Test: The End of Bipolarity- 2 - UPSC MCQ

• The central government made all major economic decisions.
• Industries and resources were owned and managed by the state.
• There was a focus on central planning, where the government set production targets and quotas.
• This system aimed to eliminate private ownership and emphasised collective ownership.

• The general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985 was Mikhail Gorbachev.

• Gorbachev introduced significant reforms such as glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring).

• These reforms aimed to modernise the Soviet economy and increase transparency

Boris Yeltsin emerged as a national hero for his role in opposing the coup.

• He stood against the coup plotters who attempted to seize power in the Soviet Union.
• Yeltsin's actions were crucial in defending democratic reforms.
• His leadership during this crisis was pivotal in solidifying his reputation.

The Soviet economy stagnated in the late 1970s due to several factors:

• Heavy expenditure on the arms race and maintaining satellite states strained the economy.
• Resources were diverted from consumer goods and technological innovation to military spending.
• Economic inefficiencies and a lack of incentives hindered productivity and growth.
• The centralised planning system failed to adapt to changing global economic conditions.

Therefore,Correct Answer- Option B

The Soviet political system had several defining characteristics:

• The Communist Party had control over all institutions, ensuring a unified direction according to its policies.
• There was a one-party system, meaning no other political parties were allowed to compete for power.
• The economy was state-controlled and planned, with the government making all major economic decisions.
• Democracy and political opposition were not allowed, contrary to the principles of a democratic political system.

Therefore, Correct Answer- Option B

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia emerged as the sole nuclear state among the former Soviet republics. This was due to the fact that the majority of the Soviet Union's nuclear arsenal was located in Russia. As a result:

• Russia inherited the nuclear weapons and infrastructure.
• Other post-Soviet states, like Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, transferred their nuclear weapons to Russia.
• This transfer was part of international agreements aimed at reducing nuclear proliferation.

Shock therapy involved a significant shift in the economic approach of countries transitioning from centrally planned to market-oriented systems. This transformation focused on changing the external orientation of these economies. Key aspects include:

• Rapid liberalisation of trade and prices to integrate into the global market.
• Privatisation of state-owned enterprises to foster competition and efficiency.
• Reduction in state control to stimulate private sector growth.

These elements were crucial in redefining how these economies interacted with the global economic environment

Therefore,Correct Answer- Option A.

On November 6 and 7, 1917 (or October 24 and 25 on the Julian calendar, which is why the event is often referred to as the October Revolution), leftist revolutionaries led by Bolshevik Party leader Vladimir Lenin launched a nearly bloodless coup d'état against the Duma's provisional government.

• Vladimir Lenin (A-3) led the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, which led to the creation of the USSR.
• Joseph Stalin (B-2) implemented rapid industrialization and collectivization to strengthen Soviet power.
• Mikhail Gorbachev (C-1) introduced Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) reforms to modernize the political and economic system.
• Boris Yeltsin (D-4) became the first elected President of Russia after the disintegration of the USSR in 1991.

Therefore, Correct Answer- Option C