NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political science (Politics in India since Independence) Chapter 5 Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 12th

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-5 Social Science Political Science

Class : 12th

Subject : Political science

Chapter : 5

Chapter Name : Challenges to and restoration of the congress party

Q1 Which of these statements about the 1967 elections is/are correct?

(a) Congress won the Lok Sabha elections but lost the Assembly elections in many states.
(b) Congress lost both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
(c) Congress lost a majority in the Lok Sabha but formed a coalition government with the
support of other parties.
(d) Congress retained power at the Centre with an increased majority.

Answer. (a) Congress won the Lok Sabha elections but lost the Assembly elections in many
states.
(c) Congress lost a majority in the Lok Sabha but formed a coalition government with the
support of other parties.

Q2 Match the following :
(a) Syndicate i. An elected representative leaving party on whose ticket she/he
has been elected.
(b) Defection ii. A catchy phrase that attracts public attention.
(c) Slogan iii.parties with different ideological position coming together to
oppose Congress and its policies.
(d) Anti-Congressism iv.A group of powerful people within the congress.

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

a. Syndicate iv. A group of powerful people within the
congress.

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-5 Social Science Political Science

b. Defection i. An elected representative leaving party on
whose ticket she/he
has been elected.

c. Slogan ii. catchy phrase that attracts public attention

d. Anti-Congressism iii. parties with different ideological position
coming together to
oppose Congress and its policies.

Q3 Whom would you like to identify with the following slogans/phrases?
(a) Jai jawan, Jai kisan
(b) Indira Hatao!
(c) Garibi Hatao!

(a)Lal Bahadur Shastri
(b)Syndicate
(c)Indira Gandhi

Q4 Which of the following statements about the Grand Alliance of 1971 is correct?
The grand Alliance .......
(a) was formed by non-communist, non-Congress parties.
(b) had a clear political and ideological programme.
(c) was formed by all non-Congress parties.

Answer. (a) was formed by non communist , non-Congress parties.

Q5 How should a political party resolve its internal differences? Here are some suggestions.
Think of each and list out their advantages and shortcomings.
(a) Follow the footsteps of the party president.
(b) Listen to the majority group.
(c) Secret ballot voting on every issue.
(d) Consult the senior and experienced leaders of the party.

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-5 Social Science Political Science

(a) Follow the footsteps of the party president.
Advantages:
i. It will result in the formation of the principal - agent method where the party can develop
solutions to the problems very quickly as they will follow the basic ideology of the political
executive.
ii. It will also result in less drifting of issue in the diverse legislative atmosphere and will create a
pace for efficient system of governance.
Shortcomings:
i. It will ultimately result in the nullification of debate or discourse upon the idea and will spring
into the domination of one narrative.
ii. It will decrease the level of representation within the party politics.

(b) Listen to the majority group.
Advantages:
i. It will result in the establishment of quick presentation of narratives.
ii. It will cater to the majority of the members resulting in more support for the future conditions.

Shortcomings:
i. It will only be subjected to one major section of the party and will result in factionalism.
ii. It will result in the fragmented party system and will dislodge the functional system of party
dynamics.

(c) Secret ballot voting on every issue.
Advantages :
i. It will make the party structure more democratic in its basic nature.
ii. It will increase the legitimacy of the party leaders and party decisions.
Shortcomings :
i. It will require more time and will not be feasible.
ii. It will require the system of transparency for its free and fair practice.

(d) Consult the senior and the experienced party leaders :
Advantages:
i. It will increase the level of legitimacy of decisions.
ii. It will give the large number of intellectual capital to the decisions.

Shortcomings :
i.It will result in the intellectual domination of surfacing ideas.
ii. It will minimise the space for young members to contribute and dissent.

Q6 State which of these were reasons for the defeat of the Congress in 1967. Give reasons for
your answer.

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-5 Social Science Political Science

(a) The absence of a charismatic leader in the Congress party.
(b) Split within the Congress party.
(c) Increased mobilisation of regional, ethnic, and communal groups.
(d) Increasing unity among non-Congress parties.
(e) Internal differences within the Congress party.

(a) The absence of a charismatic leader in the Congress party.

This was not the primary reason for the defeat of congress in 1967 as the fall of the one party
dominance was mainly because of the redundant position of the policies introduced by Indian
National Congress which resulted in unemployment,famine and the rise of anti congress
sentiments.

(b) Split within the Congress party.

The split also created an uproar and was the major reason for the declining role of indian
national congress as it got divided into congress(syndicate) and congress(requisitionist).

(c) Increased mobilisation of regional, ethnic, and communal groups.

The mobilisation of groups in several provinces led to the defeat of congress as there was a rise
of powers like DMK in tamilnadu , AKALI DAL in punjab etc. The rise of communalism and
regionalism broke the essence of congress as a grassroot organisation.

(d) Increasing unity among non-Congress parties.

There was no definite unity among the non congress parties but there was rise of the sentiment
of non congressism. Even in the general elections of 1971, the grand alliance between the non
congress parties did not affect the domination of Indira Gandhi over number of seats.

(e) Internal differences within the Congress party.

Yes , the rise of factionalism and internal dissent affected the political structure of congress and
also gave rise to the instability during the election processes.

Q7 What were the factors that led to the popularity of Indira Gandhi in late 1970s?

Answer. The factors that led to the popularity of Indira Gandhi during the late 1970s were:
(a) The program of "garibi hatao" which mainly targeted the farmers , labourers and the
unemployed capital of india.

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-5 Social Science Political Science

(b) It helped her to gain momentum within the masses which faced the problems of poverty
and constant unprivileged ness.

(c) The victory of india in the indo-pak war of 1971 which led to the creation of bangladesh
also increased her popularity within the masses as she changed the position of india to a
regional and military giant.

Page : 101 , Block Name : Exercises

Q8 What does the term 'syndicate' means in context of congress party of sixties? What role did
the syndicate play in congress party?

Answer. The term 'syndicate' in the context of Congress in late sixties meant the experienced
political members of the party's executive structure which affected its functioning and
experimentation.

The Syndicate was responsible for:

(a) Constructing the indian national congress and portraying it in the diverse politico
administrative system.
(b) They were responsible for the nomination of Indira Gandhi as without their support it was
not possible for her to come into power.
(c) They also played an important role in policy formulation.

Indira Gandhi was not able to establish a consensus with the Syndicate as it reflected in the
presidential elections of 1969, which ultimately led to the split of indian national congress.

Page : 101 , Block Name : Exercises

Q9 Discuss the major issue which led to the formal split of congress party in 1969?

Answer. The major reason which led to the split of Indian National Congress were :
● Indira Gandhi had a great challenge before her. This challenge was not from the
opposition instead this came from within her own party. This was because she sidelined
the Syndicate and chose her trusted group of advisers from outside the party.
● Indira Gandhi launched a series of initiatives to give the government policy a left
orientation.
● The Congress Working Committee had to adopt a Ten Point Programme in May 1967.
Though the Syndicate leaders formally approved this Left-wing programme, but they had
serious reservations about the same.
● The presidential elections of 1969 as Indira Gandhi supported V. V. Giri and the
Congress Syndicate supported Sanjeeva Reddy, who was a long time opponent of Indira

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Book Name : Political Science-II Ncert Solutions | Chapter-5 Social Science Political Science

Gandhi. This change in the preferences led to the split in the congress in 1969.
● The defeat of the official Congress candidate formalised the split in the party.
● Later, Indira Gandhi projected the split as an ideological divide between socialists and
conservatives, between the pro-poor and the pro-rich.

Page : 101 , Block Name : Exercises

Q10 Read the passage and answer the questions below:
........Indira Gandhi changed the congress into highly centralised and undemocratic party
organisation, from the earlier federal, democratic and ideological formation that Nehru had
led.....but this....could not have happened had not Indira Gandhi changed the entire nature of
politics. This new , populist politics turned political ideology .......into a mere electoral discourse,
use of various slogans not meant to be translated into government policies.....During its great
electoral victories in the early 1970s, amidst the celebration , the Congress party as a political
organisation died......__Sudipta Kaviraj.
(a) What according to the author is the difference between the strategies of Nehru and Indira
Gandhi?
(b) Why does the author say that Congress party 'died' in the seventies?
(c) In what way, did the change in the Congress party affect other political parties also?

(a)What according to the author is the difference between the strategies of Nehru and Indira
Gandhi?
According to the author, Nehru had a democratic approach towards the establishment of the
Congress whereas the ideology of Indira Gandhi led to the split and rise of factionalism within
the party structure.

(b) Why does the author say that Congress party 'died' in the seventies?
The author says that Congress party 'died' in seventies because it lost its essence of democracy
, flexibility and transparency.

(c) In what way, did the change in the Congress party affect other political parties also?
The change in the Congress party affected the political structure of other parties as they began
to run the elections not their policies, agenda and their manifesto but it was completely fueled by
Anti-Congress sentiments. The whole electoral politics succumbed to the mere portrayal of the
negative aspects of Congress rather than on merits.

Page : 101 , Block Name : Exercises

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