CHAPTER 5: CHALLENGES TO AND RESTORATION OF THE CONGRESS SYSTEM MCQs
1.
What was the major concern regarding succession after Jawaharlal Nehru’s death in 1964?
(a) Economic stability
(b) Democratic survival
(c) Foreign policy
(d) Technological advancement
Answer
Answer: (b) Democratic survival
2.
What was the primary fear regarding India’s democratic experiment after Nehru’s death?
(a) Economic collapse
(b) Army intervention
(c) Cultural decline
(d) Technological stagnation
Answer
Answer: (b) Army intervention
3.
What term is used to describe the 1960s in the context of India’s challenges?
(a) Prosperous decade
(b) Stable decade
(c) Dangerous decade
(d) Transformative decade
Answer
Answer: (c) Dangerous decade
4.
What were the unresolved problems mentioned in the 1960s that could threaten the democratic project?
(a) Technological issues
(b) Poverty, inequality, communal, and regional divisions
(c) Educational challenges
(d) Environmental concerns
Answer
Answer: (b) Poverty, inequality, communal, and regional divisions
5.
What was the potential consequence if India failed to manage a democratic succession after Nehru?
(a) Economic prosperity
(b) Political role for the army
(c) Technological advancement
(d) Cultural resurgence
Answer
Answer: (b) Political role for the army
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1.
Who played a crucial role in the smooth succession after Jawaharlal Nehru’s death?
(a) K. Kamraj
(b) Lal Bahadur Shastri
(c) Muhammad Ayub Khan
(d) Nehru’s family members
Answer
Answer: (a) K. Kamraj
2.
Why was Lal Bahadur Shastri chosen as Nehru’s successor?
(a) He was Nehru’s family member
(b) He was a controversial leader
(c) There was consensus among Congress party leaders
(d) He was an economic expert
Answer
Answer: (c) There was consensus among Congress party leaders
3.
What major challenges did India face during Lal Bahadur Shastri’s Prime Ministership?
(a) Cultural crisis
(b) Economic prosperity
(c) War with China
(d) Failed monsoons, drought, and food crisis
Answer
Answer: (d) Failed monsoons, drought, and food crisis
4.
What slogan is associated with Lal Bahadur Shastri’s resolve to face challenges during his Prime Ministership?
(a) Inquilab Zindabad
(b) Jai Hind
(c) Jai Jawan Jai Kisan
(d) Satyamev Jayate
Answer
Answer: (c) Jai Jawan Jai Kisan
5.
How did Lal Bahadur Shastri’s Prime Ministership come to an end?
(a) Assassination
(b) Resignation
(c) Sudden death in Tashkent
(d) Overthrown in a coup
Answer
Answer: (c) Sudden death in Tashkent
1.
Who were the main contenders in the Congress party’s leadership competition after the sudden death of Lal Bahadur Shastri?
(a) K. Kamraj and Morarji Desai
(b) Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru and Morarji Desai
(d) Lal Bahadur Shastri and Morarji Desai
Answer
Answer: (b) Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai
2.
How was the competition between Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi resolved within the Congress party?
(a) Through a public debate
(b) Through a secret ballot among Congress MPs
(c) Through a direct election by the public
(d) Through a party convention
Answer
Answer: (b) Through a secret ballot among Congress MPs
3.
What factor contributed to the senior Congress leaders’ decision to support Indira Gandhi in the leadership competition?
(a) Her economic expertise
(b) Her political inexperience
(c) Her association with Lal Bahadur Shastri
(d) Her family background
Answer
Answer: (b) Her political inexperience
4.
What was seen as a sign of the maturity of India’s democracy during the leadership transition in the Congress party?
(a) Public protests
(b) International intervention
(c) Peaceful transition of power
(d) Military involvement
Answer
Answer: (c) Peaceful transition of power
5.
What challenges did Indira Gandhi face within a year of becoming Prime Minister?
(a) Technological issues
(b) Economic deterioration and a Lok Sabha election
(c) International conflicts
(d) Environmental concerns
Answer
Answer: (b) Economic deterioration and a Lok Sabha election
1.
Why is the year 1967 considered a landmark in India’s political and electoral history?
(a) It marked the end of Congress party dominance
(b) It witnessed the rise of a new political party
(c) Two Prime Ministers died in quick succession
(d) It saw a significant increase in voter turnout
Answer
Answer: (a) It marked the end of Congress party dominance
2.
What major changes occurred in the years leading up to the fourth general elections in 1967?
(a) Economic prosperity and stability
(b) Widespread drought and economic crisis
(c) Rise of a new political party
(d) Technological advancements
Answer
Answer: (b) Widespread drought and economic crisis
3.
What was one of the first decisions taken by the Indira Gandhi government in response to the economic challenges?
(a) Increase in military expenditure
(b) Devaluation of the Indian rupee
(c) Expansion of foreign exchange reserves
(d) Implementation of a new agricultural policy
Answer
Answer: (b) Devaluation of the Indian rupee
4.
What contributed to the economic crisis during the period preceding the 1967 elections?
(a) Increased agricultural production
(b) Successive failure of monsoons and serious food shortage
(c) Decline in military expenditure
(d) Rise in industrial production and exports
Answer
Answer: (b) Successive failure of monsoons and serious food shortage
5.
What impact did the devaluation of the Indian rupee have on its exchange rate with the US dollar?
(a) Decreased to less than Rs. 5
(b) Remained the same
(c) Increased to more than Rs. 7
(d) Tied to the gold standard
Answer
Answer: (c) Increased to more than Rs. 7
1.
What were the main reasons for the protests mentioned in the passage?
(a) Increased government funding
(b) Decrease in essential commodity prices
(c) Growing unemployment and economic conditions
(d) Rise in public satisfaction
Answer
Answer: (c) Growing unemployment and economic conditions
2.
How did the government perceive the protests against the economic situation?
(a) As expressions of people’s problems
(b) As a law and order problem
(c) As positive contributions to policy-making
(d) As a sign of economic prosperity
Answer
Answer: (b) As a law and order problem
3.
What impact did the government’s perception of protests have on public sentiment?
(a) Increased public support
(b) Decreased public bitterness
(c) Reinforced popular unrest
(d) Enhanced economic conditions
Answer
Answer: (c) Reinforced popular unrest
4.
Which political parties initiated struggles for greater equality during this period?
(a) Congress and BJP
(b) Communist and socialist parties
(c) Nationalist and regional parties
(d) Liberal and conservative parties
Answer
Answer: (b) Communist and socialist parties
5.
What kind of struggles did the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) lead?
(a) Religious struggles
(b) Armed agrarian struggles
(c) Cultural struggles
(d) Economic struggles
Answer
Answer: (b) Armed agrarian struggles
6.
What significant event is mentioned in the passage regarding Hindu-Muslim relations during this period?
(a) Strengthening of communal harmony
(b) Formation of religious alliances
(c) Some of the worst Hindu-Muslim riots since Independence
(d) Resolution of religious conflicts
Answer
Answer: (c) Some of the worst Hindu-Muslim riots since Independence
1.
What term did Ram Manohar Lohia use to describe the strategy of opposition parties against the Congress?
(a) Congressism
(b) Non-Socialism
(c) Anti-Congressism
(d) Non-Congressism
Answer
Answer: (d) Non-Congressism
2.
Why did opposition parties form anti-Congress fronts and enter into electoral adjustments?
(a) To support Congress in power
(b) To divide their own votes
(c) To challenge the Congress rule
(d) To strengthen internal factionalism within the Congress
Answer
Answer: (c) To challenge the Congress rule
3.
What opportunity did opposition parties see in the inexperience of Indira Gandhi and factionalism within the Congress?
(a) An opportunity to strengthen Congress
(b) An opportunity to reclaim democracy
(c) An opportunity to form a new political party
(d) An opportunity to support undemocratic rule
Answer
Answer: (b) An opportunity to reclaim democracy
4.
Who gave the strategy of opposition parties against the Congress the name ‘non-Congressism’?
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Indira Gandhi
(c) Ram Manohar Lohia
(d) Morarji Desai
Answer
Answer: (c) Ram Manohar Lohia
5.
What theoretical argument did Ram Manohar Lohia present in defense of ‘non-Congressism’?
(a) Congress rule was democratic
(b) Non-Congress parties should support Congress
(c) Congress rule was undemocratic and opposed to the interests of ordinary poor people
(d) Non-Congress parties should strengthen internal factionalism within the Congress
Answer
Answer: (c) Congress rule was undemocratic and opposed to the interests of ordinary poor people
1.
When were the fourth general elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies held?
(a) 1952
(b) 1967
(c) 1975
(d) 1980
Answer
Answer: (b) 1967
2.
Who was the Prime Minister when the fourth general elections were held?
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Kamaraj
(c) Indira Gandhi
(d) S.K. Patil
Answer
Answer: (c) Indira Gandhi
3.
How did many contemporary political observers describe the results of the 1967 elections?
(a) Economic revolution
(b) Political earthquake
(c) Social transformation
(d) Cultural renaissance
Answer
Answer: (b) Political earthquake
4.
Which State saw a regional party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), coming to power for the first time in 1967?
(a) Punjab
(b) Haryana
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Uttar Pradesh
Answer
Answer: (c) Tamil Nadu
5.
What was the reason behind the DMK’s rise to power in Tamil Nadu during the 1967 elections?
(a) Opposition to economic policies
(b) Anti-Hindi agitation against the imposition of Hindi
(c) Religious movements
(d) Support for Congress rule
Answer
Answer: (b) Anti-Hindi agitation against the imposition of Hindi
6.
In how many States did the Congress lose its majority during the 1967 elections?
(a) Four
(b) Six
(c) Seven
(d) Nine
Answer
Answer: (c) Seven
7.
What popular saying emerged after the 1967 elections regarding Congress-ruled States?
(a) “Unity in diversity”
(b) “Congress is invincible”
(c) “Congress dominates every State”
(d) “One could take a train from Delhi to Howrah and not pass through a single Congress ruled State”
Answer
Answer: (d) “One could take a train from Delhi to Howrah and not pass through a single Congress ruled State”
8.
What was the overall impact of the 1967 elections on the Congress party?
(a) Increased majority in the Lok Sabha
(b) Lowest tally of seats and share of votes since 1952
(c) Strengthened internal factionalism
(d) Enhanced popularity of Indira Gandhi
Answer
Answer: (b) Lowest tally of seats and share of votes since 1952
1.
What phenomenon became prominent in the elections of 1967?
(a) Single-party dominance
(b) Coalition governments
(c) One-party rule
(d) Bipartisanship
Answer
Answer: (b) Coalition governments
2.
What were the joint legislative parties supporting non-Congress governments called?
(a) Congress Vidhayak Dal
(b) Samyukt Vidhayak Dal
(c) Lok Sabha Dal
(d) Bharatiya Vidhayak Dal
Answer
Answer: (b) Samyukt Vidhayak Dal
3.
What term is used to describe governments formed by joint legislative parties supporting non-Congress governments?
(a) Congress Raj
(b) SVD governments
(c) Lok Sabha governments
(d) Coalition Raj
Answer
Answer: (b) SVD governments
4.
In Bihar, which parties were part of the SVD government?
(a) Congress and Jana Sangh
(b) SSP, PSP, CPI, and Jana Sangh
(c) Sant group and Master group
(d) Akali parties and communist parties
Answer
Answer: (b) SSP, PSP, CPI, and Jana Sangh
5.
What characterized most of the coalition partners in the SVD governments?
(a) Ideological congruence
(b) Centrist political views
(c) Regional affiliations
(d) Ideological incongruence
Answer
Answer: (d) Ideological incongruence
1.
What significant role did defections play in the politics after the 1967 general elections?
(a) Strengthened Congress rule
(b) Contributed to political stability
(c) Led to the making and unmaking of governments
(d) Enhanced ideological congruence
Answer
Answer: (c) Led to the making and unmaking of governments
2.
What does the term ‘Aya Ram, Gaya Ram’ refer to in the context of post-1967 politics?
(a) A famous political slogan
(b) A popular election symbol
(c) Constant realignments and shifting political loyalties
(d) A new political party formed in the period
Answer
Answer: (c) Constant realignments and shifting political loyalties
3.
How did breakaway Congress legislators influence the political scenario after the 1967 general election?
(a) By strengthening Congress governments
(b) By forming a new political party
(c) By playing a significant role in installing non-Congress governments
(d) By promoting ideological congruence
Answer
Answer: (c) By playing a significant role in installing non-Congress governments
4.
What is the precise meaning of the term ‘defection’ in the political context mentioned?
(a) Formation of new political parties
(b) Elected representative joining another party
(c) Changing political ideologies
(d) Election boycotts
Answer
Answer: (b) Elected representative joining another party
5.
In which of the following states did breakaway Congress legislators play a crucial role in installing non-Congress governments after the 1967 general election?
(a) Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh
(b) Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh
(c) Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra
(d) Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh
Answer
Answer: (b) Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh
1.
What major change occurred in the Congress party’s political landscape after the 1967 elections?
(a) Increased majority at the Centre
(b) Retention of power in all States
(c) Reduced majority at the Centre and loss of power in many States
(d) Formation of non-Congress coalition governments in all States
Answer
Answer: (c) Reduced majority at the Centre and loss of power in many States
2.
Who posed the real challenge to Indira Gandhi after the 1967 elections?
(a) External opposition parties
(b) The ‘Syndicate’ within the Congress
(c) Non-Congress coalition leaders
(d) Regional political leaders
Answer
Answer: (b) The ‘Syndicate’ within the Congress
3.
What role did the ‘Syndicate’ play in the installation of Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister?
(a) Opposition against her election
(b) Ensuring her election as the leader of the parliamentary party
(c) Creating a new political party
(d) Imposing President’s rule
Answer
Answer: (b) Ensuring her election as the leader of the parliamentary party
4.
What action did Indira Gandhi take to assert her position within the government and the party?
(a) Forming a new political party
(b) Seeking advice from the ‘Syndicate’
(c) Choosing advisers from outside the party
(d) Collaborating with the opposition parties
Answer
Answer: (c) Choosing advisers from outside the party
5.
What expression emerged to describe the careful sidelining of the ‘Syndicate’ by Indira Gandhi?
(a) Syndicate politics
(b) Indira’s strategy
(c) ‘Aya Ram, Gaya Ram’
(d) Syndicate exclusion
Answer
Answer: (c) ‘Aya Ram, Gaya Ram’
1.
What were the two main challenges faced by Indira Gandhi after the 1967 elections?
(a) Economic crises and regional conflicts
(b) Independence from the Syndicate and regaining lost ground
(c) Ideological conflicts with the opposition
(d) Global diplomatic challenges and military threats
Answer
Answer: (b) Independence from the Syndicate and regaining lost ground
2.
What strategy did Indira Gandhi adopt to overcome the challenges she faced?
(a) Diplomatic negotiations
(b) Military intervention
(c) Economic reforms
(d) Converted a power struggle into an ideological struggle
Answer
Answer: (d) Converted a power struggle into an ideological struggle
3.
What Left-oriented initiatives did Indira Gandhi introduce to the government policy?
(a) Privatization of banks
(b) Social control of banks and nationalization of General Insurance
(c) Encouraging urban property ownership
(d) Reduction of public distribution of food grains
Answer
Answer: (b) Social control of banks and nationalization of General Insurance
4.
What key elements were included in the Ten Point Programme adopted by the Congress Working Committee in May 1967?
(a) Free-market reforms
(b) Military modernization
(c) Social control of banks, land reforms, and provision of house sites to the rural poor
(d) Tax cuts and deregulation
Answer
Answer: (c) Social control of banks, land reforms, and provision of house sites to the rural poor
5.
How did the ‘syndicate’ leaders respond to the Left-wing programme adopted by the Congress Working Committee?
(a) Strongly endorsed the programme
(b) Formally approved with reservations
(c) Rejected the programme outright
(d) Proposed an alternative programme
Answer
Answer: (b) Formally approved with reservations
1.
What event triggered the factional rivalry between the Syndicate and Indira Gandhi in 1969?
(a) Lok Sabha elections
(b) President Zakir Hussain’s death
(c) Nationalization of private banks
(d) Abolition of the ‘privy purse’
Answer
Answer: (b) President Zakir Hussain’s death
2.
Who was nominated as the official Congress candidate for the Presidential elections in 1969?
(a) V.V. Giri
(b) Morarji Desai
(c) N. Sanjeeva Reddy
(d) Indira Gandhi
Answer
Answer: (c) N. Sanjeeva Reddy
3.
Who filed his nomination as an independent candidate in the Presidential elections, encouraged by Indira Gandhi?
(a) Morarji Desai
(b) V.V. Giri
(c) Zakir Hussain
(d) N. Sanjeeva Reddy
Answer
Answer: (b) V.V. Giri
4.
What significant policy measures did Indira Gandhi announce during the Presidential election campaign?
(a) Privatization of banks
(b) Nationalization of private banks and abolition of the ‘privy purse’
(c) Special privileges for former princes
(d) Reduction of public distribution of food grains
Answer
Answer: (b) Nationalization of private banks and abolition of the ‘privy purse’
5.
Who was the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister who left the government due to serious differences with the Prime Minister?
(a) N. Sanjeeva Reddy
(b) V.V. Giri
(c) Zakir Hussain
(d) Morarji Desai
Answer
Answer: (d) Morarji Desai
6.
What was the outcome of the Presidential election in 1969?
(a) Indira Gandhi was elected as President
(b) N. Sanjeeva Reddy won as an independent candidate
(c) V.V. Giri won as an independent candidate
(d) Morarji Desai became President
Answer
Answer: (c) V.V. Giri won as an independent candidate
1.
What event marked the showdown between different factions within the Congress during the Presidential elections?
(a) Split in the Congress
(b) The resignation of the Prime Minister
(c) Differences over economic policies
(d) The issuance of a ‘whip’ by S. Nijalingappa
Answer
Answer: (a) Split in the Congress
2.
Who issued a ‘whip’ directing Congress MPs and MLAs to vote in favor of Sanjeeva Reddy, the official candidate of the party?
(a) Indira Gandhi
(b) V.V. Giri
(c) S. Nijalingappa
(d) The Prime Minister
Answer
Answer: (c) S. Nijalingappa
3.
Why did the supporters of Indira Gandhi come to be known as ‘requisitionists’?
(a) They demanded a special meeting of the AICC
(b) They supported the official candidate, Sanjeeva Reddy
(c) They called for a ‘conscience vote’
(d) They were expelled from the party
Answer
Answer: (a) They demanded a special meeting of the AICC
4.
Who openly called for a ‘conscience vote’ during the Presidential elections?
(a) Sanjeeva Reddy
(b) S. Nijalingappa
(c) V.V. Giri
(d) Indira Gandhi
Answer
Answer: (d) Indira Gandhi
5.
What did the victory of V.V. Giri in the Presidential election formalize within the Congress?
(a) Unity between different factions
(b) Expulsion of the Prime Minister from the party
(c) The split in the party
(d) S. Nijalingappa’s leadership
Answer
Answer: (c) The split in the party
6.
How did Indira Gandhi project the split within the Congress?
(a) As a power struggle
(b) As an ideological divide between socialists and conservatives
(c) As a conflict between two rival parties
(d) As a battle for the Prime Minister’s position
Answer
Answer: (b) As an ideological divide between socialists and conservatives
1.
What event led to the reduction of the Indira Gandhi government to a minority?
(a) Dissolution of the Lok Sabha
(b) The split in the Congress
(c) Restoration of Congress
(d) Issue-based support from other parties
Answer
Answer: (b) The split in the Congress
2.
What was the basis for the support that kept the Indira Gandhi government in office during the period of reduced majority?
(a) Support from the opposition parties
(b) Strong socialist credentials
(c) Coalition government
(d) Issue-based support from a few parties
Answer
Answer: (d) Issue-based support from a few parties
3.
What significant move did Indira Gandhi’s government make to seek a popular mandate for her programs and strengthen her party’s position in the Parliament?
(a) Implementation of land reforms
(b) Dissolution of the Lok Sabha
(c) Formation of a coalition government
(d) Restoring Congress unity
Answer
Answer: (b) Dissolution of the Lok Sabha
4.
What was the result of the fifth general election to the Lok Sabha held in February 1971?
(a) Defeat of the Indira Gandhi government
(b) Strengthening of opposition parties
(c) Restoration of Congress unity
(d) Indira Gandhi’s government gaining a popular mandate
Answer
Answer: (d) Indira Gandhi’s government gaining a popular mandate
5.
What was a notable focus of Indira Gandhi’s government during the period when it sought to project its socialist credentials?
(a) Economic liberalization
(b) Land reform laws
(c) Privatization
(d) Foreign policy initiatives
Answer
Answer: (b) Land reform laws
1.
What was the electoral alliance formed by major non-communist, non-Congress opposition parties against Congress(R) in the mentioned elections?
(a) Grand Alliance
(b) Democratic Front
(c) National Coalition
(d) People’s Unity
Answer
Answer: (a) Grand Alliance
2.
What was the main political programme lacking in the Grand Alliance, as per the description?
(a) Economic liberalization
(b) Indira Hatao (Remove Indira)
(c) Garibi Hatao (Remove Poverty)
(d) Socialist reforms
Answer
Answer: (b) Indira Hatao (Remove Indira)
3.
What positive slogan did Indira Gandhi put forward as part of her electoral strategy?
(a) Swadeshi Bachao (Save Indigenous)
(b) Desh Badal Raha Hai (Country is Changing)
(c) Garibi Hatao (Remove Poverty)
(d) Samriddhi Ki Ore (Towards Prosperity)
Answer
Answer: (c) Garibi Hatao (Remove Poverty)
4.
Which political group had the perception of having the real organisational strength of the Congress party?
(a) Congress(R)
(b) Congress(O)
(c) Grand Alliance
(d) Swatantra Party
Answer
Answer: (b) Congress(O)
5.
What did Indira Gandhi attempt to build through her political strategy during this period?
(a) Regional alliances
(b) Corporate support
(c) An independent nationwide political support base
(d) Military alliances
Answer
Answer: (c) An independent nationwide political support base
6.
What was the main focus of the political programmes associated with the slogan ‘Garibi Hatao’?
(a) Privatization
(b) Growth of the public sector
(c) Removal of disparities in income and opportunity
(d) Military reforms
Answer
Answer: (c) Removal of disparities in income and opportunity
7.
What term is used to describe the new faction of Congress in the mentioned content?
(a) Congress Alliance
(b) Grand Congress
(c) Congress(R)
(d) New Congress
Answer
Answer: (c) Congress(R)
1.
What was the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections of 1971 in terms of seats and votes won by the Congress(R)-CPI alliance?
(a) 352 seats and 44% votes
(b) 375 seats and 48.4% votes
(c) 16 seats and less than 25% votes
(d) 40 seats and combined 48.4% votes
Answer
Answer: (b) 375 seats and 48.4% votes
2.
How did the performance of Congress(O) compare with Congress(R) in terms of votes and seats in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections?
(a) Congress(O) won more seats and votes
(b) Congress(O) won fewer seats and votes
(c) Both Congress(O) and Congress(R) had equal votes and seats
(d) Congress(O) secured a majority in Lok Sabha
Answer
Answer: (b) Congress(O) won fewer seats and votes
3.
What crisis occurred soon after the 1971 Lok Sabha elections?
(a) Economic crisis
(b) Political crisis in South India
(c) Crisis in East Pakistan leading to the Indo-Pak war
(d) Border conflict with China
Answer
Answer: (c) Crisis in East Pakistan leading to the Indo-Pak war
4.
What did the events of 1971, including the Indo-Pak war and the establishment of Bangladesh, add to Indira Gandhi’s popularity?
(a) Decreased popularity
(b) Controversy
(c) Opposition from neighboring countries
(d) Increased popularity
Answer
Answer: (d) Increased popularity
5.
What slogan was associated with Indira Gandhi’s positive political agenda during the 1971 elections?
(a) Congress for Progress
(b) Congress Unity
(c) Garibi Hatao (Remove Poverty)
(d) Grand Alliance for Development
Answer
Answer: (c) Garibi Hatao (Remove Poverty)
6.
What term is used to describe the combined tally of seats won by the Grand Alliance in the Lok Sabha elections?
(a) Grand Victory
(b) Dramatic Outcome
(c) Grand Failure
(d) Opposition Triumph
Answer
Answer: (c) Grand Failure
What did the State Assembly elections held in 1972 indicate about the political landscape in India?
(a) Congress faced defeat in most states
(b) The dominance of Congress was restored
(c) Rise of regional parties
(d) Emergence of a new political ideology
Answer
Answer: (b) The dominance of Congress was restored
What term is used to describe the split in the Congress party after the 1971 elections?
(a) Internal Conflict
(b) Syndicate Crisis
(c) Organisational Divide
(d) Old Congress and New Congress
Answer
Answer: (d) Old Congress and New Congress
1.
What did Indira Gandhi do to restore the Congress system?
(a) Revived the old Congress party
(b) Reinvented the party with a strong organizational structure
(c) Relied on multiple factions for diverse opinions
(d) Depended on the popularity of multiple leaders
Answer
Answer: (b) Reinvented the party with a strong organizational structure
2.
What was the nature of the new Congress party under Indira Gandhi?
(a) Inclusive with many factions
(b) Weak organizational structure
(c) Dependent on opposition parties
(d) Absorbed all kinds of opinions and interests
Answer
Answer: (b) Weak organizational structure
3.
Who were the primary supporters of the new Congress party?
(a) Rich and influential
(b) Opposition parties
(c) Poor, women, Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities
(d) Youth and students
Answer
Answer: (c) Poor, women, Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities
4.
What impact did the restoration of the Congress system have on democratic expression?
(a) Expanded spaces for democratic expression
(b) Maintained the status quo in democratic expression
(c) Shrank spaces for democratic expression
(d) Encouraged diverse political opinions
Answer
Answer: (c) Shrank spaces for democratic expression
5.
What is highlighted as a consequence of the political crisis mentioned in the passage?
(a) Emergence of a multi-party system
(b) Strengthening of constitutional democracy
(c) Threatening the existence of constitutional democracy
(d) Expansion of democratic ideals
Answer
Answer: (c) Threatening the existence of constitutional democracy
1.
What is the central theme of the film described in the passage?
(a) Romantic relationships
(b) Political intrigue
(c) Moral values and revenge
(d) Science fiction
Answer
Answer: (c) Moral values and revenge
2.
Who is the protagonist of the film?
(a) Jaya Bhaduri
(b) Pran
(c) Ajit
(d) Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan)
Answer
Answer: (d) Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan)
3.
What is the year of the film’s release?
(a) 1967
(b) 1973
(c) 1980
(d) 1995
Answer
Answer: (b) 1973
4.
What trend did the film set in the seventies?
(a) Romantic comedies
(b) Action thrillers
(c) Social dramas
(d) ‘Angry young man’
Answer
Answer: (d) ‘Angry young man’
5.
Who provided the screenplay for the film?
(a) Amitabh Bachchan
(b) Prakash Mehra
(c) Jaya Bhaduri
(d) Javed Akhtar
Answer
Answer: (d) Javed Akhtar
1.
What was the grant given to the rulers’ families after the dissolution of princely rule called?
(a) Royal Compensation
(b) Privy Purse
(c) Monarch Allowance
(d) Heritage Compensation
Answer
Answer: (b) Privy Purse
2.
Why did Nehru express dissatisfaction with the privy purse system?
(a) Due to excessive grants
(b) It violated constitutional principles
(c) Lack of transparency
(d) Opposition from the princely rulers
Answer
Answer: (b) It violated constitutional principles
3.
Who opposed the abolition of privy purses, calling it a ‘breach of faith with the princes’?
(a) Indira Gandhi
(b) Nehru
(c) Rajya Sabha
(d) Morarji Desai
Answer
Answer: (d) Morarji Desai
4.
Which Constitutional amendment paved the way for the removal of legal obstacles to abolish privy purses?
(a) 24th Amendment
(b) 42nd Amendment
(c) 51st Amendment
(d) 73rd Amendment
Answer
Answer: (a) 24th Amendment
5.
What did Indira Gandhi turn the abolition of privy purses into during the 1971 election?
(a) A constitutional debate
(b) A diplomatic issue
(c) A major election issue
(d) A foreign policy concern
Answer
Answer: (c) A major election issue
6.
What happened to the Constitutional amendment proposed in 1970?
(a) Passed in Rajya Sabha
(b) Struck down by the Supreme Court
(c) Became law without any issues
(d) Passed with amendments
Answer
Answer: (b) Struck down by the Supreme Court
7.
What was the outcome of the 1971 election in relation to the privy purse issue?
(a) Public opposition increased
(b) It was not mentioned during the election
(c) Indira Gandhi’s popularity declined
(d) Constitution amended to remove legal obstacles
Answer
Answer: (d) Constitution amended to remove legal obstacles
1.
What term does S. Nijalingappa use to describe the tragedy that overtakes democracy?
(a) Political Narcissism
(b) Democratic Organisation
(c) Popular Wave
(d) Unscrupulous Sycophants
Answer
Answer: (a) Political Narcissism
2.
What action did S. Nijalingappa take against Indira Gandhi in response to the perceived tragedy?
(a) Sent a letter of support
(b) Wrote a book
(c) Expelled her from the party
(d) Joined her political movement
Answer
Answer: (c) Expelled her from the party
3.
What date is mentioned in S. Nijalingappa’s letter when he expelled Indira Gandhi from the party?
(a) 11 November 1969
(b) 1 January 1970
(c) 22 October 1968
(d) 5 March 1971
Answer
Answer: (a) 11 November 1969
1.
What was V.V. Giri’s role after the death of President Zakir Hussain?
(a) Became Prime Minister
(b) Appointed Governor
(c) Served as Acting President
(d) Formed a new political party
Answer
Answer: (c) Served as Acting President
2.
What position did V.V. Giri hold in the Union cabinet before contesting the presidential election?
(a) Finance Minister
(b) Foreign Minister
(c) Labour Minister
(d) Defense Minister
Answer
Answer: (c) Labour Minister
3.
Which state did V.V. Giri serve as Governor before contesting the presidential election?
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Kerala
(c) Karnataka
(d) Andhra Pradesh
Answer
Answer: (b) Kerala
4.
What support did V.V. Giri receive from Indira Gandhi during the presidential election?
(a) No support
(b) Opposition
(c) Neutral stance
(d) Support for his election as President
Answer
Answer: (d) Support for his election as President
5.
During which years did V.V. Giri serve as the President of India?
(a) 1969 to 1973
(b) 1971 to 1976
(c) 1967 to 1969
(d) 1972 to 1977
Answer
Answer: (a) 1969 to 1974
1.
What was Karpoori Thakur known for during his second term as Chief Minister of Bihar?
(a) Introducing reservations for backward classes
(b) Implementing language reforms
(c) Initiating agricultural policies
(d) Advocating for industrial development
Answer
Answer: (a) Introducing reservations for backward classes
2.
Which movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan did Karpoori Thakur actively participate in?
(a) Quit India Movement
(b) Civil Disobedience Movement
(c) Movement for linguistic states
(d) JP Movement
Answer
Answer: (d) JP Movement
3.
What were Karpoori Thakur’s views on the use of the English language?
(a) Strong supporter
(b) Neutral stance
(c) Mild opposition
(d) Strong opponent
Answer
Answer: (d) Strong opponent
4.
In which periods did Karpoori Thakur serve as the Chief Minister of Bihar?
(a) 1965-1970 and 1975-1980
(b) 1970-1975 and 1979-1984
(c) 1970-1971 and 1977-1979
(d) 1967-1972 and 1977-1981
Answer
Answer: (c) 1970-1971 and 1977-1979
1.
What role did S. Nijalingappa play during 1968-71?
(a) Prime Minister of India
(b) President of Congress
(c) Chief Minister of Karnataka
(d) Governor of Mysore State
Answer
Answer: (b) President of Congress
2.
Which legislative body was S. Nijalingappa a member of?
(a) Rajya Sabha
(b) Lok Sabha
(c) Karnataka Legislative Assembly
(d) Mysore State Council
Answer
Answer: (c) Karnataka Legislative Assembly
3.
What is S. Nijalingappa regarded as in the context of Karnataka?
(a) Chief Architect of Karnataka
(b) Father of Karnataka
(c) Maker of modern Karnataka
(d) Pioneer of Karnataka
Answer
Answer: (c) Maker of modern Karnataka
1.
Who led the Congress ‘Syndicate’?
(a) Lal Bahadur Shastri
(b) K. Kamraj
(c) Indira Gandhi
(d) N. Sanjeeva Reddy
Answer
Answer: (b) K. Kamraj
2.
Which State leader was part of the Congress ‘Syndicate’?
(a) S. K. Patil
(b) Atulya Ghosh
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Lal Bahadur Shastri
Answer
Answer: (c) Both (a) and (b)
3.
Who was the President of the Congress party and leader of the ‘Syndicate’?
(a) Indira Gandhi
(b) K. Kamraj
(c) N. Sanjeeva Reddy
(d) S. K. Patil
Answer
Answer: (b) K. Kamraj
4.
Which party did the leaders of the ‘Syndicate’ align with after the Congress split?
(a) Congress (R)
(b) BJP
(c) Congress (O)
(d) Communist Party
Answer
Answer: (c) Congress (O)
5.
What happened to the power and prestige of the leaders of the ‘Syndicate’ after 1971?
(a) Increased
(b) Unchanged
(c) Decreased
(d) Transformed
Answer
Answer: (c) Decreased
1.
What was the ‘Kamaraj plan’ proposed by K. Kamaraj?
(a) A plan for economic development
(b) A plan for political reform
(c) A plan for educational improvement
(d) A plan for healthcare
Answer
Answer: (b) A plan for political reform
2.
Which Indian state did K. Kamaraj serve as Chief Minister?
(a) Maharashtra
(b) Tamil Nadu
(c) Karnataka
(d) West Bengal
Answer
Answer: (b) Tamil Nadu
3.
What significant contribution did K. Kamaraj make to education in Madras province?
(a) Introduced a mid-day meal scheme
(b) Established new universities
(c) Encouraged vocational training
(d) Promoted sports education
Answer
Answer: (a) Introduced a mid-day meal scheme
4.
What was K. Kamaraj’s role in Congress besides being the Chief Minister?
(a) Congress Treasurer
(b) Congress General Secretary
(c) Congress President
(d) Congress Vice President
Answer
Answer: (c) Congress President
1.
What does the expression ‘Aya Ram, Gaya Ram’ signify in Indian politics?
(a) A religious saying
(b) A political tactic
(c) A cultural tradition
(d) A historical event
Answer
Answer: (b) A political tactic
2.
Who was Gaya Lal, and why did the expression originate?
(a) A cartoonist who created political cartoons
(b) An MLA known for frequent floor-crossing
(c) A political leader who amended the Constitution
(d) A scholar who studied Indian political history
Answer
Answer: (b) An MLA known for frequent floor-crossing
3.
Who immortalized the phrase ‘Aya Ram, Gaya Ram’?
(a) Gaya Lal himself
(b) Rao Birendra Singh
(c) A political cartoonist
(d) United Front party leaders
Answer
Answer: (b) Rao Birendra Singh
4.
What was the origin of the term ‘Aya Ram, Gaya Ram’ based on the provided context?
(a) Aya Ram’s defection from Congress to United Front
(b) Gaya Ram’s frequent changes of political allegiance
(c) A religious ceremony in Haryana
(d) A political convention in Chandigarh
Answer
Answer: (b) Gaya Ram’s frequent changes of political allegiance
5.
What action was taken later to prevent defections in Indian politics?
(a) Introduction of a new political party
(b) Creation of a political cartoon series
(c) Amendment to the Constitution
(d) Formation of a coalition government
Answer
Answer: (c) Amendment to the Constitution
1.
What role did Ram Manohar Lohia play in the Indian political landscape?
(a) Founder of the Indian National Congress
(b) Leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh
(c) Socialist leader and thinker
(d) Chief Minister of a state
Answer
Answer: (c) Socialist leader and thinker
2.
Which political parties was Ram Manohar Lohia associated with after the split in the Indian National Congress?
(a) Communist Party of India
(b) Samyukta Socialist Party
(c) Swatantra Party
(d) Janata Dal
Answer
Answer: (b) Samyukta Socialist Party
3.
What was one of Ram Manohar Lohia’s notable contributions as a political leader?
(a) Advocacy of non-Congressism
(b) Founding the Congress Socialist Party
(c) Membership in Lok Sabha from 1963-67
(d) Support for princely privileges
Answer
Answer: (a) Advocacy of non-Congressism
4.
What were the key publications associated with Ram Manohar Lohia?
(a) The Indian Express and The Hindustan Times
(b) Mankind and Jan
(c) Young India and Harijan
(d) Swaraj and Bande Mataram
Answer
Answer: (b) Mankind and Jan
1.
What role did C. Natarajan Annadurai play in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape?
(a) Chief Minister of Madras (Tamil Nadu)
(b) Founder of the Justice Party
(c) Leader of the Swatantra Party
(d) Governor of Tamil Nadu
Answer
Answer: (a) Chief Minister of Madras (Tamil Nadu)
2.
Which political party did C. Natarajan Annadurai form in 1949?
(a) Justice Party
(b) Congress Party
(c) Dravid Kazagham
(d) Swaraj Party
Answer
Answer: (c) Dravid Kazagham
3.
What was C. Natarajan Annadurai’s stance on the issue of language imposition?
(a) Advocate for the imposition of Hindi
(b) Leader of the anti-Hindi agitations
(c) Supporter of English as the sole official language
(d) Promoter of Sanskrit language
Answer
Answer: (b) Leader of the anti-Hindi agitations
1.
What does Neville Maxwell express concern about in the quoted article?
(a) The success of India’s democratic experiment
(b) The role of the army in Indian politics
(c) The failure of maintaining an ordered structure in society
(d) The disintegration of Indian democracy
Answer
Answer: (c) The failure of maintaining an ordered structure in society
2.
In which year was the article ‘India’s Disintegrating Democracy’ published by Neville Maxwell?
(a) 1967
(b) 1971
(c) 1969
(d) 1965
Answer
Answer: (a) 1967
3.
Which political parties were the main contenders in the Chomu constituency during the 1967 assembly elections?
(a) Congress and Communist Party
(b) Congress and Swatantra Party
(c) BJP and Swatantra Party
(d) Congress and Janata Dal
Answer
Answer: (b) Congress and Swatantra Party
4.
Who was emerging as the more popular leader in the village Devisar during the elections?
(a) Mohan Lal Sukhadia
(b) Sher Singh
(c) Bhim Singh
(d) Neville Maxwell
Answer
Answer: (c) Bhim Singh
5.
What did Bhim Singh achieve through alliances in the village Devisar?
(a) Formation of a new political party
(b) Support from traditional leaders
(c) Establishment of a new school
(d) Alliance of Rajputs and non-Rajputs
Answer
Answer: (d) Alliance of Rajputs and non-Rajputs
6.
Who did Sher Singh support in the elections?
(a) Bhim Singh
(b) Mohan Lal Sukhadia
(c) Congress candidate
(d) Swatantra candidate
Answer
Answer: (d) Swatantra candidate
7.
What was the relationship between Sher Singh and Bhim Singh in the village Devisar?
(a) Father and son
(b) Brothers
(c) Uncle and nephew
(d) Cousins
Answer
Answer: (c) Uncle and nephew
8.
What initiative did Bhim Singh take regarding the Congress candidate in the Assembly election?
(a) Supported the candidate
(b) Opposed the candidate
(c) Boycotted the election
(d) Supported the Swatantra candidate
Answer
Answer: (a) Supported the candidate
9.
Who was the State Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhim Singh approached regarding the Congress candidate?
(a) Sher Singh
(b) Mohan Lal Sukhadia
(c) Neville Maxwell
(d) C. Natarajan Annadurai
Answer
Answer: (b) Mohan Lal Sukhadia
10.
What did Bhim Singh gain by supporting the Congress candidate?
(a) Direct contacts with the Prime Minister
(b) Direct contacts with a minister
(c) Ownership of a new school
(d) Leadership of the Swatantra Party
Answer
Answer: (b) Direct contacts with a minister
11.
What did Sher Singh promise the people of Devisar if they supported the Swatantra candidate?
(a) Formation of a new political party
(b) Development of the village school
(c) Support for the Congress candidate
(d) Alliance with Bhim Singh
Answer
Answer: (b) Development of the village school
12.
What significant change did the Constitution undergo to prevent defections?
(a) Amendment to the Preamble
(b) Introduction of new articles
(c) Establishment of a bicameral legislature
(d) Amendment to prevent defections
Answer
Answer: (d) Amendment to prevent defections
1.
What was Indira Gandhi credited with in the provided content?
(a) Nationalization of airlines
(b) Abolition of Privy Purse
(c) Introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST)
(d) Construction of the Green Revolution
Answer
Answer: (b) Abolition of Privy Purse
2.
In which years did Indira Gandhi serve as the Prime Minister of India?
(a) 1964-1971 and 1975-1980
(b) 1950-1962 and 1985-1989
(c) 1977-1979 and 1985-1989
(d) 1966-1977 and 1980-1984
Answer
Answer: (d) 1966-1977 and 1980-1984
3.
Which slogan is associated with Indira Gandhi in the provided content?
(a) Jai Hind
(b) Satyameva Jayate
(c) Garibi Hatao
(d) Swachh Bharat
Answer
Answer: (c) Garibi Hatao
4.
What major policy initiative is mentioned in the content regarding Indira Gandhi?
(a) Privatization of public sector units
(b) Abolition of land reforms
(c) Nationalization of banks
(d) Dismantling of environmental regulations
Answer
Answer: (c) Nationalization of banks
5.
What event is mentioned as a credit to Indira Gandhi in the content?
(a) Successful conduct of the first general elections in India
(b) Victory in the 1971 war
(c) Introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST)
(d) Abolition of the caste system
Answer
Answer: (b) Victory in the 1971 war
1.
What was Lal Bahadur Shastri’s responsibility in the Union Cabinet that led to his resignation?
(a) Defense Minister
(b) Finance Minister
(c) Railway Minister
(d) Foreign Minister
Answer
Answer: (c) Railway Minister
2.
In which year did Lal Bahadur Shastri coin the famous slogan ‘Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan’?
(a) 1947
(b) 1951
(c) 1965
(d) 1971
Answer
Answer: (c) 1965
3.
What role did Lal Bahadur Shastri play in the Congress party before becoming the Prime Minister?
(a) Treasurer
(b) General Secretary
(c) President
(d) Chief Whip
Answer
Answer: (b) General Secretary
1.
According to The Guardian editorial, how did the appointment of the new Prime Minister of India compare to the new Prime Minister of Britain?
(a) It was delayed and lacked dignity
(b) It was quicker and more dignified
(c) It was delayed but dignified
(d) It was quicker but lacked dignity
Answer
Answer: (b) It was quicker and more dignified
2.
Why did Lal Bahadur Shastri resign from the Union Cabinet in 1956?
(a) Health issues
(b) Taking responsibility for a railway accident
(c) Political disagreements
(d) Retirement from politics
Answer
Answer: (b) Taking responsibility for a railway accident
3.
In which year did Lal Bahadur Shastri coin the famous slogan ‘Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan’?
(a) 1947
(b) 1951
(c) 1965
(d) 1971
Answer
Answer: (c) 1965
4.
What role did Lal Bahadur Shastri play in the UP cabinet before becoming the Prime Minister?
(a) Chief Minister
(b) Home Minister
(c) Finance Minister
(d) Minister of Agriculture
Answer
Answer: (d) Minister of Agriculture
5.
What was the duration of Lal Bahadur Shastri’s term as Prime Minister of India?
(a) 1964-1965
(b) 1965-1966
(c) 1966-1967
(d) 1967-1968
Answer
Answer: (b) 1965-1966
1.
What was the original election symbol of the Congress party?
(a) Lion
(b) Pair of Bullocks
(c) Lotus
(d) Hand
Answer
Answer: (b) Pair of Bullocks
2.
According to the provided content, what does the famous cartoon depict?
(a) Congress leaders in a meeting
(b) Head-on confrontation within the Congress
(c) A symbol of national unity
(d) Changes in election symbols over the years
Answer
Answer: (b) Head-on confrontation within the Congress
1.
What is the focus of Chapter Two as mentioned in the content?
(a) Emergence of opposition parties
(b) Congress system challenges
(c) Political transition after Nehru
(d) Unity within the Congress
Answer
Answer: (c) Political transition after Nehru
2.
What challenges did the Congress face during the 1960s?
(a) Strong opposition and internal divisions
(b) Lack of political competition
(c) Dominance over other parties
(d) Support from the opposition
Answer
Answer: (a) Strong opposition and internal divisions
3.
What is the objective of this chapter, as mentioned in the content?
(a) Describing opposition unity
(b) Analysing new policies and ideologies
(c) Understanding Congress dominance
(d) Explaining political transition
Answer
Answer: (d) Explaining political transition
4.
Who led the new Congress that emerged during the challenges?
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Sardar Patel
(c) Indira Gandhi
(d) Lal Bahadur Shastri
Answer
Answer: (c) Indira Gandhi
5.
What facilitated the restoration of the Congress system?
(a) Increased opposition unity
(b) Split within the Congress
(c) New policies and ideologies
(d) Decline in political competition
Answer
Answer: (c) New policies and ideologies
