Political Science: CUET Mock Test - 8 - CUET MCQ

• The agricultural situation went from bad to worse in the 1960s. Already, the rate of growth of food grain production in the 1940s and 1950s was barely staying above the rate of population growth.
• Between 1965 and 1967, severe droughts occurred in many parts of the country. This was also the period when the country faced two wars and foreign exchange crisis. All this resulted in a severe food shortage and famine-like conditions in many parts of the country.
• It was in Bihar that the food crisis was most acutely felt as the state faced a near-famine situation. The food shortage was significant in all districts of Bihar, with 9 districts producing less than half of their normal output.
• Five of these districts, in fact, produced less than one-third of what they produced normally. Food deprivation subsequently led to acute and widespread malnutrition. It was estimated that the calorie intake dropped from 2200 per capita per day to as low as 1200 in many regions of the state (as against the requirement of 2450 per day for the average person).
• The death rate in Bihar in 1967 was 34% higher than the number of deaths that occurred in the following year. Food prices also hit a high in Bihar during the year, even when compared with other north Indian states. For wheat and rice, the prices in the state were twice or more than their prices in more prosperous Punjab.
• The government had “zoning” policies that prohibited the trade of food across states; this reduced the availability of food in Bihar dramatically. In situations such as this, the poorest sections of society suffered the most. Hence statement 1 is the correct answer.

The correct answer is Political Science.

International relations is a branch of political science that studies the interactions between various countries and entities in the international system.

Key Points

• This field encompasses a wide range of topics, including diplomacy, war, trade, and international organizations, among others. It examines how states and non-state actors cooperate and compete on the global stage, and how they are affected by international laws, norms, and agreements.
• The study of international relations involves understanding the principles of foreign policy, the roles of international institutions like the United Nations and the World Bank, and the impact of globalization on nations and their citizens.
• Scholars in this field analyze the strategies nations use to achieve their foreign policy objectives, including diplomacy, economic aid, military intervention, and soft power tactics.
• International relations theory provides various perspectives to understand the complex interactions in the global arena, including realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical theories.
• Each of these theoretical frameworks offers different explanations for why states behave the way they do in the international system and how they achieve their goals.

Additional Information

• Overall, international relations as a discipline helps to shed light on the intricacies of global politics and provides insights into how international conflicts can be resolved, how global cooperation can be achieved, and how a more peaceful and just world order can be established.

The correct answer is By deconstructing and problematizing the idea of fixed and absolute sovereignty

Postmodernism challenges traditional views of sovereignty by highlighting its fluid and contested nature, questioning fixed and absolute claims to authority in the global arena.

Key Points

The statement refers to how postmodernism, as a philosophical and theoretical framework, challenges the traditional understanding of sovereignty, especially in the context of global affairs. Let's break down the key components of the statement:

Postmodernism:

• Postmodernism is a broad intellectual and cultural movement that emerged in the mid-20th century. It rejects the grand narratives, universal truths, and fixed categories that were often emphasized in modernist thought.
• Postmodernism emphasizes the diversity of human experiences, the relativity of truth, and the idea that reality is constructed through language and discourse.

Traditional Views of Sovereignty:

• Traditional views of sovereignty are rooted in modern political thought, where the nation-state is considered the primary actor in international relations.
• Sovereignty traditionally implies a fixed and absolute authority held by a state over its territory, government, and people.

Fluid and Contested Nature of Sovereignty:

• Postmodernism challenges the notion of a fixed and stable sovereign authority. It suggests that sovereignty is fluid, subject to change, and open to interpretation.
• The fluidity of sovereignty implies that it can be contested, renegotiated, and redefined over time and in different contexts.

Questioning Fixed and Absolute Claims to Authority:

• Postmodernism questions the idea that any single entity, such as a nation-state, possesses an absolute and unquestionable authority.
• It suggests that claims to authority are constructed through language, discourse, and power relations, and they are not universally valid.

Global Arena:

• The reference to the "global arena" indicates that postmodernism's critique of sovereignty extends beyond individual nation-states to the international stage.
• In the global context, postmodernism challenges the idea that a single, fixed understanding of sovereignty should dominate international relations.

Additional Information

• Postmodernism challenges traditional views of sovereignty by introducing the idea that sovereignty is not a fixed and absolute concept. Instead, it is fluid, contested, and subject to reinterpretation. This perspective is particularly relevant in the global arena, where multiple actors and diverse perspectives interact, leading to a more nuanced understanding of authority and power in international relations.

• Mamata Banerjee, who had previously served in the Union Cabinet, was elected Chief Minister of West Bengal for the first time in 2011.
• After splitting from the Indian National Congress in 1998, she created the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC or TMC) and served as its first chairman.
• 'Didi' is a nickname for her (meaning elder sister in Bengali).

Additional Information

• All India Forward Bloc: The AIFB (All India Forward Bloc) is an Indian left-wing nationalist political party. It was founded in 1939 as a section of the Indian National Congress, led by Subhas Chandra Bose. Following India's independence, the party was re-established as an independent political party.
• Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League: The Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League is a political party active in Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India, among the Nepali-speaking community. Damber Singh Gurung formed the party in 1943.
• Amra Bangalee: Amra Bangali is an Indian political party founded in response to anti-Bengali sentiments in Northeast India. The party is based on Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar's socio-economic and political theory Progressive Utilization Theory

​Hence, All India Trinamool Congress was established by Mamata Banerjee.

The correct answer is Keshvananda Bharati Vs State of Kerala (1973)

Key Points

• This landmark case is where the Supreme Court of India first articulated the doctrine of the basic structure of the Constitution.
• The court held that while Parliament had wide powers to amend the Constitution, it could not alter the basic structure or framework of the Constitution.
• This doctrine has since been a cornerstone of constitutional law in India, ensuring that the fundamental aspects of the Constitution remain inviolable, even by legislative amendments.

Golak Nath Case Vs State of Punjab (1967):

• In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that Parliament could not amend fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
• This decision was later partially overturned by the Keshvananda Bharati case, which allowed for amendments as long as they did not alter the basic structure.

Sajjan Singh Vs State of Rajasthan (1965):

• This case was an earlier attempt to address the extent of Parliament's power to amend the Constitution.
• The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the 17th Amendment but did not explicitly discuss the concept of a basic structure, which was later elaborated in the Keshvananda Bharati case.

Minerva Mills Ltd. Vs Union of India (1980):

• The court held that any amendment that destroys the balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles is void. This case reinforced the importance of the basic structure doctrine established in the Keshvananda Bharati case.

The correct answer is QUAD

Key Points

• QUAD, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a strategic forum comprising four countries: the United States, India, Australia, and Japan.
• The group is focused on shared concerns about maritime security, free navigation, and the challenges posed by an increasingly assertive China in the Indo-Pacific region.
• It aims to ensure a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region through cooperation in areas such as defense, cybersecurity, technology, and infrastructure development.

Additional InformationSAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)

• SAARC is focused on the South Asian region and includes countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
• It aims to promote economic and regional integration. The USA, Australia, and Japan are not members of SAARC.

SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)

• The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance. Its members include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan. incorrect option.

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

• ASEAN is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries, aiming to promote political and economic cooperation and regional stability.
• India, the USA, and Japan are not members of ASEAN but are part of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which is a broader dialogue platform. Australia is a member of ARF as well.

The correct answer is Homogenisation
Key Points

• This refers to the process where dominant cultures influence and merge with local cultures, leading to a more uniform or similar cultural expression across different regions.
• This can happen through various means such as media, migration, trade, and globalization.
• Homogenisation can lead to the diminishing of local cultures and traditions as they get absorbed into a dominant cultural paradigm.

Additional Information

• Heterogenization:
  • This is the opposite process of homogenisation. Instead of leading to a more uniform culture, heterogenization refers to the diversification of cultures and the increase in cultural differences.
  • This process acknowledges and amplifies the uniqueness and variety of local cultures rather than merging them into a dominant one.
• Hybridization:
  • While this concept might seem similar to homogenisation, it actually refers to the blending of cultures to create new, hybrid forms.
  • Unlike homogenisation, which implies one culture becoming dominant over others, hybridization suggests a more equal mixing and merging of cultures to produce something new and distinct.
• Modernization:
  • This is a broader concept that involves the transformation of societies from pre-modern or traditional forms to modern forms. It can include aspects like industrialization, technological advancement, and changes in social norms.
  • While modernization might lead to homogenisation in some respects (for example, through the spread of global consumer culture), it is not specifically about the merging of cultures.

The correct answer is 'Human security in state centric'

Key Points

• Human security primarily focuses on the individual rather than the state.
• It emphasizes the protection and empowerment of all people rather than prioritizing the security of the state itself.
• Human security is about ensuring the freedom from fear, freedom from want, and freedom to live in dignity for individuals, contrasting with traditional security concepts that focus on defending borders and national interests.

The correct answer is '10 December 1948'.
Key Points

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948.
• This was a pivotal moment in history, establishing a comprehensive set of universal human rights that all member countries pledged to protect.
• The declaration was adopted in the aftermath of World War II, reflecting the global consensus on the necessity of safeguarding basic human rights to prevent future atrocities.

Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971. But it started protesting against the domination of Western Pakistan and the imposition of Urdu Language. A popular struggle against West Pakistani dominance was led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.