Political Science: CBSE Sample Question Paper (2020-21) - 1 | CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 Humanities - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Class - XII
Political Science
TIME: 3 Hrs.
M.M: 80

General Instructions:
(a) All Questions are Compulsory.
(b) Section A has 16 Objective Type Questions of 1 mark each.
(c) Section B has 2 Passage-based questions 17 and 18 having Multiple Choice Questions of 1 mark each.
(d) Question numbers 19-22 carries 2 marks each. Answer to these questions should not exceed 40 words each.
(e) Question numbers 23-27 carries 4 marks each. Answer to these questions should not exceed 100 words each.
(f) Question numbers 28-29 pertain to map and cartoon questions carrying 5 marks each to be answered accordingly.
(g) Question numbers 30-32 carries 6 marks each. Answer to these questions should not exceed 150 words each.

SECTION A

Q.1. The Cold War is referred to the competition, the tensions and a series of confrontations between the:
(a) United States and the Soviet Union
(b) France and Germany
(c) India and Pakistan
(d) America and Africa
Ans. (a)

Q.2. The Soviet Union leader, ____________ placed nuclear missiles in Cuba.
(a) Nikita Khrushchev
(b) Mikhail Gorbachev
(c) Vladimir Putin
(d) Lenin
Ans. (a)

Q.3. How did the US discover the missiles in Cuba?
(a) Through a U-7 spy satellite
(b) Though a U-2 spy plane
(c) Through a U-6 submarine
(d) Through a Cuban informant.
Ans. (b)

Q.4. India has felt the impact of globalization through increased prosperity, partly triggered by increasing trade volumes, investment, and:
(a) weapons
(b) growth
(c) hatred
(d) terrorism
Ans. (b)

Q.5. Which among the following is NOT an outcome of the disintegration of the USSR?
(a) End of the ideological war between the US and the USSR.
(b) Birth of CIS.
(c) Change in the balance of power in the world order.
(d) Crisis in the Middle East.
Ans. (d)

Q.6. Which among the following statements that describe the nature of the Soviet economy is wrong?
(a) Socialism was the dominant ideology.
(b) State ownership/control existed over the factors of production.
(c) People enjoyed economic freedom.
(d) Every aspect of the economy was planned and controlled by the state.
Ans. (c)

Q.7. ASEAN was established in 1967 by five countries by signing the _______________ Declaration.
(a) Singapore
(b) Bangkok
(c) Geneva
(d) New York
Ans. (b)

Q.8. What is the main reason for the failure of SAARC?
(a) Chinese aggression
(b) Conglomerate of Islamic nations
(c) Rift between Pakistan and Bangladesh
(d) Rivalry between India and Pakistan
Ans. (d)

Q.9. Arrange the following in chronological order.
(i) China’s accession to WTO
(ii) Establishment of the EEC
(iii) Establishment of the EU
(iv) Birth of ARF
The correct sequence is:
(a) i, iv, iii, ii
(b) ii, iii, iv, i
(c) iii, ii, i, iv
(d) iv, iii, ii, i
Ans. (b)

Q.10. Which one of the following statements about the Berlin Wall is false?
(a) It symbolised the division between the capitalist and the communist world.
(b) It was built immediately after the Second World War.
(c) It was broken by the people on 9 November 1989.
(d) It marked the unification of the two parts of Germany.
Ans. (b)

Q.11. Which one of the following did Gorbachev not promise to reform?
(a) To loosen the administrative system
(b) To catch up with the west
(c) To reform the economy
(d) To maintain strict control over the government
Ans. (d)

Q.12. Informal, non-confrontationist and cooperative interaction among members of SouthEast Asian Nations is also called _________________.
(a) SEATO way
(b) NATO way
(c) ASEAN way
(d) SAARC way
Ans. (c)

Q.13. Jayaprakash Narayan’s _______________ was a call for cultural and political transformations. 
(a) Salt March
(b) Total Revolution
(c) Garibi Hatao
(d) Desh Badlo
Ans. (b)

Q.14. Who became the symbol of restoration of democracy?
(a) H. D. Deve Gowda
(b) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(c) Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
(d) Jayaprakash Narayan
Ans. (d)

Q.15. Whom would you like to identify the slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ with?
(a) Indira Gandhi
(b) Syndicate
(c) Lal Bahadur Shastri
(d) Pt. Nehru
Ans. (c)

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in:
(a) May 1991
(b) June 1991
(c) July 1991
(d) August 1991
Ans. (a)

Q.16. Arrange these Prime Ministers of India in chronological order on which they first held the post.
(i) Narsimha Rao
(ii) V. P. Singh
(iii) I. K. Gujral
(iv) H. D. Deve Gowda
The correct sequence is:
(a) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
(b) (iv) (ii) (i) (iii)
(c) (iii) (i) (ii) (iv)
(d) (ii) (i) (iv) (iii)
Ans: (d)

SECTION B

Q.17. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
We have a Muslim minority who are so large in numbers that they cannot, even if they want, go anywhere else. That is a basic fact about which there can be no argument. Whatever the provocation from Pakistan and whatever the indignities and horrors inflicted on non-Muslims there, we have got to deal with this minority in a civilised manner. We must give them security and the rights of citizens in a democratic State. If we fail to do so, we shall have a festering sore which will eventually poison the whole body politic and probably destroy it. —Jawaharlal Nehru
(i) Why did Jawaharlal Nehru want to deal with the Muslim minority in a civilised way?
(a) Muslims had no interest in going anywhere
(b) Muslims had not place to go anywhere
(c) Muslims were supported by USA
(d) Muslims were supported by USSR
Ans. (b)

(ii) Why should this minority be given the security and rights-on the same footing as all others  in a democratic system?
(a) India is a socialist country
(b) India is a republic
(c) India is a sovereign country
(d) India is a secular country
Ans. (d)

(iii) If this minority was not provided security and rights what kind of scenario is envisaged?
(a) Threat to democracy
(b) Threat to sovereignty
(c) Threat to secularism
(d) Threat to independence
Ans. (a)

(iv) Which historical event has been the background of this passage?
(a) Independence of India
(b) Independence of Bangladesh
(c) Partition of India
(d) Adoption of Constitution of India
Ans. (c)

Q.18. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
We should begin to work in that spirit and in course of time all these angularities of the majority  and minority communities, the Hindu community and the Muslim community – because even as regards Muslims you have Pathans, Punjabis, Shias, Sunnis and so on and among the Hindus you have Brahmins, Vaishnavas, Khatris, also Bengalees, Madrasis, and so on – will vanish. … You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the State.

(i) Who gave this statement?
(a) Pt. Nehru
(b) Jinnah
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Sardar Patel
Ans. (b)

(ii) Where was this statement given?
(a) New Delhi
(b) Karachi
(c) Gandhinagar
(d) Ahmedabad
Ans. (b)

(iii) Which theory forms the background of this statement?
(a) Big Theory
(b) Tryst with Destiny
(c) Two Nation
(d) Experiments with Truth
Ans. (c)

(iv) According to the passage, which of these is not a Hindu community?
(a) Bengalees
(b) Madrasis
(c) Punjabis
(d) Khatris
Ans. (c)

SECTION C

Q.19. ‘Welfare State is getting replaced by the market.’ Analyse the reason for this change.
Ans. Globalisation results in an erosion of state capacity. All over the world, the old welfare state is now giving way to a more minimalist state that performs certain core functions such as maintenance of law and order and the security of its citizens.
- However, it withdraws from many of its earlier welfare functions directed at economic and social well-being. In place of the welfare state, it is the market that becomes the prime determinant of economic and social priorities.
- The entry and the increased role of MNCs all over the world lead to reduction in the capacity of government to take decisions on their own.

Q.20. What was Ram Manohar Lohia’s opinion about the caste system?
Ans. Ram Manohar Lohia aimed at eliminating the inequalities of caste.
- Lohia’s approach to caste was revolutionary.
- He looked at the problems of socialism and democracy in terms of the abolition of castes as the most serious disease of Indian society.
- According to Ram Manohar Lohia, caste was the biggest fact of Indian life. Those who condemned it were also victims of it.
- The system of caste, according to Ram Manohar Lohia, worked toward the suppression of a vast number of the people.

Q.21. The Shah Commission was appointed in 1977 by the Janata Party Government. Why was it appointed and what were its findings?
Ans. The Shah Commission was appointed by the Janata Party government in May 1977, to inquire into several aspects of allegations of abuse of authority, excesses and malpractices committed and action taken in the wake of the Emergency proclaimed on the 25th June, 1975.
- The Commission of Inquiry was headed by Justice J.C. Shah. It used various kinds of evidence and called scores of witnesses to give testimonies.
- The Government of India accepted the findings, observations and recommendations contained in the two interim reports and third and final report of the Shah Commission.

Q.22. When and how did the reorganisation of the north eastern region of India completed?

Linguistic base for formation of states was the most just option at that time. Justify.
Ans. Reorganisation of the North-East was almost completed in 1972. Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972. Manipur and Tripura too emerged as separate states. The states of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh came into being much later. Nagaland had become a state in 1963.

The formation of linguistic states helped in strengthening the foundation of democracy and the process of national integration in India. One of the most important concerns in the early years was that of unity of the country. It was felt that linguistic states may foster separatism and create pressure on the newly founded nation.
(i) The formation of these states changed the nature of democratic politics and leadership in the same basic ways. The path to politics and power was now open to people other than the small English Speaking elite.
(ii) Linguistic reorganisation also gave some uniform basis to the drawing of state boundaries. It did not lead to disintegration of the country as many had feared earlier. On the contrary, it strengthened national unity.

SECTION D

Q.23. Mention any four features that distinguish the Soviet economy from  that of a capitalist country like the US.
Ans. 
(i) The Soviet Union experienced a complex communication network, vast energy resources and an efficient transport sector to connect its remote areas.
(ii) Land and other productivity assets were owned by the State only.
(iii) Soviet Union industries produced every domestic product from pin to cars, whose quality might not have been high enough to match the West, but was sufficient for its consumption.
(iv) Soviet Union ensured minimum standards of living for all its citizens. The Government subsidized basic necessities like education, healthcare, children and other welfare schemes.
(v) There was a complete absence of unemployment in the country.

Q.24. How do per capita income and population growth affect the economic disparity in the world? Suggest any two ways to reduce economic disparity between the poor and the rich at the global level.
Ans. Per capita income and population growth affect the economic disparity all over the world. High per capita income and low population growth make the rich countries get richer. On the other hand, per capita low income and high population growth make poor countries get poorer.
Ways to reduce economic disparity include:
(i) At the global level, the poor countries hit by this economic disparity will have to decrease population growth and increase the income.
(ii) Countries affected by the economic disparity will have to make maximum use of their resources judiciously. They will have to strengthen their economic, political, social and cultural structures so as to bridge the gap of economic disparity.

Q.25. What were the major differences in the approach towards development at the time of independence? Has the debate been resolved?

Examine the major outcomes of the Green Revolution.
Ans. After independence, India had a choice to adopt a capitalist model and become an industrial country like the UK and USA or a socialist model and become a welfare country like the USSR.
- The debate was organised with views being in favour and against both, these economic models.
- Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru supported the socialist model in the wider interest of the country at large.
- Pt. Nehru, being the Prime Minister, the mandate of the government was clear to work on the model of social upliftment of the poor, welfare state, redistribution of wealth, etc.
- However, there was strong support in favour of rapid industrialisation along with growth of agriculture and upliftment of the poor.
- The debate ended with the devising and adoption of the model which combined the best of these two models and developed the Mixed Economy model for the country.

Major outcomes of the Green Revolution
(i) The rich peasants and the large landholders were the major beneficiaries of the process. The Green Revolution delivered only a moderate agricultural growth (mainly a rise in wheat production) and raised the availability of food in the country, but increased polarisation between classes and regions
(ii) Some regions like Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh became agriculturally prosperous, while others remained backward.
(iii) The Green Revolution had two other effects: One was that in many parts, the stark contrast between the poor peasantry and the landlords produced conditions favourable for left wing organisations to organise the poor peasants. Secondly, the Green Revolution also resulted in the rise of what is called the middle peasant section. These were farmers with medium size holdings, who benefitted from the changes and soon emerged politically influential in many parts of the country.

Q.26. Describe the evolution of European Union.

Is ASEAN still a useful economic organisation?
Ans. Formation of the European Union was aided by the Cold War. It became a forum for the western European states to co-operate on trade and economic issues.
(i) It also laid stress on a common foreign and security policy, co-operative on justice and home affairs and the creation of a common currency.
(ii) It has also started to act more as a nation state.
(iii) While the attempts to have a common Constitution for the EU have failed, it still has its own flag, anthem, founding date and currency. It also has some form of a common foreign and security policy in its dealings with other nations. It shows that European Union evolved over time from an economic union to an increasingly political one.

ASEAN still remains principally an economic association because:
(i) ASEAN region as a whole is a much smaller economy compared to the EU, the US and Japan.
(ii) ASEAN economy is growing much faster than the EU, the US and Japan.
(iii) Its objective is to create a common market and production base within ASEAN states.
(iv) It also wants to aid social and economic development in the region.
(v) It also likes to improve the existing ASEAN Dispute Settlement Mechanism to resolve economic disputes.

Q.27. Examine the conditions responsible for the growth of Naxalite movement in India. Suggest ways and means to crush it.
Ans. The Naxalites are the followers of the policies of Marx and Lenin and particularly active in the states of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, etc.
- There was an uprising among the agricultural peasants of Naxalbari Station (West Bengal) in 1967. It soon spread to the neighbouring regions.
- The movement gave rise to formation of a new political party CMI (ML) under Charu Majumdar.
- The majorly affected areas were the backward and tribal areas of these regions.
- Presently, the movement has taken the shape of violence, exploitation, forced labour, etc.
- Although, the Naxalites are not directly involved in Indian politics but are fairly in connection with the system through parties like CPI (ML).

SECTION E

Q.28. In the given outline of the political map of India, five states have been marked as (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E). Identify these states on the basis of the information given below and write their correct names in your answer book along with the respective serial number of the information used and the concerned alphabet as per the following format:
(i) The state which was carved out of Assam.
(ii) The state which was created in 2000
(iii) A princely state that was taken over in 1948 and made a part of Indian territory
(iv) The state related where the Student’s Movement started.
(v) The state which is considered as the birthplace of Jayaprakash Narayan.

Ans.

Q.29. Read the following cartoon and answer the following questions:

(a) Which two countries are depicted in the above given cartoon?
(b) Which countries emerged as the Superpower after the end of the Cold War? What was the outcome of the Cold War?
(c) NATO was related to which Alliance?
Ans.  
(i) USA and Russia
(ii) The USA emerged as the Superpower after the end of the Cold War. The outcome of the Cold War: The Soviet Union was disintegrated giving rise to independent countries.
(iii) NATO was related to the Western Alliance.

Q.30. How did USA launch a war against Iraq?

How did the European countries resolve their post-Second World War problem? Briefly outline the attempts that led to the formation of the European Union.
Ans. On 19th March 2003, the US launched its invasion of Iraq under the code name ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’.
- More than 40 other countries joined in the US-led ‘coalition of the willing’ after the UN refused to give its mandate to the invasion.
- The purpose of the invasion was to prevent Iraq from developing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
- Since no evidence of WMD was found in Iraq, it was speculated that the invasion was motivated by other objectives, such as controlling Iraqi oil fields and installing a regime friendly to the US.
- Although the government of Saddam Hussein fell swiftly, the US has not been able to ‘pacify ’ Iraq. Instead, a full-fledged insurgency against the US, the occupation was ignited in Iraq.
- While the US has lost over 3000 military personnel in the war, Iraqi casualties were very much higher. It is conservatively estimated that 50,000 Iraq civilians have been killed since the US-led invasion.
- It is now widely recognised that the US invasion of Iraq in some crucial respects was both a military and political failure.

- The Second World War shattered many of the assumptions and structures on which the European states had based their relations.
- In 1945, the European states confronted the ruin of their economies and the destruction of the assumptions and structures on which Europe had been founded.
- The European countries resolved their post Second World War structures mainly because of the American help.
- America extended massive financial help for reviving Europe’s economy under what was called the ‘Marshall Plan’.
- Under the Marshall Plan, the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation was established. In 1948, to channel aid to the Western European states, it became a forum where the western European states began to co-operate on trade and economic issues.
- The Council of Europe, established in 1949, was another step forward in political cooperation.
- The US also creates a new collective security structure under NATO.
- This way, the process of economic integration of European capitalist countries proceeded step by step.
Following are the main attempts for the formation of the European Union:
(i) Establishment of the Council of Europe in 1949.
(ii) Formation of European Economic Community in 1957.
(iii) The process acquired a political dimension with the creation of the European Parliament.
(iv) The collapse of the Soviet bloc put Europe on a fast track and resulted in the establishment of the European Union in 1992.

Q.31. How do critics view globalisation in India?

Assess the importance of international organisations like the United Nations in the contemporary world.
Ans. Globalisation has invited some strong criticisms also despite its positive impacts. Its critical arguments can be categorized as:
1. Economic
2. Political
3. Cultural

1. Economic:
(a) Reduction in subsidies on mass consumption goods to make foreign creditors powerful.
(b) It has grown the disparity between the rich and the poor nations by making the rich richer and the poor poorer.
(c) Even states have also created the same disparities between developed and developing nations.

2. Political:
(a) Welfare functions of the state have been reduced.
(b) Sovereignty of states has been affected.
(c) States have become weak to make their own decisions.

3. Cultural:
(a) People lose their age-old values and traditions.
(b) The world begins to look more like the dominant power over less powerful society.
(c) It leads to shrinking of the rich cultural heritage of the entire globe.

Relevance of International Organisations
(i) In a unipolar world in which the US is dominant, the UN served to bring the US and the rest of the world into discussions on various issues.
(ii) The US also realises that the UN is an organisation as serving a purpose in bringing together over 190 nations in dealing with conflicts and social and economic development.
(iii) The UN provides an arena for the rest of the world in which it is possible to modify the US attitudes and policies.
(iv) The UN may be an imperfect body, but without it, the world would be worse off.
(v) Due to growing interdependence, it is hard to imagine a world without an organisation like the UN. [CBSE Marking Scheme-2015]

Q.32. Though the UN has failed in preventing wars and related miseries, nations prefer its constitution. What makes the UN an indispensable organisation?

Critically evaluate the role of the UNO in a Unipolar world. Is it still relevant? How?
Ans. Among the concerns about the reform and restructuring of the UN has been the hope of some countries that changes could help the UN cope better with a unipolar world. The UN is an imperfect body, but without it the world would be worse off.
(i) An international organisation like the UN can help produce information and ideas about how to cooperate.
(ii) Interdependence and globalisation will not be possible without an international organisation such as the UN.
(iii) To make a worldwide co-operation on poverty, unemployment, environment problems, terrorism, an international organisation like the UN is must.
(iv) To provide financial assistance to the developing and underdeveloped countries, an international organisation like the UN is required.
(v) The UN serves as an international forum to solve any disputes among countries.
(vi) The different agencies of the UN work for the development of different areas in the world. All the above-mentioned points make the existence of the UN an indispensable organisation.

- Believed that reform and restructure of UNO can help it cope better with a Unipolar world where
- The USA is the most powerful. The US stands alone after the USSR's disintegration and US power cannot be checked.
- US is the single largest contributor to the UN- financial power. US soil, US bureaucracy and military might UNO is in New York- USA uses power to split the vote. and reduce opposition to its policies UN does bring nations together.
- Support the UN to help states and nations and people of the world since it works to promote objectives for a peaceful world.
- Relevant as it is a forum for dialogue, discussions and helping newly independent countries with development and organs help solve crises and help the world with issues.
[CBSE SQP Marking Scheme, 2020]