CBSE Class 12 Political Science Sample Paper 2023 Set A

SECTION – A

1. The movement ‘Arab Spring’ that began in 2009 later turned into a__________.
(a) Social Movement
(b) Religious Movement
(c) Political Movement
(d) Economic Movement

Answer: C

2. Name the Soviet leader who faced a coup in the year 1991.
(a) Boris Yelstin
(b) Mikhail Gorbachev
(c) Leonid Brezhnev
(d) Joseph Stalin

Answer: B

3. Select one of the most appropriate statements for the ‘ASEAN WAY’-
(a) Reflects the lifestyle of ASEAN members
(b) Is an informal and cooperative interaction among ASEAN members
(c) Is the defence policy followed by the ASEAN members
(d) Is the philosophical principle that connects all the ASEAN members

Answer: B

4. Choose the correct set of countries that refused to adopt the Maastricht Treaty and European currency, Euro?
(a) Britain and France
(b) Denmark and Sweden
(c) US and USSR
(d) Canada and Sweden

Answer: B

Assertion Reason Questions:
Directions for Q.Nos. 5 and 6 In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and
Reason (R). Read these statements and choose one correct answer from the given options-
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true

5. Assertion (A) Traditional Security accepts confidence building as a means of avoiding violence.
Reason (R) Confidence building is a process in which countries share ideas and information with their rivals.

Answer: B

6. Assertion (A) The real challenge to Indira Gandhi came not from the opposition but from within her own party.
Reason (R) She had to deal with the ‘Syndicate’, a group of powerful and influential leaders from within the Congress.

Answer: A

7. Terrorism refers to -
a) A bomb blast in a market place or train etc.
b) Systematic creation of atmosphere of fear in society using brutal violence
c) An external attack by any military group
d) Violence created by a group of people or an individual

Answer: B

8. Which of the following statements about NITI Aayog are true?
(i) NITI Aayog acts as a “think tank” of the Union Government
(ii) NITI Aayog acts against terrorism
(iii) NITI Aayog acts in the spirit of cooperative federalism
(iv) NITI Aayog decides more role for bigger states and smaller role for smaller states
Codes
a) (i), (ii) and (iv)
b) (iii) and (iv)
c) (i), (iii) and (iv)
d) (i) and (iii)

Answer: C

9. Name the personality who drafted Second Five Year Plan.
(a) K. C. Negoy
(b) T.T. Krishnamachari
(c) Smt. Durgabai Deshmukh
(d) P. C. Mahalnobis

Answer: D

10. Arrange the following in chronological order-
(a) Second General Elections
(b) V.V. Giri elected as the President of India
(C) Fourth General Elections
(d) Congress(R)-CPI alliance won many seats in General Elections
Codes
(a) i), iii) ,ii), iv)
(b) iii), ii), iv), i)
(c) ii), iv), i), iii)
(d) iv), iii),i), ii)

Answer: A

11. Name the judge of the Allahabad High Court who declared Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s election as invalid---
(a) Om Prakash Trivedi
(b) Jagmohan Lal Sinha
(c) Narain Dutt Ojha
(d) Kunj Bihari Srivastava

Answer: B

12. Find the odd one out in the context of proclamation of emergency -
(a) Call for ‘Total Revolution’.
(b) the Railway Strike of 1974
(c) Naxalite Movement
(d) Gujarat Movement

Answer: C

SECTION – B

13. Highlight any one feature of the multi-polar world as visualized by both Russia and India.
Answer: Features of a multi-polar world as visualized by both India and Russia:
I) Coexistence of several powers in the international system to collective security and a collective response.
II) Negotiated settlements of international conflicts and independent foreign policy for all countries.
III) Decision making through bodies like the UN.

14. Name the countries included in South Asia and suggest one way to enhance peace and cooperation in this region.
Answer: South Asia:
I) South Asia usually includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India ,Maldives Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (as well as Afghanistan)
II) Peace and cooperation can be enhanced in the region through organizations like SAARC and initiatives like SAFTA in political, social, economic and cultural spheres.

15. Highlight any two issues that dominate the politics of North–East India. 
Answer: Two issues that dominate the politics of North – East India are______
1. Demands for Autonomy
2. Movements for secessions and opposition to outsiders.

16. While throwing some light on the Mandal Issue, give one reason for anti-Mandal protests in India.
Answer: 
I) The National Front government decided to implement the recommendation of the Mandal Commission in 1990.The recommendation was that the 27 percent jobs in the Central government should be reserved for the Other Backward Classes.
II) This led to violent anti-Mandal protests in different parts of the country .This dispute between the supporters and opponents of OBC reservations was known as the Mandal issue.This issue has played an important role in shaping politics in India since 1989.

17. Evaluate balance of power as a significant component of traditional security policy.
Answer: 
I) Governments are very sensitive to the balance of power between their country and other countries.They do work hard to maintain a favourable balance of power with other countries especially those with whom they have differences or those with whom they have had conflicts in the past.
II) A good part of maintaining a balance of power is to build up one’s military power. Although economic and technological power are also important since they are the basis for military power.

18. How far did the Rajiv Gandhi – Longowal Accord succeed in bringing normalcy in Punjab?
Answer: 
I) The Rajiv Gandhi-Longowal Accord or the Punjab Accord was a step towards bringing normalcy to Punjab but peace did not come easily or immediately and the cycle of violence continued nearly for a decade.The central government had to impose President's rule in the state and the normal electoral and political process was suspended.
II)  It was not easy to restore the political process in the atmosphere of suspicion and violence. When elections were held in Punjab in 1992 only 24% of the electors turned out to vote. Militancy was eventually eradicated by the security forces. Peace returned to Punjab by the middle of the 1990s.

SECTION – C

19. ‘Some of the most significant responses to the challenge of environmental degradation have come from the environmental movements’. Justify the statement with special reference to movements against extraction of earth and against mega- dams.
Answer:
I) Extraction of Earth:
a) The mineral industry’s extraction of earth,its use of chemicals,its pollution of waterways and land, its displacement of community continue to invite criticism and resistance in various parts of the globe.
b) One example is of Philippines where a vast network of groups and organisations campaign against the Western Mining Corporation ,an Australia based multinational company . Much opposition to the company in its own country , Australia is based on anti nuclear sentiments and advocacy for the basic rights of Australian indigenous peoples.
II) Mega- dams:
a)Today,wherever a mega dam is being built in the world, one is likely to find an environmental movement opposing it. The early 1980s saw the first anti- dam movement launched in the North, namely, the campaign to save the Franklin river and its surrounding forest in Australia.
b) India has had some of the leading anti-dam, pro- river movements. Narmada Bachao Andolan is one of these best known movements .

20. Explain the areas of cooperation and disagreement between India and Bangladesh. 
Answer: Areas of cooperation between India and Bangladesh are as follows:
I) Bangladesh is a part of India's Look East policy.
II) Cooperation on disaster management and environment issues has always been there.
III) Economic relations have improved considerably.
Areas of disagreement between India and Bangladesh are as follows:
I) River water dispute i.e., sharing of Ganga and Brahmaputra river waters has been a bone of contention.
II) Indian government is unhappy over the denial of illegal immigration by Bangladesh.
III) Bangladesh's support to anti- Indian Islamic fundamentalist groups is not appreciated by the Indian government.

21. Do you agree with the statement that the foreign policy of independent India has pursued the dream of a peaceful world”? Support your answer with three suitable arguments.
Answer: Yes I agree with the given statement. Arguments for the same are as follows:
I) The foreign policy of independent India vigorously pursued the dream of a peaceful world by advocating the policy of non alignment, by reducing the Cold War confrontations and by contributing human resources to the UN peacekeeping operations.
II) During the Cold War, the US- led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the Soviet- led Warsaw Pact came into existence. India advocated non- alignment as the ideal foreign policy and sometimes the balance did not appear perfect.
III) India did not join either of the two camps. During the Cold War era, India wanted to keep distance from the military alliances led by the US and by the Soviet Union against each other.
IV) In 1956 Britain attacked Egypt over the Suez Canal issue, India led the world protest against this neo- colonial invasion. In the same year when the USSR invaded Hungary, India did not join its public condemnation. Despite such a situation, by and large India did take an independent stand on various International issues.

22. Analyze two reasons for the imposition of national emergency in India on June 25, 1975.
Answer: Reasons for imposing emergency in India on 25th June 1975 are:
I) Indira Gandhi’s election to Lok Sabha was declared invalid by the Allahabad High Court. It meant that legally she was no longer an MP and therefore could not remain the Prime Minister unless she was once again elected as an MP within 6 months. But on June 24th, the Supreme Court granted her a partial stay on the High Court order till the time her appeal was decided. She could remain an MP but could not take part in the proceedings of the Lok Sabha.
II) Opposition parties under Jayaprakash Narayan demanded Mrs.
Gandhi's resignation.
III) Jayaprakash Narayan asked army, police and government employees not to obey orders of the government. He called for a Total Revolution and became the symbol of opposition to Emergency.

23. ”The Soviet Union became a great power after the Second World War. However in no time the Soviet system became bureaucratic and authoritarian making life difficult for its citizens.” Do you agree with the given statement? Give arguments to prove your answer.
Answer: The Soviet Union became a great power after the Second World War but very soon the system became very bureaucratic and authoritarian. I do agree with the given statement.
Arguments in favor of the given statement are as follows:
I) The Soviet economy after the Second World War was more developed than the rest of the world except for the US. It had a complex communication network and vast energy resources. The soviet state ensured a minimum standard of living for all citizens and the government subsidized basic necessities including health, education, healthcare and other welfare schemes. The Soviet system however became very bureaucratic and authoritarian making life very difficult for its citizens.
II) Lack of democracy and the absence of freedom of speech stifled people who often expressed their dissent in jokes and cartoons.
III) Most of the institutions of the Soviet state needed reform; the one party system represented by the Soviet party of the Soviet Union had tight control over all institutions and was unaccountable to the people.
The party refused to recognize the urge of the people in the 15 different republics that formed the Soviet Union to manage their own affairs including their cultural affairs.
IV) Although on paper Russia was only one of the 15 republics that together constituted the USSR, in reality Russia dominated everything and people from other regions felt neglected and often suppressed.
Thus, we can say that indeed the Soviet Union became a great power after the Second World War but very soon the system became very bureaucratic and authoritarian.

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