India Intro to Comparative Politics

Which of the following describes the situation in Kashmir?

A plebiscite has never been held there; India refuses to hold one until Pakistan withdraws its troops.

In India, how powerful are the legislators in the Lok Sabha in matters of policy-making?

All parties maintain tight discipline to ensure voting along party lines, and thus dissent within the party is very rare.

Which of the following is true of the Jawaharlal Nehru era?

Although Nehru and the Congress Party proclaimed pro-poor, socialist commitments, they generally failed to deliver on their promises.

How would you describe Narendra Modi's general approach to governance since he became India's prime minister in 2014?

Although he retains close ties to the RSS, he has avoided taking hard-line Hindu nationalist positions.

Created in 1989 with the goal of increasing dalits' political representation, it is the biggest dalit party. It grew rapidly in the 1990s by appealing to a broad, cross-caste base of support. Name the party.

Bahujan Samaj Party

In the early 1940s, what prompted the British to agree to grant India independence?

Britain promised to grant India independence to gain Indians' support for their war effort against Nazi Germany.

What issue, among others, characterizes India's relationship with neighboring China?

China is India's major trading partner, but China exports a lot more to India than the other way around.

Which of the following describes the initial years of the Janata Party in India?

Elected to power in 1977, its loose coalition lasted only a little over two years, when conflicting leadership ambitions tore it apart.

What changes have occurred in the Indian economy since the 1980s?

India's integration within the global economy has increased because of a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on trade in services.

How has the reputation of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) changed over the years?

Its attraction has declined, and many of India's most talented young people now go into engineering and business administration.

What are reservations?

Jobs or admissions to colleges reserved by the government of India for specific underprivileged groups

In India, did legislation passed in the early 1950s help solve the problem of unequal distribution of agricultural land?

No, it reduced the size of landholdings, but little of the reclaimed land was reallocated to poor tenants and agricultural laborers.

The constitution of India allows the temporary suspension of many democratic rights under emergency conditions. Has this provision been used justifiably over the years?

No; the Congress government often used it unjustifiably to remove opposition governments and strengthen its own control.

In 1977, ending the Emergency, Indira Gandhi called for national elections. Why did she make that decision, and what were the results?

She thought she would almost certainly be reelected; she and her party were routed.

What were the benefits of the green revolution in India?

The high costs of pesticides, equipment, and seeds forced farmers to borrow large sums at high interest rates from banks and moneylenders.

Which of the following describes the political system that has emerged in recent years in India?

The landslide victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) in 2017 suggests that it is well positioned to return to power in the 2019 national elections.

In India, when are cabinets more likely to be large, unwieldy, and divided?

When the government is a coalition, as representatives from each political party in the coalition must be named to the cabinet

In India, can an individual approach the Court directly when environmental harm jeopardizes the public interest?

Yes, an individual can approach the Court directly as a fundamental constitutional right.

In India, are party leaders free to exercise strong influence over their legislators in matters of elections?

Yes; since party leaders control nominations, most legislators are beholden to them for securing a party ticket.

How have India's relations with its neighbor Sri Lanka been over the years?

c. Barring disputes over water rights, relations between the two countries have improved since the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka.