NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science - India’s External Relations

Q1: Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of these statements.
(a) Non-alignment allowed India to gain assistance both from USA and USSR.
(b) India’s relationship with her neighbours has been strained from the beginning.
(c) The cold war has affected the relationship between India and Pakistan.
(d) The treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1971 was the result of India’s closeness to USA.
Ans: (a) True, (b) True, (c) True, (d) False.

Q2: Match the following:

Ans: (a)—(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i).

Q3: Why did Nehru regard conduct of foreign relations as an essential indicator of independence? State any two reasons with examples to support your reading.
Ans:  Nehru viewed the conduct of foreign relations as a crucial sign of independence for several reasons:

• Sovereignty: India aimed to respect the sovereignty of other nations. This principle is reflected in Article 51 of the Constitution, which promotes international peace and cooperation.
• Non-alignment: India adopted a policy of non-alignment during the Cold War, striving to maintain neutrality and reduce tensions between opposing blocs. For example, India contributed personnel to UN peacekeeping missions, showcasing its commitment to global peace.

These actions allowed India to take an independent stance while receiving support from both sides of the Cold War.

Q4: “The conduct of foreign affairs is an outcome of a two-way interaction between domestic compulsions and prevailing international climate”. Take one example from India’s external relations in the 1960s to substantiate your Ans:
Ans:  The statement is largely supported by the Sino-Indian Conflict of 1962, which significantly impacted India's image both domestically and internationally. To address the crisis, India sought military assistance from the United States and Britain, while the Soviet Union maintained a neutral stance. This conflict resulted in:

• A sense of national humiliation, which paradoxically fostered a spirit of nationalism.
• Criticism of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for his naive understanding of Chinese intentions and inadequate military readiness.
• A shift in the political mood, highlighted by a no-confidence motion against Nehru in the Lok Sabha.
• A split in the Communist Party of India in the 1960s, leading to the formation of the CPI-M.
• Increased awareness among Indian leaders regarding the volatile situation in the North East, which posed challenges to national integration.

Q5: Identify any two aspects of India’s foreign policy that you would like to retain and two that you would like to change, if you were to become a decision maker. Give reasons to support your position.
Ans: Two Aspects to be Supported:

• India has consistently maintained its dignity and image as a peace-loving nation by promoting equality and understanding among countries. For example, India played a role in ending the Korean War in 1953 and supported decolonisation efforts.
• The initiatives for Non-Alignment are commendable as they foster mutual understanding and security. Even in the post-Cold War era, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has been an effective tool for making the Security Council more democratic.

Two Aspects to be Changed:

• Between 1962 and 1972, India faced three wars, which limited the impact of its peaceful image. Conflicts with neighbours like China and Pakistan hindered regional cooperation under SAARC.
• India should adopt a more diplomatic and defensive approach in its foreign policy to preserve its independent identity.

Q6: Write short notes on the following:
(a) India’s nuclear policy
(b) Consensus in foreign policy matters
Ans:  India’s Nuclear Policy:

• India follows a policy of no first use regarding nuclear weapons.
• It is committed to global nuclear disarmament and aims for a nuclear weapon-free world.
• Under the leadership of Pt. Nehru, India initiated its nuclear programme in the late 1940s, guided by Homi J. Bhabha.
• India has consistently opposed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), viewing it as discriminatory.
• India's first nuclear test in May 1974 was described as a peaceful explosion and aimed at using nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

Consensus in Foreign Policy Matters:

• Pt. Nehru was instrumental in shaping India's foreign policy from 1946 to 1964.
• He served as both Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, significantly influencing policy formulation.
• Despite changes in government, foreign policy remained largely consistent and was not heavily influenced by party politics.

Q7: India’s foreign policy was built around the principles of peace and cooperation. But India fought three wars in a space of ten years between 1962 and 1971. Would you say that this was a failure of the foreign policy? Or would you say that this was a result of international situation? Give reasons to support your answer.
Ans: No, this was not the failure of foreign policy but this was a result of international situation:
The Chinese Invasion 1962:

• Serious conflict arose when China annexed Tibet in 1950 and removed a historical buffer between two nation, and India did not oppose this openly.
• India grew uneasy, when China began to suppress Tibetan Culture.
• Another border dispute arose when China claimed Aksai Chin area and NEFA (much of the state in Arunachal Pradesh) within the Indian territory.
• Despite long term correspondence and discussions, these issues have not been resolved even by top leaders of country.
• Hence, India had to indulge in the conflict.

War with Pakistan:

• A serious armed conflict between two countries began in 1965 with the initiative of Pakistan over Kashmir partition.
• In 1966, the hostilities came to an end with the UN intervention and Tashkent Agreement signed between Indian Prime Minister Lai Bahadur Shastri and Pakistan’s General Ayub Khan.
• The 1965 War added to India’s already difficult economic situation.

Bangladesh War of 1971:

• In 1970, Pakistan faced its biggest crisis in the way for a split verdict i.e. Zulficar Ali Bhutto’s Party emerged as winner in West Pakistan while Awami league led by “Sheikh Mujibur- Rehman” swept through East Pakistan.
• The Bengali population of East Pakistan had voted to protest against discriminatory attitude of West Pakistan, which was not acceptable to West Pakistan rulers.
• In 1971, Pakistani army arrested Sheikh Mujib and unleashed a region of terror on East Pakistan. This started people’s struggle to liberate Bangladesh from Pakistan.
• India had to bear 80 lakh refugees who fled from East Pakistan to take shelter. Hence, India had to extend moral and : material support to the freedom struggle in Bangladesh.
• A full scale war between India and Pakistan in December 1971 broke out, when Pakistan attacked on Punjab and Rajasthan to be retaliated an attack from India.
• Within ten days the Indian army surrounded Dhaka and Pakistan had to surrender with Bangladesh as a free country, India declared a unilateral ceasefire and Shimla Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan in 1972.
• Most people in India saw this moment as a glory of India and a clear sign of India’s growing military powers.

Q8: Does India’s foreign policy reflect her desire to be an important regional power? Argue your case with the Bangladesh war of 1971 as an example.
Ans:  The Bangladesh War of 1971 illustrates India's ambition to be a significant regional power. Here are the key points:

• In 1970, Pakistan faced a political crisis with a split verdict: Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's party won in West Pakistan, while the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, dominated East Pakistan.
• The Bengali population protested against the discriminatory policies of West Pakistan, leading to unrest.
• In 1971, the Pakistani army arrested Sheikh Mujib and initiated a violent crackdown in East Pakistan, sparking a struggle for independence.
• India received approximately 8 million refugees fleeing to its territory, prompting it to support the independence movement.
• A full-scale war erupted in December 1971 when Pakistan attacked Indian territories in Punjab and Rajasthan.
• Within ten days, the Indian army surrounded Dhaka, leading to the surrender of around 90,000 Pakistani troops.
• Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation, and India declared a unilateral ceasefire.
• The Shimla Agreement was signed in 1972, formalising peace between India and Pakistan.
• This victory was seen as a demonstration of India's growing military strength and capability.

In conclusion, the events of the Bangladesh War clearly reflect India's desire to establish itself as an important regional power.

Q9: How does political leadership of a nation affect its foreign policy? Explain this with the help of examples from India’s foreign policy.
Ans:  The political leadership of a nation significantly shapes its foreign policy, reflecting national interests. In India, this is evident through various historical examples:

• In 1977, during the Janata Party government, India adopted a genuine policy of non-alignment, moving away from its previous pro-Soviet stance.
• Subsequent governments, regardless of their political affiliation, sought to improve relations with China and strengthen ties with the United States.
• Post-1990, India's foreign policy faced criticism for being too pro-US, especially as Russia lost its global influence despite being a longstanding ally.
• The shift towards a pro-US strategy was also influenced by changing global dynamics, where economic interests became more prominent than military concerns.

Overall, India's foreign policy has evolved in response to both internal leadership and the international landscape, demonstrating the critical role of political leadership in shaping diplomatic strategies.

Q10: Read the Passage:
“Broadly, non-alignment means not tying yourself off with military blocs…
It means trying to view things, as far as possible, not from the military point of view, though that has to come in sometimes, but independently, and trying to maintain friendly relations with all countries”. —Jawaharlal Nehru
(a) Why does Nehru want to keep off military blocs?
(b) Do you think that the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty violated the principle of non-alignment? Give reasons for your answer,
(c) If there were no military blocs, do you think non-alignment would have been unnecessary?
Ans: 
(a) Nehru wanted to keep off military blocs to maintain friendly and peaceful relation with all nations of world as well as to maintain India’s uniqueness at international stage.
(b) No, the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty did not violate non-alignment because it was not to maintain military relations but to maintain diplomatic friendly relations.
(c) NAM emphasises on disarmament, decolonisation and terrorism except staying away from military blocs.