Recent developments in indian politicsClass 12 Politics in India Since Independence NCERT Solutions
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Q1Questions
Unscramble a bunch of disarranged press clipping file of Unni-Munni... and arrange the file chronologically.
(a)
Implementation of the recommendation of the Mandal Commission
(b)
Formation of the Janata Dal
(c)
Supreme court Judgment on the Ram Janmabhoomi
(d)
Assassination of Indira Gandhi
(e) The formation of NDA government
(f) Formation of the UPA government
Solution
The correct chronological order of the events is as follows:
- (d) Assassination of Indira Gandhi: This event occurred in October 1984, leading to Rajiv Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister.
- (b) Formation of the Janata Dal: The Janata Dal was formed as a part of the National Front alliance to contest the 1989 Lok Sabha elections.
- (a) Implementation of the recommendation of the Mandal Commission: The National Front government, led by V. P. Singh, decided to implement the Mandal Commission's recommendations for OBC reservations in August 1990.
- (e) The formation of NDA government: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) first came to power for a short period in 1998 and then was re-elected in 1999, completing a full term under Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
- (f) Formation of the UPA government: The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to power after defeating the NDA in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
- (c) Supreme court Judgment on the Ram Janmabhoomi: The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court delivered its final verdict on the Ayodhya dispute on November 9, 2019.
Q2Questions
Match the following.
(a)
Politics of Consensus
(b)
Caste based parties
(c)
Personal Law and Gender Justice
(d)
Growing strength of Regional parties
i. Shah Bano case
ii. Rise of OBCs
iii. Coalition government
iv. Agreement on Economic policies
Solution
The correct matches are as follows:
- (a) Politics of Consensus matches with (iv) Agreement on Economic policies. The chapter notes that despite political competition, a broad consensus emerged among most parties on the new economic policies initiated in 1991.
- (b) Caste based parties matches with (ii) Rise of OBCs. The 1990s saw the emergence of powerful parties and movements representing the Dalit and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), which significantly influenced national politics.
- (c) Personal Law and Gender Justice matches with (i) Shah Bano case. The Shah Bano case of 1985 sparked a major debate on the issue of Muslim Personal Law, secularism, and gender justice, becoming a central political issue.
- (d) Growing strength of Regional parties matches with (iii) Coalition government. The decline of single-party dominance after 1989 led to an era of coalition governments, where regional parties played a crucial role in forming ruling alliances at the Centre.
Q3Questions
State the main issues in Indian politics in the period after 1989. What different configurations of political parties these differences lead to?
Solution
The period after 1989 was marked by several transformative issues that reshaped Indian politics. The main issues were:
- Decline of Congress Dominance: The 1989 elections marked the end of the 'Congress system'. While the Congress remained a key player, it lost its central position, leading to an era of multi-party system and coalition politics.
- The Mandal Issue: The decision of the National Front government in 1990 to implement the Mandal Commission's recommendation for 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in central government jobs. This led to widespread protests and intensified caste-based political mobilization.
- New Economic Policies: The initiation of structural economic reforms in 1991. These policies, though criticized by some, radically changed the Indian economy and a broad consensus emerged among most political parties in their favour.
- The Ayodhya Dispute: The Ram Janmabhoomi movement became a central and divisive issue, leading to debates on secularism and communalism. It was a key factor in the political rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
These issues led to different configurations of political parties and governments:
- The National Front (1989): An alliance of Janata Dal and regional parties formed the government with outside support from two ideologically opposed groups, the BJP and the Left Front. Their common aim was to keep the Congress out of power.
- The United Front (1996): This was another non-Congress, non-BJP alliance of Janata Dal and regional parties. It was supported from the outside by the Congress party to prevent the BJP from coming to power.
- The National Democratic Alliance (NDA): Led by the BJP, this coalition came to power in 1998 and 1999. It included several regional parties that did not necessarily share the BJP's core ideology but joined for power-sharing.
- The United Progressive Alliance (UPA): Led by the Congress, this coalition formed the government in 2004 and 2009. It included many regional parties and was initially supported by the Left Front.
Q4Questions
"In the new era of coalition politics, political parties are not aligning or realigning on the basis of ideology." What arguments would you put forward to support or oppose this statement?
Solution
The statement that political parties are not aligning on the basis of ideology in the era of coalition politics is largely supported by the developments in Indian politics since 1989. The following arguments can be made in its favour:
Arguments Supporting the Statement:
- Pragmatic Alliances: The primary goal of alliances has often been to gain power or to keep a particular party out of power, rather than ideological coherence. For instance, the National Front government of 1989 was supported from the outside by both the right-wing BJP and the Left Front, two groups with diametrically opposite ideologies. Their only common ground was their opposition to the Congress.
- Shifting Loyalties: Political configurations have been highly unstable and based on convenience. In 1996, the Congress supported the United Front government, which was composed of many of its traditional rivals, solely to prevent the BJP from forming a government.
- Ideological Compromises: Parties within coalitions often set aside their core ideological agendas to maintain the alliance. The chapter notes that most parties in the NDA coalition led by Atal Behari Vajpayee did not agree with the BJP's 'Hindutva' ideology. The government functioned on a common minimum programme based on power-sharing arrangements.
- Consensus on Key Policies: A broad consensus has emerged among most parties, including traditional rivals, on crucial issues like the new economic policies and reservations for OBCs. This reduces the scope for ideologically-driven political competition.
Arguments Opposing the Statement (Limited):
While pragmatism dominates, it can be argued that ideology has not become completely irrelevant.
- Broad Coalitions: Alliances are often formed around a major national party, creating two broad poles: a centre-right coalition (NDA) led by the BJP and a centre-left coalition (UPA) led by the Congress. Parties often align with the bloc that is closer to their own ideological position.
- Exclusionary Politics: Certain ideological positions have served as a barrier to alliances. For a long time, many secular parties refused to align with the BJP due to its Hindutva ideology.
However, the evidence from the chapter overwhelmingly suggests that since 1989, pragmatic considerations for power-sharing have frequently overshadowed ideological commitments in the formation of political alliances in India.
Q5Questions
Trace the emergence of BJP as a significant force in post-Emergency politics.
Solution
The emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a significant force in post-Emergency politics can be traced through the following key stages:
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Formation and Initial Years: The supporters of the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed the BJP in 1980 after the break-up of the Janata Party. Initially, the party adopted a broader platform of 'Gandhian Socialism' but failed to achieve significant electoral success, winning only two seats in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections.
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Shift to Hindutva Ideology: After its poor performance in 1984, the BJP began to emphasize the ideology of 'Hindutva' or cultural nationalism from 1986 onwards. The party pursued the politics of Hindu consolidation as its major political plank.
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Mobilization on Key Issues: Two major developments in the mid-1980s became central to the BJP's political mobilization and rise:
- The Shah Bano Case (1985): The BJP strongly criticized the Congress government's decision to pass the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, which nullified a Supreme Court judgment favouring Shah Bano. The BJP termed this as 'appeasement' of the minority community, which helped it consolidate support among sections of the Hindu community.
- The Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Movement: This became the cornerstone of the BJP's mobilization strategy. The issue revolved around the demand to build a Ram temple at the site of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The party organized large-scale campaigns, including the Rath Yatra led by L. K. Advani, which significantly increased its popular support.
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Electoral Growth and Power: These mobilization strategies translated into electoral success. The party's seat tally in the Lok Sabha grew from 2 in 1984 to 85 in 1989, and it became the principal opposition party. It emerged as the single largest party in the 1996 elections and finally came to power leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition in 1998 and 1999, establishing itself as a major pole in India's multi-party system.
Q6Questions
In spite of the decline of Congress dominance, the Congress party continues to influence politics in the country. Do you agree? Give reasons.
Solution
Yes, I agree with the statement that despite the decline of its dominance, the Congress party has continued to influence politics in the country. The end of the 'Congress system' in 1989 did not mean the end of the Congress party's relevance. Its influence continued in the following ways:
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Pivotal Role in Coalition Politics: Even when not in power, the Congress often played the role of a kingmaker or the principal opposition. In 1989, though it sat in the opposition, it was still the largest single party in the Lok Sabha. In 1991, it returned to power after the mid-term elections. In 1996, its external support was crucial for the formation and survival of the United Front government.
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Leadership of the UPA: The Congress party successfully reinvented itself as a leader of a coalition. It led the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to victory in the 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections, governing the country for a decade. This demonstrates its ability to adapt to the new era of multi-party politics.
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Central Pole of Politics: For much of the period after 1989, national politics was structured around two poles. The political competition was largely between a coalition led by the BJP and a coalition led by the Congress. This ensured that the Congress remained at the centre of the political landscape.
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Continued Governance: As the chapter notes, even in the period since 1989, the Congress "ruled the country more than any other party". Its governments in 1991-96 and 2004-2014 were responsible for major policy decisions, including the new economic reforms and various social welfare schemes, which have had a lasting impact on the country.
Therefore, while the era of one-party dominance ended, the Congress party adapted to the new political realities and continued to be a central and influential force in Indian politics.
Q7Questions
Many people think that a two-party system is required for successful democracy. Drawing from India's experience of last 30 years, write an essay on what advantages the present party system in India has.
Solution
The idea that a two-party system is essential for a successful democracy is often debated. However, India's experience over the last three decades with a multi-party coalition system demonstrates several distinct advantages, particularly for a country with immense diversity.
Firstly, the present multi-party system ensures greater representation of India's social and regional diversity. The decline of the Congress as a dominant 'umbrella' party created political space for the emergence of numerous parties representing specific regional aspirations, linguistic groups, and social sections like the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Dalits. Parties like the DMK, AIADMK, BJD, Samajwadi Party, and BSP have given a powerful voice to these sections at the national level, which might have been marginalized in a rigid two-party framework.
Secondly, the era of coalitions has fostered a culture of power-sharing and consensus-building. Since no single party could secure a majority on its own for a long period (1989-2014), governments could only be formed through alliances. This necessitates negotiation and compromise among different parties, preventing the concentration of power in a single entity. Regional parties, as crucial coalition partners, have gained significant leverage, ensuring that the central government remains sensitive to the needs and demands of the states. This has strengthened India's federal structure.
Thirdly, the multi-party system has led to the emergence of a broad consensus on key national issues. As parties with different ideologies have had to work together, a common ground has been established on crucial policies. For example, there is now a wide agreement among most parties regarding the new economic policies, the need for reservations for backward classes, and the importance of regional parties in national governance. This provides policy stability even when governments change.
In conclusion, while coalition politics has sometimes been associated with instability, India's experience shows that its multi-party system is a more authentic reflection of its pluralistic society. It has deepened democracy by