UPSC Post-Independence India – Chapter 17: Mandal, Coalitions and the Reforms of 1991 (23 MCQs)

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UPSC Post-Independence India – Chapter 17: Mandal, Coalitions and the Reforms of 1991 (23 MCQs) – 23 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The Second Backward Classes Commission was chaired by:

Correct Answer: C [B.P. Mandal]

Explanation:

B.P. Mandal chaired the Second Backward Classes Commission set up by the Janata government in 1979; it reported in December 1980.

2.  

The "creamy layer" rule for OBC reservation was laid down in:

Correct Answer: D [Indra Sawhney]

Explanation:

The 'creamy layer' rule for OBC reservation was laid down in the Indra Sawhney case in 1992.

3.  

The decision to implement the Mandal Commission's recommendations was announced in 1990 by:

Correct Answer: B [V.P. Singh]

Explanation:

Prime Minister V.P. Singh announced the decision to implement the Mandal Commission's recommendations on 7 August 1990.

4.  

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on 21 May 1991 at:

Correct Answer: B [Sriperumbudur]

Explanation:

An LTTE suicide bomber killed Rajiv Gandhi at an election rally at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on 21 May 1991.

5.  

The New Industrial Policy of 24 July 1991:

Correct Answer: A [abolished industrial licensing for most industries]

Explanation:

The policy abolished industrial licensing for all but a short list of industries, ending the licence raj for most of industry.

6.  

Which war raised oil prices and contributed to India's crisis of 1991?

Correct Answer: C [Gulf War]

Explanation:

The Gulf War of 1990–91 raised oil prices and contributed to India's balance-of-payments crisis of 1991.

7.  

The 73rd and 74th Amendments relate to:

Correct Answer: C [panchayats and municipalities]

Explanation:

The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) gave constitutional status to panchayats and municipalities respectively.

8.  

The Vajpayee government lost a confidence vote by one vote in April 1999 after support was withdrawn by:

Correct Answer: D [the AIADMK]

Explanation:

Jayalalithaa's AIADMK withdrew support, and the Vajpayee government lost the confidence vote 269–270 on 17 April 1999.

9.  

The Prime Minister of the United Front government from April 1997 was:

Correct Answer: D [I.K. Gujral]

Explanation:

I.K. Gujral succeeded Deve Gowda in April 1997 and led the United Front government with Congress support from outside.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. The Indra Sawhney judgment fixed a ceiling of 50% on reservations, barring extraordinary situations.
2. The Narasimha Rao government completed its full term.
3. The National Front government was supported from outside by the Congress.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Indra Sawhney fixed the 50% ceiling and Rao's government ran 1991–96, but the National Front relied on the BJP and Left.

11.  

Assertion (A): India pledged gold in 1991 to raise foreign loans.

Reason (R): India's foreign exchange reserves had fallen to a very low level.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Reserves had fallen to about two weeks of imports, so India pledged gold to raise loans; R directly explains A.

12.  

The Gujral doctrine concerned India's relations with:

Correct Answer: C [smaller neighbours]

Explanation:

The Gujral doctrine concerned India's relations with smaller neighbours, offering them non-reciprocal goodwill.

13.  

The 77th Amendment (1995) provided for:

Correct Answer: B [reservation in promotions for SCs and STs]

Explanation:

The 77th Amendment (1995) inserted Article 16(4A), allowing reservation in promotions for SCs and STs after Indra Sawhney.

14.  

The Bahujan Samaj Party was founded in 1984 by:

Correct Answer: A [Kanshi Ram]

Explanation:

Kanshi Ram founded the Bahujan Samaj Party on 14 April 1984 to mobilise Dalits and other backward communities.

15.  

SEBI became a statutory body in:

Correct Answer: C [1992]

Explanation:

The SEBI Act of 1992 converted SEBI, set up in 1988, into a statutory regulator of the securities market.

16.  

The Commission that inquired into the events of 6 December 1992 at Ayodhya was headed by:

Correct Answer: A [Justice M.S. Liberhan]

Explanation:

The Liberhan Commission, set up in December 1992 under Justice M.S. Liberhan, submitted its report in 2009.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. New Industrial Policy
2. Indra Sawhney judgment
3. Mandal Commission report submitted
4. Implementation of the Mandal report announced

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [3-4-1-2]

Explanation:

Order: Mandal Commission report submitted (1980) → Implementation of the Mandal report announced (1990) → New Industrial Policy (1991) → Indra Sawhney judgment (1992).

18.  

In 1996, A.B. Vajpayee's first government lasted:

Correct Answer: D [13 days]

Explanation:

Vajpayee's first government, sworn in on 16 May 1996, resigned on 1 June 1996 without facing a vote.

19.  

The Look East Policy was begun under Prime Minister:

Correct Answer: A [P.V. Narasimha Rao]

Explanation:

Narasimha Rao launched the Look East Policy in 1991–92 to build ties with South-East and East Asia after the Cold War.

20.  

The first United Front government, formed in June 1996, was headed by:

Correct Answer: B [H.D. Deve Gowda]

Explanation:

H.D. Deve Gowda headed the first United Front government, formed in June 1996 with Congress support from outside.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 1996

Which one of the following is correct regarding stabilization and structural adjustment as two components of the new economic policy adopted in India?

Correct Answer: B [Structural adjustment is a gradual multi-step process, while stabilization is a quick adaptation process]

Explanation:

stabilisation is quick; structural adjustment is gradual.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2011

With reference to "Look East Policy" of India, consider the following statements:

1. India wants to establish itself as an important regional player in East Asian affairs.
2. India wants to plug the vacuum created by the termination of the Cold War.
3. India wants to restore the historical and cultural ties with its neighbours in Southeast and East Asia.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 3 only]

Explanation:

The policy aimed at a regional role and at reviving historical and cultural ties; filling a Cold War vacuum was not an aim.

23.  
UPSC Prelims 2007

Who among the following wrote the book – Ayodhya: 6 December 1992?

Correct Answer: B [P V Narasimha Rao]

Explanation:

P.V. Narasimha Rao wrote 'Ayodhya: 6 December 1992', which was published after his death.

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