Solved CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 Political Science Set 4

Solved CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 Political Science Set 4

[Time Allowed : 3 hrs.]                                                                                   [Maximum Marks] : 100

General Instruction:

1. All Questions are compulsory.
2. Question numbers 1-5 are of 1 mark each. The answers to these questions should not exceed 20 words each.
3. Question numbers 6-10 are of 2 marks each. The answers to these questions should not exceed 40 words each.
4. Question numbers 11-16 are of 4 marks each. The answers to these questions should not exceed 100 words each.
5. Question numbers 17-21 are of 5 marks each. The answers to this question should not exceed 150 words.
6. Question numbers 22-27 are of 6 marks each. The answers to this question should not exceed 150 words.

Question.1. How is 9/11 important in the context of USA ?
Answer. 9/11 is very important in the context of USA because it is the date 11th and month September which tells about the series of attacks on US in 2001.
On 11 September 2001, nineteen hijackers hailing from a number of Arab countries took control of four American commercial aircraft and flew them into important buildings in the US like World Trade Center and Pentagon building, the US defence department.

Question.2. “The United Nations was not created to take humanity to the heaven, but to save it from the hell.” Dag Hammarskjold. What is meant by this statement ?
Answer. The above statement of Dag Hammaskjold meants that the UN is not the answer to everything but it is very important which helps in the matters of war and peace. In the growing need of interdependence and globalisation the UN provides the means for instant consultations among governments and to make better living conditions for us.

Question.3. Which World Summit Conference was held at Rio in 1992 ?
Answer. ‘The Earth Summit’, ‘World Summit Conference’ was held in Brazil (Rio-de-Janeiro) in June 1992. This was the conference on environmental issues within the area of global politics.

Question.4. In which State did the Indian National Congress face defeat in March 1957 Assembly Elections ?
Answer. In Kerala, The Indian National Congress faced defeat in March 1957 Assembly Elections. CPI formed the coalition government.

Question.5. What is the meaning ofcPanchsheel ?
Answer. The word Panchsheel signifies the five principles of peaceful coexistence.
Panchsheel agreement was signed between India and China in 1954. It is the guideline for our relations with other countries.

Question.6. What is the relevance of the Non-Aligned Movement after the end of the bipolar world ?
Answer. Non-alignment as a strategy evolved in the Cold War context, but the end of the “Cold War” and emergence of a Unipolar world did not see the end of the non-alignment. Non-alignment still contains some core values and end-using ideas.

1. Its emphasis has shifted from “political issues to economic issues”.
2.  Liberalisation of third world economies for rapid development of the countries of south
   now remains the main concern of NAM.
3. Now its emphasis has also shifted towards poverty alleviation, New International Economic Order based on equality, equity and justice and promotion of industrialisation.
   Therefore, the concept of non-alignment is applicable even in normal situation. Its essence is that every international issue is discussed on merit. This is an attitude which must be reflected in international affairs.

Question.7. Who were the target of ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ launched by the US as part of the war on terrorism ?
Answer. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban regime were the target of ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ launched by the US as a part of the war on terrorism. They were suspected to be behind the 9/11 series of attacks.
The US forces made arrests all over the world, transported them across countries and detained them in secret prisons. Some of them were brought to Guantanamo Bay, US Naval base in Cuba.

Question.8. Write the meaning and importance of economic planning in the Indian context.
Answer. The Economic Planning of India signifies a systematic regulation of an economic activity which is undertaken by the government to set priorities and to reduce the wastage of time and resources.

1.  Economic Planning is an invaluable policy and helps to achieve nationai goals and is a continuous process.
2.  It is also a rational process and concerns itself with the proposals for the future with the evolution of alternate proposals and the methods with which these proposals may be achieved.

Question.9. How the era of multi-party system led to era of coalition at the Centre ?
Answer. With the beginning of the era of multi-party system, a large number of political parties contested the election in our country.

1. Therefore, after 1989 there was the emergence of several parties in such a way that one or two parties did not get most of the votes or seats.
2.  And this development ultimately led to the beginning of an era Of coalition governments at the centre.
3.  In the coalition government regional parties played a crucial role in forming ruling alliances.

Question.10. What is meant by ‘one-party dominance’ in the Indian context ?
Answer. ‘One-party dominance’ in the Indian context means the dominance of the Congress Party in the Indian politics.

1. This domination of Congress party was based on popular consensus.
2. The reasons for a dominant one party system was identification with the freedom struggle for building national unity and solidarity.
3.  Another reason for one party dominance was the popular appeal of charismatic leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Sardar Patel, Indira Gandhi, etc.

Question.11. What steps should be taken to strengthen the UNO ?
Answer. With the completion of 60 years of its existence the members of the UN met in September 2005 to review the situation and suggested some significant steps to make the UN more relevant in the changing context.

1.  Creation of a Peacebuilding Commission.
2.  Acceptance of the responsibility of the international community in case of failures of national governments to protect their own citizens from atrocities.
3. Establishment of a Human Rights Council {operational since 1$ June 2006]
4.  Agreement to achieve the Millennium Development goals.
5. Condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
6.  Creation of a Democratic; Fund.
7.  An agreement to wind up the Trusteeship Council. (Any four)

Question.12. Describe Hie outcomes of States Reorganisation Commission appointed in 1953.
Answer. The State Reorganisation Commission was formed in 1953 by the central government to look into the question of redrawing of the boundaries of states with the integration of princely states into the Indian Union.

1.  The Commission in its report accepted that the boundaries of the state should reflect the boundaries of different languages.
2.  On the basis of its report the states Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956 which led to the creation of 14 states and six union territories.
3.  It recommended the formation of linguistic states, i.e„ linguistic reorganisation. This recommendation in turn gave uniform basis to the drawing of state boundaries.

Question.13. What was Bandung Conference ? Describe its outcomes.
Answer. The conference of Afro-Asian leaders held at Bandung in 1955 was known as the Bandung Conference. This conference gave an opportunity for common understanding of international problems.
Outcomes of Conference: The conference was symbolic of solidarity of Asia and Africa. This conference gave an opportunity for common understanding among Asia-African countries.

1.  Nehru, one of the leaders of this conference, touched upon the moral fibre of Non-alignment.
2.  The conference was symbolic of the nascent solidarity of Asia and Africa and demonstrated the growing maturity of the Afro-Asian nations.
3. The Bandung Conference therefore, represented the desire of Afro-Asian countries to play an independent and constructive role in world affairs.

Question.14. What is meant by ‘Privy Purses’ ? Why did Indira Gandhi insist on abolishing them in 1970 ?
Answer. ‘Privy Purse’ was the form of grant or government allowance given to the rulers and their families.

1. The grant or ‘Privy Purse’ was decided on the extent of revenue and potential of the
   merging state. This assurance was given at the time of the integration of the princely states.
2.  But there was some criticism of the privileges given to the princely states in the way of Privy Purses at the time of accession, integration and consolidation.
3.  Hence, other leaders, particularly Indira Gandhi, insisted on abolishing the Privy Purses because hereditary privileges were not in consonance with the principle of equality and social and economic justice laid down in the constitution of India.
4.  Thus in 1967 elections, Indira Gandhi supported the demand that the government should abolish Privy Purses.
5.  As a follow up the government tried to bring a constitutional amendment in 1970 but it was not passed in the Rajya Sabha. It then issued an ordinance which was struck down by the Supreme Court.
6.  Indira Gandhi made this a major election issue in 1971 and got a lot of public support.
   Following its massive victory in the 1971 election, the constitution was amended to remove legal obstacles in the way of abolition of Privy Purses. (Any four)

Question.15. Explain the functioning of the Communist Party of India from 1920 to 1950.
Answer. The Communist Party played a multi-dimensional role from 1920 to 1950.

1. In the early 1920s ‘Communist groups’ emerged in different parts of India taking inspiration from the Bolshevik revolution.
2.  From 1935, the Communists worked mainly from within the field of the Indian National Congress.
3.  The Communist Party had a well oiled party machinery and dedicated cadre at the time of independence.
4.  After independence the Communist Party played a negative role and encouraged violent uprisings in Telangana because the party thought that the transfer of power in 1947 was not true independence.
5.  It failed to generate popular support. Hence in 1951, the Communist Party abandoned
   the path of violent revolution and decided to participate in the approaching general elections. (Any four)
   In the first election in 1951 the communist party won 16 seats and emerged as the largest opposition party.

Question.16. Define Globalisation. Is it a multi-dimensional concept ? Justify.
Answer. Globalisation : It signifies integration of the economy of a country with the economies of other countries i.e. the World Economy. It is a process by which earth is considered as a global village where social and economic interactions are based on interdependence.
Globalisation means integrating the economy of a country with the economies of other countries in the process of free flow of trade and capital. It also includes the movement of persons i.e., brain drain across borders.

1.  Globalisation means integrating our economy with the world economy.
2.  The idea of Globalisation is not something new. The process began around 200 BC and 1000 AD.
   No, it is wrong to assume that Globalisation has purely economic dimensions because it is a multi-dimensional concept. It has political, economic and cultural manifestations. Moreover, the impact of Globalisation is vastly uneven-it affects some societies more than others and some parts of some societies more than others.
3. Hence, it is correctly said that Globalisation is all about the flow of ideas, capital, commodities and people.

Question.17. Answer the following questions based upon the following Press Report:
‘Bharatiya Kisan Union wants agriculture out of WTO purview’
(By our Staff Correspondent)
Mysore, Feb. 15 The Bharatiya Kisan Union has warned of socio-economic upheavals in the country if India does not bargain to keep agriculture out of the purview of the World Trade Organisation.
Addressing a press conference here today, the Chief of the Union, Mahender Singh Tikait and its National Coordinating Committee Convener, M. Yudhveer Singh warned of impending dangers if India went ahead and agreed to the stipulations of the WTO in the next round of meetings scheduled to be held in Hong Kong in November. (Courtesy: The Hindu. February 16,2005)
(a) WhatisBKU?
(b) Why is it against the WTO ?
(c) What dangers are anticipated for Indian agriculture from the WTO ?
Answer. (a) BKU signifies the ‘Bhartiya Kisan Union’. It was the organisation of farmers which protested against the policies of the state especially the process of liberalisation of Indian Economy. It was the agrarian struggle of farmers.
(b) BKU is against WTO because it wants agriculture out of the WTO per view.
It is also against the restrictions on the Inter-state movement of farm produce.
(c) Dangers are anticipated for Indian Agriculture from the WTO.
There is the danger of market crisis for the cash crops.

Question.18. Read this passage and answer the following questions:
“If globalisation is about the flows of ideas, capital, commodities, and people, it is perhaps logical to ask if there is anything novel about this phenomenon. Globalisation in terms of these four flows has taken place through much of human history. However, those who argue that there is something distinct about contemporary globalisation point out that it IS the scale and speed of these flows that account for the uniqueness of globalisation.”
(a) Give an example of each of these four flows that distinguishes globalisation from similar flows in earlier times.
(b) Can we conclude from this way of looking at globalisation that it is essentially economic and always positive? Give examples to support your position.
Answer. (a) Four flows i.e., flow of ideas, capital, commodities and the people distinguish from ‘ Globalisation.

1.  Flow of ideas: It is taking place at a rapid speed due to technological advancement in printing and other electronic media. The role of computer became world-wide phenomena and brought distant parts of the world closer.
2. Flow of capital : The flow of capital could be seen in the form of investments by the developed countries in developing countries. For example : the US investment has increased many folds in Indian Economy.
3.  Flow of commodities: With the development of technology and communications, transactions among the countries also increased. It not only increased contact among the countries but also increased quantum of goods and services. For example, Chinese goods could be seen in any market of the world.
4.  Flow of people : The demand for human resource led to large scale migration of people from one country to another. For example technocrats of India are in great demand in USA and other European countries.

(b) Yes, Globalisation has occurred mainly due to economic reasons. The purpose of all the flows (ideas, capital, goods and people) is to gain economically. For example, establishing big industrial units as joint ventures, transfer of technology, open market for goods, demand for skilled persons, etc. are prominent economic activities.

Question.19. Read this passage and answer the following questions:
“Even as political parties act within the sphere of a given consensus, political movements and organisations are simultaneously identifying new forms, visions and pathways of development. Issues like poverty, displacement, minimum wages, livelihood and social security are being put on the political agenda by peoples’ movements, reminding the state of its responsibility.”
(a) What is the ‘consensus’ mentioned in this passage ?
(b) What is the relationship between political parties and movements in contemporary India ?
(c) Substantiate the point made in this passage with the example of any popular movement.
Answer. (a) Consensus on 4 elements among political parties:

1.  Agreement on economic policies: The new economic policy introduced in 1991 received both kinds of reactions (positive and negative).
2. Acceptance of the political and social claims of the backward classes.
3.  Acceptance of the role of state level parties (regional parties) in the governance of the country.
4.  Emphasis on pragmatic considerations rather than ideological positions and political alliances without ideological agreement.

(b) A weak relationship exists between the political parties and popular movements in contemporary India. Popular movements are usually non-party movements. They are generally led by voluntary organisations. They do not contest the elections. They believe that direct participation by people would be more effective solving local issues rather than depending on the political parties. They put pressure on the government and do not want to be used by political parties as their vote banks.
(c) Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA)

1. This movement was against the Sardar Sarovar Project in the Narmada valley. The project consisted of 30 big dams, 135 medium-sized and around 3000 small dams to be constructed on Narmada and its tributaries.
2.  The NBA opposed the project keeping in view larger issues concerning the nature of ongoing development projects. It demanded that there should be a cross-benefit analysis of the major developmental projects completed in the country so far.
3.  Initially the movement demanded proper and just rehabilitation of all those directly or indirectly affected by the project. Later they insisted that local communities should be associated with the decision-making processes.
   Gujarat, the state which get benefited opposed NBA. In 2003, a comprehensive National Rehabilitation Policy formed by the government can be seen as an achievement of NBA.
   The Supreme Court verdict was to go ahead with the construction of the dam and to ensure proper rehabilitation.

Question.20. Look at the given cartoon and answer the following questions:
(a) The cartoon refers to which treaty ?
(b) How can we say that we were non-aligned even after signing this treaty with the Soviet Union ?
(c) This treaty was signed to counteract which rival forces of India ?

Answer. (a) The cartoon refers to the 20-year Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the Soviet Union in August 1971.
(b) We were very much non-aligned even after signing this treaty with the Soviet Union because this treaty assured India of the Soviet support if the country faced any attack, especially, from Pakistan.
(c) This treaty was signed to counteract US-China rivalry in India.

Question.21. Study the map given below and answer the following questions:
(i) Identify and match the four states marked (A),(B),(C), and (D) with Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya.
(ii) Write the capitals of these four states against the names of the respective states.

Answer.

Question.22. Evaluate the New International Economic Order of 1970s.
Or
Assess India’s role in Non-Aligned Movement.
Answer. The idea behind the “New International Economic Order (NIEO) was to ensure the sustainable economic development of the “least developed countries of NAM”. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) brought out a report in 1972 entitled “Towards a new Trade Policy for Development”.
The report proposed a reform of the global trading system to
(a) give the Least Developed Countries [LDCs] control over their natural resources exploited by the developed western countries.
(b) obtain access to western markets so that the LDCs could sell their products and, therefore, make trade more beneficial for the poorer countries.
(c) reduce the cost of import of technology from the western countries.
(d) provide the LDCs with a greater role in international economic institutions.
Or
India is the one of the architects and founders of NAM and it was Jawaharlal Nehru who first coined and used the word ‘non-aligned’. No country has been so completely identified with the policy and practice on non-alignment as India. It has played an important role in giving shape, form and direction to the NAM.

1.  India as the initiator of NAM: In his first speech to the nation referring to India’s role in the world, Jawaharlal Nehru declared on Sept.. 71946 “we propose as far as possible to keep away from the power politics of groups aligned against one another”. He observed that “we are in no camp and no military alliance. The only camp we should like to be is the camp of peace which shall include as many countries as possible”.
2.  Opposition to Colonialism and Imperialism: India under Nehru’s leadership, played a significant role to oppose and eliminate colonialism and Imperialism and India has been successful in some measure, in the relaxation or lessening of tension in the world e.g., Korean crisis, Congo crisis etc.
3.  Propounded Peaceful Coexistence: In 1954,India propounded the concept of coexistence under Panchsheel. Later on these principles became the bedrock of the NAM.
4. Advocated Economic Cooperation and a New International Economic Order : In order to help the Least Developed Countries in their sustainable economic development India advocated the establishment of a New International Economic Order [NIEOJ. India was elected as the chairperson of the movement and hosted the NAM summit in Delhi in 1983 under the leadership of Smt. Indira Gandhi.
5. Condemned Racial Discrimination : India fought racism in a determined way. The eighth summit in 1986 under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi established the ‘Africa Fund’ with the objective of assisting Frontline states in southern Africa and India was entrusted with the chairmanship of the Fund Committee.
6.  Fighting Pollution to Protect the Environment : In 1989, India proposed the establishment of a Planet Protection Fund in its 9th summit. In his speech Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi blamed industrialised countries for the pollution. So the main responsibility and burden for combating pollution and environment degradation must necessarily be theirs, he said.
7.  Combating Terrorism : The 12th NAM summit of 1998 endorsed India’s stand on
   terrorism. It condemned all acts of terrorism, especially Pakistan’s interference in Kashmir and Punjab. The 13th non-aligned summit also condemned state-sponsored terrorism in clear-cut terms and an “International Meeting” for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons was convened. .
   Through non-alignment, India has helped the world to shift its focus from the politics of confrontation to co-operation and co-existence. It has also drawn the world’s attention to terrorism, disarmament, human rights, NIEO, etc. Hence, there is no exaggeration in saying that India and NAM are the two sides of the same coin and work for each other’s promotion.

Question.23. Examine the factors responsible for the US hegemony in the world politics.
Or
Analyse the main constraints to the US hegemony in the present day world.
Answer. US Hegemony began in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The collapse of the Soviet
Union left the world with only a single super power, i.e., the United States of America.
The US Hegemony was established to show the overwhelming superiority of its military power.
In absolute terms, the US today has military capabilities that can reach any point on the planet accurately.
The US Hegemony also emerged in order to shape the “world economy because, an open world economy requires a hegemon or dominant power to support its creation and existence. In this way, the US hegemony emerged in the form of:

The US Hegemony led to the emergence or beginning of the new world order. The process for the establishment of US hegemony started in August 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait. It was rapidly occupied and subsequently made a part of it.
The United Nations tried all its diplomatic avenues to convince Iraq to quit its aggression but failed. Henceforth, UN mandated the liberation of Kuwait by force. This step of UN was very much guided by the dramatic decision of the US. Therefore, a massive coalition force of 660,000 troops from 34 countries fought against Iraq and defeated it. This war is popularly known as the “First Gulf War.” and UN operation was called “Operation Desert Storm.” But this was overwhelmingly an American attempt because nearly 75 per cent of the coalition forces were from the US.
Or
As history reveals every empire declines because of its weaknesses inherent in itself, so the biggest constraints to American hegemony lie within the heart of hegemony itself. Moreover, we can identify “three constraints on American power”, which were actually not in operation in the years following 9/11. Recently all these constraints are slowly beginning to operate.

1. Institutional Architecture: The very first constraint lies in the institutional architecture of the American state. A system of division of powers between the three branches of government places significant brakes upon the unrestrained and immoderate exercise of America’s military power by the executive branch.
2.  Open nature of American society possesses constraint : The second constraint on American hegemony is also domestic in nature and stems from the open nature of American society. In spite of mass media’s promotion or imposition of a particular perspective on domestic opinion in the US, there is nevertheless a deep scepticism regarding the purposes and methods of government in American political culture.
   And, this factor, in the long run is a huge constraint on US military action overseas, i.e. towards the “Invasion Policy of America.”
3.  NATO as a constraint on American hegemony: The most important constraint on American hegemony is NATO. It is the only organisation in the international system that could possibly moderate the exercise of American Hegemony today.
   Actually the US has an enormous interest in keeping the alliance of democracies that follow the market economies alive and therefore it is possible that its allies in the NATO wilt be able to moderate the exercise of US hegemony through their liberal economic policy.

Question.24. Explain the role of the European Union as a supra-national organisation.
Or
What steps have been taken to strengthen the ASEAN in the international community ?
Answer. As a supra-national organisation, the European Union intervenes in economic, political and social areas. It has thus, economic, political diplomatic and military influence.

Economic Areas: As far as the economic nature/aspect Of European Union is concerned, it is considered as the World’s biggest economy with a GDP of more than $12 trillion in 2005, slightly larger than that of the United States.

1. European Union’s economic power gives it influence over its closest neighbours as well as in Asia and Africa.
2.  Its share of world trade is three times larger than that of the United States.
3. Its uniform currency, the Euro, can pose a threat to the dominance of the US dollar.
4.  Moreover, European Union also functions as an important bloc in international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO)”.
   In this way as a supra-national organisation, the European Union is able to intervene in Economic Areas. Political & Diplomatic Area : Besides being the world’s biggest economy European Union also has political and diplomatic influence in the world arena.
   Political and Diplomatic Aspects.
   The European Union has a great influence on some of the UN policies because its two members, Britain and France, hold permanent seats in the UN Security Council. It also includes several non-permanent members of the UNSC.
   Not only this, European Union has its very effective influence in the arenas of diplomacy, economic investments and negotiations except coercion and military force. For example European Union’s dialogue with China on human rights and environmental degradation appears to be very effective.
   Military Influence: “European Union” was established in 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The European Union was started as an Economic Union but over time it has evolved from Economic Union in to an increasingly political one.

Hence, the EU now has started to act more as a nation-state.

1.  It has tried to expand •areas of cooperation while acquiring new members, especially from the erstwhile Soviet bloc.
2.  Besides, European Union has its own flag, anthem, founding date and currency.
3.  It has also some form of a common foreign and security policy in its dealings with other nations.

Like the European Union in 2003, ASEAN countries also followed the path of establishing an ASEAN Community to broaden its objectives beyond the economic and social spheres. The ASEAN Community comprises:

The ASEAN is the only regional association in Asia that provides a political forum where Asian countries and themajor powers can discuss political and security concerns.

1.  The primary objectives of ASEAN were to accelerate economic growth followed by ‘social progress and cultural development’.
2.  Another important objective was to promote regional peace and stability based on the rule of law and the principles of the United Nations’ charter.
3.  In the present global world with the fastest growing economies ASEAN broadened its objectives beyond the economic and social spheres by establishing an “ASEAN Community.”

As ASEAN is rapidly growing into a very important regional organisation so its Vision-2020 has defined an outward looking role for ASEAN in the international community.

1. The Vision-2020 builds on the existing ASEAN policy to encourage negotiation over conflicts in the region.
2.  For instance, ASEAhMias mediated the end of the Cambodian conflict, the East Timor crisis and meets annually to discuss East Asian cooperation.

Thus the components of the ASEAN vision-2020 are :

1. Outward looking role
2.  Encouragement to Negotiations.
3. Mediatory role of ASEAN.

Question.25. How did the fourth General Elections (1967) in India change the dynamics of Indian politics ?
Or
Evaluate the role of the ‘Naxalite Movement’ in India.
Answer. The fourth general election was held in 1967 in the context of heightened popular discontent and the polarisation of political forces. The Congress was facing the electorate for the first time without Nehru.

1. The election verdict was not in fovour of the Congress. The results jolted the Congress both at the national and state levels.
2. Half the ministers in Indira Gandhi’s cabinet were defeated. The political leaders who lost included Kamraj in Tamil Nadu, S.K. Patil in Maharashtra, Atulya Ghosh in West Bengal and K.B. Sahay in Bihar.
3. Not only this the Congress party lost majority in as many as seven states and in two other states defections prevented it from forming a government.
4.  However, this was the first time any non-Congress party had secured a majority of its own in any state. In the other eight states coalition governments consisting of different non-Congress parties were formed.
   Thus many contemporary political observers described the election results as a “Political Earthquake”.

Or
The Naxalites were the Marxist and Leninist agricultural workers of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and adjoining areas. They organised massive agitations against the economic injustice and inequality and demanded redistribution of land to cultivators.
Naxalite Role in Indian Politics :

1. These movements did not participate in elections formally and yet they retained connections with political parties as many participants in these movements, as individual and as organisations, were actively associated with parties.
2.  These links ensured a better representation of the demands of diverse social sections in party politics.

Question.26. Mention any three social movements of India. Explain their main objectives.
Or
“Indian policy makers made a mistake by emphasising the role of state in the economy. India could have developed much better if private sector was allowed a free play right from the beginning”. Give arguments for or against this proposition.
Answer. Social movements raised various issues about the model of economic developments that India had adopted at the time of independence such as:
(a) Chipko Movement: Brought out the issue of Ecological Depletion. This was a very unusual
form of collective action in which men and women from a village were engaged in early 1973. These villagers were protesting against the practices of commercial logging that the government had permitted. (b) The Bharatiya Kisan Union : The Bharatiya Kisan Union was one of the leading organisations in the farmers movement of the eighties, which protested against the policies of the state especially the process of liberalisation of Indian economy. It was the agrarian struggle of farmers.
Issues addressed by BKU

1. Activities conducted by the BKU to pressurise the state for accepting its demands included rallies, demonstrations, sit-ins and jail bharo agitations.
2.  These protests involved tens of thousands of farmers-sometimes over a lakh-from various villages in western UP and adjoining regions.
3.  The demands of BKU
   (a) higher government floor prices for sugar cane and wheat
   (b) abolition of restrictions on the inter-state movement of farm produce
   (c) guaranteed supply of electricity at reasonable rates
   (d) waiving of repayments due on loans to farmers
   (e) the provision of a government pension for farmers
   (c) The Anti-Arrack Movement: The Anti-Arrack movement was the movement of rural women from the state of Andhra Pradesh. They fought a battle against alcoholism, against mafias and against the government during this period.
   It was a spontaneous mobilisation of women demanding a ban on the sale of alcohol in their neighbourhoods.

Background

1. The Anti-Arrack movement had its roots in the “adult literacy drive” where women complained of increased consumption of a locally brewed alcohol-arrack-by men in their families. It affected the rural economy as well.
2.  Thus, women in Nellore came together in spontaneous local initiatives to protest against arrack and forced the closure of the wine shop. This movement in Nellore District slowly spread all over the state.

Issues

1.  The slogan of the Anti-Arrack Movement was simple i.e. prohibition on the sale of arrack.
   But this simple demand touched upon larger social, economic and political issues of the region that affected women’s life. A close nexus between crime and politics was established around the business of arrack.
2. Thus, the Anti-Arrack movement provided a platform to discuss private issues of domestic violence.

Or
No, the above mentioned statement is not fully true and proved the mistake of our policy makers, because the role of state in the Indian economy was very much required to regulate our economy immediately after independence. Later on, when our economy got stabilised and regulated the Indian policy makers introduced New Economics Policy as well in 1991 to liberalise our economy.
In the beginning India did not follow any of the two known paths it did not accept the capitalist model of development in which development was left entirely to the private sector, nor did it follow the socialist model in which private property was abolished and all the production was controlled by the state.
But the elements from both these models were taken together in India i.e. known as “Mixed Economy”. ”
This concept of Mixed Economy was open to criticism both from the left and the right.

1.  Critics argued that planners refused to provide the private sector with enough space
   and stimulus to grow.
2. According to them the enlarged public sector created enough hurdles for private capital, in the way of installing systems of licenses and permits for investment.
3.  The state controlled more things than were necessary and this led to Arguments in favour of state control

OR

1. On the other hand, there were critics who thought that the state did not do enough. It intervened only in those areas where the private sector was not prepared to go. Thus the state helped the private sector to make profit.
2. Also, instead of helping the poor, the state intervention ended up creating a new middle class that enjoyed the privileges of high salaries without much accountability.
   Thus, we can safely say the role of state in Indian Economy-was beneficial in the early years both for the public as well as the private sector. And this led India towards development.

Question.27. How did the Emergency of 1975 benefit the Indian democratic set-up ?
Or
What lessons can we draw from the feeling of alienation in some parts of India ?
Answer. The legacy of the emergency of 1975 was felt in every sphere of people’s life and the politics of the nation as well.
(a) Between the elections of 1977 and 1980, the party system had changed dramatically. Now the Congress Party identified itself with a particular ideology, claiming to be the only socialist and pro-poor party.
(b) With the change in the nature of the Congress Party, other opposition parties relied more and more on what is known in Indian politics as non-Congressism.
(c) In an indirect manner the issue of welfare of the backward castes also began to dominate the politics since 1977. For instance the Northern states elected non-Congress governments in which the leaders of the backward castes played an important role.
(d) Besides, the emergency and the period around it can be described as a period of constitutional crises because it had its origins in the constitutional battle over the jurisdiction of the Parliament and the judiciary.
(e) On the other hand; it was also a period of political crisis. The party in power had absolute majority, yet, its leadership decided to suspend the democratic process.
(f) Another critical issue was the role and extent of mass protests in a Parliamentary democracy. The emergency period saw a clear tension between institution-based democracy and democracy based on spontaneous popular participation for which the party system was to be blamed.
Or
While discussing the issue of regional aspirations and movements, we have seen that regional aspirations ranging from demands of statehood and economic development to autonomy and separation keep coming up. The period, since 1980, accentuated these tensions and tested the capacity of democratic politics to accommodate the demands of diverse sections of the society. The lessons we draw are as follows :
(a) Expression of regional issues is not an abnormal phenomenon : Besides, our democratic politics allows parties and groups to address the people on the basis of their regional identify, aspirations and specific regional problems.
(b) Respond to regional aspirations through democratic negotiations. All regional. movements need not lead to separatist demands because regional aspirations are very much a part of democratic politics. Expression of regional issues is not an aberration or an abnormal phenomenon. Even in small countries like the United Kingdom there are regional aspirations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
For all regional movements the best way to respond is through democratic negotiations rather than through suppression,
(c) Power sharing among groups and parties: The 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. Similarly, it is not sufficient to say that states or the regions have autonomy in their regions: have autonomy in their matters. The regions together form the nation. So, the regions must have a share in deciding the destiny of the nation.
(d) Economic development of the region: 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. If some states remain poor and others develop rapidly it leads to regional imbalances and inter-regional migrations.
(e) Flexible federal system : All the cases of regional aspirations make us appreciate the farsightedness of the makers of our constitution in dealing with question of diversity. The federal system adopted by India is a flexible arrangement.

1.  While most of the states have equal powers, there are special provisions for some states like Jammu and Kashmir and the states in the North-East.
2.  In the same way the “Sixth Schedule” of the constitution allows different tribes complete autonomy in preserving their practices and customary laws.
   To sum up, what distinguishes India from many other countries that face similar challenges is that the constitutional framework in India is much more flexible and accommodative. Moreover politics in India has succeeded in accepting regionalism as part and parcel of democratic politics.