Topics
Contemporary World Politics
Cold War Era
- Introduction to the Cold War Era
- The Berlin Blockade (1948-1949)
- Cold War (1945-1991)
- Emergence of Two Power Blocs After the Second World War
- Arenas of the Cold War
- Challenges to Bipolarity
- New International Economic Order
- India and the Cold War
- Disintegration of the Soviet Union and Its Impact Or Consequences on the World Order
The End of Bipolarity
- Introduction to the End of Bipolarity
- What Was the Soviet System?
- Gorbachev and Disintegration
- Why Did the Soviet Union Disintegrate?
- Consequences of Disintegration
- Shock Therapy in Post-communist Regimes
- Shock Therapy and Its Consequenes
- Tensions and Conflicts
- India and Post-communist Countries
- New Entities in World Politics: Russia, Balkan States and Central Asian States
- Introduction of Democratic Politics and Capitalism in Post-communist Regimes
- Overview of The End of Bipolarity
US Hegemony in World Politics
- Introduction of US Hegemony in World Politics
- Ayesha, Jabu and Andrei
- Beginning of the ‘New World Order’
- The Clinton Years
- 9/11 and the ‘Global War on Terror’
- The Iraq Invasion
- Hegemony
- Constraints on American Power
- India's Relationship with the Us
- How Can Hegemony Be Overcome?
- Growth of Unilateralism - Afghanistan, First Gulf War, Response to 9/11 and Attack on Iraq
- Dominance and Challenge to the Us in Economy and Ideology
Alternative Centres of Power
- Introduction to Alternative Centres of Power
- European Union
- Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- The Rise of the Chinese Economy
- India-China Relations
- Overview of Contemporary Centres of Power
Contemporary South Asia in the Post Cold War Era
- Introduction to Contemporary South Asia
- What is South Asia?
- The Military and Democracy in Pakistan
- Democracy in Bangladesh
- Monarchy and Democracy in Nepal
- Ethnic Conflict and Democracy in Sri Lanka
- India-Pakistan Conflicts
- India's Relations with Its Neighbours
- Peace and Cooperation
- Impact of Economic Globalization on the Region
- Conflicts and Efforts for Peace in South Asia
- Overview of Contemporary South Asia
International Organizations
- Introduction to International Organisations
- Why International Organisations?
- Evolution of the UN
- Reform of the UN After the Cold War
- Reform of Structures and Processes
- Jurisdiction of the UN
- India and the UN Reforms
- The UN in a Unipolar World
- Restructuring and the Future of the UN
- India'S Position in the Restructured UN
- Rise of New International Actors - New International Economic Organisations, Ngos
- How Democratic and Accountable Are the New Institutions of Global Governance
- Overview of International Organizations
Security in Contemporary World
- Introduction to Security in the Contemporary World
- What is Security?
- Traditional Notions: External
- Traditional Security and Cooperation
- Non-traditional Notions
- New Sources of Threats
- Cooperative Security
- India’s Security Strategy
- Traditional Concerns of Security and Politics of Disarmament
- Non-traditional Or Human Security - Global Poverty, Health and Education
- Issues of Human Rights and Migration
- Overview of Security in Contemporary World
Environment and Natural Resources
- Introduction to Environment and Natural Resources
- Environmental Concerns in Global Politics
- The Protection of Global Commons
- Common but Differentiated Responsibilities
- Common Property Resources
- India's Stand on Environmental Issues
- Environment Movements: One Or Many?
- Resource Geopolitics
- The Indigenous Peoples and Their Rights
- Rights of Indigenous People
- Overview of Environment and Natural Resources
Globalisation
- Political Consequences
- Economic Consequences
- Cultural Consequences
- India and Resistance to Globalisation
- Economic, Cultural and Political Manifestations
- Debates on the Nature of Consequences of Globalisation
- Anti-globalisation Movements
- India as an Arena of Globalization and Struggle Against It
- Name Or Description
- Overview of Globalisation
- Opportunities and Threats of Globalization
Politics in India since Independence
Challenges of Nation-building
- Nehru's Approach to Nation-building
- Legacy of Partition - Challenge of 'Refugee' Resettlement, the Kashmir Problem
- Organisation and Reorganization of States
- Political Conflicts Overlanguage
- Challenges for the New Nation
- Partition: Displacement and Rehabilitation
- Integration of Princely States
- Overview of Challenges of Nation-building
Era of One-party Dominance
- Introduction of Era of One-party Dominance
- Congress Dominance in the First Three General Elections
- Nature of Congress Dominance at the National Level
- Uneven Dominance at the State Level
- Coalitional Nature of Congress
- Emergence of Opposition Parties
- Challenge of Building Democracy
- Overview of Era of One-party Dominance
Politics of Planned Development
- 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017)
- Expansion of State Sector and the Rise of New Economic Interests
- Famine and Suspension of Five Year Plans
- Green Revolution and Its Political Fallouts
- Introduction of Politics of Planned Development
- The Early Initiatives
- Key Controversies
- Major Outcome
- Overview of Politics of Planned Development
India's External Relations
- Nehru's Foreign Policy
- Sino-Indian War
- Pakistan (1948–49, 1965, 1971)
- India'S Nuclear Programme
- Shifting Alliance in World Politics
- International Context
- The Policy of Non-alignment
- Peace and Conflict with China
- Wars and Peace with Pakistan
- India's Nuclear Policy
- Overview of India's External Relations
Challenges to the Congress System
- Political Succession After Nehru
- Non-congressism and Electoral Upset of 1967
- Congress Split and Reconstitution
- Congress Victory in 1971 Elections
- Politics of Garibi Hatao
- Fourth General Elections, 1967
- Split in the Congress
- The 1971 Election and Restoration of Congress
- Overview of Challenges to the Congress System
Crisis of the Democratic Order
- Search for Committed Bureaucracy and Judiciary
- Navnirman Movement in Gujarat and the Bihar Movement
- Emergency - Context, Constitutional and Extra-constitutional Dimensions, Resistance to Emergency
- 1977 Elections and the Formation of Janata Party
- Rise of Civil Liberties Organisations
- Background to Emergency
- Declaration of Emergency
- Controversies Regarding Emergency
- Politics After Emergency
- Overview of Crisis of the Democratic Order
Rise of Popular Movements
- Farmer's Movements
- Womens’ Movement in India
- Environment and Development - Affected People'S Movements
- Implementation of Mandal Commission Report and Its Aftermath
- Nature of Popular Movements
- Dalit Panthers
- Bharatiya Kisan Union
- Anti Arrack Movement
- Narmada Bachao Aandolan
- Lesson from Popular Movements
Regional Aspirations
- Rise of Regional Parties
- Punjab Crisis and the Anti Sikh Riots of 1984
- The Kashmir Situation
- Challenges and Responses in the North East
- Region and the Nation
- Accommodation and National Integration
- Dravidian Movement
- Overview of Regional Aspirations
Recent Developments in Indian Politics
- Participatory Upsurge in 1990s
- Rise of the JD and the BJP
- Increasing Role of Regional Parties and Coalition Politics
- Coalition Governments - NDA (1998 - 2004) UPA (2004 - 2014) NDA (2014 Onwards)
- Context of the 1990s
- Era of Coalitions
- Political Rise of Other Backward Classes
- Communalism, Secularism, Democracy
- Emergence of a New Consensus
- Overview of Recent Developments in Indian Politics
Estimated time: 34 minutes
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Context of the 1990s
- The 1989 Lok Sabha election defeat of Congress ended the long-standing Congress system, though Congress remained important.
- The Mandal issue (1990) brought OBC reservations into focus and reshaped national politics through protests and debates.
- India adopted new economic reforms (liberalisation) from 1991, changing the direction of the economy.
- The Ram Janmabhoomi movement strongly influenced politics and debates on secularism.
- The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 led to leadership change in Congress, with Narasimha Rao becoming Prime Minister.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Decline of Congress
- The defeat of Congress after 1989 ended its long-term dominance in Indian politics.
- Unlike earlier phases, Congress could not restore its predominant position in the 1990s.
- No single party replaced Congress as the dominant party.
- India entered an era of a multi-party system with several parties sharing power.
- This led to coalition governments at the Centre.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Alliance Politics
- The 1990s saw the rise of regional parties representing Dalits and OBCs.
- These parties became crucial in forming governments at the Centre.
- The United Front governments (1996–97) were supported by Congress to keep BJP out of power.
- Political alliances were unstable, showing frequent shifts in support.
- The BJP emerged as the largest party in 1996 but could not form a majority government alone.
- Coalition politics became the norm after the 1989 elections.
- Major coalitions included National Front, United Front, NDA, and UPA.
- By 1999, the NDA under Atal Bihari Vajpayee completed a full term, marking coalition stability.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Central Governments in India since 1989
|
Period |
Prime Minister |
Party / Coalition in Government |
|
Dec 1989 – Nov 1990 |
V. P. Singh |
National Front (supported by Left Front & BJP) |
|
Nov 1990 – Jun 1991 |
Chandra Shekhar |
Samajwadi Janata Party (supported by Congress) |
|
Jun 1991 – May 1996 |
P. V. Narasimha Rao |
Congress (supported by AIADMK & smaller parties) |
|
May 1996 – Jun 1996 |
Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
BJP (minority government) |
|
Jun 1996 – Apr 1997 |
H. D. Deve Gowda |
United Front (supported by Congress) |
|
Apr 1997 – Mar 1998 |
I. K. Gujral |
United Front (supported by Congress) |
|
Mar 1998 – Oct 1999 |
Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) |
|
Oct 1999 – May 2004 |
Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
NDA (completed full term) |
|
May 2004 – May 2014 |
Manmohan Singh |
United Progressive Alliance (UPA) |
|
May 2014 – present |
Narendra Modi |
NDA (BJP-led) |
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Mandal Implemented
- Late 1980s, the Janata Dal mobilised political groups with strong OBC support.
- National Front government (1990) decided to implement the Mandal Commission recommendations.
- This led to a nationwide debate and protests over OBC reservations in government jobs.
- The issue strengthened OBC political identity and increased their mobilisation in politics.
- Raised questions of political power, representation, and social justice for OBCs.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: B. P. Mandal
- Social justice leader and MP from Bihar.
- Chaired the Second Backward Classes Commission (Mandal Commission).
- Reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: The Mandal Commission
- The Mandal Commission (1978) was the Second Backward Classes Commission, chaired by B. P. Mandal.
- Studied the social and educational backwardness of communities and identified OBCs.
- The Commission submitted its report in 1980.
- It recommended 27% reservation for OBCs in government jobs and educational institutions.
- In 1990, the National Front government.
- The decision led to nationwide protests but was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1992.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Political Fallouts
- The 1980s saw the rise of Dalit political mobilisation in India.
- BAMCEF was formed to organise SC, ST, OBC, and minority employees.
- Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) under Kanshi Ram.
- BSP achieved major breakthrough in Uttar Pradesh in the 1989 and 1991 elections.
- Dalit politics grew as an independent political force, often competing with OBC politics.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Kanshi Ram
- Founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
- He began with BAMCEF and promoted Bahujan empowerment.
- He viewed political power as the key to social equality and led the rise of Dalit politics.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Ayodhya Issue
- The Ayodhya issue is a long-standing socio-political dispute over the birthplace of Lord Ram.
- A three-domed structure was built at the site in 1528, showing both Hindu and Islamic features.
- The issue led to frequent conflicts and became linked to national pride and identity.
- Structure was sealed in 1949.
- Court ordered the unlocking of the structure for Hindu worship.
- In 1992, the structure was demolished, intensifying communal tensions.
- In 1992, the structure was demolished, intensifying communal tensions.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: From Legal Proceedings to Amicable Acceptance
- Conflicts in a diverse democracy are resolved through the due process of law.
- The Ayodhya dispute was addressed through hearings, mediation, and legal procedures.
- November 2019, the Supreme Court delivered a unanimous verdict.
- The site was given for the Ram temple, and land was allotted for a mosque elsewhere in Ayodhya.
- Consensus-building and democratic maturity.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Emergence of a New Consensus
- Decline of Congress dominance and the rise of the BJP.
- Congress and BJP emerged as the two main competitors.
- Combined vote share of Congress and BJP exceeded 50%.
- Coalition-based competition around these two poles.
- A new political consensus emerged with bipolar competition.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Lok Sabha Elections (2004–2019)
- 2004 Elections: NDA was defeated and the Congress-led UPA government came to power with Left parties’ support.
- UPA Government (2004–2009): Congress increased seats and completed its term despite Left withdrawal in 2008 over the nuclear deal.
- 2009 Elections: Congress improved its performance; Dr. Manmohan Singh became Prime Minister for the second time.
- 2014 Elections: BJP under Narendra Modi won a clear majority (282 seats) and formed the NDA government.
- 2019 Elections: BJP won 303 seats, marking a strong single-party majority while coalition politics remained important.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Growing Consensus
- Most political parties agree on many important national issues.
- New economic policies are supported by most political parties.
- Parties accept the political and social demands of backward classes.
- Reservation in education and jobs is supported by all major parties.
- Political parties support adequate representation for OBCs.
- State-level parties play an important role in national politics.
- Coalition politics focuses more on practical alliances than ideology.
- Indian democracy continues through debates on justice, development, and rights.
