Maharashtra Board Class 12 Political Science Chapter 6 India and the World Solutions

1. (A) Complete The Following Statements By Selecting The Appropriate Option.

Question 1. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the first Prime Minister of
(a) Bangladesh
(b) Pakistan
(c) Iran
(d) Afghanistan
Answer: (a) Bangladesh
In simple words: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is recognized as the founding father of Bangladesh and served as its inaugural Prime Minister.

🎯 Exam Tip: Familiarize yourself with key historical figures and their respective countries, especially for questions related to international political leadership.

Question 2. In 1987, India sent a Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) to
(a) Bangladesh
(b) Sri Lanka
(c) Somalia
(d) Vietnam
Answer: (b) Sri Lanka
In simple words: The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was deployed in Sri Lanka in 1987 following the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, aiming to resolve the ethnic conflict.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember significant international interventions by India, including the year and the country involved, as these are important historical points.

(B) Identify The Incorrect Pair In Every Set And Correct It.

Question 1.
(a) NATO - Europe
(b) ANZUS Africa
(c) SEATO - South East Asia
(d) CENTO - West Asia
Answer: (c) Sri Lanka - Jayewardene
In simple words: This task requires identifying a mismatched pair from the given options, and the provided answer specifies 'Sri Lanka - Jayewardene' as the relevant entry for option (c).

🎯 Exam Tip: When faced with "identify incorrect pair" questions, carefully evaluate each option based on your knowledge of international organizations and historical figures.

2. State Whether The Following Statements Are True Or False With Reason.

Question 1. Myanmar has been a traditional friend of India.
Answer: This statement is True.
1. India and Myanmar (formerly Burma) have a long historical and cultural relations. In fact, Burma a part of British India from 1824 to 1937.
2. India established diplomatic relations after Myanmar's independence in 1948. However, Indo-Myanmar ties got strained since India supported pro-democracy movements in Myanmar against the ruling military Junta. Both countries are members of BIMSTEC and cooperate to counteract drug trafficking and insurgent groups like Arakan Army operating in the border areas.
In simple words: India and Myanmar share deep historical and cultural ties, with Myanmar having been part of British India for a period, though relations faced challenges due to differing political stands.

🎯 Exam Tip: For True/False questions requiring reasons, always provide specific historical facts, agreements, or events to support your answer, ensuring accuracy and detail.

Question 2. In changing world order of 1990s, the issue of terrorism has been dominant.
Answer: This statement is True.
1. Terrorism refers to the use of or the threat to use violence with the intention to destabilise the political system, cause economic harm and panic in society towards the attainment of some religious or ideological goals.
2. Post 1900s, terrorism has become a global phenomenon with forms like cross-border terrorism, international terrorism etc., causing widespread destruction e.g., 2001 attack in the USA by Al-Qaeda, attacks in Bali, Kabul, Mumbai, Madrid, etc. Each Country in the world is involved in trying to secure its territory and deal with terrorism e.g., US led 'War on Terror'.
In simple words: The statement is true because the 1990s and onwards saw terrorism emerge as a major global threat, characterized by widespread attacks and international efforts to combat it.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing global issues like terrorism, use specific examples of events and international responses to illustrate its dominance and impact effectively.

Question 3. The Sagarmala project is a more comprehensive road connectivity plan.
Answer: This statement is False.
1. India has sought to harness it's 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes through two compatible programmes viz. Sagarmala and Bharatmala.
2. Sagarmala programme aims to promote port and river transport systems and Bharatmala programme is a comprehensive road connectivity plan.
In simple words: The statement is false; while Sagarmala focuses on port and river transport, the Bharatmala programme is specifically India's comprehensive road connectivity plan.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly differentiate between similar government initiatives like Sagarmala and Bharatmala by understanding their primary objectives and scope to avoid confusion.

3. Express Your Opinion Of The Following.

Question 1. India's role in the Indian Ocean
Answer: The Indian Ocean is one of the most busy and critical maritime transportation links in the world. The economies of littoral countries depend heavily on ports, shipping and vast natural resources. India's vast coastline of about 7500 km presents both opportunity and challenge to India in terms of security and foreign perspectives. India's exclusive economic zone is 2.4 million sq. kms. 90% of our trade by volume and almost all oil imports come through the sea. India is a co-founder of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation in 1997 (IORA). The main objective of IORA is to promote sustained, balanced development of the Indian Ocean region. India has initiated the Sagarmala and Bharatmala programmes to harness India's coastline.
In simple words: India holds a crucial strategic position in the Indian Ocean, which is vital for global trade and resources, leading India to play a significant role in regional security and economic development initiatives like IORA, Sagarmala, and Bharatmala.

🎯 Exam Tip: When expressing an opinion on India's role, ensure you back your points with factual data such as coastline length, trade dependency, and specific regional organizations or initiatives.

4. Answer The Following

Question 1. Write a note on India's relations with Africa.
Answer: In the first few decades after independence, India supported the fight against apartheid and provided financial and material aid to liberation struggles in Africa for eg., the AFRICA Fund created at the NAM Summit (Harare) There are several issues in the context of India-African relations-
1. The India-Africa summit was held in 2015
2. About 24 percent of Indian crude oil imports are sourced from the African continent e.g., ONGC Videsh has invested in Sudan and Egypt
3. About two million people in Eastern and Southern Africa constitute the India diaspora which is considered as an asset by the Indian government
4. Indian industries are interested in offering technological and material services to developing African nations
5. India continues to be one of the military training destination e.g., National Defence Academy, Pune has the 'Sudan Block' as a symbol of cooperation between India and Sudan
6. Countries from Somalia to South Africa fall under the India maritime strategic perspective. Hence, cases of terrorism and piracy in Somalian waters have made this region sensitive to Indian concerns.
In simple words: India's relations with Africa are rooted in historical anti-colonial solidarity, evolving into strategic partnerships based on economic ties, diaspora connections, technological cooperation, military training, and addressing maritime security concerns like piracy.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing notes on international relations, structure your answer by including historical context, economic aspects, cultural/diaspora links, security concerns, and specific initiatives like summits or investments.

Question 2. Briefly Discuss India-China relations.
Answer: In 1949, the Communist revolution took place in China. India was among the first nations to recognize the People's Republic of China. In 1954, India and China signed the Panchsheel Agreement and India also recognised Chinese suzerainty on Tibet. The main hindrances in Sino-Indian relations are-
1. 1962 Indo-China war and 2017 Dokhlam skirmish.
2. Border disputes in Aksai Chin and NEFA region.
3. China has been critical of India offering political asylum to the Dalai Lama.
4. Chinese support to Pakistan.
5. India's apprehensions about China's Belt and Road Initiative.
On the positive side India-China relationship has improved
1. Agreement on maintenance of peace and tranquility along the LOC.
2. China has become among the largest trading partners of India.
3. India and China are part of BRICS and SCO.
4. In the late 1990s, Russia mooted the idea of a Trilateral Summit of Russia, China, India which was a recognition of India's status as a major regional power.
In simple words: India-China relations have a complex history, marked by early cooperation and the Panchsheel Agreement, but also by border disputes and strategic divergences, despite growing trade and participation in multilateral forums like BRICS.

🎯 Exam Tip: To effectively discuss bilateral relations, provide a balanced view, highlighting both areas of cooperation and points of contention, supported by historical events and current engagements.

5. Answer The Following Question With Reference To The Given Points.

Question 1. Explain the factors influencing Indian foreign policy.
(a) Geography
(b) History
(c) International System Economy
(d) Policy
Answer: Factors Influencing India's Foreign Policy-
1. Geography - The extensive coastline of the India peninsula and the Himalayan mountain ranges have shaped India's security and foreign policy. India shares a border with all neighbouring countries of South Asia. It also holds a dominant position in the India Ocean.
2. History - It includes the influence of traditional cultural values, cultural ties as well as values like anti-colonialism which were imbibed during the freedom struggle.
3. Economy - The strong urge to come out of the poverty and economic backwardness created by the colonial period as well as the policy of Non-Alignment shaped India's foreign policy. India followed democratic socialism through the policy of import-substitution and importance to the public sector Post-1991, after adopting the policy of Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation many changes have occurred in the Indian foreign policy.
4. Polity - Political leadership has a significant impact on India's foreign policy for e.g., Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lai Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Narendra Modi have played a decisive role in determining India's foreign policy. Ministry of External Affairs and National Security Advisor plays an important role in formulating foreign policy.
In simple words: Indian foreign policy is shaped by its geographical location, historical experiences like anti-colonialism, economic aspirations to overcome poverty and global integration, and the vision of its political leadership over time.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining factors, ensure you elaborate on how each factor specifically influences foreign policy, providing clear examples or historical context where relevant.

Activity

Read the speech on Indian Foreign Policy given by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on All India Radio on 7th September 1946 and discuss it in class.

Class 12 Political Science Chapter 6 India And The World Intext Questions And Answers

Activity (Text Book Page No. 60)

The First Summit Meeting of the Nonaligned countries at Belgrade (1961) finalized the criterion for nonalignment. Find out these criteria.
Answer: Non-Aligned Movement: The first summit of Non-Aligned countries was held in September 1961 at Belgrade and attended by representatives of 25 countries. The purpose of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was to help countries keep “national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security in their struggle against imperialism, colonialism, racism and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination or interference as well as against great power and bloc politics”. The objectives of the Non-Aligned Movement are-
1. To keep the newly independent nations of Asia and Africa away from the rivalry of the two viz. USA and Soviet Union
2. To oppose colonialism, imperialism, and racial discrimination.
3. To eliminate all those factors and tendencies in the international arena that could lead to war.
4. To advocate the sovereign equality of all States.
5. To oppose the use of force and nuclear weapons in international disputes.
In simple words: The Non-Aligned Movement, established at the 1961 Belgrade Summit, aimed to allow newly independent nations to maintain their sovereignty, avoid superpower rivalries, and resist all forms of foreign domination and discrimination.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions about international movements, clearly state their founding principles, key objectives, and historical context, as these are crucial for comprehensive answers.