Class XII - Political Science Practice Paper - 3 - Answers

Subject: Political Science

Class XII

Time Allowed: 3 hours

Max Marks: 80

General Instructions:

Paper is divided into three parts: All three parts are compulsory.
Section – A (Multiple Choice Questions) each carrying 1 mark.
Section – B (Very Short Answer Type Questions)
Section – C (Subjective)
Answer the questions briefly as per allotted marks.

SECTION – A

1. Which among the following statements does not describe the nature of Soviet system?

(a) Soviet system did not give primacy to state and the institution of the party.

(b) The Soviet system centered around the communist party, and no other opposition.

(d) Design a society based on the principle of equality.

2. Which among the following is NOT an outcome of the disintegration of the USSR?

(a) End of the ideological war between the US and USSR

(b) Birth of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

(d) Crises in the Middle East

3. Who among the following President of US is considered for hailing the emergence of a ‘New World Order’?

(a) George H. W. Bush

(b) George W. Bush

(d) Ronald Regeon

4. Which of the following statements is NOT true in making the Soviet system bureaucratic and authoritative?

(a) Lack of democracy and freedom of speech stifled people

(b) The Communist party had tight control over all institutions and unaccountable to the people.

(c) Ukraine was only one of the fifteen republics that together constituted USSR.

(d) In the arms race, the Soviet Union managed to match the US from time to time.

5. In context to a deep –seated ‘European skepticism’ in some parts of Europe about the EU’s international agenda, which of the Prime Minister of Britain, kept United Kingdom out of the European Market?

(a) David Cameroon

(b) Tony Blair

(c) Margaret Thatcher

(d) Therasa Me

6. Which treaty or agreement abolishes border controls among the European Community?

(a) The Schengen Agreement

(b) The Treaty of Maastricht

(d) Limited Test Ban Treaty

7. As the Second World War came to an end, many of Europe’s leaders grappled with the ‘Question of Europe’. Which of the statement regarding this was NOT a part of it?

(a) Should Europe be allowed to revert to its old rivalries?

(b) Should Be constructed on principles and institutions that would contribute to a positive conception of international relations?

(c) The Second World War shattered many of the assumptions and structures on which the European states had based their relations

(d) European integration after 1945 was NOT aided by the Cold War

8. Match the correct pairs:

Choose the correct option:-

(a) 1-(iv), 2-(iii), 3-(ii) & 4-(i)

(b) 1-(iv), 2-(ii), 3-(i) & 4-(iii)

(d) 1-(i), 2-(ii), 3-(iii) & 4-(iv)

9. Assertion: India supports an increase in the number of both permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council

Reason: India itself is not interested to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council

(a) Both the Assertion and Reason are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

(b) Both the Assertion and Reason are correct but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.

(c) The Assertion is incorrect, but the Reason is correct.

(d) The Assertion is correct, but the Reason is incorrect.

10. In which of the following areas does UNESCO work for their promotion?

(i) Efficient conditions of social justice

(ii) Education, Natural Science

(iii) Culture and Communication

(iv) Literacy, Technical and Educational Training

Choose the correct option:

(a) – (i), (ii) and (iii)

(b) – (ii), (iii) and (iv)

(c) – (i), (iii) and (iv)

(d) – (i) , (ii) and (iv)

11. In which of the session of Indian National Congress the linguistic principle as the basis of formation of states was recognised?

(a) Nagpur Session, 1920

(b) Madras Session, 1927

(d) Lucknow Session,1916

12. Which pair of north eastern states of India came into being in 1987?

(a) Mizoram & Nagaland

(b) Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim

(c) Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh

(d) Nagaland & Meghalaya

13. Which among the following statements about the partition is incorrect?

(a) Partition of India was the outcome of “two nations theory”.

(b) Punjab and Bengal were the two provinces divided on the basis of religion.

(d) The scheme of partition included a plan for transfer of population across the border.

14. Who among the following is the ex-officio Chairperson of NITI Aayog?

(a) The President of India

(b) The Prime Minister of India

(d) The Vice President of India

15. Who of the following Gandhian economists proposed an alternative blue print that put greater emphasis on rural industrialisation?

(a) P C Mahalanobis

(b) Kakkadan Nandanath Raj

(c) J. C. Kumarappa

(d) Pitamber Das Syal

16. Which one of the following was an important measure taken by the Government of India to protect domestic industries during the Second Five Year Plan?

(a) Huge allocation were made for large scale projects like the Bhakhara Nangal Dam

(b) Efforts were made to raise the national income of India

(d) The government imposed substantial tariffs on imports.

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions (17 to 19) that follows: –

When India conducted its first nuclear test, it was termed as peaceful explosion. India argued that it was committed to the policy of using nuclear power only for peaceful purposes. The period when the nuclear test was conducted was a difficult period in domestic politics. Following the Arab-Israel War of 1973, the entire world was affected by the Oil Shock due to the massive hike in the oil prices by the Arab nations. It led to economic turmoil in India resulting in high inflation.

17. When did India conduct its first nuclear test?

(a) 1975

(b) 1973

(d) 1998

18. Match the followings: –

1	The goal of India’s foreign policy in the period from 1950-1954	(i)	Homi Jahangir Bhabha
2	Panchsheel	(ii)	Preservation of territorial integrity, sovereignty and economic development
3	Father of Nuclear Programme in India	(iii)	Peaceful co-existence
4	US-Pakistan-China Axis	(iv)	20-year treaty of friendship between USSR and India

Choose the correct option: –

(a)- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)- (iv)

(b)- (a)-(i), (b)-(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)- (iv)

(c)- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)

(d)- (a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)

19. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of these statements.

(i) Non-alignment allowed India to gain assistance both from USA and USSR

(ii) India’s relationship with her neighbours has been strained from the beginning

(ii) The Cold War has affected the relationship [ between India and Pakistan ]

(iv) The Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1971 was the result of India’s closeness to USA

Choose the correct option:-

(a)- (i)-True, (ii)- True, (iii)-True & (iv)- False

(b)- (i)-True, (ii)- False, (iii)-True & (iv)- False

(c)- (i)-True, (ii)- True, (iii)-False & (iv)- False

(d)- (i)-False, (ii)- True, (iii)-True & (iv)- False

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions (20-24) that follows:

“……Indira Gandhi changed the Congress into highly centralized and undemocratic party organisation, from the earlier federal, democratic and ideological formation that Nehru had led……But this…. could not have happened had not Indira Gandhi changed the entire nature of politics. This new, populist politics turned political ideology…into a mere electoral discourse, use of various slogans not meant to be translated into government policies ……During its great electoral victories in early 1970s, amidst the celebrations, the Congress party as a political organisation died….”

20. Who was the President of Indian National Congress at the time of split?

a) N. Sanjeeva Reddy

(b) K. Kamraj

(d) S. Nijalingappa

21. The results of which elections were called Political Earthquake?

(a) 1971, Fifth General Election

(b) 1977, Sixth General Election

(d) 1957, Second General Election

22. In 1966, _____________contested against Indira Gandhi for the post of Prime Minister from among Congress MPs.

(a) Chaudhary Charan Singh

(b) K. Kamraj

(c) Morarji Desai

(d) N. Sanjeeva Reddy

23. Choose the correct pair of states where the Congress was not in power at some point during 1952-67.

(a)- Jammu- Kashmir & Kerala

(b) Tamil Nadu and Orrissa

(c)- Bihar and Gujarat

(d) Haryana and Assam

24. Fill in the blank: –

In 1963 a senior Congress leader proposed that all senior Congressmen should resign from office to make way for younger party workers- this proposal is famous as the ________plan.

(a) K. Kamraj

(b) Ram Manohar Lohiya

(d) C. Natarajan Annadurai

SECTION – B

25. Correct & Rewrite: –

On 11 September 2000, nineteen hijackers hailing from a number of Arab countries took control of four American commercial aircraft shortly after takeoff and flew them into the important buildings in the US. Third aircraft crashed into the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, where the US Foreign Department is headquartered.

Ans. On 11 September 2001, nineteen hijackers hailing from a number of Arab countries took control of four American commercial aircraft shortly after takeoff and flew them into the important buildings in the US. Third aircraft crashed into the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, where the US Defence Department is headquartered

26. What is ‘Bandwagon’ strategy?

Ans. It is suggested that instead of engaging in activities opposed to the hegemonic power, it may be advisable to extract benefits by operating within the hegemonic system

27. Observe the picture (BRICS) carefully and then answer the question mentioned below: –

Identify the leader and his country, third from the left. Who chaired the 13th summit held in 2021?

Ans. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. India chaired the 13th summit held in 2021.

28. What is ASEAN way?

Ans. A form of interaction that is informal, non-confrontationist and co-operative.

29. Who said these words – “The United Nations was not created to take the humanity to heaven, but to save it from hell”?

Ans. Dag Hammarskjold, UN’s Second Secretary General

30. Mention any two of the steps suggested on the occasion of 60th Anniversary of UN, regarding jurisdictional reforms.

Ans. 1. Creation of Peace Building Commission

2. Establishment of a Human Rights Council

3. Agreement to achieve Millennium Development Goals

4. Creation of a Democracy Fund

31. Read the cartoon carefully and then answer the question that follows:

What does the cartoon suggest?

Ans. The above cartoon suggest the struggle for the formation of linguistic states.

32. What was people’s movement in Hyderabad?

Ans. A powerful Satyagraha Movement started in the Hyderabad state by the Congress against the Nizam’s rule. The peasantry in Telengana region rose against Nizam’s oppressive rule.

33. What was Tryst with destiny?

Ans. This was the speech given by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, at the midnight hour of 14th -15th August, 1947, in the Constituent Assembly, on the eve of India’s independence.

34. When was India’s new economic policy launched? Who was its chief architect?

Ans. It was launched in 1991. The Then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao alongwith then Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh were the chief architect.

35. What is ‘Left’ and ‘Right’ in politics?

Ans. ➢ Left often refers to those who are in favour of the poor, downtrodden sections and support government policies for the benefits of these sections.

➢ The Right refers to those who believes that free competition and market economy alone ensure progress and that the government should not unnecessarily intervene in the economy

36. Why the senior Congress leaders support Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister?

Ans. The senior Congress leaders supported Indira Gandhi in the belief that her administrative and political inexperience would compel her to be dependent on them for support and guidance

37. Define the defection.

Ans. Defection means an elected representative leaves the party on whose symbol he/she was elected and join other party.

38. Name any two of the opposition leaders included in Nehru’s first Cabinet.

Ans. 1. Dr. B R Ambedkar and 2. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee

39. Which were the two major challenges the country faced during Lal Bahadur Shastri’s brief Prime Ministership?

Ans. ➢ While India was still recovering from the economic implications of war with China, failed monsoons, drought and serious food crisis presented a grave challenge.

➢ The country also faced a war with Pakistan in 1965.

40. Name any two of the states where break way Congress legislatures played an important role in installing non-congress government.

Ans. Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh

SECTION – C (Long Answers – Type I)

41. Why did India sign a 20-year treaty of peace and friendship with the Soviet Union in August,1971?

Ans. In order to counter the US-Pakistan-China axis. This treaty assured India of Soviet support if the country faced any attack.

42. Mentioned any two of the new economic policies that helped the Chinese economy to break from stagnation.

Ans. 1. Privatization of agriculture led to a remarkable rise in agricultural production and rural income. High personal savings in the rural economy lead to an exponential growth in rural industry.

2. The new trading laws and the creation of Special Economic Zones led to a phenomenal rise in foreign trade. China has become the most important destination of foreign direct investment.

43. US power cannot easily be checked. Put light of this statement.

Ans. ➢ First of all, with the disappearance of the Soviet Union, the US stands as the only superpower. Its military and economic power allow it to ignore the UN or any other international organization.

➢ Secondly, within the UN, the influence of the US is considerable. As the single largest contributor to the UN, the US has unmatched financial power.

44. How did the state of Junagarh accede into the Indian Union?

Ans. ➢ Junagarh, a small state on the coast of Saurashtra, surrounded by the Indian territory, and therefore had no geographical contiguity with the Pakistan. Yet its Nawab announced its accession to Pakistan, even though the people of the state wanted to join India.

➢ The issue of Junagarh was resolved after a PLEBISCITE held in the state, which went overwhelmingly in favour of joining India.

SECTION – C (Long Answers – Type II)

45. What are the challenges before the economy of china though it has grown as an emerging centre of power?

Ans. ➢ While the Chinese economy has improved dramatically, not everyone in china has received the benefits of the reforms.

➢ Unemployment has risen in China with nearly 100 million people looking for jobs.

➢ Female employment and conditions of work are miserable as in Europe of 18 th and 19th centuries.

➢ Environment degradation and corruption have increased besides a rise in economic inequality b/w rural and urban residents and coastal and inland provinces.

46. Write a brief note on Israel as one of the most powerful nations in the 21st century.

Ans. ➢ Israel has emerged as one of the most powerful nations in the 21st century world in terms of science and technology, defence, intelligence besides economy.

➢ Situated in the middle of the burning politics of West Asian countries, Israel has reached to the new heights of global politics.

➢ Israel has been standing by virtue of its indomitable defence prowess, technological innovations, industrialization and agricultural development.

➢ Sustaining against adversity is the principle with which a small Jewish-Zionist nation, i.e., Israel is placed in the contemporary global politics in general and the Arabdominated West Asian politics in particular.

47. ‘Reforming the UN means restructuring of the Security Council’. Do you agree with the statement? Give arguments in favour or against this position.

Ans. Reforming the UN does mean restructuring of the Security Council’:-

➢ Security Council is the most important organ of the UN, mainly responsible for ensuring peace and security in the world. It is the Security Council that takes decisions on all important matter related to the maintenance of world peace.

➢ The Security Council consists of 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. The permanent members have a privilege position of permanency and the VETO power. The VETO power is the negative vote of the permanent member.

➢ In the events of a threat to war or occurrence of war between two or more countries, the Security Council has power to take appropriate measures to restore peace. Since the Security Council is a powerful organ, its reformation is necessary so that the UN become more effective

➢ In the 1965 the membership of the Security Council was increased from 11 to 15. There is no change so far as the number of permanent members is concerned. It was only the number of non-permanent members that was increased from 6 to 10.

48. Read the following passage and answer the questions mentioned below:

“Our general policy is to avoid entanglement in power politics and not to join any group of powers as against any other group. The two leading groups today are the Russian bloc and the Anglo-American bloc. We must be friendly to both and yet not join either. Both America and Russia are extraordinarily suspicious of each other as well as of other countries. This makes our path difficult and we may well be suspected by each of leaning towards the other. This cannot be helped. The foreign policy of independent India vigorously pursued the dream of a peaceful world by advocating the policy of non-alignment, by reducing Cold War tensions and by contributing human resources to the UN peacekeeping operations.

The three major objectives of Nehru’s foreign policy were to preserve the hard-earned sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, and promote rapid economic development. India wanted to keep away from the military alliances led by US and Soviet Union against each other. India advocated non-alignment as the ideal foreign policy approach. This was a difficult balancing act and sometimes the balance did not appear perfect.

(i) What was the general foreign policy?

Ans. (i) The foreign policy of independent India vigorously pursued the dream of a peaceful world by advocating the policy of non-alignment, by reducing Cold War tensions and by contributing human resources to the UN peacekeeping operations.

(ii) What were the main objectives of Nehru’ foreign policy.

Ans. (ii) The major objectives of Nehru’s foreign policy were to preserve the hard-earned sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, and promote rapid economic development.

(iii) Name any two of the situations when the non-alignment approach did not appear balance.

Ans. (iii) In 1956 when Britain attacked Egypt over Suez Canal issue and USSR invaded over Hungary.

49. In the given political outline map of India, five states have been marked as A ,B, C, D & E. Identify these states on the basis of information given below and write their correct names in your answer book along with the respective serial number of information used and the concerned alphabet as per the following format

Serial Number of Information Used	Concerned Alphabet	Name of the State

(i) The state where the first non-congress government was formed by E.M.S. Namboodiripad.

(ii) The state which led the country to white revolution through Dairy Co-operative Movement.

(iii) The state to which K.Kamraj (1903-1975) , who proposed ‘Kamraj Plan’ belonged.

(iv) The state to which the symbol of opposition to emergency and moving forces behind the formations of Janata Party, Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan associated with.

(v) State where, in recently held elections a party came into the power, has already been its government in a Union Territory.

Ans.

Serial Number of Information Used	Concerned Alphabet	Name of the State
(i)	B	Kerala
(ii)	D	Gujarat
(iii)	A	Tamil Nadu
(iv)	C	Bihar
(v)	E	Punjab

50. Suppose the Soviet Union had not disintegrated and the world was still as bipolar as it was in mid1980s. How would it have affected the developments in the last two decades? Identify any three regions or domains and the developments that may not have taken place in that kind of a world.

Ans. • End of Cold War confrontations would remain over there. The ideological dispute over whether the socialist system would beat the capitalist system remained an issue for more years to come. . The Power relations in world politics would not change and, therefore, the relative influence of ideas and institutions remain unchanged.

➢ In the bipolar world, both the superpowers and their institutions would dominate the power and further it would result in power blocs and alliances.

➢ The membership of European Union and NATO would be limited, since Soviet bloc remained intact. ➢ The international system would not see the emergence of many new players, each with their own identity, interests, and economic and political difficulties.

➢ The painful process of transition from an authoritarian socialist system to a democratic capitalist system i.e. Shock Therapy would not have taken place etc.

As a citizen of India how would you support India’s candidatures for the permanent membership of the Security Council? Justify your proposal.

Ans. ➢ India is the second most populous country in the world comprising almost 1/5 of the world population.

➢ India is also the world’s largest democracy.

➢ India has participated in virtually all of the initiatives of the UN. It’s role in the UN peacekeeping efforts is a long and substantial one.

➢ The country’s economic emergence on the world stage is another factor that perhaps justifies India’s claim to a permanent seat in the Security Council.

➢ India has also made regular financial contribution to the UN and never faltered on its payments.

➢ India considers that the permanent membership of the Security Council will give her a position of utmost importance as it gives her the reputation of being powerful and influential.

51. The process of nation –building did not come to an end with partition and integration of Princely States. Put light on this statement. Put light on the statement. “The idea of dividing India on communal basis might appear simple; but it presented all kinds of difficulties”. Describe briefly any four problems faced in the process of partition.

Ans. ❖ Now the challenge was to draw the internal boundaries of the Indian states. This was not just a matter of administrative divisions.

❖ The boundaries had to be drawn in a way so that the linguistic and cultural plurality of the country could be reflected without affecting the unity of the nation.

➢ First of all, there was no single belt of Muslim majority areas in British India. There were of two areas of Muslim concentration, one in the west and one in the east.

➢ Secondly, not all Muslim majority areas wanted to be in Pakistan. Khan Abdul Gafar Khan was opposed to the Two Nations Theory and the creation of Pakistan.

➢ The third problem was that two of the Muslim majority provinces of British India, Punjab and Bengal , had very large areas where the non- Muslims were in majority. Eventually it was decided that these two provinces would be bifurcated according to the religious majority at the district or even lower level.

➢ The problem of ‘minorities ‘ on both sides of the border was the fourth most intractable of all the problems of partition. The minorities on both sides of the border were left with no option except to leave their homes, often at a few hours’ notice.

In what sense was the Congress an ideological coalition? How did the coalition like character of Congress give it an unusual strength?

Ans. Congress as an ideological coalition:-

➢ Congress began as a party dominated by the English speaking, upper caste, upper middle class and urban elite. It brought together diverse groups, whose interests were often contradictory. Peasants and industrialists, urban dwellers and villages, workers and owners, middle, lower and upper classes and castes, all found space in the Congress.

➢ Gradually, its leadership also expanded beyond the upper caste and upper class professionals to agriculture based leaders with a rural orientation. By the time of independence, the Congress was transformed into a rainbow-like social coalition broadly representing India’s diversity.

Coalition like character…………

➢ Firstly, a coalition accommodates all those who join it. Therefore, it has to avoid any extreme position and strike a balance on almost issues. Compromise and inclusiveness are the hallmarks of a coalition. This strategy put the opposition in a difficulty. Anything that the opposition wanted to say, would also find a place in the programme and ideology of the Congress.

➢ Secondly, in a party that has the nature of a coalition, there is a greater tolerance of internal differences and ambitions of various groups and leaders are accommodated. The Congress did both these things during the freedom struggle and continued doing this even after independence. That is why, even if a group was not happy with the position of the party or with share of power, it would remain inside the party and fight the other groups rather than leaving the party and becoming an ‘opposition’

Class XII – Political Science Practice Paper – 3 – Answers