Q19 of 29 Page 1

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the following questions :

The Janata Party made the 1977 elections into a referendum on the Emergency. Its election campaign was focused on the non-democratic character of the Congress rule and on the various excesses that took place during this period. In the backdrop of arrests of thousands of persons and the censorship of the Press, the public opinion was against the Congress.


(a) What is meant by ‘referendum’?


(b) ‘‘Acts like arrests of thousands of persons and the censorship of the Press during the Emergency period were non-democratic.’’ Do you agree with the statement? Justify your answer with one suitable argument for/against each act.


(c) In spite of winning the 1977 elections with a thumping majority, why could the Janata Party remain in power only for a short period? Explain.

(a) It is a form of true democracy as it gives the power to the people directly. Before formulating any policy or taking any decision a referendum is held where people cast their vote in favor or against and accordingly decisions are taken.

(b) During emergency prohibition and restrictions were imposed almost at everywhere.


1. The newspapers and the press department were ordered to publish the news only after prior approval of Government. Many journalists were arrested and many press industries were shut down. Acts like this are completely against the principles of democracy. In democracy freedom of speech and expression is granted to everyone.


2. The people were arrested and put behind bars just on the basis of contemplations. They were not even provided with reasons for their arrest. Acts like this are also against the freedom of right that is granted to the citizens of democratic nations.


(c) After an emergency, a general election was held and Janata Party came to power. The Janata Party was a coalition party and was mainly formed to oppose emergency proclamation. Hence after the election, there was stiff competition between Charan Singh, jagjivan Ram, and Morarji Desai.


There was no common programme and the party lacked direction. Soon the Janata Party got split and the government led by Morarji Desai lost the majority.


Then a fresh election was held in 1980 and Congress led by Indira Gandhi emerged victoriously.


More from this chapter

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17

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the following questions :

The ‘Cuban Missile Crisis’ was a high point of what came to be known as the Cold War. The Cold War referred to the competitions, the tensions and a series of confrontations between the United States of America and the Soviet Union, backed by their respective allies. Fortunately, however, it never escalated into a ‘hot war’.


(a) Explain the meaning of ‘hot war’.


(b) Why was the ‘Cuban Missile Crisis’ considered as the high point of the Cold War?


(c) ‘‘Ideological conflict was also a cause of the Cold War.’’ How far do you agree with the statement?

18

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the following questions :

The Congress evolved from its origins in 1885 as a pressure group for the newly educated, professionals and commercial classes to a mass movement in the twentieth century. This laid the basis for its eventual transformation into a mass political party and its subsequent domination of the political system. Thus the Congress began as a party dominated by the English speaking, upper caste, upper middle class, and urban elite. But with every Civil Disobedience Movement, it launched, its social base widened.


(a) What is meant by a pressure group?


(b) Explain the reason for the Congress to be transformed into a rainbow-like social coalition by the time of Independence.


(c) What made the Congress into a mass political party in the twentieth century?

20

Study the cartoon given below carefully and answer the following questions :


(a) Which country does this cartoon refer to?


(b) Evaluate any two changes in the economic policies of this country from ‘then’ to ‘now’.


(c) Assess any two outcomes of the latest changes that took place in this country.

20

(1) What is the full form of ASEAN?

(2) State the main objective of the ASEAN.


(3) What does the ‘ASEAN Way’ mean?