Subject: Political Science
Course No.: POLDSC-152T
Semester: 2nd Semester (FYUG)
Exam Year: 2024
Time: 3 Hours
Full Marks: 70
Section-A
(Answer any ten questions. Each question carries 2 marks.)
1. When was the Indian National Congress established? Who was its first President? [2 Marks]
The Indian National Congress was established in 1885.
Its first President was Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee.
2. What is coalition politics? [2 Marks]
Coalition politics refers to a situation in a multi-party system where multiple political parties cooperate and join together to form a government because no single party has won an absolute majority in the legislature.
3. Mention two defects of Indian party system. [2 Marks]
Defection (Aya Ram Gaya Ram): The frequent shifting of party loyalties by elected representatives for personal or political gain.
Personality Cult/Dynastic Politics: Parties often revolve around a single leader or a specific family rather than distinct ideologies.
4. Mention any two features of Indian secularism. [2 Marks]
No State Religion: The Indian state does not patronize or establish any particular religion as the official religion.
Equal Respect for All Religions (Sarva Dharma Sambhava): The state maintains a "principled distance" and treats all religious communities with equal respect.
5. Suggest two measures to solve the problems of communalism in India. [2 Marks]
Value-based Education: Promoting secular and humanistic values through school and college curricula to foster communal harmony.
Strict Legal Action: Prompt and unbiased legal action against those who incite communal violence or spread hate speech.
6. What is meant by Patriarchy? [2 Marks]
Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.
7. What is regional aspiration? [2 Marks]
Regional aspiration refers to the desire of people residing in a specific region to protect their unique cultural, linguistic, or ethnic identity and to seek greater autonomy or development for their region.
8. Mention any two causes of secessionist movement in India. [2 Marks]
Ethnic Alienation: A feeling among certain groups that their distinct identity is being suppressed by the central authority.
Economic Underdevelopment: Persistent neglect and lack of infrastructure in specific regions leading to a demand for complete independence.
9. Suggest two measures to remove regional imbalance in India. [2 Marks]
Targeted Investment: Directing central funds and industrial projects toward backward and underdeveloped regions.
Special Category Status: Providing financial incentives and tax breaks to states facing geographical or developmental challenges.
10. Mention any two social movements occurred in India. [2 Marks]
Chipko Movement: An environmental movement aimed at protecting forests.
Anti-Arrack Movement: A women-led movement against the sale and consumption of alcohol.
11. Write two impacts of Chipko Movement. [2 Marks]
Environmental Awareness: It sensitized the masses about the vital link between forest conservation and livelihoods.
Policy Change: It led to a 15-year ban on commercial felling in the Himalayan forests above 1000 meters.
12. Name any two tribal movements of North-East India. [2 Marks]
Mizo Movement: Led by the Mizo National Front.
Naga Movement: Pursuing Naga sovereignty and identity.
13. Mention two features of planned economy. [2 Marks]
Central Authority: Economic decisions are made by a central planning body (like the erstwhile Planning Commission).
Predefined Objectives: Resource allocation is directed toward achieving specific social and economic goals over a set period.
India adopted New Economic Reforms in 1991 primarily due to a severe Balance of Payments (BoP) crisis and high inflation, which necessitated opening the economy to global competition.
15. What is mixed economy? [2 Marks]
A mixed economy is an economic system that combines elements of both capitalism (private sector) and socialism (public sector), where both sectors coexist and contribute to national development.
Section-B
(Answer any five questions. Each question carries 10 marks.)
16. What is a political party? Explain the features of Indian party system. [3+7=10 Marks]
Political Party: A political party is an organized group of people who share similar political views and ideologies, and who aim to attain and maintain political power by contesting elections to implement their policies.
Features of Indian Party System:
Multi-Party System: India has a vast number of national and regional parties, reflecting its social and cultural diversity.
Dominance of Regional Parties: Regional parties play a crucial role in forming national governments and influencing federal policies.
Ideological Flux: Many parties lack a rigid ideology and often enter into alliances based on political pragmatism.
Personality Cult: Leadership is often centered around charismatic individuals rather than institutionalized party structures.
Internal Factionalism: Frequent splits and mergers within parties are common due to leadership rivalries.
17. "From a one-party dominant system, Indian party system has become a truly multi-party system." Explain. [10 Marks]
This statement describes the transition from the "Congress System" to the era of coalitions and multi-party competition.
Congress Dominance (1947–1967): For the first two decades, the Indian National Congress held power at both the Center and in most States, acting as an "umbrella organization."
Erosion of Dominance: Starting from 1967, regional parties began to challenge Congress in the states. The 1989 general elections marked the end of single-party dominance at the Center.
Rise of Regionalism: The emergence of parties like the DMK, TDP, and TMC made it impossible for national parties to ignore regional interests.
Coalition Era (1989–2014): This period saw a shift where national parties (BJP or Congress) had to lead broad alliances (NDA or UPA) to form a government, representing a "truly multi-party system."
18. Define caste. Distinguish between caste and class in Indian context. [4+6=10 Marks]
Caste: Caste is a form of social stratification characterized by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a lifestyle which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultural notions of purity and pollution.
| Feature |
Caste |
Class |
Origin |
Ascribed status (by birth). |
Achieved status (by wealth/skill). |
Mobility |
Closed system; strictly fixed. |
Open system; social mobility is possible. |
Basis |
Religious/Ritual hierarchy. |
Economic/Occupational status. |
Nature |
Unique to the Indian sub-continent. |
Universal social stratification. |
19. What is communalism? Discuss the causes for the growth of communalism in Indian society. [4+6=10 Marks]
Communalism: It is an ideology where a person's primary loyalty is to their religious community rather than the nation, often leading to hostility toward other religious groups.
Causes for Growth:
Legacy of Partition: The traumatic historical experience of the 1947 partition left deep-seated mistrust between communities.
Political Exploitation: Political parties often use "vote bank politics" by appealing to religious sentiments to secure electoral victories.
Socio-Economic Disparity: Competition for limited resources and jobs sometimes takes a communal color when one group perceives another as getting unfair advantages.
Religious Extremism: The rise of fundamentalist organizations that preach intolerance and exclusivity.
20. What is regionalism? What are the causes for the growth of regionalism in India? [4+6=10 Marks]
Regionalism: It is an ideology and political movement that emphasizes the interests and identity of a particular region over national interests.
Causes for Growth:
Regional Imbalance: Uneven economic development, where some states prosper while others remain backward, fuels resentment.
Linguistic Identity: Demands for statehood based on language (e.g., the 1956 reorganization) have been a major driver.
Cultural Diversity: India's diverse ethnic and cultural groups seek to preserve their heritage from being overwhelmed by a "national" culture.
Political Ambition: Local leaders often champion regional causes to build an independent political base.
21. Write a note on the politics of secession in North-East India. [10 Marks]
The North-East of India has faced several secessionist movements—demands for complete independence from the Indian Union.
Geographical Isolation: The region's tenuous connection to mainland India (Siliguri Corridor) created a sense of alienation.
Ethnic Identity: Various tribes (Nagas, Mizos) believed their distinct cultures were incompatible with the Indian state.
Insurgency: Groups like the NSCN (Nagaland) and ULFA (Assam) engaged in armed struggle against the state.
State Response: The government has used a mix of military force (AFSPA) and political dialogue, creating new states (like Mizoram in 1987) to integrate these regions into the democratic fold.
22. What is environmental movement? Discuss any two environmental movements in India. [2+8=10 Marks]
Environmental Movement: A social movement aimed at protecting the natural environment and ensuring sustainable use of resources, often led by those whose livelihoods depend on nature.
Two Movements:
- Chipko Movement (1973): In Uttarakhand, villagers (especially women) hugged trees to prevent contractors from cutting them down. It highlighted the link between forest preservation and local survival.
- Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA): A protest against the construction of large dams (Sardar Sarovar) on the Narmada River. It raised issues of tribal displacement, rehabilitation, and environmental impact.
23. Write the causes of Bodo Movement. What are its impacts? [6+4=10 Marks]
Causes of Bodo Movement:
Identity Protection: Fear among the Bodo tribe that their language and culture were being marginalized by the Assamese majority.
Land Alienation: Large-scale encroachment of tribal lands by non-tribal settlers.
Economic Underdevelopment: A feeling that the Bodo-dominated areas were being neglected in terms of infrastructure and jobs.
Impacts:
Administrative Autonomy: Led to the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) to manage local affairs.
Ethnic Tension: Occasional violent clashes between Bodos and non-Bodo communities in the region.
24. What is liberalization of economy? Discuss the main features of the New Economic Reforms Policy adopted in India since 1990s. [4+6=10 Marks]
Liberalization: It refers to the removal of government regulations and restrictions on economic activities to allow for greater participation of the private sector and foreign investment.
Features of New Economic Reforms (LPG Policy):
Liberalization: Abolition of the "License Raj," allowing industries to expand without bureaucratic hurdles.
Privatization: Reducing the role of the public sector by selling government shares in public enterprises (Disinvestment).
Globalization: Integrating the Indian economy with the world economy by reducing import duties and encouraging Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Financial Reforms: Modernizing the banking sector and the stock market (SEBI).
25. What do you mean by planned development? Explain the objectives of economic planning adopted in India after Independence. [10 Marks]
Planned Development: It is a strategy where the state takes the lead in managing the economy and allocating resources to achieve social and economic targets through Five-Year Plans.
Objectives of Economic Planning:
Economic Growth: Increasing the National Income and Per Capita Income.
Self-Reliance: Reducing dependence on foreign imports and aid, especially in food and basic industries.
Social Justice: Reducing inequalities of income and wealth and eliminating poverty.
Modernization: Adopting new technology and changing social outlooks to increase productivity.
Full Employment: Generating enough jobs to absorb the growing labor force.
Exam Focus Enhancements
Exam Tips: When discussing "Causes," use bullet points to make your answer scannable and clear for the examiner.
Common Mistakes: Do not confuse "Regionalism" (political movement) with "Regional Imbalance" (economic state).
Important Concept: The transition from the "Congress System" to "Coalition Politics" is a fundamental theme in this paper.
Answer Presentation Strategy: Always include specific examples of movements (Chipko, Bodo) or policies (LPG) to ground theoretical answers in facts.