slows the process of policy-making.
13.Describe briefly any four main developments,
witnessed by the country from 1989 to 1992. (All India 2008)
Answer:
Towards the end of 1980s, country saw five major
development which are as follows (any four) :
1. End of Congress system mean dominance of Congress for two
decades. But the most important event was the defeat of Congress party in the
1989’s elections. The party had won only 197 seats, which was very low in
comparision to 1984 elections where party won 415 seats.
The Congress boosted up its performance and
finally it came back to power in 1991, after Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. But
the elections of 1989 marked the end of what political scientists have called
the ‘Congress system’, congress remained as major party but it lost its
dominance as it enjoyed earlier in the party system.
2. Mandal Issue The Mandal issue started with the National
Front government’s decision to implement the recommendations of Mandal
Commission in 1990. The recommendation was that 27 per cent of job in the
Central Government should be reserved for other backward classes’s candidates
only.
Thus, it brought widespread dismay and anger.
This conflict between supporters and opponents of OBC reservation was popularly
called ‘Mandal issue’. It played a crucial role in shaping politics since 1989.
3. New Economic Reforms The new Ans economic reforms were announced as
the structural adjustment programme. These reforms were initiated by Rajiv
Gandhi, but these were more visible in Narsimha Rao’s Government in the year
1991. These reforms faced many criticism, but the upcoming governments have
continued to follow these.
4. Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi There
was a change in leadership due to assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991. He
was assassinated during his election campaign in Tamil Nadu by a Sri Lankan
Tamil linked to the LTTE. The elections of 1991 witnessed Congress party
emerging as the single largest party.Though death of Rajiv Gandhi led to the
appointment of Narsimha Rao as the Prime Minister.
5. Ayodhya Issue The Ayodhya issue was started with the
demolition of Babri Masjid in December, 1992. This, incident led to violence
and many questions were raised about the nature of Indian nationalism and
secularsm. This issue exemplified and provoked various changes in the politics
of the country and guided the rise of the BJP and the politics of Hindutva.
