NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political science (Politics in India since Independence) Chapter 4 India’s External Relations

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 12th

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-4 Social Science Political Science

Class : 12th

Subject : Political science

Chapter : 4

Chapter Name : India’s external relations

Q1 Write 'true' or 'false' against each of these statements.

(a) Non-alignment allowed India to gain assistance both from the USA and USSR.

(b) India's relationship with her neighbours has been strained from the beginning.

(c) The cold war has affected the relationship between India and Pakistan.

(d) The Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1971 was the result of India's closeness to the USA.

Answers.

(a) True
(b) False
(c) True
(d) False

Q2 Match the following :
(a) The goal of India's foreign policy in the period 1950-1964. i. Tibetan spiritual leader
who crossed over to India.
(b) Pansheel ii. Preservation of territorial integrity, sovereignty
and economic development.
(c) Bandung Conference iii. Five principles of peaceful co-existence.
(d) Dalai Lama iv. Led to the establishment of NAM.

Answers.

a.The goal of India's foreign policy in the ii. Preservation of territorial integrity,
period 1950- 1964 sovereignty and economic development.

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-4 Social Science Political Science

b. Panchsheel iii. Five principles of peaceful co-existence.

c. Bandung Conference iv. Led to establishment of NAM

d. Dalai Lama i. Tibetan Spiritual leader who crossed over to
India

Q3 Why did Nehru regard conduct of foreign relations as an essential indicator of
independence? State any two reasons with examples to support your reading?

Answer. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru regarded the conduct of the foreign relations as an essential
indicator of the independence because:

(a) His basic ideology was based upon the principles that the political stability of the respective
country is subject to the international relations.

(b) He believed that the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity is protected from any
external threats to security if a stable foreign system is in place .

(c) He also believed that the conduct of the foreign relations in the correct manner also helps in
the continuation of the country's own ideals without any outside interference or hegemonization.

The two reasons to support the above argument are:

(a) The adoption of NAM as the main ingredient of the foreign policy saved the political structure
of India from the imperialistic tendencies of USA and USSR.

(b) The essence of India's foreign policy was based upon the legacy of Indian National struggle
so that is why the decision to adopt an eclectic foreign policy led to the opposition of India
towards the spreading colonialism and racism.

Q4 "The conduct of foreign affairs is an outcome of a two-nation interaction between domestic
compulsions and prevailing international climate."Take one example from India's external
relations in the 1960s to substantiate your answer.

Answer. Foreign affairs are considered as two-nation interaction as :
(a) The international relations are the result of the mutual understanding between the two

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-4 Social Science Political Science

countries , primarily done for the maximum and integrated development of both the countries on
political and economic lines.

(b) The foreign relations are based upon the domestic transformation of the country, and some
major 'foreign relation analysts' believe that the "foreign relations are no longer foreign"-(Shashi
Tharoor) , as they are deeply inclined towards the native politico-economic problems.

(c) The effect of globalisation also increases the scale of two-way relationship between the
countries for the increase in trade, culture, hard power etc.

The example in the 1960s, connected with the foreign policy of India that empowers the above
argument, can broadly be assessed in terms of 'Chinese Aggression-1962'. The Sino- Indo war,
was the result of the tensions between China and India over the 'border issues' and 'the
annexation of Tibet' by China. The forceful occupation by China over Tibet and the granting of
Asylum by Indian government to Dalai Lama, further created tensions.

These international tensions between the two countries also fueled the domestic tensions which
resulted in the isolation and increase in turbulence in North-East , imprisonment of political
leaders associated with CPI and also led to the domestic change in the position of Indian
National Congress as it appeared as weak in the face of threat.

Q5 Identify any two aspects of India's foreign policy that you would like to retain and two that
you would like to change , if you were to become a decision maker. Give reasons to support
your position.

Answer. The two aspects of India's foreign policy that we would like to retain are :

(a) The desire for the establishment of complete sovereignty and the maintenance of the
territorial integrity over the country of India. The respective notion is very important for the
country of India because it will allow the native government to have control over the resources
and will also result in the deduction of exploitation.

(b) The continuation of Afro-Asian unity which will help in boosting of the economic and cultural
relations between several countries of 'Third-World'.

The two aspects of India's foreign policy that we would like to change are:
(a) The stance over the 'USSR invasion of Hungary', as the Indian government was silent, it led
to various questions being imposed on NAM policy of India and affected its foreign policy.

(b) The resolution of Kashmir dispute, so that it will result in the establishment of friendly
relations or close affinity between India and Pakistan.

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-4 Social Science Political Science

Q6 Write short notes on the following:
(a) India's Nuclear policy.
(b) Consensus in foreign policy matters.

Answer.
(a) India's Nuclear policy.
Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, was against the increasing nuclear capacity of the developed
countries. He urged the political and economical giants to accept the 'universal disarmament'
but the nuclear arsenals began developing all over the world. The development of nuclear
weapons by Russia and the challenges to the external security resulted in the formation of
India's foreign policy. Due to all the changes, the first nuclear tests were conducted in 1974. The
Nuclear policy of India is in favour of complete disarmament but only if its universal and
non-discriminatory. The nuclear policy of India is against the discriminatory policies like Nuclear
Non -proliferation treaty and the Comprehensive test ban treaty.

(b) Consensus in foreign policy matters.
The consensus or the sense of collectiveness is very imperative for the functioning of smooth
and efficient foreign policy of different countries. The consensus can only be achieved if the
debate or discourse is performed on conflictual issues between two or more countries so that it
can result in the 'bilateral agreements' or CBM(Confidence Building measures) between the
countries of contrasting ideologies.

Q7 India's foreign policy was built around the principles of peace and cooperation. But India
fought three wars in a space of ten years between 1962 and 1971. Would you say this was the
failure of the foreign policy? Or would you say this was the result of international situation? Give
reasons to support your answer.

Answer. Yes, The wars were the result of International situation as :

(a) India's foreign policy was subject to the colossal changes present in the international system
due to the creation of two powerful blocs-USA and USSR.

(b) The hindrance in the way of establishment of territorial integrity and sovereignty were the
main reasons that led to war between India -China and India-Pakistan.

(c) It must be considered that to protect the political and democratic nature of India , it was
necessary to participate in wars.

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-4 Social Science Political Science

(d) It was quintessential for India to participate in the respective wars for its own preservation of
national interests.

Q8 Does India's foreign policy reflect her desire to be an important regional power? Argue your
case with the Bangladesh war of 1971 as an example ?

Answer. Yes, the India's foereign policy reflects her desire to be an important regional power as
:

(a) The Indo-Pak war of 1971, was the reflection of the conflict between the two countries
and the influx of refugees from 'East-Pakistan' , forced the Indian government to
participate in the respective regional issue pertaining to the creation of 'Bangladesh'.

(b) The desire to be an important regional power and the move towards the establishment
of PAN-INDICA was also one of the major objectives for the establishment of peace and
stability in South-east Asia as it was the part of India's foreign policy and national
interests.

(c) It was also important for India to interfere to show the internal and external might to
Pakistan and China.

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Q9 How does political leadership of a nation affect its foreign policy? Explain this with the help
of examples from India's foreign policy.

Answer. The political leadership of a nation affects its foreign policy as :

(a) The political executive have a tremendous impact upon the foreign policy of a particular
country as these representatives are responsible for the implementation of laws or
practices within a political setup.
(b) The basic ideology of the executive and the elected legislature have an imperative
impact the objectives and provisions of international system.

Examples:
The foreign policy of India under the leadership of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru , was completely
based upon the ideals of political and economic development , feasible on the lines of objectivity
. While as, the prevailing government of BJP is inclined towards extremism and that is why the
foreign policy of India is tilting towards evident extremist governments .

Page : 81 , Block Name : Exercises

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-4 Social Science Political Science

Q10 Read this passage and answer the questions below :
"Broadly, non-alignment means not tying yourself off with military blocs....It means trying to
view things, as far as possible, not from the military point of view, though that has to come in
sometimes, but independently, and trying to maintain friendly relations with all countries."
_Jawaharlal Nehru
(a) Why does Nehru wanted to keep off military blocs?
(b) Do you think that the indo-soviet friendship treaty violated the principle of non- alignment?
Give reasons for your answer.
(c) If there were no military blocs, do you think non alignment would have been necessary?

Answer.
(a)Nehru wanted to keep off from the blocs so that the choices and the decisions of India should
not be viewed from the perspective of its alliances.

(b)No, the indo-soviet friendship treaty did not violate the principles of non-alignment because
the policy of NAM didn't stop India to establish friendly relations with any country as it was in
favour of self-determination.

(c) No, it would not have been necessary as it was wholly based on the idea of non-alignment
from bloc politics.

Page : 81 , Block Name : Exercises

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