Class XII – Political Science Sample Paper – 2

Ans. (A) Socialism

Explanation: The Soviet political system was based on the socialism ideology.

Ans. (A) i-(B) ii-(C) iii-(A) iv-(D)

• Mikhail Gorbachev introduced reforms, shock therapy was an economic model, Russia is successor of USSR and Warsaw was a military pact among Soviet Union and seven other Soviet satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe.

Ans. (B) i., ii., iv., iii

Explanation: First world war (1914-1918), League of Nations established in the year 1920, Second world war (1939-1945) and United Nations established in 1945

Ans. (B) António Guterres

Explanation: António Guterres is the present UN Secretary-General

Ans. (B) UNEP

Explanation: UNEP stands for United Nation Environment Programme. UNEP is related to environment.

Ans. (A) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)

Explanation: Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement. Under this, targets have been set for industrialised countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Green house gases like carbon dioxide, methane and hydro-fluoro carbon are believed to contribute to global warming.

Ans. (C) Mixed

Explanation: India adopted the Mixed economic system after independence. Mixed economy is where both private sector and public sector work together in order to achieve economic development.

Ans. (A) Article 51

Explanation: Article 51: It lays down some Directive Principles of State Policy on ‘Promotion of international peace and security.

Ans. (B) Five principles of peaceful coexistence.

Explanation: Panchsheel are the Five principles of peaceful coexistence that governs the relations between India and China. It was signed in the year 1954.

Ans. (A) Establishment of NAM

Explanation: In 1955 Asian and African nations gathered in Bandung in Indonesia to discuss peace and the role of the Third World countries in the Cold War, economic development, and decolonization. Bandung Conference is related with establishment of NAM (Non Aligned Movement).

Ans. (C) Other Backward Castes (OBC)

Explanation: The Mandal Commission was established in India in 1979 with a mandate to “identify the socially or educationally backward classes” of India.

Ans. (B) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

Explanation: A section of the big industrialists got together in 1944 and drafted a joint proposal for setting up a planned economy in the country. It was called the Bombay Plan. Soon after India became independent, the Planning Commission came into being.

Ans. Main points of dispute between India and Bangladesh the year are:

• River water dispute,

• Refugee problem,

• Barbed fence dispute,

• Return problem of Chakma refugees.

Ans. Two major reasons behind the continuous decline in the size of the word’s common wealth are as follows:

• Increasing populations.

• Indiscriminate tapping

Ans. Two consequences of the Rio Summit (1992):

• Global warming has emerged as a problem.

• Emphasis on sustainable development.

Ans. Some of the reasons behind victory of Congress (R) in the 1971 elections are:

• Slogan of Garibi Hatao.

• India’s victory in 1971 Indo-Pak war

Ans. Reasons that led to the era of coalition government at the centre:

• Weakening of national parties: Example, Congress.

• Rise of regional parties.

Ans. In order to counter the US-Pakistan-China axis, India signed a twenty-year peace and friendship treaty with the Soviet Union in August 1971. The treaty assured India with the Soviet support should the country face any attack.

Ans. The main objectives behind the establishment of SAARC were the following:

• Desire for the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their standard of living.

• To achieve economic development, social progress and cultural advancement in the South Asia region and to provide opportunities of dignity to all the people of this region.

• To create and promote collective self-confidence and self-reliance in the countries of South Asia.

• Looking at each other’s problems from the point of mutual trust, understanding and appreciation.

Ans. Relations between India and the Soviet Union were very deep during the Cold War. During this period, relations between India and the Soviet Union were also multidimensional.

Aspects:

• Economic: The Soviet Union helped Indian public sector companies at a time when such assistance was difficult to obtain. The Soviet Union provided economic and technical assistance for steel plants at Bhilai, Bokaro and Visakhapatnam, and machinery plants such as Bharat Heavy Electricals.

• Political: The Soviet Union supported India’s position in the United Nations on the Kashmir issue. The Soviet Union helped India during the thick of the struggle, especially during the 1971 war with Pakistan. India also supported the foreign policy of the Soviet Union in an indirect but important way.

• Military: The Soviet Union gave military equipment to India at a time when hardly any other country was ready to give its military technology to India.

• Cultural: Hindi films and Indian culture were popular in the Soviet Union. A large number of Indian writers and artists visited the Soviet Union.

Ans. • Many people (who are interested in politics) often debate that the end of the Soviet Union is not the end of socialism because Ideologies do not end by any one sudden event. Socialism is an ideology. Only capitalist thinkers oppose it. The basic foundation or soul of socialism is the welfare of the society or the common people. And on the other hand, the basis of capitalism is personal selfishness and exploitation of the weak and helpless.

• Socialism is inevitable, if not today then it will definitely come tomorrow because the number of poor countries and poor people in the world is much higher. History is witness to the fact that when monarchical dictatorship came to an end, democracy and liberal governance system came in its place. If feudalism, zamindari and jagirdari end, then those who till the land will get it. If capitalism ends, then only socialism will come.

Ans. Consequences of ‘Shock Therapy:

• ‘Shock Therapy adopted in 1990 did not take the public to the ‘Anandalok’ of consumption that it had promised. Generally (‘shock therapy’) the economy of the entire region was destroyed and the people of this region had to suffer the brunt of ruin.

• In Russia, the entire state-controlled industrial structure collapsed. About 90 percent of the industries were sold to private hands or companies. Since this restructuring of the economic structure was being done by market forces instead of the industrial policy directed by the government, this step proved to be the death knell for all industries.

• The Russian currency, the ruble, declined dramatically in value. Inflation increased to such an extent that people’s savings kept getting eroded.

• The system of collective farming had ended and people no longer had security of food grains.

Ans. • We do not agree with the statement that globalization is increasing cultural diversity. In fact, it shows that different parts of the world are coming closer to each other culturally. Let us take the example of our country. Whatever we eat, drink, wear or think, its effect is less visible. The things which we call our choice, those things are also decided under the influence of globalization.

• The cultural effects of globalization have fueled fears that this process will threaten the world’s cultures by making them poorer. This happens because globalization comes from cultural homogeneity. Cultural homogeneity does not mean that there is a rise of some world-culture. Anthropologists argue that Western culture is actually being imposed on the rest of the world in the name of world-culture.

Ans. Economic effect of globalisation on developing nations:

• Globalisation has increased trade in commodities across the globe. The restrictions imposed by different countries on the imports of other countries have been reduced.

• The restrictions on the movement of capital across countries have also been reduced. Thus, investors in rich counties can invest their money in other countries particularly developing countries, where they get better returns.

• Globalisation has led to the spread of ideas and technologies such as the internet and computer related services.

• Globalisation has led to increase in the movement of people. For example, about 3,00, 000 Indians are working in Silicon Valley in USA.

Yes, Globalisation has a positive impact on the developing nations.

Ans. In the first general election, the Congress party won 364 of the total 489 seats in the first election to the Lok Sabha, leaving it far ahead of any rival in the electoral race.

• The Communist Party of India came second in the first general election as far as the number of seats it won was concerned. It got a total of 16 seats.

• Along with the elections to the Lok Sabha, the elections to the Legislative Assemblies were also conducted. The Congress party also got a major victory in the assembly elections. Congress won a majority of seats in all states except Madras and Orissa.

• Ultimately, Congress government was formed in the three states mentioned above. In this way, the rule of the Congress Party was established in the entire country at the national and provincial levels. As expected, Jawaharlal Nehru became the Prime Minister after the first general elections.

Ans. (C) 10

Explanation: ASEAN is an international organization that has 10 member countries in Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Ans. (B) A form of interaction among ASEAN members that is informal and co-operative.

The ASEAN Way is a form of interaction among ASEAN members that is informal and co- operative.

Ans. (B) 1967

Explanation: ASEAN was established in 1967 by five countries of this region – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Ans. (A) Association of South East Asian Nations

Explanation: Full form of ASEAN is Association of South East Asian Nations.

Ans.

Ans. (i) The bicycle represents China’s economy.

(ii) China’s duplicity – Capitalism and Socialism

(iii) Open door policy, creation of special economic zone, privatization of agriculture and industry.

Ans. India has faced traditional (military) and non- traditional threats to its security that have emerged from within as well as outside its borders. Its security strategy has four broad components, that is

To strengthen its military capabilities because:

India has been involved in conflict with its neighbors such as with Pakistan in 1947-48, 1965, 1971 and 1999 and with China in 1962. In South Asian Region, India is surrounded by nuclear armed countries. Hence India’s decision to conduct nuclear test in 1998 was justified to safeguard national security. India first tested its nuclear device in 1974.

To strengthen international norms and international institutions:

India’s first Prime Minister J.L. Nehru supported Asian solidarity, disarmament, decolonization and the UN as a forum to settle down international conflict.

India took initiatives to bring about a universal and non- discriminatory non- proliferation regime to enjoy some rights and obligations with respect to weapons of mass destruction.

It used non-alignment to help to carve out an area of peace outside the blocs.

India signed Kyoto Protocol 1997 to be a part of roadmap for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases to check global warming.

To meet security challenges within the country:

Several militant groups from areas such as Nagaland, Mizoram, Punjab, Kashmir have sought to break away from India.

India makes efforts to preserve national unity by adopting a democratic political system by providing freedom of speech and expression along with the right to vote.

To develop its economy:

India develops the way to lift vast mass of citizens out of poverty, misery and huge economic inequalities. A democratically elected government is supposed to combine economic growth with human development without any demarcation between the rich and the poor.

Ans. Objective and Place: In 1992, a conference of the United Nations focused on the issue of environment and development took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This is called Earth Summit or the Rio Summit.

Features:

• 170 countries in this conference. Thousands of voluntary organizations and many multinational corporations participated. Growing concerns about the environment in the realm of global politics found a concrete form in this conference.

• Five years before this conference (1987), the Burtland Report titled ‘Our Common Future’ was published. The report warned that the current methods of economic development would not prove sustainable in the future. The demand for industrial development in the global south is strong and the report warned in this context.

• It became clear in the Rio conference that the rich and developed countries of the world i.e. the Northern Hemisphere and the poor and developing countries i.e. the Southern Hemisphere are advocates of different environmental agendas. The main concern of the northern countries was about the depletion of the ozone layer and global warming. Southern countries were more concerned with resolving the relationship between economic development and environmental management.

• Some rules regarding climate change, biodiversity and forestry were set in the Rio Conference. In this, some methods of development were also suggested in the form of ‘Agenda-21’, but even after this mutual differences and difficulties remained.

• It was agreed in the conference that economic growth should not harm the environment. This was called the way of ‘sustainable development’ but the problem was how ‘sustainable development would be implemented. Some critics say that ‘Agenda-21’ is inclined towards economic growth rather than ensuring environmental protection.

Ans. ASEAN still remains principally an ‘economic association’. While the ASEAN region as whole is a much smaller economy compared to the USA, the European Union and Japan, its economy is growing much faster than all these. The objectives of the economic community are to create a common market and Production Base within ASEAN states and to aid social and economic development in the region. It has focused on creating a Free Trade Area (FTA) for investment, labour and services. USA and China have already moved fast to negotiate FTA with ASEAN.

Ans. In favor:

• End of political and economic isolation in 1972.
• Modernization in Agriculture, Military, Industry and Science & Technology.
• Adopted ‘open door policy to 1978.
• Privatization of agriculture and industries led to a remarkable rise in agricultural production and rural incomes.

In opposition:

– Not everyone in China has received the benefit of reforms.

– Unemployment has risen.

– Female employment and work conditions are bad. – Environmental degradation.

– Corruption has increased.

Ans. Introduction: The partition of India was a very painful event for the country and the people. This partition presented many problems and difficulties in front of the country, but in all these, the acute or complex difficulty or problem of the partition was of the minorities.

Minority: Minority here refers to the minority on both sides of the borders of India and Pakistan that came into existence after the partition of the country, i.e. Muslims migrating from India and lakhs of Hindus and Sikhs migrating from Pakistan. Complexity of the Problem: Lakhs of Muslims leaving India and their surrounding areas like Punjab, Bengal and Delhi fell into great difficulty, dilemma and crisis due to partition. There was also a large population of Muslims in the area. All these people were in a kind of breath. These people found that we had become foreigners in our own home. They had become ‘foreigners’ on the same land on which they and their ancestors had lived for centuries. As soon as it became clear that the country was going to be divided, attacks on minorities from both sides started. The violence quickly got out of control. The only option left for the minorities on both sides was to leave their homes. Many times they had to do this within a period of a few hours.

Ans. Ans. Evaluation:

• It has been more than 50 years since the linguistic reorganization of states took place. We can say that linguistic states and the movements for the formation of these states have fundamentally changed the nature of democratic politics and leadership. The path of participation in politics and power was now open not only for a small English-speaking elite, but also for the rest.

• Linguistic reorganization also provided a uniform basis for demarcation of states. Contrary to the apprehension of many, this did not break the country. On the contrary, the unity of the country became stronger.

• The biggest thing is that due to the linguistic reorganization of the states, the principle of diversity was accepted. When we say that India has adopted democracy, it does not simply mean that democratic constitution is implemented in India or elections are conducted in India.

• India being democratic has a larger meaning. Choosing democracy meant recognizing and accepting differences. At the same time, it should be recognized that there can be mutual contradictions among the differences. In other words, the concept of democracy in India was linked to the concept of plurality of ideas and ways of life. In the days ahead, most of the politics of the country went on within this scope.

Ans. Outlook of Government of India about Regional Aspiration or Regionalism:

India adopted a democratic approach on the question of diversity. Political expression of regional aspirations is allowed in democracy and democracy does not consider regionalism as anti-national.

Apart from this, there are full opportunities in democratic politics that different parties and groups represent the sentiments of the people on the basis of regional identity, aspiration or any specific regional problem. In this way, in the process of democratic politics, regional aspirations get strengthened. At the same time, one meaning of democratic is that regional issues and problems will be given due attention and participation in the policy-making process.

Sometimes tension or problems may arise in such an arrangement. Sometimes it may happen that the concerns of national integration overpower regional aspirations and needs. One can also be such that we turn a blind eye to the larger needs of the nation due to regional concerns.

The nation which wants that diversities should be respected and at the same time the unity of the nation should also be maintained. It is common to have political conflicts over the power of the regions, their rights and separate existence.

Ans. Rajeev Longwal Agreement or Punjab Agreement 1985:

• Coming to power after the 1984 elections, the new Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi started talks with moderate Akali leaders. An agreement was reached in July 1985 with Harcharan Singh Longwal, the then president of the Akali Dal. This agreement is called Rajiv Gandhi Longowal Agreement or Punjab Agreement.

• The accord was an important step towards establishing peace in Punjab. It was agreed that Chandigarh would be given to Punjab and a separate commission would be appointed to settle the border dispute between Punjab and Haryana. It was also decided in the agreement that a tribunal would be set up to decide the sharing of Ravi-Beas water between Punjab- Haryana-Rajasthan.

• Under the agreement, the government agreed to give compensation and better treatment to the people affected by militancy in Punjab. Also, it was agreed upon to withdraw the special protection act from Punjab.• In any case, peace in Punjab was neither easily established nor immediately after the settlement. The cycle of violence continued for almost a decade. Widespread violations of human rights in extremist violence and the actions taken to suppress this violence happened. Also, there were excesses on the part of the police. Politically, the Akali Dal disintegrated in this cycle of events. The central government had to impose President’s rule in the state. This disrupted the normal political and electoral process in the state. It was not easy to get the political process back on track in an atmosphere of suspicion and violence.