*What were the main challenges before the leadership in India's post-independence history?
A.
*Need to maintain unity and integrity.
*Bring out our social and economic transformation.
*To ensure the successful working of the democratic system.
*Write a brief note on the First General Elections. (June 2023)
A.
First General Elections:
i) First general elections were held in the year 1952.
ii) Elections are held on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise.
iii) This was difficult to conduct because of the illiteracy.
iv) Symbols from everyday life to represent political parties and candidates.
v) Each candidate had a separate ballot box with the symbol stuck outside.
vi) Many political parties are contested.
vii) Congress party won in the elections.
*How did the Election Commission overcome the problem of illiteracy in the first General Elections?
A.
It used symbols from everyday life to represent the political parties and candidates.
*What was the Congress system?
A.
1.The Congress has been in the power long time both the centre and in the states.
2.The situation where the opposition parties are weak with a strong ruling party is known as one party dominant system or Congress system.
*Give examples for the demand for reorganization of States on the basis of language?
A.
1. Separate Andhra state.
2. Samyuktha Karnataka.
3. Samyuktha Maharashtra.
4. Merger of Travancore and Cochin.
5. State of Punjab for Sikhs.
*Which language speaking people were there in Madras Presidency?
A.
Madras Presidency had people speaking Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Gondi, and Oriya languages.
*Why was the Congress against the reorganization of States on the linguistic lines after India's Independence?
A.
Because Congress feared that language reorganization would lead to break down of the country.
*When was the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) appointed and who were its members?
A.
The SRC was appointed in August 1953 with 3 Members:
1. Fazl Ali.
2. H. N. Kunzru.
3. K. M. Panikkar.
*Is there a need for a national language ?
A.
1.It is good to have a national language so, that people can communicate easily.
2.India being a diverse country with different languages , it is difficult for a common man to learn all the languages rather it is easy to communicate through one national language.
3.This helps the country progress internally and develop at the international level.
4.There would be no distrust among the people as their language was not given importance and all the languages would be treated equal.
*How many political units were created in India according to States Reorganization Act, 1956?
A.
It created 14 states and 6 union territories.
A.
1.The tribal languages like Gondi and Santhali or Oraon were not taken into account.
2.They are living in a smaller areas of forest.
3.They were not spoken by the majority people.
4.The powerful and dominant languages were considered.
*Should all languages have equal status? Why?
A.
1.All languages in our country should have equal status.
2.English continued to be a communicative language between centre and states.
3.As Hindi was well known mostly in the northern part of the country, it was announced as the national language of the country.
*What did the Constituent Assembly put at the top of the agenda of modern India?
A.
It put the" social and economic change" the top of the agenda.
*What did the First Five Year plan stress on?
A.
Stress on the need for:-
1. Increasing food production.
2. Development of transport and communications.
3. Provision for social services.
4. Industrialise India as quickly as possible.
*What were the components of the strategy adopted for agricultural transformation by Nehru?
A.
Three components:-
1. Land Reforms
2. Agricultural Cooperatives
3. Local self-government
*How many types of Land Reforms were contemplated?
A.
Three Types of Land Reforms:-
1. Abolition of Zaminmdari system.
2. Tenancy Reforms.
3. Land Ceilings.
*What was the foreign policy followed by Nehru?
A.
He followed a policy of non joining in either camps of USA or USSR, and tried to maintain equi distance and independent position in foreign policy.
*Which countries built the Non-Aligned Movement?
A.
1. India.
2. Indonesia.
3. Egypt.
4. Yugoslavia.
*What foreign policy did Nehru formulate for the immediate neighbours?
A.
He formulated the Panchsheel policy of
non–interference in each other’s internal affairs.
*How many wars did India face with its neighbors in the first thirty years of Independence?
A.
India faced wars with Pakistan in 1948, 1965 and 1971 and with China in 1962.
A.
1. Anti Hindi agitation.
2. Shortage of food in the country.
3. War with Pakistan in1965.
*What were Samyuktha Vidhayak Dal (SVD) governments?
A.
They were basically a coalition of legislators against Congress, made up Jan Sangh, Socialists, Swatantra Party and Congress defectors, besides local parties.
*Which intermediate castes gained political power in1967elections in various States?
A.
1. Jats – Haryana and UP.
2. Kurmis and Koeris - Bihar.
3. Yadavs - UP and Bihar.
4. Lodhis - Madhya Pradesh.
5. Reddys and Kammas - Andhra Pradesh.
6. Vokkaligas - Karnataka.
7. Vallalas- Tamil Nadu.
*What was the Shivasena's demand?
A.
1.Shivasena's demand was Bombay should belong to Maharashtrians only.
2.The party targeted south Indians, believing that they were cornering all employment in the City.
*What does Article 370 of Indian constitution refer to?
A.
1.It refers to the Jammu and Kashmir giving a greater autonomy and powers to it compared to other states of India.
2.However this article was scrapped recently in 2019.
*What is meant by left turn policy? (Or)
Which actions taken by Indira Gandhi as called left turn?
A.
1. She adapted a series of measures to come power marked "left turn' in her politics.
2. Indira Gandhi went early elections in 1971 instead of 1972 using popular slogan "Garibi Hatao".
3. She attempted to create a new social base of her own and for her party by identifying the poor and the downtrodden.
4. She also promised radical restructuring of the system to benefit the poor and marginalised.
4. She apparently to achieve the goal of social and economic transformation passed important legislations that were nationalisation of many private banks and abolishing of princely pensions.
*How did India help for liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 ?
A.
1.In 1971 a war broke out between India and Pakistan.
2.India helped Bangladesh to achieve. independence form Pakistan strategically.
3.India raised not only her military strength but also followed diplomacy as Non - Aligned nation.
4.This is happened due to the non- intereference of both super powers.
*What were the two important legislations passed during Indira Gandhi's period to achieve the goal of social and economic transformation?
A.
1. Nationalisation of private banks.
2. Abolishment of princely pensions.
*What was J.P movement?
A.
1. It was started by the opposition parties and united under Jaya Prakash Narayan.
2. He led a series of campaigns in different parts of the country against the Congress and especially against Indira Gandhi.
*How did Indira Gandhi justify the imposition of emergency?
A.
She justified it as necessary:
1.To preserve order.
2.To save democracy.
3.To protect the social and economic transformation.
4.To preserve the national integrity.
*Name some welcome moves and unpopular moves taken by the emergency government.
A.
Welcome Moves:
1. Control over price rise.
2. Campaign against black marketing.
3. bonded labour.
Unpopular Moves
1. Demolition of slums.
2. Forced sterilization.
(OR)
*What were the aims of 42nd Constitutional Amendment?
A.
The following are the institutional changes that came up after the emergence
1.Emergency was implemented at the cost of democracy.
2.Many of the fundamental rights were suspended.
3. Excluding courts from election disputes
4.Strengthening the central government visa-a-visa state governments.
5.Providing maximum protection from judicial challenges to social and economic transformation legislation.
6.Making the Judiciary sub servant to Parliament.
*In what ways was the Emergency period a set back to the Indian democracy?
A.
Indira Gandhi imposed emergency on 25th June 1975.
1.There was fundamental rights were suspended.
2.There were instances of arbitrary detention, torture and other violation of civil liberties.
3.Political leaders who opposed Indira Gandhi were put in jail.
3.Demolition of slums and forced sterilization brought discontent among the people.
4. In the absence of civic freedom, people could not express their discontent.
Thus, the emergency was no less than a setback to the Indian democracy.
*Give examples for independent institutions in the institutional frame work of India?
A.
Ex: 1. Judiciary.
2. Election Commission.
3. Comptroller and Auditor General.
*Give examples for the places where communal riots happened between 1947-77.
A.
1. Ranchi
2. Ahmedabad
3. Jalgaon
4. Aligarh
*What is Delhi agreement?
A.
1.The agreement reached between Sheik Abdullah, the Prime Minister of Kashmir and Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India on the status of Jammu and Kashmir in 1952 is called Delhi agreement.
2.According to this, the Kashmir is would become full citizens of India and the state will have greater autonomy compared to the other states of India.
*What were the major changes in the political system after the 1967 elections?
A.
1.1967 elections was a major challenge in Indian political system.
2.Congress lost its elections in most of the states and led to the rise of many regional parties.
2.This led to the multi-party system. Many regional parties won elections in different states and thereby formed their own governments.
3.Regional parties grew stronger and joined together to form a coalition government.
4.The Congress lost its elections mainly in TamilNadu and Kerala.
*What do you understand about one party dominance ? Would you consider itas dominance only in elections or also in terms of ideology ? Discuss with reasons.
A.
1.The Congress Party won the first three General Elections in 1952 ,1957 and 1962.
2.The Congress Party won majority seats in many states and formed governments. This meant that Congress not only won elections but was also dominant in their ideologies.
3.It looked like there is one system prevailing in India called the Congress system.
4.People trusted the Congress due to their support in the freedom struggle.This shows tne party dominance
5.The Congress was successful in dealing with many challenges since 1947.The ideals like socialism implemented by it through abolition of privy purses, nationalisation of banks,land legislations proved its dominance in ideology.
6.The party was not monopolistic or autocratic.
7.Members of the party worked to satisfy different interests of different people.This made it to dominate other parties.
A.
1.Social and economic changes are at the top of the agenda of modern India.
2.The Constituent Assembly had called for social, economic and political justice and equality of status and opportunity; it put social and economic change at the highest priority.
3.The Planning Commission was set up within a month of the inauguration of the new Constitution.
4. Five Year Plans were introduced to achieve progress and development in agriculture and industry.
5.Jawaharlal Nehru felt that development would put an end to discrimination based on caste system,religions,community,etc. also means to develop India as a strong and united nation.
6.The strategy favored by Nehru included three components:
Land reforms,
Agriculture cooperatives and
Local self-government.
7.Local self - government would look into the development of villages through land reforms and cooperatives that benefit the villagers.
8.All should be treated equally irrespective of their caste, religion, gender, status and reservations to be given to the upliftment of the weaker sections of the societ.
*Analyse the advantages and problems faced by the people done to the Multi party system in India.
A.
Advantages :
1.Multiparty system in India gave people a fair choice in electing their representatives.
2.It gives people freedom to express their opinions.
3.It gives the true path of democracy.
4.Multiparty system gives regional parties to rule.
5.There is no chance of the same party to win elections again.People choose changes accordingly.
Problems :
1.Multiparty system led to corruption and inefficient form of government.
2.This led to coalition politics, as there is no single party that wins elections.
3.It leads to political uncertainty and instability as there is no fair representation in elections.
