Politics in India Since Independence

XII NCERT (new)

1. After Independence, our country had to face several challenges. Consider following statements
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regarding these challenges-

1. All Muslim majority areas wanted to join Pakistan in accordance with popular ‘Two-Nation
Theory’ as given by Muslim league.
2. Muslim majority areas of British India were concentrated in different pockets.
3. Muslim majority provinces were to be separated on the basis of religion and language.
Choose the incorrect statements.
Code:
a) 1 and 2 b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 3 d) All are correct
C. In first statement, not all Muslim majority areas wanted to be in Pakistan e.g. Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan,
undisputed leader of North Western frontier province was opposed to two Nation theory.
In third statement, these areas were bifurcated on the basis of religion only.

2. British India was divided into British Indian provinces and princely states. Consider following
statements in this regard.
1. British Indian provinces were directly governed by British East India Company.
2. Princely states enjoyed full control over their internal affairs but not on issues related to foreign
relations.
Choose the incorrect statements
Code:
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) None
C
1. British Indian provinces were directly under the control of British Parliament.
2. Princely States enjoyed only some control and not full control on issues related to internal affairs also.

3. Indian Government had taken a firm stand to prevent possible division of country into small
principalities after independence. Consider the following statements in this regard-
1. Government showed more rigidity towards giving autonomy to these princely states.
2. Accession of princely states of Junagarh, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Manipur proved more
difficult than the rest.
Choose correct statement/s
Code:
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
B. In 1st statement, government was prepared to be flexible in giving autonomy to some regions.

4. Hyderabad was the largest princely state when India got independence. Its accession proved to be a
difficult task. Consider the following statements and find the correct statement/s:
1. Some parts of old Hyderabad state are todays parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
and Tamil Nadu.

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 2. Nizam of Hyderabad entered into Standstill Agreement with India in September 1947 for six
months while negotiations were going on with Indian Government.
Code:
a) 1 only b) 2 only
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c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2

D
1. Tamil Nadu was not a part of old Hyderabad.
2. This agreement was made in November 1947 for one year.

5. Congress proved its dominance in first three general elections for Lok Sabha. Consider the following
statements in the context of general elections.
1. Socialist Party came at second position in first general election.
2. Congress won majority seats in all States in first State Assembly Elections.
Choose the incorrect statement/s:
Code:
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
C. In first statement- Communist Party of India came at second position with 16 seats in first general election.
In second statement- Congress won majority seats in all states except Travancore-Cochin (Now Kerala),
Madras and Orissa.

6. Government formed after first general election had many prominent freedom fighters who held
important portfolios. Consider the following statements and choose the correct statements.
1. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was Health Minister in this government.
2. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
3. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad held the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Code:
a) 1, 2 and 3 b) 1 and 2
c) 2 and 3 d) 1 and 3
B. Maulana Azad was Education Minister in first cabinet.

7. Communist Party of India (CPI) has a long drawn history of electoral participation in the country.
Consider the following statements and choose correct statements.
1. CPI formed government in Kerala in 1952 and it was for the first time in the world that a
Communist Party came to power through democratic process.
2. Communist government in Kerala was dismissed under Article 356 in the year 1959.
Code:
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
B. 1st first state election in 1952 Travancore-Cochin (part of today’s Kerala), Congress did not get majority but
formed governments. CPI formed government in Kerala in 1957 elections. Dismissal of Communist
government in Kerala was first use of article 356 in India.

8. Socialist party origin can be traced to pre-independence era but later it underwent many splits.
Consider the following statement and choose the correct one/s:

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 1. Socialist party was formed by socialists in 1934, through a split in congress.
2. Socialists believed in ideology of libertarian socialism which believed in peaceful democratic
means
Code:
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a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
D
1. Congress Socialist Party was formed in 1934 within the Congress. Socialist party was formed in 1948.
2. Socialist Party believed in democratic socialism which follows peaceful democratic means. Libertarian
socialism aims to create society without political, economic or social hierarchies, in which every person
would have free, equal access for production. It would be achieved through abolition of authoritarian
institutions and private property.

9. Swatantra Party was formed in 1959. Consider the following statements regarding this party:
1. According to its ideology, prosperity could come through individual freedom
2. It favoured expansion of free public sector
3. It opposed licensing regime
4. It supported centralised planning but opposed nationalisation
Which of the above statements are correct?
a) 1, 2 and 3 b) 2, 3 and 4
c) 1 and 3 d) All of the above
C. Exp: In 2nd statement, it favoured expansion of a free private sector.
Statement, In 4th statement, it was opposed to centralised planning, nationalisation, land ceiling in agriculture,
co-operative farming and state trading.

10. Development has different meanings for different sections of society and different groups have
different ideologies related to development. Consider the following statements in this regard and
choose the correct one/s:
1. Rightist ideology refers to those who are in favour of poor, downtrodden sections and support
government policies for the benefit of these sections
2. Leftist ideology refers to those who believe that government should not unnecessarily intervene
in the economy
Code:
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
D. 1st statement is about left ideology. 2nd statement, right ideology believes in free competition and market
economy and non-interference of government in economy.

11. Match the following regional aspirations with the states.

Nature of regional States
Aspiration
A. Socio-religious identity 1. Tamil Nadu
leading to statehood
B. Linguistic identity and 2. Punjab
tensions with centre

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 C. Regional imbalance 3. Mizoram
leading to demand for
statehood
D. Secessionist demands 4. Chhattisgarh
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on account of tribal
identity
Code:
A B C D
a) 1 2 3 4
b) 2 1 4 3
c) 1 2 4 3
d) 2 1 3 4
B.
A. Punjab, B. Tamil Nadu, C. Chattisgarh, D. Mizoram

12. The ‘Kashmir issue’ is always seen as a bone of contention between India and Pakistan.
Choose the correct statement/s in this regard.
1. Jammu region, which is entirely a plain area consists of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.
2. The Kashmir issue is just an outcome of dispute between India and Pakistan.
3. Jammu & Kashmir is one of the living examples of plural society and politics.
Code:
a) 1, 2 and 3 b) 1 and 2
c) Only 3 d) None
C. J&K comprises of 3 regions: Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Jammu region is a mix of foothills & plain.
The Kashmir issue is not just a dispute between India and Pakistan. It involves the issue of Kashmiri identity
known as Kashmiriyat & the aspirations of the people of J & K for political autonomy.

13. OBCs are the communities other than SC and ST who suffer from educational and social
backwardness. Choose the correct statement/s in this regard.
1. Karpoori Thakur, was a pioneer in raising voice for reservations for backward castes in North
India.
2. Mandal Commission was the first Backward Class Commission since Independence, appointed
by Central Government.
3. The decision to implement Mandal Commission recommendation was challenged in the Supreme
Court in the famous ‘S R Bommai Case’.
Code:
a) 1 and 2 b) 1 and 3
c) 2 and 3 d) 1 only
D. Mandal Commission was second Backward Class Commission since Independence.
It was ‘Indira Sawhney case’.

14. BSP, under Kanshi Ram’s leadership was envisaged as an organization based on pragmatic politics.
It derived confidence from the fact that ‘Bahujans’ constituted the majority of population, and were a
formidable political force on the strength of their numbers. Which of the following constituted
‘Bahujans’?

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 1. Scheduled Casts
2. Scheduled Tribes
3. Other Backward Casts
4. Minorities
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Code:
a) 1 and 2 b) 1, 2 and 3
c) 1, 2 and 4 d) All of the above
D

15. One of the major long term development during eighties was the rise of politics based on religious
identity, leading to a debate about secularism and democracy. Choose the correct statement/s in this
regard.
1. Initially, BJP had embraced ‘Gandhian Socialism’ as its ideology but it failed to succeed.
2. Muslim women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 was passed by the government on
direction of the Supreme Court.
3. Faizabad district Council in February 1986 gave a surprising order to demolish the Babri Masjid.
Code:
a) 1 and 2 b) 1 and 3
c) None of the above d) 1 only
D
2. Act was passed to nullify the Supreme Court’s judgement of Shah Bano case.
3. Faizabad Court only ordered that Babri Masjid Premises be locked so that Hindus could offer prayers at
the site which they cordoned as temple.

16. Consider the following statements about the Chinese invasion of 1962 and choose the correct one/s.
1. The Soviet Union, despite being a communist state, was in support of India during the conflict.
2. The war led to the first No-Confidence motion in the Parliament of India.
3. It also caused a split in the Communist Party of India and the formation of CPI (M).
Code:
a) 1 and 2 b) 2 and 3
c) Only 1 d) Only 3
B- Soviet Union remained neutral during the conflict.

17. Choose the incorrect statements about the 1971 Bangladesh war.
1. The war conditions led India signing a 20 year Treaty of peace and friendship with USA in 1971.
2. India retaliated the Pakistan army with an attack mainly using air force due to the lack of support
from local population.
3. The Shimla agreement between Lal Bahadu Shastri and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto formalized the return
of peace in July 1972.
Code:
a) 1 and 3 b) 1 and 2
c) 2 and 3 d) All the above
D- The war conditions led India signing a 20 year Treaty of peace and friendship with Soviet Union in 1971. It
was signed to counter the US-Pak-China axis. India retaliated with an attack involving the aircraft, navy and

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 the army on both the Western and Eastern front and it was welcomed and supported by the local population.
The Shimla agreement between Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto formalized the return of peace in
July1972.
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18. Consider the following statements about India’s nuclear policy and choose the correct ones.
1. India’s nuclear programme was started in the late 1940s under the guidance of Homi J. Bhabha.
2. Nehru was against the nuclear weapons and pleaded the superpowers for comprehensive nuclear
disarmament.
3. India was in support of the NPT when it was adopted and the plan of its indefinite extension
caused India to change her stand.
Code:
a) 1 and 2 b) Only 1
c) Only 3 d) All of the above
A- India always considered NPT as discriminatory and refused to sign it.

19. Consider the following statements about NAM and choose the incorrect ones.
1. The leaders of Ghana, Egypt, Indonesia, Yugoslavia and India comprised the core leadership of
NAM
2. The first summit of NAM was held in Bandung in 1961
3. India followed genuine non alignment till Janata party came to power in 1977
Code:
a) 1 and 3 b) 1 and 2
c) 2 and 3 d) All of the above
C- Nehru, Nkrumha (Ghana ), Nasser (Egypt), Sukrano ( Indonesia), Tito (Yugo) were the leaders. The first
NAM conference was in Belgrade. India moved away from non alignment in many occasions with its pro-
Soviet tilt. Janata party came to power in 1977 announced that it would follow non alignment to correct pro-
Soviet tilt.

20. Choose the incorrect statements about India’s relationship with Pakistan.
a) The Kashmir conflict of 1947 prevented the cooperation between the governments of India and
Pakistan.
b) A long term dispute about sharing of river waters was resolved through mediation of the World
Bank in 1960.
c) The 1965 Indo-Pak war was focused in both Rann of Kutchh and Jammu and Kashmir areas
d) Indian army crossed the border and reached close to Lahore, in the 1972 war.
D- Indian army reached closed to Lahore in the 1965 war.

21. Choose the incorrectly matched pairs

1. Ram manohar lohia – Janata Party
2. K Kamaraj - Dravida Munetra Kazhakam
3. Moraji Desai - Samyuktha Socialist Sarty
4. C N Annadurai - Indian National congress
Code:
a) 2 and 4 b) 1 and 3
c) 1, 2 and 3 d) All the Above

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 D- Ram Manohar Lohia – Samyuktha Socialist Sarty; K Kamaraj- Indian National congress; Moraji Desai-
Janata Party; C N Annadurai- Dravida Munetra Kazhakam
22. Consider the following statement about the Presidential election of 1969
1. N Sanjiva Reddy the then speaker of Lok Sabha was the official candidate of congress.
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2. The then congress President Nijalingappa issued a whip asking all congress MPs and MLAs to
vote against the official candidate.
3. The election led to the victory of V.V. Giri who was supported by the ‘requisitionist’.
Choose the correct statements:
a) 1 and 2 b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 3 d) All of the above
C- the congress president issued a whip to vote in favour of official candidate. But the congress PM Indira
Gandhi was against the official candidate and supported V. V. Giri. The supporters of Indira Gandhi
requisitioned the special meeting of AICC , but this was refused. That is why this faction is known as
requisitionist.

23. The Indira government abolished privy purses. Consider the following statements in this regard and
choose the correct ones
1. After independence, the then royal families were allowed to retain certain private properties and
were given a grant in heredity or government allowance and this grant was called Privy Purse.
2. Nehru was against this concept of privy purses
3. The privy purses were abolished through an ordinance and later it got passed in the Parliament in
1970.
Code:
a) 1 only b) 1 and 2
c) 1 and 3 d) All of the above
B- Government tried to bring constitutional amendments but it was not passed in Rajya Sabha it then issued an
ordinance which was struck down by Supreme Court of India .later it got passed in 1971 after Indira Gandhi
getting re-elected and this issue gave her a lot of public support for this election.

24. Consider the following statements about the Grand Alliance formed in 1971 at the time of fifth Lok
Sabha election and choose the correct one/s:
1. Grand alliance was formed by the major communist and non-congress opposition parties.
2. CPI, PSP, Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Swatantra Party and Bharatiya Kranti Dal came together under
this umbrella.
Code:
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
D- All non-communist and non-congress parties. CPI was with congress.

25. Which among the following statements is/are correct?

1. Bharatiya Jan Sangh was formed by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951.
2. The party emphasised idea of orthodoxy and strong Indian Traditions.
3. The party was in forefront of the agitation to replace English with Hindi as the official language
of India.
4. The party called for the reunion of India and Pakistan in ‘Akhand Bharat’.

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 Code:
a) 1, 2 and 4
b) 1, 3 and 4
c) 1 and 4
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d) All of the above

B. Party emphasised idea of Modern, Progressive Indian Tradition.

26. Consider the following statements:

1. Nehru was the co-founder of Non Alignment Movement (NAM)
2. Bandung Conference led to the establishment of NAM
3. India advocated the policy of NAM because it wanted to keep away from the military alliances.
4. The 1st NAM Conference was held in Belgrade in 1959
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1, 2 and 3 only b) 1 and 2 only
c) 1 and 3 d) None of above
A. Local government is government at district and village level.
It is a constitutional body that came into existence in 1993 by CAA 73rd and 74th.
It is a partly elected and partly nominated body.

27. Which of the following statements given below is/are correct?

1. Kerala model focus on education, health and land reform only.
2. Economist J.C. Kumarappa proposed an alternative blueprint that put greater emphasis on rural
industrialization.
Code:
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
B. Kerala model focus on education, health, land reform, effective food distribution and poverty alleviation.

28. India was born in very difficult circumstances. Consider the following statements regarding the
challenges India faced and find out the correct statements.
1. The first and the immediate challenge was to shape a nation that was not united.
2. Another challenge was to develop democratic practices in accordance with the constitution.
3. Country also faced challenges in ensuring the development of entire society.
Code:
a) 2 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
D.

29. Consider the following statements about Chipko movement?

1. Women’s active participation in the Chipko agitation was a very novel aspect of the movement
2. The Chipko movement was confined to ecological issues only

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 3. The movement began in Uttarakhand when the forest department refused permission to the
villagers to fell ash trees for making agricultural tools
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 b) 2 and 3
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c) 1 and 3 d) 1, 2 and 3
C. Womens protest against alcoholism broadened the agenda of the movement to cover other social issues.

30. An ambitions developmental project was launched in the Narmada valley of Central India in the
‘eighties’. Consider the following statements:
1. Narmada and its tributaries flow across the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra
2. Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat and Narmada Sagar Project in Maharashtra were two of the
most important multipurpose dams planned under the project
Which of the above statements are correct?
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) None
A. Madhya Pradesh (not Maharashtra)

31. Consider the following statements regarding the Shah Commission and choose the incorrect one/s:
1. Congress government had appointed this Commission to inquire into incidence that happened at
the time of emergency proclaimed on 25th June, 1975.
2. The Commission Examined various kinds of evidence and called scores of witnesses to give
testimonies, including Indira Gandhi.
3. The Government of India did not accept its findings
Code:
a) 1 and 2 b) 1 and 3
c) Only 1 d) All of the above
B. It was Janata Party government who appointed this Commission. The government had accepted its findings.

32. In the 1970s and 1980s, many sections of the society became disillusioned with the failure of the
Janata experiment which ultimately led to a political instability. Consider the following statements
and choose the correct ones in this regard.
1. The disillusionment was more about economic policies of the state.
2. The model of planned development that was adopted after independence was based only on the
goal of rapid growth, and resulted in disparities.
3. Inspite of the impressive growth in many sectors of the economy, existing social inequalities like
caste and gender sharpened and complicated the issues of poverty.
Code:
a) Only 1 b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 3 d) None of the above
C. The twin objectives of growth and distribution were there, but growth was too slow for redistribution.

33. In the early 1920’s communist groups emerged in different parts of India taking inspiration from the
Bolshevik revolution in Russia and advocating socialism. Consider the following statements and
choose the correct one/s:

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 1. Communists of India opposed the move to intensify freedom movement during second world
war.
2. In the first general election, CPI won 16 seats and emerged as the largest opposition party.
3. The party’s support was more concentrated in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Kerala.
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Code:
a) 1, 2 and 3 b) 1 and 2
c) Only 3 d) 2 and 3
D. They supported British as they were having an Anti-Nazi war.

34. Many Provincial Congress Committees were created on the basis of linguistic zones, which did not
follow the administrative divisions of British India. Which among the following statements are not
correct in this regard?
1. State Re-organisation Commission was appointed in 1953 to look into the question of redrawing
of the boundaries of the States.
2. State Re-organisation Commission wanted India to be divided into states based on geographic
contiguity.
3. Statehood for Punjab was given in 1970 when the territories of today’s Haryana and Himachal
Pradesh were separated from larger Punjab State.
Code:
a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only d) None of the above
B, Dar Commission proposed geographic states. Later State Re-organisation Commission wanted india to be
divided into states primarily based on linguistics, though culture language and all the factors were to be
considered as per the recomendation. Statehood for Punjab was given in 1966.

35. Consider the following statements about the coalition governments formed in the 1967 and choose
the correct ones regarding this.
1. Congress lost the majority in nine states which led to the formation of coalition governments.
2. In Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Congress lost the majority due to defection.
3. DMK was the only party which came to power with a clear majority.
Code:
a) 1 and 2 b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 3 d) All the above
D- All are correct.

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