Spectrum Summary: The UPA Years (2004–2014) | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Social Welfare and Other Measures

National Advisory Council (NAC): During the UPA government's first term, a significant influence on social welfare measures was the National Advisory Council (NAC), chaired by Sonia Gandhi. Comprising social activists, the NAC played a pivotal role in shaping the government's policies, particularly in the field of social welfare.

• National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA/MNREGA): In 2006, the government introduced the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), later renamed Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). This groundbreaking welfare scheme aimed at addressing rural poverty by guaranteeing 100 days of paid labor annually to rural households. The program also mandated one-third of the work to be reserved for women, emphasizing gender inclusivity.

MNREGA poster 

• National Rural Health Mission: In 2005, the government's health ministry launched the National Rural Health Mission, focusing on improving healthcare in rural areas. This initiative aimed to enhance healthcare infrastructure, accessibility, and quality of services to address the health needs of the rural population.
• Right to Information Act (RTI): The Right to Information Act of 2005 empowered every Indian citizen to request information from a 'public authority,' obliging timely responses within thirty days. The act also mandated public authorities to computerize their records, facilitating widespread dissemination of certain categories of information. This transparency measure aimed to enhance accountability and citizen access to information.
• Value Added Tax (VAT): In 2005, the government, under Manmohan Singh, introduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) to replace the complex sales tax system. VAT is a consumption tax that is considered more efficient and equitable, providing a streamlined approach to taxation on goods and services. This reform aimed to modernize the taxation system and promote economic efficiency.

Foreign Relations

• Indo-US Civilian Nuclear Agreement: The Manmohan Singh government prioritized strengthening ties with the United States. In July 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the US to initiate negotiations on the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement. The landmark declaration on this agreement was made during President George W. Bush's visit to India in 2006. This agreement granted India access to American nuclear fuel and technology, ending a thirty-year ban on nuclear trade imposed by the US. However, India had to agree to IAEA inspections of its civil nuclear reactors. The government faced and won a confidence vote in July 2008 after the Left parties withdrew their support

• India-China Relations: Manmohan Singh also endeavored to improve relations between India and China. In 2006, China's President Hu Jintao visited India, and in 2008, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reciprocated with a visit to Beijing. This diplomatic engagement resulted in the reopening of the Nathu La Pass in 2006, which had been closed for more than four decades. The reopening of this pass facilitated trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.

Manmohan Singh with Xi Jinping

New President

Election of Pratibha Patil as President: In 2007, Pratibha Patil was elected and sworn in as the President of India, making her the first woman to hold this position in the country. A member of the Congress party and a close associate of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Patil had previously served as the Governor of Rajasthan. Her election marked a historic moment in Indian politics and was a significant step towards gender inclusivity in top political leadership.

Pratibha Patil as President

Terror Attacks in India (2007-2008)

1. Multiple Targets and Perpetrators:

   • India faced a wave of terror attacks in 2007-08 perpetrated by various groups. Islamic and Hindu extremist groups were involved in carrying out these attacks.

2. Muslim Cemetery Bombing (2006):

   • A series of explosions occurred at a Muslim cemetery in Malegaon, Maharashtra, in 2006, suggesting tensions and violence between religious communities.

3. Mecca Masjid Blast (May 2007):

   • In May 2007, a blast took place in the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, further highlighting the vulnerability of religious spaces to terrorist acts.

4. Ajmer Dargah Bombing (2007):

   • In 2007, a bomb exploded at the Ajmer Dargah in Rajasthan, revealing the broad spectrum of targets that terrorists aimed to strike.

5. Samjhauta Express Blast (February 2007):

   • A blast occurred on the Samjhauta Express, running between India and Pakistan, in February 2007. Initially suspected to involve groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), later investigations implicated a group of Hindus with extremist views.

6. Mumbai Terror Attacks (November 2008):

   • The most devastating incident was the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. Pakistani terrorists targeted the prestigious Taj hotel, held guests hostage, and attacked the busy Shivaji rail terminus, causing significant loss of life.

     Taj hotel in 26/11

     
     

7. Security Weaknesses Exposed:

   • The Mumbai attacks exposed weaknesses in India's security apparatus. The terrorists reportedly reached the coast unnoticed in a small boat, revealing gaps in coastal security.

8. Confession and Mastermind Identification:

   • Captured terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab confirmed in his confession that Pakistan, particularly the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), had masterminded the Mumbai attacks.

9. Legal Proceedings and Execution:

   • In 2012, a special court sentenced Kasab to death for 80 offenses, including waging war against India. He was subsequently hanged on November 11, 2012.

10. Acquittal in Samjhauta Express Case (2019):

    • In 2019, the NIA court acquitted four accused individuals in the Samjhauta Express blast case due to a lack of evidence, highlighting the complexities and challenges in prosecuting such cases.
      

      Samjhauta Express Bombing

Situation in the States

• The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), led by Mayawati, won a majority in the assembly elections and formed the government in Uttar Pradesh. After a long time, the state was free of a coalition government. This brought stability to the state. 
• In May 2008, the BJP made an inroad in the South for the first time, forming the government in the state of Karnataka. 
• In Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference emerged with the largest number of seats and formed a government, with the Congress joining as a junior coalition partner. 
• In Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, the BJP was in power.

Trouble in Kashmir

The 2009 General Elections

L.K. Advani

UPA Second Stint (May 2009-May 2014)

The UPA was once again in a position to form the government. Manmohan Singh was sworn in as the prime minister on May 22, 2009, thus becoming the first prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962 to be re-elected after completing a full term.

1. Pre-Election Promise: Before the 2004 elections, the Congress party formed an alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and promised to create a separate state of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh if the Congress came to power at the Centre.

2. 2009 Election Success: In the 2009 elections, the Congress performed well in Andhra Pradesh. However, the Chief Minister at that time, Y.S.R. Reddy, who played a significant role in the victory, was opposed to the idea of dividing the state.

3. Change in Leadership: In September 2009, Y.S.R. Reddy passed away in a helicopter crash, leading to a shift in the leadership landscape. The movement for Telangana gained momentum under the leadership of K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR).

4. Agitation and Fast: In November 2009, KCR went on a fast unto death to demand the creation of Telangana as a separate state. This led to widespread agitation and disruptions in Hyderabad, with supporters rallying in thousands.

5. Government Yielding: Under pressure, the Congress-led government at the Centre conceded to the demand, and in December 2009, it announced the initiation of the process to form the state. A commission led by retired Supreme Court judge B.N. Srikrishna was appointed to examine the bifurcation issue.

6. Formation of Telangana: Despite initial rejection of the commission's report by TRS, after negotiations, Parliament approved the Telangana Bill in February 2014. According to the act, Andhra Pradesh was formally divided to create the new state of Telangana. The two states were to share Hyderabad as the capital for ten years, and the Centre was to provide funds to Andhra Pradesh for building a new capital. Telangana officially came into existence in June 2014 with KCR as the chief minister.

KCR

Historic Change in West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee 

Social Welfare Measures and Legislations