Everything Political by Devashish Saroha: 25 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) based on Bloom’s Taxonomy for the topic Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System (1972-1984) from Grade 12 Political Science:

1. Remembering (Knowledge-Based Questions)

What was the Congress System in Indian politics?
a) A multi-party coalition
b) A dominant party system led by the Indian National Congress
c) A military government
d) A communist political system
Which leader was at the center of the Congress System during the 1970s?
a) Rajiv Gandhi
b) Indira Gandhi
c) Morarji Desai
d) Charan Singh
In which year did Indira Gandhi declare a National Emergency?
a) 1971
b) 1975
c) 1977
d) 1980
Which opposition party led the movement against Indira Gandhi’s government in the 1970s?
a) BJP
b) CPI
c) Janata Party
d) Shiv Sena
What was the primary reason for the Emergency (1975-77)?
a) Economic reforms
b) Allegations of election malpractice against Indira Gandhi
c) Border conflict with China
d) Rise of religious extremism

What was the impact of the 1971 General Elections on the Congress?
a) Congress lost power
b) Indira Gandhi won with a massive majority
c) The opposition gained control
d) The elections were canceled
Why did Indira Gandhi implement nationalization policies in the early 1970s?
a) To reduce poverty and control private wealth
b) To favor industrialists
c) To follow Western economic models
d) To weaken government control over industries
What led to the rise of the Janata Party in 1977?
a) Strong economic growth under Congress
b) Public anger against Emergency policies
c) Support from Indira Gandhi
d) Foreign intervention
Why did the Congress System weaken after 1977?
a) Increase in regional parties and public opposition
b) Economic growth
c) Foreign policy issues
d) Support from rural voters
What was the significance of the 1979 fall of the Janata Government?
a) It proved the instability of coalition governments
b) It strengthened the opposition’s power
c) It ended democracy in India
d) It led to the rise of socialism

If you were an opposition leader in 1975, what would have been your main strategy against Indira Gandhi?
a) Organize mass protests and rallies
b) Support Emergency policies
c) Promote foreign intervention
d) Form a coalition with Congress
How did the Emergency (1975-77) change India’s political landscape?
a) Increased opposition unity and awareness of civil liberties
b) Strengthened Congress permanently
c) Eliminated political opposition
d) Introduced a new economic system
What could Indira Gandhi have done differently to prevent the 1977 election defeat?
a) Lift the Emergency earlier and restore civil rights
b) Increase censorship and political suppression
c) Reduce economic reforms
d) Ban all opposition parties
If the Janata Party had remained in power, how might Indian politics have evolved differently?
a) A stronger two-party system might have emerged
b) Congress would have gained more support
c) Regional parties would have disappeared
d) Emergency policies would have continued
How did the restoration of the Congress System in 1980 impact Indian democracy?
a) Strengthened Indira Gandhi’s control but also revived democratic debates
b) Ended multi-party politics
c) Led to military rule
d) Banned opposition parties

Why did the Janata Party government (1977-79) fail?
a) Internal conflicts and leadership issues
b) Strong economic policies
c) Support from Congress
d) Increased foreign investment
How did the 1977 General Elections impact Indian democracy?
a) It marked the first major electoral defeat of Congress
b) It strengthened Indira Gandhi’s power
c) It led to the abolition of political parties
d) It allowed foreign influence in Indian politics
What was the biggest challenge for Indira Gandhi after her return to power in 1980?
a) Regional and separatist movements (e.g., Punjab crisis)
b) Weakening opposition
c) Strong foreign relations
d) Economic stability
How did economic policies during Emergency affect public support for Congress?
a) They led to economic struggles and increased opposition
b) They strengthened support for Congress
c) They reduced poverty significantly
d) They had no effect on public sentiment
What was a key factor in the revival of Congress in the 1980 elections?
a) Disillusionment with the Janata Party government
b) Indira Gandhi’s popularity abroad
c) Economic boom under Janata Party
d) Support from industrialists

Was the declaration of Emergency (1975-77) justified?
a) No, it violated democratic principles and civil liberties
b) Yes, it was necessary for national stability
c) Yes, but it should have been limited
d) No, because it weakened the opposition permanently
Did the Janata Party provide a stable alternative to Congress?
a) No, internal conflicts led to its failure
b) Yes, it introduced stronger democratic reforms
c) No, it continued Emergency-like policies
d) Yes, it permanently ended Congress’s dominance
Was Indira Gandhi’s return to power in 1980 beneficial for Indian democracy?
a) Yes, it restored stability, but challenges remained
b) No, it weakened democracy further
c) Yes, because the Janata Party had failed
d) No, because it ended opposition rule permanently

If you were designing an alternative political strategy for the Janata Party in 1977, what would you focus on?
a) Uniting leadership and addressing economic concerns
b) Continuing Emergency policies
c) Avoiding elections and ruling by decree
d) Weakening Congress through censorship
Propose an alternative to the Emergency that could have addressed India’s political crisis in 1975.
a) Strengthening democratic institutions instead of suppressing opposition
b) Introducing military rule
c) Nationalizing all industries
d) Reducing government involvement in elections