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Class 12 - Political Science

Sample Paper - 08 (2024-25)

Maximum Marks: 80
Time Allowed: : 3 hours

General Instructions:

1. The question paper consists of five sections (A, B, C, D and E) with 30 questions in total.
2. All questions are compulsory.
3. Question numbers 1-12 are multiple choice questions of one mark each.
4. Question numbers 13-18 are of 2 marks each. Answers to these questions should not exceed 50-60 words each.
5. Question numbers 19-23 are of 4 marks each. Answers to these questions should not exceed 100-120 words each. There is
an internal choice in two of the 4 marks questions
6. Question numbers 24-26 are passage, cartoon and map-based questions. Answer accordingly.
7. Question numbers 27-30 are of 6 marks each. Answers to these questions should not exceed 170-180 words.
8. There is an internal choice in 6 marks questions.

SECTION – A (12 MARKS)

1. Arrange the following in chronological order-

i. Setting up of WTO
ii. Membership of the UN Security Council was expanded from 11 to 15
iii. IAEA was established
iv. Signing of GATT
a) iv, iii, ii, i
b) iv, ii, i, iii
c) i, iv, iii, ii
d) iii, ii, iv, i

2. Which of the following are the common features for both, the Planning Commission and NITI Aayog?

i. Both are non-constitutional bodies.

ii. Both have significant roles of states.
iii. Both have the Prime Minister as chairperson.
iv. Both have the power to allocate funds.

Choose the correct options:

a) (ii) and (iv) only

b) (i) and (iii) only
c) (i) and (iv) only
d) (ii) and (iii) only

3. In which year was the Election Commission of India set up?

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a) 1949
b) 1950
c) 1952
d) 1951

4. Which among the following statements about the Bombay Plan is incorrect?

a) It strongly supported the idea of planning.

b) It was a blueprint for India’s economic future.
c) It was made by some leading industrialists.
d) It supported state ownership of industry.

5. Match List I with List II regarding resistance to globalization.

List-1 List-2

(a) Political (i) Forgetting own traditions, values and culture

(b) Economical (ii) Less power to states to protect the interests of the poor

(c) Cultural (iii) economic liberalization

(d) Social (iv) Harms social boundaries of the community
a) (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
b) (a)-(iv), (b)-(i), (c)-(iii), (d)-(ii)
c) (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
d) (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)

6. Assertion (A): The partition of the country proved everyone’s worst tears. There were serious questions about the future
of India.
Reason (R): British government decided to give independence to India.

a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.

7. Who visited Nepal in 1973?

a) Jakir Hussain
b) Atal Bihari Bajpai
c) Fakruddin Ali Ahmad
d) Indira Gandhi

8. ________ was unanimously chosen as the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party after the death of Nehru.

a) Natarajan Annadurai
b) Morarji Desai
c) Indira Gandhi
d) Lai Bahadur Shastri

9. Which of the following statements about Non-Aligned Movement during 1970s does not match with its ideology?

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a) The organisation was against racial discrimination.
b) It promoted the policy of isolation and neutrality.
c) It worked for economic independence of small countries.
d) Its member countries did not join any military alliance.

10. Assertion (A): The Berlin wall was built in 1961.

Reason (R): Germany was a friend of allied countries.

a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.

11. North East region shares boundaries with:

a) Japan
b) Taiwan
c) China
d) Mongolia

12. Which among the following statements about the Indo-Bhutan relationship is not true?

a) Bhutan has had some differences over the Indian migrants

b) India remains the biggest source of development aid to Bhutan
c) India and Bhutan do not have any major conflicts with each other
d) The Bhutanese monarch weed out the guerrillas from Northeastern India
SECTION- B (12 MARKS)

13. Why is it said that history of petroleum is also the history of war and struggles?

14. Explain the basis on which the Bahujan Samaj Party emerged as a formidable political force.

15. Highlight any two reasons that made environmental issues the concern of Global Politics.

16. Mention any two problems which were faced by the Government of Indira Gandhi during 1969 - 1971.

17. Highlight the contribution made by Nehru to the foreign policy of India.

18. In spite of token representation in the Indian legislatures during the fifties, what role did the opposition parties play?
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SECTION-C (20 MARKS)

19. What are the differences experienced by India and Nepal in their relationship?

20. Name any four principal organs of the United Nations and describe the composition of any one of them.

21. Oil is an important resource in global strategy that affects the geopolitics and global economy. Comment.

OR

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Describe the issues relating to environmental degradation.

22. Mention any four political consequences of globalisation.

OR

Define globalisation. How is it different from internationalisation?

23. What lessons can we draw from the feeling of alienation in some parts of India?

SECTION-D (12 MARKS)

24. 1. Read the text carefully and answer the questions:
Study the image given below carefully:

i. Leaders release postal stamps on 25 January 2018 to commemorate silver jubilee of partnership with which
ASEAN partner?

a) India
b) South Korea
c) Japan
d) China

ii. An ASEAN organisation established in 1994 that carries out the coordination of security and foreign policy.

a) ASEAN Economic Community

b) ASEAN Regional Forum
c) ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
d) ASEAN Security Community

iii. ASEAN has focused on creating a Free Trade Area for ________.

a) services
b) labour
c) All of these
d) investment

iv. The US and China have already moved fast to negotiate FTAs with ASEAN. The ASEAN-India FTA came into
effect in ________.

a) 2000
b) 2015
c) 2005
d) 2010

25. In the given political outline map of India, four States have been marked as A, B, C and D. Identify these States on the
basis of the information given below and write their correct names in your answer-book along with the respective serial

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number of the information used and the concerned alphabets given in the map as per the following format:

Serial number of the Concerned alphabet

Name of the State
information used given in the map

(i)

(ii)
(iii)

(iv)
i. The State related to former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.
ii. The State to which former Deputy Prime Minister Jagjivan Ram belonged.
iii. The State where the Naxalites were very active.
iv. A State where the Congress party could not win even a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections in 1977.

26. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: (1+1+2)
The draft of the First Five Year Plan and then the actual Plan Document, released in December 1951, generated a lot of
excitement in the country. People from all walks of life – academics, journalists, government and private sector
employees, industrialists, farmers, politicians, etc. – discussed and debated the documents extensively. The excitement
with planning reached its peak with the launching of the Second Five Year Plan in 1956 and continued somewhat till the
Third Five Year Plan in 1961. The Fourth Plan was due to start in 1966. By this time, the novelty of planning had
declined considerably, and moreover, India was facing an acute economic crisis. The government decided to take a ‘plan
holiday’. Though many criticisms emerged both about the process and the priorities of these plans, the foundation of
India’s economic development was firmly in place by then.

i. When the first five year plan was started in India?

a. 1950
b. 1951

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c. 1956
d. 1978
ii. After which five-year planning the government of India took Plan holiday?
a. 1st
b. 2nd
c. 3rd
d. 4th
iii. How did public enthusiasm for India's Five Year Plans evolve over time, and what led to the 'plan holiday' in 1966?
SECTION-E (24 MARKS)

27. The transition from communism to capitalism was not a smooth one. Comment.

OR

What sort of conflicts had occurred in Soviet Republics? Explain.

28. Name the pillars and the objectives of the ASEAN Community.

OR

Explain any four steps taken by China to develop its economy.

29. State the main issues in Indian politics in the period after 1989. What different configurations of political parties these
differences lead to?

OR

From 1989 to 2004, there have been nine coalition governments in India. Analyse the rise and fall of any two such
coalition governments.

30. Assess any three happenings which were responsible for the downfall of the Congress Party in the 1977 elections.

OR

What were the factors that led to popular protests before the 1975 Emergency? Which parties did organise the protests?
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Class 12 - Political Science

Sample Paper - 08 (2024-25)

Solution

SECTION – A (12 MARKS)

1. (a) iv, iii, ii, i
Explanation:

iv. Signing of GATT- 30 October 1947

iii. IAEA was established - 1957
ii. Membership of the UN Security Council was expanded from 11 to 15 - 1965.
i. Setting up of WTO - 1995

2. (b) (i) and (iii) only

Explanation:

(i) and (iii) only

3. (b) 1950
Explanation:

1950

4. (b) It was a blueprint for India’s economic future.

Explanation:

Bombay Plan was a joint initiative of some big industrialists to set up a planned economy for the country because every
investor or industrialist prefers an open economy where state control is minimum.

5. (a) (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)

Explanation:

(a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)

6. (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:

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

7. (d) Indira Gandhi

Explanation:

Indira Gandhi

8. (c) Indira Gandhi

Explanation:

Indira Gandhi

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9. (b) It promoted the policy of isolation and neutrality.
Explanation:

It promoted the policy of isolation and neutrality.

10. (c) A is true but R is false.

Explanation:

A is true but R is false.

11. (c) China

Explanation:

China

12. (a) Bhutan has had some differences over the Indian migrants
Explanation:

In South Asia, not all conflicts are between India and its neighbours. Bhutan and Nepal have had a disagreement in the
past over the migration of ethnic Nepalese into Bhutan.

SECTION- B (12 MARKS)

13. The immense wealth associated with oil generates political struggles to control it and the history of petroleum is also the
history of war and struggle, Nowhere is this more obviously the case than in West Asia and Central Asia, West Asia
specifically the Gulf region accounts for about 30 per cent of global oil production. But it has about 64 percent of the
planets known reserves and is, therefore, the only region able to satisfy any substantial rise in oil demand. Saudi Arabia
has a quarter of the world’s total reserves and is the single largest producer.

14. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) emerged as a formidable political force in India by focusing on the empowerment of
marginalized communities, particularly Dalits and other socially oppressed groups. It championed social justice,
advocated for affirmative action, and mobilized a significant voter base by highlighting issues of caste-based
discrimination and inequality.

15. Two environmental issues which are causes of concern to global politics are:

i. The cultivable land is not expanding anymore, and a substantial portion of existing agricultural land is losing fertility.
Grassland has been overgrazed and fisheries over-harvested.
ii. The Ozone poses a real danger to ecosystems and human health.

16. Two problems faced by Indira Gandhi government during 1969-1971 were as:

i. The factional rivalry between the Syndicate and Indira Gandhi came in the open in 1969 when after the death of
President Zakir Hussain's, the post of President of India fell vacant that year. The Presidential candidate was to be
elected.
ii. Various non-congress parties came together to form joint legislative parties.

17. Jawaharlal Nehru is considered the architect of modern India. Apart from his careful handling of India’s domestic
situation in the years immediately after Independence, Nehru’s major contribution lies in foreign policies. The
contribution made by Nehru to the foreign policy of India are highlighted below:

i. India’s initiatives for non-alignment for maintenance of mutual understanding and security.

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ii. India always maintained her dignity and image of the peace-loving country by taking initiatives to bring about
equality and understanding among nations i.e. to end the Korean war in 1953, French rule in China etc.

18. The opposition parties play the following roles:

i. Played a crucial role in maintaining the democratic character of the system.

ii. Opposition parties offered a sustained and often principled criticism of the policies and practices of the Congress
Party.
iii. This kept the ruling party under check and often changed the balance of power within the Congress.
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SECTION-C (20 MARKS)

19. There are certain reasons for which India and Nepal experience differences in their relations:

i. India looks with scorn on the relationship of China and Nepal. This is one of the reasons for the differences between
the two countries.
ii. Nepal government is not taking any active steps to prevent anti Indian elements in Nepal. This has hindered the
growth in the relations of the two countries.
iii. The Maoist activities in Nepal has affected some of the states of India, such as Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
iv. Moreover, the hesitations of Nepal government to address the issues going between the two countries have sharpened
the rift of the relations of the both countries.

20. Principal organs of the United Nations

i. The General Assembly

ii. Secretariat
iii. Security Council
iv. International Court of Justice

Composition:

i. The General Assembly: It includes all member states. In the UN General Assembly, all members have one vote
each. Each member country may be represented by upto five state delegates but each and all of them has only one
vote.
ii. Secretariat: The Secretariat shall comprise a Secretary-General and such staff as the Organization may require. The
Secretary-General shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
iii. Security Council: In the UN Security Council, there are ten non-permanent and five permanent members. These
permanent members are: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China.

21. Oil creates political struggles involving industrialised countries because it is the resource which generates immense
wealth. Countries adopt various methods to ensure steady flows of oil:

1. These included deployment of military process near exploitation sites and along sea lanes of communications.
2. The stockpiling of strategic resources.
3. By making favourable international agreements, they support multinational companies.
4. The history of petroleum is the history of war and struggle as the global economy relied on oil as a portable and
indispensable fuel.

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5. It created conflict between Iraq and Saudi Arabia as Iraq’s known reserves are second only to Saudi Arabia and since
substantial portions of Iraqi territory are yet to be fully explored, there is a fair chance that actual reserves might be
far larger.

OR

The environmental degradation caused by human activities has become persuasive and has reached a dangerous level.
Following are the issues relating to environmental degradation :

i. The land is not expanding further, grasslands and fisheries have been over-exploited. Natural resources are being
depleted i.e. cultivable area has not been sustained anymore, agricultural land lost fertility and grass lands have been
overgrazed.
ii. Waterbodies have suffered a depletion and pollution both. There is hardly any food production on the polluted and
depleted water bodies.
iii. Natural forests which help stabilise the climate, moderate water supplies and harbour a majority of the planet's
biodiversity on land are being cut down and people are being displaced.
iv. A steady decline in the total amount of ozone in the Earth's stratosphere poses a real danger to human health.
v. Coastal waters are becoming increasingly polluted largely due to land based activities. Due to land based activities,
coastal pollution is also increasing which affects quality of marine environment and fisheries.

22. Political consequences are positive and negative both as:

Negative Aspects:

i. Globalisation results in an erosion of state capacity, that is the ability of government to do what they do.
ii. The old welfare state is now giving way to more minimalist state that performs certain core functions such as
maintenance of law and order and the security of its citizens.
iii. Sometimes state withdraws from many of its earlier welfare functions directed at economic and social well being.
iv. In place of the welfare state, it is the market that becomes prime determinant of social and economic priorities.
v. The entry and the increased role of multinational companies all over the world leads to a reduction in the capacity of
governments to take decisions on their own.

Positive Aspects:

i. The primary function of the state continues to be the unchallenged basis of political community.
ii. To some extent developing countries have received a boost to become more powerful and strong.
iii. The state continues to discharge its essential function (law and order, national security). Hence, states continue to be
important.

OR

Globalisation means the flows of ideas, capital, commodities and people across different parts of the world. It is a
multidimensional concept. It has political, economic and cultural manifestations and these must be adequately
distinguished. It is different from internationalisation on the basis of following points :

i. Globalization is the worldwide effort and interaction of the public and private sector toward economic, financial,
communication, cultural etc. integration through allowing and easing the cross-border movement and transfer of
people, capital, data, goods and services. On the other hand, Internationalisation can be interpreted as the efforts of
companies to do business in one or more foreign countries. This can include activities such as the sourcing,
producing and selling materials, components, goods and services.

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ii. Internationalisation believes in the integrity of community whereas globalisation believes in one umbrella concepts
and sharing of ideas between other states.
iii. Internationalisation believes in the use of resources of all the world equally for the benefit of mankind, but
globalisation emphasise on the development of resources for the welfare and support of community.
iv. Internationalisation also believes in the universal brotherhood and international peace whereas globalisation believes
in the concept of flows of ideas, people and commodities throughout the globe, it also encourages the richer countries
to support the poorer countries' economy.

23. Lessons learned from the feeling of alienation in some parts of India was as:

i. First and the most elementary lesson is that regional aspirations are very much a part of democratic politics. The
expression of regional issues is not an abnormal phenomenon.
ii. The second lesson is that the best way to respond to regional aspirations is through democratic negotiations rather
than through suppression.
iii. The third lesson is about the significance of power-sharing.
iv. The fourth lesson is that regional imbalance in economic development contributes to the feeling of regional
discrimination.
v. Finally, these cases make us appreciate the farsightedness of the makers of our constitution.
SECTION-D (12 MARKS)
24. i. (a) India
ii. (b) ASEAN Regional Forum
iii. (c) All of these
iv. (d) 2010

25. Serial number of the information used Concerned Alphabet given in the map Name of Countries/State
(i) D Uttar Pradesh

(ii) B Bihar
(iii) C West Bengal
(iv) A Haryana
26. i. (b) 1951
ii. (c) 3rd
iii. The First and Second Five Year Plans generated widespread excitement across India, peaking with the Second Plan in
1956. However, by the time the Fourth Plan was due in 1966, enthusiasm had waned due to India's severe economic
crisis. The government declared a 'plan holiday' to focus on short-term economic challenges, but the foundations for
development were already in place.
SECTION-E (24 MARKS)

27. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, a new type of political-economic system was established in Russia. In Russia,
means of production and distribution were placed under the state control. The dictatorship of the Communist Party
existed in U.S.S.R. With the disintegration of the Soviet Union there was a collapse of communism. After the collapse of
Communism, the process of change in these countries started from an authoritarian socialist system to a democratic
capitalist system. But the transition from Communism to Capitalism was not a smooth one due to the following reasons:

i. It brought ruin to the economies and disaster upon the people of the entire region.
ii. About 90% of the State-controlled industries were sold to individuals and companies. But in Russia, there was a big
shortage of persons who could efficiently handle private companies.

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iii. There were huge inflation and prices rose very high. Moreover, the value of Russian currency Rouble declined and
foreign loan on Russia had risen to 160 billion dollars.
iv. Majority of the people became a very poor and old system of social security, as well as health services, were
completely paralysed.
v. A priority of the political system changed and democratic institutions were not soundly built.
vi. The new economic system divided Russia between 'The haves’ and 'The have nots'.

OR

i. In Russia:
a. Chechnya and Degestan had violent secessionist movements.
b. Moscow's method to deal with Chechen rebels and indiscriminate military bombings led to many human rights
violation but for deter aspirations for independence.
ii. In Central Aisa:
a. Tajikistan witnessed a civil war that went on for year till 2001.
b. In Azerbaijan's provinces of Nagorno-Karobakh, some local Armenians want to secede and join Armenia.
c. In Georgia, the demand for independence came from two provinces resulting in a civil war.
d. There are still movements against the existing regimes in Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia.
e. Even countries and provinces are fighting over river water.
iii. In Eastern Europe:
a. Czechoslovakia, split peacefully into two with the Czechs and Slovaks, forming independent countries.
b. The severe conflict took place in the Balkan republics of Yugoslavia.
c. After 1991, Yugoslavia broke\apart with several provinces like Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
declaring independence.
d. Ethnic Serbs opposed this and a massacre of non-Serbs Bosnians followed.
e. The NATO intervention and the bombing of Yugoslavia followed inter-ethnic Civil war.
28. a. The pillars of the ASEAN Community are the ASEAN Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community, and
the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. ASEAN was established in 1967 by five countries of this region Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
b. The objectives of the ASEAN Community were primarily to:
i. Accelerate economic growth and through that social progress and cultural development.
ii. Promote regional peace and stability based on the rule of law and the principles of the United Nation’s Charter.
iii. ASEAN countries have celebrated what has become known as the 'ASEAN Way', a form of interaction that is
informal, non-confrontationist and cooperative. The respect for national sovereignty is critical to the functioning
of ASEAN.
iv. Later on, its objectives were broadened and thus in 2003, three pillars i.e. the ASEAN Security Community, the
ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community were established. The objective of
ASEAN Security Community is to uphold peace so that outstanding territorial disputes are not escalated into
armed confrontations.

OR

China followed its own path in introducing a market economy. The Chinese did not go for ‘shock therapy’ but opened
their economy step by step.

Established relations with the US: The Chinese leadership took major policy decisions in the 1970s. China
ended its political and economic isolation with the establishment of relations with the United States in 1972.

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Proposed four areas of modernization: Premier Zhou Enlai proposed the ‘four modernisations’ (agriculture,
industry, science and technology and military) in 1973.
Announced open door policy: By 1978, the then leader Deng Xiaoping announced the ‘open door’ policy and
economic reforms in China. The policy was to generate higher productivity by investments of capital and
technology from abroad.
Followed policy of privatization: China adopted the policy of privatisation by privatizing agriculture in 1982
followed by the privatization of industry in 1998.
Removed trade barriers from SEZ: Trade barriers were eliminated only in Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
where foreign investors could set up enterprises. In China, the state played and continues to play a central role in
setting up a market economy.

(Any four points)

29. a. In the decade of eighties, the country witnessed main developments which had a long-lasting impact on politics:
i. Rise of Other Backward Classes as a political force.
ii. Decision of the National Front government to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission and
subsequent stir.
iii. Rise of politics based on religious identity and debate about secularism and democracy.
iv. Babri Masjid's demolition.
v. Anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat.
vi. Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi
vii. End of Congress dominance and beginning of an era of coalition politics.
b. These issues led to different configurations of political parties as mentioned below :
i. The nineties also saw the emergence of powerful parties and movements that represented the Dalit and backward
castes. Many of these parties represented powerful regional assertions as well. All political parties began to
support reservation of seats for the backward classes in education and employment.
ii. This gave rise to an era of coalition politics. Coalition governments were formed i.e., National Front in 1989, the
United Front in 1996 and 1997, the NDA in 1997, BJP led coalition in 1998, NDA in 1999 and the UPA in 2004
and 2009.

OR

The era from 1989 to 2004 witnessed the emergence of strong political parties, regional parties through several issues viz
OBCs, Dalits, etc. These parties formed a government through alliances. Such alliance was United Front, National Front
in 1996 and 1989 respectively.

A coalition from 1989 to 2004

After the 1996 elections, some parties that supported Congress formed an alliance called the United Front. In 1989, BJP
and Left supported the National Front.
However, in 1989, BJP and Left wanted to keep the Congress out of power and hence, both supported National Front and
later in 1996, Congress wanted to keep out BJP from the power. Therefore, it supported the United Front and Left
supported Congress in 1996. The United Front did not succeed for long because BJP continued to strengthen its position
in the elections of 1991 and 1996. The BJP was the single largest party in 1996 parliamentary election with 161 out of
543 seats and thus, in 1996, BJP was invited to form the government. BJP accepted the offer and soon Atal Bihari
Vajpayee scrubbed in as the Prime Minister, but most of the political parties opposed its policies consequently and
therefore, BJP could not secure a majority in the Lok Sabha. This led to the decline of the United Front.

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Lok Sabha Elections, 2004
After the 2004 elections, the Congress party came to power with the new alliance known as United Progressive Alliance.
The United Progressive Alliance is a coalition government formed out of the left and center-left political parties of India
formed after the 2004 general elections. The largest member of the United Progressive Assembly is INC(Indian National
Congress) whose former president is Sonia Gandhi, who is also the chairperson of the UPA. This was a coalition
government made in a big way. The NDA was defeated and the installation of another coalition government was led by
the DR. Manmohan Singh occurred. The UPA received support from DMK, PMK, AIADMK, RJD, NCP, TRS and left
from Andhra Pradesh, etc. The 2004 elections also saw the partial revival of the Congress party as it increased its seats
compared to the 1996 elections. However, there was a little bit difference between the votes polled by the Congress and
its allies and the BJP and its allies in the 2004 elections. Thus, the party system has taken another form suddenly from
what it was until the seventies.
After the 1990s, the political process has been changed and it led to the emergence of broadly four groups of parties :

i. The Congress supporting parties that made a coalition with Congress.

ii. The BJP allying parties.
iii. Left front parties.
iv. Some other parties which were not part of the above three.

30. Three happenings which were responsible for the downfall of the Congress Party in the 1977 election were:

i. The major opposition parties had already been coming closer in the pre-Emergency period. They came together on
the eve of the elections and formed a new party known as the Janata Party. The new party accepted the leadership of
Jayaprakash Narayan.
ii. Some leaders of the Congress who were opposed to the emergency also joined this new party. Some other Congress
leaders also came out and formed a separate party under the leadership of Jagjivan Ram. The party named as
Congress for Democracy later merged with the Janata Party.
iii. The Janata Party's campaign was focused on the non-democratic character of the rule and on the various excesses that
took place during the emergency. Jayaprakash Narayan became the popular symbol of the restoration of democracy.
The formation of the Janata Party also ensured that non-congress votes would not be a divide. It was evident that the
going was tough for the Congress.
iv. The opposition to an emergency could keep the Janata Party together only for a while. Its critics felt that the Janata
Party lacked direction, leadership and a common programme. The Janata Party Government could not bring about a
fundamental change in policies from those pursued by Congress. The Janata Party split and the government which
was led by Morarji Desai lost its majority in less than 18 months.

OR

i. The factors that led to popular protests before the 1975 Emergency were as mentioned below:
a. The Bangladesh crisis had put a heavy strain on India’s economy. About eight million people crossed over the
East Pakistan border into India. This was followed by a war with Pakistan. All this led to huge expenditure.
b. After the Indo-Pak war of 1965, the US government stopped all aid to India.
c. In the international market, the increase in oil prices led to an all-round increase in prices of commodities. Prices
increased by 23 percent in 1973 and 30 percent in 1974. This was creating hardships for the people.
d. Industrial growth was low and unemployment was very high.
e. In order to reduce expenditure, the government froze the salaries of its employees. This causes dissatisfaction
among the employees.
f. Foodgrain output declined by 8 percent.

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ii. Non-Congress opposition parties organised popular protests. The activities of Marxist groups increased. These
groups did not believe in parliamentary politics. They took to arms and insurgent techniques for the overthrow of the
capitalist order. Maoist groups or Naxalites were strong in West Bengal.
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