Students must start practising the questions from CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 Political Science with Solutions Set 8 are designed as per the revised syllabus.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 Political Science Set 8 with Solutions
Time Allowed: 3 Hours
Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions :
All the questions are compulsory.
- Question numbers 1-12 are multiple choice questions of one mark each.
- Question numbers 13-18 are of 2 marks each. Answers to these questions should not exceed 50 words each.
- Question numbers 19-23 are of 4 marks each. Answers to these questions should not exceed 100 words each.
- Question numbers 24-26 are passage, cartoon, and map-based questions. Answer accordingly.
- Question numbers 27-30 are of 6 marks each. Answers to these questions should not exceed 170 words.
Section – A (12 Marks)
Question 1.
The alliance built by US in the southeast and west Asia was called. [1]
(A) CENTO
(B) NATO
(C) Warsaw Pact
(D) EU
Answer:
(A) CENTO
Explanation: The United States built an alliance in South East Asia and West Asia to counter the growing influence of the Soviets. This alliance came to be known as the CENTO.
Question 2.
The report brought out by UNCTAD in 1972 was titled as. [1]
(A) Towards a New Trade Policy for Development
(B) Towards a New Tourism Policy for Development
(C) Towards a New Transport Policy for Development
(D) Towards a New Traditional Policy for Development
Answer:
(A) Towards a New Trade Policy for Development
Explanation: The UNCTAD brought the report named Towards a New Trade Policy for Development in the year 1972.
Question 3.
How many princely states existed at the time of independence of India? [1]
(A) 500
(B) 565
(C) 465
(D) 450
Answer:
(B) 565
Explanation: At the time of independence of India approximately 565 princely states existed in India which had to be included in India.
Question 4.
Find the odd one out in the context of the proclamation of Emergency. [1]
(A) The call for ‘Total Revolution”
(B) The Railway Strike of 1974
(C) The Naxalite Movement
(D) The Allahabad High Court Verdict
Answer:
(C) The Naxalite Movement
Explanation: The Naxalite movement began from the village in Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal.
Assertion Reason Questions: Directions for Q.Nos. 5 and 6
In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read these statements and choose one correct answer from the given options
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true but R is false
(D) A is false, but R is true
Question 5.
Assertion (A): Congress was the accumulation of leaders from different backgrounds like radical, conservative, liberal, and revolutionary. backgrounds.
Reason (R): Congress represented the interests of people belonging to the different castes, religions and [1]
Answer:
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: The leaders of the Congress belonged to diverse backgrounds of society and represented the interests of the wide sections of the society
Question 6.
Assertion (A): The protest in Gujarat in 1974 was against the issues of corruption and rising prices.HC3
Reason (R): The government was dissolved in Gujarat and fresh elections were held. [1]
Answer:
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: In the year 1974 there were student protests in Gujarat on the issues of corruption and rise in the prices which ultimately led to the dissolving of the government.
Question 7.
Operation Iraqi Freedom was launched on. [1]
(A) March 2003
(B) December 2003
(C) April 2004
(D) June 2004
Answer:
(A) March 2003
Explanation: Operation Iraqi Freedom was launched in March 2003 to eliminate the regime of Saddam Hussein from Iraq.
Question 8.
Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania was the first. [1]
(A) Engineering School
(B) Business School
(C) Arts School
(D) Robotics School
Answer:
(B) Business School
Explanation: The Wharton School in Pennsylvania was the first business school of the world.
Question 9.
The first country to liberalise its economy in the South Asian region.[1]
(A) Sri Lanka
(B) India
(C) Pakistan
(D) Bhutan
Answer:
(A) Sri Lanka
Explanation: Sri Lanka was the first nation to liberalise its economy and open its markets for foreign companies.
Question 10.
Who removed the Bhutto government in Pakistan? [1]
(A) General Ayub Khan
(B) General Yahya Khan
(C) General Zia-ul-Haq
(D) Lt. Gen. H. M. Ershad
Answer:
(C) General Zia-ul-Haq
Explanation: The Bhutto government in Pakistan was overthrown by General Ayub Khan.
Question 11.
Who was a popular leader of the Swatantra Party and the first Governor General of free India? [1]
(A) C. Rajagopalachari
(B) C.R. Das
(C) Vinobha Bhave
(D) Dr S. Radhakrishnan
Answer:
(A) C. Rajagopalachari
Explanation: C. Rajagopalachari was one of the founders of the Swatantra Party which showed its resistance towards the dominance of Congress.
Question 12.
Which of these reforms were not introduced by Indira Gandhi? [1]
(A) 20-point programme
(B) Nationalisation of banks
(C) Nationalisation of General Insurance
(D) Nationalisation of the Iron and Steel Industry
Answer:
(D) Nationalisation of the Iron and Steel Industry
Explanation: Indira Gandhi’s government did not lead to the nationalisation of the iron and steel industry in India.
Section – B (12 Marks)
Question 13.
How was Kuwait liberated from Iraq in 1990? [2]
Answer:
Kuwait was liberated in the following ways:
A UN operation named ‘Operation Desert Storm was launched. A massive coalition force of 660,000 troops from 34 countries fought against Iraq and defeated it in what came to be called the First Gulf War.
Question 14.
Which organisation in the international system could possibly moderate American Power? [2]
Answer:
There is only one organisation in the international system that could possibly moderate the exercise of American power today. It is the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). It is because of the US interest in the market economy and it will try its best to keep the alliance working.
Question 15.
Explain the major difference of ideology between that of the Congress and the Bhartiya Jan Sangha. [2]
Answer:
The Bhartiya Jan Sangha aimed at India to be a Hindu nation or promote Hindutva under the umbrella of one party, one culture, one nation. On the other hand, Congress aimed at a coalition of various cultures to have a secular nation.
Question 16.
What is ILO? What are some of its functions? [2]
Answer:
The International Labour Organization (ILO) was founded in October 1919 with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It is a body of the United Nations which aims to promote efficient conditions of social justice and work for workers through international labour standards at the global level.
Question 17.
What were some of the problems that were caused due to the partition of India? [2]
Answer:
Partition of India into two nation-states was not easy. It faced many difficulties.
(1) All the Indian Muslims did not want to shift to Pakistan.
(2) Muslim population was concentrated in both Eastern and Western parts of erstwhile British India. There was no possible way to unite these areas.
(3) The Muslim, as well as non-Muslim population, was concentrated in various provinces of Punjab and Bengal. A partition of the country meant a partition of these provinces also.
Question 18.
State any four policies and programmes of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. [2]
Answer:
The four policies and programmes of Bharatiya Jan Sangha are:
(1) It emphasised on the ideology of one party, one culture, and one nation.
(2) This called for a reunion of India and Pakistan in Akhand Bharat.
(3) It was a consistent advocate of India to develop nuclear weapons.
(4) It advocated no cultural and education rights as this party opposed the granting of concessions to religious and cultural minorities.
Section – C (20 Marks)
Question 19.
Why does ASEAN still remain principally an economic association? [4]
Answer:
ASEAN still remains principally an economic association because:
- The ASEAN region as a whole is a much smaller economy compared to the EU, the US and Japan.
- ASEAN economy is growing much faster than the EU, the US and Japan.
- Its objective is to create a common market and production base within ASEAN states.
- It also wants to aid social and economic development in the region.
- It also likes to improve the existing ASEAN Dispute Settlement Mechanism to resolve economic disputes.
Question 20. What are some of the major causes of globalisation? [4]
Answer:
Causes of Globalisation: It is not caused by any single factor.
It is the result of historical factors, technological innovations, liberalisation of foreign trade and investment policies and opening of multinational companies. The invention of the telephone, the microchip, etc, in more recent times has revolutionised communication between different parts of the world. The ability of ideas, capital, commodities and people to move more easily from one part of the world to another part of the world has been made possible largely by technological advances.
Question 21.
Evaluate the major outcomes of the Indian model of mixed economy. [4]
Answer:
Much of the agriculture, trade and industry were left in private hands. The state-controlled key heavy industries, provided industrial infrastructure, regulated trade and some crucial interventions in agriculture. This led to the growth of both the private and public sectors which became the basis for future development.
Question 22.
Explain any two lessons learnt from the Emergency imposed in 1975. [4]
Answer:
Some important lessons taught by Emergency are:
(1) India cannot be restrained from democracy.
(2) Internal Emergency in the country can be imposed if there is an armed rebellion against the government, and that too can be imposed by written advice of the Council of Ministers to the President of India.
(3) The citizens got aware of their public liberties as well as civil liberties.
Question 23.
List any four demands of the Narmada Bachao Andolan. [4]
Answer:
The four demands of Narmada Bachao Aandolan are:
(A) Proper and just rehabilitation of people who are displaced by the construction of the dams.
(B) The affected people must be given priority over others for employment opportunities created by the Project.
(C) This movement also demanded that there should be a cost-benefit analysis of the major developmental projects completed so far.
(D) It also demanded that the local communities should have a say in the developmental projects in their region and they should also have effective control over the natural resources.
Section – D (12 Marks)
Question 24.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Terrorist attacks are carried out by a number of terrorist and insurgent groups including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish- e-Mohammed and the Indian Mujahideen. There have been recent media reports suggesting Daesh’s (formerly referred to as ISIL) interest in attacking targets in India. There may be an increased threat to places visited by British nationals such as religious sites, markets, festival venues and beaches.
While the main focus of terrorist attacks has been against Indian government interests, terrorists have also targeted places visited by westerners including public places like restaurants, hotels, railway stations, markets, places of worship, festivals and sporting venues. In some areas, terrorist incidents are frequent, especially in Jammu and Kashmir and less frequently in parts of the NorthEast.
A terrorist attack took place in Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir) on 14 February 2019. There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attacks globally against UK interests and British nationals from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. [4]
(i) Which of the following terrorist groups is not mentioned in the paragraph?
(A) Indian Mujahideen
(B) Lashkar-e-Tayyiba
(C) A1 Qaeda
(D) Jaish-e-Mohammed
(ii) Apart from the attack against the interests of the Indian government, which places are often targeted?
(A) Places visited by Westerners
(B) Homes of the civilians
(C) Government offices
(D) None of the above
(iii) Which of the following attacks is considered to be the biggest attack on an army by terrorists?
(A) Mumbai Attack
(B) Ajmer Bomb Blast
(C) Mumbai local train blasts
(D) Pulwama Attack
(iv) Which people are considered to be a threat to the security of UK and British nationals?
(A) Individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria
(B) Individuals motivated by A1 Qaeda
(C) Local individuals of the UK
(D) All of the above
Answer:
(i) (C) A1 Qaeda.
(ii) (A) Places visited by Westerners
(iii) (D) Pulwama Attack
(iv) (A) Individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria
Question 25.
In the given outline political map of India, five states have been marked as (A), (B), (C) and (D). All these states were created after 1956. Identify them with the help of the information given below and write their correct names in your answer book along with the serial number of the information used and the concerned alphabet shown in the map as per the following format: [4]
(i) A state that came into existence in the year 1966.
(ii) A state that was created in the year 1987.
(iii) A state that was created in the year 1960.
(iv) A state that came into being in the year 2000.
Answer:
Corresponding Numbers Answers Corresponding alphabets
(i) Meghalaya D
(ii) Mizoram A
(iii) Gujarat B
(iv) Chhattisgarh C
Question 26.
Study the given Cartoon and answer the questions that follow: [4]
(i) In 1967, when AESAN was established, which countries were the members of it?
(A) Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei
(B) Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand
(C) Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and Vietnam
(D) Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines
(ii) What was the objective of AESAN?
(A) To achieve political and military stability
(B) To achieve economic development and flexibility in trade
(C) To accelerate economic growth and through that increase ‘social progress and cultural development’.
(D) None of the above
(iii) When did AEASN start moving along the path of the EU?
(A) in 2004
(B) in 2003
(C) in 2007
(D) in 2000
(iv) When was ARF established?
(A)1990
(B) 1991
(C)1995
(D) 1994
Answer:
(i) (A) Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei
(ii) (C) To accelerate economic growth and through that increase ‘social progress and cultural development’.
(iii) (B) in 2003
(iv) (D) 1994
Section – E (24 Marks)
Question 27.
In the 2014 elections, people voted for a stable government at the centre. Do you think that the era of a coalition has ended? Support your answer with suitable arguments.
OR
Assess any three benefits of the coalition governments in India since 1989. [6]
Answer:
After independence, the Congress party came into power. It ruled over the country as a democratic government till 1977. One after the other, the government was represented by Congress Prime Ministers like Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and then Indira Gandhi. It was due to some political upheaval, a state of Emergency was declared in 1975.
During the Emergency, all the opposition leaders were jailed and their constitutional powers were ceased. It made all the opposition leaders unite and form the first united party in the name of the Janata Party which came in power in 1977, the general elections were held soon after the Emergency. Though it could not last long, it started a new concept of rule in India.
One after the other, India saw many governments ruled by alliance groups, except a few single-party governments. But, with the elections of 1989, a long phase of coalition politics began in India. Since then, there have been nine governments at the Centre all of which have either been coalition governments or minority governments supported by other parties which did not join the government.
The National Front government in 1989, the United Front government in 1996 and 1997, the NDA government in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and the UPA government in 2004 and 2009 and again the BJP-led NDA government in 2014 have been the coalition governments in India. In none of these governments, any one single party had the number enough to form the government on its own.
But in 2014, there was a change in the pattern. BJP could gain 284 seats in the Lok Sabha elections which were sufficient to form the government on its own which required only 272. But, as the election was fought with the pre-poll alliance by NDA led by BJP, so the present government was formed with Narendra Modi, the leader of BJP.
This election shows that people are turning to the single-party government at the Centre which may be stable. People have experienced a lack of stability, lack of policy decisions and lack of proper development in the government ruled by the coalition group.
OR
The benefits of coalition governments in India are:
A coalition government is more democratic, and hence fairer because it represents a much broader spectrum of public opinion than a government by one party alone. In almost all coalitions, a majority of citizens voted for the parties which form the government and so their views and interests are represented in political decision-making.
A coalition government creates a more honest and dynamic political system, allowing voters a clearer choice at election time. Coalitions provide good government because their decisions are made in the interests of a majority of the people. Because a wide consensus of opinion is involved, any policy will be debated thoroughly within the government before it is implemented.
The single-party government is much more likely to impose badly thought-out policies upon parliament and people, perhaps for narrowly ideological reasons. When difficult or historic decisions have to be taken, the consent of politicians representing a wide range of interests and opinion is important in committing the country and its people to difficult but necessary courses of action. A coalition government provides more continuity in administration.
In countries without a tradition of coalition governments, parties can remain in government or opposition for long periods, and an adversarial political culture develops. When a change does occur, the members of the new administration seldom have any experience of government to draw upon, and often embark upon a wholesale reversal of the previous regime’s policies; neither of these things is in the public interest.
In states with coalition politics, however, there are usually at least some ministers with considerable experience under the previous government. A more consensual style of politics also allows for a more gradual and constructive shift of policy between administrations.
Question 28.
Analyse the three different views within India about the type of relationship India should have with the United States of America.
OR
Examine three major areas of conflict between India and Pakistan. [6]
Answer:
India should maintain its aloofness from the US and focus on increasing its own comprehensive national power. India should take advantage of US hegemony and national understanding to establish the best possible options for itself. Opposing the US would be a futile exercise and will only hurt India in long run. India should take the lead in establishing a coalition of countries from the developing world.
Detailed Answer:
Two new factors have emerged in Indo-US relations in recent years. These factors relate to the technological dimension and the role of the Indian-American diaspora. Like all other countries, India too is independent to keep its relations with the US as per its interests. Different views are put forward regarding India’s relations with the US.
Analysts who see international politics largely in terms of military power are fearful of the growing closeness between India and the US. They are of the view that India should maintain its aloofness from Washington and focus on increasing its own comprehensive national power.
Other section of analysts regards the growing convergence of interests between the US and India as a historic opportunity for India. They advocate a strategy that would allow India to take advantage of US hegemony and the mutual convergences to establish the best possible options for itself.
The third group of analysts advocates that India should take the lead in establishing a coalition of countries from the developing world. Over time, this coalition would become more powerful and may succeed in weaning the hegemony away from its dominating ways.
OR
Soon after the partition, India and Pakistan got embroiled in a conflict over the fate of Kashmir. The Pakistan Government claimed that Kashmir belonged to it. Two wars took place in the year 1947-48 and 1965 over the issue. But failed to settle the matter. The 1947-48 war resulted in the division of the province into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the Indian province of Jammu and Kashmir divided by the Line of Control.
In 1971, India won a decisive battle against Pakistan but the Kashmir issue remained unsettled. India’s conflict with Pakistan is also over strategic issues like the control of the Siachen glacier and over the acquisition of arms. The arms race between the two countries assumed a new character with both states acquiring nuclear weapons and missiles to deliver such arms against each other in the 1990s.
India and Pakistan seem to have developed a military relationship in which the possibility of a direct and full-scale war has declined. The Indian Government blames the Pakistan Government for using a strategy of low-key violence by helping the Kashmiri militants with arms, training, money and protection to carry out terrorist strikes against India. The Indian government also believes that Pakistan had aided the pro-Khalistani militants with arms and ammunition during the period 1985-1995.
India and Pakistan also have had problems over the sharing of river waters. Until 1960, they were locked in a fierce argument over the use of the rivers of the Indus basin. In 1960, with the help of the World Bank, India and Pakistan signed the Indus Waters Treaty which has survived to this day in spite of various military conflicts in which the two countries have been involved.
Question 29.
“Resistance is the only option available to overcome the hegemony”. Justify the statement by comparing it to other anti-hegemony strategies.
OR
Trace the evolution of the United Nations since its establishment in 1945. How does it function with the help of its structures and agencies? [6]
Answer:
Resistance: The world is a global village and the hegemony is the headman. If the hegemony becomes unbearable we cannot leave the village and go. The only option with us will be ‘resistance.’
Strategy to hide: The hegemony is a powerful and dominant one. Therefore Arab powers, just like the EU, Russia, and China, stay below the ideas and do not unduly antagonise the hegemony. This strategy is not very beneficial in the long run for big nations like India, China, and Russia but beneficial to smaller countries. The strategy is to stay aloof and away from hegemony.
Bandwagon strategy: With the growing convergences in the world, hegemony provides a historic opportunity for countries to extract benefits from the relationship with the hegemony. This is the bandwagon strategy which suggests that countries should build economic, trade and other relations with the hegemon and make it of good use to themselves.
Building a multipolar world: One of the key strategies is to build a multipolar world. This strategy suggests the coming together of developing nations like China, India, Japan and Russia. The alliance of these countries will eventually become stronger and overpower the hegemony.
Non-State Actors: If the nation-states cannot overcome hegemony, a threat to hegemony will come from other non-state actors like NGOs, international institutions, criticise artists and the media.
Coming together of People all over the world and criticising USA Policies: Globalisation has increased connectivity. The threat to hegemony, therefore, comes from an alliance of people from all over the world. People from all over the world including Americans can come together and criticise the policies of the USA.
OR
Evolution of the UN:
The UN was founded as a successor to the League of Nations. It was established in 1945. The UN was set up through the signing of the UN Charter by 51 Nations. It was formed with the hope that it would act to stop conflict and wars. By 2006, the UN had 192 members. These included almost all independent states.
It’s Functioning:
In the UN General Assembly, all member nations have one vote each. In the UN Security Council, there are five Permanent members-Britain, France, US, Russia and China and 10 temporary members. The UN consists of many structures and agencies. War, peace and differences between the member states are discussed in the General Assembly. Social and Economic issues are dealt with by many agencies including WTO, UNDP, UNHRC, UNICEF and UNESCO
Question 30.
What are some of the steps taken by India which show its commitment to combating environmental issues?
OR
Discuss the stand of India on global environmental issues. [6]
Answer:
The Indian government is participating in global efforts through a number of programmes:
India’s National Auto Fuel Policy mandates cleaner fuels for vehicles. The Energy Conservation Act, of 2001 outlines initiatives to improve energy efficiency. The Electricity Act, of 2003 encourages the use of renewable energy.
Recent trends in importing natural gas and encouraging the adoption of clean coal technologies show that India is making real efforts. India is also keen to launch a national mission on biodiesel using about 11 million hectares of land to produce biodiesel by 2020. It has invited the inflow of foreign capital and export-oriented activities.
OR
Cultural consequences refer to the impact of globalisation on what we eat, wear, drink, watch and think. India’s stand on environmental issues: Developed countries are responsible for Greenhouse gas emissions. India accepts the Principle of common but differentiated responsibility.
India emphasizes that economic and social development are the first and overriding priorities of developing countries. Thus, it relies on the principle of Historical Responsibility. Review of the implementation of the agreements at the Earth Summit in Rio. India has signed the Kyoto Protocol.
Developed countries must provide financial resources and clean technologies to enable developing countries to meet their existing commitments under UNFCCC. India supports environmental conservation projects for SAARC Nations. Initiatives are taken by the Indian government Eg. the National Auto-fuel Policy, Energy Conservation Act, Electricity Act, Use of Renewable energy and Biodiesel, etc