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Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System – Class 12 Political Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 12 Political Science, chapter 12. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

The 1960s were a difficult decade, with the deaths of Nehru (1964) and Lal Bahadur Shastri (1966), wars, food shortages and economic crisis. In the 1967 elections Congress lost power in many states, and non-Congress coalition governments were formed. Congress split in 1969. Indira Gandhi, with the slogan 'Garibi Hatao', won a big victory in 1971 and restored Congress dominance, though in a changed, more centralised form.

Challenges of the 1960s

After Nehru's death in 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri became Prime Minister; he led India during the 1965 war and gave the slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'.
After Shastri's death in 1966, Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister, chosen with the support of senior Congress leaders called the 'Syndicate'.
The 1967 elections were called a 'political earthquake': Congress lost majorities in several states, and coalition governments (Samyukt Vidhayak Dal) were formed.

Split in the Congress

Tension between Indira Gandhi and the Syndicate came to a head in the 1969 presidential election, when she supported V. V. Giri against the official candidate.
Congress split into Congress (O), led by the Syndicate, and Congress (R), led by Indira Gandhi.
Her government nationalised 14 major banks in 1969 and abolished the privy purses of former princes.

Restoration in 1971

In the 1971 Lok Sabha elections, Indira Gandhi campaigned on 'Garibi Hatao' (remove poverty) and won a large majority.
The victory in the 1971 war and the creation of Bangladesh increased her popularity.
The restored Congress depended more on the popularity of a single leader and less on a broad internal coalition and organisation.

Key terms

Syndicate: a group of senior Congress leaders who controlled the party organisation
Political defection: a legislator changing parties after being elected
Garibi Hatao: Indira Gandhi's 1971 slogan meaning 'remove poverty'
Privy purse: allowances paid to former rulers of princely states
Grand Alliance: the alliance of opposition parties against Congress in 1971

Important questions with answers

What was the Syndicate?2 marks

The Syndicate was a group of powerful senior Congress leaders, such as K. Kamaraj, who controlled the party organisation and played a key role in choosing Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi as Prime Ministers.

Why were the 1967 elections called a political earthquake?3 marks

In 1967 Congress won a reduced majority in the Lok Sabha and lost majorities in several states. Non-Congress coalition governments were formed in many states, showing that Congress dominance could be challenged. This change in the political landscape was called a political earthquake.

Explain how the Congress system was challenged in the 1960s and restored by 1971.5 marks

In the 1960s the Congress system faced serious challenges. The deaths of Nehru in 1964 and Shastri in 1966 created problems of succession; wars with China and Pakistan, food shortages, inflation and the devaluation of the rupee created economic and political discontent. Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister in 1966 with the backing of the Syndicate, who expected to control her. In the 1967 elections Congress lost majorities in several states, and coalitions of opposition parties formed governments, a change called a political earthquake; frequent defections created instability. Conflict between Indira Gandhi and the Syndicate grew, and in the 1969 presidential election she backed V. V. Giri against the official Congress candidate, N. Sanjiva Reddy. Giri won, and the party split into Congress (O) and Congress (R). Indira Gandhi adopted popular measures such as bank nationalisation and abolition of privy purses, presenting the conflict as one between socialism and conservatism. In the 1971 Lok Sabha elections, she campaigned with the slogan 'Garibi Hatao' against a Grand Alliance of opposition parties and won a large majority. The 1971 war and the creation of Bangladesh further increased her popularity. Congress was restored to dominance, but the new Congress depended on the popularity of one leader rather than on a broad coalition and strong organisation.

Quick revision

Nehru died 1964; Shastri; 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'.
1967 elections: political earthquake; SVD governments.
1969 split: Congress (O) and (R); bank nationalisation.
1971 'Garibi Hatao' victory.

Exam tips

Remember the 'Aya Ram Gaya Ram' phrase for defections.
Compare the Congress system of Nehru's time with that of Indira Gandhi.

Practice MCQs

Nehru died in
1. 1962
2. 1964
3. 1966
4. 1969
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1964. Lal Bahadur Shastri succeeded him.
'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' was given by
1. Indira Gandhi
2. Jawaharlal Nehru
3. Lal Bahadur Shastri
4. Morarji Desai
Show answer
Answer: (c) Lal Bahadur Shastri. He was PM during the 1965 war.
The slogan 'Garibi Hatao' was associated with
1. Nehru
2. Rajiv Gandhi
3. Indira Gandhi
4. Shastri
Show answer
Answer: (c) Indira Gandhi. It helped her win in 1971.
The 1967 elections are often called a
1. green revolution
2. political earthquake
3. silent revolution
4. golden age
Show answer
Answer: (b) political earthquake. Congress lost power in many states.
The Congress split took place in
1. 1964
2. 1967
3. 1969
4. 1977
Show answer
Answer: (c) 1969. It followed the presidential election.
In 1969 Indira Gandhi supported the presidential candidate
1. V. V. Giri
2. N. Sanjiva Reddy
3. Zakir Hussain
4. Rajendra Prasad
Show answer
Answer: (a) V. V. Giri. He won the election.
How was the restored Congress after 1971 different
1. it was more dependent on one leader's popularity
2. it had more factions than before
3. it lost all elections
4. it gave up socialist policies
Show answer
Answer: (a) it was more dependent on one leader's popularity. The organisation became less important.
The phrase 'Aya Ram Gaya Ram' refers to
1. elections
2. land reforms
3. bank nationalisation
4. frequent defections by legislators
Show answer
Answer: (d) frequent defections by legislators. It came from a Haryana legislator's repeated switching.

All chapters of Class 12 Political Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.