Era of one-party dominance - Class 12 Political Science - Chapter 2 - Notes, NCERT Solutions & Extra Questions
Renews every month. Cancel anytime
Your personal doubt-solving assistant
Chatterbot AI gives you 100% accurate answers to your questions in an instant.
Extra Questions - Era of one-party dominance | Politics in India Since Independence | Political Science | Class 12
With reference to the Vice President of India, which one of the following statements is incorrect?
A. He should not be a member of either house of Parliament.
B. Impeachment is not required for the removal of the Vice President.
C. He can act as the President only for a maximum period of 6 months.
D. All disputes with respect to his election are inquired into by the Election Commission.
The incorrect statement is Option D:
All disputes with respect to the Vice President's election are inquired into by the Election Commission.
Explanation:
Option A is correct:
According to the Constitution, the Vice President must not be a member of either House of Parliament or a state legislature. If a member of any of these Houses is elected as Vice-President, they are considered to have vacated their seat from the date they assume office as Vice-President.
The Vice President must not hold any other office of profit.
Option B is correct:
The Vice President serves a term of five years but can resign by writing to the President. Removal from office before the completion of the term does not require formal impeachment.
The Vice President can be removed by a resolution passed by an absolute majority in the Rajya Sabha and agreed upon by the Lok Sabha, provided a 14-day advance notice is given. The Constitution does not specify grounds for removal.
Option C is correct:
The Vice President acts as the President in the event of a vacancy due to resignation, removal, death, or otherwise. This acting role can only last for a maximum period of six months, during which a new President must be elected.
The Vice President also performs duties in the President's absence due to illness or any other reason until the President resumes their functions.
Option D is incorrect:
Any doubts and disputes regarding the election of the Vice President are inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court, not the Election Commission. The Supreme Court's decision in such matters is final. The election of a Vice President cannot be contested on the grounds that the electoral college was incomplete.
With reference to the Vice-President of India, consider the following statements:
The maximum period for which the Vice-President of India can act as President is six months.
All disputes regarding the election of the Vice-President of India are decided by the Supreme Court.
The Vice-President of India can only be removed from his office by the process of Impeachment.
Which of the statements given above are incorrect?
The correct option is C
, which means statement 3 is the only incorrect statement.
Explanation:
Statement 1: Correct
The Vice-President assumes the role of Acting President when a vacancy occurs in the President's office. Such a vacancy can be due to resignation, removal, death, or otherwise. The Vice-President can act as the President for a maximum period of six months, during which a new President must be elected.
Statement 2: Correct
All disputes related to the election of the Vice-President are decided by the Supreme Court, whose decision is final. If the election of a Vice-President is declared void by the Supreme Court, any acts performed by them before this declaration remain valid.
Statement 3: Incorrect
The Vice-President holds office for a term of five years. However, the Vice-President can be removed from office before the completion of their term. Removal does not require a formal impeachment process. Instead, the Vice-President can be removed by a resolution passed by an absolute majority in the Rajya Sabha and agreed to by the Lok Sabha.
Summary:
Statement 1: Correct. Vice-President can act as President for a maximum of six months.
Statement 2: Correct. Supreme Court decides all disputes regarding the Vice-President's election.
Statement 3: Incorrect. The Vice-President can be removed without formal impeachment, by a resolution from the Rajya Sabha and agreement from the Lok Sabha.
💡 Have more questions?
Ask Chatterbot AINCERT Solutions - Era of one-party dominance | Politics in India Since Independence | Political Science | Class 12
Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks.
(a) The First General Elections in 1952 involved simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and ………………….(The President of India/ State Assemblies/ Rajya Sabha/ The Prime Minister)
(b) The party that won the second largest number of Lok Sabha seats in the first elections was the………………….(Praja Socialist Party/ Bharatiya Jana Sangh/ Communist Party of India/Bharatiya Janata Party)
(c) One of the guiding principles of the ideology of the Swatantra Party was………………….(Working class interests/ protection of Princely States / economy free from State control / Autonomy of States within the Union)
(a) The First General Elections in 1952 involved simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
(b) The party that won the second largest number of Lok Sabha seats in the first elections was the Communist Party of India.
(c) One of the guiding principles of the ideology of the Swatantra Party was economy free from State control.
Match the following leaders listed in List A with the parties in List B.
List A | List B |
---|---|
(a) S. A. Dange | i. Bharatiya Jana Sangh |
(b) Shyama Prasad Mukherjee | ii. Swatantra Party |
(c) Minoo Masani | iii. Praja Socialist Party |
(d) Asoka Mehta | iv. Communist Party of India |
(a) S. A. Dange - iv. Communist Party of India
(b) Shyama Prasad Mukherjee - i. Bharatiya Jana Sangh
(c) Minoo Masani - ii. Swatantra Party
(d) Asoka Mehta - iii. Praja Socialist Party
Four statements regarding one- party dominance are given below. Mark each of them as true or false.
(a) One-party dominance is rooted in the absence of strong alternativepolitical parties.
(b) One-party dominance occurs because of weak public opinion.
(c) One-party dominance is linked to the nation’s colonial past.
(d) One-party dominance reflects the absence of democratic ideals in a country.
(a) True - One-party dominance often emerges in contexts where there are no strong alternative political parties, which enables the dominant party to establish greater control over the political landscape.
(b) False - One-party dominance can occur even in contexts with active public opinion. It relates more to the organizational strength and historical role of the party, as well as electorates' preferences, rather than simply weak public opinion.
(c) True - The connection of one-party dominance with a nation’s colonial past can be true, especially in cases where the dominant party played a key role in struggles for independence, shaping its long-term political landscape.
(d) False - One-party dominance does not necessarily reflect the absence of democratic ideals. It can happen within a democratic framework where elections are free and fair, but one party continues to win due to various factors like historical role, leadership, and public trust in the party.
Take a political map of India (with State outlines) and mark:
(a) two states where Congress was not in power at some point during 1952-67.
(b) two states where the Congress remained in power through this period.
For the period between 1952-1967, you can refer to the following details to mark the states on a political map of India:
(a) Two states where Congress was not in monolithic power at some point:
Kerala: The Congress party faced a setback here in 1957 when a coalition led by the Communist Party of India formed the government. This was the first instance of a democratically elected communist government in the world.
Orissa (now Odisha): The Congress did not always maintain a majority and faced competition from local parties and coalitions.
(b) Two states where the Congress remained in power throughout this period:
Uttar Pradesh: Throughout this period, Congress was the dominant force in the politics of Uttar Pradesh, leveraging its historical significance in the Indian freedom movement.
Madhya Pradesh: Like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh also saw Congress maintaining power continuously through this timeframe.
These choices illustrate the varying regional dynamics and the fluctuating fortunes of the Congress party during the initial years after Indian independence.
Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
“Patel, the organisational man of the Congress, wanted to purge the Congress of other political groups and sought to make of it a cohesive and disciplined political party. He …. sought to take the Congress away from its all-embracing character and turn it into a close-knit party of disciplined cadres. Being a ‘realist’ he looked more for discipline than for comprehension. While Gandhi took too romantic a view of “carrying on the movement,” Patel’s idea of transforming the Congress into strictly political party with a single ideology and tight discipline showed an equal lack of understanding of the eclectic role that the Congress, as a government, was to be called upon to perform in the decades to follow.” — Rajni Kothari
(a) Why does the author think that Congress should not have been a cohesive and disciplined party?
(b) Give some examples of the eclectic role of the Congress party in the early years.
(c) Why does the author say that Gandhi’s view about Congress’ future was romantic?
(a) The author, Rajni Kothari, believes that Congress should not have been a cohesive and disciplined party because its strength lay in its ability to be an eclectic and inclusive platform. Congress had historically accommodated a broad spectrum of ideas and interests, which was crucial for its role in governing a diverse country like India. By turning it into a party with strict discipline and a single ideology, it risked losing this essential character, which was necessary for performing its governmental duties in a pluralistic society.
(b) Examples of the eclectic role of the Congress party in the early years include:
Leading the freedom movement, which involved various groups with differing ideologies and objectives.
Framing the Constitution of India, which required accommodating diverse views and building consensus among various stakeholders.
Introducing land reforms and industrial policies, reflecting a mix of socialist and capitalist ideas to address the varied economic needs of the country.
Management of linguistic and regional demands, leading to the reorganization of states on linguistic lines while maintaining national unity.
(c) Rajni Kothari refers to Gandhi’s view about Congress' future as romantic because Gandhi envisioned the Congress continuing as a broad-based movement even after independence, nurturing the spirit of self-rule and democracy at a grassroot level. This view is termed romantic because it perhaps underestimated the practical complexities and the need for a structured political framework required for governing a newly independent nation, which involved addressing more immediate and pragmatic concerns of state-building and governance.
💡 Have more questions?
Ask Chatterbot AINotes - Era of one-party dominance | Class 12 Politics in India Since Independence | Political Science
Detailed Class 12 Notes on the Era of One-Party Dominance in India
India's post-Independence era marked a period of significant political transformation, prominently defined by the era of one-party dominance. Understanding this period is crucial for Class 12 students studying India's political history.
The Context of One-Party Dominance in India
Historical Background
The era of one-party dominance, primarily by the Indian National Congress, began amidst the challenge of nation-building and instituting democratic politics. Following Independence, India's leaders faced a dilemma many other newly free nations did: whether to prioritise national unity over democracy. Unlike many such countries that opted for non-democratic rule, India's leaders, owing to their commitment to democratic principles during the freedom struggle, chose the difficult path of democracy.
The adoption of the Constitution on 26 January 1950, signalled the beginning of democratic governance. However, establishing a system of free and fair elections and managing the vast electorate posed significant challenges.
The Role of the Congress Party
The Congress party, inheriting the legacy of the national movement, dominated the political scene due to its widespread organisational network and the charismatic leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru. The party's extensive campaign and the public's trust in its leaders led to its overwhelming success in the first general elections.
Free and Fair Elections
Establishment of the Election Commission
The Election Commission, established in January 1950, spearheaded the effort to conduct free and fair elections. Despite the mammoth task of delimiting constituencies and preparing accurate electoral rolls, the Commission, led by Sukumar Sen, ensured the electoral process was credible.
Conducting the First General Elections
India’s first general elections, held between October 1951 and February 1952, were groundbreaking. With over 17 crore eligible voters, the election was a mammoth exercise in democracy. Voters cast their votes using steel ballot boxes bearing candidates' symbols.
Despite doubts about its feasibility, the successful conduct of these elections laid the foundation for democracy in a largely illiterate and poor society.
Changing Methods of Voting
Initially, each polling booth contained separate boxes for each candidate. This method changed after the first two elections, shifting to ballot papers listing all candidates' names and symbols. Eventually, by the late 1990s, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were introduced, revolutionising the voting process.
Opposition Parties
Emergence and Role of the Socialist and Communist Parties
Despite Congress's dominance, opposition parties like the Socialist Party and the Communist Party of India (CPI) played crucial roles. The Socialist Party, advocating democratic socialism, provided a radical alternative to Congress. The CPI, emerging from the Bolshevik revolution's inspiration, initially struggled with its ideological stance but eventually participated in elections, gaining significant support in states like Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Kerala.
The Significance of Kerala's Communist Government
In 1957, the Communist Party won the largest number of seats in the Kerala assembly, forming the first-ever democratically elected Communist government worldwide. However, this government was dismissed in 1959 under Article 356, marking the first controversial use of constitutional emergency powers.
Contributions of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh
The Bharatiya Jana Sangh, formed in 1951, offered a distinct ideological and cultural nationalism perspective. Despite limited electoral success initially, its emphasis on a united India (Akhand Bharat) and its opposition to concessions for minorities distinguished it from other parties.
Internal Dynamics of the Congress Party
Factions Within the Congress
The Congress party's ability to accommodate various factions has been a significant strength. These factions, often rooted in personal ambitions and rivalries, allowed the party to balance diverse interests and ideologies.
Congress as a Social and Ideological Coalition
The Congress evolved from a party of the educated elite to a mass movement, representing India's diversity in terms of class, caste, religion, and ideology. This broad-based coalition, encompassing revolutionary and conservative elements, enabled the party to maintain its dominance.
Key Events and Landmark Moments
First General Elections of 1952
The 1952 elections were monumental, not just for their scale but also for proving that democracy could thrive in conditions of poverty and illiteracy. The Congress emerged victorious, affirming the legitimacy of India's democratic experiment.
Significant Elections and Outcomes
Congress maintained its dominance in the subsequent two general elections (1957, 1962), winning a significant majority in the Lok Sabha. Despite some regional setbacks, Congress continued to rule at both national and state levels, albeit sometimes through alliances.
The Broader Implications of One-Party Dominance
Comparisons with Other Countries
India’s one-party dominance stands out compared to countries like China or Cuba, where single-party rule compromised democratic principles. The Congress’s dominance occurred under conditions of free and fair elections, akin to the African National Congress in post-apartheid South Africa.
Democratic Principles and Challenges
The era demonstrated that democratic elections could be held in diverse conditions. Even though the Congress dominated, the presence of active opposition ensured that democratic principles were upheld.
Conclusion
The era of one-party dominance in India is a crucial chapter in understanding the country's political evolution. The Congress party's ability to represent a diverse coalition, conduct free elections, and accommodate internal factions contributed to its dominance. This period set the foundation for India's democratic principles and showed that democracy could flourish despite significant challenges.
Additional Resources
- Suggested Readings: Books and articles on India's post-independence political history.
- Important Quotes: Excerpts from leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, B.R. Ambedkar, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on democracy and governance.
- Relevant Textbooks: Class 12 Political Science, Indian Constitution at Work.
graph TD;
A[Era of One-Party Dominance] --> B[Historical Background]
A --> C[Role of Congress Party]
A --> D[Free and Fair Elections]
A --> E[Opposition Parties]
A --> F[Internal Dynamics of Congress]
D --> G[First General Elections]
D --> H[Changing Voting Methods]
E --> I[Socialist and Communist Parties]
E --> J[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]
F --> K[Factions within Congress]
F --> L[Congress as a Coalition]
🚀 Learn more about Notes with Chatterbot AI