Q20 of 29 Page 1

Note: The following questions are for visually impaired candidates only in lieu of question 20.
(i) Which party has won the maximum number of seats in Lok Sabha elections of 1984 and under whose leadership?


(ii) What was the most controversial decision taken by the National Front government in 1990?


(iii) Which Prime Minister started the New Economic Reforms and what was its outcome?


(i) Congress had won the maximum number of seats in the Lok Sabha elections of 1984. The rising tide of sentiments on the assassination of Indira Gandhi enabled them to have such a huge victory. They won 415 seats in the Lok Sabha. This was under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi – the son of Indira Gandhi – who later was appointed as the Prime Minister of the country.


(ii) The most controversial decision taken by the National Front government in 1990 was the implementation of the recommendations of the Mandal Commission. The Commission extended the purview of reservation and that the jobs in central government should be reserved for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). It recommended reservation of 27 % of seats in educational institutions and government jobs for the OBCs. This led to huge anti-Mandal protests throughout the country.


(iii) The structural adjustment programme, also known as the new economic reforms was started by Rajiv Gandhi. But these economic changes became visible in 1991. The change was completely initiated by the Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao and the then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh. Under these reforms, all the barriers restricting the investment and trade with the economy by the foreign countries were abolished. The license, permit and quota raj came to an end. The economy was liberalised, privatised and globalised. This resulted in more integration of the country with foreign economies.


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19

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

When India conducted its first nuclear test, it was termed as a 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.


a. When did India conduct its first nuclear test and why?


b. Why was the period, when the nuclear tests were conducted in India, considered to be a difficult period in domestic politics?


c. Which international event of the 1970s was responsible for high inflation in India?

 20

Study the cartoon given below and answer the following questions:


a. Identify any four national leaders from the above cartoon and mention the serial number of each.


b. Which was the most controversial issue of the period related to leader number (2) as Prime Minister of India?


c. What was the position of the party led by leader number (1) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1989?

 21

In the given political outline map of South Asia, five countries have been marked as A, B, C, D and E. Identify them on the basis of information given below and write their correct names in the answer book along with the respective serial numbers of information used and concerned alphabet.


a. An important country, but is not considered to be a part of South Asia.


b. The country has a successful democratic system.


c. This country has both civilian and military rulers.


d. This country has a constitutional monarchy.


e. An island nation which was a sultanate till 1968.

 21

Note: The following questions are for visually impaired candidates only in lieu of question 21

(i) The expression South Asia usually includes which countries?


(ii) Which two countries of South Asia have successfully operated a democratic system?


(iii) Write the full form of SAARC and SAFTA.