NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science Politics in India since Independence Chapter 8: Recent Developments in Indian Politics

Chapter at a glance

Exercises

Answer

1. (d) Assassination of Indira Gandhi – 31 October 1984
2. (b) Formation of the Janata Dal – 1988
3. (a) Implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendation – August 1990
4. (e) Formation of the NDA government – 1998
5. (f) Formation of the UPA government – 2004
6. (c) Supreme Court judgment on the Ram Janmabhoomi – 9 November 2019

d (1984) → b (1988) → a (1990) → e (1998) → f (2004) → c (2019).

Answer

(a)–iv, (b)–ii, (c)–i, (d)–iii.

Answer

Main issues after 1989

1. Mandal issue – reservation for OBCs in central government jobs (1990); rise of OBC politics.
2. New economic policy – liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation (1991).
3. Ayodhya dispute and the demolition of the Babri Masjid (1992) – debates on communalism and secularism; Hindutva politics.
4. Decline of the Congress and the end of one-party dominance; rise of regional parties.
5. Coalition governments and instability.
6. Issues of corruption, terrorism and governance.

Configurations of parties

1. Congress-led alliances – the UPA (2004–14).
2. BJP-led alliances – the NDA (1998–2004; and since 2014).
3. Left and Centrist (Janata/OBC-based) parties – the National Front (1989, V. P. Singh with BJP and Left outside support), the United Front (1996–98) supported by the Congress from outside.
4. Regional and caste-based parties (SP, BSP, RJD, DMK, TDP, TMC) joined one or the other alliance, making coalition politics the norm.

After 1989 the main issues were Mandal (OBC reservation), economic reforms, Ayodhya and communalism, decline of the Congress and rise of regional parties; these produced coalition configurations – the BJP-led NDA, the Congress-led UPA and the Left–Centre National Front/United Front – with regional and caste-based parties as key partners.

Answer

Support

1. Pragmatism over ideology – parties form alliances for power, e.g. the NDA (1998–2004) included parties with very different ideologies (BJP, TMC, TDP-supported, DMK, Samata Party).
2. Parties change sides frequently – regional parties like the DMK, TMC, JD(U) and others have been part of both the NDA and the UPA at different times.
3. The National Front (1989) was supported from outside by both the BJP and the Left, ideological opposites.
4. Alliances are often seat-sharing arrangements based on electoral arithmetic and regional considerations.
5. Common Minimum Programmes dilute ideological positions.

Oppose (partly)

1. Broad ideological blocs still exist – the Left parties consistently oppose the BJP; the BJP’s core Hindutva agenda and the Congress’s centrist position define the alliances.
2. Parties maintain distinct positions on issues like secularism, economic policy and social justice.
3. The two major coalitions (NDA and UPA) represent broadly different ideological tendencies.

Conclusion: coalition politics has made parties more pragmatic, and ideology has become less important in alliance formation, though not entirely irrelevant.

Largely true – alliances are pragmatic (ideologically diverse NDA partners, parties switching between NDA and UPA, BJP and Left both backing the National Front), though broad ideological blocs (Left vs BJP, distinct NDA and UPA tendencies) still matter.

Answer

1. Bharatiya Jana Sangh (1951) merged into the Janata Party in 1977 after the Emergency.
2. After the Janata Party broke up (dual-membership controversy), former Jana Sangh members formed the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980 (A. B. Vajpayee president); initially it followed “Gandhian socialism”.
3. 1984 – won only 2 Lok Sabha seats.
4. After 1986, it adopted a Hindutva agenda; the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi movement, L. K. Advani’s Rath Yatra (1990) mobilised support. It won 85 seats in 1989 and supported the National Front government from outside; 120 seats in 1991.
5. The Babri Masjid demolition (1992) – its State governments were dismissed, but its support base grew.
6. 1996 – emerged as the single largest party; Vajpayee formed a government that lasted 13 days.
7. 1998–2004 – led the NDA coalition government under Vajpayee.
8. 2004, 2009 – in opposition.
9. 2014 and 2019 – won a majority on its own under Narendra Modi (282 and 303 seats), leading the NDA; also formed governments in many States; in 2024 it again led the NDA to power.

From the Jana Sangh’s merger into the Janata Party (1977) to the BJP’s formation (1980) and just 2 seats in 1984, it rose through the Hindutva/Ayodhya mobilisation (85 seats in 1989, 120 in 1991), became the largest party in 1996, led the NDA government (1998–2004), and won majorities on its own in 2014 and 2019.

Answer

Yes.

1. National presence – the Congress is still one of the two national parties with a presence across States.
2. Governments – it formed the government at the Centre in 1991–96 (P. V. Narasimha Rao), and led the UPA (2004–14) under Manmohan Singh; it continues to rule some States.
3. Shaped policies – the economic reforms of 1991, MGNREGA, RTI, Right to Education and Food Security Act came from Congress-led governments.
4. Main opposition – it leads the opposition and anti-BJP alliances (e.g. INDIA bloc), and became the Leader of Opposition party again in 2024.
5. Ideological influence – its ideas of secularism, democracy and welfare remain influential; even other parties are offshoots of the Congress (NCP, TMC, YSRCP).

However, its decline since 1989 and its defeats in 2014 and 2019 mean that it no longer dominates; it has to work through coalitions.

Yes – though no longer dominant, the Congress remains a national party, led governments in 1991–96 and 2004–14, shaped major policies (1991 reforms, MGNREGA, RTI), leads the opposition and continues to influence ideas of secularism and welfare.

Answer

The advantages of India’s multi-party system

India has a multi-party system with two broad coalitions (NDA and UPA) and many national and State parties. Some argue that a two-party system, like the USA’s or Britain’s, gives stability. But India’s experience of the last thirty years shows that the multi-party system has several advantages.

First, it reflects India’s diversity. India has many languages, religions, castes and regions. A two-party system could not represent such diversity. Regional and caste-based parties (DMK, TDP, SP, BSP, TMC, Shiv Sena, AGP) give voice to the aspirations of different regions and social groups.

Second, it has deepened democracy. The rise of OBC, dalit and regional parties since 1989 brought previously marginalised groups into power. Leaders from humble backgrounds became chief ministers and ministers, broadening participation.

Third, coalitions encourage consensus and accommodation. Coalition governments – the NDA (1998–2004) and the UPA (2004–14) – had to work through Common Minimum Programmes, consultation and compromise. This has produced a broad consensus on economic reforms, social justice and federalism.

Fourth, it has strengthened federalism. Regional parties in coalitions ensured that the interests of States were heard at the Centre, leading to more cooperative federalism.

Fifth, it provides checks and balances. Allies can restrain the dominant party, preventing extreme policies.

Sixth, coalition governments have proved stable. Despite early instability (1989–1999), coalitions led by Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh completed full terms, and since 2014 the BJP has won majorities while still leading the NDA coalition.

There are disadvantages – instability at times, bargaining for ministries, regional pressures, and opportunistic alliances. But on the whole, the multi-party system suits India’s social diversity and has made democracy more representative and inclusive. A successful democracy depends not on the number of parties but on free and fair elections, accountability and respect for diversity.

India’s multi-party system reflects its diversity, brought marginalised and regional groups into power, encourages consensus through coalitions, strengthens federalism, provides checks and balances, and has shown stability since 1999 – so it serves Indian democracy well despite some drawbacks.

Answer

(a) Challenges of the party system:

• The Congress system, which accommodated diverse groups, has broken down.
• There is fragmentation – many parties represent specific castes, communities or regions (“self-representation”), rather than broad coalitions of interests.
• Parties find it difficult to aggregate diverse interests into a national programme; coalition governments are formed through bargaining.
• Rise of identity politics (caste, religion), personality-based and family-based parties, and opportunistic alliances.
• Tensions between national and regional interests.

(b) Example: the rise of caste-based parties after the Mandal Commission (1990) – parties like the BSP, which represent dalits, and the SP and RJD, which mobilise OBCs, emerged because the Congress (and other national parties) failed to accommodate the aspirations of these groups. Similarly, the communal polarisation over Ayodhya showed the failure to accommodate religious minorities’ concerns.

(c) Why accommodate and aggregate:

• India is a diverse society; parties must represent all groups to maintain national unity and social harmony.
• Aggregation turns many demands into coherent policies and stable governments.
• It prevents alienation of groups that might otherwise turn to extremism or separatism.
• It strengthens democracy by making governance inclusive and representative.

1. The Congress system’s collapse led to fragmented, identity-based self-representation, opportunistic coalitions and difficulty in aggregating interests into national programmes; (b) e.g. the rise of caste-based parties like the BSP and SP after Mandal, as national parties failed to accommodate dalit and OBC aspirations; (c) in a diverse country, aggregating interests ensures unity, coherent policy, stable government and prevents alienation of groups.

Topic checklist

• ☒ Major developments since 1989 – Mandal, reforms, Ayodhya, coalitions (Q 1, 3)
• ☒ Coalition politics and ideology (Q 4, 7)
• ☒ Rise of BJP and continuing role of Congress (Q 5, 6)
• ☒ Emerging consensus and challenges of party system (Q 2, 8)

Total questions answered: 8 of 8