Explore Exams
Login Signup
Sign in Open App
All Exams  >   Humanities/Arts  >   Political Science Class 12  >   All Questions

All questions of Era of One Party Dominance for Humanities/Arts Exam

Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follows: The dramatic nature of the political change would be more apparent to you at the State level. The Congress lost majority in as many as seven States. In two other States, defections prevented it from forming a government. These nine States where the Congress lost power were spread across the country – Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Madras and Kerala. In Madras State (now called Tamil Nadu), a regional party — the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) – came to power by securing a clear majority. The DMK won power after having led a massive anti-Hindi agitation by students against the centre on the issue of imposition of Hindi as the official language. 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. A popular saying was that one could take a train from Delhi to Howrah and not pass through a single Congress ruled State. It was a strange feeling for those who were used to seeing the Congress in power.
Q. What is the current name of Madras?
  • a)
    Telangana
  • b)
    Chennai
  • c)
    Tamil Nadu
  • d)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Arun Yadav answered
Chennai was previously called Madras. Madras was the shortened name of the fishing village Madraspatnam, where the British East India Company built a fort and factory (trading post) in 1639–40. Tamil Nadu officially changed the name of the city to Chennai in 1996.
Clear all your doubts with EduRev

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follows:
Earlier, Lal Bahadur Shastri had resigned from the position of Railway Minister accepting moral responsibility for a major railway accident. Shastri was the country’s Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966. During Shastri’s brief Prime Ministership, the country faced two major challenges. While India was still recovering from the economic implications of the war with China; failed monsoons, drought and serious food crisis presented a grave challenge. As discussed in the previous chapter, the country also faced a war with Pakistan in 1965. Shastri’s famous slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, symbolised the country’s resolve to face both these challenges. Shastri’s Prime Ministership came to an abrupt end on 10 January, 1966, when he suddenly expired in Tashkent, then in USSR and currently the capital of Uzbekistan. He was there to discuss and sign an agreement with Muhammad Ayub Khan, the then President of Pakistan, to end the war.
Q. Why Shastri resigned from the position of Railway Minister?
  • a)
    Accepting moral responsibility for railway accident.
  • b)
    He was forced to resign.
  • c)
    His party lost elections.
  • d)
    None of the above.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Deepika Reddy answered
Reason for Shastri's Resignation:
There was only one reason for Lal Bahadur Shastri resigning from the position of Railway Minister - accepting moral responsibility for a major railway accident. This act displayed his integrity and accountability as a leader.

Explanation:
- Moral Responsibility: Shastri felt morally responsible for the railway accident that occurred under his watch as the Railway Minister. Even though he may not have been directly involved in causing the accident, he believed that as the head of the department, he should take responsibility for any mishap.
- Ethical Leadership: Shastri's decision to resign showcased his ethical leadership style. By stepping down from his position, he set a precedent for accountability and integrity in public service. This action earned him respect and admiration from the public.
- Setting an Example: Resigning from a ministerial position due to a moral obligation was not a common practice in politics during that time. Shastri's act of resignation set an example for other leaders to prioritize principles over personal gain or power.
- Public Perception: Shastri's resignation was viewed positively by the public, as it demonstrated his commitment to upholding ethical standards in governance. It also showed that he valued the lives and safety of the citizens above his own position.
- Legacy: Shastri's resignation for moral reasons left a lasting impact on the political landscape of India. It highlighted the importance of accountability and integrity in public office, which are essential qualities for effective leadership.

Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
Assertion: The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was formed in 1986 with Shyama Prasad Mukherjee as its Founder-President.
Reason: It emphasized the idea of one country, one culture and one nation and believed that the country could become modern, progressive and strong on the basis of Indian culture and traditions.
  • a)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • b)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • c)
    (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  • d)
    (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Athul Choudhary answered
Assertion: The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was formed in 1986 with Shyama Prasad Mukherjee as its Founder-President.
Reason: It emphasized the idea of one country, one culture and one nation and believed that the country could become modern, progressive and strong on the basis of Indian culture and traditions.

The correct answer is option 'D', which states that Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Explanation:
- The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was not formed in 1986, but in 1951. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was indeed its Founder-President. Thus, Assertion (A) is false.
- The Reason states that the Bharatiya Jana Sangh emphasized the idea of one country, one culture, and one nation, and believed that the country could become modern, progressive, and strong based on Indian culture and traditions.
- This Reason is true. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a right-wing political party in India, aimed to promote the concept of cultural nationalism, wherein they believed that India's strength lies in its ancient culture and traditions. They advocated for the integration of all Indian citizens, irrespective of their religious or regional differences, into a unified national identity.
- The party believed that by embracing and promoting Indian culture and traditions, India could become a modern and progressive nation. They opposed Westernization and advocated for the preservation and promotion of Indian values and heritage.
- The Bharatiya Jana Sangh later evolved into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980, which is currently one of the major political parties in India.

In conclusion, while the Reason provided is true, the Assertion is false. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was formed in 1951, not in 1986.

Assertion (A): The Indian National Congress maintained dominance in the first three general elections.
Reason (R): The Congress party won these elections due to its strong organizational structure and Jawaharlal Nehru's charismatic leadership.
  • a)
    Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  • b)
    Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  • c)
    A is true, but R is false.
  • d)
    A is false, but R is true.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Devanshi Choudhary answered
Assertion (A): Congress's Dominance
The assertion states that the Indian National Congress (INC) maintained dominance in the first three general elections held in India after independence (1951-52, 1957, and 1962). This is indeed true as the INC won a significant majority in these elections, showcasing its strong foothold in Indian politics during that period.
Reason (R): Factors Behind Success
The reason provided highlights two critical factors for the INC's electoral success:
- Strong Organizational Structure: The INC had a well-established organizational framework that allowed it to mobilize support effectively across diverse regions and communities in India.
- Jawaharlal Nehru's Charismatic Leadership: As the first Prime Minister of India, Nehru's vision and charisma played a pivotal role in garnering public support for the party. His leadership inspired confidence among the electorate, contributing to the party's popularity.
Conclusion: Relationship Between A and R
Given that both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why the INC maintained its dominance, the correct answer is option 'A': Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
This deep-rooted connection between the party's organizational strength and Nehru's leadership is essential for understanding the political landscape of early independent India. The Congress's ability to navigate the challenges of a newly independent nation was crucial in establishing its dominance in these elections.

Read the paragraph given below and answer the questions that follows:
India’s grand old party, the Congress, faced its first major split as the old guard led by party President, S. Nijalingappa expelled Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from the party for “fostering a cult of personality”. The “Syndicate”, as the senior members were called, could not quite come to terms with the fact that the “Gungi Gudiya” (dumb doll)-their snide reference for Indira-had a mind of her own. The break was complete when Indira after proposing N. Sanjeeva Reddy’s name for presidentship asked Congressmen to “vote according to their conscience”. V. V. Giri, the rebel Congress candidate won. When the communal temperature was at its peak in India, the country had a Muslim President and a Muslim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. After serving as vicepresident to the great Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan for five years, Zakir Hussain, an academic and former vice-chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, became the philosopher scholar’s successor at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1967. Hussain, however, had one of the briefest terms as the country’s president as he died less than two years later. He was also the first Indian president to die in office.
Q. Whose name was proposed for president by Indira Gandhi?
  • a)
    V. V. Giri
  • b)
    N Sanjeeva Reddy
  • c)
    Zakir Hussain
  • d)
    Indira Gandhi herself
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was elected on 21 July 1977 and was sworn in as the sixth President of India on 25 July 1977. Reddy worked with three governments, with Prime Ministers Morarji Desai, Charan Singh and Indira Gandhi.

Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
Assertion: This coalition-like character of the Congress gave it an unusual strength.
Reason: Congress acted as an extremist as far as coalition politics is concerned and handled all the issues arbitrarily.
  • a)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • b)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • c)
    (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  • d)
    (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
Instead of being rigid in politics, Congress understood that compromise and inclusiveness are the hallmarks of a coalition. This strategy put the opposition in a difficulty.

Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
Assertion: Congress accommodated the revolutionary and pacifist, conservative and radical, extremist and moderate and the right, left and all shades of the centre.
Reason: All these members had differences in deciding the party policies and launching freedom struggle.
  • a)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • b)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • c)
    (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  • d)
    (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
Though Congress had members from various ideologies and backgrounds. It managed to create a balance between them and as a result, all the freedom struggles launched by congress were responded by the people belonging to every strata of the society.

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follows:
Earlier, Lal Bahadur Shastri had resigned from the position of Railway Minister accepting moral responsibility for a major railway accident. Shastri was the country’s Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966. During Shastri’s brief Prime Ministership, the country faced two major challenges. While India was still recovering from the economic implications of the war with China; failed monsoons, drought and serious food crisis presented a grave challenge. As discussed in the previous chapter, the country also faced a war with Pakistan in 1965. Shastri’s famous slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, symbolised the country’s resolve to face both these challenges. Shastri’s Prime Ministership came to an abrupt end on 10 January, 1966, when he suddenly expired in Tashkent, then in USSR and currently the capital of Uzbekistan. He was there to discuss and sign an agreement with Muhammad Ayub Khan, the then President of Pakistan, to end the war.
Q. What was the tenure of Shastri as a PM of India?
  • a)
    1966 to 1970
  • b)
    1967 to 1970
  • c)
    1964 to 1966
  • d)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
Lal Bahadur Shastri, (born October 2, 1904, Mughalsarai, India—died January 11, 1966, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, U.S.S.R.), Indian statesman, prime minister of India (1964–66) after Jawaharlal Nehru.

Read the paragraph given below and answer the questions that follows:
India’s grand old party, the Congress, faced its first major split as the old guard led by party President, S. Nijalingappa expelled Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from the party for “fostering a cult of personality”. The “Syndicate”, as the senior members were called, could not quite come to terms with the fact that the “Gungi Gudiya” (dumb doll)-their snide reference for Indira-had a mind of her own. The break was complete when Indira after proposing N. Sanjeeva Reddy’s name for presidency asked Congressmen to “vote according to their conscience”. V. V. Giri, the rebel Congress candidate won. When the communal temperature was at its peak in India, the country had a Muslim President and a Muslim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. After serving as vicepresident to the great Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan for five years, Zakir Hussain, an academic and former vice-chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, became the philosopher scholar’s successor at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1967. Hussain, however, had one of the briefest terms as the country’s president as he died less than two years later. He was also the first Indian president to die in office.
Q. Who was the vice-president to Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan?
  • a)
    V. V. Giri
  • b)
    N Sanjeeva Reddy
  • c)
    Zakir Hussain
  • d)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
Zakir Husain was born in Hyderabad, Telangana on 8 February 1897.[2] He became the Governor of Bihar in 1957 to 1962. Later he became the 2nd Vice President of India after Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He served in the post from 13 May 1962 to 12 May 1967.In 13 May 1967 he was elected as the 3rd President of India after Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.He was the Muslim President of India.[3] But his term was short-lived. He died in New Delhi on 3 May 1969 and became the 1st President to die in office.

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follows:
Earlier, Lal Bahadur Shastri had resigned from the position of Railway Minister accepting moral responsibility for a major railway accident. Shastri was the country’s Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966. During Shastri’s brief Prime Ministership, the country faced two major challenges. While India was still recovering from the economic implications of the war with China; failed monsoons, drought and serious food crisis presented a grave challenge. As discussed in the previous chapter, the country also faced a war with Pakistan in 1965. Shastri’s famous slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, symbolised the country’s resolve to face both these challenges. Shastri’s Prime Ministership came to an abrupt end on 10 January, 1966, when he suddenly expired in Tashkent, then in USSR and currently the capital of Uzbekistan. He was there to discuss and sign an agreement with Muhammad Ayub Khan, the then President of Pakistan, to end the war.
Q. What two major crises India faced during Shastri’s tenure?
  • a)
    Political and social crises.
  • b)
    Economic and serious food crises.
  • c)
    War and communalism.
  • d)
    War and political crises.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Harshitha Basu answered

Explanation:

Economic Crisis:
- During Lal Bahadur Shastri's tenure as Prime Minister, India faced the economic implications of the war with China, which had a significant impact on the country's economy.
- The failed monsoons, drought, and serious food crisis further exacerbated the economic challenges, leading to widespread hardship among the population.

Serious Food Crisis:
- The serious food crisis was a major challenge during Shastri's time as Prime Minister, with the country grappling with food shortages and scarcity.
- The lack of adequate food supplies posed a threat to the well-being of the population, necessitating urgent measures to address the crisis.

Significance of 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' Slogan:
- Shastri's famous slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' symbolised the country's resolve to face both the economic challenges and the war with Pakistan.
- The slogan highlighted the importance of both the soldiers (jawans) and farmers (kisans) in safeguarding the nation's security and ensuring its food security.

Conclusion:
- In conclusion, the two major crises that India faced during Lal Bahadur Shastri's tenure as Prime Minister were the economic crisis resulting from the war with China and the serious food crisis caused by failed monsoons and drought. Shastri's leadership during these challenging times, as reflected in his famous slogan, played a crucial role in guiding the country through these difficult circumstances.

Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follows: The dramatic nature of the political change would be more apparent to you at the State level. The Congress lost majority in as many as seven States. In two other States, defections prevented it from forming a government. These nine States where the Congress lost power were spread across the country – Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Madras and Kerala. In Madras State (now called Tamil Nadu), a regional party — the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) – came to power by securing a clear majority. The DMK won power after having led a massive anti-Hindi agitation by students against the centre on the issue of imposition of Hindi as the official language. 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. A popular saying was that one could take a train from Delhi to Howrah and not pass through a single Congress ruled State. It was a strange feeling for those who were used to seeing the Congress in power.
Q. On what agenda DMK came into power in Tamil Nadu?
  • a)
    Eradication of poverty.
  • b)
    Agenda against one party dominance.
  • c)
    Promise to increase educational institutions.
  • d)
    Against the imposition of Hindi as a national language.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Palaniswamy had stated that Tamil Nadu was against the imposition of Hindi as a compulsory third language in schools. He also opposed the promotion of Sanskrit.

Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
Assertion: The Indian National Congress was expected to lose this election.
Reason: The Congress party, as it was popularly known, had inherited the legacy of the national movement.
  • a)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • b)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • c)
    (A) is false, but (R) is true.
  • d)
    (A) is true, but (R) is false.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
This period was the inception of “One Party dominance” in the politics of India. There was no other party which could give congress a tough competition. Hence, Congress won the elections as expected.

Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
Assertion: The roots of the extraordinary success of the Congress party go back to the legacy of the freedom struggle.
Reason: This was similar to the dominance the African National Congress has enjoyed in South Africa after the end of apartheid.
  • a)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • b)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • c)
    (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  • d)
    (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
Indeed the dominance of Congress can be compared with that of the African National Congress. But Congress in India had the legacy of their struggle for freedom of India. Congress was seen as inheritor of the national movement.

  • Statement I: The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was established in 1951.
  • Statement II: The Jana Sangh was originally linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
  • Statement III: The Jana Sangh advocated for making English the official language of India.
  • Statement IV: The Jana Sangh had limited success in the 1952 and 1957 general elections.
  • a)
    Statements I, II, III, and IV are correct.
  • b)
    Statements II, III, and IV are correct.
  • c)
    Statements I, III, and IV are correct.
  • d)
    Statements I, II, and IV are correct.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Learning Educators answered
The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was indeed established in 1951, had ties with the RSS, and had limited success in the early general elections. However, the Jana Sangh advocated for replacing English with Hindi as the official language, not for making English the official language.

Assertion (A): The first general election in India in 1952 was a significant milestone in the country's democratic journey.
Reason (R): The success of the first general election in India demonstrated the viability of democracy in a diverse and largely illiterate population.
  • a)
    Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  • b)
    Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  • c)
    A is true, but R is false.
  • d)
    A is false, but R is true.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Pragati Bajaj answered
Significance of the First General Election in India
The first general election in India, held in 1952, marked a turning point in the country’s democratic evolution. This event was monumental for several reasons:
Establishment of Democracy
- India, freshly independent from colonial rule, adopted a democratic framework.
- The election represented the first time citizens could exercise their right to vote in a free and fair manner.
Demonstration of Viability
- The successful conduct of the elections showcased the ability to manage a democratic process in a nation characterized by vast diversity in terms of culture, language, and religion.
- Despite a significant portion of the population being illiterate, the elections were organized effectively, indicating that democracy could thrive even in challenging conditions.
Mass Participation
- Over 173 million people participated in the elections, reflecting a strong engagement from the populace.
- The sheer scale of the exercise highlighted the commitment of the Indian people to democratic values.
Conclusion
Given these points, both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are indeed true. The first general election was a milestone that demonstrated democracy's viability in India. The success of the electoral process illustrated that a diverse and largely illiterate population could participate in governance, affirming the assertion. Thus, the correct answer is option 'A': both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
Assertion: It was not just the size of the country and the electorate that made this election unusual. The first general election was also the first big test of democracy in a poor and illiterate country.
Reason: At that time there were 17 crores eligible voters, who had to elect about 3,200 MLAs and 489 Members of Lok Sabha. Yet, the elections were conducted successfully.
  • a)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • b)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • c)
    (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  • d)
    (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
Despite the size of the voters, the election commission was able to organize a nationwide election. It firmly believed in democracy and staked all the resources and labour to conduct the elections in a fair manner.

Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
Assertion: Our leaders were conscious of the critical role of politics in any democracy.
Reason: They did not see politics as a problem; they saw it as a way of solving the problems.
  • a)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • b)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • c)
    (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  • d)
    (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
Every society needs to decide how it will govern and regulate itself. There are always different policy alternatives to choose from. There are different groups with different and conflicting aspirations. How do we resolve these differences? Democratic politics is an answer to this question. Our leaders meticulously chose what was right for the nation.

The First General Elections in India were held in the year
  • a)
    1951.
  • b)
    1952.
  • c)
    1953.
  • d)
    1954.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Prerna Nair answered
The first general elections, conducted for 489 seats in 401 constituencies, represented 26 Indian states. At that time, there were 314 one-seat, 86 two-seat and even one three-seat constituency.

Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
Assertion: The factions took different ideological positions making the Congress appear as a grand centrist party.
Reason: The Bhartiya Jana Sangh called for a reunion of India and Pakistan in Akhand Bharat. The party was in forefront of the agitation to replace English with Hindi as the official language of India and was also opposed to the granting of concessions to religious and cultural minorities.
  • a)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • b)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • c)
    (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  • d)
    (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Hrishikesh Jain answered
Assertion: The factions took different ideological positions making the Congress appear as a grand centrist party.
Reason: The Bhartiya Jana Sangh called for a reunion of India and Pakistan in Akhand Bharat. The party was in forefront of the agitation to replace English with Hindi as the official language of India and was also opposed to the granting of concessions to religious and cultural minorities.

Explanation:

The assertion states that the factions within the Congress party took different ideological positions, which made the party appear as a grand centrist party. The reason provided is that the Bhartiya Jana Sangh, which was a faction within the Congress, called for a reunion of India and Pakistan in Akhand Bharat. Additionally, the party was at the forefront of the agitation to replace English with Hindi as the official language of India and was opposed to granting concessions to religious and cultural minorities.

1. Different ideological positions within Congress:
- The Congress party, being a large and diverse political organization, had various factions that held different ideological positions.
- These factions represented different interests, perspectives, and ideologies within the party.
- This diversity of positions within the Congress often made the party appear as a grand centrist party, as it tried to balance the different viewpoints.

2. Bhartiya Jana Sangh's positions:
- The Bhartiya Jana Sangh was one of the factions within the Congress party.
- They advocated for a reunion of India and Pakistan in Akhand Bharat, which means a united and undivided India.
- This position was based on their ideological perspective of a greater Hindu nation, encompassing all territories that were historically part of India.
- The party was also actively involved in the agitation to replace English with Hindi as the official language of India.
- They believed that Hindi, being a widely spoken language in India, should be given preference over English.
- Additionally, the Bhartiya Jana Sangh was opposed to granting concessions to religious and cultural minorities, as they prioritized the interests of the Hindu majority.

3. The impact on Congress:
- The ideological positions taken by factions like the Bhartiya Jana Sangh influenced the overall stance of the Congress party.
- While the Congress party aimed to maintain a centrist position, the presence of factions with more extreme views sometimes made it appear as a grand centrist party.
- The differing positions within the party contributed to the complexity and diversity of the Congress, making it a broad-based political organization.

Therefore, both the assertion and the reason are true. The reason provides a valid explanation for why the factions within the Congress party contributed to its image as a grand centrist party.

Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
Assertion: What distinguished the dominance of the Congress party in India from all the other cases was it happened under democratic conditions.
Reason: Many parties contested elections in conditions of free and fair elections and yet the Congress managed to win election after election.
  • a)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • b)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • c)
    (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  • d)
    (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
In the other cases the dominance of one party was ensured by compromising democracy. But Congress never restricted any party to compete in the elections. Elections were conducted peacefully and in a fair manner.

Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follows: The dramatic nature of the political change would be more apparent to you at the State level. The Congress lost majority in as many as seven States. In two other States, defections prevented it from forming a government. These nine States where the Congress lost power were spread across the country – Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Madras and Kerala. In Madras State (now called Tamil Nadu), a regional party — the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) – came to power by securing a clear majority. The DMK won power after having led a massive anti-Hindi agitation by students against the centre on the issue of imposition of Hindi as the official language. 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. A popular saying was that one could take a train from Delhi to Howrah and not pass through a single Congress ruled State. It was a strange feeling for those who were used to seeing the Congress in power.
Q. In how many states a coalition government of non congress parties were formed?
  • a)
    Eight
  • b)
    Seven
  • c)
    Six
  • d)
    Ten
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev Humanities answered
As mentioned in the excerpt, in eight States, coalition governments of different non-Congress parties were formed. Only in Madras (now Tamil Nadu) did a single regional party (DMK) secure a majority on its own.

Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
Assertion: The Communists failed to generate popular support for their position and were crushed by the armed forces.
Reason: This forced them to rethink their position. In 1951 the Communist Party abandoned the path of violent revolution and decided to participate in the approaching general elections.
  • a)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • b)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • c)
    (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  • d)
    (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Charvi Sharma answered
Assertion: The Communists failed to generate popular support for their position and were crushed by the armed forces.
Reason: This forced them to rethink their position. In 1951 the Communist Party abandoned the path of violent revolution and decided to participate in the approaching general elections.

Explanation:
Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

1. The failure to generate popular support:
- The Communists, during their initial years, were unable to generate significant popular support for their position in India.
- They faced challenges in mobilizing the masses and gaining widespread acceptance for their ideology.
- The Communist Party's efforts to organize strikes and protests were met with limited success, indicating a lack of mass support.

2. Being crushed by the armed forces:
- The Communist Party's attempts to challenge the existing power structures and establish a revolutionary state were met with strong resistance from the armed forces and the government.
- The state authorities, supported by the military, suppressed Communist activities through force, leading to the crushing of their movement.
- The armed forces' actions further weakened the Communist Party's position and limited its ability to gain popular support.

3. Rethinking their position:
- The failure to generate popular support and the subsequent violent suppression by the armed forces compelled the Communist Party to reassess its approach.
- Realizing the limitations of their revolutionary strategy, the Communist Party decided to abandon the path of violent revolution.
- In 1951, they made a strategic shift and chose to participate in the approaching general elections as a means to gain political influence and achieve their goals through democratic means.

Conclusion:
The assertion that the Communists failed to generate popular support and were crushed by the armed forces is supported by the reason that this forced them to rethink their position and participate in elections. The reason provides a logical explanation for the assertion, establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between the two statements. Therefore, option A is the correct choice.

Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
Assertion: The elections had to be postponed twice and finally held from October 1951 to February 1952.
Reason: But this election is referred to as the 1951 election since most parts of the country voted in January 1951.
  • a)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • b)
    Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • c)
    (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  • d)
    (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
The elections had to be postponed. Since the majority of the population was able to vote in January 1952, it is referred as 1952 elections.

The Indian leader who is the first recipient of the Bharat Ratna Award is
  • a)
    Balraj Madhok.
  • b)
    Rajagopalachari.
  • c)
    B.R. Ambedkar.
  • d)
    K.M. Munshi.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Preethi Sen answered
C. Rajagopalachari was a senior leader of Congress and literary writer; and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He was a member of Constituent Assembly and the first Indian to be the Governor General of India.   He was the founder of the Swatantra Party (1959).

Arrange the following events in chronological order:
  1. Formation of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh
  2. First General Election in India
  3. Adoption of India's Constitution
  4. Communist Party's victory in Kerala
 
  • a)
    3, 2, 1, 4
  • b)
    3, 1, 2, 4
  • c)
    2, 3, 1, 4
  • d)
    3, 2, 4, 1
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Crafty Classes answered
The chronological order of the events is as follows: The adoption of India's Constitution (1949/1950), the formation of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (1951), the first General Election in India (1952), and the Communist Party's victory in Kerala (1957).

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follows:
Earlier, Lal Bahadur Shastri had resigned from the position of Railway Minister accepting moral responsibility for a major railway accident. Shastri was the country’s Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966. During Shastri’s brief Prime Ministership, the country faced two major challenges. While India was still recovering from the economic implications of the war with China; failed monsoons, drought and serious food crisis presented a grave challenge. As discussed in the previous chapter, the country also faced a war with Pakistan in 1965. Shastri’s famous slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, symbolised the country’s resolve to face both these challenges. Shastri’s Prime Ministership came to an abrupt end on 10 January, 1966, when he suddenly expired in Tashkent, then in USSR and currently the capital of Uzbekistan. He was there to discuss and sign an agreement with Muhammad Ayub Khan, the then President of Pakistan, to end the war.
Q. What was the famous slogan given by Shastri?
  • a)
    “Aya Ram, Gaya Ram”
  • b)
    “Swachha Bharat, Swastha Bharat”
  • c)
    “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”
  • d)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan was a slogan given by the second Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965 at a public gathering at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi.

Read the paragraph given below and answer the questions that follows:
India’s grand old party, the Congress, faced its first major split as the old guard led by party President, S. Nijalingappa expelled Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from the party for “fostering a cult of personality”. The “Syndicate”, as the senior members were called, could not quite come to terms with the fact that the “Gungi Gudiya” (dumb doll)-their snide reference for Indira-had a mind of her own. The break was complete when Indira after proposing N. Sanjeeva Reddy’s name for presidentship asked Congressmen to “vote according to their conscience”. V. V. Giri, the rebel Congress candidate won. When the communal temperature was at its peak in India, the country had a Muslim President and a Muslim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. After serving as vicepresident to the great Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan for five years, Zakir Hussain, an academic and former vice-chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, became the philosopher scholar’s successor at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1967. Hussain, however, had one of the briefest terms as the country’s president as he died less than two years later. He was also the first Indian president to die in office.
Q. Who was called “Gungi Gudiya”?
  • a)
    Indira Gandhi
  • b)
    Lal Bahadur Shastri
  • c)
    S. Nijalingappa
  • d)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
Indira Gandhi was called 'gungi gudiya' for the first time by former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Dwarka Prasad Mishra (former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra's father) after she was elected Congress's parliamentary leader in 1966.

Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follows:
Q. Which party did Indira Gandhi lead in 1971 elections?
  • a)
    Congress (R)
  • b)
    Congress (O)
  • c)
    Congress United
  • d)
    UPA
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Starware answered
Indira Gandhi led Congress ( R ), also called Congress (Requisitionists). It was described as the New Congress as Indira Gandhi claimed that her group was the real Congress.

  • Statement I: The Socialist Party emerged from a faction within the Indian National Congress.
  • Statement II: The Socialist Party successfully contested and won the majority in several state elections during the 1950s.
  • Statement III: The Congress Socialist Party (CSP) was formed in 1934.
  • Statement IV: The Socialist Party later gave rise to several other socialist factions.
 
  • a)
    Statements I, III, and IV are correct.
  • b)
    Statements II, III, and IV are correct.
  • c)
    Statements I, II, and IV are correct.
  • d)
    Statements I, II, III, and IV are correct.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Pj Commerce Academy answered
The Socialist Party did emerge from a faction within the Indian National Congress, with the CSP forming in 1934. The party later splintered into various factions. However, it did not achieve significant electoral success in the 1950s, so Statement II is incorrect.

Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follows:
Q. What was the outcome of these elections labelled as?
  • a)
    The Great Finish
  • b)
    An Extraordinary Finish
  • c)
    Indira, the Iron Lady
  • d)
    The Grand Finish
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Starware answered
The outcome is labelled as ''The Grand Finish” because the Indira Gandhi's Congress (R) won 352 seats whereas the leading opposition figures of the Congress (O) won merely 16 seats. This race was over before the start and "The Grand Alliance" of the opposition proved a grand failure.

Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follows:
Q. What does the cartoon represent?
  • a)
    General elections 1989
  • b)
    Midterm elections 1971
  • c)
    The Presidential elections of 1969
  • d)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
The Election Commission of India held indirect 5th presidential elections of India on 16 August 1969. Varahagiri Venkata Giri with 420,077 votes won in a runoff election over his rival Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy who got 405,427 votes.

Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follows: The dramatic nature of the political change would be more apparent to you at the State level. The Congress lost majority in as many as seven States. In two other States, defections prevented it from forming a government. These nine States where the Congress lost power were spread across the country – Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Madras and Kerala. In Madras State (now called Tamil Nadu), a regional party — the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) – came to power by securing a clear majority. The DMK won power after having led a massive anti-Hindi agitation by students against the centre on the issue of imposition of Hindi as the official language. 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. A popular saying was that one could take a train from Delhi to Howrah and not pass through a single Congress ruled State. It was a strange feeling for those who were used to seeing the Congress in power.
Q. In how many states Congress lost the majority?
  • a)
    Five states
  • b)
    Seven states
  • c)
    Nine states
  • d)
    Eleven states
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
In 1967 Assembly polls, the Congress did not get a majority in the states of Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal. Orissa, Goa, Kerala and Madras. In Rajasthan it did not get a majority but formed a government with help from others.

Match the following leaders with their political parties or movements:
  • a)
    1-b, 2-c, 3-d, 4-a
  • b)
    1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d
  • c)
    1-c, 2-b, 3-a, 4-d
  • d)
    1-a, 2-d, 3-c, 4-b
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev Humanities answered
Jawaharlal Nehru was associated with the Indian National Congress, E.M.S. Namboodiripad with the Communist Party of India, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee with the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, and Rammanohar Lohia with the Socialist Party.

Read the paragraph given below and answer the questions that follows:
India’s grand old party, the Congress, faced its first major split as the old guard led by party President, S. Nijalingappa expelled Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from the party for “fostering a cult of personality”. The “Syndicate”, as the senior members were called, could not quite come to terms with the fact that the “Gungi Gudiya” (dumb doll)-their snide reference for Indira-had a mind of her own. The break was complete when Indira after proposing N. Sanjeeva Reddy’s name for presidentship asked Congressmen to “vote according to their conscience”. V. V. Giri, the rebel Congress candidate won. When the communal temperature was at its peak in India, the country had a Muslim President and a Muslim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. After serving as vicepresident to the great Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan for five years, Zakir Hussain, an academic and former vice-chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, became the philosopher scholar’s successor at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1967. Hussain, however, had one of the briefest terms as the country’s president as he died less than two years later. He was also the first Indian president to die in office.
Q. Who was the first president to die in office?
  • a)
    Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
  • b)
    S. Nijalingappa
  • c)
    Zakir Hussain
  • d)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Ojasvi Mehta answered
Dr. Zakir Hussain, was the first Indian President to die in office before completing his term. He was the Third President of India. On 9 May 1967, he was declared elected as the Head of the State and was formally sworn in as the President of the Indian Republic four days later. He breathed his last on the morning of 3 May 1969.

Chapter doubts & questions for Era of One Party Dominance - Political Science Class 12 2025 is part of Humanities/Arts exam preparation. The chapters have been prepared according to the Humanities/Arts exam syllabus. The Chapter doubts & questions, notes, tests & MCQs are made for Humanities/Arts 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, notes, meanings, examples, exercises, MCQs and online tests here.

Chapter doubts & questions of Era of One Party Dominance - Political Science Class 12 in English & Hindi are available as part of Humanities/Arts exam. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for Humanities/Arts Exam by signing up for free.

Political Science Class 12

34 videos|308 docs|51 tests

Top Courses Humanities/Arts

© EduRev
Education Revolution
Signup to see your scores go up
within 7 days!
Takes less than 10 seconds to signup