Recent Developments in Indian Politics
Politics in India since Independence • NCERT Solutions
Timeline & Matching
1. Unscramble the press clippings and arrange the file chronologically.
Chronological Order:
- (d) Assassination of Indira Gandhi (1984)
- (b) Formation of the Janata Dal (1988)
- (a) Implementation of the recommendation of the Mandal Commission (1990)
- (e) The formation of NDA government (1998)
- (f) Formation of the UPA government (2004)
- (c) Supreme court Judgment on the Ram Janmabhoomi (2019)
2. Match the following.
| Term | Concept / Event |
|---|---|
| (a) Politics of Consensus | (iv) Agreement on Economic policies |
| (b) Caste based parties | (ii) Rise of OBCs |
| (c) Personal Law and Gender Justice | (i) Shah Bano case |
| (d) Growing strength of Regional parties | (iii) Coalition government |
Short Answer Questions
3. State the main issues in Indian politics in the period after 1989. What different configurations of political parties these differences lead to?
Main Issues after 1989:
- Rise of OBCs: The Mandal Commission implementation sparked debates on reservation and solidified the political power of Other Backward Classes.
- Communalism vs. Secularism: The Ayodhya dispute (Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid) and the rise of Hindutva politics polarized the nation.
- Economic Reforms: The introduction of the New Economic Policy (LPG) in 1991 created a broad consensus on development but debate on its social impact.
- Regionalism: The rising power of state-level parties.
4. “In the new era of coalition politics, political parties are not aligning or realigning on the basis of ideology.” Support or oppose this statement.
I support this statement.
In the post-1989 era, political alliances have been driven more by power-sharing equations than ideological compatibility.
In the post-1989 era, political alliances have been driven more by power-sharing equations than ideological compatibility.
- Common Minimum Programme: Coalitions often set aside controversial ideological differences to govern (e.g., the NDA dropped core Hindutva issues in 1999 to accommodate secular regional allies).
- Strange Bedfellows: The Left Front supported the Congress-led UPA in 2004 despite being historical rivals, solely to keep the BJP out of power.
- Regional Flexibility: Parties like the BSP or TDP have allied with both Congress and BJP at different times to maximize their regional interests, proving that ideology is secondary to political survival.
5. Trace the emergence of BJP as a significant force in post-Emergency politics.
- Formation (1980): After the Janata Party split, former Jana Sangh members formed the BJP. Initially, it adopted ‘Gandhian Socialism’ but failed to gain traction (winning only 2 seats in 1984).
- Hindutva Turn (1986 onwards): The party shifted focus to Hindutva ideology, mobilizing support around the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
- Rath Yatra (1990): L.K. Advani’s Rath Yatra consolidated Hindu votes, leading to a massive electoral rise.
- Power at Centre: By 1996, it became the single largest party. In 1998 and 1999, it successfully led the coalition government (NDA), solidifying its position as a central pole in Indian politics.
Critical Analysis
6. In spite of the decline of Congress dominance, the Congress party continues to influence politics in the country. Do you agree? Give reasons.
Yes, I agree.
While the “Congress System” of total dominance has ended, the party remains a vital force:
While the “Congress System” of total dominance has ended, the party remains a vital force:
- Pan-India Presence: Unlike regional parties, Congress still has a vote base in almost every state and village of India.
- Leader of Alliances: It anchors the UPA (and now INDIA bloc), proving it is the only viable national alternative to the BJP.
- Ideological Pole: Indian politics is still largely divided into “Congress vs. Non-Congress” or “BJP vs. Anti-BJP,” where Congress represents the centrist-secular pole.
- State Power: It continues to form governments in significant states, influencing national policy through the Rajya Sabha and state leadership.
7. Many people think that a two-party system is required for successful democracy. Drawing from India’s experience of last 30 years, write an essay on what advantages the present party system in India has.
While a two-party system offers stability, India’s Multi-Party System has specific advantages for a diverse nation:
1. Representation of Diversity: India is a “continent” of diverse languages, castes, and cultures. A two-party system might ignore smaller groups. The current system ensures that OBCs, Dalits, and specific linguistic groups have their own political voice (e.g., BSP, SP, DMK).
2. Checks on Authoritarianism: Coalition governments prevent any single leader or party from becoming dictatorial. Regional allies act as a check on the central power.
3. Focus on Regional Issues: In the coalition era, national governments are forced to pay attention to state-level problems (like water disputes or regional funds) because their survival depends on regional partners.
Conclusion: For a plural society like India, a multi-party system, despite being messy, is more democratic and inclusive.
1. Representation of Diversity: India is a “continent” of diverse languages, castes, and cultures. A two-party system might ignore smaller groups. The current system ensures that OBCs, Dalits, and specific linguistic groups have their own political voice (e.g., BSP, SP, DMK).
2. Checks on Authoritarianism: Coalition governments prevent any single leader or party from becoming dictatorial. Regional allies act as a check on the central power.
3. Focus on Regional Issues: In the coalition era, national governments are forced to pay attention to state-level problems (like water disputes or regional funds) because their survival depends on regional partners.
Conclusion: For a plural society like India, a multi-party system, despite being messy, is more democratic and inclusive.
8. Read the passage by Zoya Hasan and answer the questions.
(a) Challenges of the party system:
The author identifies fragmentation and the inability to accommodate diverse interests as key challenges. As the Congress umbrella collapsed, new parties emerged based on narrow identities, making it difficult to create a unified national policy.
(b) Example of lack of accommodation: The rise of the Mandal politics is a prime example. The established parties initially failed to accommodate the rising aspirations of the OBCs, leading to the fragmentation of the Congress and the creation of caste-based parties like the Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party to represent these specific interests.
(c) Why is it necessary to accommodate and aggregate interests? India is extremely diverse. If political parties focus only on one caste or religion (“self-representation”), society will become polarized and conflicted. Aggregation (bringing different groups together) is necessary to form stable governments and maintain national unity amidst diversity.
(b) Example of lack of accommodation: The rise of the Mandal politics is a prime example. The established parties initially failed to accommodate the rising aspirations of the OBCs, leading to the fragmentation of the Congress and the creation of caste-based parties like the Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party to represent these specific interests.
(c) Why is it necessary to accommodate and aggregate interests? India is extremely diverse. If political parties focus only on one caste or religion (“self-representation”), society will become polarized and conflicted. Aggregation (bringing different groups together) is necessary to form stable governments and maintain national unity amidst diversity.