Political Science Test - 30

Hegemony is not fixed. US hegemony has now started to dissolve in the rise of multipolar world. Similarly Europe’s hegemony before world wars ended after 1945.

The correct answer is Gobind Sagar.

Key Points

• Gobind Sagar is the name of the reservoir of the Bhakra-Nangal Dam.
• Gobind Sagar Lake is a reservoir situated in the Una and Bilaspur districts of Himachal Pradesh.
  • It is formed by the Bhakra Dam.
  • The reservoir is on the river Sutlej and is named in honor of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru.
  • One of the world's highest gravity dams, the Bhakra dam rises nearly 225.5 m above its lowest foundations.
  • Under the supervision of the American dam-builder, Harvey Slocum, work began in 1955 and was completed in 1962.
  • To maintain the water level, the flow of the river Beas was channelized to Gobind Sagar by the Beas-Sutlej link which was accomplished in 1976.

Additional Information

• The reservoir lies in the Bilaspur District and Una District.
  • Bilaspur is about 91 km away from the Bhakra Dam.
  • Its name was given by the Former Chairman of PSEB SardarJi Harbans Singh Somal, in honor of 10th Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
  • In October and November, when the water level of the reservoir is high, a series of regattas are organized by the Tourism and Civil Aviation department.
  • Gobind Sagar was declared a waterfowl refuge in 1962.
• On the Indian Narmada River, the Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) is located in the village of Kevadia in Gujarat.
  • It is one of the country's largest and most contentious multipurpose river valley infrastructure development projects.
  • Auxiliary works including a 1,450MW power complex are also part of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP).
  • In 2010-2011, SSP was expected to have cost INR400 billion, up from an initial estimate of INR64 billion in 1988.

The correct answer is A plan made by the leading Indian Industrialists for the development of the Indian Economy.

Key Points

• The Bombay Plan is the name commonly given to a World War II-era set of proposals for the development of the post-independence economy of India. The plan, published in 1944/1945 by eight leading Indian industrialists, proposed state intervention in the economic development of the nation after independence from the United Kingdom (which took place in 1947).
• The Bombay plan was a set of proposal of a small group of influential business leaders in Bombay for the development of the post-independence economy of India. This plan was published in two parts or volume- first in 1944 and second in 1945.
• The prime objectives of the plan were to achieve a balanced economy and to raise the standard of living of the masses of the population rapidly by doubling the present per capita income within a period of 15 years from the time the plan goes into operation.
• This plan envisages that the economy could not grow without government intervention and regulation. In other words, the future government protects indigenous industries against foreign competition in local markets.

The correct answer is the Bombay Plan.

Key Points

• Planning in India
  • Economic planning refers to any plans of economic activity which point to achieving specific social and economic outcomes.
  • The term economic planning is used to describe the long-term plans of the government of India to develop and coordinate the economy with the efficient utilization of resources.
  • The planning mechanism should have some general goals as well as specific objectives which are to be achieved within a specified period of time.
  • The philosophy of planning is that only markets and price systems cannot ensure the welfare of citizens. Apart from this, there are economic requirements such as investment in infrastructure, investment in public goods such as transport, and other public utilities which are enjoyed by the society.
  • The concept of planned economic development was taken from the Soviet economic model, which established state control over industries and economic structure.
  • The idea of planning was also endorsed by a group of industrialists who framed the Bombay Plan and believed that the state must play a major role in industrial and other economic investments.
  • The experience of the great depression in Europe where the economic crisis troubled many nations along with Europe proved to be a lesson for the world.
  • The Bombay Plan was where many big industrialists of India decided to set up a planned economy. Hence, Option 1 is correct.

Additional Information

• The Bombay Plan (1944)
  • In early 1944, several eminent industrialists and economists of Bombay Sir Purshottamdas Thakurdas, Mr. J.R.D. Tata and six others made another attempt and published a development plan, which was called the Bombay plan.
  • Its main purpose was to stimulate the thinking of the people and to lay down the principles on the basis of which a national plan could be formulated and executed.
  • The planners observed that the plan set out in it is neither in any sense a complete scheme nor as comprehensive as that of the National Planning Committee.
  • The central aim of the plan was to raise the national income to such a level that after meeting the minimum requirements of every individual we would be left with enough resources for the enjoyment of life and for cultural activities.”
  • Thus its objective was at doubling the per capita income in the country over a period of 15 years.

Option 1 is the correct answer: The chairman of the National Development Council (NDC) is the Prime Minister.

• National Development is an executive body, that was established by the government in the year 1952.
• It was established to:
  • increase states' cooperation in plan execution.
  • promote common economic policies
  • ensure balanced development by mobilisation of resources and efforts.
• Composition of NDC:
  • The chairman: Prime Minister.
  • All union cabinet Ministers.
  • Chief Ministers of all the states and UTs having Legislative Assemblies.
  • Administrators of the UTs without assemblies.
  • The members of the Planning Commission.
• NDC approves the five-year plans prepared by the Planning Commission.
• It also acts as the advisor to the Planning Commission.

*Planning commission and the practice of five-year plans have been scrapped since 2015 after establishment of NITI Aayog.

The Correct Answer is 1954.

Key Points

• The Panchsheel was first signed between India and China's Tibet area on April 29, 1954.
• Jawaharlal Nehru, former Prime Minister of India, and Chou En-Lai, the first Chinese Prime Minister, signed the deal.
• One of the most successful agreements between India and China to improve economic and security cooperation was the Panchsheel agreement.
• The Five Principles' fundamental premise was that newly independent states would be able to establish a new and more principled approach to foreign affairs after decolonization.
• The five principles of peaceful coexistence, known as the Panchsheel Treaty, are a collection of principles to regulate relations between states.
• They include non-interference in other internal affairs and respect for the territorial integrity of the unity and sovereignty of the other.
• The Five Principles' underlying premise was that after decolonization, newly independent states would be able to adopt a new strategy more faithful to international relations principles.

The correct answer is 'P.C. Mahalanobis

Key Points

• P.C. Mahalanobis played a pivotal role in drafting the Second Five Year Plan for India, which focused on rapid industrialization with an emphasis on heavy industries and expansion of the public sector.
• His approach was influenced by the Soviet model of economic development.

Additional Information

• K.N. Raj:
  • An eminent Indian economist who contributed significantly to India's economic planning and policy but was not the primary architect of the Second Five Year Plan.
  • His contributions were more prominent in the formulation of India’s First Five Year Plan and in advising on economic matters.
• J.C. Kumarappa:
  • A Gandhian economist known for his emphasis on rural economy and sustainable development.
  • While his contributions to Indian economic thought are notable, he was not directly involved in the drafting of the Second Five Year Plan.
• Gopal Swamy Iyenger:
  • A civil servant and politician known for his administrative roles but not directly linked to the drafting of the Second Five Year Plan.
  • His expertise was more in the realm of governance and administration rather than economic planning.

The Correct Answer '1956'

Key Points

• Britain, along with France and Israel, attacked Egypt in 1956 over the nationalization of the Suez Canal by the Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Nasser.
• The nationalization was a significant move that aimed to take control of the canal from the British and French companies that managed it.
• The conflict, known as the Suez Crisis, highlighted the decline of Britain's and France's global influence and marked a pivotal moment in the post-colonial era.

The correct answer is 'Bandung'

Key Points

• The Afro-Asian Conference, also known as the Bandung Conference, took place in 1955 in Bandung, Indonesia.
• This conference was a significant event during the Cold War era, marking a concerted effort by newly independent nations in Asia and Africa to assert their position in the global political landscape and promote Afro-Asian economic and cultural cooperation.

Additional InformationJakarta:

• Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia and its largest city. While it is a significant political and economic center in Indonesia, the Afro-Asian Conference did not take place here.
• Jakarta has hosted numerous important international and national conferences, but the 1955 conference was specifically held in Bandung.

Surabaya:

• Surabaya is the capital of the East Java province and the second-largest city in Indonesia. Known for its historical importance and as a major commercial and industrial center, Surabaya was not the location of the 1955 Afro-Asian Conference.
• The city, however, has played a crucial role in Indonesia's history, especially during the battle for independence against the Dutch colonizers.

Bandung:

• Bandung, the correct location of the Afro-Asian Conference, is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia.
• It was chosen as the venue for this landmark conference, which was attended by representatives from 29 countries.
• The conference aimed to promote economic and cultural cooperation among the countries of Asia and Africa and to oppose colonialism or neocolonialism by any nation. The Bandung Conference is considered a significant step towards the Non-Aligned Movement.

Bekasi:

• Bekasi is a city in West Java, Indonesia, located on the eastern border of Jakarta. It is primarily known as a residential and industrial area rather than a political or cultural center.
• Bekasi was not involved in the hosting of the 1955 Afro-Asian Conference. Its significance lies more in its role within the Jakarta metropolitan area rather than as a standalone center for international political gatherings.

The correct answer is Syndicate

Key Points

• The group of Congress leaders in control of the party's organization led by K. Kamraj, the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu and then the Congress president, was known as the "Syndicate."
• This group was influential in determining the party's direction and policies during a crucial period in Indian politics.

Additional InformationCartel:

• Typically refers to a consortium of independent organizations formed to limit competition and control prices in a particular industry.
• This term is more commonly used in the context of businesses rather than political groups, making it an incorrect option.

Council:

• Generally denotes a body of members elected or appointed to govern or advise in the administration of policy.
• In the context of the Congress party's organizational structure, the term "Council" is too broad and does not specifically describe the influential group led by K. Kamraj.

Directorate:

• This term refers to a board of directors or a group of managers who oversee the affairs of an institution.
• While it implies governance, it does not accurately capture the nature of the group within the Congress party that was specifically known as the Syndicate, making it an incorrect choice.