📘 Class 12 Political Science – Chapter 9
🌟 Recent Developments in Indian Politics – Notes
🔹 Context of the 1990s
- After the assassination (हत्या) of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister and led the Congress to a massive victory in 1984 Lok Sabha elections. 🗳️
- The 1980s witnessed five major developments that had a long-lasting impact on Indian politics:
- Defeat (पराजय) of the Congress party in 1989 elections. ❌
- Rise of the Mandal Issue in national politics. 📑
- Introduction of Economic Policy / New Economic Policy by various governments. 💹
- Demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya (Babri Masjid) in 1992. 🕌🔥
- Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 → led to change in Congress leadership. ⚡
🔹 Decline of Congress
- Late 1980s: Congress dominance challenged, but Indira Gandhi had earlier re-established its position.
- Post 1989 elections, India entered an era of coalition governments, where regional parties played a crucial role in forming ruling alliances. 🤝
🔹 Alliance Politics
- 1989 elections marked the beginning of coalition era in India. 🏛️
- Regional parties played key roles in United Front Government (1996).
- BJP consolidated its position → largest party in 1996 elections, invited to form government. 🟠
- Since 1989, nine governments at the Centre have been coalition or minority governments supported by other parties. 🔗
🔹 Political Rise of Other Backward Classes (OBCs)
- Decline in Congress support among backward castes created space for non-Congress parties.
- Janata Party constituents (Bhartiya Kranti Dal, Samyukta Party) had a strong rural base among OBCs. 🌾
🔹 Mandal Implementation
- 1980s–90s: Rise of parties demanding better opportunities for OBCs in education and employment. 🎓💼
- Mandal Commission → studied educational & social backwardness (पिछड़ा वर्ग).
- Recommended 27% reservation in educational institutions & government jobs. 📌
- August 1990: National Front Government implemented Mandal recommendations. ✅
🔹 Political Fallouts
- Caste-based politics dominated India from 1980s onwards.
- 1989 & 1991: BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) achieved landmark success with Dalit voter support. ✊
- Across India: Dalit politics and OBC politics grew independently and sometimes in competition. ⚔️
📝 Words That Matter
- Assassination (हत्या): Murder of a political leader.
- Mandal Issue: Reservation policy for Other Backward Classes in education & jobs.
- Coalition Government: Government formed with support from multiple political parties. 🤝
- OBC (Other Backward Classes): Socially & educationally disadvantaged communities.
- BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party): Political party supported by Dalit voters.
🌟 Communalism, Secularism & Democracy – Notes
🔹 Rise of Communal Politics (धार्मिक राजनीति)
- During 1990s, politics based on religious identity (धार्मिक पहचान) emerged in India. 🕌🕉️
- Debate over secularism (धर्मनिरपेक्षता) and democracy (लोकतंत्र) became central. ⚖️
- After the Shah Bano case (1985), BJP emerged as a ‘Hindutva Party’. 🔶
🔹 Babri Masjid Dispute
- Babri Masjid: 16th-century mosque in Ayodhya, built by Mir Baqi, general of Mughal emperor Babur. 🕌
- Some Hindus claim it was built after demolishing a temple for Lord Rama. 🛕
- Legal dispute continued for decades → Babri Masjid demolished on 6th December 1992. ⚡
- After demolition, clashes between Hindus and Muslims occurred across India. 🔥
- Feb-March 2002: Large-scale violence against Muslims in Gujarat, starting from Godhra.
- Lesson: Using religious sentiments for political purposes is dangerous. ⚠️
🔹 Emergence of a New Political Consensus (नई राजनीतिक सहमति)
- Post 1989 elections, Congress + BJP votes < 50% → politics became coalition-based. 🤝
- 1990s: Competition between BJP-led coalition and Congress-led coalition.
- 2004 Lok Sabha elections:
- BJP-led NDA defeated ❌
- Congress-led UPA formed government ✅
🔹 Growing Consensus Among Parties (सहमति के तत्व)
Since 1990, most parties agreed on:
- New Economic Policies (नई आर्थिक नीतियाँ) 💹
- Recognition of social & political claims of backward castes (पिछड़े वर्ग) 👥
- Acceptance of state-level parties’ role in governance 🏛️
- Pragmatic alliances rather than purely ideological agreements 🤝
- Regional parties sometimes act as pressure groups, influencing Central government for more budget allocation to their states. 💰
📝 Words That Matter
- Communalism (साम्प्रदायिकता): Politics based on religious identity.
- Secularism (धर्मनिरपेक्षता): Equal treatment of all religions by the state.
- Hindutva: Ideology promoting Hindu identity in politics.
- Coalition Government (संघ सरकार): Government formed with support from multiple parties.
- Pressure Groups (दबाव समूह): Organizations that influence government decisions.
🌟 Recent Developments in Indian Politics (1990s–2025) 🌟
Context of the 1990s 🕰️
- Decline of Congress Dominance ❌The Congress party’s dominance began to wane in the late 1980s, culminating in its defeat in the 1989 elections. This marked the end of the Congress system (कांग्रेस प्रणाली) and the onset of coalition politics (साझेदारी वाली राजनीति). 🔄
- Rise of Regional Parties 🌍The 1990s witnessed the emergence of regional parties (क्षेत्रीय दल), asserting their influence in national politics, forming coalition governments (संघीय सरकारें). 🏛️
- Economic Liberalization 💰In 1991, India adopted the New Economic Policy (नई आर्थिक नीति), initiating liberalization (उदारीकरण), privatization (निजीकरण), and globalization (वैश्वीकरण). 🌐
- Communal Tensions ⚡The demolition of the Babri Masjid (बाबरी मस्जिद) in 1992 led to communal riots (साम्प्रदायिक दंगे), testing India’s secularism (धर्मनिरपेक्षता). ✝️☪️
- Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi 🕊️In 1991, former PM Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated (हत्या), leading to major political changes. 💔
Coalition Politics & Regional Influence 🤝
- 1990s Coalition Governments 🏛️The era saw coalition governments (संयुक्त सरकारें) with regional parties (क्षेत्रीय दल) playing pivotal roles. 🎯
- Rise of BJP 🔺The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as a significant force, forming the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) (राष्ट्रीय लोकतांत्रिक गठबंधन). 🇮🇳
- Opposition Alliances 🔹The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) (संयुक्त प्रगतिशील गठबंधन) challenged NDA’s dominance in the 2000s. 🔄
Social Justice & Caste-Based Politics ⚖️
- Mandal Commission Recommendations 📋Implemented in 1990, it reserved 27% government jobs for OBCs (अन्य पिछड़े वर्ग), triggering nationwide protests. ✊
- Dalit & Backward Caste Mobilization 👥Parties like BSP (बहुजन समाज पार्टी) gained prominence advocating for Dalits (दलित) and OBCs (अन्य पिछड़े वर्ग). 🌾
Secularism & Communalism 🕌⛪
- Babri Masjid Demolition 🏚️The 1992 demolition highlighted challenges to India’s secular fabric (धर्मनिरपेक्षता). ⚡
- Gujarat Riots 2002 🔥Following the Godhra incident (गोदरा घटना), large-scale violence targeted Muslims (मुस्लिम समुदाय). Human Rights Commission criticized state government’s failure. ⚖️
- Recent Communal Trends (2020s) 📅Incidents of religiously motivated violence and debates on minority rights continue to influence politics. 🗞️
Democracy & Electoral Dynamics 🗳️
- Electoral Reforms 🏛️73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendments (संवैधानिक संशोधन) decentralized power to local self-governments (स्थानीय स्वशासन). 🏘️
- Voter Participation ✅Steady increase in voter turnout shows growing political awareness (राजनीतिक जागरूकता). 📈
- Recent Trends 2024–25 📰Coalition politics continues to dominate, with regional parties (क्षेत्रीय दल) influencing central policy and fund allocation. 💸
Key Terms (WORDS THAT MATTER) 📝
- OBC (Other Backward Classes): अन्य पिछड़े वर्ग, suffered from educational, social, and economic backwardness. 📚
- BAMCEF: Backward and Minority Classes Employees Federation (1978), organized political mobilization of Dalits & OBCs. ✊
- Karseva (कर्म सेवा): Voluntary service by devotees, especially during Ram temple construction (राम मंदिर निर्माण). 🛕
- Mandal Commission: Investigated social and educational backwardness (शैक्षणिक और सामाजिक पिछड़ापन) and recommended OBC reservation. 📋
- Coalition Government (संयुक्त सरकार): Government formed when no party secures majority, based on common minimum programme (सामान्य न्यूनतम कार्यक्रम). 🏛️
