Class 12 Political Science Chapter 11 Challenges of Nation-Building
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Selected Questions-Answers
1. Very Short Answer Questions: (Marks for each – 1)
(a) Name the two metropolitan cities that were divided on communal lines at the time of Partition.
Ans: Lahore and Calcutta.
(b) Who was the first Home Minister (Deputy Prime Minister) ofindependent India?
Ans: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
(c) Who was the King of Manipur at the time of India’s independence?
Ans: Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh.
(d) Which two provinces were most affected by the Partition ofIndia?
Ans: Punjab and Bengal.
(e) In which year was “Struggle for Survival” published?
Ans: In 1952.
(f) Who was the first Prime Minister of independent India?
Ans: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
(g) On 14–15 August 1947, two nations were born: one was Pakistan and the other was which country?
Ans: India.
(h) Who was the second Prime Minister of independent India?
Ans: Lal Bahadur Shastri.
(i) Explain the concept of the “Two-Nation Theory.”
Ans: The division of British India into two separate states, India and Pakistan, on the basis of Hindu and Muslim religious identities is known as theTwo-Nation Theory.
(j) Why did the people of Hyderabad oppose the Nizam?
Ans: The Nizam exploited and oppressed peasants and common people; therefore, the people opposed his rule.
(k) Which princely state created certain problems regarding universal adult franchise?
Ans: Manipur.
(l) What were the main provisions of the “Instrument of Accession”?
Ans: According to this agreement, the rulers of princely states signed theInstrument of Accession to merge their states with the Indian Union.
(m) On which date did the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir signthe Instrument of Accession to India?
Ans: 26 October 1947.
(n) When was the Muslim League established?
Ans: In 1906.
(o) Why was the States Reorganisation Commission formed?
Ans: To redraw state boundaries primarily on a linguistic basis.
(p) Who is known as the “Frontier Gandhi”?
Ans: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
(q) Who was the President of the Constituent Assembly of India?
Ans: Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
(r) At the time of Partition, what percentage of India’s total population was Muslim?
Ans: Approximately 24 percent.
(s) Who was the head of the Interim Government formed underthe Cabinet Mission Plan?
Ans: Jawaharlal Nehru.
(t) Before joining India, under whose rule was Goa?
Ans: Under Portuguese rule.
(u) Which Indian state had its own separate Constitution?
Ans: Jammu and Kashmir.
(v) Name the three new states created in the year 2000.
Ans: Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand).
(w) Which was the first state in India formed on a linguistic basis?
Ans: Andhra Pradesh
(x) On what basis was India partitioned?
Ans: On the basis of religion.
(y) Among the princely states, which was the largest at the time ofIndia’s independence?
Ans: Hyderabad.
(z) “Pakistan will be created over my dead body.” Who made thisstatement?
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi.
(aa) What is meant by “Nation-Building”?
Ans: The process of establishing unity and integration in the social, political, economic, and cultural spheres of a country is called nation-building.
(ab) Name one state formed under the States Reorganisation Act of1956. H.S. ’18
Ans: Kerala.
(ac) When was the States Reorganisation Act passed? H.S. ’17
Ans: In 1956.
(ad) Telangana is which numbered state of India? H.S. ’15
Ans: The 29th state.
(ae) Which Article of the Indian Constitution granted special statusto Jammu and Kashmir?
Ans: Article 370.
(af) Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly?
Ans: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
(ag) When was the Election Commission of India established? Whowas the first Chief Election Commissioner?
Ans: It was established on 25 January 1950. The first Chief Election Commissioner was Sukumar Sen.
(ah) Which two Union Territories were granted full statehood in1972? H.S. ’19
Ans: Manipur and Tripura.
(ai) On which date was the Indian Constitution signed and when did it come into force? H.S. ’19
Ans: It was signed on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950.
2. Short Answer Questions: (Marks for each – 2)
(a) Mention three challenges faced by India after independence.
Ans: Rhree challenges faced by India after independence are:
1. Establishing national unity among diverse linguistic, religious, and cultural groups.
2. Strengthening democratic governance.
3. Ensuring overall development and social justice.
(b) Mention three measures taken to establish democracy in India.
Ans: Three measures taken to establish democracy in India are:
1. Inclusion of Fundamental Rights in the Constitution.
2. Granting universal adult franchise.
3. Adopting a parliamentary democratic system.
(c) Mention two causes of the Partition of India.
Ans: Two causes of the partition of India are
1. The British policy of divide and rule.
2. The communal politics of the Muslim League and the Two-NationTheory.
(d) How many states and Union Territories were created under theStates Reorganisation Commission?
Ans: 14 states and 6 Union Territories.
(e) What was the most important recommendation of the StatesReorganisation Commission?
Ans: The reorganisation of states on a linguistic basis.
(f) Name the two countries included in the Two-Nation Theory. H.S. ’18
Ans: India and Pakistan.
3. Medium-Length Answer Questions: (Marks for each – 4)
(a) Discuss the role of Sardar Patel in integrating the princely statesinto the Indian Union.
Ans: At the time of independence, there were about 565 princely states inIndia. Integrating these states into the Indian Union was a complex task. AsHome Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel undertook this responsibility.
Through diplomatic skill and firm determination, he persuaded the rulers tosign the Instrument of Accession. While most states joined voluntarily, special measures were required in cases such as Kashmir, Hyderabad, andJunagadh. Patel’s leadership ensured the political unity of India.
(b) Briefly discuss the Two-Nation Theory. H.S. ’16
Ans: The Two-Nation Theory asserted that Hindus and Muslims weretwo separate nations in India. It was advanced by the Muslim League andpolitically articulated by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. On this basis, the demandfor a separate Muslim state, Pakistan, was raised. Eventually, the British government accepted this principle and partitioned India.
4. Long Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 6)
(a) Discuss the consequences of the Partition of India. H.S. ’20
Ans: The Partition of India in 1947 led to several serious consequences. Communal riots resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of people.
The refugee problem assumed alarming proportions, with millions displacedfrom their homes. The integration of princely states became a major challenge. The division of financial and military assets created additional complications. Partition on religious lines intensified communal sentiments inboth countries, leaving a long-lasting impact on India and Pakistan.
(b) Discuss the main features of the Mountbatten Plan.
Ans: In 1947, Lord Mountbatten proposed a plan for the transfer of power. According to this plan, India was to be divided into two nations—India andPakistan. A Boundary Commission was set up to demarcate the borders ofPunjab and Bengal. Referendums were held in Sylhet and the North-West Frontier Province. Princely states were given the option to join either country.
(c) Describe the three major challenges faced by India at the timeof independence. H.S. ’15, ’19
Ans: First, India’s vast size and diversity posed a challenge to national unity. Second, establishing and strengthening a democratic system of governance was a crucial task. Third, ensuring social justice, economic development, and equality in a newly independent nation was a major objective. To address these challenges, various provisions were included in the Constitution, enabling India to emerge as one of the world’s largest democracies.
