Q18 of 29 Page 1

Study the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow :

“The Emergency and the period around it can be described as a period of constitutional crisis because it had its origins in the constitutional battle. On the other hand, it was also a period of political crisis. The party in power had absolute majority and yet, its leadership decided to suspend the democratic process. The makers of India’s Constitution trusted that all political parties would abide by the democratic norm. Even during the Emergency, when the government would use extraordinary powers, its use would be within the norms of the rule of law.”


i. The constitutional battle was drawn between which two organs of the government?


ii. Explain any two reasons that led to the imposition of emergency in 1975.


iii. Highlight any two excesses that took place during emergency.

i) The constitutional battle was drawn between the Legislative and Judiciary of the government.


ii) 1) There were other such activities and revolts against the government that were taking place during the period which included students, peasants, labour organizations, employees, unions and opposition parties.


2) Indira Gandhi was found guilty by the Allahabad High Court on several accounts and was charged for malpractice during the previous campaigns during her Lok Sabha seat election. Even within the parliament, the government was undergoing much criticism from the opposition parties.


iii) 1) The federal distribution of powers remains practically suspended.


2) All the powers are concentrated in the hands of Union government.


3) The government also gets power to restrict all or any of Fundamental Rights during emergency.


More from this chapter

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1

Describe the four issues on which a broad consensus had emerged among most political parties of India during the coalition era.

 17

Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :

“India did not follow any of the two known paths to development – it did not accept the capitalist model of development, nor did it follow the socialist model. Elements from both these models were taken and mixed together in India. That is why it was described as ‘mixed economy’. Much of the agriculture, trade, and industry were left in private hands. The state controlled key heavy industries, provided industrial infrastructure, regulated trade and made some crucial interventions in agriculture.”


i. Explain the concept of the capitalist model of development


ii. Highlight the main feature of the socialist model.


iii. Explain any three points of criticism against the mixed model adopted by India.

 19

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :

“India’s policy of non-alignment was neither negative nor passive. India was in favour of actively intervening in world affairs to soften Cold War rivalries. Nonalignment was not, as some suggest, a noble international cause, which had little to do with India’s real interests. In fact, a non-aligned posture served India’s interests in many ways. On the other hand, India’s policy of non-alignment was criticized also on a number of counts.”


i. Give any one example of a conflict between the Cold War rivals where India


Mediated to soften the warring factions.


ii. In which two ways did Non-alignment serve India’s interest?


iii. Highlight any two points of criticism against the India’s policy of nonalignment.

 20

Study the cartoon given below carefully and answer the questions that follow


a) The mighty soldier with a weapon represents which country?


b) What is the significance of the names of various countries written on his uniform?


c) What important message does the cartoon convey ?