Chapter 2: Era of One-Party Dominance

Chapter 2: Era of One-Party Dominance

CLASS 12TH POL SCI 2025 BOARD EXAM
Published on By Amresh Academy

 Chapter 2: Era of One-Party Dominance

1 Mark Questions

Question 1. During the first three general elections, Congress won more seats than any other party. Which party stood at number two during these elections? (All India 2014)
Answer: The Communist Party of India.

Question 2. Who was the founder of Bhartiya Jana Sangh? (All India 2014)
Answer: The BJS was started by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on 21st October, 1951 in Delhi.

Question 3. Which political party laid emphasis on the idea of one country, one culture, and one nation? (Delhi 2014)
Answer: Bhartiya Jana Sangh.

Question 4. In which year was the first general election to Lok Sabha held? (Delhi 2014, All India 2012)
Answer: The first general election was held in 1952. Congress won 364 seats, and the Communist Party of India (CPI) won 16 seats, emerging as the second-largest party.

Question 5. When was the Constitution of India ready and signed by members of the Constituent Assembly? When did it come into effect? (Delhi 2013)
Answer: The Constitution was ready and signed on 26th November 1949 and came into effect on 26th January 1950.

Question 6. Name the founder President of the Congress Socialist Party. What name was given to this party after 1948? (Delhi 2013, All India 2013, All India 2009)
Answer: Acharya Narendra Dev founded the Congress Socialist Party in 1948. It was later renamed the Communist Party.

Question 7. When and where was the first non-Congress State Government formed after India’s independence? (Delhi 2011, All India 2009, All India 2008)
Answer: The Congress party faced defeat in Kerala in the March 1957 Assembly Elections. The Communist Party won 60 out of 126 seats in the Kerala Legislature.

Question 8. What were the election symbols of the Congress Party and Bhartiya Jana Sangh in the first general election of 1952? (All India 2011)
Answer: The Congress Party's symbol was a pair of oxen, and the Bhartiya Jana Sangh’s symbol was a lamp (Deepak).

Question 9. Differentiate between ‘one-party dominance’ and ‘one-party system.’ (HOTS; All India 2011)
Answer: ‘One-party dominance’ means a democratic setup where one party dominates, like the Congress in early India. A ‘one-party system’ means only one party exists, like the Communist Party in China.

Question 10. Bhartiya Jana Sangh laid emphasis on which two main ideas? (All India 2010)
Answer:

  1. Reunion of India and Pakistan in Akhand Bharat.

  2. One country, one culture, one nation.

Question 11. Fill in the blanks: The ________ Commission of India was set up in January 1950. (Delhi 2010)
Answer: Election.

Question 12. Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly? (All India 2009)
Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Question 13. Why did critics think elections in India would not be successful? (HOTS; All India (C) 2008)
Answer:

  1. India was a poor and illiterate country.

  2. Many European countries had not granted equal voting rights to women, making India’s experiment with Universal Adult Franchise bold and risky.

Question 14. Since 1989 until the elections of 2004, which party gained strength in Lok Sabha? (Delhi 2008)
Answer: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

2 Mark Questions

Question 1. How did Congress dominance in the first three general elections help establish democracy in India? (HOTS; Delhi 2015)
Answer:

  1. Congress tolerated and encouraged various factions.

  2. It accommodated diverse ideological groups, including conservatives, radicals, extremists, and moderates.

Question 2. Despite token representation in legislatures, what role did opposition parties play in the 1950s? (HOTS; All India 2014)
Answer:

  1. They provided a sustained and principled critique of Congress policies.

  2. They kept the ruling party under check.

Question 3. Highlight two features of the ideology of Bhartiya Jana Sangh. (Delhi 2014, All India 2013)
Answer:

  1. Emphasized one country, one culture, one nation.

  2. Advocated modern and strong India based on Indian culture and traditions.

Question 4. How was the ideology of Congress different from that of Bhartiya Jana Sangh? (Delhi 2014)
Answer:

  • Bhartiya Jana Sangh promoted Hindutva and a unified cultural identity.

  • Congress embraced diversity and formed ideological and social coalitions.

Question 5. When was the Election Commission of India set up? Who was its first Chief Election Commissioner? (All India 2013, Delhi 2010)
Answer: It was set up in January 1950, and Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commissioner.

Question 6. How did Congress maintain its dominance till 1967? (HOTS; All India 2011)
Answer:

  1. Congress had a well-organized network at all levels.

  2. Other parties lacked an effective campaign strategy against Congress.

Question 7. What is meant by ‘one-party dominance’ in the Indian context? (All India 2009)
Answer:

  • Congress dominated the 1952, 1957, and 1962 elections.

  • Congress won 364/489 (1952), 371/494 (1957), and 361/494 (1962) seats in Lok Sabha.

Question 8. How did the voting method change from 1952 to 2004 elections? (HOTS; Delhi 2009)
Answer:

  1. Earlier, ballots had candidate names and symbols, and voters used a stamp.

  2. By 2004, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were introduced nationwide.

Question 9. List two differences between socialist and communist parties. (HOTS; All India 2008)
Answer:

  1. Communists believed in revolutionary socialism, whereas socialists supported democratic socialism.

  2. Communists leaned towards Soviet Union/China, while socialists remained independent.

Question 10. What is a coalition government? When was the first coalition government formed at the Centre? (Delhi 2008)
Answer:

  • A coalition government is formed when multiple parties come together under a common agenda.

  • In 1977, Morarji Desai led the first coalition government at the Centre.
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