Passage Based Questions: The Crisis of Democratic Order - 1 | Political Science Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

The period between 1973 and 1975 saw increasing tensions in India’s democratic system. Indira Gandhi’s government faced multiple challenges, including economic distress, political opposition, and conflicts with the judiciary. High inflation, unemployment, and food shortages created dissatisfaction among the people. At the same time, opposition parties accused Indira Gandhi of authoritarianism. The judiciary ruled against the government in multiple cases, leading to tensions between the executive and the courts. These conflicts escalated, eventually leading to the imposition of the Emergency in June 1975.

i. What were the major factors leading to the Emergency in 1975? (1 Mark)
(a) External war threats
(b) Economic distress, political opposition, and judicial conflicts
(c) Natural disasters
(d) Foreign intervention
ii. How did political and economic conditions contribute to the Emergency? (2 Marks)
iii. Why was the judiciary in conflict with Indira Gandhi’s government before the Emergency? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i. (b) Economic distress, political opposition, and judicial conflicts
ii. 

• High inflation, unemployment, and food shortages created widespread dissatisfaction.
• Opposition parties and the judiciary accused the government of being authoritarian.

iii. The courts ruled against the government in key cases, challenging its authority.

Q2: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

In 1974, student protests erupted in Bihar over rising prices, food scarcity, and corruption. The protests gained national significance when Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) took leadership of the movement. JP called for “Total Revolution”, demanding a complete transformation in the political, economic, and social system. He organized mass rallies and protests, calling for Indira Gandhi’s resignation. His movement gained the support of multiple non-Congress opposition parties, making him a key figure in Indian politics during the Emergency period.

i. Who led the Bihar Movement of 1974? (1 Mark)
(a) Morarji Desai
(b) Charan Singh
(c) Jayaprakash Narayan
(d) George Fernandes
ii. What were the key demands of the Bihar Movement? (2 Marks)
iii. Why was Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement significant? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i.  (c) Jayaprakash Narayan
ii. 

• Reforms in governance, including the elimination of corruption.
• Indira Gandhi’s resignation and political change in India.

iii. It united opposition parties and became a direct challenge to Congress rule.

Q3: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

In May 1974, railway workers, led by George Fernandes, organized a nationwide strike demanding better wages and working conditions. The strike paralyzed transportation across the country, disrupting both passenger and goods movement. The government declared the strike illegal, arrested many leaders, and deployed the army to maintain order. The strike intensified tensions between labor unions and the government, contributing to the overall climate of unrest before the Emergency.

i. Who led the nationwide railway strike in 1974? (1 Mark)
(a) Jayaprakash Narayan
(b) George Fernandes 
(c) Jagjivan Ram
(d) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
ii. What were the key demands of the railway workers? (2 Marks)
ii. Why was the railway strike significant in Indian politics? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i. (b) George Fernandes
ii.

• Higher wages and improved working conditions.
• Better job security and benefits for railway employees.

iii. It increased tensions between labor unions and the government, leading to greater unrest before the Emergency. 

Q4: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

On June 25, 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a National Emergency, citing internal disturbances under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution. The declaration followed a verdict by the Allahabad High Court, which found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral misconduct. The government arrested opposition leaders, imposed press censorship, and suspended fundamental rights. This move was widely criticized as an attempt to suppress political opposition and centralize power.

i. Which article of the Constitution was used to declare the Emergency in 1975? (1 Mark)
(a) Article 356
(b) Article 370
(c) Article 352 
(d) Article 51A
ii. What were the key consequences of the Emergency? (2 Marks)
iii. Why was the Emergency controversial? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i. (c) Article 352
ii.

• Suspension of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and press.
• Arrests of opposition leaders and strict government control over political activities.

iii. Many critics viewed this as an attempt to suppress democracy and political opposition.

Q5: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

After 18 months of Emergency, Indira Gandhi announced general elections in 1977. The opposition parties united under the Janata Party, led by Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The elections were seen as a referendum on the Emergency, with opposition leaders campaigning to restore democracy. The results were shocking – Congress suffered a massive defeat, losing in major northern states. Morarji Desai became the first non-Congress Prime Minister, marking a historic political shift in India.

i. Which party defeated Congress in the 1977 elections? (1 Mark)
(a) Bharatiya Jana Sangh
(b) Janata Party
(c) Communist Party of India
(d) Bahujan Samaj Party
ii. What were the main reasons for Congress’ defeat in the 1977 elections? (2 Marks)
iii. Why was the 1977 election a turning point in Indian politics? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i. (b) Janata Party
ii. Key reasons for this outcome included:

• Public anger over the excesses of the Emergency, including the suppression of rights.
• The unification of opposition parties under the Janata Party.

iii. It was the first time a non-Congress government was elected at the national level.

Q6: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

After the Emergency ended in 1977, the new Janata Party government set up the Shah Commission to investigate the excesses committed during the Emergency. The commission, led by Justice J.C. Shah, examined cases of arbitrary arrests, press censorship, and forced sterilization campaigns. The report criticized the Indira Gandhi government for its abuse of power and human rights violations. However, when Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980, the commission’s findings were largely ignored, and many of its recommendations were not implemented.

i. What was the purpose of the Shah Commission? (1 Mark)
(a) To investigate corruption in the Janata Party
(b) To investigate the excesses committed during the Emergency
(c) To recommend new economic policies
(d) To restructure the judiciary
ii. What were the key findings of the Shah Commission? (2 Marks)
iii. Why did the Shah Commission's recommendations not have a lasting impact? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i. (b) To investigate the excesses committed during the Emergency
ii. 

• It found evidence of human rights violations and political suppression during the Emergency.
• It criticized the arbitrary arrests, press censorship, and forced sterilization campaigns.

iii. When Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980, the report was largely ignored.

Q7: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Despite its historic victory in 1977, the Janata Party government struggled to maintain stability. The party was formed as a coalition of different ideological groups, including former Congress members, socialists, and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Internal conflicts and disagreements led to the resignation of Prime Minister Morarji Desai in 1979. A brief government under Charan Singh also collapsed due to a lack of parliamentary majority. In the 1980 elections, Indira Gandhi made a strong comeback, and the Congress party regained power with a decisive victory.

i. Why did the Janata Party government collapse in 1979? (1 Mark)
(a) Economic crisis
(b) Internal conflicts and lack of unity
(c) Foreign invasion
(d) Military coup
ii. What were the key reasons for the failure of the Janata Party? (2 Marks)
iii. How did the collapse of the Janata Party benefit Indira Gandhi? (1 Mark)

Ans: 
i. (b) Internal conflicts and lack of unity
ii. 

• The party was made up of different ideological groups that had frequent disagreements.
• It lacked a strong leadership structure and faced political instability.

iii. It allowed her to regain public support and return to power in 1980.

Q8: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

In 1984, the Indian government launched Operation Blue Star to remove militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The operation, ordered by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, aimed to eliminate Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers, who had taken control of the temple. However, the use of the army in a sacred Sikh shrine caused widespread anger among the Sikh community. As a result, on October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, leading to violent anti-Sikh riots across India.

i. What was the main objective of Operation Blue Star? (1 Mark)
(a) To capture insurgents in Kashmir
(b) To remove militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar
(c) To establish military rule in Punjab
(d) To stop farmers' protests
ii. What were the major consequences of Operation Blue Star? (2 Marks)
iii. Why was Operation Blue Star controversial? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i. (b) To remove militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar
ii.

• Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.
• Violent anti-Sikh riots erupted across the country.

iii. The attack on the Golden Temple deeply hurt Sikh religious sentiments.

Q9: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

On the night of December 2-3, 1984, a gas leak at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal resulted in one of the worst industrial disasters in history. The gas, methyl isocyanate (MIC), spread across the city, causing thousands of deaths and severe health effects for many survivors. The disaster led to long-term environmental damage and raised questions about corporate responsibility and industrial safety regulations in India.

i. Which industrial disaster occurred in Bhopal in 1984? (1 Mark)
(a) Chernobyl nuclear accident
(b) Bhopal gas tragedy
(c) Gujarat earthquake
(d) Mumbai floods
ii. What were the key consequences of the Bhopal gas tragedy? (2 Marks)
iii. Why was the Bhopal gas tragedy considered a major environmental disaster? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i. (b) Bhopal gas tragedy
ii. Key consequences of the Bhopal gas tragedy:

• Thousands of people died, with many suffering long-term health issues.
• The disaster raised concerns about corporate responsibility and industrial safety.

iii. It led to long-term soil and water contamination, affecting the local population for decades.

Q10: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

After the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984, her son Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India. His government focused on modernizing India’s economy and administration. Rajiv promoted technological advancements, computerization, and telecom expansion. His policies laid the foundation for economic liberalization in the 1990s. However, his tenure was also marked by corruption scandals, such as the Bofors scam, which weakened public trust in his leadership.

i. Who became Prime Minister of India after Indira Gandhi’s assassination? (1 Mark)
(a) V.P. Singh
(b) Rajiv Gandhi 
(c) P.V. Narasimha Rao
(d) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
ii. What were the key initiatives of Rajiv Gandhi’s government? (2 Marks)
iii. Why was the Bofors scam significant in Indian politics? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i. (b) Rajiv Gandhi
ii. Key initiatives of Rajiv Gandhi's government:

• Promoted computerisation and technological advancements.
• Expanded telecom networks and modernised governance.

iii. It damaged Rajiv Gandhi’s reputation and led to loss of public trust in his leadership.