Chapter 9: Recent Developments in Indian Politics – Important Questions (1 Mark & 2 Mark)
1 Mark Questions
Q1. Name the two alliances/fronts that formed the government at the center in 1989 and 1996, respectively. (All India 2014)
Ans.
National Front – 1989
United Front – 1996
Q2. From which year did the era of coalition governments at the center begin in India? (Delhi 2013)
Ans. 1989
Q3. Mention any two incidents of violence against minority communities that are a threat to democracy. (Delhi 2012)
Ans.
Anti-Sikh riots – 1984
Anti-Muslim riots – 2002
Q4. In which year did the Congress party win 415 Lok Sabha seats? Who became the Prime Minister at that time? (Delhi 2012, 2011)
Ans. Congress won 415 seats in 1984, and Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister.
Q5. Why was Babri Masjid demolished? (Delhi 2011)
Ans. Supporters of the Ram Temple movement gathered at Ayodhya for Karseva and demolished the Babri Masjid on 6th December 1992 to clear land for the construction of a Ram Temple.
Q6. Name the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). (Delhi 2011)
Ans. Kanshi Ram
Q7. Which two diametrically opposite political groups supported the National Front Government in 1989? (All India 2011)
Ans. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left Front
Q8. Since 1989 until the election of 2004, which party had been gaining strength in the Lok Sabha? (Delhi 2008)
Ans. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Q9. What was the Mandal Commission? When was it appointed? (Delhi 2008)
Ans. The Mandal Commission was set up on 1st January 1979 to determine the criteria for identifying socially and educationally backward classes.
Q10. What was the Ayodhya dispute? (Delhi (C) 2008)
Ans. A dispute between Hindus and Muslims over the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
Q11. Correct and rewrite the following: "In 1987, the Backward and Minority Federation (BAMCEF) was formed." (All India (C) 2008)
Ans. In 1978, the Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) was formed.
Ans.
National Front – 1989
United Front – 1996
Ans. 1989
Ans.
Anti-Sikh riots – 1984
Anti-Muslim riots – 2002
Ans. Congress won 415 seats in 1984, and Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister.
Ans. Supporters of the Ram Temple movement gathered at Ayodhya for Karseva and demolished the Babri Masjid on 6th December 1992 to clear land for the construction of a Ram Temple.
Ans. Kanshi Ram
Ans. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left Front
Ans. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Q9. What was the Mandal Commission? When was it appointed? (Delhi 2008)
Ans. The Mandal Commission was set up on 1st January 1979 to determine the criteria for identifying socially and educationally backward classes.
Q10. What was the Ayodhya dispute? (Delhi (C) 2008)
Ans. A dispute between Hindus and Muslims over the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
Q11. Correct and rewrite the following: "In 1987, the Backward and Minority Federation (BAMCEF) was formed." (All India (C) 2008)
Ans. In 1978, the Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) was formed.
2 Mark Questions
Q1. Who was the chairperson of the Mandal Commission? State any one recommendation made by him/her. (Delhi 2014)
OR
Highlight any two recommendations of the Mandal Commission. (Delhi 2013)
Ans.
Chairperson: B.P. Mandal
Two recommendations:
27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs.
Welfare programs for OBCs to be funded by the Government of India.
Q2. Highlight any two effects of the 1989 elections on Indian politics. (Delhi 2014)
Ans.
End of the "Congress system" – Congress lost its dominance.
Beginning of coalition politics in India.
Q3. What does a coalition government mean? Mention any one example. (All India 2013)
Ans. A coalition government is formed when two or more parties join hands to form a government.
Example: UPA, NDA (First coalition government: 1977).
Q4. What was the change in the electoral performance of Congress and BJP from 1984 to 2004? (Delhi 2012)
Ans.
BJP grew from 2 seats (1984) to 138 seats (2004).
Congress declined from 415 seats (1984) to 145 seats (2004).Q5. Why are coalition governments unstable? Explain with examples from 1989 and 1996. (All India 2012)
Ans.
1989 – National Front Government was unstable as it was supported by BJP and Left Front, which had opposite ideologies.
1996 – United Front Government was unstable; H.D. Deve Gowda and later I.K. Gujral became Prime Ministers, but the government fell due to lack of stability.
Q6. Give any two arguments in favor of reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs in higher education institutions. (All India 2011)
Ans.
Low representation of backward classes in education.
Employment opportunities in government jobs were also very low for these communities.
Q7. What was the Ayodhya dispute? (Delhi 2011)
OR
When was the disputed structure in Ayodhya demolished? How was the state government punished? (Delhi 2008)
Ans.
Ayodhya dispute was over the Babri Masjid, which some Hindus believed was the birthplace of Lord Ram.
On 6th December 1992, the Babri Masjid was demolished.
The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh was dismissed, and the Chief Minister faced a Supreme Court case for contempt.
Q8. What was the main reason for the anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002? (All India 2011; Delhi 2011)
Ans.
A bogey of the Sabarmati Express train at Godhra station was set on fire, killing Karsevaks returning from Ayodhya.
This incident triggered large-scale violence against Muslims in Gujarat.
Q9. What is meant by a ‘coalition’? During which period did this type of government gain popularity in India? (Delhi 2010)
Ans. A coalition government is formed when two or more political parties join hands to run the government.
First coalition government: 1977
Became more popular after 1989.
Q1. Who was the chairperson of the Mandal Commission? State any one recommendation made by him/her. (Delhi 2014)
OR
Highlight any two recommendations of the Mandal Commission. (Delhi 2013)
Ans.
Chairperson: B.P. Mandal
Two recommendations:
27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs.
Welfare programs for OBCs to be funded by the Government of India.
Q2. Highlight any two effects of the 1989 elections on Indian politics. (Delhi 2014)
Ans.
End of the "Congress system" – Congress lost its dominance.
Beginning of coalition politics in India.
Q3. What does a coalition government mean? Mention any one example. (All India 2013)
Ans. A coalition government is formed when two or more parties join hands to form a government.
Example: UPA, NDA (First coalition government: 1977).
Q4. What was the change in the electoral performance of Congress and BJP from 1984 to 2004? (Delhi 2012)
Ans.
BJP grew from 2 seats (1984) to 138 seats (2004).
Congress declined from 415 seats (1984) to 145 seats (2004).Q5. Why are coalition governments unstable? Explain with examples from 1989 and 1996. (All India 2012)
Ans.
1989 – National Front Government was unstable as it was supported by BJP and Left Front, which had opposite ideologies.
1996 – United Front Government was unstable; H.D. Deve Gowda and later I.K. Gujral became Prime Ministers, but the government fell due to lack of stability.
Q6. Give any two arguments in favor of reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs in higher education institutions. (All India 2011)
Ans.Low representation of backward classes in education.
Employment opportunities in government jobs were also very low for these communities.
Q7. What was the Ayodhya dispute? (Delhi 2011)
OR
When was the disputed structure in Ayodhya demolished? How was the state government punished? (Delhi 2008)
Ans.Ayodhya dispute was over the Babri Masjid, which some Hindus believed was the birthplace of Lord Ram.
On 6th December 1992, the Babri Masjid was demolished.
The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh was dismissed, and the Chief Minister faced a Supreme Court case for contempt.
Q8. What was the main reason for the anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002? (All India 2011; Delhi 2011)
Ans.A bogey of the Sabarmati Express train at Godhra station was set on fire, killing Karsevaks returning from Ayodhya.
This incident triggered large-scale violence against Muslims in Gujarat.
Q9. What is meant by a ‘coalition’? During which period did this type of government gain popularity in India? (Delhi 2010)
Ans. A coalition government is formed when two or more political parties join hands to run the government.First coalition government: 1977
Became more popular after 1989.
